Assembly Rejects Proposal to Quiz Central Bank Chief

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 JAMADA ALAWWAL 21, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Sculptor Sami ‘Top Gear’ The Real PSG knock Mohammad presenter Fouz: Love Chelsea to showcase brushes off yourself out of CL his works3 suspension36 first37 20 Assembly rejects proposal Min 08º Max 29º to quiz Central Bank chief High Tide 03:40 & 15:35 Low Tide MPs blast govt for not implementing laws 09:35 & 22:35 40 PAGES NO: 16457 150 FILS

By B Izzak

11 feared dead KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday rejected a proposal by several MPs to investigate the Central Bank in US military governor over alleged misuse of power by trading in shares of a bank under his supervision. Only 15 MPs of the 40 members present supported the move, while the chopper crash rest - including all Cabinet ministers in the chamber - MIAMI: Seven US Marines and four aircrew were feared rejected the motion. Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said the government is totally dead yesterday after an army helicopter crashed during opposed to the proposal because a night training exercise in Florida, military officials said. the alleged violations of Governor The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was reported missing Mohammad Al-Hashel are being Tuesday around 8:30 pm (0030 GMT yesterday) near investigated by the public prose- Eglin Air Force Base. The area was under heavy fog. A US cution, which makes the parlia- military official told AFP that all 11 personnel were mentary probe meaningless. feared dead, but officials were still treating the matter as The Capital Markets Authority a search and rescue mission. was the first to raise the issue Base spokesman Andy Bourland said search and res- about two months ago, alleging Al-Hashel cue teams located debris from the aircraft at around that Hashel broke a law which bars him from dealing in 2:00 am. “Search and rescue efforts are underway at the shares of banks under his supervision. Hashel categori- accident site currently,” he added, noting the accident cally denied the allegations in an official statement, say- was under investigation. A second helicopter returned ing that he only received less than 1,000 shares in a bank safely to the base. The aircraft, assigned to the 1-244th being a Kuwaiti citizen through a public subscription in Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond, Louisiana, which all Kuwaitis received an equal number of shares. were participating in what the military called a routine He denied that he has ever benefited from insider infor- training mission with the Marine Special Operations mation. Regiment from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. “My KUWAIT: Indian actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai is flanked by President of Longines Walter MP Saleh Ashour opposed the proposal, saying any thoughts and prayers are with their families as the Von Kanel (left) and Behbehani Group President Ali Morad Behbehani at a ceremony to announce a move like this may negatively impact the national econ- search and rescue continues,” Defense Secretary Ashton partnership between Longines and Behbehani Group at The Avenues mall yesterday. Rai is Longines’ omy because of the sensitivity of the Central Bank gover- Carter told lawmakers during a hearing. — AFP ‘Ambassador of Elegance’. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 37) nor’s post. Continued on Page 13 News Riyadh recalls envoy from Sweden in brief STOCKHOLM: Saudi Arabia has recalled Erik Boman said earlier yesterday that noting that “women’s rights do not only its ambassador to Sweden, accusing it of “diplomatic relations are not broken, but benefit women, but society as a whole”. Apple apologizes as flagrant interference in its internal affairs Saudi Arabia’s ambassador has been Saudi Arabia is the only country in the outage hits services as the rift between the two countries recalled”. The move comes amid a deep- world where women are not allowed to WASHINGTON: Apple apologized to users yesterday deepens in the wake of Stockholm cutting ening rift in which Sweden cancelled a drive. The sexes are strictly segregated, after a major outage of its online services, affecting cus- military ties. Riyadh said the move yester- controversial military cooperation deal women are required to dress in black from tomers worldwide. The tech giant’s status page showed day was in response to criticism of Saudi after Saudi Arabia prevented Wallstroem head to toe when outside the home and the App Store, iTunes, iBooks store and Mac App store Arabia’s human rights record by Swedish Monday from making a speech on human also still need permission from a male went down from 0900 GMT and were still offline at 1900 Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem, rights at the Arab League. Wallstroem had guardian to work and to marry. GMT. Similar outages were seen in Apple online services which it said was “harmful to the king- been invited to the Cairo meeting in Wallstroem said “the explanation we in Britain and France. The Next Web, the international dom”. Her remarks, which Riyadh did not praise of her government’s decision in have been given is that Sweden has high- technology news site, said it had reports of outages identify, were “flagrant interference in October to recognize a Palestinian state. lighted the situation for democracy and affecting more than 40 countries. “We apologize to our internal affairs, which is not accepted in Her speech, published by the Swedish human rights and that is why they do not customers experiencing problems with iTunes and other international conventions”. The foreign foreign ministry, mentioned neither Saudi want me to speak”. She has rarely com- services this morning,” Apple said in a statement emailed ministry added that because Wallstroem’s Arabia nor her feminist foreign policy mented on Saudi Arabia but, in January, to AFP, blaming an “internal” domain name system error. comments do not “go well with amicable agenda, but stressed women’s and human criticized the kingdom’s treatment of “We’re working to make all of the services available to relations between countries, the kingdom rights. “Freedom of association, assembly, blogger Raef Badawi, who had been sen- customers as soon as possible, and we thank everyone of Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassa- religion and expression are not only fun- tenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in for their patience.” Apple’s iCloud and mail services were dor from Sweden”. damental rights and important tools in prison for insulting Islam. also down, but appeared to have been restored after Swedish foreign ministry spokesman the creation of vibrant societies,” it read, Continued on Page 13 Margot Wallstroem around four hours, according to the status page. Other services such as FaceTime, messaging and Apple TV did not appear to be affected. The outage made it impossible for iPhone and iPad users to download music or to install or update apps on their devices.

Bahrain arrests student for singing Quran verses DUBAI: A Bahraini high school student and two teachers have been charged with “insulting Islam” after the boy sang verses from the Holy Quran accompanied by musical instruments, the official BNA news agency reported yesterday. Islam allows intonation of Quranic verses, and recordings of chanting are frequently heard in marketplaces or on the radio and television, but singing them to musical accompaniment is prohibited. Prosecutor Adnan Fakhro said authorities have “investigated the incident of a video published on social media of a student singing verses of the Holy Quran, accompanied by musical instruments”. The report, which did not identify the instruments used, said the incident took place during an art competition. Authorities have questioned “the student who sang and the two teachers who trained him on the song and played music,” Fakhro’s statement said. The trio are being held pending further investigation. According to Islamic tradition, tajweed, the recita- tion of Islam’s holy book, adheres to strict rules of intonation which vary according to a number of recognized reading styles.

Nurses, medics in demand in UAE DUBAI: The healthcare sector in the UAE, which has been steadily growing on the back of high population growth, rapid urbanization and rising personal incomes has stepped up its recruitment drive, with a number of hospi- tals, clinics and other medical providers now looking to hire more nurses, according to a Gulf News report yesterday. In a new survey conducted by a UAE-based job listing website, it was found that six in 10 healthcare companies (63 percent) in the UAE are keen on hiring additional medical staff in the next three months to meet the growing demand for healthcare services. LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Armenian Prime Minister Hovik His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abrahamyan yesterday, in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Yaqoub Al-Sane and Chairman of the Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al-Nemash. Sabah. —KUNA photos Amir receives Armenian PM Agriculture, tourism deals signed

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday received Armenian Prime Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and delegation accompany- Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Dr ing him. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej, and by Armenia’s Minister of Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan and Minister of Economy Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attended the meeting. Karen Chshmaritian. During the meeting, the Armenian Prime Minister National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim also handed a letter to HH the Amir from Armenia’s President met the visiting Armenian Prime Minister, and the two Serzh Sargsyan, tackling bilateral relations between both sides discussed bilateral cooperation prospects between countries and means of enhancing these relations in all the two countries, as well as the latest regional and inter- fields, in addition to an invitation to HH the Amir to visit national developments. Chairman of the Financial and Armenia. Economic Affairs Committee MP Faisal Al-Shaya attended the meeting. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan Two deals arrived in Kuwait yesterday on a two-day visit upon an Later, HH the Prime Minister met his Armenian coun- official invitation extended by HH the Prime Minister terpart at Bayan Palace, where they reviewed relations Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. between the two friendly countries and the ways of developing them to achieve the interests of the two Anti-Corruption Authority friendly peoples. They also discussed key topics on In other news, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- regional and international levels as well as their stances Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- toward them. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah separately received Minister of Following the meeting, the two sides inked two deals Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yaqoub Al-Sane, and Chairman Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Armenia’s Minister of on executive programs in the agricultural and tourist of the Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al- Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan sign an agricultural deal between the two countries, as Kuwait’s Prime Minister His fields for 2015-2017. The deals were signed by Kuwait’s Nemash. — KUNA Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan look on. Arab ministers meet amid Islamic endowment ‘crucial changes in region’ law to be proposed Kuwait backs Arab crackdown on terrorism KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait Awqaf (Endowment) the bank in the sector of overhauling the legisla- Public Foundation (KAPF) will propose a law that tive waqf, in its capacity as the coordinator of ALGIERS: The Arab Interior Ministers’ extreme ideologies. improving security and stability of Arab will take into consideration the various interop- the awqaf file as designated by the Islamic min- meeting in Algeria is taking place at a “The magnitude of threats surround- citizens. He said Algerian President eration of endowment implemented by Islamic isters’ conference.” The secretariat and the bank delicate time amid crucial and accelerating us requires unity and serious work in Abdulaziz Bouteflika was playing a major sects and schools of thought, a Kuwaiti official made accomplishments at the level of updating ing events rocking the region, a senior order to confront all forms of extremism role in boosting Arab security. said yesterday. awqaf institutions and in addition to drafting a Kuwaiti official said yesterday. At the and ideological deviation which are dis- Sheikh Mohammad said Arab coun- The draft law for the legislation is being final- law to be used as a guideline in the sector, he forefront of the meeting’s agenda is the tant from Islam and Islamic Sharia,” tries needed to confront spread of ized, said Dr Abdulmohsen Al-Jarallah Al- added. issue of combating terrorism “which has Sheikh Mohammad said after arriving in rumors through social media network, Kharafi, KAPF’s Secretary General, during his become a danger to all societies and is Algiers Tuesday. Arab countries should cyber-crimes, counterfeiting, money speech at the opening of a forum on endow- Various projects condemned by Islam and all lofty human join hands to address security concerns laundering and drug trafficking. “Iam ment governance organized by KAPF and the Ahmad Al-Khalmishee of Morocco echoed an values,” Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister in order to contribute to economic devel- confident the Arab interior ministers will International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). identical impression regarding the awqaf sector and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad opment, he added. approve a number of decisions that will He expressed hope that such step would help in Kuwait, adding that Kuwait has contributed Khalid Al-Sabah said. Sheikh Mohammad underlined address circumstances in our region ... facilitate endowment efforts in the Muslim with various projects, namely publishing and Because of that, “it is incumbent on us importance of Arab interior ministers’ and a number of security agreements,” world. Regarding a law for endowment for non- translating books related to waqf. to consecrate our efforts to fight terror- meeting because it would contribute to he said. — KUNA Muslim countries, Kharafi said that KAPF was Malaysia is hosting the fourth international ism, dry up its sources of funding, and embarking on the second phase of the project, forum on waqf governance, organized by protect our children from its errant slant affirming that the foundation was up to the task Kuwait’s Awqaf Secretariat General, in coordina- and deviation from the teachings of of coordinating endowment efforts in the tion with the International Islamic University Islam,” said the minister, who is attending Islamic world. and the Islamic Development Bank. — KUNA the meeting. He added that also high on the agenda of the meeting is the prob- Kuwait’s experience lem of illegal use of drugs which he said Meanwhile, IIUM Rector Zalikha Bint Qamar “is an anathema that targets one of the Eddine said that Malaysia aspires to study and nation’s most valued component, that take lessons from Kuwait’s awqaf experience. being the youth.” The Kuwaiti waqf governance experience is very Sheikh Mohammad emphasized that important at the global level and Malaysia both these societal scourges: terrorism aspires to benefit from it, she said on the side- and drugs are transnational, affecting the lines of the forum. She added that Kuala Lumpur whole world and endangering all. “We would dispatch scholars to Kuwait to examine look ahead to exert more efforts toward this sector firsthand. intensifying the level of cooperation Waqf governance in Malaysia is facing among our countries’ security apparatus- numerous problems and is lagging behind oth- es and continue exchanging expertise er states in this field-such as Kuwait, Turkey and and information on all security matters Morocco, Qamar Eddine said. Explaining further, to achieve safety and development for she said waqf in Malaysia has not reached level our nations,” he said. of legislation and lacks research. Abdullah Ould Mohammad, an advisor at the KUALA LUMPUR: KAPF’s Secretary General Dr Arab efforts Islamic Development Bank, said in the mean- Abdulmohsen Al-Kharafi speaks at the forum’s Sheikh Mohammad had stated earlier time that Kuwait’s Awqaf General Secretariat is opening. — KUNA that Kuwait supports every Arab effort ALGIERS: Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad “considered the most important strategic ally of aimed at cracking down on terrorism and Khalid Al-Sabah is seen during the meeting. — KUNA Kuwait strongly supports Kuwait lawyers visit law women’s rights: Official institutions in The Hague NEW YORK: The Kuwaiti government has taken measures to BRUSSELS: A delegation of Kuwait Lawyers Association visit- Visiting these internationally renowned institutions is so ensure that women get their full rights, a Kuwaiti official said ed a number of UN-affiliated law institutions in The Hague, significant due to their importance in terms of boosting inter- on the sideline of a UN meeting yesterday. Netherlands, Tuesday. The delegation visited the Peace Palace, national relations, said Othman Al-Saif, a delegation member. Since independence, Kuwait had adopted various meas- which is home to a number of international judicial institu- He added that this visit would mark the beginning of coopera- ures to empower women to ensure they get their full rights, tions, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the tion with the PCA. Meanwhile, Abdulmalek Al-Awadhi, head of said Sheikha Latifa Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah, chairperson of Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), and Hague Academy of international relations committee at Kuwait Lawyers the Kuwaiti cabinet’s women affairs committee in her address International Law, said Tareq Al-Shumaimri, Counselor at Association, expressed his gratitude to Kuwait Embassy for its to the UN’s 59th session of the commission on the status of Embassy of Kuwait in The Hague. organization of the delegation’s visit. — KUNA women. The most recent achievement in this domain was the establishment of a family court that will ensure the rights of women, said Sheikha Latifa, who heads Kuwait’s delegation to the meeting. She added that Kuwait not only promotes women’s right locally but was eager to support any UN effort on this aspect internationally especially when it came to the rights of women in Palestine. The annual high-level gathering, which began on March 9, NEW YORK: Sheikha Latifa Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah is will continue till the 20th of this month. Government officials seen on the giant screen making her address to the and activists will take stock of progress and remaining chal- UN’s 59th session of the commission on the status of lenges for implementing this landmark agreement for gender women. — KUNA equality and women’s rights. — KUNA THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 LOCAL Girl in pink, boy in blue: discrimination starts early Human Rights Society holds symposium on women By Nawara Fattahova ment to empower this resolution to strengthen the role of women in building KUWAIT: Marking the International and strengthening peace,” said Netefi. Women’s day, the Kuwait Society for “The Kuwaiti women were always sup- Human Rights (KSHR) held a symposium on portive of man, partners in making peace women’s rights and discrimination against and defending it inside the country and them on Tuesday at its premises. abroad. There are many examples for this in “The United Nations Security Council our history, from which the most significant (UNSC) Resolution 1325 on achieving may be Sheikha Mariam bin Sheikh peace and security for women is one of the Abdullah who played a great role in resist- important tools to achieve equality ing the aggressors,” Netefi said. between genders. It also presents a critical turning point in the human security issue. Gender discrimination This resolution also includes women’s par- Dr Sawsan Husni Mahmoud, Consultant ticipation in different levels of decision in Education and Development in the making in addition to participating in United Kingdom highlighted that individu- national, regional, and international al insti- als are responsible for the gender discrimi- tutions which includes peace negotiation, nation in the same way as the institutions conflict resolution and peace keeping as and governments. “Discrimination between policewomen, soldiers, civil servants, and genders starts right after birth. Parents representatives of the UN Secretary dress the baby girl in pink, while dressing General,” said Khuloud Al-Netefi, the boy in blue. When they grow a bit they Chairperson of the Women and Children are differentiated by activities. As a result, Committee at KSHR. girls have to wash dishes, cook or clean, while the boys play on the street. If the par- Decision-making ents have a boy and a girl and a budget The UNSC Resolution 1325 is a docu- only for educating one, they will choose ment consisting of 18 points. “This resolu- the boy, although in fact the girl needs it tion is focusing on women’s participation in more as she will raise the future genera- KUWAIT: Sami Mohammad poses with one of his works at his exhibition. —Photos by Joseph Shagra decision-making and peace operations tion. We also should review the curricula including protecting the rights of women and develop it in addition to respecting and girls. I call upon the Kuwaiti govern- human rights,” Mahmoud said. Veteran Kuwaiti artist to showcase his works ‘Sami Mohammad: A Retrospective’ opens Saturday

By Faten Omar the young sculptors are serious in human figures and will ask me to demand. I never stop working. their work, because it requires give them a soul - then he will Even now, when I’m 70 years old, I KUWAIT: Renowned Kuwaiti artist patience and a lot of effort. I’m send me to hell. I’m a rational per- receive orders. I am a fulltime and sculptor Sami Mohammad has ready to teach anyone who wants son and think Almighty God artist. All my life I have worked as been a pioneer for over fifty years to learn more, and I am already knows what I can do and what I an artist. in Kuwait. Most of his artworks deal training two amazing young men can’t. He knows that I know he is KT: When did you make your with the ideas of freedom, oppres- who aspire to be sculptors. the only one who can put souls first sculpture? sion, genocide and suffering. KT: Does the government sup- inside people. A long time ago Mohammad: In 1971. It was a Among his 120 pieces, the best port your work? before Islam, people practiced idol figure of ‘hunger’. known are ‘Box’, ‘Sabra and Shatila’, Mohammad: The government worship. But history will not KT: Are there other members of ‘Hunger’ and ‘Mother’. Mohammad, supports us artists via the Free Art repeat. Ours is an open mind now. your family who are artists? 70, will exhibit his artworks at the Atelier, which was the reason why I KT: Why do you focus on Mohammad: There is no one Contemporary Art Platform at the in my family linked to art, but my Life Center in Shuwaikh Industrial children are interested in music KUWAIT: Dr Sawsan Mahmoud, Consultant in Education and Development in Area. The exhibition, called ‘Sami and photography and they appre- the United Kingdom (left), and Khuloud Al-Netefi, Chairperson of the Mohammad: A Retrospective’, ciate my work. Women and Children Committee at Kuwait Society for Human Rights are opens on Saturday. KT: What do you like doing when seen during the symposium. —Photo by Joseph Shagra Born in 1943 in Sharq, he stud- you are not making sculptures? ied at the College of Fine Arts in Mohammad: I like to play the Cairo from 1966 to 1970 and lute, listen to music, take pictures trained as a sculptor from 1973 to of my work and make a documen- Georgian corner opened 1975 at the Johnson Atelier in New tary about my works. Jersey. He was a founding member KT: How did you learn to weld? at National Library of both the Free Atelier in 1960 and Mohammad: I learned welding of the Kuwait Society for Formative and sculpting techniques through KUWAIT: The Embassy of Georgia to the ed today represents different areas of Arts in 1967. One of his works was specialized courses. State of Kuwait in cooperation with Kuwait Georgian art, linguistic research and litera- presented at the 55th Venice KT: Who is your typical client? National Library launched recently a ture, and it will become the foundation of Biennale in 2013, which was the Mohammad: My clients visit Georgian Book Corner, which is aimed to the broader collection available for ordi- first time Kuwait participated in the me at my home, and they trust me increase Kuwaiti readers’ familiarity with nary readers as well as for scholars and event. He has written a book about because I work hard and I’m devot- Georgian literary and artistic traditions as researchers. Among the books are albums his work and career, The Art of Sami ed to them. I’m honest with my well as to encourage the study of the lan- donated by the Ministry of Culture and Mohammad, which was published Sami Mohammad showing some of his works. clients. When I make the sculp- guage, literature, and history of Georgia. Monument Protection of Georgia and rep- in 1995. tures, I tell them how many pieces The first selection of books which is donat- resenting the heritage of such Georgian I will make. When you make one painters like self-taught genius primitive Kuwait Times spoke with the piece, the price will be higher. My artist Niko Pirosmani, as well as Elene artist at his studio. Excerpts: sculptures begin from KD 30,000 Akhvlediani, Petre Otskheli, Zurab KT: When did you become an up to KD 100,000. My expensive Nijaradze and many others. artist? Which artists inspired sculptures have been gifted to The most prominent place in this collec- you? Qatar and Dubai. My sculpture on tion belongs to the jewel of the Georgian Sami Mohammad: I was talent- a street of Dubai is called ‘Kuwaiti pre-Renaissance poetry, the medieval epic ed since childhood, but I owe my Sidra’. poem, ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin,’ success to my Egyptian teacher KT: Do you sell your works written approximately in 12th-13th cen- Anwar Seraj at the Kuwaiti Free Art online? turies AD by immortal Shota Rustaveli. The Atelier, which was created in 1959, Mohammad: No I do not. I work of Rustaveli has been translated into when I was 16 years old. Seraj deal with people face-to-face. Till many languages and the Arabic translation taught me how to sculpt and now, I take orders from customers of the poem was performed by Syrian directed me in the correct way. directly. My sculptures are translator Nizar Khalil in 1984, published in KT: When did you become an renowned in all Arab and Western Syria. “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is artist? Are you self-taught or countries. considered to be one of the world’s master- classically trained? KT: How does the actual sculpt- pieces and belongs to the world cultural Mohammad: I started sculpting ing process work? How long heritage. Apart of its poetic beauty, in my twenties. I developed myself does it take? Rustaveli’s work has an egregious impor- in this area in late 1960s in Egypt, Sami Mohammad with Abdul Razzaq, the gallery’s director. Mohammad: First, the sculptor tance for both the scholars of Georgian specializing in all categories in should choose the base material, studies and for researchers of the Middle sculpture, and I wanted to special- grew up as a sculptor. The govern- women’s bodies and trapped and the time will depend on the East. It provides unique information about ize in human anatomy. ment supports us by providing art people? size and shape of the statue. I find the lifestyle, traditions and customs of dif- KT: What inspires you as an materials, and we were sent abroad Mohammad: At first, I liked to it difficult to carve on demand. It is ferent social groups in the region of that artist? to learn more. sculpt women’s bodies, but after easy for me to work with peace of period. Mohammad: What has inspired KT: What materials do you use? the 1970s, I began to embody the mind, and it may take weeks or Georgian Ambassador to Kuwait Gocha me is the issue of human suffering. Mohammad: I use stone, clay, cause of suffering and moved months. My ‘Sabra and Shatila’ Japaridze and his spouse Nunu Berozashvili Through my exposure to the daily wood, basalt, aluminum, iron and away from the female form piece took months to finish. generously donated a copy and the Arabic- news and tragedies that I see every marble. because it cannot bear the conflict KT: Anything else you would like Georgian Diplomatic Dictionary for the day, it is inspiring me to be a mirror KT: Did you face problems in and violence which I want to show. to add? Corner, reads a statement by the embassy. to what is happening to people Kuwait or in the region for show- For that, a strong and muscular Mohammad: I would like to since 1970. Kuwait, my country, is ing your kind of art? body is required. thank Amer Al-Hunidi, the owner secure and stable though. Mohammad: What I really face KT: What are you working on of CAP, who appreciates art. I KT: What advice can you give is that in our Arab society, sculp- now and what are your plans for thank his support for Kuwaiti cul- to budding artists? ture is ‘forbidden’. When I started the future? ture, and I am grateful to Abdul Mohammad: I advise beginners my work, my mother told me that Mohammad: I am working Razak, the director of the gallery, turn to a professional sculptor to be sculpture is haram because God now on my current exhibition at who coordinated the exhibition trained professionally. I hope that will punish me for making these the CAP, and I also work on satisfactorily.

KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) participated in the 20th Economy Makers and Employment Opportunities Exhibition, which took place recently at Kuwait University’s College of Administrative Sciences under the auspices of Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 LOCAL Stage set for Kuwait Times Student’s Art Competition’s conclusion

Abdul Aziz Arty Svetlana Arndt Abdul Kareem Al-Enizy Ameera Ashkinani

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and l Earned a bachelor’s degree in faculty of l Awarded “European medal of Franz Abdul Kareem Al-Enizy Russia Gallery 2009. Awards: Minister of Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al- arts from Kuwait University. Kafka” by the European circle “Franz l Born in Kuwait in 1960 l First prize in the Kuwait Teachers Society’s l GCC Creative Arts Forum Awards 2010 Hmoud Al-Sabah will attend the closing cer- l Member of Kuwait Journalist association Kafka” (Prague) in Berlin-September l Bachelor’s degree in Psychology - Faculty photo competition on April 1981 - l Kuwait Creative Art Festival Award (HH emony of Kuwait Times’ student’s art compe- and member in international for fine and 2001. of Arts, Kuwait University. Second prize in the teachers photo com- the Amir’s Award) 2013 tition ‘Kuwait Beautiful and Green.’ art c association. Asian hand craft l “World Prize of Salvador Dali” by the l President of the Kuwaiti Union for petition in 1981 - Earned a certificate of l Kuwait International Contemporary Art Kuwait Times Deputy General Manager Association. Alliance Salvador Dali international, Advertising - Kuwait Journalist appreciation from the Ministry of Forum 2014 Adnan Saad, who is also the competition l Participated in multiple local and inter- Czech Republic, Spain, 2003. Association member. Education - Earned a commemorative organizer, announced that a total of 95 national exhibitions from 1982- 2008 l Award in literature from the Almadina l Participated in all Kuwait Fine Arts plaque at the 1st Kharafi Panel for Modern Some advice from the judges schools participated in the art competition including Bulgaria , Havana , Korea , Culture Society, Madrid, Spain, 2006 for Association galleries since 1986 - partici- Kuwaiti Arts in December 2004 - Won the How you can win the art competition: being organized in cooperation with Russia , Saudi Arabia , Qatar and the year- her poem “A blue bird in my palm” - pated in multiple local, Arab and interna- Martyr’s Exhibition award in August 2005 - l Draw a picture by yourself! Chevron, Zain and Gulf University for ly gallery exhibitions organized by “Pajaro Azul”. tional galleries including: 1st Kharafi Panel Won the His Highness the Amir Award in l Make sure you understand everything Science and Technology. Kuwait and United Emirates. l Trebbia 2007 European award for the for Modern Kuwaiti Arts in December February 2008. that’s required and what you’re agreeing He added that the objective of this com- l Carecatcher artist at Al Arabi magazine support of Arts and Creative Activities 2004 - National Day and Liberation Day to. petition is to make students aware about the and previous at Al Waten Newspaper. (together with her husband Mohammed Exhibition on February 2005 - Martyr’s Ameera Ashkinani l The picture can show anything you fragile environment of Kuwait, and the wider l Participated in Kuwait Water Painting Al-Qadiri, General Manager of Ghadir Exhibition 2005 - Small Arts Festival March l Born in Kuwait appreciate in Kuwait (nature, city, people, Kuwaiti population aware about national gallery on May 2006, Al Kharafi panel for Gallery Kuwait), Prague (Czech Republic, 2006 - Arab World Culture Festival in Paris l B.A. Holder in Arts Education animals and different plants and flowers, environmental issues through the student modern Kuwaiti arts in December 2006. Jan 2008). in April 2006 - Kuwaiti Water Paintings l Arts Education Supervisor at MOE sea and sky). community. Port Saeed Art exhibition2004; First per- l Awarded Novo Prize at Gallery in May 2006 - Kuwaiti Arts l Use symbols of Kuwait such as flag, coat Student’s ranging across all ages and sonal exhibition on1992 at Kuwait Hajduboszormeny Symposium, Hungary, Exhibition in Berlin in September 2006 - Memberships: of arms, Kuwait memorials. grades will represent their schools. Students Culture and Art Council. 2010. Kuwait Exhibitions for Visual Arts l Kuwait Fine Arts Association (KFAA) l The picture must be complete. have already received the drawing sheets l From memories to memories personal Creativity in February 2007 - 1st personal l International Association of Art (IAA) l The picture should be clearly signed. and they may draw anything related to caricature exhibition at Kuwait Svetlana Arndt exhibition (Hawajes) at the Kuwait Fine l GCC Fine Arts Societies Union (GFASU) l If you’re not sure, ask questions. planting and beautifying Kuwait. They are Association for formative Art. l Ukrainian female artist. Arts Association in November 2007 - l Arab Plastic Arts Union (APAU) l Understand the theme. required to complete the painting by March l Earned a certificate of appreciation from l A graduate from TTC (Teacher Training Transparency Gallery for Fine Arts on l Enter your best. 19, 2015 and send it back to Kuwait Times. A the Kuwait National Assembly for Culture College) Zaporozhe, Ukraine 1984-86. February 2008 - Small Arts in Bait Participations: l Don’t give up. panel of judges comprising of Kuwaiti and and Art Council. l State Pedagogical University of Kiev, Abdullah on February 2008 - 2nd Kuwait l Kuwait Creative Arts Festival 2007-2015 l Don’t draw dark and frightening scenes expatriate artists will evaluate the artworks l Earned a gold medal at caricature exhibi- Specialty “Teaching and Methodology of Festival for Fine Arts Creativity in February l Kharafi International Biennale 2006-2012 or copies of other artworks. according to the age categories of students. tion during GCC meeting on 1994, been Initial Education”. 2008 - Modern Kuwaiti Arts Gallery in l Kuwait Forum for GCC Art 2010, 2011 l Listen to an art teacher’s instructions. The criteria for any winning entry will be elected to participate in Monte Carlo l Teacher of initial classes of secondary Bahrain in May 2008 - Kuwait Forum for l Kuwait Contemporary Art Exhibitions in l Examine artworks. based on the students’ creativity, unique- Competition 1994, earned the golden school, Ukraine. Gulf Fine Arts Creativity in May 2008 - Germany, Bahrain, Riyadh, Jeddah, Russia, l Practice using different drawing materi- ness, amount of effort and technique. plaque on the level of Arab countries l Teacher of initial classes of secondary Small Arts Festival 2008 - ‘Kuwait in Ukraine, Roma, Madrid and London als. organizes yearly by the United Arab school Kiev, Ukraine. Egypt’s Heart’ Festival as part of the l Personal Exhibitions: l Participate in training workshops. The Judges: Emirates 1995 . l Methodologist of the General Secondary Kuwaiti Cultural Week in June 2008 - 3rd l Adeem Al-That (Self-Crust) 2009 at Kuwait Students, you only have one week to fin- Abdul Aziz Arty l Awarded “Prize for Art activities” of the Education Department of the Institute of Kharafi Panel for Modern Arab Arts in Formative Art Association ish your art work. Please all drawing sheets l Kuwaiti male formative artist. He was European Union of Arts in Prague (Czech System Research of Education of November 2008 - 3rd Kuwaiti Festival for l Human Gestures 2011 at Kuwait should be sent back to Kuwait Times office born in Kuwait in 1960. Republic) May 2001. Ukraine. Fine Arts Creativity in February 2009 - Formative Art Association before 19 March 2015. Good luck. Gulf Bank participates in ACK’s 4th MOTO BAZAAR

Attendees at ACK’s 4th Moto Bazaar visit Gulf Bank’s booth.

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank recently participated in the 4th MOTO the red account, the Bank’s dedicated program specially BAZAAR event which took place at the Australian College designed for students aged 17 to 24 years. The account of Kuwait (ACK). requires no minimum deposit to open and can be used as This year’s bazaar brought students, their family and savings accounts with monthly interest payments. In addi- friends together in creative atmosphere where youth set tion, red account holders receive regular special offers and up booths to sell their products and enjoy the festive pro- discounts at over 150 outlets in Kuwait. gram at the bazaar. In addition, bazaar attendees enjoyed a To find out more about the red account and its unique classic car and motorcycle show. Over the two-day MOTO benefits for young people, students can visit the Bank’s BAZAAR event, Gulf Bank had a fully manned stand show- stand at ACK, visit any one of Gulf Bank’s 59 branches, or casing the bank’s red account as well as to assist students call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805. Information with any banking requirements. is also available on the Bank’s bilingual website at www.e- Gulf Bank’s presence aims at informing students about gulfbank.com/red.

KUWAIT: KUNA Board Chairman and Director-General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah met a visiting CNN Arabic delegation yesterday, and held talks on aspects of cooperation between both news organizations. During the meeting, they discussed the possibility that the CNN Arabic can provide training courses to KUNA staff at its centers in Dubai or the US city of Atlanta. The visiting delegation expressed willingness to give KUNA access to its news video services. —KUNA LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 Crime Stomach bug bites Kuwait Report

By Meshaal Al-Enezi She added that the infection is caused by Airline officer charged ing commuters trips to their destinations Debtor takes contaminated food or water. It can be A senior official at a local airline was so long and difficult. The roads grid had KUWAIT: Dr Wafa Al-Hashash, Head of the detected by blood tests, gastroscopy and referred to prosecution on charges of profi- been developed in over 30 years. own life Liver and Digestive System Unit at Sabah stomach biopsy, she said. teering by getting KD 130,000 worth airline Health Zone, warned of the growing num- tickets for him and his friends. Wasting water ber of Stomach Bug cases in Kuwait. She Court upholds women’s petitions Abdullah Al-Kandari, Head of the By Hanan Al-Saadoun stressed that over half of the world’s popu- A Kuwaiti court yesterday ordered Traffic patrols Municipal Council’s Environmental Affairs lation is already infected with this bug, also divorcing a citizen considering her com- Yousif Al-Ghareeb, Municipal Council Committee, warned that squandering KUWAIT: A 24-year-old citizen hanged himself in his known as stomach spiral bacteria, which plaint that her husband smokes, said secu- Member and Head of Hawally Committee, water outside houses leads to the damage Mubarak Al-Kabeer house. A security source said he had leads to stomach and duodenum ulcers rity sources. In another court ruling, a man- urged relevant authorities intensify traffic of roads and infrastructure that costs for- married recently and had become a father, adding that he and, sometimes to cancer. Many people date was made on the complaint of a patrols on heavily congested roads during tunes to be repaired. Kandari added that at killed himself because of loans and financial problems, might not even realize they are infected female student to carry on with her post- rush hours so that they could help ease the least 20 percent of Kuwait’s 380 million gal- according to his family. with these bacteria that cause symptoms graduation studies at Kuwait University traffic flow. lons daily consumption of fresh water (76 like congestion, abdominal pain, contrac- which the concerned committee at KU had He added that certain spots and roads million gallons) is wasted and that this calls tion and iron deficiency, Dr Hashash said. earlier rejected. usually get blocked with heavy traffic mak- for stricter penalties. Two tons waste lifted off Umm Al-Namil Island

Protester arrested Citizenship investigations department detectives arrested citizen Khalifa Al-Hashash who staged a sit-in in front of the Nationality and Passports Department building in Dajeej. Hashash had several placards calling for justice and restoring the nationalities of those whose nationalities were revoked. The source said Hashash was sent to state security.

KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah speaks during the parliament’s session yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat MPs reassured about State’s foreign policy

KUWAIT: The State of Kuwait’s foreign policy is based on Al-Sabah in their address to the parliament at the start of moderation and balance, First Deputy Prime Minister and the new legislative term. The Kuwaiti Government adopts a Drug dealers caught Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- policy of moderation and balance, amid “this scorching tur- Two men were arrested with 250 gm of opium. Information Sabah affirmed yesterday. bulence in the region, and we pray to His Almighty Allah to about an Iranian man trading in drugs was received by the Speaking at yesterday’s Parliament session, the minister spare us repercussions of these events.” DCGD, which then following legal procedures raided his expressed understanding of concerns expressed by some In other news, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled leaves for Riyadh house and found 50 gm of opium. He told police that he MPs in this respect, assuring the lawmakers that broad today to head Kuwait’s delegation to the 134th round of gets the drugs from another Iranian man, who in turn was lines of the country’s foreign policy are declared by His the ministerial council of the Gulf Cooperation Council. His arrested and 200 gm of the drug was found. Both were Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and accompanying delegation will include a number of senior sent to concerned authorities. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak ministry officials.— KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Dive Team lifted two tons of fishing nets and other neglected materials and waste from Umm al Namil island seabed and beach. The project of Umm Al-Namil cleanup, one the team’s important operations, was conducted in coordination with the islands team affiliated with Kuwait City Municipality, said Waleed Al-Shatti, Head of the team’s marine operations. The team, which is affiliated to the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), used small boats to reach the island where the divers succeeded in lifting the fishing nets, plastic waste, dead birds and sunken boats, Shatti said. He added that the first phase of the operation was conducted during the high tide to reach the island easily, stressing on the continuation of the team’s task to carry out ‘Spice’ possession the cleanup operation of this island as well as other Kuwaiti Farwaniya police arrested a Kuwaiti man with 50 islands. envelopes of ‘Spice’ drug that has become popular The 569,000 square meters Umm al Namil Island is lately. He also had KD 3830, believed to be collected located within Kuwait Bay, is only 600 meters from the from drug sales. Kuwaiti mainland, and ranks fifth in size after Boubiyan, Failaka, Warbah and Miskan. It is a habitat for diverse marine creatures such as crabs, shrimps and fish, as well as being a bed nest for large flocks of birds. — KUNA

Smuggling foiled KUWAIT: The Civil Defense Department carried out a mock Kuwait airport customs officers foiled a Sri Lankan man’s exercise to evacuate the main building of the electricity and attempt to smuggle four kilograms of heroin. The drugs water ministry in South Surra. Fire and medical emergencies were hidden in 15 cans of beans. participated in the exercise. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality Ahmadi branch conducted inspection campaigns at supermarkets in Sabahiya, resulting in issuing nine citations for not following general hygiene, working without receiving health certificates and employing workers before receiving their health certificates. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 From the Arabic press

Crime Al-Watan Report On education Conman in reforms, again

police net By Dr Shamlan Al-Essa

KUWAIT: Detectives arrested a Kuwaiti fashion he courageous steps being taken by Education designer for conning a citizen. Lawyer Sultan Al- Minister Dr Bader Al-Essa in the education field Mandeel filed a complaint on behalf of his client Tare reforms that deserve to receive support from against the designer, who offered the client to the state and society so as to realize those reforms. The be her partner in a shop, with promises of good minister says that the higher education ministry tries to profits. The client agreed because of the design- collect debts from students who have learning difficul- er’s reputation, but when she did not deliver on ties and therefore did not complete their studies. He her promises and there was no project two years said the ministry is keen on following this matter, later, the victim resorted to the police to get her adding that there are special committees that work money back. hard on preparing an integrated plan for the admission mechanisms in the higher education institutes. It is also keen on having Kuwaiti students getting their admis- Maids charged with theft sion as it is serious on students completing their uni- A citizen accused two of her maids of stealing versity studies. We support any serious steps taken by the minister a diamond ring worth KD 8,000 by breaking in the field of reforming education, and no one denies into her cupboard. Surra police are investigat- that our students in all education stages from the ele- ing. A thief broke into a polyclinic in Fahaheel mentary through secondary are suffering because of and stole the cash box with KD 1,504 in it. the sterility of the educations system, which forces the student on learning by heart and receiving information Al-Anbaa instead of creativity and innovation. The school stage is Drug dealer arrested the most critical stage in forming the mentality, princi- Andalus police arrested an Iraqi man who tar- ples and abilities of our children from the age of 4 - 8, geted cafe patrons to sell them ‘Spice’ and so they should get good education in a changing world ‘Chemical’ drugs after receiving them by courier. Kuwait indispensible in that only recognizes outstanding performance. A security source said information was received We are aware that the new minister cannot deal that the man sold drugs to university and insti- with all complicated educational issues which include tute students, and was caught. The suspect had fighting IS: Pentagon updating and developing students, teachers, adminis- 50 envelopes of spice and KD 3,830. He told tration, curricula and methods. For success to be achieved in all educational stages, a societal movement police he gets the drugs by courier and sells it to KUWAIT: Kuwait is an integral member in source said during the recent visit of US deprive the terrorists from finding a safe students. that is aware of the importance of education which is the anti-IS international alliance not only Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to haven,” the source said. not easy on early education and training is required. for logistically supporting the alliance, but Kuwait. “Attacking IS in Mosul would only Commenting on training Syrian oppo- The question: How can outstanding students who for other strategic supports it provides, a commence once the Iraqi troops are sition, the source said that it would be Fugitive caught are searching for knowledge instead of a degree to get US defense secretary source said. The ready for it and that preparations are cur- done to help them defend the Syrian a job and the social status, be prepared? Hawally detectives arrested a citizen who is a support Kuwait can extend include rently pending including air strikes, cut- people from IS attacks. suspect in 32 cases that vary from thefts, The steps by the higher education ministry in being sources such as efforts in fighting radical ting enemy communication lines and iso- “President Obama sees that the strict in the admission policy to the university and robberies and drug use. He had a pistol, 20 ideologies, funding the organization as lating Mosul. Anti-IS strike and operations Syrians will never be stable with Asad in applied institutions are very important. I say it very Kuwaiti nationality certificates, medical doc- well as the human aids it presents, the would continue in both Iraq and Syria to power,” stressed the source. — Al-Anbaa frankly and clearly, out of my humble experience in uments, 40 mobile phones, nine computers university teaching, which was extended over 30 years, and six expensive watches. He told police he that university education is in danger, and the academ- spent the stolen money on entertainment. Nisf’s reinstatement suspended ic and scientific level of new students who are coming out from the general secondary is very weak and is not KUWAIT: The Cassation Court decided to accept the govern- ship and oppressing liberties. They also warned that up to the required level. Is it realistic that students are System failure ment’s request to stop the implementation of a decision by such practices have been hindering Kuwait’s resump- admitted to the college of social science, with a gap of A security source said the traffic department’s the appeals court to return Sami Al-Nisf as chairman of Kuwait tion of its leading regional cultural role. In protest over 75-80% and cannot read a few lines in the scientif- computer stops displaying fines when they reach Airways until a final decision is made. Meanwhile, the against the ministry’s practices, the information min- ic material, and cannot express themselves fluently? KD 3,150 or 50 citations. Any violations that Cassation Court decided to extend the period of a decision istry’s censorship committee member and writer Who can believe that some female university students do not know the location of Kuwait bay and a exceed this amount can only be known after over Al-Kharafi Group’s demands from Al-Watan newspaper to Abdullah Khalaf has resigned. Some writers described college is located in Shuwaikh? We have highly out- paying the KD 3,150, or by consulting the min- pay KD 20 million until March 31. Kharafi Group is seeking the the ministry’s practices as IS-like that have been istry’s information center. The source said a standing students in the colleges of medicine, apllied amount from Al-Watan over purchases of paper and printing ‘beheading creativity’, thinking that writers would medicine, engineering, science, math and others, but report will be sent to Interior Ministry supplies, which Al-Watan has not paid for. — Al-Qabas ‘bury’ their heads in the sand and keep silent about it. Undersecretary Lt Gen Suleiman Al-Fahd to solve most social and arts majors are below standard. Dr Khalifa Al-Waqian said that researchers, thinkers and Strict measures in accepting students in university the problem. The source said this problem has Authors frustrated intellectuals were no longer able to handle major embarrassed traffic officers, as a citizen pub- education and scholarships is required, and in order KUWAIT: A number of Kuwaiti writers and authors recently issues because they were surrounded with endless not to be unfair to all applicants be them general sec- lished a clip on social media showing that he has slammed what they described as a series of abuse and arbi- restrictions and impediments. Dr Suleiman Al-Askari traffic fines totaling KD 23,000, which was proven ondary graduates, a test is required to be admitted. trariness practiced by the Ministry of Information, noting stressed that no censor is able to judge a literary work This rigorousness is required because grades of the right after referring to the information technolo- that it has been killing ‘Kuwaiti creativity’ through censor- unless he is, at least, as cultured and educated as the general secondary are not right, because students of gy center at the ministry. —Al-Rai authors themselves. — Al-Jarida private schools, especially the bi-lingual ones have difficult tests and their curricula are foreign, that is why Violators to be fined their grades are less than those of government second- KUWAIT: Minister of Communications and Municipality ary graduates. In order to be unfair to anyone for schol- Affairs Essa Al-Kandari stressed that public funds viola- arships, all must pass the TOEFL test with at least 500 tors would be legally held accountable, be them small points in order to be admitted to foreign universities. or senior officials. “If by his own actions, an employee I was hurt and attacked, and was sent to the prose- causes damage to others who go to court, sue their cution because I said the truth about some of our stu- departments and win cases and get compensations, the dents describing them as hollow drums, and I may be department will sue that particular employee and have tough in my evaluation, but is there an ideal way to change the reality of sick education other than being him pay the compensation,” he explained. In directives strict, and increasing care of our children before they circulated in both ministries under his jurisdiction, are lost? — Al-Watan Kandari stressed that laws mandate public servants do their jobs properly and stick to rules and regulations. “They should also dedicate working hours for job duties alone,” he underlined. — Al-Jarida Al-Jarida MoE enforces retirement KUWAIT: Education Minister Dr Bader Al-Essa said com- Strange political pulsory retirement for those in supervisory jobs includes directors of educational areas and there are no situations exceptions, “even for my family”. Essa said retirement is mandatory for MoE employees who have worked 35 By Dr Hassan Jouhar years or more, adding that there is no change for employees who have served for 34 years or less. He commented on a report by the Kuwait Institution for he political situation in Kuwait is going through a Scientific Research on building schools in south Ali Al- state of strange illogical contradictions as the Salem by saying, “of course we will build various schools Topposition and public movements have subsided almost next to zero levels, while systematic corruption in that area as soon as we see the report”. — Al-Rai prevails in all constitutional establishments including the parliament, if not sponsored by official bodies. What is even stranger is this boldness that corruption Al-Anbaa advocates have been showing in discussing ideas and taking attitudes that mock and take people’s intelligence very lightly. Things have turned so bad that some Mind ‘Socratization’ lawmakers admire corrupt, custom-tailored legislations such as reviving the bad debts law at this particular time when oil prices have retreated to one third of what they By Salah Al-Sayer were a year ago, leading to huge deficits. One other strange thing lies in the fact that the e against my brother, me and my brother majority of the people are angry and well aware that the against my cousin and me and my cousin country was steeply falling into desperate, depressing ‘Magainst the world.’ This common saying is levels of corruption, especially after the futile measures such a terrible concept that encourages fanaticism the government took against opposition members such and prejudice. Yet, it proved very useful and wise in as detainment, imprisonment and withdrawing citizen- ancient times when fanaticism for tribes, families and ships. The question now is: What’s next? What options clans provided individuals with protection. It also can we use to stop political deterioration and corrup- provided them with job opportunities when family tion? Can we ever revive hopes of reform? These are def- members and cousins used to work together in herd- initely difficult questions that pose great challenges for ing or agriculture long before many of them received any political blocs because the majority icons are step- education. The true alliance in those days was one ping backward and got lost in internal conflicts and made in both good and vicious causes! agendas because they had been infiltrated and dis- ‘You have to be a wolf amongst wolves.’ This is persed. They imposed radical religious slogans regard- another saying that calls for brutality and savagery. It less of any national reform projects. They are prioritizing portrays people as a group of predators living in a Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen. They tried jungle and urged to act as fierce as wolves do with dragging the masses to such controversial agendas that other animals. It encourages lupine, vicious behavior have created internal divisions. Enthusiastic youth are with people to avoid being ‘eaten’ by other ‘human no more impressed by those icons, who except for monsters.’ Just like the previous saying, this one no being former lawmakers, lack any leadership potentials. longer fits our era, though it used to be very useful in On the other hand, the government and its allies ancient times when tribes used to conquer each oth- have taken full control of the media, the press and satel- er and wars, in which the mightier had the upper lite TV channels. hand, were endless. Opposition activity is now limited to social media So many of those proverbs, sayings and ideas that networks and smartphones despite the fierce competi- still dominate our minds and conscience and form tion they get from others also using these technologies our collective concepts and mentality are no longer and the huge amount of mind-distracting rumors. fit for ‘human consumption’ in this modern civilized If there is any hope that the national opposition age. Therefore, we need to review them and work on resumes it role, I believe this would come through ‘deleting’ them from the minds of younger genera- resuming dialogue amongst various political, social and tions through intense media and educational pro- public factions with an attempt to focus on one unques- grams. We need to restructure and update mentali- tionable goal and exclude any narrow-minded mottos ties and ideologies, because according to Socrates, or agendas in addition to bringing younger members getting rid of old rigid ideas is but an introduction to who have not been tarnished by sectarian, tribal or generating new time and age-appropriate ones. regional concepts forward to take the leadership. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 House for sale in Indonesia Iraq dismisses Saudi worries about Iranian control with free wife Page 8 Page 12

ALEPPO: A wounded woman, still in shock, leaves Dar El Shifa hospital in Aleppo, Syria. — AP Syria’s civil war eclipsed by IS terror

BEIRUT: As Syria’s civil war rages into a fifth year, the daily tries, all this money and armaments and so on?” he said. the first few years of the Syrian revolution, there were Hokayem, senior fellow at the London-based suffering of its people has been overshadowed by atroci- “You supposed that he’s a dictator who is killing his good two clearly identified sides to the conflict. Today, it’s a war International Institute for Strategic Studies, does not ties committed by the Islamic State group that have people, so the people are against him, regional countries of everyone against everyone,” said Bitar. The past year expect a political solution in the foreseeable future. “The sparked international horror. Four years after anti-regime are against him, and the West is against him-and he suc- saw a dramatic decline of the Western-backed rebel Free levels of violence may drop because a lot of people have protests broke out on March 15, 2011, jihadists control ceeded,” Assad said, referring to himself. Syrian Army, which after some initial military gains already been killed and there will be a transfer of popula- large tracts of territory, a defiant President Bashar Al- against Assad’s forces has since been reduced to a sprin- tion,” he said. “But it’s very difficult to see Syria being put Assad is clinging to power and revolutionary dreams ‘Everyone against everyone’ kling of weak and underfunded groups. Syria’s economy together any time soon.” Pro-democracy activists have have faded. The sickening tactics of IS have captured the The revolution has evolved into a complex conflict and infrastructure have been destroyed. Hunger and cold lost hope. “What revolution are we talking about now? I world’s attention in a conflict that has killed more than with many sides-from regime forces backed by Lebanese knock on every door. am totally convinced the international community has no 210,000 people. With a brutality shown to the world in Hezbollah Shiite militants and Iranian military officers to More than 12 million people are in need of humanitar- conscience,” said Yazan Homsy, who endured a nearly their own slick film productions, the jihadists have opposition rebels, jihadist rivals and Kurdish militia. “In ian aid and over 11 million have fled their homes. Emile two-year regime siege of his home city Homs. — AFP beheaded hostages, hung the bodies of “infidels” and “spies” from crosses, and thrown homosexuals from rooftops. They have paraded caged prisoners and enslaved women through the streets, released gruesome videos of the murder of Western hostages and burned alive a Jordanian fighter pilot. They have attacked minority communities and destroyed ancient artefacts. “IS has gone so far in its horror that it has succeeded in persuading the West that it represents the ultimate enemy, and that everyone else is a lesser evil,” said Karim Bitar, researcher at the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Relations. “We have therefore returned to the state of mind that looks at everything through the prism of the war against terrorism,” he said. IS began gaining prominence in 2013 as an Al-Qaeda affiliate before essentially being disowned by the global extremist network. After initially avoiding confrontation with the Syrian army, it began openly fighting the regime the next year. By then, IS had captured territory in Syria’s north and east from anti-regime rebels and Al-Qaeda’s official Syrian branch Al-Nusra Front. Last June IS declared an Islamic “caliphate” spanning swathes of Syria and neighboring Iraq. Foreign fighters have streamed into Syria to join the jihadist ranks, causing alarm overseas about the prospect of battle-hardened militants coming home.

‘A lesser evil’ By agreeing in 2013 to hand over its chemical weapons to a global watchdog, Syria ensured that the West would not intervene militarily against Assad, even after a deadly chemical attack that killed hundreds outside Damascus. With a US-led coalition now waging daily air strikes against the jihadists, the West increasingly sees Assad as a potential partner in the war against IS. Calls for his departure have fallen by the wayside. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura recently described Assad as “part of the solution”. “We have begun to think once again, like we did before the Arab revolutions, that authoritarianism is a lesser evil and that we should engage authoritarian regimes,” Bitar said. In a recent interview with Portuguese television, a confident Assad brushed off Syria’s uprising as a Western conspiracy, much like he did in the very first stages of the revolt. “How could a revolution collapse or fail if you have the support of the West, the support of regional coun- INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 Iraq dismisses Saudi worries about Iranian control

CAIRO: Iraq’s foreign minister dismissed Saudi con- Arab League meeting. “We want relations with Faisal told a news conference last week. Asked expressed concern about Iran’s growing influence in cerns that Iran was taking control of his country and Saudi Arabia and with Iran ... Our openness to Saudi about those comments, Jaafari said the fighting in Yemen, where it has supplied weapons, money and he said Baghdad sought good relations with both Arabia does not mean our relations with other Tikrit was the result of Iraqi efforts, adding: “It’s no training to the Shiite Houthi militia, according to regional powers. Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi countries will flag ... and this does not mean Iraq is secret there are countries supporting us”. Iraqi offi- Yemeni and Iranian officials. Jaafari sought to high- Arabia, the main regional rival of Shiite Iran, fears becoming Persian.” Powerful Iranian-backed militias cials say Iran helped organize Shiite volunteers and light evidence of improving Iraqi-Saudi relations. Tehran’s growing influence in Iraq, whose govern- have taken charge of the battle against Islamic State militia forces last year after Grand Ayatollah Sistani “We have cooperated to define a building for the ment is Shiite-led. Riyadh is also concerned that Iran militants in Iraq since the Iraqi army deserted en appealed to Iraqis to defend their country following Saudi embassy in Baghdad ... and we welcomed a will gain from any nuclear deal it manages to clinch masse last summer. Iran has recently sent an elite big territorial advances by Islamic State. delegation from the Saudi foreign ministry,” he said. in its ongoing negotiations with the West. Revolutionary Guard commander to oversee part of However, the officials put the number of Iranian Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iraq after then-dictator “Iran has supported Iraq but did not send armies the battle in Tikrit north of Baghdad. advisers in Iraq in the hundreds, far fewer than the Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. Earlier this to Iraq and did not interfere in Iraq’s sovereignty”, “The situation in Tikrit is a prime example of 3,000 US officers training Iraqi troops. US and coali- year, Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah ordered mis- Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari said in an inter- what we are worried about. Iran is taking over the tion forces are also conducting air strikes against sions to be opened in Baghdad and Arbil, capital of view in Cairo late on Tuesday after attending an country,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al- Islamic State fighters in Iraq. Saudi Arabia has also Iraq’s Kurdish region. — Reuters Question marks hang over Darfur peacekeeping force Armed groups attack with impunity

ZAM ZAM CAMP: One of the world’s largest peacekeeping overhaul the mission and improve its effectiveness. “What is forces is being cut back and revamped as it has been failing to happening at the moment is not working,” a Security Council protect civilians in Darfur, the vast Sudanese region where ambassador said. “It’s expensive. The mission is dysfunctional gunmen roam in Land Cruisers and on horseback. While diplo- in a number of ways.” The ambassador added that the goal was mats and UN officials feel a smaller version of the joint United “a sharp refocusing and contraction of the mission.” According Nations-African Union force could be more effective, question to several UN officials, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon grew so marks over its future terrify some of the millions of people frustrated with UNAMID last year that he said it should be shut caught up in nearly 12 years of bloodshed. The Darfur conflict down. The comment was more an expression of exasperation began in 2003 when mainly non-Arab tribes took up arms than a recommendation for policy, the officials said. Asked against the Arab-led government in Khartoum, accusing it of about Ban’s comment, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric discrimination. The mass killings of a decade ago have eased, referred to Ban’s latest report on Darfur to the Security Council but the insurgency continues and Khartoum has sharply esca- and its description of the worsening humanitarian and security lated attacks on rebel groups over the past year. situation and challenges UNAMID faces - including movement Residents of sprawling camps for people displaced by the restrictions and attacks against peacekeepers. fighting describe being driven from their homes by Arab fight- “This is exactly why the Secretary-General believes it is ers from a government militia that Western officials and essential for the United Nations to continue to carry out its activists say is a new form of the feared “Janjaweed” brigades. mandated responsibilities in Darfur, the protection of civilians “They entered houses made from straw and grass and looted being chief among them,” he added. Ladsous has been calling all our money and livestock,” said Ezdeen Salih, a 37-year-old in for improvements UNAMID for years, though council diplomats Zam Zam, the biggest camp for the displaced in Darfur said of say previous success was marginal. And if the latest attempt to an attack she blamed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). restructure the force is unsuccessful, Security Council diplo- Almost half a million people were displaced last year alone, the mats say they will consider other options - including a UN highest annual total since the height of the conflict in 2004, UN withdrawal from the mission. TIKRIT: Iraqi pro-government fighters celebrate as they advance into Tikrit, 160 kms north of Baghdad, during a figures show. “They beat the men with sticks and burned our military operation to regain the city from jihadists from the Islamic state (IS) group yesterday. — AFP homes,” Salih said. “They told us to never come back, saying Peacekeepers sanctioned that the area had become an Arab area and that we are sup- Khartoum has always been reluctant to cooperate with the porting rebel movements. We fled with our children.” Late last force. Civilians are paying the price. According to the UN, about Iraqi forces take half of year Khartoum ordered UNAMID out of the country after it 4.4 million people need humanitarian assistance in Darfur and began investigating an alleged mass rape by Sudanese soldiers more than 2.55 million remain displaced. One of the biggest in Darfur. The government denies any wrongdoing by either problems has been the joint nature of the force - the African Tikrit’s northern district the soldiers or the RSF. UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous Union and the United Nations together. “The hybrid mission said it was unlikely the mission would simply pull out of Darfur. experiment has proven to be an abysmal failure,” another But the United Nations says discussions with Khartoum on an Security Council ambassador said. Meanwhile, UN officials say, Advances stalled by bombs, snipers and minefield eventual exit strategy for the force have begun, even as efforts the council’s interest in Darfur has waned as more high-profile to make the force more efficient proceed. conflicts like Syria and Iraq take priority. BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces and militia fighters cap- State fighters blew up a bridge over the Tigris, which could Last week the UN Security Council received a report on a tured part of Tikrit’s northern Qadisiya district yesterday in hinder a coordinated assault on the city from different Exasperation strategic review of the mission conducted by the UN peace- their first advance into the city seized nine months ago by directions. UNAMID has faced allegations by Western powers it has not keeping department. Reuters obtained a copy. It said the mis- Islamic State militants, security officials and the provincial done enough to protect civilians and withheld information on sion is slimming down its ranks, sending home incompetent governor said. The home city of executed former president Ramadi attacks the scale of violence against civilians and peacekeepers by the units, cutting unnecessary jobs, redeploying troops stationed Saddam Hussein, Tikrit is the focus of Baghdad’s biggest If Iraq’s Shiite-led government is able to retake Tikrit it Sudanese army and allied militias. UN officials acknowledge at dozens of outposts around Darfur and working to improve counter-offensive to push back last year’s Islamic State would be the first city clawed back from the Sunni insurgents shortcomings and note that this is one reason for their push to its capacity to protect civilians. —Reuters sweep through much of northern and central Iraq. and would give it momentum in the next, pivotal stage of More than 20,000 troops and Iranian-backed Shiite the campaign - to recapture Mosul, the largest city in the Muslim militias known as Hashid Shaabi, supported by north. Mosul is the biggest city held by the ultra-radical local Sunni Muslim tribes, launched the offensive 10 days Islamic State, who now rule a self-declared cross-border ago, seizing territory to the east and along the Tigris river caliphate in Sunni regions of Syria and Iraq. Over the past few to the north and south. On Tuesday they took the town of months Islamic State has gradually lost ground in Iraq to the Al-Alam on the northern edge of Tikrit, paving the way for army, Shi’ite militias and Kurdish peshmerga forces, backed an attack on the city itself. “The governor of Salahuddin by air strikes carried out by a U.S.-led coalition of mainly announces the purging of half of Qadisiya district, the Western and allied Arab states. The United States says largest of Tikrit’s neighborhoods,” a statement from gover- Baghdad did not seek aerial backup from the coalition in the nor Raed Al-Jubouri’s office said. The army and militia fight- Tikrit campaign. Instead, support on the ground has come ers raised the national flag above a military hospital in the from neighboring Iran, Washington’s longtime regional rival, section of Qadisiya they had retaken from the militants, which has sent an elite Revolutionary Guard commander to security officials said. oversee part of the battle. In the western province of Anbar, Yesterday morning’s offensive then stalled when suicide car bombers in seven vehicles attacked Iraqi army advancing troops came under sniper fire and paused to positions in the provincial capital Ramadi, about 90 km west defuse roadside bombs and booby-trapped buildings. To of Baghdad, police and medical sources say. A total of five the west of the city, advancing forces were halted by a people were killed in the attacks, including two policemen, minefield on the outskirts of the city. To the south, the and 19 were wounded, a medical source said, stressing that army and two military helicopters shelled Islamic State the toll was only preliminary. One of the car bombs exploded positions but no ground operation was taking place, the near a bridge in the west of the city and damaged part of the sources said. Security officials said on Tuesday that Islamic bridge, a police source said. — Reuters IS executes ‘Israeli spy’

BEIRUT: A video posted online by Islamic State militants showed a boy fatally shooting Muhammad Musallam, an Israeli Arab accused by the group of having signed up as a jihadi to spy for Israel’s intelligence service. The video, published by the group’s Furqan media outlet, showed Musallam, 19, sitting in a room wearing an orange jumpsuit, talking about how he had been recruited and trained by Mossad. He said his father and elder brother had encouraged him. After that, it showed Musallam being escorted to a field and then being shot in the head by a boy, described by an older, French- speaking fighter as one of the “cubs of the caliphate”. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage, which also appeared on Twitter feeds used by Islamic State supporters. Israeli security officials said they were aware of the video but could not confirm that it was authentic. JERUSALEM: The parents of Arab-Israeli Mohammed Musallam (por- The video, about 13 minutes long, showed trait) react at the family’s home in the East Jerusalem Jewish settle- Musallam on his knees when the boy armed ment of Neve-Yaacov after the Islamic State (IS) released a video pur- with a pistol and wearing a military uniform portedly showing a young boy executing their son, who IS claimed fires one bullet into Musallam’s forehead. The infiltrated the group in Syria to spy for the Jewish state. — AFP boy then fired three more shots into his body. In the video, Musallam said he had joined Islamic State to report to the Israelis on Pakistan fines Qatari royal weapons caches, bases and Palestinian recruits. Israel and his family denied that he was an for hunting without permit Israeli spy. An Israeli security official had said Musallam went to Syria to fight for Islamic PESHAWAR: Pakistani authorities have fined a Qatari royal $800 for State in October last year. Musallam’s father has hunting birds with falcons without a permit in the northwest of the denied his son was a spy, saying a month ago country, officials said yesterday. that his son had gone missing while on a The royal, identified as Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman bin tourist trip to Turkey. Hamad, was caught in Dera Ismail Khan district of northwestern Said Musallam and the youth’s mother, Um Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November, Ishtiaq Urmar, the environment Ahmad, wept at their home in East Jerusalem and wildlife advisor to the provincial chief minister said. The prince also when they learned of his death. Clutching her did not have permits for the three hunting falcons he brought into son’s photograph, Um Ahmad told reporters: “A Pakistan and they were detained, Urmar added. spy of 19? How is that possible? Why would he He said the Qatari’s hunting trip ended and he left after paying an have gone there if he were a spy?” Said 80,000 rupee fine ($800). The issue of Gulf royals coming to Pakistan to Musallam said his son had been trying to hunt with falcons is becoming increasingly controversial. Last year a return home when he was captured. He Saudi royal illegally hunted more than 2,000 houbara bustards, which accused the militants of forcing his son to say are protected under Pakistani law. he was a spy before killing him just for show. And last month another Saudi prince came to hunt bustards, “Mohammad was told by them to say about believed in the Middle East to have aphrodisiac properties, despite a himself that he works for the Israelis,” Said court-imposed ban. Critics say the Pakistani government is too willing Musallam said. “They took him as a victim, only to sacrifice the country’s wildlife for the amusement of wealthy Gulf to show the world, so the world would be royal families, which donate large sums in aid. — AFP afraid of them.” — Reuters THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Racist chant dents University of Oklahoma’s image

NORMAN: Almost a generation ago, all National Merit scholars and enrolls sequences forever.” Also on Tuesday, that street again.” But fraternity mem- white fraternity. He said more than 10 ternity-sorority system. “Some are the University of Oklahoma set out to more of them than any other public Beauton Gilbow, the fraternity’s house bers say chapters at Oklahoma have percent of the roughly 100 members doing quite well. They’re making raise its profile, seeking to build a university in the nation. It has pro- mother, issued a statement that taken steps to diversify, recruiting of his Phi Kappa Psi fraternity now are progress,” Boren said. “Others are still regional school that served mostly stu- duced 29 Rhodes scholars. Boren also addressed a video from 2013 showing more African-American, Asian and African-American. locked in the past, and they need to dents from the Southwest into a lead- expanded the honors program and her repeating a racial slur against Hispanic students. “We’ve always fos- Bell said some fraternities and realize that it enriches the experience ing institution that attracted top schol- raised large amounts of money for blacks as music plays in the back- tered a community where anyone sororities are more diverse than oth- and the friendships that are involved if ars. President David Boren made strik- endowed chairs - so much that the ground. Gilbow said she was singing who is qualified can enter. We don’t ers, and Boren acknowledged at a they become more diverse as organi- ing progress, achieving a reputation state had to scale back an offer to along to a song. She said she was look at your race,” said Jordan Bell, an news conference Monday that more zations. “I don’t think we can paint the that now extends well beyond the match the donations. “heartbroken” by the portrayal that she African-American senior from needs to be done to attract minority whole Greek system with a broad Sooners football team that once was racist but understood how the Washington, DC, who joined a mostly students to the university and the fra- brush.” —AP defined the campus. But those A horrible mistake video must appear in the context of improvements seem in peril after The video was taken on a bus the week’s events. members of a fraternity were caught going to a Founder’s Day event at a on video chanting a racial slur. The country club. The person who record- Fraternity and sorority chant referenced lynching and indicated it has cooperated with the investi- A “house mom” is a housing direc- ed black students would never be gation, Boren said Tuesday ahead of a tor who might oversee staff and admitted to OU’s chapter of Sigma Board of Regents meeting. Also finances at a sorority or fraternity Alpha Epsilon. Tuesday, one fraternity member seen house. Some students at OU, particu- Boren, a former Oklahoma gover- on the video and parents of another larly African-Americans who make up nor and US senator, acted swiftly. He issued statements apologizing. In a about 5 percent of the campus popula- immediately severed ties with the fra- statement emailed by his father, Parker tion, said racism is alive and well and ternity and ordered members to vacate Rice said the incident “likely was fueled that a mostly segregated fraternity and their house. On Tuesday, he expelled by alcohol,” but “that’s not an excuse.” sorority system is at least partially to the two students who appeared to be He said he was “deeply sorry” for the blame for creating an environment leading the chant for creating a hostile performance, calling it “wrong and where racism can thrive. “It’s too segre- educational environment and prom- reckless,” “a horrible mistake” and “a gated,” said Markeshia Lyon, a junior ised others involved would face disci- devastating lesson” for which he is from Oklahoma City who is black. pline. “I have emphasized that there is “seeking guidance.” “That’s something that’s passed down, zero tolerance for this kind of threaten- He said he withdrew from the uni- and that’s something that needs to ing racist behavior at the University of versity Monday and that threatening change.” Oklahoma,” Boren said in a statement. calls to his family prompted them to Lyon recalled trying to attend a fra- Since taking the helm of the state’s leave their North Dallas home. The par- ternity party her freshman year with flagship university more than 20 years ents of Levi Pettit posted a statement several friends, all of whom were ago, Boren has made ambitious efforts online saying they were shocked by African-American, and being told they OKLAHOMA: University of Oklahoma students march to the now closed University of to recruit top students and faculty. The their son’s actions, that he “made a hor- were not welcome. “It was very hurt- Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during a rally in Norman, Okla. —AP school offers generous scholarships to rible mistake, and will live with the con- ful,” she said. “I would never set foot on Back in political fray, Clinton ends silence on email uproar Comments ‘provide more questions than answers’

NEW YORK: Presumed 2016 presi- ed emails were not permanently Called to testify can determine which documents dential hopeful Hillary Clinton deleted. Asked directly if she or her Republicans kept up the pres- should be public and which should stormed back onto America’s politi- team destroyed any work emails, sure, demanding the entirety of remain private.” Gowdy also said he cal stage Tuesday, seeking to quell she was unequivocal: “We did not.” Clinton’s correspondence be would urge Clinton to appear twice concerns she used private email The former first lady and US senator reviewed for release. “Secretary before his committee, first to “clear while secretary of state but has been accused, mainly by her Clinton didn’t hand over her emails up her role and resolve issues sur- acknowledging it was not the Republican opponents, of trying to out of the goodness of her heart-she rounding her exclusive use of per- “smarter” option. In her first public improperly keep her emails out of was forced to by smart, determined sonal email,” and then in a public comments since the controversy the public domain. and effective oversight by the hearing on Benghazi. erupted last week, Clinton said she While Clinton apparently con- House Select Committee on Clinton, who has laid low for exclusively used a personal email travened State Department guide- Benghazi,” House Speaker John months, had come under mounting account as a “matter of conven- lines against conducting official Boehner’s spokesman said, referring pressure to address the emails, ience,” and insisted that the private UTAH: Photo shows the firing squad execution chamber at the Utah State server she used suffered no security Prison in Draper, Utah. —AP breaches. She also said “no classified material” was divulged in the emails, while promising she had turned Utah to allow over all work communications to the State Department. But of the 63,320 emails Clinton sent and received during her four years as top diplo- ‘firing squad’ mat, she defiantly said about 30,000 of them were personal, private records-such as those planning her UTAH: Lawmakers in Utah voted on Tuesday ly carried out lethal injections that led to daughter’s wedding and “yoga rou- to bring back executions by firing squad if inmates’ physical distress and drawn-out tines”-and had been deleted. lethal injections are unavailable, which deaths, and that death by firing squad was And in a move not calculated to would make it the only state in the country more humane. Republican state silence her critics, she said the to permit the practice. Utah used firing Representative Paul Ray of Clearfield, the bill’s Clinton family server on which all squads for decades before adopting lethal sponsor, said someone executed by gunfire her emails were stored would not be injections in 2004. The Republican-spon- typically dies in three to five seconds. “It’s a turned over to the government or sored bill, which passed the state Senate by quick bleed-out,” he said. Utah previously an independent commission. 18-10, was introduced amid national con- used firing squads, including in the execution Clinton, mindful of how several cerns about the efficacy of lethal injections. of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who in Republican lawmakers have ques- The measure, approved last month by the January 1977 became the first person to be tioned her actions, said she had tak- Utah House of Representatives, says a firing put to death in the United States in 10 years, en “unprecedented” steps to comply squad should be used if “the state is unable after insisting the sentence be carried out. with the law requiring official The previous year, the US Supreme Court records be kept. “Looking back, it to lawfully obtain the substance or sub- NEW YORK: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the media after keynoting a stances necessary to conduct an execution had upheld various death penalty statutes, might have been smarter” to use by lethal intravenous injection 30 or more ending a hiatus stemming from a constitu- two separate phones and email Women’s Empowerment Event at the United Nations in New York City. —AFP days” before the date set for the procedure. tional ban against “cruel and unusual pun- accounts, Clinton told reporters Several US states have had to search for new ishment.” The last person to be executed in after speaking at a United Nations business on personal email, she to the panel investigating the terror which Republicans have seized on drugs for their lethal injection cocktails after Utah by firing squad was Ronnie Lee women’s conference. “I thought one insisted her actions were legal. The attacks in Libya in 2012 that killed as a sign Clinton may have sought to many pharmaceutical companies, mostly in Gardner in 2010. Gardner was convicted of device would be simpler, and obvi- 20-minute appearance, her first four Americans. keep sensitive emails private despite Europe, imposed sales bans about four years murdering a lawyer inside a Salt Lake City ously it hasn’t worked out that way.” before a swarm of reporters since Smelling fresh blood, committee her official communications being ago because they objected to having med- courthouse in 1985. The bill now goes to Some 21 months after she left the email revelations last week, chairman Trey Gowdy warned that part of the public record. The email ications made for other purposes being used Utah Governor Gary Herbert. In a statement, office, following a State Department was an effort for the famous Clinton’s comments provided more publication process will take in executions. a spokesman for the Republican governor request to her and previous secre- Democrat to tamp down the questions than answers. “Without months, but the State Department Supporters of the legislation said three said he had not yet decided whether to sign taries of state, Clinton turned over uproar before she possibly launch- access to Secretary Clinton’s person- said it would soon release an initial states - Oklahoma, Ohio and Arizona - recent- the measure. —Reuters some 55,000 pages of emails. “We es a run for the White House, as al server, there is no way for the batch of 300. Potential Republican went through a thorough process to early as April. But the press confer- State Department to know it has presidential rival Jeb Bush recently identify all of my work-related ence was less a study in seamless acquired all documents that should released 250,000 emails from his emails and deliver them to the State preparation for an all-but-certain be made public,” Gowdy said. “I see time as Florida governor. The Department,” she said. But she campaign rollout and more a form no choice but for Secretary Clinton Democratic National Committee Obama and Republicans offered no avenue for proving that of crisis management before two to turn her server over to a neutral, noted that Bush too used a private relations hit new low potentially embarrassing work-relat- dozen television cameras. detached third-party arbiter who account on a private server. —AFP

WASHINGTON: Relations between President at every turn. It’s the starkest sign yet that Venezuelan president seeks decree powers amid US rift Barack Obama and congressional Republicans Republicans see an adversary, not a potential have hit a new low. There has been little direct partner, in Obama’s White House - even on for- CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro specter of an external threat to justify his request. Venezuela “an extraordinary threat to the nation- communication between Obama and the eign policy issues where partisan differences will request Tuesday special decree powers to “Using the external enemy, which is imperialism, al security” of the United States. The two nations Republican leadership since they took full con- have traditionally been somewhat muted. “The confront what he termed “imperialist aggres- the government takes advantage to build a more have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010. trol of Congress in January. Obama has threat- mutual efforts to work together under this sions” from the United States, as relations repressive legal framework,” Edgard Gutierrez, The US State Department restricted visas to ened to veto more than a dozen Republican- administration have just disappeared, so I think between the countries sank further. Maduro will coordinator of the Venebarometro polling firm, dozens of Venezuelan officials last month, backed bills. And House Speaker John Boehner there’s a sense now that extraordinary things submit his request to the National Assembly, said. Rocio San Miguel, head of the Control prompting Maduro to demand Washington to infuriated the White House by inviting Israeli occasionally need to happen to be sure that the dominated by his ruling socialist party, a day Ciudadano NGO specializing in security issues, reduce its diplomatic presence in Caracas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address president understands how strongly the after US President Barack Obama ordered new said the legislation would “be an instrument require visas for US tourists. Congress without consulting the administration Congress feels,” said Sen. Roy Blunt. sanctions against seven Venezuelan officials over against the internal enemy ... to undermine first. But the dispute over Obama’s high-stakes The dismal state of the relationship has large- an opposition crackdown. The Venezuelan human rights.” US sanctions ‘sick joke’ nuclear negotiations with Iran has put the rela- ly sunk the slim prospects for bipartisan cooper- leader wrote on Twitter that he would attend the Venezuela’s regional allies Cuba and Ecuador tionship perhaps beyond repair. ation in Obama’s final two years in office, with assembly session to “personally deliver the Special powers likely closed ranks behind Caracas. An official statement The president and his advisers are seething one exception being work on international trade request for the Enabling Law for Peace and Maduro, who was elected to succeed his late published in communist Cuba’s state-run media over Republican efforts to undermine the sensi- agreements that the White House and Sovereignty.” mentor Hugo Chavez in April 2013, had obtained called the US sanctions “arbitrary and aggressive.” tive discussions with Iran, most recently by send- Republicans have long supported. And with He had declared on national television late one-year-long powers to impose economic laws It was the first confrontation between Havana and ing an “open letter” to the country’s leaders Obama firmly eying his legacy, even his own Monday that he would ask for an “anti-imperialist by decree later that same year. Chavez issued Washington since the two countries agreed to warning that any nuclear deal could expire the advisers have conceded that a president who law to prepare ourselves for all scenarios and win hundreds of decrees during his 1999-2013 seek normal relations in December. “Cuba again day Obama walks out of the Oval Office. “I can- took office vowing to bridge partisan divides is through peace,” but he did not provide details. administration. Maduro’s popularity has sunk in reiterates its unconditional support and that of not recall another instance in which senators virtually powerless to influence his political Shortly after the US sanctions were announced, the past year amid an economic crisis, galloping our people for the Bolivarian Revolution, the legiti- wrote directly to advise another country - much opponents. Maduro recalled his envoy to Washington and inflation and huge lines outside supermarkets mate government of President Nicolas Maduro, less a longtime foreign adversary - that the presi- “We don’t have the ability to communicate denounced the US action as “the most aggres- plagued by drastic food shortages. and the heroic brotherly people of Venezuela,” the dent does not have the constitutional authority with them,” Dan Pfeiffer, Obama’s recently sive, unjust and harmful blow against Venezuela.” He is likely to gain special powers again. statement said. Ecuador’s leftist President Rafael to reach a meaningful understanding with departed senior adviser, said in an interview with The US State Department denied that Maduro would need 60 percent of the unicamer- Correa took to Twitter to denounce the US sanc- them,” Vice President Joe Biden, who spent near- New York magazine. “They are talking to people Washington was promoting “instability” or seek- al assembly’s votes, a majority his party holds tions as “grotesque” and a “sick joke.” The European ly four decades in the Senate, said in an unusual- who agree with them, they are listening to news ing to undermine Maduro’s administration, with with 99 pro-government deputies out of 165 Union said it was closely watching developments ly harsh statement. outlets that reinforce that point of view, and the spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying “the goal of the lawmakers. Maduro has accused Washington of in Venezuela but would not join Washington in For their part, Republican lawmakers call president is probably the person with the least sanctions is to persuade the government of backing an opposition plot to overthrow him in a imposing sanctions. The secretary general of the their outreach to a hostile nation a reasonable ability to break into that because of the partisan Venezuela to change their behavior.” coup that would have involved bombing the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel response to an administration they say has bias there.” Not surprisingly, each side blames the Analysts and non-governmental organiza- presidential palace. The US government has dis- Insulza, said the regional body’s permanent coun- spurned Congress and ignored its prerogatives other for letting things get so bad. —AP tions said Maduro could seize on the special missed the charges as baseless. In activating the cil should hold a meeting about the US-Venezuela powers to curb individual rights, invoking the sanctions, Obama called the situation in oil-rich row. —AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Nemtsov’s murder suspect ‘tortured, forced to confess’

MOSCOW: A former Chechen police offi- court in Moscow heard the men were possible “interference in a criminal case”. cer who admitted taking part in the mur- being probed under a section of the “They will be subject to an investigation der of Russian opposition activist Boris Russian criminal code relating to murders aimed at clarifying their motives,” investi- Nemtsov “likely confessed under torture”, a carried out for financial gain, in a sign gators said in a statement. Nemtsov, 55, member of the Kremlin’s human rights investigators believe Nemtsov’s murder was shot four times in the back on council said yesterday. Zaur Dadayev was a hit. February 27 as he walked along a bridge allegedly confessed and was charged but in central Moscow with his girlfriend. has now insisted to the council’s Andrei ‘I am innocent’ The killing sent shockwaves through Babushkin that he is “innocent” and only Babushkin said Dadayev claimed he the opposition which accuses Putin of made the admission under duress. “There had made the confession under duress steadily suppressing dissent, and the are reasons that lead us to believe Zaur after being arrested in the North Caucasus Kremlin of being behind the murder of Dadayev confessed under torture,” region of Ingushetia last week, alleging one of its last outspoken critics. Babushkin said after a visit to the suspect’s that he spent two days manacled and with Investigators have said they were looking Moscow prison cell on Tuesday. a sack over his head. “They shouted at into the possibility that the former deputy “We cannot confirm that he was tor- me all the time, ‘You killed Nemtsov, didn’t prime minister was killed over his support tured as we are not investigators but we you?’. I said, ‘no’,” Babushkin reported for French satirical magazine Charlie did find numerous wounds on his body,” Dadayev as saying. The suspect said he Hebdo which published images of the said Babushkin, who was swiftly rapped had eventually admitted to the killing to Prophet Mohammed. But close allies of over the knuckles by investigators for secure the release of an ex-colleague, the prominent activist in Russia’s margin- meddling in their probe. The shooting of Ruslan Yusupov, who was detained along- alized opposition dismissed that claim as Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister side him. “They said that if I confessed “absurd”. who became an outspoken critic of they would let him go. I agreed. I thought I Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-loyal President Vladimir Putin, just yards from would save him and they would bring me strongman leader of Russia’s Muslim the Kremlin was the highest-profile killing to Moscow alive,” Dadayev was quoted as Chechnya region, also decried Dadayev’s of an opposition leader during Putin’s fif- saying by Babushkin. arrest, describing him as a “real Russian teen years in charge. “I thought that I would be brought to patriot”. Authorities have also said they are Dadayev, a former deputy commander Moscow and would be able to tell the probing the possibility that Nemtsov was in a special Chechen police unit, was court the full truth. That I am innocent,” murdered for criticizing Russia’s role in the charged by a Moscow court on Sunday Dadayev reportedly said. Russia’s power- Ukraine conflict or as part of a plot to desta- MOSCOW: Zaur Dadayev, charged with the murder of Russian opposi- with the murder alongside Anzor ful investigative committee condemned bilize the country. Rights groups have con- tion figure Boris Nemtsov, is escorted by a policeman at the Basmanny Gubashev who worked for a private secu- Babushkin’s statement as breaking the law sistently condemned widespread abuses in district court in Moscow. —AFP rity company. The two men and three oth- and said that he and a colleague who visit- Russia’s notorious prison system and dur- er suspects were remanded in custody. A ed Dadayev would be questioned over ing interrogations by officials. —AFP Court clears Berlusconi in bunga bunga sex case Ruling gives centre-right leader political boost

ROME: Italy’s top court has defini- ernment and electoral system. Stealer.” He maintained he only tried knew full well that Ruby was only tively cleared Silvio Berlusconi of Tuesday’s late night verdict came to help the Moroccan national when just 17 at the time of their encounter. charges that he paid for sex with an after a hearing in which a senior she was later arrested for an alleged “He had a dragon’s passion for underage dancer and then abused prosecutor had described the elderly theft because he thought she was a minors,” the prosecutor told the his position as prime minister to party-lover as having a “dragon’s pas- niece of the then Egyptian president court. cover it up. After nine hours of sion” for teenage girls. Berlusconi Hosni Mubarak. The appeal court Berlusconi was not present at a deliberations, the judges at the was convicted in 2013 of the most appeared to accept that argument hearing which analysts had billed as Court of Cassation delivered a rul- serious charges he has faced in a when it ruled that Berlusconi had crucial for his ability to reassert con- ing that brings to an end a lengthy scandal-tainted career, only to be not abused his power. The court also trol over his fragmenting party. legal saga which lifted the lid on the acquitted on appeal a year later. The ruled that Berlusconi had not com- Giovanni Orsina, an academic at the “bunga bunga” sex parties the bil- quashing of his seven-year prison mitted a crime in having sex with LUISS business school in Rome and an expert on the media magnate’s impact on Italian politics, said the AVALLON: A French gendarme stands as the road is close in Avallon yester- distraction of legal battles had day after a group of “battle-hardened” armed thieves attacked two heavily helped Renzi emerge as the domi- guarded vans carrying jewels at the Avallon French motorway toll in the nant figure in Italian politics. “Berlusconi’s clarity of mind basically dead of night, making off with a haul worth some nine million euros ($11 disappeared (with the tax convic- million). —AFP tion),” he argued. “Since then he has been uncertain, unclear and politi- French motorway heist nets cally ineffective.” But with the Ruby case now out of the way, Orsina believes Berlusconi could inflict “real 9-million euro jewelry haul damage” on Renzi’s reform agenda. AVALLON: A group of “battle-hardened” stepped away, making off with at least 11.5 Renzi reforms threatened armed thieves attacked two heavily guard- million euros in cash collected from a Bank Renzi relied on support from ed vans carrying jewels at a French motor- of France building. Berlusconi to steer landmark labor way toll in the dead of night, making off Musulin became an overnight Internet reforms through parliament late last with a haul worth some nine million euros sensation at a time when the super-rich year. But their alliance collapsed last ($11 million), police said yesterday. were being blamed for the financial crisis. month after Renzi successfully Security forces were working to find those Investigators soon found packets of cash backed an actively anti-Berlusconi behind the heist, which took place around totaling 9.11 million euros in a lock-up candidate, Sergio Mattarella, to midnight on a motorway in the Yonne dis- garage in the southeastern city of Lyon become Italy’s new president. The trict some 200 kilometers southeast of near where the abandoned van was found, Forza Italia leader has since vowed to Paris, searching within a large perimeter and after some 10 days on the run, Musulin fight proposals to effectively abolish around the area and under the watch of air gave himself in. The rest of the cash was the Senate and adopt a new electoral support. never found. When it comes to jewelry, the law designed to produce govern- A police source, who wished to remain country’s most spectacular heist was a ments with working parliamentary anonymous, said there were around 15 double robbery at a Harry Winston shop in majorities. robbers, all “heavily armed and battle- an upmarket part of Paris in 2007 and Two file pictures combo shows former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi (left) and Karima El- Berlusconi’s entire political career hardened.” No one was hurt in the holdup 2008. Mahroug, nicknamed Ruby. —AP has been overshadowed by allega- and the Avallon toll booth itself was not In the first holdup in October 2007, four tions of criminal behavior and serial damaged, prosecutors and the firm man- masked gunmen wearing decorators’ over- lionaire tycoon and former prime term and a lifetime ban from public Ruby as he did not know she was court cases: and they are not com- aging the motorway said, suggesting the alls robbed employees at the store. The minister organized in his Milan villa. office triggered a counter-appeal by under 18, the legal minimum for a pletely over. He could yet be convict- work of professionals. The vans were found thieves had spent the night in the jewelry It also leaves the 78-year-old, prosecutors to the Court of prostitute to sell sex in Italy. ed on charges that he paid off many burnt and abandoned in a field not far shop with the help of a security guard at who served three terms as premier, Cassation. After a three and a half of the young women who attended from the toll station, and it was as yet the store, who let them in the previous free to resume a central role in poli- hour hearing earlier on Tuesday, the ‘Like Mel Brooks film’ his famous soirees in return for false unclear exactly how the assault unfolded. evening. The robbers made off with 120 tics at the helm of his centre-right judges spent nine hours considering Prosecutor Edoardo Scardaccione testimony in the Ruby trial. Also out- watches and 360 pieces of jewelry worth Forza Italia party. Berlusconi has the case before delivering their had told Tuesday’s hearing that standing is a charge that he paid a First big van heist since 2009 more than 32 million euros. Then just over just finished serving a community eagerly-awaited and potentially Berlusconi’s antics had held Italy up senator three million euros ($4.0 mil- Attacks on armoured vehicles carrying a year later, in December 2008, four men- service order for corporate tax hugely significant verdict. to ridicule. “The Mubarak’s niece lion) in 2006 to join his party and jewels or cash often require special equip- including three wearing women’s clothes fraud and remains embroiled in The billionaire businessman episode was worthy of a Mel Brooks destabilize a centre-left government. ment such as explosives or assault rifles, and wigs-entered the same store, again several other legal cases. But they whose empire includes the AC Milan film,” he said. “The whole world was Past experience however suggest the and while they occurred regularly at the with the help of the guard. In less than 20 are thought unlikely to prevent him soccer club, has always denied pay- laughing at us behind our backs.” tycoon’s lawyers may be able to string beginning of the 2000s in France, they minutes, they took 104 watches and 297 from potentially energizing opposi- ing for sex with a 17-year-old dancer Scardaccione also unsuccessfully out both cases for sufficient time for have dwindled in recent years. The last pieces of jewelry worth 71 million euros tion to Prime Minister Matteo called Karima El-Mahroug who went attempted to convince the judges the charges to be dropped without a major such heist was in 2009 when and fled in a car. Last month, eight men Renzi’s plans to reform Italy’s gov- by the stage name “Ruby the Heart that Berlusconi and his entourage judge ever making a ruling. —AFP armored van driver Toni Musulin escaped were sentenced to up to 15 years in jail for with his vehicle after two of his colleagues their role in the double heist. —AFP 3 London schoolgirls ‘stole jewelry’ to fund Syria flight

LONDON: Three London schoolgirls got the cash to fund herself,” said Contenders turn Spain polls who fled to Syria are believed to have Kadiza’s sister Halima Khanom. “I really stolen family jewelry to fund their travel, hope the police would now make it into four-way ‘tag-wrestle’ police said Tuesday as the trio’s relatives their business to establish where these MADRID: For decades Spanish politics was a Carving up the vote expressed disbelief at their actions. funds came from because it clearly was- Schoolfriends Kadiza Sultana, 16, and n’t from home,” added Kadiza’s cousin two-horse race, but it has turned into a four-way A poll by Metroscopia published by centre- 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Fahmida Aziz. The girls are among 26 tag-wrestling bout ahead of several potentially left newspaper El Pais on Sunday placed Amira Abase, left their homes last British young women who have gone to transformative elections this year. The govern- Ciudadanos in fourth place in voting intentions month and flew to Istanbul, from where join IS fighters in Syria, according to ing conservative Popular Party (PP) and main- with the electorate carved up broadly evenly they are believed to have joined Islamic Rowley, who is assistant commissioner stream opposition Socialists (PSOE) that have between it, PP, PSOE and Podemos. With 18.4 State (IS) jihadists in Syria. of London’s Metropolitan Police. But he alternated in power since 1982 face an electoral percent of the vote, Ciudadanos was just behind Giving evidence before parliament’s said that so far “we have no evidence to assault on two fronts. Spain’s economy is gradu- the PP which had 18.6 percent, according to the home affairs committee, Britain’s suggest they are involved in terrorism”, ally recovering from years of recession after a poll. Ciudadanos’ share has surged from 8.1 per- national police lead on counter-terror- and they could return home to Britain 2008 financial crash, but voters are still angry at cent in January and 12.2 percent in February. ism, Mark Rowley, said the girls paid a without facing charges. the cutbacks imposed by the PP in that crisis Podemos topped the Metroscopia poll with 22.5 travel agent more than £1,000 (1,409 and corruption scandals that have stained both percent ahead of the Socialists on 20.2 — but euros, $1,506) for their flights. Asked ‘Normal teenager’ the big parties. no party had an absolute majority. where they found the money, he said: Earlier, Abase’s father Hussen Abase Radical leftist party Podemos has for months The poll came just three weeks ahead of the “We think it’s linked to theft from fami- told the committee that his daughter been clipping their wings in opinion polls and in first of this year’s regional elections, in the big lies. We think it’s linked to taking jewelry was a victim-adding that he believed recent weeks another contender has surged southern region of Andalusia. Its findings sur- from one of their family members.” she had been “terrified” by police atten- into view: centrist party Ciudadanos (“Citizens”). prised analysts and the PP, which realizes the However, family members later said that tion following the flight of another Now, with local, regional and national elections challengers have the power to unify voters from the girls must have found additional schoolfriend to Syria in December. lined up between March and November, new various older but less powerful parties. “It is a alliances may have to be made, analysts say. fact that we are going to have a very strong funds elsewhere, as the jewelry that was Police spoke with Sultana, Begum and LONDON: Sahima Begum (left), older sister of Shamima Begum missing was not of great value. Abase and four other girls from the “The PP and PSOE are two political parties, but Podemos and a strong Ciudadanos, which will “We haven’t lost £2000 worth of jew- same London school after the 15-year- and Fahmida Aziz (right), first cousin to Khadija Sultana, leave the Podemos and Ciudadanos are two social phe- be eating up the smaller parties,” said one PP ellery,” Shamima’s sister Renu Begum old girl went missing in December, and House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, after giving evi- nomena, and that is more volatile,” said Ignacio lawmaker who asked not to be named. “We will told ITV News. “I feel there is someone gave them a letter requesting further dence on the background and details leading to the disappear- Urquizu, a sociologist at Madrid’s Complutense have to see what happens in Andalusia, and out there helping in terms of funding permission from their parents to talk to ance of the three schoolgirls who fled their London homes for the University. above what happens the day after.” —AFP because there’s no way my sister has them. —AFP conflict in Syria. —AFP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 India’s Modi to visit Sri Lanka’s Tamil heartland

COLOMBO: Narendra Modi will become the first lages are still strewn with rubble as a legacy of the Indian leader to visit Sri Lanka’s war-torn Tamil heart- heavy bombardments that they endured over the land this week, sending a powerful message on recon- decades. Tens of thousands of troops are still gar- ciliation to the new government in Colombo. Modi’s risoned in Jaffna despite international calls for a scal- first official trip to Sri Lanka comes just weeks after the ing-back of numbers. “For the first time in a decade, island’s new president travelled to India and signals an the domestic impetus for peace and reconciliation easing of ties strained under former president within Sri Lanka is as strong or even stronger than the Mahinda Rajapakse, who cultivated close relations Indian capacity or even desire to push for a solution,” with rival China. Indian political commentator Siddharth Varadarajan It is part of a tour of Indian Ocean nations that will said. “That said, Modi is likely to encourage both the also take in the Seychelles and Mauritius-although not government and the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) the Maldives, where the arrest of former president leadership to move swiftly ahead.” Mohamed Nasheed has triggered a political crisis. But Indian troops withdrew from Sri Lanka in March the main focus is on Sri Lanka, where new President 1990 after an acrimonious 32-month deployment in Maithripala Sirisena has vowed to reduce Beijing’s the northern and eastern provinces, where they lost influence and address the grievances of the island’s over 1,140 troops at the hands of Tamil rebels. Since approximately three million Tamils. “Obviously, the then, New Delhi has maintained a largely hands-off intent is to strengthen our overall ties with Sri Lanka policy, but remained concerned as Sri Lanka’s conflict and this has many aspects because we have a very remained an emotional issue for Indian Tamils. broad-based, substantive relationship with that neigh- Analysts said Modi’s visit would help build momentum bor,” India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said in New for greater autonomy in Tamil areas after successive Delhi on Monday. governments in Colombo failed to devolve power over “Politically, we clearly want to promote and encour- law and order and land to provincial councils. age the reconciliation process, support democracy and SEYCHELLES: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) arrives at State House for a meeting But they said the visit would focus largely on trade reform.” Jaishankar said the two countries were dis- with Seychelles President James Alix Michel yesterday. According to the Indian Prime Minister’s and investments. Sirisena’s government has already cussing how the around 100,000 Tamil refugees still liv- website Modi is leading a delegation on a three-nation tour of Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka ordered a review of all Chinese-funded infrastructure ing in India, many of them in government-run camps, to strengthen ties between the countries. — AP projects and aims to reduce Beijing’s interest in the could return to Sri Lanka “with honor, dignity (and) economy by trying to pay off expensive Chinese loans. safety”. Hundreds of thousands of Tamils fled to India that had claimed some 100,000 lives. But his failure to ing-on Saturday after addressing parliament in “Modi’s visit to Colombo will symbolically press the at the height of the 37-year war between Sri Lankan bring about post-war reconciliation bred resentment Colombo on Friday. He is only the second foreign reset button on India-Sri Lanka ties,” said Sadanand forces and Tamil separatists that ended in 2009. among Tamils and led to international criticism over leader to visit the battle-scarred region after British Dhume, India expert at the American Enterprise They share close cultural ties with the southern human rights. Prime Minister David Cameron, who travelled there Institute in Washington. “There is tremendous opti- Indian state of Tamil Nadu and many Indians were during a Commonwealth summit in Colombo in mism in both capitals of making progress on a host of angered by their treatment under the former regime. ‘Press the reset button’ - November 2013. economic and political issues. After losing ground to Rajapakse won acclaim for leading a crushing mili- Modi will travel to the Jaffna peninsula-Sri Lanka’s While reconstruction has begun in some parts of China, India hopes to re-establish its importance as Sri tary victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels, ending a war northern Tamil heartland and scene of the worst fight- Jaffna city, many neighborhoods and surrounding vil- Lanka’s top economic and strategic partner.”— AFP Court summons India’s ex-PM Singh in coal corruption case Ex-PM accused of breach of trust, conspiracy, cheating

NEW DELHI: An Indian court summoned former “Coalgate” came to light in 2012 after a govern- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday over ment auditor said the exchequer had lost up to accusations of criminal conspiracy and corruption $33 billion due to collusion between officials and in the illegal award of a coal field, a blow for the private firms to depress the cost of coal-field Gandhi dynasty that ruled India until last year. A awards. Modi, who ousted Singh last May, issued special court under the Central Bureau of an executive order to re-auction the fields in a Investigation (CBI) ordered the 82-year-old Singh, process key to reducing India’s dependence on billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla and another coal imports. He needs to pass legislation to make official to appear on April 8, a source at the the decree permanent. agency said. “I am upset, but this is a part of life,” a Auctions of the first 32 blocks have brought in visibly distressed Singh told reporters in parlia- a projected $32 billion, Coal Secretary Anil ment, where he sits in the upper house. It is rare Swarup told Reuters. The summons relates to the but not unknown for former Indian prime minis- allocation of a coal field in 2005 to Hindalco ters to be called into court. Industries, part of the $40 billion Aditya Birla Known for his personal integrity and humble Group. Kumar Mangalam Birla is the chairman of lifestyle, Singh has not been charged with any the group. The company declined to comment. crime but is being investigated for criminal Shares in Hindalco, an aluminum company, fell by breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, cheating and 5 percent to their lowest in nearly a year - extend- LUCKNOW: Indian teacher Aditya Kumar poses at a makeshift school in Lucknow. — AFP corruption, a prosecution lawyer said on condi- ing falls over the past week to nearly 20 percent. tion of anonymity. The CBI had earlier excluded Modi, who promised a “Congress-free India” in his Indian teacher gets on his Singh from the investigation. His Congress party election campaign, was visiting the Seychelles as called the summons a backlash against its oppo- news of the summons broke posting photos on bike to help slum children sition to economic reforms that Prime Minister Facebook of the tropical islands. —Reuters Narendra Modi wants to push through parlia- Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh LUCKNOW: Every day, Aditya Kumar cycles children in paid work as soon as they were ment. In the past, the Supreme Court has accused around 40 miles with a heavy load of books able, Kumar had to fight to go to school. He the CBI of acting on the wishes of the govern- and his few possessions on the back of his managed to find a place in a government-run ment. Paramilitary raids major battered old bike to bring education to India’s establishment, but he ran away from home slum children. The science graduate has dedi- when he was a teenager because his parents Parliamentary standoff cated his life to teaching in the slums of insisted he stop studying and start earning The summons coincided with a debate in the party in volatile Karachi Lucknow, a sprawling city in northern India his keep. upper house on a bill to allow coal-field auctions. that is home to some of the country’s most For a while, he lived on the streets, before Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the deprived communities. He takes no money meeting a teacher who spotted his potential issue was a blot on Congress and called on the ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani paramilitary force now holds the majority of the city’s legislative for his lessons, which he gives all over the city, and helped him graduate from university in party to end its opposition to the bill. “I hope rea- raided the headquarters of a major political seats. parking his bike up wherever he is needed science. In return, Kumar helped his new son will prevail,” Javadekar said. He denied any party yesterday in the country’s biggest city, The MQM’s enemies say the party engages and staging an impromptu outdoor lesson. mentor with his teaching-and found his voca- vendetta or political interference in the judicial officials said, recovering weapons and arrest- in extortion and frequently kills rival activists. “These children do not know what a class- tion in the process. He has no teaching quali- process. The maximum sentence for criminal ing suspects wanted for several crimes, The MQM denies the accusations, saying its room looks like. Until I met them, they had no fications, however, and says he never had any breach of trust is life imprisonment. Singh said he including the murder of a journalist. The party workers are often the victims of other reason to visit a school,” Kumar told AFP dur- ambition to become a proper school teacher. was evaluating his legal options, which include paramilitary Sindh Rangers launched the ear- factions. A prominent MQM politician said any ing one of his lessons, gesturing to a group of He believes he can make more of an impact seeking a stay on the summons from a higher ly morning raid on the headquarters of the weapons at its headquarters were properly rapt-looking pupils. on literacy through his mobile school, which court. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the licensed. He said the Rangers killed an MQM A Right to Education Act passed in 2009 he says reaches around 200 children a day. The mild-mannered economist implemented violent southern port city of Karachi, home member during the raid. “Dozens of our work- guarantees state schooling for children from 1990s free-market reforms that unshackled India to 18 million people, where the party has ers have been picked by the Rangers,” MQM six to 14 in India. But education activists say ‘No mean feat’ from its socialist past. Recognizable in his trade- long held sway over politics. “Five to six men politician Aminul Haque told Reuters. schools are often overcrowded or inaccessi- Government figures show that around 97 mark blue turban, glasses and beard, he played a are those who are criminals and we have “Rangers opened fire, killing one of our work- ble, or that the quality of teaching is so poor percent of children of primary school age are prominent role managing the 2008 financial cri- their record,” Colonel Tahir Mehmood of the ers, Waqas Ali Shah, and wounding a camera- that children simply stop going. Poverty is in education, but campaigners say the true sis. His second term at the helm of a Congress-led Rangers told media. “There were certain men from Express TV.” also a major driver, with India home to the figure is far lower. Many of those who do coalition was mired in corruption scandals and people who have been awarded death sen- Mehmood denied that the raid was politi- largest number of child laborers in the world. attend classes are failing to learn the basics, accusations that party leader Sonia Gandhi called tences by court.” cally motivated. He said it was prompted by Kumar, who does not know his exact age but according to a major, annual survey of school the shots, tarnishing his image. “We have done Although MQM members have been news that several wanted men were at the thinks he is in his mid-40s, has been conduct- children in rural areas released in January. nothing wrong and we have nothing to hide,” said arrested before, there has not been an incur- headquarters, including Faisal Mota, sen- ing his mobile school for around two Only one quarter of children aged eight could Ambika Soni, a senior Congress leader close to sion into the party’s heavily defended head- tenced to death in absentia for the 2011 mur- decades, with no fixed curriculum and no read a text book meant for seven year olds, the Gandhis. The Gandhi lineage stretches back to quarters since the military raided it in 1992. der of a television reporter, who was standard text books. the survey of 570,000 students found. India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The Karachi is home to many criminal gangs detained in the raid. Four other people, who Most of his pupils are under 10 and have “Overall, the situation with basic reading family ruled for much of the period from inde- and Islamist militants also operate there. Many say they are members of the MQM, have no education at all. He teaches them func- continues to be extremely disheartening in pendence in 1947. political parties there have armed wings that been jailed for the killing of the reporter. The tional English and mathematics, with the aim India,” the survey, by Indian education fight turf wars with opponents. The MQM, MQM denied that any wanted criminals were of getting them to a standard where they can research group Pratham, concluded. Kumar’s Awards illegal Pakistan’s fourth largest party, traditionally at its headquarters. “This Faisal Mota and the start going to a regular school. “I can relate to solo efforts are applauded by child rights Most coal block awards made by Singh’s gov- represents the descendents of Urdu-speakers other people Rangers are naming ... they the lives of these kids. I know how tough life activists, including teacher Roop Rekha ernment, which ran India for a decade, were over- who migrated from India after the creation of were neither present nor picked up from the can be for want of an education,” says Kumar. Verma who said it was “no mean feat” teach- turned late last year by the Supreme Court, which Pakistan in 1947. It was involved in bloody MQM office,” said Wasay Jalil, a senior leader As the son of a poor laborer who wanted his ing from a bike. —AFP ruled the process illegal. The case known as factional battles in Karachi in the 1990s and of the party. — Reuters Afghanistan’s only woman taxi driver steers change

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Sara Bahai’s decision to become a spotlessly clean yellow and white Toyota Corolla unpunished and girls are still married off against Afghanistan’s only known female taxi driver was with sparkly woven seat covers and a good luck tal- their will, often to much older men, as payment for motivated less by ideals of equality than by the isman in the front window. debts or as swaps for property. need to support an extended family - and a love of “I receive threats from unknown callers who tell At the same time, millions of girls are today driving that has confined her conservative detrac- me to not drive in the city because I am a woman, attending school, and many graduate from univer- tors to the rear-view mirror. She still remembers her because it is against Islam. Some tell me that if I sity. Maternal mortality rates are falling as health first time behind the wheel, shortly after the continue to work as a taxi driver they will kill me,” services improve, and it is no longer unusual for Taleban were driven from power in the 2001 US-led she said. “Male passengers are very jealous and women to travel abroad alone, or even to live alone invasion. “I felt like I was in the sky, and I totally fell often abuse me, but I don’t care what they think of in major Afghan cities. A recent spike in rape in love with driving,” she said. There was no turning me, I am not afraid. I will change the country with reports reflects the effectiveness of public educa- back. Bahai, now around 40 years old, had already whatever ability I have to do so,” she said. She got tion campaigns, according to Najia Nasim, country spent much of her life defying taboos in her driver’s license in 2002 and is also a mechanic. director for a women’s rights organization called Afghanistan, where women are widely regarded as She earned a university degree in education and Women for Afghan Woman, which also runs shel- inferior to men and discouraged from working out- now teaches other women to drive so they can be ters. side the home. more independent. Afghanistan’s First Lady Rula Ghani has adopted She never married, she said, because she had to Attitudes about women have been slowly a rare public profile since her husband, President support her parents and siblings and feared a hus- changing in Afghanistan since the fall of the Ashraf Ghani, took office in September. She is the band would prevent her from working. With no Taleban, and gender equality is enshrined in the first wife of an Afghan leader to routinely appear in children of her own she adopted two boys, now constitution. But local authorities have been slow public and has campaigned for women’s issues and both in high school. When Taleban insurgents shot to adopt change, and outside major cities deeply poverty alleviation. In a speech to mark and killed her brother-in-law, she took in her sister conservative traditions prevail. Women who step International Women’s Day on Sunday, she said and seven nieces and nephews. She now supports out of their homes unaccompanied by male rela- “women should be respected both inside and out- a dozen people. To put food on the table, she tives often face verbal and sometimes physical side their homes and play an active role in society as MAZAR-I SHARIF: Taxi driver Sara Bahai, 40 (right) drives a customer, in Mazar-i Sharif drives around the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in harassment. Domestic violence goes largely doctors, engineers, soldiers, police officers.” city, capital of northern Balkh province, Afghanistan. — AP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 House for sale in Indonesia - with free wife

SLEMAN: An advert for a house in Indonesia has remain the owner.” Lia told AFP she was “shocked gone viral online after the woman selling it at the reaction”, as she had been overwhelmed offered to throw in an unusual extra feature for by journalists coming to interview her, and even free-her hand in marriage. The Internet ad reads the police in the conservative, Muslim-majority for the most part like a regular house listing, say- country had been asking questions. The police ing that the single-storey property has two bed- “came to verify the news as they consider it as an rooms, two bathrooms, a parking space and a improper advertisement. But I explained to them fish pond. But it also proposes to buyers a “rare that it was not my idea,” she said. offer”-”when you buy this house, you can ask the The mother of two explained that she had owner to marry you”, alongside a picture of Wina asked a friend who was a property agent to help Lia, a 40-year-old widow and beauty salon own- her find a buyer-and in the process a husband- er, leaning against a car in front of the house. but she had expected him to pass on the news The ad said that terms and conditions apply, to a limited number of people, not put an ad and notes the offer is “for serious buyers and online. “I told a friend of mine who also works as non-negotiable”. The house in Sleman, on the property agent that if there is a buyer who is a island of Java, is on the market for 999 million single man or a widower who wants to buy a rupiah (about $75,000). News of the offer quickly house, and at the same time look for a wife, he spread among Internet users in social media- can let me know as I’m also a widow,” she said. crazy Indonesia. Boldies99, a user on popular She added that there was only one potential YOGYAKARTA: Wina Lia, a 40-year-old widow and beauty salon owner, stands in front of her house in online forum Kaskus, said Lia was “quite smart buyer, who had visited on Wednesday, but Sleman yesterday. An advert for a house in Indonesia has gone viral online after the woman selling it even though the house will be sold, she will refused to give further details. — AFP offered to throw in an unusual extra feature for free-her hand in marriage. — AFP

Indonesia threatens Australia with Outcry as PM calls Aboriginal ‘human tsunami’ of asylum-seekers communities ‘lifestyle choice’

Several foreigners to be executed for drug-related crimes SYDNEY: Australian Prime Ministe r To ny Abbott faced a wave of criticism JAKARTA: An Indonesian minister has warned a “human tsuna- transit hubs in Indonesia. Many have died making the haz- shown repentance for their serious crimes, but have rehabilitat- yesterday, including that he was unfit mi” of asylum-seekers could be unleashed on Australia in retali- ardous journey in crammed, rickety boats, normally after pay- ed themselves and indeed others.” to be leader, after describing living in ation if Canberra keeps pressing for clemency for two ing huge fees to people-smugglers. The Grand Mufti and several other Australian clerics will remote Aboriginal communities as a Australian drug smugglers on death row, as ties between the meet Indonesian Islamic leaders to put the case for mercy dur- “lifestyle choice”. The country’s indige- neighbors fray. Several foreigners are due to be executed for Fraying ties ing their trip. Indonesia’s two biggest Islamic organizations nous people are the nation’s most dis- drug-related crimes with Australia among countries pleading Abbott last month said Jakarta should remember the $1 bil- have backed Widodo’s push to execute drug traffickers. Virgin advantaged, with a much shorte r life with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to show mercy to their lion of assistance sent from Australia in the aftermath of the chief Richard Branson, a member of the Global Commission on expectancy than other Australians citizens. 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed around 220,000 peo- Drug Policy, earlier threw his weight behind the anti-death while suffering disproportionate levels They include Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran ple. But the bid backfired in Indonesia, where groups of pro- penalty campaign, saying in a letter to Widodo that capital pun- of imprisonment and social problems Sukumaran, as well as a Frenchman, a Brazilian, three Nigerians testers this week delivered bags of coins to the Australian ishment was a “failed deterrent”. His plea came as Australian such as unemployment. Abbott said and convicts from the Philippines and Ghana. Australia’s repeat- embassy, saying they were handing back tsunami aid money. media said Sukumaran, 33, had made a personal appeal to late Tuesday he supported a plan to ed calls for clemency have included comments by Prime Shouting “Shut Abbott’s mouth” and “Abbott, say sorry”, they Widodo by painting a portrait of the president, signing it “peo- close more than 100 remote Aboriginal Minister Tony Abbott that appeared to tie his country’s aid trampled on a poster bearing a picture of the Australian prime ple can change”. communities across the vast Western donations to the pair’s fate-a notion that caused great offence minister with tape plastered over his mouth, as they handed Sukumaran and Chan, 31, started programs that ranged Australia state if essential service s in Indonesia. Indonesian Security Minister Tedjo Edhy over the coins. from painting to photography in the decade they were held at could not be provided. Purdijatno said this week that his country could release a Australia’s most senior Islamic cleric, the Grand Mufti Kerobokan jail in Bali after their arrests in 2005 as ringleaders of “human tsunami” of asylum-seekers in retaliation. Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, on Wednesday added his voice to the so-called “Bali Nine” drug smuggling gang. The French con- “It’s the job of the taxpayer to pro- “Indonesia has done a lot in preventing illegal migrants from those urging Chan and Sukumaran to be spared, travelling to vict facing execution, Serge Atlaoui yesterday appeared in a vide reasonable services in a reason- other countries from going to Australia,” he was quoted as say- Jakarta to plead with authorities in the world’s most populous court outside Jakarta to apply for a judicial review of his death able way, indeed to provide high quali- ing by Indonesian media. “If Canberra keeps acting this way, Muslim-majority country. “We note that mercy and forgiveness sentence, a last-ditch bid to avoid the firing squad. His lawyers ty services in a reasonable way,” he told Jakarta will certainly release migrants wanting to go to lies at the heart of Islam for those who repent and have are asking for his sentence to be reduced, arguing he was the Australian Broadcasting Australia. “There are over 10,000 currently in Indonesia. If they reformed their ways,” he said in a statement after meeting merely installing machinery in a factory producing ecstasy and Co rporation. “What we can’t do is end- are released and we let them go to Australia, it will be like a Indonesia’s religion minister. “On behalf of the Islamic commu- was not personally involved with the drugs trade. The case was lessly subsidize lifestyle choices if those human tsunami.” Australia has struggled for years to stem a ris- nity of Australia, we plead, with respect and humility, for mercy adjourned to March 25, after which lawyers expect it to be sent lifestyle choices are not conducive to ing tide of asylum-seekers trying to reach its shores, often from for the lives of two young Australian men, who have not only to the Supreme Court.— AFP the kind of full participation in Australian society that everyone should have.” Aborigines have lived in Australia for at least 40,000 years and the comments drew stinging criticism, with Abbott’s key indigenous advisor Warren Mundine saying Aborigines had a cultural connection to their land, and it was not simply a matter of going to “live in the bush”. “These people are actually living on their homelands and it affects a lot of things, it affects their cultural activities, it affects their native title, it affects a number of areas,” he said. “It’s about their life, it’s about their very essence, it’s about their very culture.” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said the comments were “baffling” and would cause offence in the indigenous community. “We’re going to make a situation that’s pretty bad already in those places even worse,” he said.

Their very culture Abbott, a passionate supporter of re co gnition for first Australians in the nation’s constitution, last ye ar spent almost a week running the government from a remote Aboriginal community and will do the same this year. CILACAP: Family members of Australian death row prisoners Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran and Australian Consul-General in Bali Majell Hind (third right) head to Nusakambangan Island by But Rolf de Heer, an acclaimed film- a ship at Wijaya Pura port in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia, yesterday. — AP maker who has made indigenous movies including “Ten Canoes”, said the comments we re “so inappropriate that Nut rage flight attendant it’s laughable”. “It shows such ignorance Aftershocks still that he has no right to be the prime minister of Australia,” the Sydney rattle Japan four years sues Korean Air, executive Morning Herald quoted him as saying. Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson, after megaquake SEOUL: A flight attendant who says she was living her could not refuse her orders. She also said Korean Air was who has heavily influenced co nserva- dream by working for Korean Air is now suing the airline her dream job since she was a high school student but tive thought on indigenous policy, TOKYO: Four years after a magnitude 9 earthquake shook north- and its infamous nut rage executive, claiming the bizarre after false rumors spread on the Internet about her accept- added that it was a “hopeless state- ern and eastern Japan, the region is rocked by tremors at more onboard tantrum ruined her career. Kim Do Hee, the flight ing a professorship in exchange for lying to investigators, ment by the prime minister”. “He has than double the average rate of the decade before the disaster, a attendant, is seeking compensation through a trial in New she could not return to work as a flight attendant. Both got no plan for the future of these report this week from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows. In York city after she was verbally and physically attacked by Cho’s lawyer and Korean Air Lines Co. did not respond to a communities in the event that they the latest 12 months there were 737 quakes registering at least Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah, according to a statement request for comment. — AP close down,” he said. Abbott defended “1” on the Japanese intensity scale of 1-7 in the quake zone, on Wednesday by two American law firms, the Weinstein the remarks yesterday, saying he was Law Firm and Kobre & Kim. Cho, a vice president oversee- which runs more than 500 km from Tokyo’s eastern suburbs up being realistic. “If you or I chose to live ing cabin service at the time of the Dec 5 incident, was in a ve ry remote place, to what exte nt the northeast coast nearly to the northern tip of the main island enraged that Kim, 27, served her macadamia nuts in a bag, of Honshu. From 2001 to 2010, agency data shows, the annual is the taxpayer obliged to subsidize our not on a dish. After a heated confrontation with crew in the services?” he said. “It is incredibly diffi- average was 306. first class cabin, Cho ordered head flight attendant Park cult for the kids to go to school if The agency warns that there remains a risk of large after- Chang-jin off the plane, forcing it to return to a gate at there’s only half a dozen of them and shocks in the region, which includes the area of the wrecked John F. Kennedy International Airport. getting teachers there is all but impos- Fukushima nuclear plant. Scientists say that while the quakes are It is the first civil lawsuit connected with the nut rage sible. getting weaker, the numbers are still a concern. Last month alone case, which infuriated South Koreans and hogged global headlines. Last month a South Korean court sentenced “Similarly it’s very difficult for adults there were 64 quakes of magnitude 4 or higher in the quake to get a proper job if there’s no zone. While the Japanese scale measures the intensity of shaking Cho, 40, to one year in prison for violating aviation security laws, using violence against a flight attendant and other employment within hundreds of miles. on the surface, with the lowest reading of “1” felt only slightly if at And this is where we have to be a little all, magnitude measures the amount of energy released by a charges. Cho, who is the daughter of Korean Air’s chairman, has appealed the ruling from prison. The summons bit realistic.” But opposition leader Bill quake. “In general, when there are a lot of small quakes that filed Monday with the Supreme Court of the State of New Shorten said Abbott should apologize. means it’s easier for there to be a larger one as well,” said Shinji York County of Queens said Cho screamed obscenities at “Tony Abbott is a prime minister stuck Toda, a professor at Tohoku University’s International Research Kim and hit and threatened her. in the 1950s,” he told reporters, echoing Institute of Disaster Science in Sendai. “Of course, we can’t say She was also pressured to lie to government investiga- co mments he made in January when when.” tors to cover up the incident and to appear in public with Abbott made Britain’s Prince Philip a While the report focused on the northeast, all of Japan is effec- Cho “as part of an orchestrated effort to try and rehabilitate knight in a move met with ridicule. “He tively a quake zone where three tectonic plates intersect, gener- Cho’s public image,” the summons said. Kim is seeking says he’s the prime minister for indige- ating about one-fifth of the world’s magnitude 6-plus quakes. In compensatory damages and punitive damages in an nous Australians but he just wants to November, a magnitude 6.8 tremor rocked the central Japan pre- amount to be determined at the trial. Kim was unable to move them off their land.” Aborigines fecture of Nagano, injuring 13. Toda said areas such as Fukushima resolve the dispute privately and both Korean Air and Cho are believed to have numbered around did not engage in “any substantive” settlement discussions SEOUL: In this file photo, Cho Hyun-ah, former vice presi- and northwest Japan’s Akita prefecture, which sits outside the dent of Korean Air Lines Co, arrives at the Seoul Western one million at the time of British settle- region hit directly by the March 11 quake, are still feeling the with Kim’s lawyers, the statement said. Cho will be held ment in 1788, but there are now just responsible for the damage that she has caused to Kim’s District Prosecutors Office in Seoul, South Korea. A flight impact. “There’s the possibility that some of this could go on for a attendant who was harassed by Cho in what became 470,000 out of a total population of 23 career, reputation, and emotional well-being, it said. million. — AFP hundred years,” he said.— Reuters During Cho’s trial in Seoul last month, Kim testified that known as the nut rage case filed a civil lawsuit against the Cho’s power at the airline was “unimaginably big” and she airline and the executive. — AP NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

A man watches the sun set over the skyline in Johannesburg on Tuesday. — AP 42 killed in Tanzania bus, truck collision

DAR ES SALAAM: Forty-two people were container truck travelling in the opposite he said two of the injured died while receiv- Masenza said the bodies had already been nation’s President Jakaya Kikwete said in a killed and at least 20 others seriously direction. ing treatment in hospital, bring the overall moved to a district hospital mortuary, and statement. Serious road accidents are com- injured yesterday in a collision between a “The container fell on the bus... when the toll to 42 dead. those with serious injuries moved to a mon in the region, due to overloaded and bus and a truck in central Tanzania, officials truck carrying the container swayed while Officials had earlier confirmed at least 40 regional hospital. poorly-maintained vehicles, excessive said. A statement from the president’s office attempting to avoid potholes along the passengers on the Majinjaa Express-owned The accident occurred near Changarawe speeding and poor roads. The accident is said the packed passenger bus was travel- road,” said regional police commander bus were dead, many of them crushed in the centre of the country, and around the worst to be reported in Tanzania since ling between the western town of Mbeya Ramadhani Mungi, suggesting reckless driv- under the toppled container, and that more 550 km west of Dar es Salaam. “This gives 2006, when 54 people died when a bus fell and the economic capital and coastal city of ing was the cause of the road disaster. than 20 other were in a serious condition. cause for great mourning. The entire coun- off a bridge and into a river north of the Dar es Salaam when it was crushed by a Speaking to state television later yesterday, Iringa Regional Commissioner Amina try has been shaken,” the east African town of Arusha. -— AFP Riyadh recalls envoy from Sweden Assembly rejects proposal to quiz Central... Continued from Page 1 with the support of the Swedish people,” she added in Continued from Page 1 in the last 60 days, which means they are still new. The remarks to the TT news agency. health minister explained the procedures about two more “One must protest against what are nearly medieval Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said only Ashour said the move is suspected to be part of a politi- legislations. This leaves just over 10 percent of laws without methods” of punishment, Wallstroem told TT. cooperation in medicine and gender studies would cal dispute and could be a form of settling scores. MP implementation, the minister said. On Tuesday, a day after the Cairo incident, Sweden remain on offer. “In practical terms, there is no military Jamal Al-Omar said the move is part of a struggle for posts Minister of Oil and State Minister for National Assembly scrapped its 10-year-old military deal with the Saudis in cooperation,” he told public broadcaster SVT. “What we between people he did not identify. He warned that such Affairs Ali Al-Omair also downplayed accusations by MPs retaliation. Saudi Arabia is the third-largest non-Western have is an open invitation to partake in medical and gen- struggles are damaging the country. that the government has not implemented many laws. A buyer of Swedish arms. In 2014, Riyadh bought equip- der training, but the Saudi side has not shown any inter- In another business, the National Assembly overwhelm- number of MPs however insisted that the government has ment worth 338 million kronor ($39 million). The deal est,” he added. Commenting on the severed military ties, ingly approved a law for the protection of children, which been very slow in implementing a large number of legislations and doubted the figures provide by the ministers. At involved exchanges of military products, logistics, tech- liberal writer Fredrik Segerfeldt wrote that Sweden’s provides wide-ranging rights to Kuwaiti children. The second and final vote on the law is expected to take place in the end of the debate, MPs voted to provide the govern- nology and training. Signed by a leftwing government in objective was “to become a moral power” on the world the next session. The main debate of the session however ment a deadline to implement laws and demanded that 2005 and renewed in 2010, it sparked a heated debate stage. focused on allegations by MPs that the government is not the government provide them with a detailed report on after Swedish Radio revealed in 2011 that Sweden had Such policies recall the bold statements of slain Social implementing laws adequately. They strongly lashed out at the issue every two months. secretly helped the Saudis construct a weapons factory. Democrat Prime Minister Olof Palme, who made radically the government for not issuing the by-laws for a large The session also witnessed strong exchanges between Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Loefven told anti-US remarks on the Vietnam War and slammed the number of legislations passed by the Assembly, thus delay- MPs Abdulhameed Dashti and Hamdan Al-Azemi. It began public broadcaster Swedish Radio that “this is not a apartheid regime in South Africa as well as the rule of ing their implementation. when Dashti strongly criticized MPs for approving a game. It’s a serious issue that must be treated seriously”. Augusto Pinochet in Chile, before being shot dead on a State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al- request by the public prosecution to lift his parliamentary His party had come under intense pressure to abandon Stockholm street in 1986. But taking a stance against Abdullah Al-Sabah acknowledged that the government immunity to be tried for slander. Dashti accused MPs of not the deal from coalition partners the Green Party. The Saudi Arabia today risked Sweden’s credibility as a busi- has been slow in implementing some laws, but insisted understanding the situation and giving an advantage to Social Democrats refused to cite human rights as a ness partner, according to some centre-right opposition that a majority of laws passed have long become effective. enemies of the Assembly. MP Adnan Abdulsamad then crit- motive for the decision but Wallstroem herself said her politicians and the Swedish business community. Sheikh Mohammad said that based on Assembly statistics, icized Dashti for his unwillingness to face the judiciary. speech at the Cairo meeting was blocked. Commenting “Foreign policy is not only about other countries,” right- 55 legislations had been issued by the house and as many Azemi also criticized Dashti for lashing out at MPs, which yesterday on the military deal, Wallstroem said “it’s a wing daily Svenska Dagbladet wrote in an editorial, not- as 44 of them have been implemented fully. This means triggered an exchange between Azemi and Dashti, who good and correct decision we have made”. “And I feel that ing that Swedish industry “must be allowed to trade... than only 11 laws have not been implemented, or 20 per- used foul language and were about to be involved in alter- when I speak about democracy and human rights, I do it even with dictatorships”. — AFP cent of all laws. Of the 11 laws, four have been issued with- cation, but were separated by other MPs. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 ANALYSIS

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Focus Conference to tell world Egypt ready for investment

By Brian Rohan

gypt has been pumping up the hype for months for its international conference opening Friday, aimed at drawing Einvestors from around the world. Television channels show a countdown clock to the start alongside heroic footage of factories and captains of industry. Ads for the gathering are blasted to passengers on incoming flights of the national airline EgyptAir. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has staked his legitimacy on fixing Egypt’s broken economy, and it cannot be done without massive new investment. The conference is his government’s centerpiece for showing that Egypt is ready for the world’s business after four years of turmoil, starting with the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, followed by constant unrest and capped in 2013 by the military’s ouster - led by then-army chief Sisi - of an elected but divisive Islamist president. The question is whether the show can be translated into reality. The answer will be a measure of international confidence not only in Clinton’s explanation won’t placate critics Egypt’s economic potential but its political stability, given a persistent Islamic militant insurgency and the government’s fierce crack- By Charles Babington she said, must trust that she properly culled gov- evant messages. Trust down on Islamist opponents, which has killed hundreds, landed ernment emails from pri- Predictably, Republicans howled in protest. Sen Rand Paul, a possible 2016 GOP presiden- tens of thousands in prison and brought heavy criticism. Though the he message from Hillary Rodham Clinton: vate and Democrats defended Clinton, if somewhat wanly. “I tial contender, called for an independent investiga- government will likely proclaim some major new contracts during Trust me. But in a 21-minute news conference irrel- thought she did fine, given the circumstances,” said tion. Appearing yesterday on NBC’s “Today” show, the conference, the deciding factor will be whether the event plants Tto address why she used a private email Jim Manley, a former media aide to Paul said, “She says, ‘I didn’t do the right thing but the seeds for more investment down the road. “It’s difficult to say account as secretary of state, the favorite for the Democratic senators. “But these issues trust me now’,” he said. “My sense of trust is a little how much new money we might see coming out of it,” said Simon Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 are not going away.” Said South bit low.” Tuesday’s news conference may well Kitchen, a strategist at Egyptian bank EFG-Hermes. “While the con- did little to try to build that trust among those Carolina Democratic Party become nothing more than a footnote in the story ference has a timetable for investment, often deal-making doesn’t willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Chairman Jaime Harrison, “Most of the 2016 presidential race. If Clinton is the work that way.” The three-day conference opens under heavy securi- Granted, that may be a thin slice of America. people can connect with the Democratic nominee, as many expect, the han- ty in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Some 1,700 interna- Few people inspire more clear-cut devotion and inconvenience of multiple email dling of her State Department emails seems unlike- tional investors, executives, government officials, financiers and antipathy than the former first lady, senator and addresses, two or more cell ly to turn would-be supporters against her. Most experts are expected to attend. Among them are 25 heads of state - diplomat. Still, as she nears the launch of her phones, other devices. So for voters care little about the inner workings of feder- mostly from the Gulf and Africa - US Secretary of State John Kerry presidential campaign, Clinton might have used me, it’s enough. But for those al agencies. and the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde. the occasion of a rare news conference to reach who are looking to find fault, it Yet the email issue feeds a narrative about her Since the event’s announcement a year ago, officials have steadily out, to make a special effort to refute claims that won’t be sufficient.” trustworthiness. Her husband lied about his affair scaled back expectations. It was originally touted as a panacea that she’s overly secretive and legalistically clever. Indeed, Clinton’s defenders with a White House intern, prompting House would rope in up to $100 billion. Later, after slick admen were hired For instance, she might have taken up the say nothing could placate her Republicans to impeach him. Bill Clinton survived to manage the message, the figure was lowered to $15 billion, then suggestion of Republican National Committee fierce critics, who flock to talk his Senate trial, but Republicans continue to paint $10 billion. Then officials started to say numbers mattered less than Chairman Reince Priebus, who demanded radio and websites that cater to the couple as secretive and calculating. Today’s the key point that the country was on the right track, serious about Clinton ask a neutral arbiter to review the con- conservatives. As first lady, House Republicans are cranking up another reform and slashing its notorious red tape. The official position now tents of her private email server. But Clinton Clinton once denounced a “vast inquiry into her handling of a deadly assault is that Egypt will offer up around 50 streamlined projects worth a didn’t. She remained poised before a pack of rightwing conspiracy” bent on against US diplomats in Benghazi, Libya. She faces total of $35 billion for investors to consider. The government has yet reporters, giving no ground. The server will ruining her and her husband. But the very real prospect of becoming a candidate for to produce a new investment law it had promised as a cornerstone remain private. She said she had exercised her Clinton made life easier for her president called to testify before a congressional of the summit. A draft was agreed only days beforehand and will right to decide which of roughly 60,000 emails at critics in early 2009 when, upon committee. likely be modified, so investors at the conference will not have a issue were work-related and which concerned assuming the State Department “This whole issue and controversy comes down definitive document on which to base possible business decisions. personal topics, such as her mother’s funeral and post, she took the unusual step of to trust,” said Kevin Madden, a veteran Republican With the law drawn up in a rush and already facing objections her daughter’s wedding. She deleted and did not handling all her emails on a person- media adviser. “Scripted answers only addressing from various government ministries, the concern is that “it’s really archive those in the second group, she said. al account and a private server. And questions halfway won’t do much to put the issue not as efficient as the private sector would have liked,” said Angus In hindsight, she said, “it might have been by deleting the messages she deemed behind her.” Some Democrats shrug. Nothing will Blair, chairman of Signet, which does risk consultancy for foreign smarter” to have used both a government email personal, she has no way to prove she gave satisfy Clinton’s critics, they say. “There is such a investors. Also, bombings blamed on Islamic militants, which usually account and a personal account while secretary of the State Department’s record-keepers every pent-up wall of emotion between her and some target security forces, have turned in recent weeks to attack foreign state. At the time, she said, “it didn’t seem like an email having anything to do with government. people that if she sprouted wings and flew out of and local businesses, apparently trying to undermine the confer- issue”. But she went on to defend her use of a pri- “Because only Hillary Clinton controls her person- the room, it wouldn’t change their minds,” said Don ence. At least seven have been killed so far in March in bombings, vate email server stored at her home, saying it was al email account and admitted she deleted many Fowler, a longtime Clinton ally who was the nation- which have hit near a branch of the French supermarket chain initially set up for the office of her husband, Bill, of her emails, no one but Hillary Clinton knows al Democratic Party chairman during Bill Clinton’s Carrefour in Alexandria, outside an Emirates-owned bank in the Nile who served as president. “I fully complied by if she handed over every relevant email,” presidency. “That’s just the nature of how people Delta and near Egypt’s highest appeals court in broad daylight in every rule I was governed by,” she said. The public, Priebus said. see her.” —AP downtown Cairo. “The risk factor is definitely rising,” said Blair, though he said so far investors still see Egypt’s profit potential as greater than the risk. Secret historians preserve past in China Rescue What’s clear is how much Egypt needs rescue. The economy has been gutted by the instability since 2011. Foreign investment dried By Jack Chang and Isolda Morillo his students from mainland China learned of the died in the Tiananmen massacre, has conducted Dangers up - from a high of $13 billion in 2007-2008, it plunged to $2.2 bil- Tiananmen massacre for the first time through his interviews with relatives of more than 40 other vic- Woeser, You and Xu said they were aware of the lion after the uprising. Tourists, one of the country’s main sources of n his small ground-floor apartment just a few lectures. Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese tims and stored the audio and video recordings dangers they invited by speaking to AP, but said revenue, fled. Growth rates fell from more than 7 percent before the blocks from Beijing’s landmark Bird’s Nest stadium, city, enjoys more freedom compared to the main- overseas. Some are available online. they had already been the targets of police scrutiny uprising to around 2 percent. Those numbers have begun to inch IChinese language teacher, writer and do-it-your- land, where Chinese who research and publicize the Tsering Woeser held onto dozens of her father’s and were willing to run the additional risk. “They’re back up. The International Monetary Fund projects 3.8 percent self documentary maker Xu Xing is urgently preserv- past on their own are often censored or jailed for old photos of the Chinese military destroying temples afraid of this,” Xu said of Chinese authorities. “They growth for the fiscal year ending June 30, and 4.3 percent in ing what he can of China’s forbidden past. Traveling causing trouble. “This is authoritarian control of peo- and persecuting Buddhist priests and officials in the don’t let anybody see this. This is their crime.” The 2015/2016. Foreign direct investment came in at $4 billion last year, usually by himself all over the country, the tall 58- ple’s access to information. They want to create a far western region of Tibet during the Cultural Chinese government’s concerns about historical and Investment Minister Ashraf Salman says it will double to $8 bil- year-old has recorded hours of interviews with every- unified version of how to understand this historical Revolution. In 2006, a Taiwan-based publisher put out revision was spelled out in what was believed to be lion in this fiscal year. Still, Egypt’s total foreign and local investment day Chinese who were jailed, sometimes for years, on issue,” Fu said. a book of the photos. Others in China run under- a confidential party document leaked to the public - less than 14 percent of GDP - is “among the lowest in the emerg- the barest of political charges during the decade- Xu and other secret historians have taken it upon ground history magazines or preserve their memories in 2013 and first printed in a Hong Kong newspaper. ing world,” said Jason Tuvey of Capital Economics. “It leads to poor long spasm of social chaos known as the Cultural themselves to preserve photos, interview eyewit- of China’s forbidden past in paintings. These secret The document called out critics who consider quality of infrastructure and hinders rises in productivity and thus Revolution. Xu has edited that footage into docu- nesses and do the archival work that the Chinese historians are exposed to police surveillance and, in the Chinese Communist Party to be “a continuous living standards,” Tuvey said, adding that ideally it should be around mentaries that he only shows to those he trusts, in liv- government has banned most historians inside the many cases, to near-poverty, because they have little series of mistakes,” and warned that “historical 25 percent. Egypt’s GDP in 2013 was some $270 billion. ing rooms and coffee houses, preserving for history country from doing. You Weijie, whose husband opportunity to make a living from their work. nihilism” rejecting the party’s version of history “is Authorities have already made some important moves to memories kept secret for decades. tantamount to denying the legitimacy of the CCP’s please investors - scaling back fuel subsidies, moving to deregulate “I want it so that this never happens in China long-term political dominance”. For China’s secret the energy sector and allowing the Egyptian pound to devalue again, so this is my tireless job,” Xu said on a recent historians, however, documenting that history is somewhat against the dollar. The state also paid back a few billion afternoon sitting at his kitchen-top editing bay. “I tell the only way to make sure its tragedies aren’t dollars owed to energy companies. British Petroleum subsequent- the people I interview, ‘Clearly, I can’t bring you any repeated. ly announced it would develop natural gas resources out of the money or other reward. The main thing I do is let Woeser, a Tibetan poet, said she had wondered Nile Delta to the tune of some $12 billion. The project, equivalent other people know your story.’” With the ruling as a girl why her father had taken photos of the to a quarter of Egypt’s current supply, will help alleviate power Communist Party zealously enforcing its own ver- destruction in the region, especially since he had shortages that lead to rolling blackouts affecting tens of millions of sion of Chinese history, Xu’s truth-telling is nothing been sent there as a Chinese soldier in the 1960s to people. —AP less than an act of defiance. The government has help tighten the government’s hold. Later, she said, largely succeeded in erasing or playing down whole she herself returned to track down the people cap- swaths of Communist-era history by controlling tured in those photos. “A lot of people have already what’s talked about in the country’s classrooms, died,” she said, seated beside a private altar she’s museums and books, as well as in other areas of built to the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama. All articles appearing on these public life. “So I think this is a very urgent thing. Because pages are the personal opinion of Ask the average Chinese under the age of 30 memory is important to people, and if the person is about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which there, the memory is there. If the person isn’t there, the writers. Kuwait Times takes no scholars say claimed the lives of hundreds of pro- then the memory has disappeared.” responsibility for views expressed democracy student activists and bystanders in the At different times, Woeser has been placed therein. Kuwait Times invites read- heart of Beijing, and the answer will likely be igno- under house arrest for her work. You said she has rance or at best vague recognition. The same amne- also been placed under surveillance; police are per- ers to voice their opinions. Please sia cloaks other dark periods of 20th-century manently stationed on the ground floor of her send submissions via email to: opin- Chinese history such as the catastrophic famines of apartment building. Xu is often stopped and ques- [email protected] or via snail the late 1950s, widely blamed on the government’s tioned by local police while tracking down Cultural mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. push to rapidly industrialize, and the Cultural Revolution survivors. What they find and record Revolution, which persecuted millions from 1966 to In this Jan 21, 2015 photo, Tsering Woeser, a Tibetan poet, speaks as she often clashes with how the Chinese government The editor reserves the right to edit 1976. shows an old photo of the Chinese military destroying a temple in the far memorializes the country’s tumultuous history any submission as necessary. Fu King-Wa, a journalism and media studies pro- western region of Tibet, which was taken by her father during the Cultural since 1949, when the Communist Party seized con- fessor at the University of Hong Kong, said many of Revolution, at her home on the outskirt of Beijing. —AP trol after a brutal civil war. —AP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 SPORTS

Lee seeks Olympic spot Dost get Dutch call-up Ronaldo left seething KUALA LUMPUR: Former badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei is AMSTERDAM: Uncapped striker Bas Dost, who has scored 11 Bundesliga MADRID: Two-goal Cristiano Ronaldo may have become the record scorer in hoping to be back on court for the start of the 2016 Olympic qualifiers in May goals in the last six weeks, was named on Wednesday in a preliminary squad European competition on Tuesday but the Real Madrid forward was left after finally being given an April date for a hearing into his failed dope test. for the Netherlands’ matches against Turkey and Spain later this month, seething by another poor performance from the stuttering European champi- The Malaysian was provisionally suspended last year by the Badminton coach Guus Hiddink announced. ons. Television cameras captured a grim-looking Ronaldo shaking his head and World Federation (BWF) after traces of the banned anti-inflammatory drug The 25-year-old Dost has been in remarkable scoring form for VfL apparently mouthing “disgrace” to Karim Benzema shortly before the end of dexamethasone were found in his system during the world championships in Wolfsburg and is in line to play in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey in Real’s 4-3 defeat to Schalke 04 at the Bernabeu, the holders squeaking through Denmark. Lee’s case will be heard by a three-member panel in Amsterdam on Amsterdam on March 28 and a friendly against Spain three days later. to the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate. April 11 with Malaysia’s leading sportsman facing a two-year ban if found Forward Eljero Elia has played himself back into reckoning after moving to Ronaldo’s two first-half headers had helped keep hopes of a record-extend- guilty. That would all but end an impressive career, which includes 55 titles Southampton on loan from Werder Bremen in January. ing 11th European crown alive and took his tally in European competition to a and two Olympic silver medals, but the 32-year-old was confident The 28-year-old Elia came on as a substitute for the Dutch in the 2010 record 78 goals, surpassing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (76) and former Real of being cleared and returning to the courts soon. World Cup final against Spain but last played an international in 2012. striker Raul (77). However, they were one of the few bright spots in a generally “The last five months have been difficult. I’ve been down Hiddink’s squad of 28 was missing captain Robin van Persie who is out with weak showing that came hard on the heels of the 1-0 defeat at Athletic with injuries in my career before but I’m still struggling to an ankle injury. Bilbao at the weekend that cost Real top spot in La Liga. The reverse to Schalke was their first home defeat in the come to terms with the fact that I’ve failed a dope test,” Lee Squad Champions League in 22 matches since April 2011 and the players was quoted as saying by Malaysian media yesterday. “The wait Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax Amsterdam), Tim Krul (Newcastle were whistled off the pitch by the angry home fans, many of has been a mental anguish. It was supposed to be in United), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord), Jeroen Zoet (PSV Eindhoven) Defenders: Jeffrey Bruma (PSV Eindhoven), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio), Daryl whom waved white handkerchiefs in the traditional sign of December but was moved. Since then, it has just been a discontent. Ronaldo gruffly announced to reporters he case of waiting and waiting. “Hopefully, it’ll be all over Janmaat (Newcastle United), Bruno Martins Indi (FC Porto), Sven van Beek (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Paris St Germain), Ricardo van Rhijn, Joel was not going to speak to the media again until the soon. I’m waiting for positive news. The Olympic end of the season, leaving captain and goalkeeper qualifying period starts on May 1 and I hope to Veltman (both (Ajax Amsterdam), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven) — Reuters Iker Casillas to try to explain the team’s recent be cleared by then.” -Reuters slump. —Reuters

TAMPA: Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) dives for a loose puck in this file photo. — AP Lightning strike Canadiens as Rangers down Islanders

MONTREAL: Tyler Johnson scored about a BRUINS 3, SENATORS 1 three-game win streak. Marian Gaborik, Jeff minute into overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Ryan Spooner scored his second and third Carter, Kyle Clifford and Jake Muzzin also scored Lightning over the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in a goals of the season and Tuukka Rask celebrated as the reigning Stanley Cup champions crept Dimitrov beats Federer battle between Eastern Conference leaders on his birthday by stopping 39 shots to help lead closer to playoff contention with 16 games Tuesday. Johnson took his own rebound and saw the surging Boston Bruins the win. remaining. Tyson Barrie and Alex Tanguay scored the puck go in off defenseman Tom Gilbert’s After losing six games straight to open the for the Avalanche, who dropped the first contest in exhibition at MSG skate. The Lightning (42-20-6) won a fourth door for other teams to get back in the playoff in a pivotal three-game homestand as their post- NEW YORK: Roger Federer was reminiscing kid successfully lobbed Federer. The two pros straight game and are now one point behind race, the Bruins (34-22-10) have won three season aspirations dwindle. about watching New York Knicks games at made their share of creative shots, too. conference-leading Montreal (42-18-7). The straight and six of eight. Loui Eriksson added the Rookie goaltender Calvin Pickard filled in after Madison Square Garden on TV in the early Proving he can still pull off his signature 21,000 fans in Montreal were treated to hockey at other Bruins goal. Matt Puempel scored for Semyon Varlamov injured his groin over the 1990s, and Grigor Dimitrov couldn’t help but moves better than his up-and-coming opponent a frantic pace, but no goals through three peri- Ottawa (30-24-11) as Craig Anderson faced 22 weekend. Pickard’s night didn’t last long, with the interject: “I was born around the ‘90s.” It was no can, Federer got back a between-the-legs shot ods between two of the Eastern Conference’s shots in his second straight start after missing 17 Kings scoring three early goals and chasing him coincidence the 17-time Grand Slam champion from Dimitrov that appeared headed for a win- fastest teams. The Lightning had a 35-19 shot games. The loss was Ottawa’s first in regulation from the game at 14:15 of the first period. Reto was matched against the player nearly a decade ner with a between-the-legs return of his own in advantage, including 10-2 in the third period. It since Feb. 16 and ended a nine-game points Berra took over the rest of the way. younger in Tuesday night’s exhibition at the the second set. Dimitrov then missed the volley. was the third meeting between the clubs, with streak where Ottawa went 8-0-1 to get back into Garden. Their games are so similar that Dimitrov Federer had Dimitrov scrambling all over the the Lightning winning the first two by a com- the playoff race. Rask turned 28 on Tuesday. STARS 2, FLYERS 1 got tagged with the nickname “Baby Fed.” court early in the final set, leaving Dimitrov near- bined 11-3. They play twice more later this Vernon Fiddler scored the go-ahead goal late And on Tuesday, the 23-year-old Bulgarian - ly doing a split as he failed to run down a shot. A month. BLUES 5, JETS 4 in the third period to lift the Dallas Stars to the for the record, he was born in 1991 - kept up game later, after he chased down a short ball to Barret Jackman scored his first goal in 36 win. Brett Ritchie also scored for the Stars, who with Federer’s shot-making quite nicely. hit a winner at a near-impossible angle, Federer RANGERS 2, ISLANDERS 1 games with 1:03 left, launching a shot from cen- won for just the fourth time in their last 38 trips Dimitrov won 6-2, 1-6, 7-5, rallying from a break held his hand to his ear to egg on the crowd. Rick Nash scored a deflected goal to break a ter ice to give the Blues the win. After his team to Philadelphia. Luke Schenn scored for the free- down in the final set. He’s 0-3 in official matches In the next game, he lifted a moon ball tie 2:50 into the third period as the New York squandered a three-goal, third-period lead, falling Flyers, who lost their third straight to tum- against Federer and didn’t want to make a big through the giant video screens that hover Rangers beat the New York Islanders in their last Jackman bailed the Blues out when got control ble further out of playoff contention. The loss deal about beating him this time. “I have so above the court - when it finally came down, regular-season visit to Nassau Coliseum. of the puck along the left boards in the neutral snapped a six-game home point streak for much respect for him,” said the 11th-ranked Dimitrov hurdled the ball and still managed to After dropping the first three matchups to the zone off a faceoff. He appeared to be just dump- Philadelphia, which lost at home in regulation for Dimitrov, who made his first Grand Slam semifi- hit it in. “I really struggled for some time today,” Islanders - including two at home - the Rangers ing the puck into the Jets’ end, but his shot was just the second time in 13 games. nal at last summer’s Wimbledon. Federer said. “We did have some great shots. I So the Swiss great did it for him. “I think he thought it was actually a pretty high level match have won two straight on Long Island. The previ- on net and it handcuffed goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Fiddler scored the game-winner with about 6 played very well. He did really well to turn the at the end of the day.” ous meeting was a 6-5 Rangers victory in which That was the only goal that Pavelec allowed in 20 minutes left in the third period. Colton Sceviour match around, honestly,” Federer said. “So credit Meanwhile, Australia will face Kazakhstan on they erased a pair of two-goal deficits after shots faced. He came on in relief in the second centered a pass from the right boards and Fiddler to him. It’s a lot of pressure - first time at the a purpose-built grass court in the steamy north- falling behind 1-0 just 11 seconds in. period when the Blues scored four goals on four redirected it past Steve Mason from the goalie’s Garden.” ern city of Darwin in their Davis Cup quarter- Kevin Hayes scored the tying goal in the sec- straight shots against Jets rookie goalie Michael doorstep. Kari Lehtonen made 24 saves. Earlier, Gabriela Sabatini, 44, beat Monica final in July, officials announced yesterday. ond period this time, and Cam Talbot made 29 Hutchinson. Seles, 41, in a pro set 8-5. Both have rarely The showdown in the tropical capital of the saves to improve to 11-2-3 since No. 1 goalie BLUE JACKETS 4, HURRICANES 3 played since retiring, but they decided it was Northern Territory follows Australia beating the Henrik Lundqvist went out with a neck injury. KINGS 5, AVALANCHE 2 Ryan Johansen had the only goal in the worth training to commemorate the 25th Czech Republic and the Kazakhs overcoming Nash’s team-leading 39th goal was a shot from Brayden McNabb had a goal and two assists shootout, giving the Columbus Blue Jackets the anniversary of their classic five-set 1990 WTA Italy to seal last-eight berths earlier this month. the right point that caromed in off Islanders for- and Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots as the Los win. Scott Hartnell had two goals while Rene Finals match at the Garden, won by Seles. “All the boys are really looking forward to ward Ryan Strome. Angeles Kings ended the Colorado Avalanche’s Bourque added the other for the Blue Jackets. In the tradition of exhibitions, Dimitrov heading to Darwin for the quarter-finals,” Artem Ansimov added two assists. Justin Faulk brought a youngster from the crowd onto the Australian captain Wally Masur said ahead of the had a goal and two assists for Carolina, while court to play one point in the third set, and the tie from July 17-19. —AFP NHL results/standings Victor Rask and Eric Staal also scored for the Hurricanes. Columbus, which has won two of its last three games after a five-game regulation los- NY Rangers 2, NY Islanders 1; Dallas 2, Philadelphia 1; Columbus 4, Carolina 3 (SO); Tampa Bay 1, ing streak, held onto seventh place in the Montreal 0 (OT); Boston 3, Ottawa 1; St. Louis 5, Winnipeg 4; Minnesota 6, New Jersey 2; Los Metropolitan Division and left the Hurricanes in Angeles 5, Colorado 2. the cellar. Carolina had won the teams’ first two Western Conference Tampa Bay 42 20 6 223 177 90 meetings this season, 4-2 on the road on Nov. 4 Pacific Division Detroit 37 17 11 192 172 85 and 3-2 in overtime in Raleigh on Nov. 7. WL OTLGFGAPTS Boston 34 22 10 179 171 78 Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Carolina’s Anaheim 42 19 7 199 186 91 Florida 29 23 14 163 188 72 Cam Ward each had 29 saves. Vancouver 38 24 4 189 179 80 Ottawa 30 24 11 185 176 71 Calgary 36 25 5 191 172 77 WILD 6, DEVILS 2 Los Angeles 32 21 13 180 170 77 Toronto 26 35 6 179 209 58 San Jose 33 26 8 189 187 74 Buffalo 19 42 5 126 224 43 Thomas Vanek scored twice and Devan Arizona 21 38 8 143 224 50 Metropolitan Division Dubnyk stopped 30 shots as the Minnesota Wild Edmonton 18 38 11 152 227 47 NY Islanders 43 22 4 219 194 90 beat the New Jersey Devils. Chris Stewart and Central Division NY Rangers 41 17 7 200 156 89 Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for Nashville 42 19 7 199 166 91 Pittsburgh 38 18 10 189 162 86 the Wild, and Sean Bergenheim and Jason St. Louis 42 19 5 209 167 89 Washington 36 21 10 200 165 82 Pominville also scored for the Wild. Chicago 39 21 6 190 154 84 Philadelphia 28 27 13 178 197 69 Dubnyk improved to 19-4-1 with Minnesota Minnesota 37 23 7 192 170 81 while making his 26th consecutive start and the New Jersey 28 29 10 153 176 66 Winnipeg 33 22 12 187 181 78 200th of his career. Bergenheim’s goal was his Columbus 28 34 4 170 210 60 Colorado 30 26 11 179 190 71 first in seven games since being traded to the Dallas 30 27 10 209 221 70 Carolina 25 32 8 155 178 58 Wild in late February. Dainius Zubrus scored his Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one first goal in 50 games for New Jersey, and Scott Atlantic Division point in the standings and are not included Gomez scored his sixth of the season with the NEW YORK: Roger Federer of Switzerland and Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria pose for a Montreal 42 18 7 177 147 91 in the loss column (L). Devils trailing by five goals in the third. — AP photo after the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden. — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 SPORTS Brewers stroll past Reds PHOENIX: Kyle Lohse threw three score- twice. “It’s good face the veterans less innings, Martin Maldonado homered because they take a lot of pitches and let and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the you throw and throw, which is good for Cincinnati Reds 5-3 Tuesday for their first me,” Cueto said. win this spring. Brewers: Lohse had a little mechanical The Brewers had been outscored 27- issue with his delivery but the results 14 in losing their first five exhibition were good. He struck out Brayan Pena games. Lohse, projected as the opening and Todd Frazier to end the first and day starter, allowed two hits and struck Brennan Boesch to end his outing in the out four. Reds starter Johnny Cueto gave third with runners on first and third. “I up a run and three hits in three innings. was coming out of my delivery a little bit, “Spring is a little boring, but it’s what you but I was able to figure it out by the third have to do to get ready for the season,” inning,” said Lohse, who has allowed one Cueto, coming off his first 20-win season, earned run with seven strikeouts in 5 2-3 said through a translator. “I felt good innings. “We’re down here to learn how even though you don’t have a lot of time to consistently deliver the ball. It doesn’t out there.” matter to me who I’m facing.” Maldonado, getting plenty of playing time with catcher Jonathan Lucroy still TRAINER’S ROOM out with a hamstring problem, is hitting Brewers: Milwaukee expects 1B Adam .556 for the spring (5 for 9) with a double, Lind to make his first Cactus League a triple and a homer. appearance Thursday against Colorado. “Maldy’s trying to get MVP of the He has been slowed by lower back stiff- Cactus League,” Milwaukee manager Ron ness. He has battled back problems for Roenicke said. “It’s always nice to win a the past four years. ... C Jonathan Lucroy game, although we still got sloppy on a will play in minor league games on couple of plays. But it was better and we Thursday and Friday with an eye toward had some good offense.” a Cactus League game as the next step. Shane Peterson had a two-run homer and Jason Rogers got three hits for PUT IT ON THE VISA Milwaukee. The Reds scored all their runs Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez TEMPE: Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus fields a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Matt Joyce during the fourth inning of a spring training in the ninth off reliever Tyler Cravy. has received approval for a visa in his baseball exhibition game. — AP native Venezuela and should join the STARTING TIME team within a few days. Reds: Cueto gave up his first run in The 33-year-old Rodriguez is used to five innings this spring, allowing singles being a late arrival to camp. Last year, Angels see off Rangers to Scooter Gennett and Jean Segura to political strife kept him home until a few start the first. But he retired nine of the weeks into camp. And once he arrived, final 11 hitters, getting Brewers cleanup he stepped on a cactus spine in his bare TEMPE: Colby Lewis rebounded from a rough shape,” Lewis said. Santiago, in his in his second ered from a poor start and a trip to the minors to man Aramis Ramirez to foul out to first feet to set him back further. —AP spring debut to pitch three scoreless innings for start, sailed through two innings before allowing a go 6-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 2014. the Texas Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles one-out single Rougned Odor. Angels on Tuesday. Martin’s towering homer to right then broke up TRAINER’S ROOM Lewis, who didn’t get out of the first inning last the scoreless tie. Santiago allowed four hits and Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards threw a week in giving up three homers and six runs to two runs with two strikeouts. “Santiago set the 41-pitch simulated game at Angels camp Tuesday Qanai invited to 1st GCC Kansas City, allowed only one hit this time. He tone today,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He and said after he felt fine. Richards is recovering walked one and struck out one. had that one slider (the Martin homer). That was it.” from surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon in Sports Media Tourney “He got the ball down and moved it around,” his left knee. Richards, who was going through a KUWAIT: The Sports Media Committee The invitation, that was delivered on Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “He got some STARTING TIME breakthrough season with a 13-4 record and a 2.61 at Bahrain’s Journalists Association the sidelines of Omar Bokamal, the head innings which was good to see.” Leonys Martin Rangers: Lewis, Texas’ career leader with four ERA, was hurt last Aug. 20 in Boston while covering recently invited Faisal Al-Qanai, the of Sheikh Hlaifa bin Hamad’s office and homered off Angels starter Hector Santiago in the playoff wins, missed all of 2013 with major elbow first base on an infield play. Asian Sports Media Federation championship director, attending the third. Santiago, in his in his second start, breezed and hip surgeries. He returned in 2014 and posted “He’s progressing,” pitching coach Mike Butcher Chairman, Deputy Chairman of the 78th Congress of AIPS in Paris was also through two innings before allowing a one-out sin- a 10-14 record with a 4.17 ERA. said. “He’s made every stop and made them all real- International Sports Media Federation delivered to heads of all GCC sports gle Rougned Odor and the homer by Martin. He told reporters that he did nothing different ly well.” A report stated that Richards could see and Kuwait Journalists’ Association committee and unions, AIPS president, CJ Cron, one of five possible regulars in the than in his first spring start. “I felt the same,” Lewis action in a Cactus League game as quickly as this Secretary, to attend the 1st GCC Sports Gianni Merlo, President of the Arab Angels’ lineup, hit a two-run homer in the fourth said. “My location was better, maybe ... When you’re weekend, but Butcher said after Tuesday’s game Media (Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al- Sports Media Association, Mohammed off Joe Beimel. The Angels rallied from a late 4-2 throwing the ball the way you need to throw it, the that he wanted to see how Richards felt Khalifa Cup) Tourney due to be held in Jameel Abdul Qader and a number of deficit. Angels second baseman hopeful Johnny quick outs will come.” Lewis added that ace Yu Wednesday before deciding what is next for him. Bahrain between April 1-5. Asian sports media officials. Giavotella doubled with one out in the ninth and Darvish’s uncertain status for the season doesn’t Rangers: Left-hander Michael Kirkland, out with scored the game’s winning run on Lisalverto change his spring approach. “It’s a blow to the rota- left shoulder stiffness, is scheduled to pitch in an ‘A’ Bonilla’s wild pitch in the dirt. Lewis said he missed tion,” he said. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.” game against the Chicago White Sox. Kyle Blanks out on a big part of his conditioning in his first Angels: Santiago tossed two shutout innings in made his first spring appearance after struggling rough outing. his first outing against Milwaukee on March 5. with left Achilles tendinitis and singled in a run in “For me it’s about getting my body back into Santiago, in his first season with the Angels, recov- the eighth. —AP Royals fall to White Sox

SURPRISE: Jeremy Guthrie, the starting and losing 2014 AL Rookie of the Year, contributed two hits, Trayce Thompson, a White Sox outfield prospect. pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series, got off to drove in a run and scored a run. Klay scored 25 points Monday in the Warriors’ victo- rough spring debut Tuesday and the Kansas City Jarrod Dyson led off the Royals first with a ry over the Phoenix Suns and remained in town to Royals lost to the Chicago White Sox 6-2. homer against Tyler Danish, a highly touted White watch his brother. Trayce went 0 for 1 with a walk Micah Johnson went 4 for 4, scored two runs Sox prospect. Danish, 20, permitted two runs on and started in right field. and drove in one as the White Sox handed the three hits in 2 1-3 innings. Royals their first loss this spring after six wins. “That was definitely big for me to see what I saw FAREWELL TOUR Guthrie yielded three runs on four hits and a hit live today,” Danish said. “It was challenging, the White Sox reserve OF Michael Taylor, 29, batter in the first inning, but retired the last four World Series runner-ups, my first start in spring announced his retirement. Taylor hit .167 in 37 batters he faced. “This one was a little more training. I like the competition. I’m glad I got to do games in parts of three seasons with Oakland and relaxed,” Guthrie said than his final World Series it against them.” the White Sox. ... OF Engle Beltre, who hit .250 in 22 start. “The crowd wasn’t too scary here, not too games last season with Texas, was moved over from Dodging Bullets hits much pressure.” Guthrie had a modest goal for his STARTING TIME the minor league camp to replace Taylor. Beltre debut. “I wanted to throw a fastball harder than 91 White Sox: LHP John Danks threw four innings pinch ran and subbed in center, going 1 for 1. (mph),” he said. “That’s what I was hoping for. You in a simulated game at Goodyear, instead of facing Champion Chase target disappear for five months and come back and hope the Royals. The White Sox open the season April 6 TRAINER’S ROOM the arm goes as fast as before. I had the arm at Kansas City and play the Royals 19 times this sea- White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said INFs CHELTENHAM: Dodging Bullets, bred by Derby, but this is the second best! “Sam strength up and located pitches.” Guthrie said he son, including seven in April. Leury Garcia and Matt Davidson are battling shoul- flat jockey great Frankie Dettori, proved a gave him a fantastic ride. He jumped like a reached his goal. Royals: LHP Brandon Finnegan, who went from der soreness. revelation as he claimed the scalps of joint stag. My legs were shaking a little bit. What “I did. I peeked up at the board,” he said. Guthrie a 2014 first-round draft pick to pitching in the Royals: LHP Tim Collins, who has elbow liga- favourites Sire de Grugy and Sprinter Sacre a horse.” Sire de Grugy came in fourth, with noted he lit up radar guns with speeds of 147 to World Series, allowed two runs on three hits and a ment damage, will see Dr. James Andrews on in yesterday’s Champion Chase. All the Sprinter Sacre pulled up before the last. 149 in November, while touring Japan with a major walk in two innings. Wednesday for a second opinion to see if surgery is league All-Star team. “That’s kilometers,” he said warranted. ... LF Alex Gordon took batting practice build-up to the second day highlight at the This was Nicholls’ second winner at the and smiled. Johnson has six straight hits, including THOMPSON BROTHERS swings for the first time and said his right wrist, Cheltenham Festival was on whether bril- festival. Britain’s champion trainer suffered a tying, ninth-inning homer Monday against Golden State guard Klay Thompson, a NBA All- which required surgery in December, feels close to liant 2013 winner Sprinter Sacre could a blank opening day but finally getting off Arizona, to raise his average to .500. Jose Abreu, the Star, was at Surprise Stadium to see his brother, 100 percent. — AP return to reclaim his crown after serious the mark with Aux Petits Soins half an hour heart problems. before Dodging Bullets. Or if Sire de Grugy could defend his title Nicholls said: “That was absolutely awe- after landing the two mile Grade 1 show- some. The progress he’s made has been High school class of 2011 piece in the absence of Nicky Henderson’s absolutely phenomenal. He’s got better star 12 months ago. and better. “He should have been favourite But the 5-2 market leaders were totally on form. I couldn’t see why the other two showing up on PGA Tour upstaged as Dodging Bullets (9-2) emerged (Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy) were from a three-way battle up the hill with ahead of him in the market.” runner-up Sommersby (33-1) and the front- Willie Mullins, the master Irish trainer PALM HARBOR: One was a college kid playing the running Special Tiara (18-1). who cleaned up on Tuesday, was left with- Valspar Championship on a sponsor’s exemption. Two The fast-improving chaser was trained out a runner as he had to pull out were PGA Tour rookies. by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Champagne Fever on Wednesday morning. They were joined on the back nine at Innisbrook Twiston-Davies, and bred by Dettori, who The third-favourite was feeling the by a tour veteran who already has played in a Ryder was on hand to celebrate the “unbeliev- worse for wear after being bitten by a sta- Cup and a Presidents Cup, who has played in the final able” outcome. The Italian rider added of blemate on the lip en route to the group at the Masters and is among the top 10 players his seven-year-old: “It was meant to be the Gloucestershire track from Ireland. — AFP in the world. And they’re all the same age. Well, not really. When they stepped off the 11th tee Tuesday afternoon, Golf Channel asked Georgia Tech senior Ollie Schniederjans, rookies Daniel Berger and Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth to pose for a picture. Someone asked who was the oldest, and they each mentioned their birthdays. “I’m the oldest? Really?” said Berger, who lost in a playoff at the Honda Classic two weeks ago and turns 22 in April. The youngest was Spieth, who would be in his senior year at Texas if he had not left college after three semesters. He crossed the $9 million mark in career earnings on the PGA Tour last week at Doral, so it appears to have worked out well for him. More than a foursome, they are friends. And more than just friends, they are part of a group that is quickly becoming known as the “Class of ‘11.” That’s their graduation class. From high school. This is an example of the direction golf is going. LOS ANGELES: In this Feb. 20, 2015, file photo, Justin Thomas tees off on the second hole dur- The future of Tiger Woods has never been more ing the second round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament. — AP uncertain. He turns 40 at the end of this year, and no one has any idea if he’ll play before then. Phil mer of 2007 when both were picked to play for the Tour card. He has played in the final group on the Mickelson turns 45 in June, and while he looks as fit as U.S. in the Evian Junior Masters in France. Thomas won weekend three times this year - the third round at the he has in years, Lefty has finished out of the top 10 in the 36-hole event, allowing him to play in the Evian Sony Open and Phoenix Open, the final round of the 24 of his last 25 tournaments. The best player in golf is Masters pro-am with Juli Inkster. Spieth caddied for Humana Challenge. Berger, who left Florida State after Rory McIlroy, who is 25. him. Spieth left Texas after the fall semester of his only two years, did not have an amateur career as dec- The challenge is more likely to come from guys sophomore year, and 10 months later he was playing orated as Spieth or Thomas. But he’s not the same who are younger, not older, with exceptions such as alongside, Woods, Mickelson and Steve Stricker in the path as Thomas - one year on the Web.com Tour to get Dustin Johnson (30), Jason Day (27) and a few others. Presidents Cup. “It’s just nice to have guys out here my his ticket to the big leagues, already three top 10s this Spieth has been mentioned as a possible chal- own age,” said Spieth, who won the John Deere Classic year, and plenty of power off the tee. lenger depending on quickly he matures and whether when he was 19. “I have good friends out here. I’ll Schniederjans had his heart set on playing Major he can start piling up victories. He got started late last have a beer with Rory or Rickie Fowler, but I think League Baseball as a kid and was part of a traveling year when he won the Australian Open by closing Rickie was five years ahead of me in school.” team until he was 12 and picked up a golf club while CHELTENHAM: Dodging Bullets ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies (right) races clear of with a 63, and then the Hero World Challenge by 10 And they didn’t have a beer until last July. Legally, messing around with kids on his baseball team. He second placed Somersby ridden by Brian Hughes and goes on to win the Queen shots. Spieth and Thomas have known each other the anyway. Thomas left Alabama a year later, spent one was obsessed with it. Two years later, he tried local Mother Champion Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. — AP longest, and they had a fierce competition in the sum- year on the Web.com Tour and easily earned his PGA qualifying for the US Open. —AP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 SPORTS Early to tell if NASCAR set for improved racing

CHARLOTTE: Two races is just too early to form month when he crashed into an unprotected a definitive opinion about NASCAR’s new rules wall at Daytona. package, which was tweaked as part of a con- Gordon hit an unprotected wall the next certed effort to improve the racing. Has the 2015 week at Atlanta, and Erik Jones hit a portion of rules package made things any better? No, not wall just past the SAFER barrier in the Xfinity really. Especially if it’s being compared with the Series race at Las Vegas on Saturday. Gordon high-stakes racing that punctuated the end of and Jones both walked away, but Gordon gave last season, when the 10-race Chase displayed vivid detail in how much harder the impact is some of the strongest competition in years. when a driver hits a concrete wall vs. a SAFER NASCAR wants bumper-to-bumper racing barrier. every week, with aggressive passing all through NASCAR and its tracks are doing the right the field. So the rules are an evolving process, thing in reviewing the safety standards at all and the 2015 package was a compromise facilities, but they must act with urgency in get- between what the drivers wanted vs. how many ting soft walls on every inch of a race track that changes tire provider Goodyear could immedi- can safely accommodate the barriers. ately accommodate. Even though Daytona International The result was a reduction in downforce - not Speedway president Joie Chitwood said after nearly enough to satisfy the majority of the driv- Busch’s accident he would cover “every inch” of ers - and less horsepower. the track, it’s not always the smartest route: It’s yet to be seen if the changes will lead to There are some areas on some tracks where a significant improvements because races at car could hit a SAFER barrier and ricochet back Atlanta and Las Vegas the last two weeks didn’t into traffic, creating another dangerous scenario. look much different from past events on 1.5- Whatever the safest routes are, it must be done mile speedways. Three drivers combined to lead as soon as possible. Every additional hit into an 292 of the 325 laps at Atlanta, where the 28 lead unprotected wall is a very bad look for NASCAR. changes weren’t all that dramatic. Jimmie KURT BUSCH UPDATE: Kurt Busch is cur- Johnson went on to the win, beating Kevin rently participating in a process that is expected Harvick by 1.802 seconds. to lead to his eventual reinstatement to Harvick, Johnson and Joey Logano again NASCAR. He was suspended indefinitely Feb. 20 dominated Sunday in Las Vegas, where the trio for an alleged domestic assault against an ex- led 234 of the 267 laps. Harvick sort of made it girlfriend and has missed three races. There’s look easy in the end, with a vibration in his car been no timetable given for his return, but after the only thing that kept him from trouncing the Delaware authorities last week declined to field as he took the victory. charge Busch, it would seem that his reinstate- The new package was supposed to excite ment could come as soon as this week. NASCAR fans and please the drivers, but three-time has not detailed the steps Busch must take to DALLAS: Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith (5) collides with Dallas Mavericks forward Al-Farouq Aminum (immediately behind) while chasing NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was fuming on return to competition. One interesting aspect a pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game. — AP his in-car radio about his car. He seemed to sug- about the situation was raised on Sunday by gest the cars were more fit to compete on Gene Haas, the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Saturday, when NASCAR’s second-tier series who hand-picked Busch to drive for the organi- Cavaliers thrash Mavericks races. zation and pays for Busch’s car out of pocket. One vocal driver does not make or break a Haas seemed to indicate he wants Busch back in case against the new rules package, but two the No. 41, but also said he’s curious about the races into the season and NASCAR has got to be drivers’ eligibility in the Chase for the Sprint Cup DALLAS: Even without his trademark headband, PELICANS 111, NETS 91 (back) for the second consecutive game. hoping the on-track action picks up a tick or two championship. The current rules say a driver LeBron James had 27 points and took over sole Alexis Ajinca and Quincy Pondexter each Reserve Rodney Hood scored 17 points for very soon. must at minimum attempt to qualify, or race, in possession of the Cavaliers’ career assists record scored 17 points as New Orleans moved within the Jazz, while Rudy Gobert added 10 points, 14 Some other things learned over the first every event. A waiver can be granted by as Cleveland beat the Dallas Mavericks 127-94 percentage points of eighth place in the Western rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Hood month of the season: NASCAR in certain situations: Tony Stewart on Tuesday night. James was one of four players Conference by beating Brooklyn. Omer Asik had and Favors carried the offensive load in the SOFT WALLS NEED TO BE A PRIORITY: Jeff received one after missing three races last year with more than 20 points for the Central 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans in fourth after the Knicks took a two-point lead. Gordon has a Tuesday meeting scheduled with following the fatal accident of a sprint car driver, Division-leading Cavaliers, who have won 12 of their third straight victory. Anthony Davis scored Alexey Shved scored 21 points and had a NASCAR executive vice president Steve and Brian Vickers received one after missing the their last 13 games against Western Conference 15 points, a night after tying his career high with career-high 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Andrea O’Donnell, and the four-time series champion first two races of this year after offseason heart opponents and broke a 14-game losing streak in 43 in a win at Milwaukee. Bargnani finished with 20 points. has said he wants a timeline on when energy- surgery. Texas. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, while Kevin Brook Lopez had 15 points and nine absorbing SAFER barriers will be fully installed at It’s not clear where NASCAR stands on the Love had 21 points and 14 rebounds. J.R. Smith rebounds for the Nets, who broke to an early LAKERS 93, PISTONS 85 all tracks. Almost all facilities that host national waiver for Busch. At a time when NASCAR is try- also scored 21 points and Timofey Mozgov, the double-digit lead before losing their fourth Jordan Hill led seven Lakers in double figures NASCAR events have the Steel and Foam Energy ing hard to be transparent, and trying hard to other starter, had 17. straight. Ajinca had 11 points during a four- with 16 point as Los Angeles beat Detroit to Reduction Barrier in certain walls, but there’s make rules very black and white, the issue of Chandler Parsons led Dallas with 18 points, minute stretch of the second quarter as the snap a five-game losing streak. been an outcry for total coverage since Kyle waivers pertaining to Chase eligibility should by while Monta Ellis had 17 and Amare Stoudemire Pelicans took a 55-46 lead into halftime. They are The injury-riddled Lakers (17-46) beat the Busch broke his right leg and left foot last crystal clear. — AP 15. Dirk Nowitzki scored 13 points on only 3-of- 2 percentage points behind Oklahoma City for Pistons for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings 10 shooting. the West’s final playoff spot. behind 46 points in the paint and a 46-41 rebounding edge, but were officially eliminated SPURS 117, RAPTORS 107 JAZZ 87, KNICKS 82 from playoff contention before their game end- Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, 11 rebounds Derrick Favors had 29 points and 12 ed when New Orleans beat Brooklyn. and matched a career high with five steals, as rebounds, as Utah beat New York to equal a sea- Greg Monroe had 24 points and nine San Antonio withstood a second-half letdown to son high with its third straight victory. rebounds for the Pistons, but missed a pair of beat Toronto for its sixth straight victory. Both teams struggled to score as the Jazz critical free throws with 1:09 remaining and Tony Parker added 23 points and nine assists, were without leading scorer Gordon Hayward Detroit trailing by three. Andre Drummond had and Danny Green was 5 for 6 on 3-pointers in (back) and the Knicks have been injury-plagued 21 rebounds along with 14 points, but couldn’t scoring 19 points for San Antonio. Toronto lost all season. New York missed Tim Hardaway Jr. prevent Detroit’s seventh straight loss. — AP its fourth straight despite 32 points from Kyle Lowry and 21 for DeMar DeRozan. Amir Johnson had 16 points and 14 rebounds. NBA results/standings Tim Duncan made the game’s first basket on a follow of his own blocked shot 19 seconds in, after failing to make a field goal for the first time Indiana 118, Orlando 86; New Orleans 111, Brooklyn 91; Cleveland 127, Dallas 94; San Antonio in his career in San Antonio’s previous game. He 117, Toronto 107; Utah 87, NY Knicks 82; LA Lakers 93, Detroit 85. finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds in 36 Eastern Conference Western Conference minutes before leaving with about a minute Atlantic Division Northwest Division remaining, clutching his elbow after teammate W L PCT GB Portland 41 20 .672 - LAS VEGAS: Jimmie Johnson (front right) leads during a restart at a NASCAR Sprint Tiago Splitter fell into him under the basket. Toronto 38 26 .594 - Oklahoma City 35 28 .556 7 Cup series auto race in this file photo. — AP Boston 26 36 .419 11 PACERS 118, MAGIC 86 Utah 27 36 .429 15 Brooklyn 25 37 .403 12 Denver 23 41 .359 19.5 Reserve Rodney Stuckey had 34 points, six Philadelphia 14 49 .222 23.5 rebounds and seven assists, as Indiana beat Minnesota 14 48 .226 27.5 Hamilton, Rosberg NY Knicks 12 51 .190 25.5 Pacific Division Orlando for its sixth straight victory. Central Division Damjan Rudez scored 17 points, and Luis Golden State 50 12 .806 - Cleveland 41 25 .621 - LA Clippers 41 23 .641 10 look for flying start Scola added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Chicago 39 26 .600 1.5 Phoenix 33 32 .508 18.5 surging Pacers (29-34), who moved into sole Milwaukee 33 30 .524 6.5 Sacramento 21 41 .339 29 MELBOURNE: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg come by and McLaren will start without new possession of seventh place in the Eastern Indiana 29 34 .460 10.5 will look to extend their title rivalry and driver Fernando Alonso, who is out after suffer- Conference. Tobias Harris had 22 points and six Detroit 23 40 .365 16.5 LA Lakers 17 46 .270 33.5 Mercedes’ dominance into a second Formula ing concussion in a crash in testing. rebounds, and Elfrid Payton finished with 14 Southeast Division Southwest Division One season as their rivals grapple with new driv- Motorsports world body FIA (Federation points for the Magic, who have lost five of seven Atlanta 50 13 .794 - Memphis 45 18 .714 - ing line-ups at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. Internationale de l’Automobile) launched an games. Stuckey made two of his career-best six Washington 36 28 .563 14.5 Houston 43 20 .683 2 The reigning world champion and his investigation into the accident, whose cause has 3-pointers in an 18-0 run in the first half. Indiana Charlotte 28 34 .452 21.5 San Antonio 40 23 .635 5 German team-mate are expected to make a fly- been the subject of rampant speculation. Spain’s used a 9-3 run in the fourth quarter to pull away, Miami 28 35 .444 22 Dallas 41 25 .621 5.5 ing start to the year after Mercedes improved Alonso, a two-time world champion, will be with Solomon Hill’s two-handed dunk to give Orlando 21 44 .323 30 New Orleans 36 29 .554 10 both their chassis and engine in pre-season test- replaced by Kevin Magnussen but has vowed to the Pacers a 93-73 lead with 9:52 remaining. ing. Britain’s Hamilton fought off Rosberg to return for the second race in Malaysia. claim his second world title at the 2014 finale in Meanwhile Sauber were locked in a court Abu Dhabi, after a season in which a rejuvenated case on Wednesday after former reserve Giedo Silver Arrows team reigned supreme. van der Garde claimed the team reneged on a Matthews wins Paris-Nice stage Hamilton failed to finish last year’s Melbourne deal for him to drive for them this season. race and retired after just four laps, but the Briton The Dutchman won his case at a Swiss tribu- FRANCE: Australia’s Michael Matthews took the er - makes it even more special,” said Malori. Although missing Britain’s former Tour de went on to win 11 races among 16 wins for the nal and a court in Melbourne backed the ruling, overall leader’s yellow jersey in the Paris-Nice Malori will wear the race leader’s blue jersey into France champion Chris Froome, the “Race of the all-conquering Mercedes team. but the Swiss team immediately appealed. cycle race yesterday with his Orica teammates Thursday’s first stage, a 153 km ride from Two Seas”, as Tirreno-Adriatico is affectionately “We had a great season last year as a team “What we cannot do is jeopardise the safety helping him to victory in the third stage. Camaiore to Cascina, but will be expected to give known, will see Contador lock jaws with some of and, of course, we’d all love to repeat that,” of our team, or any other driver on the track, by The 24-year-old Matthews, who has stage wins up the race lead as the overall challengers come the rivals expected to stand in his way this sea- Hamilton said. “But the others won’t stop chasing having an unprepared driver in a car that has to his credit in both the Tour of Spain and the Tour to the fore. Spain’s Alberto Contador, the reigning son. Former two-time Tirreno-Adriatico winner us. I’m sure the competition will be close and we now been tailored to two other assigned drivers,” of Italy, edged home first ahead of Italians Davide race champion, is expected to ramp up his prepa- Vincenzo Nibali, the reigning Tour de France should get exciting racing with plenty of battling chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn said in a Cimolai and Giacomo Nizzolo with fourth place rations this week for a tilt at a rare Giro d’Italia- champion, is also racing as is Colombian climbing for position. “There are many good drivers out statement. Australian fans will be hoping Daniel going to Norwegian Alexander Kristoff. Tour de France double. Two-time Tour de France specialist Nairo Quintana, the 2014 Giro d’Italia there and all of them want to win. You just have Ricciardo, lucklessly stripped of a podium finish Polish world champion Michal Kwiatkowski champion Contador is aiming this year to become champion and former Giro runner-up Rigoberto to want it more than they do.” last year over a fuel-flow infringement, can had held the overall lead from his win in the pro- the first cyclist since deceased Italian Marco Uran. Yesterday the Spaniard finished in a time of Pre-season intrigue has not been hard to become the first home winner in 35 years. —AFP logue, but Matthews earned enough bonus Pantani to win the Italian and French three-week 6:23, eight seconds slower than Nibali with Uran points as the stage winner yesterday to take over. Grand Tours in the same calendar year. nine seconds faster. — AFP The early going in the 179-kilometre run down from Saint-Amand-Montron was marked by a breakaway by French pair Florian Vachon and Thomas Voeckler accompanied by Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert. But they were reeled in by the peloton with about 10 kilometres to go after which Frenchman Romain Bardet, Belgian teammate Jan Bakelants and Paolo Tiralongo of Italy went clear. In turn they were caught with two kilometres to go, setting up the sprint finish won by Matthews. Meanwhile, Italian Adriano Malori won the opening prologue of the Tirreno- Adriatico, a 5.4 km time trial around the Lido di Camaiore, to take the overall lead of the Italian stage race on Wednesday. A team time trial over 22.7 km was supposed to open the March 11-17 World Tour event, however organisers were forced into drastic changes after bad weather damaged parts of the course in certain areas. Malori’s BMC team would have been among the contenders for victory in the longer team event, however the 27-year-old Movistar rider from KUWAIT: Kuwait Tennis National Team returned home after meeting Pakistan in the Parma went on to taste victory himself. second group of Asia and Oceania in the Davis Cup tournament which was held in Sri Malori clocked a time of 6min 04sec for the Lanka. Kuwait were tied by Pakistan 2-2, Kuwait’s Dawood Sayyd Hashim lost the mainly flat course, finishing one second ahead of fifth and deciding match to Aqeel Khan and Pakistan won by 3-2. Kuwait will now Swiss classics specialist Fabian Cancellara and two meet Iran next July. Kuwait’s head of delegation lauded the players, particularly in front of Belgian Greg Van Avermaet. Mohammad Al-Ghareeb who played well under difficult circumstances and beat “I’m really happy because I really didn’t expect FRANCE: Australia’s Michael Matthews celebrates his best young’s white jersey on the podium Pakistan’s best players. to win, and to beat Cancellara - who is a great rid- at the end of the third stage of the 73rd edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race. — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Sangakkara makes history as Sri Lanka flay Scotland

HOBART: Kumar Sangakkara became the first bats- will retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup, before he holed out in the deep off seamer Josh man to score four consecutive one-day centuries as had made 105 not out against Bangladesh, an Davey. Davey struck two quick blows soon after, Sri Lanka thrashed Scotland by 148 runs in the unbeaten 117 against England and 104 against getting rid of Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara World Cup in Hobart yesterday. Australia. He is the the leading scorer in the ongo- off successive balls as Sri Lanka slipped from 216 The left-hander hit 124 off 95 balls and ing tournament with 496 runs from six games, fol- for one to 244 for four. Jayawardene, 37, who will Tillakaratne Dilshan made 104 as the Islanders lowed in second place by 38-year-old Dilshan with also retire after the World Cup having already quit piled up 363 for nine and then bowled Scotland 395 runs. The pair put on 195 for the second wicket Test cricket, made two when he was caught at mid- out for 215 in 43.1 overs in the Pool A match at the after Lahiru Thirimanne had been snapped up in off by Calum MacLeod. Bellerive Oval. the slips off Alasdair Evans in the sixth over after Sri Sangakkara edged the next delivery to the Skipper Preston Mommsen (60) and Freddie Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. wicket-keeper, sparking wild celebrations among Coleman (70) put on 118 for the fourth wicket but Scotland had to wait till the 35th over for their the Scottish supporters in the stands. Skipper they provided the only Scottish challenge as seam- next success as Sangakkara and Dilshan toyed with Angelo Mathews smashed 51 off 21 balls at the ers Nuwan Kulasekara and Dushmantha Chameera the bowling in good batting conditions. end, slamming four sixes in a row off spinner Matt grabbed three wickets each. Both batsmen reached their centuries off suc- Machan before being caught next ball on the mid- SCOREBOARD Sangakkara also took two catches to overtake cessive balls from Kyle Coetzer in the 34th over, wicket fence. Adam Gilchrist as the most successful World Cup Dilshan taking a single to record his second hun- Sri Lanka, who were 216 for one at one stage, HOBART, Australia: Full scoreboard of the World Cup Pool A match between Scotland wicket-keeper with 54 dismissals. The Australian dred in the tournament before Sangakkara fol- lost eight wickets for 147 runs as the later batsmen and Sri Lanka at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart yesterday: had 52 victims to his name. lowed next ball with two runs. Sangakkara attacked the inexperienced Scotland attack. Sri Sri Lanka: Scotland: Sri Lanka ended the league with four wins from leapfrogged six players who had scored three ODI Lanka go into the knock-out rounds beset with L. Thirimanne c Mommsen b Evans 4 K. Coetzer c and b Malinga 0 six matches and now await an undecided oppo- centuries in a row-Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar injuries, with seamer Dhammika Prasad ruled out T. Dilshan c MacLeod b Davey 104 C. MacLeod b Kulasekara 11 nent in the first quarter-final at the Sydney Cricket of Pakistan, the South African trio of Herschelle of the tournament before it started and Jeevan K. Sangakkara c Cross b Davey 124 M. Machan lbw b Dilshan 19 Ground on March 18. Scotland’s fifth successive Gibbs, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock, and Ross Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh M. Jayawardene c MacLeod b Davey 2 P. Mommsen c Thirimanne b T. Perera 60 defeat means they will take an early flight home Taylor of New Zealand. Chandimal sidelined during it. Veteran left-arm A. Mathews c Coleman b Machan 51 F. Coleman c T. Perera b Kulasekara 70 after their final league match against Australia at Dilshan followed his unbeaten 161 against spinner Rangana Herath is yet to recover from a fin- K. Perera c MacLeod b Taylor 24 R. Berrington c Kulasekara b Chameera 29 the same venue on Saturday. Sangakkara, 37, who Bangladesh with his fourth World Cup century ger injury. — AFP T. Perera c Coleman b Berrington 7 M. Leask c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 2 S. Prasanna c Coleman b Evans 3 M. Cross c Sangakkara b Chameera 7 N. Kulasekara not out 18 R. Taylor c T. Perera b Malinga 3 J. Davey c Thirimanne b Chameera 4 L. Malinga c Leask b Berrington 1 A. Evans not out 1 D. Chameera not out 12 Extras: (lb2, w6, nb1) 9 Extras: (lb3, w10) 13 Total (all out, 43.1 overs) 215 Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 363 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Coetzer), 2-26 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Thirimanne), 2-216 (MacLeod), 3-44 (Machan), 4-162 (Dilshan), 3-244 (Jayawardene), 4-244 (Mommsen), 5-189 (Coleman), 6-192 (Sangakkara), 5-289 (K. Perera), 6-326 (Leask), 7-200 (Cross), 8-209 (Taylor), 9- (Mathews), 7-328 (T. Perera), 8-331 210 (Berrington), 10-215 (Davey). (Prasanna), 9-336 (Malinga). Bowling: Malinga 9-0-29-2 (w2), Bowling: Taylor 10-0-46-1, Evans 10-0-72- Kulasekara 7-0-20-3 (w1), T. Perera 7-0- 2 (w3), Davey 8-0-63-3 (w5), Berrington 41-1 (w2), Dilshan 5-0-15-1, Prasanna 8-0- 6.1-31-2, Leask 7-0-63-0, Coetzer 4.5-0- 57-0, Chameera 7.1-0-51-3 (nb1, w1). 39-0, Machan 4-0-46-1 (w1). Sri Lanka won by 148 runs.

World Cup result and standings

Pool A At Hobart Sri Lanka 363-9 (Kumar Sangakkara 124, Tillakaratne Dilshan 104, Angelo Mathews 51) v Scotland 215 (Freddie Coleman 70, Preston Mommsen 60) Sri Lanka won by 148 runs Played won losttied no resultpoints run rate Pool A New Zealand 5 5 0 0 0 10 +3.090 - qualified Sri Lanka 6 4 2 0 0 8 +0.371 - qualified Australia 5 3 1 0 1 7 +1.597 - qualified Bangladesh 5 3 1 0 1 7 +0.211 - qualified England 5 1 4 0 0 2 -1.001 Afghanistan 5 1 4 0 0 2 -1.881 Scotland 5 0 5 0 0 0 -1.769

Pool B India 5 5 0 0 0 10 +2.157 - qualified South Africa 5 3 2 0 0 6 +1.462 Pakistan 5 3 2 0 0 6 -0.194 HOBART: Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot at the Bellerive Oval ground during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool A match Ireland 5 3 2 0 0 6 -1.014 against Scotland. — AFP West Indies 5 2 3 0 0 4 -0.511 Zimbabwe 5 1 4 0 0 2 -0.595 Preview UAE 4 0 4 0 0 0 -1.691 Note: Top four in each group qualify for quarter-finals. Proteas aim for consistency

WELLINGTON: AB de Villiers wants consistency and commitment in South Africa’s final pool match against the United Arab Emirates today, aware the Proteas’ stop-start form cannot continue as the tournament’s knockout phase looms. At their best, de Villiers’ men have looked like world beaters, becoming the first team in history to post successive one-day international totals of 400-plus in Pool B wins over the West Indies and Ireland. But they have also been skittled out for 177 and 202 in losses to India and Pakistan respectively, reviving memories of the hated “chokers” tag that has haunted previous World Cup campaigns. The Proteas were many pundits’ tip to lift a maiden World Cup this year but their inconsistency means bookmakers are now ranking them behind co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. With a quarter-final against a dangerous Sri Lanka appearing likely, the UAE match presents a final chance for some South African fine-tuning. It also has the potential to provide crucial practice for seamer Peter Moores Vernon Philander, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. De Villiers was at a loss to explain the Pakistan defeat and said he wanted to Vaughan: Remove Moores see an improvement against the UAE. “Nothing was really happening at 100 percent,” de and put him in charge of kids Villiers said after the 29-run loss. “It was almost like a NEW ZEALAND: Quinton de Kock of South Africa plays a shot during a training session ahead of car that’s been stuck in second or third gear. “That’s the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match against UAE at the Basin Reserve. — AFP LONDON: England coach Peter Moores Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India, not going to win you cricket games, especially not should be removed from his current posi- while even Ireland, Vaughan said, were under pressure and in big tournament’s like this. So tion and put in charge of the “kids”, accord- playing better one-day cricket. we need to have a chat about what maybe went ing to former captain Michael Vaughan. “England started the tournament by wrong... and try to get to fifth gear again against the Cartwheeling Hassan an Moores, handed a second stint as head picking a Test match batting line-up for UAE.” Victory against the UAE would most likely see coach last April, has come under intense one-day cricket ,” Vaughan said. “(Managing South Africa finish second in Pool B behind India, set- unlikely star of World Cup fire since England’s defeat by Bangladesh director) Paul Downton said last night ting up a last eight showdown with Sri Lanka. The on Monday condemned them to an early England needed more players appearing in amateurs of the UAE, many of them Pakistani expatri- MELBOURNE: At a World Cup where millionaires He was offered a job as a groundsman and a return from the World Cup. Twenty20 leagues around the world to gain ates, are winless so far in the tournament and should and refugees share the same stage, it is little sur- year later he became the first Afghani to play at Vaughan believes Moores’ talents have experience. not present a hurdle if South Africa are anywhere prise that one of the standouts of the tournament is Lord’s. The following year, he joined the Lancashire been wasted.”Moores was at his best work- “Well, Alex Hales has been doing that near their best. The teams have met only once also one of the most unlikely. League and was picked to play for Afghanistan in ing with the Lions (development team) but England did not pick him. Ravi Bopara, before, when South Africa posted a 169-run win at With his face covered in warpaint and his hair the 2009 World Cup qualifiers. many years ago,” Vaughan said in the Daily Michael Carberry, Luke Wright, Ben Stokes the 1996 World Cup. UAE’s best performance so far at kept in place by a bandana in the Afghan flag colors, Afghanistan failed to qualify for the World Cup Telegraph. and Jason Roy, they all played Big Bash this year’s tournament was a gutsy two-wicket loss to Hamid Hassan has emerged as one of the cult fig- but were awarded One-Day International status for “The job of England coach has become cricket but were ignored. England should fellow non-Test nation Ireland and captain ures of the World Cup. four years on the back of their results, which includ- about man management, helping with tac- have looked at these guys last year. Mohammed Tauqir admitted he was wary of South Few cricket supporters had even heard of the ed a win over Ireland. Afghanistan fast bowler before he arrived at the Hassan took 5-23 against the Irish and was tics and picking the right team. “At interna- “You do not need five gears any more, Africa’s batting power. Tauqir said there would be no shame in conceding 400-plus runs to a line-up that World Cup but he has quickly won over the crowds named man of the match. His family, who had final- tional level you do not have time to coach. you need eight. “England do not get the in Australia and New Zealand with his unbridled ly warmed to the sport, celebrated his achievement “What is the best thing for English crick- fact that you need four Jos Buttlers, not includes the likes of de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, who are all in the top 10 run-scorers at the enthusiasm and clumsy celebrations. by sacrificing a lamb and giving it to the poorest et going forward? I believe it is time to one. You need four or five who have the Like most of his team mates, Hassan came to people in their village. tournament. remover Peter Moores from his current ability to strike it at a rate of 120 per 100 cricket by accident, learning the game as a child in Hassan played at the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup position and put him in a job where he can balls.” Vaughan said the World Cup had Asked about his strategy to stop a South Africa Pakistan, where his family moved in exile because of and had a key role in helping Afghanistan qualify for have the biggest impact on English cricket.” been a wasted opportunity for England to run-fest, he quipped: “It seems the only way they can- the war in their homeland. the 50-over tournament. The 27-year-old has cap- “I always say the best coach works with kids change tack. “I felt they had a free hand not score 400 runs is (we) win the toss and bat.” “The His family did not initially share his love of crick- tured seven wickets in the tournament, including and development programmes between here, with no expectation of success,” he way they are going, they’re scoring 400 runs against et, preferring that he spent his time on his studies, three against Sri Lanka. the age of 15 and 20.” said. “They had the chance to play expan- West Indies and Ireland. I think we need to bowl well, so he played and trained in secret. His biggest scalp was Kumar Sangakkara, which Vaughan said England’s conservative sive cricket and press “G” for gamble. need to field well to restrict them. “Now even consid- A natural talent, he was picked to play for his he celebrated with an attempted cartwheel that ering 400 is not an embarrassing total, you know. So, approach to the one-day game had result- Instead they played the safest, and most national team in 2006 for a tour of England and didn’t exactly go to plan but went viral on the inter- yeah. We will be putting in a lot of effort against South ed in them being left behind by the likes of timid way.”— Reuters caught the eye of the Marylebone Cricket Club. net and added to his cult following. —Reuters Africa.” — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 SPORTS Will college hoops take luster off playoffs? KANSAS CITY: On a cold night on Tobacco Road, being down and physical play being up, it could at a high level, fantastic entertainment value, great coaches feel that way.” Self is among the faction that North Carolina and Duke went back and forth in an really hurt it.” That’s a sobering assessment from one flow. We’ve seen a bunch. But you also get a bunch believes college basketball is still a robust product, overtime college basketball thriller. It was gripping, of the game’s most important stakeholders. that don’t have that flow, and that don’t live up to albeit one that could benefit from a few tweaks. In edge-of-your seat stuff. Tense down to the final sec- Attendance in men’s Division I basketball has fall- those expectations.” interviews by The Associated Press with more than a ond. In short, it looked nothing like Duke’s game en for seven straight seasons, from an average of dozen coaches, players and administrators, a few against Florida State nine days earlier, when the 5,327 in 2006-07 to 4,817 last year. The Southeastern Just consider some of those games: ideas continually came up, dealing either with the teams missed five 3-pointers, two free throws, and Conference even asked its TV partners for flexibility • Georgia Tech was held to 28 points by Virginia in layout of the court of the mechanics of the game. committed five turnovers all before the first media in scheduling to help drive fans to the arena. late January, one of three times Virginia has kept an On the court, several officials suggested widen- timeout. Florida led at that point, 2-0. Not that life has been easy on broadcasters, opponent below 30 points. In one of those games, ing the lane, which would curtail some of the physi- “Never seen a media timeout with a score quite either. ESPN and CBS, two networks with a long col- Virginia didn’t do a whole lot better, grinding its way cal play in the post while allowing more freedom of like this,” tweeted ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, an outspo- lege basketball tradition, have both weathered a to a 45-26 victory over Rutgers. movement. They also suggested extending the 3- ken critic of the state of college hoops. “Maybe in decline in ratings this season. As of last week, ESPN • Arizona and Utah, two teams with national title point line to the NBA arc, which would revive the baseball.” Bilas is not alone in his concern. Scoring is was averaging just under 1.5 million viewers on its aspirations, combined for 46 fouls a couple of weeks once-crucial mid-range jumper. at a near-record low this season. Fouls are soaring. main network for men’s basketball games, down ago. Arizona star Stanley Johnson went 3 for 19 from In terms of game play, the NCAA is already exper- Attendance has dropped precipitously in many about 6 percent from the same period last year. the field. imenting with shortening the shot clock to speed up places, and U.S. television ratings are struggling to The NCAA tried to intervene last year, instituting • Think that was a lot of fouls? St. Francis and LIU- offense. Some officials, including Big 12 reach last year’s levels. rules designed to boost scoring and free up offens- Brooklyn conspired to commit 66 fouls and shoot 97 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, also want to reduce the The fact that the NCAA Tournament, starting next es. They have failed to stick. Now, some schools have free throws last month, accounting for nearly half of number of available timeouts, forcing teams to play week and long-considered recession proof, has resorted to outlandish gimmicks to sell seats, and TV the points scored. through adversity. struggled to build buzz is perhaps the most damn- executives have been force to expand pregame • In a game against West Virginia, Kansas went 0 “With social media, Facebook, Twitter, you can ing evidence of the dire state of the game. shows to help drive interest. for 15 from beyond the arc, and won. dissect it backward and forward, and you can find “I do have some healthy concerns,” said Dan “We do so many games, you see all kinds,” said “Scoring is down. A lot of that is bad offense,” something wrong with it if you want,” TCU coach Gavitt, the NCAA vice president for men’s college Nick Dawson, the senior director of programming Kansas coach Bill Self said. “It is easier to coach Trent Johnson said. “But I think the Final Four and basketball. “If the game continues to go in the direc- and acquisitions for ESPN, whose job is to help tele- defense than offense, and a lot of times easier to the NCAA Tournament is still a great event, as excit- tion it has been the last several years, with scoring vise more than 1,300 games. “There are some played stop people than it is to exploit people. A lot of ing as there is.”—AP Bale, Casillas suffer backlash for slump

MADRID: Real Madrid may have linked with a return to his homeland. made the last eight of the Champions Bale on the other hand is just in his League for a fifth consecutive season, second season after being signed for but their Bernabeu faithful also a reportedly world record fee from reached the end of their patience Tottenham Hotspur. after a humiliating 4-3 home defeat Back in December the Welshman to Schalke on Tuesday. was nicknamed “the finals man” by The reigning champions sneaked the Spanish press after adding a goal through 5-4 on aggregate thanks to in the Club World Cup win over San their 2-0 success in Gelsenkirchen Lorenzo to his decisive strikes to win three weeks ago. Yet qualification the Copa del Rey and the Champions was met with a series of boos and League against Barcelona and whistles as Real’s Galactico stars were Atletico Madrid respectively last sea- COLOMBO: Sri Lankan football players warm up during a practice session in left in no doubt that their disastrous son. Colombo. Three years before football’s elite do battle at the finals in Russia, Bhutan run of form will not be tolerated by a Even in his debut season, though, and their hosts Sri Lanka are among the 12 lowest-ranked teams in the Asian confed- famously demanding fan base. That Bale would often have little impact eration who will kick off the worldwide qualification marathon. — AFP anger was reflected on the front on games before turning up in the pages of Madrid’s sports pages on right place in the right time or smash- Bhutan begin World Wednesday. The normally pro-Real ing home a wonder goal. The feeling paper Marca describing the Bernabeu that he wasn’t involved enough in in a state of panic, whilst the headline the game was counteracted by a fine in AS led “to the quarter-finals with record of 22 goals and 19 assists. Cup adventure shame”. This season he already has 14 World Player of the Year Cristiano goals to his name, but he has now COLOMBO: The tiny Himalayan kingdom of tise. “Usually you need about two weeks, but Ronaldo was the only man in white gone nine matches without scoring Bhutan, officially the worst team in interna- we tried to use the one week we had in to emerge with any credit as his two and his inability to offer any defen- tional football, begin their first ever World Thailand in an efficient way to adapt to condi- goals not only saved his side from a sive cover has been scrutinised more Cup qualifying campaign today on the balmy tions here,” he said in Colombo. Bhutan has shock elimination, but also made him with every passing week. shores of the Indian Ocean. been a member of FIFA only since 2000, regis- the all-time top goalscorer in “Yesterday was another demon- Three years before football’s elite do battle tering just three victories since entering the European competitions with 78. stration that Bale is not able to at the finals in Russia, Bhutan and their hosts international fold. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale and captain defend, and almost not able to attack Sri Lanka are among the 12 lowest-ranked The last meeting between the two sides Iker Casillas were singled out for spe- either,” wrote Enrique Ortego in teams in the Asian confederation who will was at the 2013 South Asian Football cial criticism. Casillas has endured a Marca. Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti kick off the worldwide qualification Federation tournament in Nepal, when Sri love-hate relationship with the has insisted multiple times that he marathon. Lanka won 5-2. Bernabeu for the past three seasons has full confidence in Bale and that No team from the Indian sub-continent Bhutan also suffered a 3-0 defeat to ever since he clashed with Chelsea his place in the side alongside Karim has ever qualified for the finals, a record that Afghanistan and were thrashed 8-2 by boss Jose Mourinho during his last Benzema and Ronaldo in a three- seems unlikely to change any time soon Maldives during the same tournament. campaign in charge of Madrid. pronged attack was “non-negotiable” despite a growing interest in football in the Former Sri Lanka captain Ashok Nawgalage The 33-year-old said afterwards as long as all three are fit. cricket-mad region. India and neighboring said the hosts should swat aside the base- that “we have hit rock bottom in a That promise is likely to come Pakistan are joint 171st in the latest FIFA rank- ment boys given the disparity in rankings, spectacular way”, whilst also accept- under ever increasing strain with ings while Sri Lanka are 173rd. But the dubi- and even questioned whether there was any ing critics of his display in which he Madrid now having lost five of their ous honour of propping up the 209-nation point in the match. was at least partly at fault in Schalke’s 15 games this calendar year and fac- league table falls to Bhutan, a remote and “There is no point in punching someone first three goals. However, Casillas is ing a daunting trip to face Barcelona mountainous region that has been nick- who is 36 positions below us,” Nawgalage told also expected to be coming towards on March 22. As Marca added the named both the “Land of the Thunder AFP. “Playing Bhutan is not very useful, even the end of a remarkable 18-year only thing that is non-negotiable Dragon” and the world’s “Last Shangri-La”. in terms of acquiring experience.” career at Madrid with Manchester SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale runs during a training session in this should this run of form continue is Trying to adapt to conditions in Colombo, Sri But if adapting to conditions in Colombo United’s David de Gea being heavily file photo. —AP Ancelotti’s sacking. — AFP Lanka’s palm-fringed coastal capital, will add will be a challenge for Bhutan, their hosts will to the challenges for players more accus- face a similar culture shock when they travel tomed to a backdrop of snow-tinged peaks. to Bhutan’s capital Thimpu for a return match Lukaku spearheads Everton’s dream Thursday’s match kicks off at 3:00 pm on March 17. The match will be at the (0930 GMT) at the Sugathadasa Stadium Changlimithang National Stadium, one of the PARIS: Prolific Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku will the competition himself, feels the club’s fans can scored a brace at Everton in his playing days with where temperatures should be around 30-35 most picturesque arenas in international foot- lead Everton’s assault on Dynamo Kiev in the boost them with their big European match mental- Tottenham. With two away wins in the Europa Celsius (88-95 Farenheit). ball and which also hosts archery tourna- Europa League last-16, first-leg tie today after scor- ity. “The away game will be difficult because of the League Dynamo can count on their striker Andriy While Bhutan’s football federation have ments-the kingdom’s national sport. ing five times in the previous round. stadium and the atmosphere,” Mirallas told the Yarmolenko, who has three goals so far in the com- begun paying a select group a monthly fee of However, Sri Lanka skipper Chaturanga Other plum ties in the round of 16 see Everton FC website. “In Wolfsburg, Lille, Krasnodar petition. Unbeaten in the competition this season, 10,000 ngultrum (around $160), most players Sanjeeva said he had no worries about play- Wolfsburg host Inter Milan, Napoli welcome and Bern, the fans came and it was great for the Inter are one of five Italian sides in the last 16, but have other jobs or are studying. ing in Bhutan and hoped they will be able to Dynamo Moscow while Fiorentina await AS Roma, team,” said Mirallas in reference to fan support they face a tough challenge against Wolfsburg who One of the few professionals is striker win Thursday’s match. with return legs to be played a week later. against Everton’s Europa League opponents so far. have not conceded a goal in their last three Chencho Gyeltshen who plays for Thai side “This is a very important match for us to The 21-year-old Lukaku is top scorer remaining Everton have been allocated 1,500 tickets for European games and are second in the Bundesliga. Buriram United. Despite their lack of experi- go forward in the game,” Sanjeeva said. “We in the competition with six goals, mainly thanks to the game, priced at just one pound each, for a fan Inter have won the competition three times ence, 24-year-old skipper Karma Shedrup are going all out.” Bhutan was the last coun- his hat-trick in the away leg and brace at home dur- brave enough to travel after watching French fans already with successes in 1991, 1994 and 1998. Tshering is confident his young team will be try in the world to get television and its debut ing Everton’s 7-2 aggregate thumping of Swiss side threatened in Kiev when Guingamp lost there in Roma beat Fiorentina 2-0 at home in Serie A this able to put up a good show on Thursday in the most popular sporting contest is Young Boys in the last round. the last round. A group of some 300 Dynamo Kiev season and drew 1-1 away which will mean Rudi against the higher ranked Sri Lankans. another sign of the end of its traditional isola- “Sometimes you need to remember the age he fans had come down pitchside and menacingly Garcia’s side will feel confident after winning their “The world ranking does not matter,” he tionism. is, yet he is such a mature goalscorer,” said his approached a small group of about 30 Guingamp last away game in Europe too. told AFP in Colombo. “It is just a number. It is Even if Bhutan are one of the first casual- coach Roberto Martinez, whose side have won fans who had made the trip from Brittany. Holders Sevilla travel to free-scoring Villareal for not a reflection of our performance, but the ties on the Road to Russia, the team are deter- three of their four European home ties but who lie “The first game is at Goodison and that is the the battle of La Liga hopefuls. The hosts have (very low) frequency of matches that we have mined to do their country proud. “I cannot 14th in the Premier League. most important,” said Mirallas. “If we can win 2-0 it scored 20 goals so far in the Europa league. played.” Coach Chokey Nima said the team, guarantee 100 percent a win. But we’ll fight The last time Everton got this far in Europe was will be good.” Everton are the Premier League’s last Dynamo Moscow are in Napoli, knowing their whose players range in age from 16 to 28, till the last minute,” winger Kuenga Gyeltshen 2007/08, when they lost on penalties to Fiorentina, team in the tournament after Liverpool were beat- rivals on the night have kept five consecutive clean spent a week training in Thailand to acclima- told Bhutan’s Kuensel news website. — AFP but there is hunger in Everton’s attitude that sees en on penalties by Besiktas and Tottenham lost to sheets. Napoli coach Rafael BenÌtez has won the them targeting the final in Warsaw on May 27. Fiorentina in the last round. competition twice previously in 2004 with Valencia Everton’s other Belgian, the 27-year-old winger Dynamo coach Sergey Rebrov, who once played and in 2013 with Chelsea, the last English winners Arsenal, Everton and Stoke Kevin Mirallas, who has three goals and an assist in alongside Andriy Shevchenko for the club, also of the trophy. — AFP City to play in Asia trophy

SINGAPORE: Arsenal, Everton and Stoke League-affiliated competition to be held City have all agreed to play in this year’s outside of England. It has been held every Asia Trophy in Singapore in preparation for two years since 2003. Soccer-mad Asia has the 2015-16 Premier League season. long been a key market for the Premier The three English teams will be joined League. by a Singapore Select XI for the mid-July The two previous editions of the bienni- knock-out tournament at Singapore’s new al tournament were held in Hong Kong but 55,000-seat National Stadium. the 2013 event, won by Manchester City, “We are very excited to bring the was marred by torrential rain, with the Barclays Asia Trophy to Singapore for the semi-finals reduced to 80 minutes each. first time,” Premier League chief executive Singapore has never hosted the tourna- Richard Scudamore said in a statement. ment before but the Southeast Asian city- “We know Singaporeans love their foot- state got the nod after the completion of ball and that they are huge fans of the the billion-dollar Sports Hub complex, Barclays Premier League...”Arsenal have which also hosts the annual end-of-season always been one of the most thrilling championship for women’s tennis. Arsenal, teams in the Barclays Premier League: they the FA Cup holders, will be making their have some wonderful players and I’m sure first appearance at the Asian Trophy, as will they’ll delight their many fans from across Stoke City. Everton played in the 2005 tour- Southeast Asia. “Everton under Roberto nament in Bangkok, finishing fourth after Martinez continue to play an exciting twice losing on penalties. The four team brand of football, while Stoke City mix flair tournament takes place over two match- with a never-say-die attitude. Fans in days on July 15 and 18, with an initial Singapore should expect our most compet- knockout round, a final and a third-place itive ever Barclays Asia Trophy.” playoff. The Premier League season kicks BELGIUM: Besiktas’ players run during a training session in Bruges on the eve of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 football match between The Asia Trophy is the only Premier off on Aug. 8. — Reuters Club Brugge KV and Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu. — AFP Sangakkara Lukaku makes history spearheads as Sri Lanka Everton’s flay Scotland dream

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 201518 19 High school class of 2011 showing up on PGA Tour Page 16

LONDON: PSG’s Javier Pastore (left) controls the ball during a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge stadium yesterday. — AP PSG knock Chelsea out of CL

LONDON: Thiago Silva scored a sensational The irony of the scoreline will not have Ibrahimovic showed a shade too much the left-hand post from an angle with the had seen a header saved by Sirigu, his cor- extra-time header as 10-man Paris Saint- been lost on PSG, who were eliminated by eagerness to regain possession by sliding in goal at his mercy. ner allowed Luiz to take the tie to extra Germain knocked Chelsea out of the Chelsea on away goals in last season’s quar- on Oscar, but although he caught the PSG continued to press, Cahill blocking time with a thumping near-post header Champions League after an electrifying 2-2 ter-finals after another 3-3 draw, but their Brazilian on the ankle, both players were from Blaise Matuidi and Courtois saving that cannoned into the net via the crossbar. draw at Stamford Bridge yesterday. PSG had breakthrough victory was richly deserved equally committed to the challenge and the from Pastore, and with the tie on a knife- Silva’s recent performances suggested a talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off in the after a mature and resolute display on a red card that followed felt excessive. PSG edge, tempers began to fray. return to his optimum level, but he was first half and fell behind to a Gary Cahill goal tense and fractious night. were, understandably, rattled, with Thiago Costa was booked for a dangerous late guilty of a rush of blood to the head early in with nine minutes remaining, only for The French champions’ dreams of an Motta booked for dissent, and Chelsea challenge on Silva and in the aftermath, Luiz extra time when he challenged Kurt Zouma Chelsea old boy David Luiz to take the tie to unprecedented quadruple remain intact, threatened to capitalise, with Diego Costa received a yellow card for trying to claim he for a high ball with his arms way above his extra time with an emphatic 86th-minute while Jose Mourinho will have to wait at denied a penalty despite clearly being had been headbutted by the Chelsea striker. head. header. least another season for an opportunity to caught on the lower leg by Edinson Cavani. Moments later Verratti, too, saw yellow, Replays were inconclusive as to whether Silva appeared to have gifted Chelsea a win the Champions League with his But PSG kept their shape well and shortly for catching Hazard, ruling him out of the he actually made contact with the ball, but place in the last eight after conceding a beloved Chelsea. before the hour they came within inches of first leg of the quarter-final. After Sirigu had Hazard made no mistake from the spot. penalty for handball that Eden Hazard con- It was a game almost totally devoid of going ahead. thwarted Ramires at his near post, Chelsea Courtois saved brilliantly from a Luiz free- verted, but the PSG captain scored with six incident until a moment of controversy in A brisk move down the centre of the broke the deadlock from a corner when kick and a Silva header, but the PSG captain minutes of the game remaining to send the 32nd minute that thrust referee Bjorn pitch involving Marco Verratti and Javier Costa took an air shot and the ball fell kind- had the final say with a goal that settled a Laurent Blanc’s side through on away goals Kuipers beneath the spotlight beams. Pastore saw the latter release Cavani, who ly for Cahill to slam home. breathless and dizzying contest and took after a 3-3 aggregate draw. After a PSG move broke down, neatly skirted Thibaut Courtois, only to hit But after PSG substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi the visitors into a new dimension. — AFP Bayern rout Shakhtar to advance to q-finals

MUNICH: Bayern Munich qualified for with the Ukrainian side on the back- the Champions League quarter-finals foot, striker Taison sacrificed for defend- with a 7-0 rout of 10-man Shakhtar er Serhiy Kryvstov in a bid to cope with Donetsk yesterday. Bayern’s fast-paced passing game. After playing out a drab goalless The Germans were also forced into draw in the first leg in Ukraine, Bayern a change as Stefan Rode came on for made no such mistake against a Robben, suffering with a trapped nerve, Shakhtar side reduced to 10 men in just in the 19th minute. the third minute. Shakhtar’s goal uprights were next Shaktar’s horrendous start to the tested, Lewandowski’s forceful header match saw Olexander Kucher bring coming back off the post as Bayern down Mario Goetze as he was played dominated possession, with the into the box with a chance of a shot on Ukrainians barely making a foray goal. beyond their own halfway line. Scottish referee William Collum had Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov was forced no hesitation in pointing to the spot for into two quick saves, first fending off a MUNICH: Bayern’s Thomas Mueller celebrates scoring 4-0, his second goal in the a straight penalty and handing Kucher Franck Ribery shot before snuffling out match, during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match a red card, his dismissal beating the a close-range Mueller header. against Shakhtar Donetsk. — AP previous fastest Champions League red The second goal finally came in the card of 5min 52sec for Werder Bremen’s 34th minute through Jerome Boateng, ball from the byline. Deflected, it fell long ball on his chest and slide it past Valerien Ismael against Inter Milan in the centre-back tapping in after Pyatov into the path of the Germany striker, Pyatov. September 2004. had palmed away Lewandowski’s shot. who drilled home with Pyatov strand- Mueller should have bagged his hat- Thomas Mueller stepped up and And it could easily have been three as ed. trick minutes later as Shakhtar fought made no mistake with a well-hit penal- the latter’s curled shot went narrowly The ‘keeper could do nothing as to batten down their hatches and avoid ty. Arjen Robben should have made it wide of the target. Bayern ran riot, Holder Badstuber next a complete humiliation. two just minutes later, the Dutchman Bayern started the second-half just on target with an unchallenged header. But Goetze was on hand with a sub- just failing to latch on to a Robert as they wished, Ribery finishing bril- With Bayern monopolising the game, lime finish at the near post to make it 7- MUNICH: Shakhtar’s Alex Teixeira (right) uses his Lewandowski cross, leaving coach Pep liantly after a one-two with Boateng. No and slowing down its pace, 0, sending out a warning that Bayern arm to push back Bayern’s Sebastian Rode during Guardiola clutching his head in despair. sooner had the game re-started then Lewandowski got his reward for a will be a very dangerous prospect in the Champions League round of 16 second leg soc- Robben crashed the ball high over Mueller scored after Ribery showed bright evening’s football, showing great the last eight of European club foot- cer match. — AP the upright from a slick corner move great determination to pull back the control to take a Bastian Schweinsteiger ball’s showcase tournament. — AFP Oil prices rally on hopes of tightening supply in 2015

Page 22 Business Cyprus seeks distance from Greek euro drama THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 Page 23 Zain Group joins Etisalat China Jan-Feb economic data weaker than expected UAE SmartHub Page 25 Page 26

THESSALONIKI: A man walks past a mural in the northern Greek town of Thessaloniki yesterday. Greece is quickly running out of cash and has to repay debts this month to the International Monetary Fund - which co-funded Greece’s 240 billion euro bailout - as well having as treasury bills coming due. — AP Greece bashes Germany as loan talks begin Athens threatens Berlin with asset seizures over war reparations

ATHENS: Greece yesterday renewed attacks on its top tions, reimbursement of a forced war loan and the return bailout. “The goal is to find a framework on how to pro- the IMF. Yesterday, Athens snapped up 1.3 billion euros paymaster Germany as technical experts began talks on of archaeological relics seized by German occupation ceed and a detailed timeline that includes specific data,” a offered by creditors in a new issue of three-month treas- the crisis-hit country’s new reform proposals. The Greek forces. “We will approach the issue with the necessary sen- source close to the negotiations said. ury bills, but at a higher interest rate of 2.7 percent. justice minister threatened Berlin with asset seizures over sitivity, with a sense of responsibility and honesty... We “The ‘institutions’ want detailed data, and they will get Reports yesterday said the Tsipras government was turn- war reparations claimed by Athens, a long-standing expect the German government to do the same,” Prime that,” the source said, using the Greek government’s cho- ing to its pension and agricultural assistance funds for demand that experts say has debatable legal foundations. Minister Alexis Tsipras told the chamber. sen term for the troika group of creditors-the European emergency cash to pay government salaries during the Nikos Paraskevopoulos said he was “ready to approve” a “We give no lessons on morality and we accept none Commission, the European Central Bank and the negotiations with the troika. Greek Supreme Court ruling in 2000 that ordered either.” In a further dig at Berlin, he added, “As we are ful- International Monetary Fund. A Greek official later said the “There are alternative scenarios” to raise money, junior Germany to pay around 28 million euros to the relatives of filling our obligations, all the other parties should do the participants would now be known as the ‘Brussels Group’. finance minister Dimitris Mardas told Vima radio, without 218 civilians in the central Greek village of Distomo who same.” Athens is arguing that the austerity program that has elaborating. Greece will also tap into its bank rescue fund were massacred by Nazi forces on June 10, 1944. The Third Reich forced the Greek central bank to loan it plunged thousands of families into poverty should be for a half a billion euros to survive the cash crunch. On Under the Supreme Court ruling, assets such as proper- 476 million Reichsmarks during the war, which has never relaxed, a demand opposed by Germany and other euro- Monday, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem blamed ty belonging to Germany’s archaeological school and the been reimbursed. A German lower house of parliament zone creditor nations. The radical Syriza party swept to Greece for wasting precious time as the money ran out. Goethe Institute could be seized as compensation. report in 2012 put the value of the loan at 7.7 billion power in January on a clear pledge to refuse all dealings “We have spent two weeks discussing who meets who, “The law states that the minister must give the order euros. with the hated “troika” of EU-IMF auditors that saw where and in what format, and it’s a complete waste of for the Supreme Court ruling to be carried out.... I am Many experts however say the dispute has effectively through the tough reforms during two bailouts since time,” said Dijsselbloem, who is also Dutch finance minister. ready to give that order,” Paraskevopoulos told Antenna reached a judicial stalemate after a related adjudication 2010. In a new search for allies, Tsipras today will meet with TV. The move came days after Greek Defense Minister between Germany and Italy by the International Court of But the new Greek government has since faced criti- OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria in Paris, followed by Panos Kammenos threatened to send migrants, possibly Justice in 2012. cism for failing to provide detailed enough reforms plans, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and with jihadists hiding among them, to Berlin. which the euro-zone says are an absolute minimum for European Parliament president Martin Schulz in Brussels Keeping up the pressure on Germany, the Greek parlia- The ‘Brussels Group’ Greece to receive critically needed rescue funding. This on Friday. His Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was also ment late Tuesday unanimously approved a motion to Amid the war of words, technical experts in Brussels month alone, Greece must find some 6.0 billion euros to meeting with his French counterpart Michel Sapin later reactivate a special committee to look into war repara- began emergency talks on extending Greece’s huge meet its debts including 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to yesterday. — AFP Qatar moves fiscal year-end, Most Gulf markets stay subdued after oil drops reforms budget policy MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Qatar’s government is moving the end Qatari officials have said they planned to of its fiscal year to Dec 31 from March 31 and spend as much as about $200 billion on trans- DUBAI: Most Gulf stock markets fell yesterday as oil remained volatile, but will register shareholders for its own dividend next week, edged up 0.5 giving more power to the finance ministry in port, electricity generation, water supply, Saudi Arabia resumed its rally. Egypt’s Orascom Construction tumbled in percent. reforms designed to help the government car- housing and other projects between 2013 and Dubai as Egyptian investors appeared to sell the stock to acquire hard cur- Dubai’s index fell 1.5 percent with most stocks in the red and Abu Dhabi ry out tens of billions of dollars of infrastruc- 2018, as the country gears up to host the 2022 rency. The main Saudi benchmark edged up 0.5 percent on late buying as slipped 0.3 percent. Trading volumes in both emirates were well below ture projects. soccer World Cup. But some projects are the price of Brent crude oil rebounded towards $57 per barrel, after hitting their 90-day averages. Oman’s bourse fell 0.9 percent as local banks The changes are contained in a financial threatened by delays due to bureaucratic red- a one-month low below $56. The index closed exactly on its 200-day aver- extended losses after three lenders earlier this week cut their cash divi- system law issued on Tuesday by the emir, tape, while billions could be wasted if con- age of 9,662 points, a strong technical resistance level. Oil’s rebound dends on the central bank’s advice - a sign that the central bank may be Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the official struction efforts are not coordinated to mini- allowed the petrochemicals sector to recover from early losses and close concerned about the possibility of banking system liquidity tightening Qatar News Agency reported. mize pressure on supplies of labor and raw flat, while other stocks climbed. because of low oil prices. Finance minister Ali Sherif Al-Emadi told materials. The new law may allow the finance Mecca developer Jabal Omar was the main support, surging 8.5 percent National Bank of Oman and Bank Muscat, down 2.9 and 2.1 percent, QNA that the change to the fiscal year-end ministry to carry out projects more efficiently. to an all-time closing high of 83.50 riyals. The company, which has become were the main drags. Both have yet to pay 2014 dividends but have not would make government operations more The plunge of oil and natural gas prices an investor favorite after swinging to profit in the last two quarters, will announced any changes to their proposed amounts so far. compatible with the requirements of the pri- since mid-2014 has hurt Qatar’s state finances, hold its annual meeting today. Egypt’s market fell 1.4 percent as all but a few stocks declined. Local vate sector and international financial institu- but the world’s largest gas exporter is so Al Rajhi Company for Cooperative Insurance surged its daily 10 percent newspaper Ahram Online reported fresh fuel shortages in the country; it tions, which tend to base their budgets on cal- wealthy that economists believe it will be able limit to 29.80 riyals after announcing a rights issue that would double its said the petroleum ministry had promised to inject large amounts of endar years. to continue spending heavily - although some capital. The firm said it would offer shares to existing shareholders at their petroleum products into the market to address the issue. The state budget for the current fiscal year projects may be delayed or scaled back out of nominal price of 10.00 riyals. A number of other insurance stocks also rose. Also, Orascom Telecom posted a 76.4 percent drop in 2014 net profit to March 31, which originally envisaged a 3.7 prudence. yesterday, a day after Telecom Egypt also posted a decline in earnings. percent rise in government spending to 218.4 A Reuters poll of analysts in January found UAE, Qatar Orascom Telecom dropped 4.0 percent. billion riyals ($59.98 billion), will be extended them predicting Qatar would continue run- Qatar’s index fell 1.1 percent as Ooredoo dropped 3.8 percent after it However, Commercial International Bank edged up 0.7 percent after to the end of 2015. ning a budget surplus in 2015 and 2016, even reported an 89 percent slump in fourth-quarter net profit on Tuesday, saying it was carrying out a due diligence process on Citigroup’s books that The transition will not affect any of the gov- as several other Gulf energy exporters suf- widely missing estimates because of foreign exchange losses in Indonesia could lead to the purchase of Citi’s Egyptian retail portfolio. Orascom ernment’s planned projects and investments, fered deficits. The surplus for the 10 months and higher costs in its Myanmar and Algerian businesses. Construction briefly jumped to 110.45 pounds as it started trading in Cairo Emadi said. The new law also gives the finance through January totalled more than 100 bil- Ooredoo made a net profit of 55 million riyals ($15.1 million) in the but then fell to 106.35 pounds, below its public offer price of 108.71 ministry authority to prioritize economic lion riyals, central bank governor Sheikh three months to Dec. 31, well below the views of two analysts polled by pounds ($14.25). development projects if there are disputes Abdullah bin Saud Al-Thani said this week, Reuters, who had forecast 602.4 million riyals and 607.8 million riyals. Qatar On NASDAQ Dubai, where it is quoted in dollars and began trading on about them among state entities, enlist the aid QNA reported. In the fiscal year to last March Gas Transport Co tumbled 5.6 percent as it went ex-dividend and was Monday, the stock was much weaker yesterday, tumbling 7.7 percent to of other government councils and ministries, 31, the surplus rose to a record 115.0 billion another major drag on the market. Qatar International Islamic Bank, which $13.02. — Reuters and issue government debt in local or foreign riyals, or 15.6 percent of gross domestic prod- markets in coordination with the central bank. uct. — Reuters THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 BUSINESS Oil prices rally on hopes of News in brief tightening supply in 2015 Kuwaiti oil price down to $51.31pb KUWAIT: The price of Kuwait’s crude oil went down $1.23 on Tuesday and stood at 51.31 per barrel NBK ECONOMIC REPORT compared to $52.54pb Monday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday. In international markets, future contracts for the Brent mix went down by $1.20 to reach to $58.53 per barrel while the contracts for American crude went up by $0.39 to reached $50pb. The decrease in the Brent mix price was affected by the increase in world oil supplies while the increase in the American crude price was due to a slight growth of reserves as shown by reports last week.

Dubai Feb inflation edges down to 4.3% DUBAI: The Dubai Statistics Center released the following February consumer price data for the Gulf Arab emirate yesterday, showing inflation falling KUWAIT: Oil prices rallied in February to finish the month up ment and utilization of its oil reserves until 2016, when oil for the first time in seven months as markets turned more prices are expected to be higher, thereby maximizing its slightly from its January level, which was the highest bullish on expectations that the supply glut which has been return on reserves. since May 2009. Housing and utility costs, which such a dominant factor in oil’s slide since the middle of 2014 Nevertheless, despite the current bullish sentiment, the account for almost 44 percent of consumer expenses, could begin to unwind later on this year. International crude fundamental imbalance of excess supply in the context of jumped 7.6 percent from a year earlier in February futures benchmark, ICE Brent, increased by $9.5 to close at weak demand remains in place: non-OPEC and especially US and rose 0.7 percent from the previous month. Food approximately $62.5 per barrel (bbl) for April delivery-the oil production continues to surge; OPEC output remains biggest monthly rise since May 2009. Since mid-January, above the amount required to balance oil demand (the ‘call and beverage prices, which account for 11 percent of when prices touched a six-year low, Brent has climbed on OPEC crude’); and OECD commercial crude stocks remain the basket, fell 0.6 percent year-on-year and edged up almost 31 percent. US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate close to historical highs. Furthermore, as land-based storage 0.2 percent month-on-month. (WTI),increased by $1.59to $49.76/bbl in February. Similarly, fills up and buyers mobilize floating units such as VLCCs local crude, Kuwait Export Crude (KEC), also gained during (very large crude carriers) for their oil, costs are rising, which the month, ending February up at least $12.0 to $55.0/bbl. will likely further depress near-term prices. Recent weeks have also seen the spread between Brent Sharjah Islamic Bank and WTI widen to over $13/bbl; WTI had actually been trad- Global oil demand prices $500m 5-yr sukuk ing at a premium to Brent in mid-January but ballooning The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects world oil commercial crude inventories in the US, which are at record demand growth to accelerate slightly from a modest DUBAI: Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) priced a $500 highs and in excess of the normal average for the winter sea- 600,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2014 to 900,000 b/d in 2015 million sukuk of five years duration yesterday, a son, have made the supply glut especially acute in the US. on expectations of a stronger global economy. Total world document from lead managers showed. The This has helped to suppress the WTI rally in February. oil demand is forecast to come in at 93.4 mb/d in 2015, led Islamic bond was priced at a spread of 110 basis Moreover, with US production continuing unabated and the by increases in demand from non-OECD countries in Asia, points over midswaps and carried a profit rate of Spring refinery season just around the corner, US commer- including China, Latin America and the Middle East. 2.843 percent, the document said. The final spread cial crude stocks are likely to remain high over the coming Outages in Libya months, which would likely keep the Brent-WTI price differ- According to OPEC data based on secondary sources, was at the tight end of price guidance issued earli- ential relatively wide. OPEC oil output declined by 50,000 b/d to 30.15 million bar- er in the day of 115 bps, plus or minus 5 bps, over Indeed, the issue of crude stocks has been an important rels per day (mb/d) in January. Declines of 260,000 b/d by the benchmark. The order book was worth around factor shaping the trajectory of the oil futures markets over Iraq and 150,000 b/d by Libya were largely responsible for $3 billion, the earlier update from lead managers the last seven months, when the futures curve moved into the fall. For Iraq, recent momentum which saw the country showed. SIB’s sukuk was arranged by Abu Dhabi contango-a term that describes a scenario where the price of hit a 35-year output high of 3.62 mb/d in December seemed Islamic Bank, Al Hilal Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, oil is higher for future delivery compared to more immediate to slow in January, while Libya, which is beset by strife delivery. This has naturally encouraged traders to route crude between militias allied to the two warring governments, Emirates NBD, HSBC, KFH Investment, Noor Bank into storage for future sale. Brent crude futures prices are cur- recorded its third successive month of falling output, to 0.34 and Standard Chartered and was sold after a series rently ranging between $68/bbl for oil deliveries in December mb/d. of investor meetings in Asia and Europe. 2015 and $74/bbl for oil deliveries in December 2017. On the other hand, oil production was seen edging up in February’s price rally was fueled by weekly data showing Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait among GCC producers, to the number of active US oil rigs declining week-on-week reach 9.68 mb/d, 2.84 mb/d and 2.78 mb/d, respectively. and a spate of announcements by US and international oil Capital expenditure cutbacks have compelled the IEA to Oman bourse may see companies that their capital spending commitments would revise downwards its projections for non-OPEC supply two initial share sales be pared back in 2015, because low oil prices are increasing- growth in 2015. Citing the reductions in capital expenditure ABU DHABI: Oman’s stock market is likely to see ly rendering projects uneconomical. recently announced by oil majors, the agency has also cut its Active US oil rigs are down by a sizeable 39 percent from projection for non-OPEC supply growth in 2015 by 100,000 two initial share sales before the summer, by a utility their peak count in October 2014 to 986, according to rig b/d to 800,000 b/d. This downward revision was also echoed firm and a family-owned business, the director-gen- count data provided by Baker Hughes, an oil services com- by OPEC in its monthly oil report. The OPEC report highlight- eral of the Muscat Securities Market told Reuters pany. (Chart 4.)The scale of the fall is unprecedented, even if ed falling US oil rig counts and decreasing drilling permits as yesterday. “We are expecting some initial public the decline in rigs involved in horizontal fracking-the tech- well as reductions in capital spending as the main reasons offerings this year, and two may happen by sum- nique most commonly associated with shale oil production- for their reassessment. has been a little less severe. While rig counts present only US supply has also been revised downwards, by 200,000 mer,” said Ahmed Saleh Al-Marhoon on the sidelines part of the picture-they don’t take into consideration rig b/d, from January’s report to come in at an expected 12.4 of a securities conference in Abu Dhabi. He declined productivity, for example-their use as a guide to future pro- mb/d in 2015. Most of the cuts are expected to come during to give the identity of the firms involved. Two power duction has some merit, nonetheless. the second half of the year. The IEA has cautioned, however, firms, Al-Suwadi Power Co and Al-Batinah Power Co, Notable among the companies announcing cutbacks are that potential US output declines are likely to be ‘limited in listed on the Oman bourse in June 2014 after each BP and Total as well as several leading US shale oil producers scope’ because the cost structure of the US Shale industry is including EOG, Noble Energy and Devon Energy; the selast constantly changing as technological gains improve the offering 35 percent of their shares to the public in three are envisaging cuts of 20-40 percent in spending this longevity of oil wells and producers constantly strive for IPOs worth a combined 62.7 million rials ($162.9 mil- year. EOG indicated that it intends to delay further invest- improved efficiency. lion). The listing of family-owned businesses has been a key aim of bourses across the Gulf region, including Oman, as they make up a large proportion Kuwait crude exports to China jump 30.8% of the business sector. Seeking to encourage them to list by allowing them to hold onto more of their BEIJING: Kuwait’s crude oil exports to China in China’s overall imports of crude oil in January edged State-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) businesses post-IPO, Oman is amending its January jumped 30.8 percent from a year earlier to down 0.6 percent year-on-year to 6.62 million bpd. signed a 10-year crude supply deal with China’s top Commercial Law to reduce the minimum free float 923,000 tons, equivalent to around 218,000 barrels per Saudi Arabia remained China’s top supplier although energy trader Unipec in August, the biggest-ever to 25 percent from 40 percent currently. Marhoon day (bpd), government data showed. its shipments declined 15.2 percent to 1.02 million bpd sales contract in KPC’s history by volume and rev- said the process of passing the amendment, part of Kuwaiti shipments of crude oil to China exceeded from a year earlier, followed by Iraq with 804,000 bpd, enues in all regions. Under the landmark agreement, 200,000 bpd level for the fifth consecutive month up 44.0 percent. Angola became third, with imports KPC supplies Unipec 300,000 bpd of crude oil, with a a wider revision of the law, was still underway, and since September, according to the General from the country falling 15.0 percent to 775,000 bpd. strong possibility of increasing the volume to that it was unlikely to yield an immediate wave of Administration of Customs. Russia ranked fourth and Oman fifth, respectively. 400,000 bpd. —KUNA new listings by family-owned firms.

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Japanese Yen 3.465 Sierra Leone 0.000066 0.000072 Syrian Pound 2.585 Singapore Dollar 0.213201 0.219201 Nepalese Rupees 3.980 South African Rand 0.018239 0.026739 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Malaysian Ringgit 81.590 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001875 0.002455 Japanese Yen 2.477 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.285 Taiwan 0.009389 0.009569 Indian Rupees 4.789 Australian Dollar 222.02 Thai Bhat 10.155 Pakistani Rupees 2.934 Canadian Dollar 240.29 Thai Baht 0.008868 0.009418 Turkish Lira 113.835 Srilankan Rupees 2.242 Swiss Franc 304.42 Nepali Rupees 2.996 Euro 323.73 Arab Singapore Dollar 216.840 US Dollar 300.10 Bahrain Exchange Company Bahraini Dinar 0.789029 0.797029 Hongkong Dollar 38.596 Sterling Pound 455.22 Egyptian Pound 0.038042 0.041142 Japanese Yen 2.51 Iranian Riyal 0.000083 0.000084 Bangladesh Taka 3.848 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT Philippine Peso 6.768 Bangladesh Taka 3.853 Iraqi Dinar 0.000189 0.000249 Europe Thai Baht 9.171 Indian Rupee 4.772 Jordanian Dinar 0.418966 0.426466 Irani Riyal transfer 61.555 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.244 Belgian Franc 0.007820 0.008820 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Irani Riyal cash 121.740 Nepali Rupee 2.989 British Pound 0.445134 0.454134 Lebanese Pound 0.000150 0.000250 Pakistani Rupee 2.950 Czech Korune 0.003763 0.015763 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021430 0.045430 GCC COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 81.58 Danish Krone 0.039029 0.044029 Nigerian Naira 0.001231 0.001866 Saudi Riyal 79.885 Bahraini Dinar 796.52 Euro 0.315892 0.323892 Omani Riyal 0.772946 0.778626 Qatari Riyal 82.300 Egyptian Pound 39.22 Norwegian Krone 0.033025 0.038225 Qatar Riyal 0.081664 0.082877 Omani Riyal 778.300 Jordanian Dinar 426.40 Romanian Leu 0.086026 0.086026 Saudi Riyal 0.079337 0.080037 Bahraini Dinar 795.670 Omani Riyal 778.28 Slovakia 0.008890 0.018890 Syrian Pound 0.001270 0.001490 UAE Dirham 81.572 Qatari Riyal 82.64 Swedish Krona 0.031027 0.036027 Tunisian Dinar 0.148043 0.156043 Saudi Riyal 79.94 Swiss Franc 0.295158 0.305358 Turkish Lira 0.115295 0.122295 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.115295 0.122295 UAE Dirhams 0.080670 0.081819 Egyptian Pound - Cash 41.200 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Yemeni Riyal 0.001355 0.001435 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 39.171 Australasia Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.398 Australian Dollar 0.219512 0.231012 Tunisian Dinar 151.240 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate New Zealand Dollar 0.210890 0.220390 Al Mulla Exchange Jordanian Dinar 422.830 America Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.010 US Dollar 299.850 Canadian Dollar 0.230683 0.239283 Syrian Lira 2.135 Canadian Dollar 238.620 US Dollars 0.295800 0.300500 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Morocco Dirham 30.525 Sterling Pound 452.570 US Dollars Mint 0.296300 0.300500 US Dollar 298.850 Euro 323.090 Euro 323.750 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Swiss Frank 299.775 Asia Pound Sterlng 452.450 US Dollar Transfer 299.450 Bahrain Dinar 797.625 Bangladesh Taka 0.003554 0.004154 Canadian Dollar 239.000 Euro 325.050 UAE Dirhams 82.015 Chinese Yuan 0.046526 0.0450026 Indian Rupee 4.775 Sterling Pound 453.520 Qatari Riyals 83.185 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036582 0.039332 Egyptian Pound 39.150 Canadian dollar 327.850 Saudi Riyals 80.140 Indian Rupee 0.004547 0.004948 Turkish lira 114.560 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.240 Jordanian Dinar 423.230 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Swiss Franc 303.700 Bangladesh Taka 3.842 Egyptian Pound 39.222 Japanese Yen 0.002396 0.002576 Australian Dollar 230.580 Philippines Peso 6.750 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.247 Kenyan Shilling 0.003321 0.003321 US Dollar Buying 298.250 Pakistan Rupee 2.942 Indian Rupees 4.773 Korean Won 0.000256 0.000271 Pakistani Rupees 2.946 Bahraini Dinar 795.750 Malaysian Ringgit 0.077749 0.083749 GOLD Bangladesh Taka 3.853 UAE Dirham 81.600 Nepalese Rupee 0.003029 0.003199 20 gram 238.100 Philippines Pesso 6.761 Saudi Riyal 79.800 Pakistan Rupee 0.002762 0.003042 10 gram 121.740 Cyprus pound 736.015 *Rates are subject to change 5 gram 61.560 Philippine Peso 0.006674 0.006954 BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 Cyprus seeks distance from Greek euro drama

NICOSIA: Doubts over Greece’s future membership Dimitris Christofias for delaying a cleanup of Cypriot bubble. The punitive bailout terms imposed losses Cyprus but, unlike in Greece, they are mostly under- of the euro are straining its historic kinship with banks that made the eventual bailout more painful. on big depositors in Cypriot banks in return for loans stated. When Syriza won the Greek election, some Cyprus, as Nicosia distances itself from Athens to try Cyprus hopes to return to borrowing on bond from euro zone states such as hardline paymaster left-wing opposition lawmakers in the Cypriot par- to secure its foothold in the currency bloc. markets this year, Georgiades said, while Athens has Germany. That triggered a deep recession in a coun- liament removed their ties in a show of solidarity. Cyprus wants to reverse a perception that the little such prospect. Trade ties are modest. Greece try dependent on tourism and business services, Greece’s uncertain future worries many Cypriots, two countries are inextricably linked, worried that it ranks second behind Britain in selling services to often to Russian companies seeking to cut their tax who regard Athens as their only pillar of support could be dragged down with Greece, should Athens’ Cyprus, such as holidays, but it lags far behind bill. “The terms of the bailout destroyed vast tracks against Turkey, which has kept more than 25,000 finances collapse and force the Greeks to abandon Russia, Britain and Germany as a customer. of savings,” said John Hourican, chief executive of troops in a breakaway self-styled Turkish Republic of the euro. The fate of Cyprus, a divided island on The former British colony has also severed its Bank of Cyprus , the country’s main bank. “And while Northern Cyprus since 1974. “The euro zone pushing Europe’s frontier with the Middle East, could prove banks’ links to Greece that resulted in heavy losses it was portrayed as an attack on Russian money, real- Greece out ... is, as the Chinese say, like burning the an important test of the durability of the euro-zone when Greek bonds were restructured or ‘haircut’. It ly it was an attack on Cyprus because the real house to roast the pig,” said Theo Panayotou of the and the wider European Union in the face of political was those losses that fatally compromised the Russian money destroyed was modest,” he said. “The Cyprus International Institute of Management. uncertainty in Greece. Cypriot financial system and prompted its bailout. savings and investment funds destroyed were enor- “Greece is sort of the shield of Cyprus against the “(Sharing a) language is one thing but being the “We hope that there will be no problems in mous.” The economy is on track to grow modestly excesses of Turkish policies. If Greece defaults, same economy is completely different,” said Harris Greece,” said Chrystalla Georghadji, the governor of this year but the improving outlook masks prob- Greece would be so poor ... for at least two or three Georgiades, finance minister of a country largely the Central Bank of Cyprus. “But if there are any lems. years, Greece would be no credible threat to Turkey,” populated by Greek Cypriots. Linguistic solidarity problems, the banks here are ring-fenced.” said Panayotou. That might prompt Turkey to move leads Cyprus and Greece to give each other’s con- Repayment in on recently discovered major offshore gas testant the top score each year in the Eurovision Vulnerable Many Cypriot borrowers can’t or won’t repay their reserves in Cypriot waters, which promise the island song contest. “There are cultural ties but that’s it. We Yet the island, just 100 kilometres from war-torn loans. Almost half of loans given by the Bank of a prosperous future as an energy producer. are following our own course,” Georgiades told Syria and far from central Europe, remains vulnera- Cyprus, which accounts for most lending on the But being pigeon-holed with Greece by the wider Reuters in an interview. Unlike Greece, Cyprus has ble. Cyprus has been divided since a brief coup in island, are in arrears. A new foreclosure law to accel- world may be a bigger short-term problem for been largely diligent in implementing reforms Nicosia triggered by colonels then ruling Greece erate the slow-motion pursuit of bad debtors, which Cyprus. “The worst risk is to reputation, people required in return for an international bailout it prompted a Turkish invasion 40 years ago to protect has been held up in parliament, will make it easier to thinking if Greece fails, Cyprus is failing to,” said received in 2013. There has been little public protest Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island. A diplo- seize security, such as property. Stavros Zenios, an academic and member of the despite the deep recession that ensued. matic drive to reunite the country before it joined Ending a political logjam over this reform would Board of Directors of Cyprus’s central bank. Their paths have diverged more sharply since the the EU in 2004 foundered when Greek Cypriots enable Cyprus to join the European Central Bank’s Officials at EU headquarters in Brussels are also radical leftist Syriza party won power in Greece in rejected a UN-brokered peace plan in a referendum. asset purchase program. Cypriot authorities expect keen to avoid lumping the two together, to safe- January, denouncing austerity and demanding a After prospering for a few years in the EU, Cyprus this to release roughly 500 million euros to buy gov- guard Cyprus in the euro-zone. Losing Greece would reduction of its official debt. The centre-right Cypriot ran into trouble because of its banks’ exposure to ernment bonds, making it cheaper for the state and be a blow to the currency bloc, but to lose two government blames former Communist President the Greek debt crisis as well as a domestic property banks to borrow. There are signs of frustration in members could be fatal. — Reuters Australian miners brace for more pain as China slows Australia may overtake Qatar as largest LNG producer

SYDNEY: Australian miners are bracing for a tough Supply glut to persist end for market share and it’s not going to be Rio year with economic powerhouse China cutting its Compounding their plight is the continued Tinto that closes down.” growth target to a 15-year low, reinforcing a increase in iron ore supply from the four major gloomy outlook for commodity prices that is hurt- players-BHP, Rio, Brazil’s Vale and Australia’s Mergers amid oil weakness ing smaller players. Fortescue-to maintain their share of exports. A similar set of circumstances has developed in The price of iron ore recently fell below $60 — a Rio’s iron ore chief executive Andrew Harding the energy sector, where the oil market has lost six-year low-owing to slowing Chinese growth and said Tuesday the miner was not “in a race to the about 50 percent of its value since June in a global a supply glut, increasing the squeeze on miners bottom”, but that cutting supply or expansion supply glut, exacerbated by the OPEC cartel’s deci- with high costs. Australia is home to two of the “would not be in the best interests of shareholders sion not to cut production. The low prices point to world’s resource giants, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, nor indeed of our community and the Australian a potential wave of merger and acquisition activity, and its largest exports are iron ore and coal. and West Australian governments”. Instead, the according to a report by global consultancy AT As an unprecedented mining investment boom brunt of the pain has been experienced by the Kearney this month. “Oil price volatility will put a that has helped the economy avoid recession for shareholders of junior miners. brake on deals until prices settle... expect signifi- more than two decades wanes, a sluggish China- The share prices of Atlas Iron, BC Iron and cant M&A activity as a response to sustained low oil the country’s largest trading partner-is heaping Mount Gibson Iron have plummeted by between prices,” an unnamed industry executive told A.T. more pressure on domestic growth and compa- 78 and 90 percent over the past year and saw them Kearney. Australia is set to become the world’s nies. “What we’ve seen for Australian miners is it’s a fall from the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index this biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, with reinforcement of the pessimistic outlook that most month. Atlas Iron has since returned to the ASX200, predictions it will overtake Qatar by 2020 as it people have had regarding China’s growth and that which tracks 200 of the largest Australian-listed unlocks reserves to meet Asian demand. As most it’s still slowing,” Fat Prophets resources analyst companies, but the move highlights its predica- LNG is sold at long-term contracts, which is linked David Lennox told AFP. ment. “Now we get to the stage where their cost- to the oil price, the decline has directly impacted “That’s really been the broad impact across the reduction programs are highly advanced and the local operators including big players Woodside commodities sector.” Last week, China lowered its iron ore price keeps on falling, so something has to Petroleum, Oil Search and Santos. “Investors are 2015 economic growth target to “approximately give,” Patersons Securities’ research head Rob certainly focusing on companies in terms of their seven percent”, citing “formidable” difficulties for Brierley said. The situation for the smaller operators ability to survive a long period of lower oil prices, the world’s second-largest economy after a has become so acute that waiting for the price to and the companies have taken action over the last decades-long boom. recover was now not viable, he added. “So far we’ve few months to reduce (capital expenditure) plans China is the world’s largest manufacturer of had Territory Iron, Western Desert and Sherwin and to... lower operating costs,” UBS energy analyst crude steel, of which iron ore is a key ingredient. As Iron-three Northern Territory producers that have Nik Burns said. the economy slows, steel use in construction and stopped. We’ve had Arrium that have reduced their “Amongst the smaller listed companies, you infrastructure drops, reducing iron ore demand. production by four million tons,” Brierley said. would expect more ‘M’ than ‘A’. In the fight for sur- Now smaller miners that thrived as the iron ore “The next ones are the West Australian juniors. I vival, there could be an opportunity... for compa- price soared, peaking at $191.70 in February 2011, would expect them to rationalise their production, nies to get together and reduce corporate over- are struggling and slashing costs. similar to what Arrium have done. It’s a fight to the heads.” — AFP Bond purchases will boost benefits from reforms: ECB

PATTANI: A worker harvests salt at a salt marsh in Thailand’s southern province of FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank’s massive Pattani yesterday. Thailand’s economic growth slowed sharply in 2014 to its weakest bond purchase program will not reduce incentive pace in three years, as political turmoil engulfing the kingdom compounded a fall in on euro-zone governments to reform as it will agricultural prices and waning exports. — AFP magnify the benefits of measures undertaken, ECB president Mario Draghi said yesterday. “The beneficial impact of our asset purchases Haider comes back to on financing conditions, rather than reducing the incentives for reforms, will actually increase the benefits of such reforms,” Draghi told a banking haunt Austria’s finances conference in Frankfurt. The ECB has embarked on a policy of so-called quantitative easing or QE, VIENNA: Joerg Haider may be long dead, but Subsequently Hypo was split up, with the under which it plans to buy 1.14 trillion euros the colorful far-right politician who praised bad debts ring-fenced in a “bad bank” known worth of bonds over the next 18 months. The aim is Hitler’s “orderly” employment policies is com- as Heta Asset Resolution. But even though to pump liquidity into the system so as to ward off ing back to haunt Austria’s public finances, Austria is so far already 4.5 billion euros into deflation and spur growth in the single currency potentially with wider reverberations Heta, this is not the end. Experts in late area. But QE has its critics, particularly in Germany, throughout the euro-zone. February filed a report to the government who argue that it reduces the pressure on euro- Haider sent shock waves throughout doubling the estimated size of Heta’s capital zone governments to get their finances and Europe when his party came second in elec- shortfall to 7.6 billion euros. economies in order. “Once more, the ‘Eurosystem’ tions in 1999 and entered the EU member (of central banks) is paying in advance,” the head of state’s government. He died in a drink-driving Crisis meeting the German central bank or Bundesbank, Jens accident in 2008; today a shrine marks the Days later, in a Sunday crisis meeting on Weidmann, complained on Monday. spot. But since his death a string of scandals March 1, Austria’s financial regulator decided “Governments and the EU Commission must has emerged, with allegations that Haider, on that enough was enough, and that during a now use the time to bolster the long-term growth top of questionable comments about the 15-month moratorium no more of Heta’s PARIS: French President Francois Hollande (left) greets European Central Bank head Mario conditions in the euro area,” Weidmann insisted. Third Reich and railing against foreigners, debts to others would be paid. Draghi before a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday. — AP Draghi countered that “effective, price stability-ori- engaged in some dodgy dealings and was The move, Chancellor Werner Faymann ented monetary policy and structural reforms work not the wisest of administrators. The best said, was “unavoidable”. In the meantime, hand in hand.” example, and the one haunting Austria now, Austria wants to make use of new rules being Somalia bank seeks to raise “Our recent monetary policy measures are a concerns Hypo Alde Adria (HGAA), the local introduced across the euro-zone to “bail in” valid and effective tool to bring inflation closer to public bank in Carinthia, the picturesque creditors-in other words convince them to our policy goal. They can support a faster and more $10 billion via share sale southern Austrian province where Haider was take voluntary losses on money owed to sustained recovery. This will especially be the case for many years state premier. Under Haider, them, possibly of 50 percent. if they fall on fertile ground,” the ECB chief said. NAIROBI: International Bank of Somalia (IBS), one of Shabaab. Yusuf said that IBS is undeterred and Hypo embarked on a breakneck expansion Otherwise, the state of Carinthia, which is With an environment of low interest rates and only a handful of commercial banks operating in the would open six new branches in Mogadishu within into the Balkans as well as Italy and Germany on the line for an unpayable 10.2 billion euros war-torn country, wants to raise $10 million in a two months. By the end of 2015 it wants to have plenty of liquidity, “governments can create a more via acquisitions and risky investments, for guarantees on Heta loans-more than four public share offering that would be the first of its established another four outlets outside the capital, investment-friendly environment by swiftly, credi- expanding its balance sheet fourfold to some times the annual state budget-faces possible kind since civil war broke out in 1991. including one in the semi-autonomous Somaliland bly and effectively implementing structural 40 billion euros ($43 billion). bankruptcy. Somalia does not have a stock exchange and region. It also aims to introduce online banking and reforms... Firms will be encouraged to increase Even though such a move would be most banking is done on informal basis through a mobile banking app for customers. investment, bringing forward the economic recov- Taxpayers to the rescue almost unheard of in Europe-in the United money transfer firms, but IBS Chief Executive Hassan Yusuf said IBS is seeking to build confidence with ery,” Draghi said. In 2009, with Haider dead and the global States the city of Detroit did so in 2013 — Yusuf said those ploughing money into the bank regulators abroad. “We have created a bank with Draghi insisted that the bond purchases, which financial crisis wreaking havoc, Hypo came Vienna is refusing to step in and the economy would benefit from being early investors in the sec- international standards in compliance, risk-manage- were announced in January and began on Monday, close to collapse as economies contracted, minister has suggested bankruptcy for tor. “Somalia is open for business,” Hassan told ment, audit,” Yusuf said, adding that IBS would hire were already having a positive effect. Bond yields and billions of euros in loans and risky invest- Carinthia might even be on the cards. Reuters on the sidelines of a Somalia investment United States-based accountancy firm Deloitte as in countries such as Germany and Italy had fallen forum in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. “People who go ments turned sour. Austria nationalized the But whether a “bail in” or a Carinthian auditor. IBS, which opened its sole Mogadishu noticeably, he argued. “We also saw a further fall in now will be the beneficiaries in the long term.” The branch in October, said the share offer will be open bank. BayernLB, the Bavarian state lender in bankruptcy clearing the slate would be the sovereign yields of Portugal and other formerly central bank has issued six commercial banking until March 31, with investors able to buy tranches neighboring Germany, received a symbolic accepted by Heta’s creditors remains to be distressed countries-in spite of the renewed Greek licenses so far, including to IBS, but has said it does of between $500 and $500,000. The public share three euros for a stake that it had bought two seen, since this might have wider conse- crisis. This suggests that the asset purchase pro- not plan to issue more this year unless newcomers offer amounts to 10 percent of the share capital, years earlier for 1.6 billion euros, and Bavarian quences for banks throughout Europe hold- gram may be shielding other euro area countries have foreign partners. Yusuf said. A further 31 percent is owned by the and Austrian taxpayers were saddled with bil- ing Heta debts. Already banks in other coun- from contagion, which also helps us achieve our The Somali banking community faces severe bank founders, who are mostly Dubai-based Somali lions in losses. tries, such as Franco-Belgian Dexia and monetary policy goals across the euro area,” the constraints. Banks in the United States, Britain and businessmen. Yusuf said that more equity will be Bavaria is ruing its involvement to this day, Germany’s Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, are ECB chief said. elsewhere are increasingly wary of facilitating trans- offered as the bank expands. Banks from United with Austria and Bavaria engaging in a war of warning of losses, with uncertain wider conse- And Draghi added: “We are aware that our fers to Somalia because of tighter regulatory rules Arab Emirates have already inquired about buying a words and launching multiple lawsuits quences. It could also unleash an avalanche of aimed at stopping cash from reaching those the stake, Yusuf said, without naming the potential measures may entail some financial stability risks. against each other. legal claims. —AFP West disignates as “terror groups”, such as Al investors. — Reuters But currently these risks are contained.” — AFP BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 European shares rebound, Fed talk hits Asia

LONDON/PARIS: European shares bounced back yes- “The strength of the US dollar is going to support the dollar, which in turn has brought weakness in Central Bank’s new bond-buying stimulus pro- 9,523.18. Taiwan Semiconductor terday from a sharp sell-off in the previous session, as European equities. We remain with a ‘buy on the dip’ commodities that yesterday led to a big sell off in gram and fears over Greece, also sent the dollar Manufacturing Co gained 1.39 percent to a drop in the value of the euro lifted stocks in the strategy,” Swiss bank Reyl’s chief strategist, Francois stock indices,” said Erlam. surging against the yen and closer towards pari- Tw$146.0 while leading microchip design region’s exporters. Germany’s DAX, whose con- Savary, said. “Under the circumstances, it’s hard to argue that ty with the euro. Hong Kong slipped 0.75 per- house MediaTek closed 1.41 percent lower at stituents include major exporters BMW and The rebound came in spite of a slump in New York the ECB’s program isn’t causing waves in the markets,” cent, or 179.01 points, to 23,717.97 but Shanghai Tw$453.5. Volkswagen, touched a new record high, while the overnight. The US S&P 500 fell 1.7 percent on mount- he said. Among standout movers, Credit Suisse rose 2 enjoyed a late rally to end up 0.15 percent, or • Wellington lost 0.44 percent, or 25.77 points, to broader pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.4 ing worries over the pace of economic growth and the percent, extending Tuesday’s near 8-percent surge 4.83 points, at 3,290.90, with investors hoping 5,861.98. Air New Zealand was down 1.03 per- percent. prospect that the US Federal Reserve could raise inter- after it poached Prudential’s Tidjane Thiam as its CEO. for further easing measures. cent at NZ$2.875 and Chorus was unchanged The euro hit another 12-year low against the dollar est rates as soon as June. Several banks, including JP Morgan, upgraded targets Sydney lost 0.53 percent, or 31.0 points, to at NZ$2.90. on Wednesday, extending a broad decline since the Oanda senior market analyst, Craig Erlam, said he on Credit Suisse. 5,793.2 and Seoul was off 0.20 percent, or 3.94 • Manila closed 0.48 percent lower, giving up European Central Bank kicked off a 1.1 trillion euro expected such sharp swings and divergences to per- Most Asian markets fell again yesterday on increas- points, at 1,980.83. However, Tokyo ended 0.31 37.78 points to 7,790.70. Global Ferronickel ($1.2 trillion) asset-buying program at the start of the sist in the near future. “In the last 48 hours we’ve seen ing expectations the US Federal Reserve will hike inter- percent, or 58.41 points, higher at 18.723,52. Holdings dropped 2.60 percent to 2.62 pesos week. Traders said that as the ECB’s bond-buying pro- record low yields on euro-zone debt, falling yields on est rates in the summer, while traders were left disap- Wall Street provided another negative lead as while Philippine Long Distance Telephone was gram meant that German and European equities US debt despite the first rate hike being just around pointed by another weak data release from China. The investors bet on a Fed rate rise sooner rather unchanged at 3,092 pesos. looked more attractive than Bunds with better yields. the corner, a collapse in the euro driving the rally in likelihood of a Fed hike, coupled with the European than later, with some predicting a move in June • Bangkok closed up 0.84 percent, or 12.80 after Friday’s data showed a surge in US jobs cre- points, to 1,543.84. Energy giant PTT Plc closed ation in February. flat on 330.00 baht, while supermarket opera- trade yesterday, the greenback was at 121.34 tor Big C Supercenter edged up 1.82 percent to yen, compared with 121.07 yen late in New York. 224.00 baht. At one point Tuesday it broke above 122.00 yen for the first time since late 2007. • Jakarta closed down 0.79 percent, or 43.36 Adding to yen weakness has been a raft of points, at 5,419.57. Conglomerate Astra poor data out of Japan, which has heaped pres- International lost 1.57 percent to close at 7,850 sure on the country’s central bank to further eas- rupiah, while consumer goods company ing monetary policy. Unilever Indonesia gained 2.51 percent to 38,750 rupiah. Weak China data • Kuala Lumpur closed down 0.65 percent, or The greenback also surged against the euro 11.57 points, at 1,778.16. Tenaga Nasional lost after the ECB kicked off its own bond-buying 0.14 percent to 14.64 ringgit, AMMB Holdings scheme, known as quantitative easing (QE), in a went down 0.63 percent to 6.31 ringgit, while drive to fight off deflation. Worries about Sime Darby gained 0.87 percent to 9.25 ringgit. Greece’s tense talks due Wednesday over its • Singapore fell 0.58 percent, or 19.67 points, to bailout provisions were also sapping the euro. close at 3,378.59. DBS Bank tumbled 0.66 per- The euro bought $1.0653 — its lowest since cent to Sg$19.59 and Singapore Telecom June 2003 — compared with $1.0698 in US dropped 0.24 percent to Sg$4.10. trade. The single currency was also at 129.26 yen • Mumbai closed down 0.18 percent, or 50.70 against 129.53 yen. points, to end at 28,659.17 points. Metals major Hindalco Industries fell 5.51 percent to 130.45 In other markets: rupees, while telecom major Bharti Airtel rose • Taipei shed 0.14 percent, or 13.35 points, to 5.97 percent to 389.85 rupees. — Agencies BUSINESS THUSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Al-Sayer and Toyota brings red hot offer on Yaris this March

KUWAIT: Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons, the authorized * Gardx Package same as the one given with March pro- * Musada Roadside assistance distributor for Toyota, announces special price offer while motion Apart from being popular for its style, versatility and buying brand newToyota Yaris Sedan or Hatchback models * Extended 5 years warranty great value, Yaris offers sporty, fun and easy maneuvering (1.3 and 1.5), in addition to a range of other attractive ben- * Car Registration driving experience. The newly introduced special offer for efits including: * 3rd party insurance Yaris will run for a period of one month.

Ukraine, land of plenty China Jan-Feb economic running on empty data weaker than expected KAGARLYK, Ukraine: A Soviet tank “Back then the shops were empty. mounted on a plinth outside a pri- This time there are things to buy... if you mary school attests to the last time have the money,” 64-year-old Lyubov Economy still losing steam, support measures likely the central Ukrainian town of Yemets remarks. In Kiev, where some Kagarlyk saw war up close. The tank is people have negotiated salaries BEIJING: Growth in China’s investment, retail sales mates for a 15 percent gain. the last 15 months as a property downturn com- a leftover from the Soviet force that pegged to the dollar or euro, the mon- and factory output all missed forecasts in January “Fixed asset investment will likely face even more pounded slackening growth in foreign and domes- routed Nazi troops from Ukraine dur- ey is there for some things. and February and fell to multi-year lows, leaving challenges,” economists at Credit Suisse said in a tic demand and persistent industrial overcapacity. ing World War II. Bars and restaurants still do a brisk investors with little doubt that the economy is still note this week, adding that crackdowns on corrup- A widening corruption crackdown also has More than 70 years later, tanks have business-as did flower sellers on losing steam and in need of further support meas- tion and shadow banking have heavily squeezed weighed on everything from investment to retail again been churning up the rich black International Women’s Day at the week- ures. The figures came a day after data showed spending by local governments. “Local officials and sales. Policymakers have cut interest rates twice soil of Ukraine as the country’s pro- end. But car traffic has thinned after a deflationary pressures intensified in the factory sec- executives at state owned enterprises are more wor- since November, and in early February reduced the Western government battles a pro- spike in petrol prices, and upscale tor in February, reinforcing expectations of more ried about their jobs than investment ... The central amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves Russian insurgency. shops are glaringly empty. “No busi- interest rate cuts and other policy loosening to avert government is pushing out more investment proj- (RRR), freeing up fresh liquidity to flow into the Seen on television from the comfort ness: hryvnia very low, dollar very high,” a sharper slowdown in the world’s second-largest ects, but with the aim of partially offsetting losses in economy to offset rising outflows of capital. of a sitting room in Kagarlyk, a says Sergiy, a Kiev vendor of Ukrainian economy. local investment, rather than accelerating growth.” But because those adjustments so far have depressed town around 600 kilometres flags, Russian fur hats and other sou- “Activity data surprised the market on the down- China combines its January and February data been largely defensive in nature, economists say, (350 miles) west of the frontline, the venirs, spreading his arms to denote side by a large margin, suggesting that China’s first releases for investment, retail sales and factory out- they haven’t translated into lower real interest fighting that rumbles on at a low level the widening chasm. quarter GDP growth could likely fall to below 7 per- put to minimize distortions from the Lunar New Year rates or increased investment. Chinese companies despite a month-old truce seems Slabs of Italian cheese costing more cent,” ANZ economist Li-Gang Liu said in a research holiday, which fell in late January last year but in are cautious about expanding in the face of weak remote. than a month’s salary have come to note. “In our view, the extremely weak data at the mid-February this year. business prospects, and bankers are wary of a But Ukrainians across the country symbolize the currency crisis, but the beginning of the year suggest that China needs to Sluggish factory activity reinforces expectations spike in non-performing loans. With consumer are paying a high price for the conflict prices of locally produced staples such engage in more aggressive policy easing, and we that China’s economic growth will slow to a quarter- inflation hovering near the government’s “vigi- in the industrial Donbass region, which as sugar and cooking oil have also see that a reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cut will be century low of around 7 percent this year from 7.4 lance level” of around 1 percent, analysts expect accounts for nearly 10 percent of soared because of rising transport imminent,” he said, adding that stimulus measures percent in 2014, even with expected additional stim- the central bank to lower reserve requirements national output. Maria Polyvaniuk, a 27- costs. rolled out since last year seem to have had limited ulus measures. Power generation rose 1.9 percent in and interest rates again to head off a potential year-old mother of two who lives in a At a Kagarlyk supermarket, an old effect. Industrial output grew 6.8 percent in the first January and February from a year earlier, well below deflationary cycle, in what would be its biggest drab Soviet-era apartment block, has woman could be seen spending long two months of the year compared with the same 3.2 percent seen in all of 2014. easing campaign since the global crisis. The cen- watched aghast as the nation’s curren- moments peering at the prices of litre period a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and tral bank has singled out the rise in real interest cy nosedived in the past year, trigger- bottles of cornflower oil before eventu- said yesterday, the weakest expansion since the social security, cautioned this week that China’s rates on the back of cooling inflation as a further ing astronomical increases in the prices ally opting for a half-litre. global financial crisis in late 2008. Analysts polled by labor market also faces greater pressure. drag on the economy, especially as many compa- of imported food, clothes and other Reuters had forecast a 7.8 percent rise, down slightly Employment fell more in January and February than nies are struggling with heavy debt levels and essentials. Another IMF bailout from December. in the same period last year, he said, while adding end-user demand remains weak. “Double-digit “Before, if we had something to cele- With the country of 43 million tee- Retail sales rose 10.7 percent, the lowest pace in that he was confident China can still create more industrial production levels will be a thing of the brate, like a birthday, we could go to a tering on the edge of a default, help a decade and missing expectations for a 11.7 per- than 10 million jobs this year. past,” said Chester Liaw, an economist at Forecast cafe. We also ate more meat and fish,” cannot come quickly enough. cent rise. Fixed-asset investment, a crucial driver of Pte in Singapore. “It is highly unlikely that retail says Polyvaniuk, a slight figure with Gross domestic product contracted the Chinese economy, rose 13.9 percent, the weak- Buckle seat belts sales will hold out for long above the 10 percent wispy hair, describing life for a family of 7.0 percent last year, and Ukraine faces est expansion since 2001 and compared with esti- The Chinese economy has had a rough ride in mark as well.” — Reuters four on her electrician husband’s another 5.5 percent shrinkage in 2015. monthly salary of 2,000 hryvnia in pre- The promised IMF loan is the corner- war Ukraine. stone of an international aid package That salary was equivalent to $250 a that is expected to exceed $40 billion year ago, but just $87 today. “Nowadays over four years. we cook mostly simple food, like soup It comes with strings attached, how- and rice. As for clothes, we buy less and ever. Last week, Ukraine’s parliament wait for sales.” adopted a series of reforms on which From eight hryvnias to the dollar a the IMF conditioned the aid, including a year ago the currency weakened to a cut to pensions, a threefold hike in record low of 33.75 at the end of household gas prices and efforts to February, overtaking the ruble as the combat corruption. world’s worst performing currency. The For Olena Bilan, chief economist at hryvnia has since rallied to 23 to the Ukraine’s leading investment bank greenback, after the central bank hiked Dragon Capital, the reforms, while interest rates, while waiting for the “painful”, are long overdue. International Monetary Fund to confirm “Only those who are really in need a make-or-break $17.5 billion (16.2 bil- will be supported from the budget,” lion euro) bailout on Wednesday. Bilan told AFP. So far, people seem to be But with year-on-year inflation run- accepting the necessity of the austerity ning at 34.5 percent in February, the pill, but that could change if the war purchasing power of most Ukrainians is drags on. President Petro Poroshenko rapidly eroding. this week called on the nation to “look truth in the eye” and stay united. Well-stocked shelves “As long as there is war there will be Iron ore being loaded onto a truck on a port in Rizhao, east China’s Shandong province. Growth in China’s industrial output, retail sales and fixed asset Polyvaniuk’s mother-in-law, a smil- no investment in Ukraine, and people investment all fell to multi-year lows during January and February, official data showed yesterday with economists saying authorities are likely to take ing woman with ruddy cheeks who has must be told the truth,” he said in an more aggressive steps to support the world’s second-largest economy. —AFP endured several bouts of hardship interview Monday. Asked whether she since the breakup of the Soviet Union, expected a lasting peace anytime soon contrasts the situation with the mid- in a conflict that has killed more than 1990s when inflation hit 10,000 per- 6,000 people, Yemets replied with an Spending policy may help Shell, cent. emphatic “nyet”. — AFP Exxon withstand price plunge

LONDON: The world’s two biggest oil firms, Exxon Russian oil champion Rosneft. a barrel respectively. For some however, while Exxon is Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell, may withstand the Most big oil firms announced cuts of 10 to 15 per- a safe investment, its dividend is relatively low com- oil price collapse better than their rivals because they cent to their 2015 budgets versus last year. Some sus- pared to its peers and its shares offer little upside are closer to finishing expensive investment projects pended share buybacks, revived dividend payment because of the steady course the firm is now on. Other while others must keep spending. The near halving of via company stock, known as scrip shares, and main- peers and smaller companies offer better returns. oil prices since June is likely to send all the biggest list- tained dividends flat in order to boost cashflows. “Although it (Exxon) retains significant defensive ed oil companies into negative cash flow this year, and While all companies are expected to keep paying high strengths should oil prices dip again, we think the has sparked a rush to cut costs across the sector as a dividends by increasing borrowing, Anglo-Dutch Shell market is now beginning to deploy its investment dol- result. But depending on where they are in their and Texas-based Exxon appear to be most able to cov- lars in higher risk plays,” BMO Capital Markets analyst spending cycles, some companies are finding those er both spending and dividend payouts if oil prices Iain Reid wrote in a note to investors. cuts easier to make than others. “Both (Exxon and stay at their current $60 a barrel. Reid’s key pick is Shell, which still has “plenty of fire- Shell) had already entered a lower spending phase, They are also likely to be able to pick up bargain power to deliver further upside via more aggressive with major projects reaching completion and coming assets, while the price collapse shakes the sector out. restructuring”. Total, which is further behind in the on stream over the next two years,” Moody’s rating “Those who have stronger balance sheets would be spending cycle may however also offer higher returns company said in a report. able to acquire more assets in the downturn, for exam- for investors in the future, Reid added. Exxon started eight major oil and gas production ple distressed and cheap US shale producers,” said Kirill According to Reuters data, 15 out of 23 polled ana- projects last year in locations ranging from Papua New Pyshkin who helps manage over $400 million in glob- lysts are neutral on Exxon shares, while 5 rate it a “buy”. Guinea to the Gulf of Mexico and Abu Dhabi. Shell al and US equity funds at Mirabaud Asset Shell is more attractive for analysts, with 10 out of 20 started four big production start-ups last year in the Management in London, including shares in Shell. recommending a “buy” and 9 a “hold”. Total remains Cardamom and Mars B oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico Pyshkin noted too: “If oil prices recover they won’t the most robust stock, with 17 “buy”, 16 “hold and 2 as well as other oil fields in Nigeria and Malaysia. have to sacrifice their growth budgets and hence will “sell” recommendation. As a result Exxon, the world’s biggest publicly trad- be growing faster than peers in future.” ed oil company, was able to cut its 2015 project Borrowing up spending by 11 percent to around $34 billion without Lower breakdown All of the big oil firms are expected to see negative significant impact on its production. Shell, the second- Exxon and Shell also lead the rest of the pack in cash flows this year, according to Moody’s, and will largest, opted for a $15 billion cut over the next three terms of where their cashflow breaks even. They can turn to borrowing in order to cover costs. All have indi- years and maintained its 2015 capital spending at $35 survive on a much lower price of oil to cover project cated they would have no problem increasing bor- Yevhen (left) and Halyna (right), children of Maria Polyvaniuk, play in front of billion which will also not affect its output. Chevron spending, operating costs and dividend payments. rowing this year, given their debt-to-equity ratios the primary school in central Ukrainian town of Kagarlyk. Maria Polyvaniuk, a and Total, on the other hand, are both in the midst of According to analysts at Jefferies, Shell and Exxon below 20 percent. 27-year-old mother of two who lives in a drab Soviet-era apartment block, large project spending cycles, and will have to tap into both have 2015 breakevens of around $75 to $80 a “The majors with their AA and AAA ratings still has watched aghast as the national currency nosedived in the past year, trig- more debt in order to stay afloat, Moody’s said. barrel. While that’s still significantly higher than the have access to attractive sources of funding. Their bal- gering astronomical increases in the prices of food, clothes and other essen- Elsewhere BP, despite cutting costs and jobs and average 2015 Brent price of around $56 a barrel, it’s ance sheets have the capacity to absorb one or two tials. —AFP freezing salaries, still faces sizeable outgoings related healthier than Chevron, BP and Eni’s breakevens years of low prices,” said Wood Mackenzie analyst Tom to its 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill fine and its stake in which Jefferies forecast at around $95, $100 and $120 Ellacott. — Reuters BUSINESS THUSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

GMC Sierra ranked ‘Most Dependable’

The GMC Sierra full-size light-duty pickup ranked standard and SLE trims). The off-road-inspired All highest in its segments in the 2015 J D Power Terrain package is offered on double cab and crew Vehicle Dependability Study. The GMC brand cab models with SLE or SLT trim and includes the gained six spots, moving up to No. 10 overall (in a Z71 Off Road suspension. tie). The 2015 study tracks 2012 model year vehi- Along with configurations to suit just about cles in the third year of ownership. Both the Sierra every need, Sierra’s range of technologies is tai- 1500, Yukon and Terrain also achieved the highest lored to the way customers use their full-size pick- score in their segments in the 2014 JD Power ups, providing the power, efficiency, refinement Vehicle Dependability Study. and dependability they expect. The Sierra Denali is The 2015 Sierra Light Duty body stylerange the only full-size truck to offer magnetic ride con- includes regular cab and two four-door cabs - the trol; and along with the available 6.2L V-8 and new double cab and crew cab, all offered with 2WD & eight-speed automatic transmission, solidifies its 4WD. Models and trim levels - the standard model, position as the most refined, technically advanced SLE, SLT and Denali (regular cab offered only in pickup on the market. Zain Group joins Etisalat UAE SmartHub to accelerate global Internet offering Faster access to leading internet content, capacity services

KUWAIT: Zain Group, a leading telecom innovator in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, announces a strategic agreement with Etisalat UAE, to participate in Etisalat’s SmartHub, the region’s largest capacity, content, Internet and data hub in the Middle East. The agreement will result in Etisalat’s SmartHub deployment providing the Zain Group of companies faster access to leading Internet content and capacity services. SmartHub IX and SmartHubIPX will also be available to the Zain Group throughout the region through the same connection. Henri Kassab, Managing Director, International, Wholesale & Roaming at Zain Groupsaid, “Given Zain Group’s strategic direction of transforming BARCELONA: Zain Group executives and Telecom Minister of Lebanon. into an integrated digital lifestyle mobile operator, it is critical that we bring a higher quality of data Zain Group Chairman, connectivity to our customers across the region. This collaboration with Etisalat’sSmartHub will help Zain sustain the huge growth in regional CEO discuss expansion of mobile Internet and act as a more resilient platform for us to exchange regional traffic and source 4G coverage in Lebanon a vast repository of localized Internet content.” Kassab continued, “This partnership will further BARCELONA/KUWAIT: Zain Group, a lead- Lebanon will bring us closer to achieving enhance the Internet experience we provide, ing telecom innovator in eight markets this, and the positive conversations held helping Zain to retain and attract new customers Important operators like the Zain Group recog- first IPX for mobile operators and extends to the across the Middle East and Africa, with the Minister will support our mutual as well as complement our 4G LTE expansion strat- nize the need for localized access to content and region’s largest portfolio of Internet content. announces the holding of fruitful discus- interests and efforts.” egy and support our planned roll-out of dynamic the need to support mission critical customer SmartHub has made significant strategic partners sions between the Group Chairman, Asaad Zain Group has been managing the Enterprise services to corporate clients. We look applications with robust and reliable international this year such as AMSix, Epsilon, Equinix, PCCW Al-Banwan, Group CEO, Scott Gegenheimer, ‘touch’ operation in Lebanon since June, forward to continued cooperation with Etisalat network solutions. We look forward to a contin- Global, SAP, China Telecom, and Tata Touch Lebanon CEO Wassim Mansour and 2004 and now as the leading operator in UAE and other key partners for the benefit of our ued long and mutually beneficial relationship Communications among others. SmartHub also the Minister of Telecommunications in country serves over 2.1 million customers, customers.” with the Zain Group and welcome them to the became the region’s largest hosted content deliv- Lebanon, Boutros Harband several ministry maintaining 1,206 nationwide network sites Speaking at this occasion Ali Amiri, Executive SmartHub community of content providers and ery network (CDN) due to new partnerships with officials during the recent Mobile World at the end of 2014. Vice President of Carrier & Wholesale Services, networks.” Limelight, Level3, and CDN networks. This is in Congress in Barcelona. Scott Gegenheimer said, “Zain Group Etisalat UAE said, “The Zain Group is an important Etisalat UAE’s SmartHub is the region’s largest addition to a robust content portfolio (Akamai, Zain Group, which manages one of two remains a committed participant in the tele- partner for Etisalat and this marks a milestone in capacity, content, Internet and data hub in the Microsoft, Yahoo! and the world’s largest search government-owned mobile networks in com market in Lebanon, and just as in our the regional expansion of the SmartHub. Middle East. SmartHub includes the Middle East’s and video provider). Lebanon, along with the Lebanon Telecom other markets, our success will depend on Ministry are keen to see 4G LTE technology our ability to offer customers what they expanded nationwide, as today it is only want, and to use technology to continually available in limited pockets in major areas of evolve our products and offerings.” Al-Babtain invites public to test-drive new the country. The Zain executives and the He continued, “I would like to thank Mr. Minister both acknowledged the positive Harb for sparing the time to visit our stand enormous benefits of the wide-scale adop- at Mobile World Congress on more than one Nissan crossover cars at Marina Crescent tion of high-speed mobile broadband for occasion, in order to discuss the develop- the Lebanese economy as well as for its soci- ment of the telecom market in Lebanon in KUWAIT: Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Co, ety in general. general, and 4G LTE specifically. I believe our the exclusive agent of Nissan vehicles in the State Commenting on the discussions, Zain vision for the future in this respect is well of Kuwait, is holding a test-drive event of the new Group Chairman, Al-Banwan said, “It was an aligned.” crossover vehicles; Nissan Juke, Nissan X-Trail, and honor meeting with Mr Boutros Harb during A recent report published by the GSM Nissan Pathfinder at the Marina Crescent tomor- which we highlighted the Zain Group’s vast Association highlighted that a 10 percent- row (March 13, 2015). experience in the deployment of high speed age point rise in broadband connections Al-Babtain aims through this event to provide 4G LTE networks, having already delivered leads to nearly a one per cent increase in the opportunity for the public to closely explore them successfully in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, GDP and that for every extra 1,000 broad- the features and abilities of the all new Nissan Bahrain, and recently in Jordan. At the start band connections, 33 new jobs are created. vehicles to the largest number of customers and of the year we also introduced 3.9G in Iraq, Increased broadband connections in adventure enthusiasts who love the excitement of and we can already see the positive impact Middle East are forecast to generate billions modern driving. the network availability has had on con- of GDP growth and create hundreds of thou- On this occasion, Al-Babtain Group would like sumers and businesses alike.” sands of jobs according to the GSMA report. to invite its clients, the Nissan brand enthusiasts, Al-Banwan continued, “We are dedicated Zain Group had a busy participation at and everyone with a passion for modern automo- to the enrichment of life for the communi- Mobile World Congress 2015, where it host- biles, to attend the exciting event held by Al- ties we serve. We firmly believe the expan- ed scores of business partners, dignitaries, Babtain Group, on Friday March 13, 2015. The sion of 4G LTE services across more of and interested parties at its booth. event will be held in Marina Crescent, to give the opportunity for everyone to take part and enjoy the day filled with exciting entertaining activities, giveaway prizes for the attendees in addition to the opportunity to exclusively test-drive the new crossover vehicles; Nissan Juke, Nissan X-Trail, and Nissan Pathfinder. The Nissan International Co. had announced earlier this year that various modifications on its new crossover Nissan Juke vehicles had been made, in order to strengthen its performance to enable it to stay ahead of the pack in a booming Nissan experience and leadership in crossover Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Co is always segment, which is witnessing great competition vehicles. keen to organize many test-drive events to provide and growth around the world, therefore to pre- Nissan Pathfinder, is the sports multi-function the opportunity for its loyal customers and the serve the success achieved by Nissan Juke since its vehicle for the coming generation through its largest number of attendees, to closely explore the launch back in 2010. modern balance between the off-road driving and various features of all the vehicles launched by the The launch of Nissan X-Trail was to appeal the visible luxury according to “Innovation that company, the several differences and the chance sports fanatics with its weight and dominating fea- Excites” slogan, to meeting the needs of modern to compare various models in a more fun and excit- tures along with its modern design, and several families with unbeatable technology and features. ing atmosphere, filled with entertainment and hidden new technology. The Nissan heritage in the Nissan Pathfinder, also offers a dynamic design many giveaways, all part of the constant goal of world of 4-wheel drive automobile industry, is still and high level of comfort, which is the top in the the business to remain on the top of the leading felt in the new Nissan X-Trail, maintaining the segment, with the best driving experience. brands in the world of automobiles. BARCELONA: Zain Group executives and Telecom Minister of Lebanon . Robust US dollar pushes oil Brent rebounds on US stock rise LONDON: Brent crude rebounded from a $56.66 by 1453 GMT. It dropped $2.14, or 3.66 one-month low below $56 a barrel yesterday percent, in the previous session. as traders bought the international bench- WTI for April delivery fell 70 cents to prices down: Kuwait expert mark and sold its US rival, after data showed a $47.59 a barrel, after losing $1.71, or 3.42 per- large increase in US oil stocks last week. The cent, on Tuesday. Brent’s recovery was aided KUWAIT: Rise of the US dollar to levels some $10, Al-Shatti said, adding that 20 per- Other factors that have contributed to push- US Energy Information Administration said by investors playing the so-called Brent-WTI unprecedented since August 2003, over the cent of refining capacity is paralyzed in some ing the prices down are continuing the rise of US crude stocks rose by 4.5 million barrels, spread, when they buy one benchmark and past two days, is the main cause for the fall of high-demand nations due to cold and labor the crude reserves in the US and jitters resulting trumping some traders’ expectations after an sell the other. Brent-WTI widened to $9.07 a oil prices, according to a Kuwaiti petroleum activities such as strikes, thus negatively affect- from outcome of the Greek debt crisis. industry report on Tuesday said inventories barrel, expanding after hitting its narrowest expert. ing heating oil sales, particularly in European Predictions, in general, show low prices between had posted a small fall. point in a month on Tuesday. Mohammad Al-Shatti, interviewed by markets. April and June, 2015, Al-Shatti said, anticipating The increase included a 2.3-million-barrel Putting pressure on prices, the dollar hit a Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), said that the oil Al-Shatti also indicated at decline of the that the oil prices would be in the range of $40- build at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery new 12-year high against the euro yesterday, prices’ decrease is due to the bullish trend of shale oil output, also indicating that non- 45 pb in the foreseeable future. The main cause point of the U.S. crude contract, also known gaining more than 1 percent to trade at the greenback, for the dollar is the currency for OPEC’s oil supplies dropped from 1.6 million is the slump of seasonal demand, he said, noting as West Texas Intermediate or WTI. “The fear $1.0561 against the single currency. trades in oil and other products worldwide. barrels per day in 2014 to 600,000 bpd this that key refineries in the East and Europe would of global supply glut that sent crude prices to The dollar index has rallied 25 percent Average rate of the Brent crude, in Q1 of 2015, year. undergo maintenance. six-year lows continues to hang over the mar- since last May, making commodities priced in reached $55 per barrel, while that of the Al-Shatti forecast rise in oil prices, in the However, the oil prices in the year’s Q2 will ket,” said Gene McGillian, senior analyst at the greenback more expensive for holders of exported Kuwaiti crude, $55 pb. Such levels coming months, due to supplies shortage. But recover and will reach $55-60 pb, Al-Shatti said, Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. other currencies. Russia’s crude oil exports are “We have not seen signs of enough lower also set to rise this year, Energy Minister point to improvement of the oil prices between regarding decline of the crude prices over the predicting demand increase. Oil market, in the production resulting from capital spending Alexander Novak said, despite some expecta- January and March 2015. past two days, he said they fell due to new data coming years, is expected to be distinguished and drilling cuts.” Brent for April delivery hit a tions of a plunge in production due to lower Some market factors, namely prevailing cold about unemployment in the US and the dollar with prevailing glut, he said, due to various fac- one-month low of $55.92 a barrel before prices following the crash from above $100 a in much of the hemisphere and high demand, restoration of its strength vis-a-vis the other tors such as consumption rationing and develop- recovering slightly to trade up 26 cents at barrel last year. — Reuters have recently pushed the crude prices up by major currencies. ment of alternative energy resources. — KUNA THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 technology

AHMEDABAD: A handout picture taken and released by the Solar Impulse project on Tuesday shows the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 (SI2) on the tarmac after successfully landing in Ahmedabad, India. — AFP Solar Impulse 2 sets distance record

GENEVA: Solar Impulse 2 has broken a distance distance flown by a solar-powered plane, but the capital Muscat in little less than 16 hours. ing those of an Airbus A380 superjumbo. record for solar-powered planes as part of its bid to record must be confirmed by air sports governing The longest single leg of the planned circum- In total the plane is to travel 35,000 kilometers be the first to circumnavigate the globe powered body Federation Aeronautique International. navigation will see one of the pilots fly solo non- and will cross two oceans. The circumnavigation, solely by the sun. By the time it arrived in Solar Impulse’s CEO and co-founder Andre stop for five days and nights across the Pacific from which is to take place in 12 steps, requires 25 Ahmedabad, in western India on Tuesday, the plane Borschberg set the previous record in Solar Nanjing, China to Hawaii, a distance of 8,500 kilo- days worth of flight time spread over five had flown 1,468 kilometers (912 miles), the flight’s Impulse 1 when he flew 1,386 kilometres across the metres-again smashing the record. months. The team hope to promote green energy organizers said. Solar Impulse project chairman and United States. The aircraft touched down Tuesday Solar Impulse 2 is powered by more than 17,000 with their round-the-world attempt, which was co-pilot Bertrand Piccard was at the controls. The in the western state of Gujarat at 11:25 pm local solar cells built into wings that, at 72 metres, are ridiculed by the aviation industry when it was plane’s backers say it was the longest point-to-point time (1755 GMT) to finish its trip from the Omani longer than those of a Boeing 747 and approach- first unveiled. — AFP New MacBook shows Apple not giving up on laptop

SAN FRANCISCO: The MacBook Air was revolutionary when Apple started selling it in 2008. Though still thin and light, the Air now feels like a cheap cousin next to more powerful MacBook Pro laptops and Windows laptops known as ultrabooks. So Apple returned to the drawing board and came up with a two pound, energy-efficient, silent machine it’s calling, simply, the MacBook. The little time I had with it was enough to impress. The MacBook is thinner and lighter than the Air. It feels like an iPad, except with a regular keyboard and screen. In fact, the MacBook incorporates many of the design techniques Apple learned from the iPad, including making the laptop work without a fan and squeezing all the electronics onto a small card, known as the logic board. The MacBook, which goes on sale April 10, isn’t cheap - but it’s reasonably priced for a SAN FRANCISCO: Apple CEO Tim Cook applauds at the conclusion of the Apple Mac laptop. The $1,299 model comes with 256 giga- “Spring Forward” launch event in San Francisco. Cook took a figurative victory lap at bytes of storage. That’s double what you get on the his company’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, one day after he announced $899 Air version. It’s the same amount of storage you details about the new smartwatch Apple plans to sell next month. — AP get for the $1,099 Air but MacBook’s high-resolution screen is much better. For $300 more, you get a MacBook with faster processor and 512 gigabytes of Apple’s Cook cites record storage. MacBook’s 12-inch screen is the “Retina” display found in the latest MacBook Pros, iPhones and iPads. I sales, ‘unbelievable’ year hadn’t found the Air’s screen problematic but once you see the crisp text on Retina, you start noticing the CUPERTINO, California: Apple CEO Tim he spoke, urged Cook to improve diversity in SAN FRANCISCO: Phil Schiller, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing, Air’s deficiencies. The new MacBook’s keyboard prom- Cook took a figurative victory lap at his com- Apple’s leadership and board. Apple has no talks about the new Apple MacBook during an Apple event on Monday. — AP pany’s annual shareholder meeting, one day black or Latino directors, and 12 of the 15 ises better precision and extends all the way to the after he announced details about the new top executives listed on its website are white left and right sides of the laptop. That’s similar to how as it comes out with new designs. The iMac got rid of to share that port among your various chargers and smartwatch Apple plans to start selling next men. the frames on phones have shrunk to maximize the floppy disk drive long before other PCs did. The accessories. And there are few that work with Type-C month. Jackson has pressed Silicon Valley compa- screen space. Apple kept a full-size keyboard - a wise Air dropped the DVD drive and eventually traditional for now, so you’ll need to buy adapters. A year ago, some investors were voicing nies to improve diversity. He praised Cook for decision, as smaller keys placed more closely to each hard drives (it uses flash memory, similar to iPhones The new MacBook also lacks an SD slot for camera frustration over Apple’s lagging stock and releasing workforce demographics statistics, other can be difficult to type. and iPads). The new MacBook drops USB ports, which memory, something the 13-inch MacBook Air has but activist Carl Icahn was pressing Cook to as several other top tech companies have are common for printers and other accessories. the 11-inch does not. Then again, few people take return more cash to shareholders. But no done, but urged Apple to follow Intel’s lead What’s the catch? (Ironically, it was the iMac that popularized USB.) photos on stand-alone cameras these days. Battery complaints were heard Tuesday. Apple in setting more specific goals. The new MacBook also has an improved trackpad. In Apple’s mind, who needs accessories when you life is comparable to the 11-inch Air, but a few hours shares are up 65 percent from a year ago, Cook promised more progress. Later in It’s designed in such a way that it should feel the do just about everything wirelessly? Apple’s propri- short of the 13-inch version. The new MacBook isn’t the company has a market value of more the meeting, he introduced two Apple vice same wherever you tap it. With the current Air, the etary MagSafe power-charging port has been going to be for everyone, but neither was the Air. than $700 billion - making it the most valu- presidents who are black women: Lisa mouse-click capabilities are along the edge closer to replaced with a standardized USB Type-C connection. Some people will find the screen too small, and oth- able US company in history - and will soon Jackson, the former US. EPA administrator you. The new trackpad also enables new controls. If It’s an emerging technology that will also connect ers will still need those ports and SD card slot. But it bump AT&T to join the benchmark Dow who now runs Apple’s environmental pro- you hover over an icon and press on the trackpad for accessories and serve as a display output. It’s like tak- does show that Apple isn’t giving up on the Mac, Jones industrial average. grams, and Denise Young Smith, the compa- a few seconds, a preview of the file opens. ing all of the Air’s existing ports and squeezing them even as most of the attention has shifted to iPhones, Apple sold a record 200 million iPhones ny’s top human resources official. Apple has a history of ditching older technologies into this new Type-C one. The difference is you need iPads and now the Apple Watch. — AP in 2014, which provided the bulk of the “Our diversity is increasing,” Cook said. “I company’s $200 billion in revenue. Cook cit- want it to be better. It will be better.” Flying cars, robot ed those and other milestones in what he As for future projects, Cook acknowl- Kaspersky Lab’s security called an “unbelievable” year. He also said edged that iPad sales are down but said he’s petting zoo: It’s South solutions now available through Apple returned $57 billion to shareholders “extremely bullish” on Apple’s partnership through dividends and stock buybacks last with IBM to create new iPad business soft- by Southwest time Parallels APS ecosystem year. ware and “other things in the pipeline.” An NEW YORK: Flying cars and a robot petting zoo. Mobile wallets The stock fell 1.7 percent Tuesday, amid a iPad with a larger screen is rumored to be in DUBAI: Kaspersky Lab announced that it has you. and net neutrality. The most outlandish ideas of the future and broader market decline, as some analysts development. Cook ducked questions from achieved Parallels APS 2.0 certification for the With the APS 2.0 certification of the tech trends shaping the world today will be in focus as the free- questioned whether the company’s new two investors who urged him to buy or part- Kaspersky APS Package, which enables it to Kaspersky APS Package, Kaspersky Internet wheeling South by Southwest Interactive Festival kicks off smartwatch will be a hit. Cook has vowed ner with Tesla, the high-end electric car mak- provide two of Kaspersky Lab’s award-win- Security - Multi-Device and Kaspersky Small today. the new wearable gadget will change the er. Apple has hired several automotive engi- ning solutions, Kaspersky Internet Security - Office Security are available for easy integra- The annual Austin, Texas gathering has a looser reputation way people use the Internet, as previous neers but has not confirmed reports it may Multi-Device and Kaspersky Small Office tion and rapid cloud distribution by cloud than bigger tech conferences like the Consumer Electronics Apple products including the iPhone and be working on its own electric car. “We’re Security, via Parallels APS ecosystem. service providers through their channels and Show in Las Vegas and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, iPad have done. very focused on Car Play,” Cook said, referring Parallels APS, the industry’s most popular to their customers. The certification also even as it has become more corporate in recent years. It’s a The company also said it had work to do to Apple software used by several automak- free and open standard for cloud services, rep- opens up the possibility of distributing other place where a Grumpy Cat appearance can generate as much on diversity efforts. Two speakers, civil rights ers. He said Apple has no current deal with resents a simple and fast way to offer new Kaspersky Lab products via APS in the future. excitement as the latest tech gizmo. It brought Twitter promi- leader Jesse Jackson and a black Apple Tesla, although he grinned and said “we’d services through the cloud. It helps service “We are pleased to have Kaspersky Lab nence in 2007 and location-sharing app Foursquare in 2009, shareholder who did not say his name when love for them” to use the software too. — AP providers and application developers to real- join the APS ecosystem,” said Alex Danyluk, but has since moved beyond the latest “killer app.” Last year, ize the benefits and opportunities of this new Vice President, Partner Ecosystem and cybersecurity took center stage as NSA leaker Edward Snowden world. APS is revolutionizing cloud service Strategic Alliances,Parallels. “Kaspersky Lab and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange headlined the lineup of bundling, and service providers using Parallels and Parallels collaborated during the APS panels and speakers. Automation are at the forefront of the indus- development process and the result is a high This year top speakers will tackle how to bring ideas that try. quality integration that Parallels Automation might seem like science fiction to the real world. Google’s Astro Kaspersky Internet Security - Multi-Device partners can easily deploy and sell as they Teller, who heads the tech giant’s X division, will discuss making is a consumer-grade, one-license, multi-plat- expand their security offerings.” some of Google’s most ambitious projects, like self-driving cars form security solution that is easy to use and “The Parallels APS ecosystem made it easi- or balloon-powered Internet, a reality. United Therapeutics CEO protects virtually any combination of PC, Mac, er than ever to provide our state-of-the-art Martine Rothblatt will talk about tech innovations intersecting Android smartphones and tablets. It provides solutions to both home users and small busi- with artificial intelligence, immorality and the future of self. The multi-device security and flexible, real-time nesses,” said Alexey Gromyko, Head of xSP Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron, will be on hand to discuss anti-malware protection as well as anti-theft Subscription Projects, Kaspersky Lab. “This what Bitcoin needs to do to succeed as a mainstream currency. protection. Smaller businesses face the same future-proof joint initiative will enable us to And former vice president Al Gore will make his third appear- security risks as large organizations, but often consolidate efforts to provide fast and con- ance at the annual festival to plug for new global climate legis- don’t have the time or resources to configure venient services for cloud service providers, lation that is up for a vote in December. and manage complex IT security solutions. their users, and the global xSP community. But aside from the big-name keynotes, festival director Kaspersky Small Office Security delivers busi- Working with leading telecoms companies Hugh Forrest says the heart of the conference is the smaller ness-grade protection technologies that are around the globe, we are further expanding panels and competitions. designed to be simple to install, configure and our Subscription offering for service providers “We’re excited about the very strong speakers we have, but run. The solution protects Windows-based PC to leverage the possibilities offered by JUNEAU: Sixth-graders at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School work on the Mindcraft the heart of the event is really the up-and -coming people we and file servers as well as Android smart- Parallels Automation to market Kaspersky mazes during their technology class in Juneau, Alaska. Rather than fight the elec- haven’t heard of yet, people we’ll hear of in the next few years,” phones and tablets to safeguard your online Lab’s products, supplying customers with pro- tronic glue, some educators are embracing children tech-obsession and finding ways Forrest says. “South by Southwest is always about up-and-com- banking transactions, your business data and tection from the market leader while generat- to incorporate computer games into the classroom. None has been more popular ing talent, be it a band or filmmaker or technology developer, the information your customers entrust to ing extra profits.” than Minecraft. —-AP and that holds true in 2015.” — AP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Swings and roundabouts: powering rural Ghana through play

PEDIATORKOPE: The southeastern island brainchild of US-based charity Empower facilities to begin producing power, Thompson, the project manager at Humphrey Teye Ayeh said he decided to of Pediatorkope is one of rural Ghana’s Playgrounds Incorporated-has been a suc- demand for generators is increasing. Empower Playgrounds Inc., said the system enrol because of the increasing cost of poorest places, with most people living cess, allowing children to study at home, Some businesses have threatened to was helping to improve the chances of kerosene previously used to provide light. from farming mussels on the Volta River. But when previously it was impossible for lack leave the country for places with more reg- rural children continuing their education The sustainable energy system-which can despite being cut off from the national grid, of electricity. “Formerly the performance of ular supply. Others said they are being beyond junior school. “So far we’re in 42 be used to power electrical devices such as Pediatorkope is relatively well-off compared the children in the school was very low,” he forced to downsize their workforce. The schools and what we do is that any school mobile phones-has got people more con- to the capital Accra and the rest of the coun- said. main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that has... junior high, we assess them by nected, he said. try when it comes to power. How? It uses and its supporters last month took to the their final year examinations,” he said. “It For Thompson, the decision to come to the natural energy of children to generate Energy crisis streets, claiming that President John has really brought improvement in the lives Pediatorkope made sense because it would enough electricity to power lanterns every Ghana is in the throes of a crippling Dramani Mahama has crippled business by of these children’s education. “All that we take time for the island to get onto the time they use specially adapted round- energy crisis, which is slowing down eco- not resolving the problem. “If you are run- expect from the community is to ensure national grid. “We thought it wise to come abouts. nomic activity and raising fears about its ning a factory and you have to power a that when the kids bring these lanterns to this island and ensure that the people in When children play on the equipment at effect on the emerging economy’s overall generator before you can produce, then home, they (use them) to do their home this community also have a little life here,” the Pediatorkope Basic School, their effort development. Most homes receive electric- there’s a real problem,” said Isaac Osei, an studies.” he said. “Our objective is not to make any turns a turbine connected to a rechargeable ity for 12 hours but can then be without opposition member of parliament. money or profit from this but we need to battery that powers LED lanterns. The chil- power for the next 24. The government, Small price to pay get the system, the centre sustainable or dren use the lanterns at home, bringing criticized for failing to maintain economic Power through play A separate scheme using solar power is the project sustainable, so we ask them to them back to the school when they need growth after the country began commer- If the situation is acute in cities such as also running on the island, where residents pay 500 Ghana cedis to be hooked up to recharging, teacher Gerson Kuadegbeku cial oil production in 2010, recently signed Accra, then it is even worse in rural areas, pay 500 cedis (about $150) to buy a battery, the system and then each time they bring said. “So it is helping the students to new contracts with external power suppli- with schoolchildren among the hardest hit which is recharged by the sun via roof pan- the battery for recharge, they pay five cedis learn.”Kuadegbeku said the scheme-the ers. While Ghanaians wait for those new by the lack of electricity. George els at a “charging station”. Local man for that.” —AFP

Unlikely allies fight for solar energy in Florida

MIAMI: Florida is widely known as the 10 or 20 years instead of paying up front. Sunshine State but when it comes to har- “Because our energy costs are actually nessing solar power, lots of customers find it very low, comparatively speaking.” Ygrene is just doesn’t pay because electricity is already available to homeowners in 17 cities in cheap and there is little incentive to make Florida-a tiny portion of the state’s 20 million the change from fossil fuels. Anger over the population. For most people in Florida, solar situation has whipped up an unusual coali- panels require tens of thousands of dollars in tion of hardline conservatives, evangelical cash. Then, they can see their meter move Christians and liberal environmentalists who backward when the sun is shining, and move want to break down what they describe as a forward at night when they use electricity “monopoly” held by big power companies. from the grid. If a solar user in the Miami area Those involved include the Sierra Club, the produces more energy than he or she uses, Christian Coalition, the Libertarian Party, the Florida Power and Light (FPL), will send a Evangelical Environment Network, reimbursement check at the end of the year. Greenpeace USA and Physicians for Social But FPL only pays for any extra solar pro- Responsibility. duced at a rate of three to five cents per kilo- The problem, they say, is that Florida is watt, while it sells customers electricity at 10 one of only five states that explicitly pro- cents per kilowatt. “FPL is dictating the rates,” hibits anyone other than the big utilities said Raul Vergara, president of Cutler Bay from selling power. Individuals with solar Solar Solutions. “In the states where the legis- panels can’t sell the extra power they pro- lation has changed, the average rate is 11 duce and solar companies are barred from and 12 cents a kilowatt.” Mark Heise, a lawyer selling any power that they generate-unless who recently installed solar panels on his they sell it back to the utility company. “We house in a southern suburb of Miami, paid are basically outlawing commerce when it $40,000, or $28,000 after getting a 30 per- involves solar,” said Tory Perfetti, chairman of cent federal tax break. The panels have low- Floridians for Solar Choice and Florida direc- ered his bill, but not eliminated it. “It was def- tor of Conservatives for Energy Freedom. initely still worth it,” he said. “I am realizing “That’s what this is ballot initiative is for,” he the financial advantages each month and my said during a recent drive to collect petition kids see it is important to take care of the FLORIDA: Workers install solar panels on a rooftop at a home in Palmetto Bay, Florida. —AFP signatures in St Petersburg. environment.” “It is to open up Florida’s energy market, to give people a choice.” The movement ‘Gangbusters’ needs 700,000 signatures, and organizers say The new political movement hopes to NZ firms see slump in China they gathered more than 100,000 in the first make power-purchasing agreements (PPAs) month of their drive to allow voters to decide legal in Florida, whereby a solar company in 2016 whether or not to allow solar can install panels on a person’s roof for no providers to sell power directly to con- upfront cash and then sell the energy to the demand for infant formula sumers. For environmentalists like David customer. Any extra solar power could be Cullen of the Sierra Club Florida, global sold to neighbors, tenants, or private compa- warming is the key reason to move away nies. “In other states where this type of China tightens scrutiny of NZ milk powder exports from fossil fuels, which spew greenhouse arrangement is allowed, solar development gases into the atmosphere. “Some may think has gone wild. It has gone gangbusters,” said WELLINGTON: Chinese demand for Zealand Infant Formula Exporters could fan concerns in China. ine New Zealand milk powder even this is an unusual group of people to be George Cavros of the Southern Alliance for New Zealand infant formula has fall- Association. “We’ve had our first The association includes small as New Zealand’s agriculture ministry working together, but what we share is com- Clean Energy. FPL, the biggest utility in en after a threat by suspected envi- response from the distribution net- businesses which brand and market (MPI) yesterday reiterated that the mon sense,” Cullen said. Florida, declined an AFP request for com- ronmental activists to contaminate work. They’ve reduced their infant formula products manufac- pesticide had not entered the dairy ment. the product with an agricultural orders, some of them by up to 70 tured by Fonterra and other New supply chain. “China has already tak- Few incentives Duke Energy, the second largest utility in poison, the head of an exporter percent,” he told Reuters, adding Zealand dairy companies. China said en steps and will demand each batch California leads the way in solar in the the state, said solar “will be an important part group said yesterday. Orders for that any negative online exposure it was stepping up measures to exam- of milk powder imported from New United States, while Florida lags behind at of Florida’s energy future,” but pointed out infant formula, prized among Zealand has an official New Zealand 13th nationwide for installed solar capacity, that obstacles remain. Unlike natural gas China’s growing middle class, have certificate that it does not contain even trailing small northern states like New which can provide power 24 hours a day, slumped after New Zealand police 1080,” China’s General Administration Jersey and Massachusetts, according to the solar doesn’t work at night. It cannot be on Tuesday said letters were sent to of Quality Supervision, Inspection Solar Energy Industries Association. Most of stored cost-effectively, and creates power the national farmers’ group and and Quarantine said in a statement Florida’s electricity is generated from natural swings on the grid, a spokesman said. “Even dairy giant Fonterra in November on its website. gas (62 percent) and coal (21 percent), though solar costs have decreased signifi- accompanied by packages of infant The MPI said it began informing according to the US Energy Information cantly in recent years, right now, solar still formula laced with poisonous pesti- and consulting with major overseas Administration. Another 12 percent comes costs more than traditional electricity cide 1080, formally called sodium dairy customers and regulators from nuclear, 2.2 percent comes from solar, resources,” he said. The conservative group fluoroacetate. Following the about the threat in the last three to and the rest is from other renewables. “There Americans for Prosperity, funded by the bil- announcement, China said it would four weeks, roughly a month after is a reason why here in Florida solar is not lionaire Koch brothers, has begun to push increase scrutiny of milk powder Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy that popular,” said Joe Spector, vice president back against the drive for solar choice. The imports from New Zealand, which exporter, began testing dairy prod- of operations at Ygrene, a company that group sent a letter to supporters warning of depends on dairy products for ucts for the poison in mid-January. helps finance solar panels by arranging for higher electricity costs if the ballot measure about a quarter of its export earn- “The overseas markets and regula- homeowners to pay higher property tax for is passed. —AFP ings. tors we’ve reached out to are China is New Zealand’s biggest responding in a very calm way,” said dairy buyer, purchasing $3.11 bil- Scott Gallacher, director-general of US and California modify area lion worth of milk powder and oth- the Ministry of Primary Industries. er products in 2014, nearly one- The scare is the latest threat to New for renewable energy plants third of all global exports. The Zealand’s dairy sector, which announcement has stung the New AUCKLAND: Fonterra Chief Theo Spierings talks to the media exported nearly $11 billion in milk SAN DIEGO: The state and federal governments Their tone changed when Imperial reiterated its Zealand dollar which hit a five- about a blackmail attempt against the dairy giant, at the products in 2014, and follows a will move forward on less than half the California concerns again about two weeks ago. “I’m par- week low yesterday. Small New Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand police contamination scare in 2013, when desert land initially designated for renewable ticularly gratified that they listened to us,” Horne Zealand companies marketing for- said they were investigating an anonymous threat to poison a botulism-causing bacteria was energy plants, officials said Tuesday, leaving mil- said. Opposition to Tuesday’s announcement mula in China were already seeing infant formula in an apparent protest over the country’s use of believed to be found in one of lions of acres in limbo as local governments was muted. Laura Crane, associate director of a cut in orders, said Michael poison baits for pest control, after Fonterra received packets of Fonterra’s products. The discovery decide how they want to handle large-scale The Nature Conservancy’s California land pro- Barnett, chairman of the New milk powder laced with pesticide. —AP was found to be false. —Reuters solar, wind and geothermal projects. Regulators gram, said she would have preferred that all 22.5 will initially focus on about 10 million acres of million acres be considered at once but that federal land overseen by the US Bureau of Land moving ahead without support of local govern- Management in the Mojave and other Southern ments made little sense. Blue whales ‘switch on’ Antarctic song California deserts. “Given the size and complexity, it’s under- Their initial plan, unveiled in September, des- standable why the agencies are breaking it apart SYDNEY: A team of Australian and New Zealand Australia-New Zealand Antarctic Ecosystem Voyage to identify 58 individual blue whales and record more ignated 22.5 million acres across seven counties. in pieces they can manage,” said Crane, whose researchers has tracked scores of blue whales off the Southern Ocean, which returned Wednesday, the than 40,000 calls during the voyage, which aimed to Much of the remaining 12.5 million acres is pri- organization has extensively analyzed environ- Antarctica, eavesdropping as the world’s largest ani- Antarctic marine scientists listened for the low moans help estimate the population size of the endangered vately owned and will be considered on separate mental impacts. “If the counties aren’t happy - mals began their rumbling song, which can be of the endangered whales, and then tracked them to animals and their movements. timetables. Projects on private property would and they clearly weren’t - it’s really important detected 750 kilometers away. During the six-week their feeding grounds. The scientists were able to But at first there was very little of the song, making likely need to be approved by local govern- that it be slowed down. If the counties don’t those onboard anxious about whether they would be ments, which clamored for a bigger say on the agree, it can’t be implemented.” The decision is able to study the animals. “What actually was remark- sweeping plan that attempts to bring order to a expected to result in accelerated focus on the 10 able this time was that very early on in the voyage renewable-energy building boom in California’s million acres under federal management - home there were very few calls and that made us nervous,” deserts during the first term of the Obama to Joshua trees, desert tortoises, lizards, bighorn the Australian Antarctic Division’s Mike Double said. administration. sheep and other wildlife. Crane said much of the “And then it was like flicking a switch. We didn’t The plan’s authors estimate that 470,000 federal land is undeveloped, raising the stakes change any of our equipment and then suddenly the acres would be needed for projects to produce for potential environmental damage. whales were calling. And then we were getting large 20,000 megawatts by 2040. Andy Horne, Next up will be determining which areas numbers of calls and that allowed us to detect them.” Imperial County’s deputy executive and point within the 10 million federal acres are suitable Double thinks the animals were in the area all man on renewable energy plants, said some resi- for renewable-energy plants and which ones are along, just not making any noise. “All of a sudden it dents worry that solar, wind and geothermal off-limits due to conservation, Crane said. The (the song) is really ramped up and we don’t really plants will replace farming jobs in the agricultur- plan by the Bureau of Land Management, know why that occurs-it may be linked to the start of al region of 175,000 people, which consistently California Energy Commission, California the breeding season or it might be associated with registers one of the nation’s highest unemploy- Department of Fish and Wildlife Services and US foraging,” he told AFP after the voyage returned to the ment rates. The maps released in September Fish and Wildlife Service produced about 12,000 New Zealand capital Wellington. Double said the covered many farms, prompting the county to public comments through Feb 23, leading to the expedition had been hoping to see a small number of plead for more time. changes. Karen Douglas, a member of the the blue whales and was thrilled when they came The plan’s authors initially rejected Imperial’s California Energy Commission, said the counties across about 80 in a small area after travelling a long concerns, saying they were too far along and are the key decision-makers on private lands and AT SEA: An handout photo shows a blue whale in Southern Ocean as a team of way with no sightings. He said it was possible there they would consider changes once Imperial the changes reflected their concerns. “Taking a Australian and New Zealand scientists tracked scores of blue whales off Antarctica, lis- were more than 100 in the 100 kilometer by 150 kilo- decided on its priorities, said Horne, whose phased approach will result in a plan that is well- tening in as the world’s largest animals suddenly began their rumbling song which can meter area, adding that researchers were intrigued as county had 2.8 million acres designated for tailored to local government priorities and be detected 750 kilometers (465 miles) away. —AFP to what had brought the animals there.—AFP potential development under the initial plan. needs,” Douglas said. —AP THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Children wasting away as hunger hits 200,000 in Madagascar

AMBOVOMBE: Clutching a forced “to use their food reserves, after our child,” she sighs. the last weeks, WFP rations have distribute food aid to drought- last month that caused flooding small bag of corn in one hand, they’re also using up their own “Because of the famine, the enabled 120,000 people to get struck areas, this would have to and mudslides left 22 people six-year-old Haova Toboha physical reserves,” she said. adults are weak and cannot take regular meals. And while come on top of the govern- dead and drove more than scratches the ground with the Unlike 1991, when hundreds of care of the little ones.” “In Agriculture Minister Roland ment’s efforts to find help for 63,000 from their homes in the other in the hope of turning up people died of hunger in the December, four children died in Ravatomanga has pledged to flood victims. Torrential rain late capital, Antananarivo. —AFP stray kernels left from a UN food region, experts say the situation our village because of the handout. “I found these and I’ll cannot yet be described as famine,” said Masy, a healthcare add them to the corn given to “famine.” “In those days people worker in Berano. my parents” by the UN World would leave the village in search In the neighboring village of Food Program (WFP), said the of water and die on the way Imongy, the head of the area’s little girl with the plastic bag in there,” said Bertrand Health Centre, Marc the village of Berano, southern Randrianarivo, who was born in Andriakotonindrina, says a Madagascar. In villages across the south and has worked in the dozen children died of hunger the southern part of the world’s area with non-governmental in December, according to infor- fourth biggest island, a months- organizations since 2001. mation collected by local long drought ravaged last sea- “Drought comes every five or six health-workers. “These children son’s crops. years,” he said, saying the largely showed no sign of sickness, they People are famished, children isolated region needs to build simply lost weight bit by bit are wasting away. WFP rations water catchment systems and until their demise,” he added. currently are keeping some improve its links with the rest of The drought destroyed all of the 120,000 people alive in the the island. Donors were ready to crops growing in southern wake of the October-through- invest in such projects but had Madagascar and efforts by farm- February drought that been discouraged by the stance ers to replant were to no avail, destroyed the harvest in a coun- of the nation’s successive leaders. simply reducing seed stocks and try where one of every two tod- food supplies. dlers under three suffer retarded At least 16 children dead When the rain finally came in growth due to inadequate diets. While the WFP sees the latest February it was far too late. The With food increasingly scarce drought as causing acute food government says 200,000 to due to the lack of rain, the UN insecurity rather than famine, 350,000 people are suffering food agency has launched an the villagers themselves say from hunger in the low-income appeal to donors to help rebuild they are wasting away. nation of 22 million people, food stocks. “We need support Raharisoa, a terrifyingly thin which is ranked 155th of 187 now,” said the deputy WFP rep- woman of 25, sits on the countries on the UNDP’s Human resentative to the Indian Ocean ground. Her two-year-old Development Index. More than IMONGY, Madagascar: A woman checks the weight of her baby at the health center of the island, Fatima Sow Sidibe. daughter died of hunger in 70 percent of the population village of Imongy, in the Tsihombe district of southern Madagascar. —AFP People are not only being December. “We couldn’t look lives below the poverty line. In Chance of mega-earthquake hitting California increases

LOS ANGELES: Scientists are virtually certain that released Tuesday by the US Geological Survey. similar to previous estimates. Thousands of quakes California will be rocked by a strong earthquake in the “California is earthquake country, and residents every year hit California, sandwiched between two of next 30 years. Now they say the risk of a mega-quake is should live every day like it could be the day of a big Earth’s major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North more likely than previously thought. The chance of a one,” USGS geophysicist and lead author Ned Field American plates. Most are too small to be felt. magnitude-8 quake striking the state in the next three said. The latest seismic calculations largely mirror pre- Of the more than 300 faults that crisscross the decades jumped to 7 percent from 4.7 percent, mainly vious findings issued by the USGS in 2008. Back then, state, the southern segment of the San Andreas Fault - because scientists took into account the possibility scientists also determined that California faced an which runs from central California to the Salton Sea that several faults can shake at once, releasing seismic almost certain risk of experiencing a Northridge-size near the US-Mexico border - remains the greatest energy that results in greater destruction. While the quake. threat because it hasn’t ruptured in more than three risk of a mega-quake is higher than past estimates, it’s The new report included newly discovered fault centuries. The report found there is a 19 percent more likely - greater than 99 percent chance - that zones and the possibility that a quake can jump from chance in the next 30 years that a Northridge-size California will be rattled by a magnitude-6.7 jolt similar fault to fault. Because of this knowledge, the odds of a quake will unzip the southern section compared to a in size to the 1994 Northridge disaster. catastrophic quake - magnitude 8 or larger - in the 6.4 percent chance for the northern section, partly The chance of a Northridge-size quake was slightly next 30 years increased. There is a 93 percent chance because it last broke in 1906. The southern San higher in Northern California than Southern California of a magnitude 7 or larger occurring over the same Andreas is “ready to have an earthquake because it’s - 95 percent versus 93 percent, according to a report period and a 48 percent chance of a magnitude 7.5 - really locked and loaded,” Field said. —AP Abortion issue clouds fate of trafficking bill Bipartisan legislation turns unexpectedly controversial

WASHINGTON: Bipartisan legislation to crack down on not be used as an opportunity for Republicans to dou- read a 68-page bill and that senators would vote for a human trafficking turned unexpectedly controversial ble down on their efforts to restrict a woman’s health bill, much less co-sponsor it, without reading it and Tuesday because of a Republican-backed provision care choices,” said Sen Patty Murray, D-Wash. A short knowing what’s in it. None of that strikes me as plausi- relating to abortion that Democrats said they failed to while later, Democrats slowed work on the bill to a ble,” he said in remarks on the Senate floor. notice. Democrats privately conceded they lack the crawl. Republicans scoffed at Democratic claims that Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, who spoke immediately votes to strip out the abortion provision, and some law- they had slipped the provision into the trafficking legis- afterward, did not respond directly. While Cornyn did makers suggested they would attempt to prevent a lation and said Democrats had well over a month to not say so outright, some Republican officials said final vote on the entire measure instead. The disputed review the measure in advance. Democratic aides had, in fact, been informed. provision would permanently prohibit the use of federal Sen John Cornyn, R-Texas, the bill’s leading sponsor, Democrats privately conceded they should have funds to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, pointed out that it was made public in mid-January, and noticed the provision, accused Cornyn’s office of failing CALIFORNIA: File photo shows several trailer homes that were burned to the incest and when the life of the woman was jeopardized. cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee last month with to include mention of it in an email listing differences The restrictions have been enacted annually for the support of senators from both parties. “That leads between last year’s bill and a revised one drafted this ground at the Oak Ridge Trailer Park in Sylmar, Calif, after a magnitude-6.7 decades. me to believe that ... some of the suggestions being year. Sen Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, who has been a earthquake struck southern California. A report by the US Geological Survey It also would prohibit the use of fines paid by con- made now that there were provisions in the legislation prominent supporter of the bill, said in a statement the found that the odds of a magnitude-6.7 quake similar in size to the 1994 victed sex traffickers to pay for most abortions, a provi- that people didn’t know about are simply untrue,” he abortion provision “needs to be fixed.” The bill itself is Northridge disaster was higher in Northern California than Southern California - sion that Democrats said amounted to an expansion on said. “That presupposes that none of their staff briefed designed to crack down on human traffickers and 95 percent versus 93 percent. —AP existing restrictions. “Let me be very clear, this bill will the senators on what was in the legislation, that nobody would create a fund to aid their victims. —AP WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Garden Café Special Mother’s Day experiences in Talise Spa. Celebrate Mother’s Day at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa

elebrate Mother’s Day with the family at Jumeirah promises a complimentary meal to every mother who perfect venue to celebrate in the open air. 55-minute relaxing massage and another 55-minute full Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa with a visit to Talise dines with five guests or more. A bouquet or cake can also Special Mother’s Day experiences are also offered in facial treatment for all skin types. CSpa and a complimentary lunch buffet at Garden be ordered and decorated with personalized wishes. For Talise Spa. The ‘Pamper Your Mother’ package, offers a Vouchers are also available to surprise your Mother with Café, the hotel’s main venue for breakfast, lunch and din- those looking to enjoy private dining and a more intimate relaxing 55-minute massage followed by a 20-minute head a gift of health and beauty in the country’s most sought ner buffets. The restaurant offers a variety of cuisines and gathering with the family, the hotel’s Secret Garden is the massage. The ‘Mother’s Perfect Retreat’ package includes a after destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Ali Alghanim and Sons Automotive hosts open day

li Alghanim and Sons Automotive, the exclusive importer for BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, Land ARover and McLaren, recently held an open day under the motto ‘Join Hands for a Giant Leap,” which focused on rewarding employees for their contribu- tion to the company’s on-going success. This annual initiative is aimed to demonstrate Ali Alghanim and Sons Automotive’s commitment to the hidden soldiers and to recognize their hard work and loyalty. Representatives from Ali Alghanim and Sons Automotive management team joined the fun, thanked the employees for their efforts and contribu- tion to the company’s excellence and encouraged the staff to aim higher and strive to excel in all elements of the business, in particular customer service. Throughout the day, staff members and their families enjoyed a wide range of activities and team competitions, whilst reflecting on the company’s success. The open day also included a special entertainment program featuring a raffle draw and lots of prizes. Marking this occasion, Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager of Ali Alghanim and Sons Automotive said: “Ali Alghanim and Sons Automotive is committed to providing premium quality products and services, while delivering excellence in customer service. Backed with professional team, we were able to keep our promise and achieve remarkable results”. He added: “We only see success as a motivation call for more results and better future. Therefore we reinsure the best ownership experience for our customers from the minute they walk into the showroom, through to the moment they drive out their new car”.

British Business NAFO Kuwait holds family fest St Peter’s Forum announcements Bible class ritish Business Forum (BBF) will have March Members AFO Kuwait held ‘Kudumbasangamam- gathering followed by Dr Srikumar’s presidential with due regards. his year Vocational Meeting at Costa Del Sol Hotel on March 18 and 2015’ (family fest) on February 25 at the address. President and General Secretary elaborat- The brochure “REMINISCENCE”, a proprietary Bible School is from BShukri Salman will be the speaker at the event. NIndian Community Junior School, Salmiya. ed the gathering about the on-going activities of award of NAFO-Kuwait, envisioned for the most TMarch 13 to 27 at Design and Construction Group of BBF will be meeting at Considering the vulnerability of our children to NAFO and a synopsis of up-coming events innovative, passionate and vibrant students of NECK. The timing is from Al Hamra Tower (Floor 25) on March 23 and Saeed Ziaie will possible untoward acts of mishandling by antiso- planned while requesting the support and co- Indian Schools in Kuwait, aimed to propagate the 04:00 pm to 06:30 pm. It is a be the speaker. Education and Training Group of BBF will cial elements, and in the light of several such operation of all member families. greatness of Padmabhushan 10-day program, formalized be meeting at Movenpick Hotel, Salmiya on 30 March con- reported incidents in the media, a workshop on NAFO outgoing students, Ashwin Nambiar, MannathuPadmanabhan beyond the borders of in such a way to suit differ- vened by Dr Zeina Nehme. “Awareness on Child Abuse”, was held in connec- Bharath Sureshkumar Chittayil, Reshmi region or religion, as he is the one iconic architect ent levels of children vary- tion with the event under the initiative of NAFO Rameshkumar, Rathan Pradeepkumar and of the modern fraternal, dynamic and heroic civil ing from beginners, pri- Ladies’ Wing. The workshop, which was conducted Sreelakshmi Prithwiraj were honored with NAFO society of our mother land and specifically the mary, juniors, interns and What’s On - Submission Guidelines by Diva and Moli Diva, addressed general aware- gold medals and appreciation certificates, by the state of Kerala, was officially released by T A seniors. The director for this ness on every day dangers facing by our children, senior members of NAFO family. After receiving Remesh, KNS Das and Rajasekhar, all belonging to year’s VBS is Rev Joby Joy how to identify and avoid abuse, how to seek help, honors and appreciations, all students thanked NAFO family. (Youth Secretary and All photos submitted for What’s On how to handle incidences of abuse, and tips on NAFO for having provided them with a strong An audio-visual presentation on the next Bishops Chaplain - Central should be minimum 200dpi. self-defense. This useful workshop was attended platform to improve their extracurricular skills NAFO mega event “ANTARAM” was also show- Kerala Diocese). This is a by a large number of parents and their children of and personal abilities. NAFO meritorious student cased and briefed by the program convener time for making new Articles must be in plain text and all ages who were satisfactorily enlightened about of Class X of year 2013-14, Sreerag Suresh Nair Vijayakrishnan. friends, singing, learning should include name and phone the serious importance of awareness on child was also honored with NAFO medal and certifi- Program committee convener, V R Vijayan Nair, and fellowship. We invite abuse and how possibly to resist it. It was highly cate. congratulated the students and thanked the one and all to be a part of numbers. Articles and photos that benefitted by our children in building conscious- While felicitating the outgoing students, Vijay guests, Management of ICSK and NAFO family the VBS 2015. For registra- fail to meet these requirements will ness against antisocial elements in day-to-day life. Karayil (NAFO Patron), Dr Prasad Nair (NAFO members for their support and esteemed pres- tions please visit the web- The outgoing students’ farewell and meritori- Advisory Board), BS Pillai (former NAFO presi- ence. Premraj Nambiar, ON Sureshkumar, site www.kuwaitcsi.org. The not be published. ous students’ award ceremony started at 7:00 pm dent), K C Gopakumar (NAFO Vice President) O N Krishnakumar, Vijayakrishnan, Madhu G Menon, completed application with a prayer song “Akilandamandalam” chanted Sureshkumar (Secretary) and Smitha Sashikumar NAFO Ladies’ Wing co-ordinatorsand NAFO forms may also be submit- Please send them to by members of NAFO symphony which was cho- (Chief Coordinator Ladies’ Wing) reminded them Executive Committee members played key roles ted by email to [email protected] reographed by NAFO Ladies Wing Coordinators, about their future challenges, duties and respon- for the professional planning and execution of [email protected]. Sreela Raviprasad and Sreeranjini Ajay. NAFO sibilities, and wished all of them a bright and NAFO Kudumbasangamam-2015, a grand success Transportation will be General Secretary, Murali S Nair, welcomed the prosperous future, which the students received and ever memorable. arranged. WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

A view of the audience. Nader Sabry speaks during the lecture. AUK hosts talk on entrepreneurship

he Office of Student Affairs at the American tion could be inspired by the simple things around us. He spiritual, connected to our health and well-being, a com- on how his own business, TIMEZ5, was born out of his University of Kuwait (AUK) invited Nader Sabry, CEO used the example of one of his inventions, the mon link with other faiths,” he wrote. prayer mat idea. “As an innovator and entrepreneur, I Tand Founder of TIMEZ5 Global Inc, the world’s first Physiological Prayer Mat, which reduces pain and stiffness In terms of entrepreneurship, Sabry walked the atten- instinctively saw an untapped market with a huge social Muslim wellness and lifestyle Company to be certified by experienced during prayers by Muslims who suffer from dees through the process of how to turn an idea into a benefit and eventually created TIMEZ5, a company the NASA Space Foundation, to give a talk at the Library’s stiff joints and lower back problems. Following the successful enterprise. The subject generated a lot of inter- focused on Muslim health and wellbeing, a vastly under- American Corner. The purpose of his talk, release of his invention, Sabry published an extended action amongst the audience, who were particularly served sector,” he wrote in his article. To develop the Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was to educate the article on the Huffington Post in which he linked the prac- interested to know how to develop a successful and mar- Physiological Prayer Mat, Sabry went through three years attendees on how to develop simple ideas into successful tice of Muslim prayer and its physical prostrations to the ketable idea. The key elements of success, according to of extensive research on ritual practices, modern science endeavors. general health and wellbeing of the person performing it. Sabry, are finding ideas that cater to the needs of many, and design. He also collaborated with scientists from dif- Sabry’s talk discussed the concept of entrepreneurship “While researching the practice of prayer I discovered that and conducting extensive market research before going ferent disciplines to verify the validity and success of his and the drivers of innovation. According to Sabry, innova- our physical prostrations have many benefits beyond the into the implementation stage. He also gave an example invention. Sultan Center Hawally hosts AIS students n alliance with its leading social responsibility program and its commitment towards the educational sector, The Sultan Center Ihosted 3rd grade students from the American International School Kuwait (AIS) at The Sultan Center Hawally to explore the different type of products within the store that are made from plants while learning about healthy food choices and the product available to them. During the visit, students were given a personal tour by Jameel Nasser, TSC Store Manager, in which he explained the various departments that are found within the store, highlighting the organic section and those products which are healthy and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. As part of the field trip, students were sent on a scavenger hunt across the store to find products based upon a specific set of questions, this scavenger trip was both educational and fun giving the students the opportunity to learn about the different ingredients in which products are manufactured from; particularly those from plants. This tour provided students with the opportunity to immerse them in a real life shopping experience from selection of products, purchasing items and handling of cash. According to Nasser, “TSC is committed to supporting these educational opportunities across its countries of operation and encourage schools and students to visit the stores to learn about TSC retail operations.”

Al-Najat Private School organized its first marathon under the patronage and with attendance of Dr Abdullah Al-Kandari, the General Director of the Education Ministry’s Private Education Department. More than 500 students in addition to a large number of teachers participated in the event, which took place in Hetteen recently. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 TV PROGRAMS

07:12 Food Factory 15:00 Keeping Up With The 18:00 Last War Heroes 06:00 Mission To Mars 07:36 How Do They Do It? Kardashians 19:00 Brave New World 08:00 Star Trek Into Darkness 08:00 Weird Connections 16:00 Keeping Up With The 20:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 10:15 Recoil 08:25 How Tech Works Kardashians 21:00 America’s Lost Treasures 12:00 Safe 08:50 X-Machines 17:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 22:00 Last War Heroes 14:00 Mission To Mars 00:50 Ten Deadliest Snakes 09:40 Food Factory 18:00 E! News 23:00 Brilliant Beasts 16:00 A Good Day To Die Hard 01:45 Animal Cops Houston 10:05 How It’s Made 19:00 E!ES 17:45 Star Trek Into Darkness 02:40 Tanked 10:30 How We Invented The 20:00 House Of DVF 20:00 Recoil 03:35 The Lion Queen World 21:00 House Of DVF 22:00 A Common Man 04:25 Animal Cops Houston 11:20 Strangest Weather On 22:00 E! News 05:15 Treehouse Masters Earth 23:00 The Soup 06:02 Call Of The Wildman 12:10 How Do They Do It? 23:30 Fashion Bloggers 06:25 Call Of The Wildman 12:35 How Do They Do It? 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 06:49 The Lion Queen 13:00 Bang Goes The Theory Stewart 07:36 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife 01:00 The Nightly Show With 13:25 How Tech Works 00:00 Dead In Tombstone-18 Warriors Larry Wilmore 13:50 X-Machines 02:00 Safe-PG15 08:00 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife 01:30 Brickleberry 14:40 Food Factory 04:00 Mission To Mars-PG15 Warriors 15:05 How It’s Made 02:00 Curb Your Enthusiasm 08:25 Too Cute! 06:00 Star Trek Into Darkness- 15:30 How We Invented The 00:05 Chopped 02:30 Jonah From Tonga 09:15 The Lion Queen PG15 World 00:55 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 03:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:10 Call Of The Wildman 08:15 Recoil-PG15 16:20 Strangest Weather On 01:20 Amazing Wedding Cakes 03:30 Baby Daddy 10:35 Call Of The Wildman 10:00 Safe-PG15 Earth 02:10 Chopped 04:00 Community 11:05 Gator Boys 12:00 Mission To Mars-PG15 17:10 How Do They Do It? 03:00 Chopped 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 12:00 Too Cute! 14:00 A Good Day To Die Hard- 17:35 How Do They Do It? 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Jimmy Fallon 12:30 Secret Life Of Pets PG15 18:00 Through The Wormhole 04:15 Chopped 05:30 My Name Is Earl 12:55 The Lion Queen 15:45 Star Trek Into Darkness- With Morgan Freeman 05:05 Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity 06:00 Til Death 13:50 Treehouse Masters PG15 18:50 How It’s Made Coo 06:30 Dads 14:45 Animal Cops Houston 18:00 Recoil-PG15 19:15 How It’s Made 05:50 Siba’s Table 07:00 Late Night With Seth 15:40 Tanked 20:00 A Common Man-PG15 19:40 Food Factory 06:10 Sweet Genius Meyers 16:35 The Lion Queen 22:00 Resident Evil: Retribution- 20:05 Food Factory 07:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 08:00 Community 17:30 Ten Deadliest Snakes 18 20:30 Rise Of The Machines 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 08:30 My Name Is Earl 18:25 Treehouse Masters 23:45 Aliens-18 21:20 Rise Of The Machines 08:15 Chopped 09:00 Hot In Cleveland 19:20 Nature’s Newborns 22:10 How Do They Do It? 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back 10:30 Dads 19:50 Nature’s Newborns 22:35 How Do They Do It? To Basics 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:15 Tanked 23:00 Rise Of The Machines 09:30 Farm Kings Jimmy Fallon 21:10 Leopard Fight Club 10:20 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 12:00 Til Death 22:05 Treehouse Masters 10:45 Easy Chinese 12:30 Community 00:15 Not Suitable For Children 23:00 Ivory Wars 11:10 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 13:00 My Name Is Earl 02:00 Vamps-PG15 23:55 Ten Deadliest Snakes 11:35 The Big Eat... 13:30 Dads 04:00 Hope Springs-PG15 12:00 Chopped 14:00 Baby Daddy 06:00 LOL-PG15 12:50 Siba’s Table 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 08:00 Men At Work-PG15 00:00 Violetta 13:15 Guy’s Big Bite Stewart 10:00 Vamps-PG15 00:45 The Hive 14:05 Guy’s Grocery Games 16:00 The Nightly Show With 12:00 Free Samples-PG15 00:50 Art Attack 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Larry Wilmore 13:30 RV-PG 01:15 Art Attack 15:45 Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity 16:30 Til Death 15:30 Men At Work-PG15 01:40 Jungle Junction 00:00 Kirstie’s Fill Your House For Coo 17:00 Late Night With Seth 17:30 Friends With Kids-PG15 01:50 Jungle Junction Free 16:35 Chopped Meyers 19:30 The Life Aquatic With Steve 02:05 Jungle Junction 00:50 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 17:25 Jenny Morris Cooks 18:00 Hot In Cleveland Zissou-PG15 02:15 Jungle Junction Taylor Morocco 18:30 Baby Daddy 22:00 Let’s Go To Prison-18 02:30 Violetta 01:15 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 17:50 Guy’s Big Bite 19:00 Black-Ish 03:10 The Hive 01:40 Baking Mad With Eric 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:30 Parks And Recreation 03:20 Art Attack Lanlard 18:40 Siba’s Table 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 03:45 Art Attack 02:05 Masterchef: The 19:05 The Big Eat... Jimmy Fallon 04:10 Jungle Junction Professionals 19:30 Chopped 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 04:25 Jungle Junction 03:00 Bargain Hunt 20:20 Guy’s Grocery Games Stewart 04:35 Jungle Junction 01:00 Phantom-PG15 03:45 Come Dine With Me 21:10 Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity 21:30 The Nightly Show With 04:45 Jungle Junction 03:00 The Invisible Woman-PG15 04:10 The Good Cook Coo Larry Wilmore 05:00 Art Attack 05:00 Struck By Lightning-PG15 04:40 Kirstie’s Fill Your House For 22:00 Siba’s Table: Fast Feasts 22:00 Family Guy RIDDICK ON OSN MOVIES PREMIERE HD 05:25 Art Attack 07:00 Lost Christmas-PG15 Free 22:25 Siba’s Table 22:30 Curb Your Enthusiasm 05:50 Mouk 09:00 Safe Haven-PG15 05:00 Sister Wives 16:45 Stalked: Someone’s 05:30 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:00 Jonah From Tonga 06:00 Kim Possible 23:30 Late Night With Seth 11:00 Struck By Lightning-PG15 05:30 Sister Wives Watching Taylor 13:00 Stolen Child-PG15 06:00 18 Kids And Counting 17:10 Murder Shift 05:50 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 06:25 Binny And The Ghost Meyers 06:50 Girl Meets World 15:00 Magic Journey To Africa 06:25 World’s Worst Mum 18:00 Disappeared 06:15 Baking Mad With Eric 17:00 Safe Haven-PG15 07:15 Say Yes To The Dress ‚Äì 18:50 Fatal Encounters Lanlard 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water 00:00 A Case Of You-PG15 07:40 Jessie 19:00 The Past-PG15 02:00 Drillbit Taylor-PG15 Bridesmaids 19:40 Forensic Detectives 06:40 Masterchef: The 21:15 Empire State-PG15 07:40 Little People, Big World 20:30 On The Case With Paula Professionals 08:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place 04:00 Alex Cross-PG15 08:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 00:40 Ade In Britain 23:00 Lovelace-18 06:00 The Great Ghost Rescue 08:05 Sister Wives Zahn 07:30 The Good Cook 01:30 Come Dine With Me Ireland 01:00 The Voice 08:55 Say Yes To The Dress: The 21:20 The Will 08:00 Bargain Hunt 08:55 Hannah Montana 08:00 The Hot Flashes-PG15 09:20 Hannah Montana 02:00 Emmerdale 02:00 Outlander 10:00 A Family Reunion-PG15 Big Day (Specials) 22:10 Who On Earth Did I 08:45 Come Dine With Me 02:25 Emmerdale 03:00 True Detective 09:45 Cake Boss Marry? 09:10 Kirstie’s Fill Your House For 09:45 Suite Life On Deck 12:00 The Way Way Back-PG15 10:10 Suite Life On Deck 02:55 Coronation Street 04:00 Glee 14:00 Planes-PG 10:10 Sister Wives 22:35 Who On Earth Did I Free 03:25 Remember Me 05:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 10:35 Sister Wives Marry? 10:00 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 10:35 Good Luck Charlie 16:00 The Hot Flashes-PG15 11:00 Good Luck Charlie 04:20 Mr Selfridge S.H.I.E.L.D. 02:00 Kandahar Break: Fortress 18:00 Legendary Amazons-PG15 11:00 Craft Wars 23:00 Deadly Affairs Taylor 05:15 Lewis 08:00 White Collar 11:50 Oprah: Where Are They 23:50 I Almost Got Away With It 10:25 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 11:25 American Dragon Of War-PG15 20:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 11:50 American Dragon 06:10 Take On The Twisters 09:00 Glee 03:45 The Armstrong Lie-PG15 22:00 Riddick-18 Now? 10:50 Baking Mad With Eric 07:05 Come Dine With Me Ireland 10:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 12:40 World’s Worst Mum Lanlard 12:15 Kim Possible 06:00 Hyde Park On Hudson- 12:40 Kim Possible 07:30 Remember Me S.H.I.E.L.D. PG15 13:30 Bakery Boss 11:15 The Good Cook 08:25 Mr Selfridge 12:00 Emmerdale 14:20 Extreme Cheapskates 11:40 Masterchef: The 13:05 Good Luck Charlie 08:00 Sense And Sensibility-PG 13:30 Dog With A Blog 09:20 The Chase 12:30 Coronation Street 10:30 Kandahar Break: Fortress 14:45 Extreme Cheapskates Professionals 10:15 Lewis 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres 07:00 Golfing World 15:10 Cake Boss 12:35 Bargain Hunt 13:50 Cars Toons Of War-PG15 13:55 Dog With A Blog 11:10 Emmerdale Show 12:30 Meet Joe Black-PG15 10:00 Inside The PGA Tour 15:35 Little People, Big World 00:10 Zou 13:20 Come Dine With Me 11:35 Emmerdale 14:00 White Collar 10:30 European Tour Weekly 16:00 Hoarding: Buried Alive 13:45 Kirstie’s Fill Your House For 14:20 H2O: Just Add Water 15:30 Sense And Sensibility-PG 00:25 Mouk 14:55 Liv And Maddie 12:00 Coronation Street 16:00 Emmerdale 18:00 Up Close And Personal-PG 11:00 This Is The President Cup 16:50 Say Yes To The Dress ‚Äì 00:35 Jungle Junction Free 12:30 Ade In Britain 16:30 Coronation Street 11:30 Live PGA European Tour Bridesmaids 14:35 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 15:20 Binny And The Ghost 20:30 Not Fade Away-PG15 00:50 Art Attack 15:45 Girl Meets World 13:25 Take On The Twisters 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres 22:30 The French Connection 13:30 Golfing World 17:15 18 Kids And Counting 01:15 Julius Jr. Taylor 14:20 Come Dine With Me Ireland Show 15:30 Live PGA European Tour 17:40 Sister Wives 15:00 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 16:10 Violetta 01:25 Calimero 17:00 Dog With A Blog 14:45 Lewis 18:00 White Collar 19:30 Snooker Shootout 18:30 Craft Wars 01:40 Henry Hugglemonster 15:25 Baking Mad With Eric 15:35 Paul O’Grady: For The 19:00 Suits 21:30 This Is The President Cup 19:20 Oprah’s Next Chapter Lanlard 17:25 Binny And The Ghost 01:50 Zou 17:50 Hank Zipzer Love Of Dogs 20:00 The Flash 22:00 Live PGA Tour 20:10 World’s Worst Mum 02:05 Mouk 15:50 The Good Cook 16:00 Paul O’Grady: For The 21:00 American Idol 01:15 Devil’s Knot-PG15 21:00 90 Days To Wed 16:15 Masterchef: The 18:15 Jessie 02:15 Jungle Junction 18:40 Dog With A Blog Love Of Dogs 22:00 24: Live Another Day 03:15 Ender’s Game-PG15 21:50 Say Yes To The Dress: The 02:25 Art Attack Professionals 16:30 The Chase: Celebrity 23:00 Hemlock Grove 05:15 House Of Versace-PG15 Big Day (Specials) 17:10 Bargain Hunt 19:05 Dog With A Blog 02:50 Julius Jr. 19:30 Violetta Specials 07:00 Epic-PG 22:40 Extreme Couponing 17:55 Come Dine With Me 00:30 Inside The PGA Tour 03:00 Calimero 20:20 Binny And The Ghost 17:15 Get Your Act Together 09:00 Good Deeds-PG15 23:05 Mob Wives 18:25 Kirstie’s Fill Your House For 03:00 Live NHL 03:15 Henry Hugglemonster 20:45 H2O: Just Add Water 18:20 Take On The Twisters 11:00 Enough Said-PG15 23:55 Oprah: Where Are They Free 09:00 Golfing World 03:25 Zou 21:10 Austin & Ally 19:10 Coronation Street 13:00 Captain Phillips-PG15 Now? 19:15 Fantasy Homes By The 10:00 NRL Full Time 03:40 Mouk 21:35 Jessie 19:35 Paul O’Grady: For The 15:15 Free Birds-PG Sea 10:30 Gillette World Sport 03:50 Jungle Junction 22:00 Gravity Falls Love Of Dogs 17:00 Good Deeds-PG15 20:00 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 11:00 Live AFL Nab Challenge 04:00 Art Attack 22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 20:00 Paul O’Grady: For The 19:00 Thor: The Dark World Notebook: London 00:20 The Ellen DeGeneres 14:30 Snooker Shootout 04:25 Julius Jr. Teenage Witch Love Of Dogs 21:00 Need For Speed-PG15 20:25 Rachel’s Favourite Food Show 19:00 WWE NXT 04:35 Calimero 22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 20:30 The Chase: Celebrity 23:15 The Counselor-18 For Living 01:05 Good Morning America 20:00 WWE SmackDown 04:50 Henry Hugglemonster Teenage Witch Specials 20:50 Nigel Slater’s Simple 03:00 Supernatural 22:00 Live Premier League Darts 05:00 Zou 23:10 Wolfblood 21:15 Get Your Act Together 03:50 Sons Of Anarchy 00:40 Dates From Hell 05:15 Mouk Cooking 22:20 Coronation Street 01:05 Dates From Hell 21:20 Masterchef: The 23:35 Wolfblood 05:10 Good Morning America 05:25 Jungle Junction 22:50 Emmerdale 07:00 Emmerdale 01:30 LA: City Of Demons 05:35 Art Attack Professionals 23:15 Emmerdale 02:20 Police Women Of 21:50 Nigel Slater’s Simple 07:30 Coronation Street 06:00 Julius Jr. 23:45 Lewis 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres 01:00 Wheelers Memphis 06:10 Calimero Suppers 03:00 ICC World Cup H/L: SCO v Show 03:10 True CSI 06:25 Henry Hugglemonster 22:15 Bargain Hunt 02:45 Barbie In The 12 Dancing SL 09:00 Switched At Birth 04:00 Solved 06:35 Zou 23:05 Come Dine With Me Princesses 04:00 Live ICC World Cup: SA v 10:00 Emmerdale 04:45 Dates From Hell 06:50 Mouk 23:30 Home Cooking Made Easy 00:00 House Of DVF 04:15 Skateboy And The UAE 10:30 Coronation Street 05:07 Dates From Hell 07:00 Jungle Junction 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 15:30 ICC Cricket 360 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Challenge Beyond The Seas 05:30 LA: City Of Demons 07:10 Art Attack 01:25 Keeping Up With The 16:00 ICC World Cup H/L: SA v Show 06:00 Back To The Sea 06:20 True CSI 07:35 Julius Jr. Kardashians 00:00 Dangerous Encounters UAE 12:00 Intelligence 08:00 Hatching 07:10 American Greed 07:45 Calimero 02:20 E! News 01:00 Rebuilding Titanic 21:30 ICC Cricket 360 08:00 Nightmare Next Door 03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 02:00 Apocalypse World War I 13:00 Killer Women 10:00 Garfield’s Pet Force 08:00 Jungle Junction 14:00 Live Good Morning America 08:50 Fatal Encounters 08:10 Zou 03:40 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 03:00 Swamp Men 11:30 Otto Is A Rhino 09:40 Murder Shift 00:20 Fast N’ Loud 04:10 E!ES 04:00 Rescue Ink 16:00 Switched At Birth 13:00 Barbie In The 12 Dancing 08:25 Henry Hugglemonster 17:00 Intelligence 10:30 I Was Murdered 01:10 Chaos Caught On Camera 05:05 Pop Innovators 05:00 Science of Stupid Princesses 08:35 Julius Jr. 18:00 Killer Women 10:55 Stalked: Someone’s 08:50 Mouk 01:35 Chaos Caught On Camera 06:00 Kourtney And Kim Take 05:30 Science of Stupid 14:30 Luke And Lucy: The Texas Watching 02:00 What Happened Next? Miami 06:00 Inside Combat Rescue 19:00 Switched At Birth 09:00 Calimero 20:00 Rake Rangers 11:20 Forensic Detectives 09:15 Jake And The Never Land 02:25 What Happened Next? 06:55 Kourtney And Kim Take 07:00 Animal Intervention 12:10 American Greed 02:50 You Have Been Warned Miami 08:00 Dangerous Encounters 21:00 Killer Women 16:15 Unstable Fables: Tortoise Pirates 22:00 Supernatural 13:00 Disappeared 09:40 Doc McStuffins 03:40 Auction Hunters: Pawn 07:50 Style Star 09:00 Rebuilding Titanic vs. Hare 00:20 Extreme Cheapskates 23:00 Defiance 13:50 On The Case With Paula 10:05 Art Attack Shop Edition 08:20 E! News 10:00 Apocalypse World War I 18:00 Garfield’s Pet Force 00:45 Body Bizarre Zahn 10:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 04:05 The Liquidator 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 11:00 Brilliant Beasts 20:00 Barbie As The Island 01:35 Extreme Couponing 14:40 Who On Earth Did I 11:00 Sofia The First 04:30 Backroad Bounty 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 12:00 Animal Impact Princess 02:00 Mob Wives Marry? 11:25 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 05:00 How It’s Made 11:10 House Of DVF 13:00 Situation Critical 02:50 Say Yes To The Dress ‚Äì 21:45 Luke And Lucy: The Texas 15:05 Who On Earth Did I 11:50 Calimero 05:30 How It’s Made 12:05 E! News 14:00 Is It Real? Bridesmaids Rangers Marry? 12:05 Jake And The Never Land 06:00 Yukon Men 13:05 Extreme Close-Up 15:00 Brave New World 00:00 Road House 03:15 Little People, Big World 23:30 Unstable Fables: Tortoise 15:30 American Greed Pirates 06:50 Fifth Gear 13:35 E!ES 16:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 02:00 Dead In Tombstone 03:40 Craft Wars 16:20 I Was Murdered 12:30 Jake And The Never Land 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 14:30 Style Star 17:00 America’s Lost Treasures 04:00 Safe vs. Hare 04:30 Cake Boss 08:30 Auction Hunters: Pawn Pirates Shop Edition 12:55 Handy Manny 08:55 The Liquidator 13:05 Justin Time 09:20 Backroad Bounty 13:20 Sofia The First 09:45 How It’s Made 13:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:10 How It’s Made 14:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 10:35 Chaos Caught On Camera 14:35 Julius Jr. 11:00 Chaos Caught On Camera 14:45 Jake And The Never Land 11:25 What Happened Next? Pirates 11:50 What Happened Next? 15:15 Doc McStuffins 12:15 You Have Been Warned 15:40 Henry Hugglemonster 13:05 Auction Hunters: Pawn 15:55 Zou Shop Edition 16:05 Justin Time 13:30 The Liquidator 16:20 Sofia The First 13:55 Backroad Bounty 16:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:20 Yukon Men 17:15 Lilo & Stitch 15:10 Fifth Gear 17:40 Adventures Of The 16:00 Fast N’ Loud Gummi Bears 16:50 How It’s Made 18:05 Chip n Dale Rescue 17:15 How It’s Made Rangers 17:40 River Monsters 18:30 Ducktales 18:30 Street Outlaws 19:00 Art Attack 19:20 American Muscle 19:25 Sofia The First 20:10 The Liquidator 19:55 Jake And The Never Land 20:35 Backroad Bounty Pirates 21:00 Street Outlaws 20:20 Jake And The Never Land 21:50 American Muscle Pirates 22:40 Hellriders 20:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:30 River Monsters 21:25 Sofia The First 21:50 Adventures Of The Gummi Bears 22:20 Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers 22:45 Ducktales 23:15 Art Attack 00:40 How It’s Made 23:40 Calimero 01:05 How It’s Made 23:55 Henry Hugglemonster 01:30 Close Encounters DISNEY XD 01:55 Close Encounters 00:00 Programmes Start At 02:20 Through The Wormhole 7:00am KSA With Morgan Freeman 07:00 Phineas And Ferb 03:10 How Do They Do It? 07:20 Best Sports Ever 03:35 How Do They Do It? 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 04:00 Food Factory 07:50 Supa Strikas 04:24 Food Factory 08:15 The 7D 04:48 How We Invented The 08:40 Ultimate Spider-Man World 09:05 Lab Rats 05:36 Strangest Weather On 09:30 Kickin’ It Earth 09:55 Ultimate Spider-Man: 06:24 Weird Connections Web Warriors 06:48 How Tech Works DEAD IN TOMBSTONE ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 10:20 Phineas And Ferb Classifieds

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

FOR SALE Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY Expat leaving, car for sale Toyota Yaris 2010 model, (12/03/2015 TO 18/03/2015) run one lakh km only, KD 1700. Contact: 66739482. (C 4946) SHARQIA-1 FANAR-4 CINDERELLA 5:30 PM 12-3-2015 CINDERELLA 1:00 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 11:45 AM NO THU CINDERELLA 3:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 2:15 PM Special Show “CINDERELLA” 5:30 PM CINDERELLA 5:45 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 4:45 PM THU Mitsubishi Lancer Ex 2014, CINDERELLA 8:00 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 7:15 PM CINDERELLA 8:00 PM white color, km 3500. KD CINDERELLA 10:15 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 9:30 PM NO SAT 2550. Tel: 97868418. OUTCAST 12:30 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:05 AM Special Show “CINDERELLA” 8:00 PM (C 4943) SAT 10-3-2015 SHARQIA-2 FANAR-5 FAST ... ER 10:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 11:30 AM DEMONIC 12:30 PM FAST ... ER 12:30 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 2:00 PM DEMONIC 2:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 4:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 4:15 PM 360º- 1 CHANGE OF NAME AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 7:00 PM DEMONIC 6:45 PM CINDERELLA 12:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 9:45 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 8:30 PM CINDERELLA 3:00 PM I, Arindam Chattergee RUN ALL NIGHT 12:15 AM DEMONIC 11:00 PM CINDERELLA 5:30 PM holder of Indian Passport DEMONIC 12:45 AM CINDERELLA 8:00 PM SHARQIA-3 CINDERELLA 10:30 PM No. G8704645 issued at DEMONIC 12:45 PM MARINA-1 FAST ... ER 1:00 AM Lucknow (India) and having FAST ... ER 2:45 PM FAST ... ER 12:45 PM residence at 108, DEMONIC 4:45 PM FAST ... ER 2:45 PM 360º- 2 Pushpanjali Nagar, FAST ... ER 6:45 PM FAST ... ER 4:45 PM DEMONIC 1:15 PM Bhawapur P.O., GTB Nagar YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 8:45 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 6:45 PM DEMONIC 3:15 PM DEMONIC 11:00 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 9:30 PM DEMONIC 5:15 PM PS Khuldabad, Allahabd DEMONIC 12:45 AM FAST ... ER 12:15 AM DEMONIC 7:15 PM hereby declare change my DEMONIC 9:15 PM name to Ariz Naqvi. MUHALAB-1 MARINA-2 DEMONIC 11:15 PM (C 4945) CINDERELLA 12:00 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:00 PM DEMONIC 1:15 AM 11-3-2015 CINDERELLA 2:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 2:30 PM CINDERELLA 5:00 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 5:00 PM 360º- 3 CINDERELLA 7:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 7:30 PM ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 12:00 PM I, Nainan Polachirackal CINDERELLA 10:00 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 10:00 PM ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 2:00 PM Cherian, holder of Indian CINDERELLA 12:15 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:30 AM ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 4:00 PM Passport No. F6168416, ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 6:15 PM issued at Cochin and hav- MUHALAB-2 MARINA-3 RUN ALL NIGHT 8:45 PM FAST ... ER 11:30 AM CINDERELLA 12:30 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 PM ing residence at Manathatil ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 1:30 PM CINDERELLA 3:00 PM House Cheruparambathu ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 3:30 PM CINDERELLA 5:15 PM AL-KOUT.1 Rd., Kadavanthra P.O., FAST ... ER 5:30 PM CINDERELLA 7:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:00 PM Ernakulam, Kerala, Pin FAST ... ER 7:30 PM CINDERELLA 9:45 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 2:30 PM 682020, hereby declare AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 9:45 PM CINDERELLA 12:05 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 5:00 PM FAST ... ER 12:30 AM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 7:30 PM change my name to Anil AVENUES-1 RUN ALL NIGHT 9:45 PM Cherian Polachirackal. MUHALAB-3 YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 11:45 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:15 AM (C 4942) RUN ALL NIGHT 12:15 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 2:15 PM 9-3-2015 RUN ALL NIGHT 2:45 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 4:45 PM AL-KOUT.2 RUN ALL NIGHT 5:15 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 7:15 PM FAST ... ER 12:15 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 7:45 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 9:45 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 2:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 10:15 PM YOUM MALOUSH LASMA (Arabic) 12:15 AM FAST ... ER 5:15 PM SITUATION WANTED 112 RUN ALL NIGHT 12:45 AM FAST ... ER 7:15 PM AVENUES-2 AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PM Accountant (Indian) having FANAR-1 FOCUS 11:30 AM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 12:05 AM 23 years experience in FAST ... ER 12:45 PM FOCUS 1:45 PM FOCUS 3:00 PM FOCUS 4:00 PM AL-KOUT.3 Middle East and Africa, cur- THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR FAST ... ER 5:15 PM FOCUS 6:15 PM OUTCAST 11:30 AM rently in Kuwait from 2006 CIVIL INFORMATION AMERICAN HEIST 7:15 PM FOCUS 8:30 PM CINDERELLA 1:30 PM looking for a suitable place- FOCUS 9:00 PM FOCUS 10:45 PM OUTCAST 3:45 PM ment with transferable iqa- Automated enquiry about the FAST ... ER 11:00 PM FOCUS 1:00 AM CINDERELLA 5:45 PM ma. Contact: 97934610. FAST ... ER 1:00 AM CINDERELLA 8:00 PM Civil ID card is AVENUES-3 CINDERELLA 10:15 PM (C 4944) FANAR-2 AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 12:00 PM OUTCAST 12:30 AM 10-3-2015 1889988 CINDERELLA 1:00 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 2:45 PM CINDERELLA 3:30 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 5:30 PM AL-KOUT.4 Management level IT CINDERELLA 5:45 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 8:30 PM DEMONIC 12:30 PM Engineer (B.Tech.-VCAP5- Prayer timings CINDERELLA 8:00 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 11:15 PM ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 2:30 PM CINDERELLA 10:15 PM DEMONIC 4:15 PM VCP4-CCNACCNP-MCP- CINDERELLA 12:30 AM AVENUES-4 ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 6:00 PM PMP-BS7799), 14 Years Fajr: 04:44 RUN ALL NIGHT 12:00 PM AMERICAN HEIST 7:45 PM experience, technical FANAR-3 RUN ALL NIGHT 2:30 PM DEMONIC 9:30 PM expert in entire IT functions Shorook 06:03 OUTCAST 11:30 AM RUN ALL NIGHT 5:00 PM DEMONIC 11:15 PM including infrastructure ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 1:30 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 7:30 PM DEMONIC 1:00 AM storage, network, systems, Duhr: 11:58 ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 3:15 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 10:00 PM ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS 5:15 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 12:45 AM BAIRAQ-1 virtualization & cloud pio- Asr: 15:21 OUTCAST 7:00 PM CINDERELLA 11:45 AM neer with transferable Visa. AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PM AVENUES-5 CINDERELLA 2:00 PM Contact 99154727 or Maghrib: 17:54 AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM CINDERELLA 12:30 PM CINDERELLA 4:15 PM [email protected] CINDERELLA 3:00 PM CINDERELLA 6:30 PM (C.4941) Isha: 19:10 9-3-2015

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 12/3/2015 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 12/3/2015 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 MPH 951 Amsterdam 14:35 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 AGY 685 Sohag 15:15 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 KAC 538 Sohag 14:50 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:40 THY 767 Istanbul 15:20 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:55 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:15 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:25 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 MPH 951 Dubai/SIN 16:05 KAC 546 Alexandria 01:10 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 DLH 637 Dammam 01:15 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 MSC 404 Sohag 03:30 OMA 646 Muscat 16:25 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:10 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 MSC 403 Sohag 02:30 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 KAC 741 Dammam 17:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 OMA 644 Muscat 04:25 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 UAL 982 IAD 17:05 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 JZR 560 Sohag 05:10 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 AFG 415 Kabul 18:30 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:20 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 KAC 118 New York 18:30 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 ABY 122 Sharjah 19:20 BAW 157 London 06:40 AXB 393 Kozhikode 19:15 KAC 537 Sohag 08:20 AFG 415 Jeddah 19:30 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 TAR 327 Tunis 07:45 TAR 327 Dubai/Tunis 08:35 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 KAC 542 Cairo 19:25 BAW 156 London 08:45 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 AXB 393 Kozhikode 20:15 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 IRA 667 Esfahan 08:10 IRA 668 Mashhad 09:10 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KAC 502 Beirut 19:50 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 KAC 382 Delhi 08:15 KAC 104 London 19:55 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 614 Bahrain 20:00 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:30 KAC 742 Dammam 20:00 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 OMA 648 Muscat 21:05 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:05 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 OMA 647 Muscat 20:05 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 IRA 672 Ahwaz 10:05 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 IRA 673 Ahwaz 09:05 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:50 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:30 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 KAC 381 Delhi 22:00 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 IZG 4161 Mashhad 11:10 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 KAC 501 Beirut 12:00 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 KAC 541 Cairo 12:05 KAC 203 Lahore 22:20 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 IZG 4162 Mashhad 12:10 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 JZR 561 Sohag 11:45 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:10 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 QTR 8646 Doha 12:30 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:15 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:30 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:10 QTR 8647 Doha 13:45 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 AGY 684 Sohag 23:20 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 KAC 543 Cairo 23:20 AGY 680 Alexandria 14:15 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 KAC 415 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 23:25 THY 766 Istanbul 14:20 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 KAC 617 Doha 15:00 FDB 060 Dubai 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 CROSSWORD 839 STAR TRACK

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

Perhaps there is a sense of challenge or blockage just now-this will pass. Self-discipline and a sense of self-worth become important issues in your life Take your appropriate breaks and then go back to your work. Too close-up a view can dis- as a new phase begins for you. A fear of asserting yourself can hold you back-as can coming tort details. Wait awhile; your ideas may not find the support you need-timing is every- on too strong. The trick is to learn how to make the most of your talents and abilities. Travel thing. You may lack any real sense of yourself today, or be unable to communicate or con- and mental development that are at high levels are major themes in your life now. This is a vey your ideas. You tend to feel that your personality lacks any vitality. An authority figure time to broaden your horizons both intellectually and spiritually. Education, publishing, could be hard to connect with now. Have patience, this is all elementary, whether you broadcasting, legal and political interests, as well as advertising offer opportunities for you- think so or not-nothing is ever as it seems. This evening can take on a whole different hue. if you are on the lookout for them. A friend that could suffer from a lack of your support has You are creative and will look upon this day as a real day of progress. Others seek you out come to your attention this evening; you will attend a performance or offer to help in a for your psychological insight. project.

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

This is a great time to be working. Someone you know may not have a job Perseverance in your work this day should be exercised as much as possible- and you feel fortunate. If you are in sales you may be sought after as just the person for an especially since slow and steady wins the race. Your judgment is good and will lead to suc- interview with a new and important customer. Your professional abilities are in high focus cess. This is a time for imagination and creativity when it comes to ideas. This, combined and you are able to communicate in a clear and understandable manner. Emotions as well with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate and spellbind. This as the feelings of those around you may be very clear. This is a great time to reflect on and could be a period of intellectual creativity. Careful-beating the odds through cleverness is understand your own situation-just how you feel about yourself and the progress you appealing and this may lead to an interest in all kinds of financial speculations. Emotions in have made over the past few years. This afternoon may be a good time to spend with a particular, or the feelings of those around you, may be very clear now. You appear perhaps loved one. Emotions are up, and you may even find yourself pondering a bit on the mean- more charming and refined than usual. Now could be the best time to make that special ing of life. This is a most satisfying day. date you have been thinking about lately.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) The power of organization on a social scale-business, political and such- This may not be the best time for career or vocational decisions and practical seems to take on a larger than life aura as you enter into a new cycle. It’s as if advice to others. You could be experiencing a cycle of nostalgia and domesticity. Family, ambition and authority are answers in themselves, rather than only a means to an ideal ACROSS DOWN home, relatives and real estate play a big part in your life. The time is right to invest in some objective. You may feel the need to care for others or to have them care for you-more on a 1. A steep-walled semicircular basin in a 1. Any of several plants of the genus Camassia. more substantial type of investment like real estate. You may find yourself looking for that public rather than private level. You have needs and you sense the needs of others: fitting mountain. 2. A joint between the distal end of the radius special home or new place to live. You want to belong on a private, intimate, personal level the two together well makes it work. This could mean that you work in a job where you . . . To be needed and feel it is okay to have needs. You realize that it takes money as well as 4. A form of tuberculosis characterized by and the proximal row of carpal bones. interact with many different individuals: a volunteer group, a school, retail business, hospi- love to make the world go ‘round. Not to worry-if none of us had thoughts of making a swellings of the lymphatic glands. tal, etc. This can become a very productive time in your life. The emphasis this month has 3. Type genus of the Meliaceae. home for ourselves-we would still be living in caves. You may decide to spend some time mostly been your earning potential-which improves monthly. 12. An early form of modern jazz (originating 4. The compass point that is one point east of looking through the real-estate advertisements. around 1940). due south. 15. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square 5. A hired hand who tends cattle and per- meters. forms other duties on horseback. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. In 1214 the French under King Philip 6. A rare polyvalent metallic element of the Augustus defeated a coalition formed against platinum group. At work today, you will have an opportunity to show off your problem-solv- Others will certainly notice your good mood today. You have quick answers, him in one of the greatest battles of the mid- 7. Rounded like an egg. ing skills. This is a time to be expressive. You could excel in some sort of sales, advertise- great wit and plenty of insights and solutions. Your ideas are easily understood-your com- dle ages. 8. A mixture of gases (mostly methane) that ment or other job that would call for you to be creative. The more you work to earn the big munication skills are at a high-water mark. This would be a good time to write and communicate, whether it is on a personal or professional level. Inventions and breakthroughs are 17. A benevolent aspect of Devi. form in coal mines and become explosive bucks, the more you seem to enjoy your professional choices-careful though, this could lead to stress on the home front. The people you care about the most seem to be on your possible. You can appreciate your own better qualities. In-depth discussions and probing 18. The process of becoming mildewed. when mixed with air. 20. A wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric mind today. Being appreciated and being able to show your appreciation of others is pow- conversations find you at your mental best. A new product has your attention and you may 9. Not having been read. want to buy one for each of your family members. Consider investing in this company. with pictorial designs. erful. This evening you will do well in activities that include children, young people and 10. A unit of length of thread or yarn. your home and surroundings. Weather permitting, enjoy the out-of-doors this afternoon. 21. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal 11. Take to be the case or to be true. to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material. 12. Measuring instrument consisting of a 22. The largest continent with 60% of the graduated glass tube with a tap at the bot- earth's population. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 23. A noisy riotous fight. tom. 25. become turned or set on end. 13. Of or relating to Oman or its people. You are most charming and refined for a meeting today; stop worrying, your This is a great time to work with others. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job or assignment. Your ability to stay focused is splendid. Continued 27. Apple grown chiefly in Virginia's 14. A genus of Ploceidae. meeting will go well. Challenges will be met with confidence and the strength of knowl- 19. Childcare during the day while parents edge. Knowledge is power and you will wield it successfully. Luck seems to smile on you success on the career level may point to your abandoning some of your hopes for a short Shenandoah Valley. while. While success is important, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Your ideals work. this afternoon and you may find yourself scheduling a date, applying for a job or otherwise 29. A historical region of Croatia on the making yourself known. You may feel like trying something new and unusual. New ideas, a got you where you are at this time. New ideas and an independent or pioneering mental Adriatic Sea. 24. Half the width of an em. breakthrough in thinking, a novel approach is just where this active mode takes you. You orientation take on more importance at this time. Teaching, learning, communicating and 31. Airtight sealed metal container for food or 26. United States physicist (born in Austria) may become the center of attention-you can handle it! This could also begin an expansive, social contact have a way of outlining new directions in your life-and there is much activity drink or paint etc.. who proposed the exclusion principle (thus creative and even romantic phase-a time you will look back on with pride and fondness. and involvement with these kinds of issues. A sense of support on the home front makes New social plans are forecasted. this a happy time. 32. A farewell remark. providing a theoretical basis for the periodic 33. An informal term for a father. table) (1900-1958). 37. One of the jointed appendages of an ani- 28. Informal terms for a mother. Virgo (August 23-September 22) mal used for locomotion or grasping. 30. Being one more than fifty. Pisces (February 19-March 20) 41. Any culture medium that uses agar as the 34. Highly excited. 35. Proceeding from or ordered by or subject You can kiss depression goodbye. When you look back on the past six No difficulties today; you are able to weed through any problems and quick- gelling agent. months you will come to realize just how much progress you have made in many areas of ly work through the unfinished paperwork. There is nothing like solving problems and 43. Genus of deciduous and evergreen east to a pope or the papacy regarded as the suc- your life. Someone in your professional life must realize this as well-it seems it is time you exerting your expertise where it is needed. Your response time to solving professional prob- Asian trees and shrubs widely cultivated as cessor of the Apostles. take another step up the ladder of success. The actual move may take a few weeks but lems has decreased and your creative talents are in demand. This is a time when you can ornamentals for their white flowers and red 36. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling). higher-ups have noticed your accomplishments-rewards will follow. You have developed a expect a little boost as well as some sort of extra support or recognition. The intellectual fruits. 38. Chief god of the Rig-Veda. knack for organizing things and people, as a sense of ambition takes hold. Most important, and communicative talents of those close to you take on greater importance now. There is 47. Minute planktonic or parasitic crustaceans. avoid self-deception in matters of health-take the usual precautions. This afternoon you an emphasis on close relationships and interactions with loved ones this afternoon. Your 39. The capital of Lombardy in northern Italy. and a friend may enjoy an early movie and dinner afterward. All types of relationships are communication skills with friends and loved ones are positive and you may enjoy some 50. Any of various systems of units for measur- 40. English monk and scholar (672-735). favorable now. Dating is a good thing. time with everyone this evening. ing electricity and magnetism. 42. A yellow quartz. 51. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily 44. (of persons) Highest in rank or authority or in women between the ages of 20 and 40. office. Yesterday’s Solution 52. Title for a civil or military leader (especially 45. The executive agency that advises the in Turkey). President on the federal budget. 53. A swift whirling motion (usually of a mis- 46. A soft porous rock consisting of calcium sile). carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime. 54. A capacitance unit equal to one billion 48. A note appended to a letter after the sig- farads. nature. 56. A white soft metallic element that tarnish- 49. A former copper coin of Pakistan. es readily. 55. Chief port of Yemen. 58. (of complexion) Blemished by imperfec- 57. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the tions of the skin. genus Acacia. 60. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan 59. Capital of Armenia. River. 61. The sciences concerned with gathering 62. Small black-headed European gull. and manipulating and storing and retrieving 64. Irish prelate who deduced from the Bible and classifying recorded information. that Creation occurred in the year 4004 BC 63. A Chadic language spoken in northern (1581-1656). Nigeria. 66. A symptom of some physical hurt or disor- 65. A small Asian country high in the der. Himalayas between India and Tibet. 67. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted 68. Of or relating to or in the manner of the by the anterior pituitary. playwright Henrik Ibsen. 69. Serving as or forming a base. 74. The basic unit of money in Zambia. 70. A genus of Mustelidae. 77. A Turkish unit of weight equal to about 71. A tiny or scarcely detectable amount. 2.75 pounds. 72. A Kwa language spoken in Ghana and the 78. Being three more than fifty. Ivory Coast. 79. A person who lowers the quality or charac- 73. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agricul- ter or value (as by adding cheaper metal to ture and patron of scribes and schools. coins). 75. An ester of adenosine that is converted to 81. The bill in a restaurant. ATP for energy storage. 82. An inactive volcano in Sicily. 76. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 83. A deciduous tree of the family Ulmaceae from aba cloth. that grows in the southeastern United States. 80. Angular distance above the horizon (espe- 84. (Babylonian) The sky god. cially of a celestial object). Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 information

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Afghanistan 0093 Luxembourg 00352 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Macau 00853 Algeria 00213 Macedonia 00389 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Madagascar 00261 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Angola 00244 Majorca 0034 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Anguilla 001264 Malawi 00265 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malaysia 0060 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Maldives 00960 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Mali 00223 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Malta 00356 Austria 0043 Marshall Islands 00692 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Bahamas 001242 Martinique 00596 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahrain 00973 Mauritania 00222 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritius 00230 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Barbados 001246 Mayotte 00269 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mexico 0052 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Belgium 0032 Micronesia 00691 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belize 00501 Moldova 00373 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Benin 00229 Monaco 00377 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Bermuda 001441 Mongolia 00976 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bhutan 00975 Montserrat 001664 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Morocco 00212 Bosnia 00387 Mozambique 00258 Adaliya 22517144 Botswana 00267 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Namibia 00264 Brunei 00673 Nepal 00977 Kaifan 24849807 Bulgaria 00359 Netherlands 0031 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Burundi 00257 New Caledonia 00687 Shuwaikh 24814507 Cambodia 00855 New Zealand 0064 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Cameroon 00237 Nicaragua 00505 Canada 001 Nigar 00227 Nuzha 22526804 Cape Verde 00238 Nigeria 00234 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cayman Islands 001345 Niue 00683 Central African 00236 Norfolk Island 00672 Qadsiya 22515088 Chad 00235 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Dasmah 22532265 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 Norway 0047 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Shaab 22518752 Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Sharq 22465401 Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Jabriya 25316254 Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Bayan 25388462 Dominica 001767 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 Sabah 24810221 El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 New Jahra 24575755 Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 South Jahra 24775066 Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tone 00239 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 North Jleeb 24311795 Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Hungary 0036 Toga 00228 Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Dermatology Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 India 0091 Trinidad 001868 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Mohammed Salam Rheumatologists: Indian Ocean 00873 Tunisia 00216 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 Bern University 23845955 Indonesia 0062 Turkey 0090 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dentists Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Iran 0098 Tuvalu 00688 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Iraq 00964 Uganda 00256 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ireland 00353 Ukraine 00380 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Italy 0039 United Arab Emirates 00976 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Ivory Coast 00225 United Kingdom 0044 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Jamaica 001876 Uruguay 00598 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Japan 0081 USA 001 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Jordan 00962 Uzbekistan 00998 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Kazakhstan 007 Vanuatu 00678 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Kenya 00254 Venezuela 00582 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Consultant Cardiologist Kiribati 00686 Vietnam 0084 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Kuwait 00965 Virgin Islands UK 001284 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands US 001340 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Laos 00856 Wales (UK) 0044 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Latvia 00371 Yemen 00967 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Lebanon 00961 Yugoslavia 00381 Soor Center Liberia 00231 Zambia 00260 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center Noor Clinic William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Libya 00218 Zimbabwe 00263 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 23845955 Lithuania 00370 lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Music & Movies

Marvin Gaye’s daughter, Nona Gaye, left, talks to the media outside the Los Angeles US District Court.—AP/ AFP photos This file photo taken on June 6, 2014 shows recording artists Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke performing during the Walmart 2014 annual share holders meeting at Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jury finds Pharrell, Thicke copied for ‘Blurred Lines’ song jury awarded Marvin Gaye’s children nearly $7.4 million ing arguments, Busch accused Thicke and Williams of lying Tuesday after determining singers Robin Thicke and about how the song was created. He told jurors they could APharrell Williams copied their father’s music to create award Gaye’s children millions of dollars if they determined “Blurred Lines,” the biggest hit song of 2013. Gaye’s daughter the copyright of “Got to Give It Up” was infringed. Nona Gaye wept as the verdict was read and was hugged by King denied there were any substantial similarities her attorney. “Right now, I feel free,” she said outside court. between “Blurred Lines” and the sheet music Gaye submitted “Free from ... Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s chains and to obtain copyright protection. Williams has become a house- what they tried to keep on us and the lies that were told.” The hold name - known simply as Pharrell - thanks to his hit song verdict could tarnish the legacy of Williams, a reliable hit-mak- “Happy” and his work as a judge on the “The Voice.” He wrote er who has won Grammy Awards and appears on NBC’s music the majority of “Blurred Lines” and recorded it in one night competition show “The Voice.” with Thicke. A segment by rapper T.I. was added later. He and Thicke are “undoubtedly disappointed,” said their Williams, 41, also signed a document stating he didn’t use lead attorney, Howard King. “They’re unwavering in their any other artists’ work in the music and would be responsible absolute conviction that they wrote this song independently,” if a successful copyright claim was raised. The trial focused on he said. Thicke and Williams earned more than $7 million detailed analyses of chords and notes in both “Blurred Lines” apiece on the song, according to testimony. King has said a and “Got to Give It Up.” Jurors repeatedly heard the upbeat decision in favor of Gaye’s heirs could have a chilling effect on song “Blurred Lines” and saw snippets of its music video, but musicians who try to emulate an era or another artist’s sound. Gaye’s music was represented during the trial in a less pol- Larry Iser, an intellectual property attorney who has repre- ished form. Jurors did not hear “Got to Give It Up” as Gaye sented numerous musicians in copyright cases, was critical of recorded it, but rather a version created based solely on sheet the outcome. “Unfortunately, today’s jury verdict has blurred music submitted to gain copyright protection. the lines between protectable elements of a musical composi- That version lacked many of the elements - including tion and the unprotectable musical style or groove exempli- Gaye’s voice - that helped make the song a hit in 1977. Busch A combination of file photos made on March 11, 2015 shows (From left) US-Canadian singer Robin Thicke posing as he fied by Marvin Gaye,” Iser said. “Although Gaye was the Prince called the version used in court a “Frankenstein-like monster” arrives to attend the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) 2013 at the Ziggo Dome on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam, of Soul, he didn’t own a copyright to the genre, and Thicke that didn’t accurately represent Gaye’s work. An expert for the US singer Marvin Gaye at London’s Heathrow airport in June 1980, and US recording artist Pharrell Williams posing and Williams’ homage to the feel of Marvin Gaye is not infring- Gaye family said there were eight distinct elements from “Got upon his arrival for the 86th Oscar’s Nominee’s Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on ing.” to Give It Up” that were used in “Blurred Lines,” but an expert February 10, 2014.-AFP Gaye’s children - Nona, Frankie and Marvin Gaye III - sued for Williams and Thicke denied those similarities existed. Gaye the two singers in 2013.Their lawyer, Richard Busch, branded Lines,” which Williams testified he crafted in about an hour in US alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures. It earned a died in April 1984, leaving his children the copyrights to his Williams and Thicke liars who went beyond trying to emulate mid-2012. Williams testified that Gaye’s music was part of the Grammy Awards nomination and netted Williams and Thicke music. — AP the sound of Gaye’s late-1970s music and copied the R&B leg- soundtrack of his youth. But the seven- time Grammy winner millions of dollars. The case was a struggle between two of end’s hit “Got to Give It Up” outright. said he didn’t use any of it to create “Blurred Lines.” music’s biggest names: Williams has sold more than 100 mil- The family “fought this fight despite every odd being lion records worldwide during his career as a singer-producer, against them,” Busch said after the verdict, which could face Closing arguments and Gaye performed hits such as “Sexual Healing” and “How years of appeals. Thicke told jurors he didn’t write “Blurred “Blurred Lines” has sold more than 7.3 million copies in the Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)” remain popular. During clos-

Top Gear presenter Clarkson suspended over ‘fracas’ he BBC said on Tuesday it had suspended Jeremy Clarkson, the controversial host of popular motoring pro- Tgram “Top Gear”, after he was involved in a “fracas” with a producer. The outspoken 54-year-old presenter helped the show become an immensely popular television program, with 350 million viewers a week in 170 countries. But he was on his final warning after a string of controversies including accusations he used racist language. “Following a fracas with a BBC Some rare record albums, part of the 159 items of the largest private Elvis Presley’s collection are seen. producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation,” the BBC said in a statement. “No one else has been suspended.” First Elvis single reissued in The Radio Times magazine said Clarkson was being accused of aiming a punch at a male producer in an incident that occurred last week but was reported to the BBC on Monday. The broadcaster had earlier said “the BBC will be making no fur- Jeremy Clarkson vinyl for Record Store Day ther comment at this time.” No sooner had the suspension been announced than fans of Clarkson set up a petition to the Clarkson and co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May were BBC to reinstate him. to showcase classic cars. he restored vinyl of Elvis Presley’s first single will go “We the undersigned petition the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Former England footballer Gary Lineker, who was due to on sale next month for Record Store Day, the growing Clarkson. Freedom to fracas”, said the online appeal at appear as a “star in a reasonably priced car” in the episode, Tannual sale to bolster independent retailers. More www.change.org, which quickly gained more than 122,000 sig- tweeted “I don’t think I’m ever meant to appear on Top Gear!” than 400 new records, including first-time releases and natures. “I’m signing because Clarkson is a superb presenter “Top Gear” is one of the BBC’s biggest brands and is a major reissues of classics, will be part of the latest Record Store and Top Gear is without doubt one (of) the BBC’s better pro- earner for the broadcaster, though it has been dogged by a Day on April 18 at stores across the world, organizers grams. The viewing figures support this,” wrote one supporter series of scandals. announced Tuesday. The event was established in 2008 named Peter Maxwell. The show’s executive producer Andy Wilman described and is credited with helping revive interest in vinyl and in “I pay my TV license to ensure that irreverent people can 2014 as “an annus horribilis” after accusations of racism and an local record stores, which have faced brutal competition in express themselves,” said another named Veronique Favreau. As incident in which the show’s crew were driven out of Argentina. the past decade as many consumers buy or listen for free the story made the front pages of most British papers Protests broke out there over the number plate of a Porsche, to digital music. Wednesday, Clarkson tweeted “Sorry Ed. It seems I knocked “H982 FKL”, which was interpreted by some as a reference to Third Man Records, a label and store in Nashville owned your ‘I’m a human’ piece down the news agenda.” He was the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982. by rocker Jack White, said it would release Elvis Presley’s apparently referring to a BBC interview with the wife of opposi- Clarkson was among those forced to abandon their vehicles rare first single-”My Happiness,” a version of a popular 20th tion Labour Party leader Ed Miliband. after an angry crowd pelted the crew with stones, but the BBC century US pop song, with the B-side “That’s When Your denied the registration plate was intended as a deliberate Heartaches Begin.” The record label said that it found the Dogged by scandals provocation.—APp sole original copy and has done its utmost to preserve the Clarkson in February indicated he might have been unhap- feel of the original 1953 recording, including packaging it py with the show by tweeting: “Wanted: new presenter for Top in a plain sleeve with a typewritten label as was then the Gear. Applicant should be old, badly dressed and pedantic but fashion. Dorotheum Auction House expert Fatma Kayrul presents capable of getting to work on time.” The BBC cancelled the “The audio will be as clean as modern technology can record albums of 159 items of the largest private Elvis broadcast of the latest episode scheduled for Sunday, in which make it without losing the feeling and soul that makes Presley’s collection. — AFP photos these two songs both haunting and breathtaking,” the label said. The 10-inch, 78-rpm record will be sold in a limited edition at the Nashville store on Record Store Day. The label said it would release the single widely later this year in a seven-inch, 45-rpm version. Other major releases A teenage girl’s nightmare realized in ‘It Follows’ planned for Record Store Day include the new album by Built to Spill, the Idaho indie rock band known for Doug or a teenage girl, it can seem as though everyone is a preda- You don’t have to be a horror expert to guess the next shot. get rid of it. If it kills her, it’ll go after him and then down the line. Martsch’s noisy but intricate guitar. tor. Some are benign, like the boys leering through a fence at The terror lingers as we’re introduced to our real heroine, Jay, a Then she sees proof: A menacing naked woman slowly walking Collectable reissues will include a seven-inch picture Fthe beauty spending some late summer hours in her above- lithe blonde played by relative newcomer Maika Monroe (“The toward them. disc of David Bowie’s song “Changes,” originally released in ground pool. Some are much more insidious. A lingering gaze Guest,” “Labor Day”), bathing in said above-ground pool. “I see While this might seem like an exploitative plot device to set up 1971, and several of Bruce Springsteen’s classic albums without an invitation can be menacing. And actually letting some- you,” she says with resignation to her unwanted audience. Things a movie where the pretty young girl has to sleep her way through one in is, at best, a gamble - one that could turn out disastrously. It are sleepy and dreamy in her Detroit home as she prepares for a the town to rid herself of the demon, Mitchell never actually including “Born in the USA” and “Nebraska.” While geared certainly does in “It Follows,” a subversively unconventional horror date. Jay, at age 19, is self-possessed but still very young. Her suit- indulges in anything particularly sleazy. Monroe, in particular, has toward vinyl, Record Store Day will also feature a cassette film that plays with those ideas in one of the more brilliant and or Hugh (Jake Weary) is a bit older. It’s clear they don’t know one an intoxicating strength that anchors every moment and elevates reissue of heavy metal giants Metallica’s early demo tape stylish genre send-ups of recent years. another well just yet, but they’re getting there. her character above a scantily clad damsel in distress. Jay’s sister “No Life ‘til Leather.” Writer-director David Robert Mitchell, who gained some atten- (Lili Sepe) and their friends (Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi, and Started in the United States, Record Store Day has tion for his 2010 film “The Myth of the American Sleepover,” Oppressive threat Daniel Zovatto) band together to protect Jay the best they can grown internationally among independent shops, especial- wastes no time setting the mood with an invigorating prologue. After a sweet go-around in a car, Hugh accosts Jay with an from something they can’t see and that won’t actually hurt them. ly in Britain, Canada and France. The latest Record Store In a gorgeous, highly choreographed long take, we see a girl in ether rag. When she wakes, she’s tied to a wheelchair in an aban- Suddenly we’re in a teenage detective story, just one that’s also Day will take place in 1,500 stores in the United States and short shorts and high heels burst out of her modest red brick doned, blighted factory in only her bubble gum pink bra and plagued by the oppressive threat that the walker will turn up at an equal number across 21 other countries or territories, home. She’s upset, terrified and running in circles from something underwear. Hugh explains that she’s going to be followed by any moment. It’s a wildly fun conceit that the thing can only walk mostly in Europe but also including Australia, Brazil, Hong we can’t see. The quiet dusk of the suburban environs and the pul- something - a supernatural force that only victims see that can and that it might appear as anything from an elderly stranger in a Kong, Israel, Mexico, Japan and New Zealand. — AFP sating score only add to the anxiety as she takes refuge in the take any human form and whose only objective is to kill the afflict- night robe to a boyfriend.—AP family car and heads to the lake to wait out the night. ed one. It followed him, but he passed it to her, the only way to lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Features

Love yourself first

ince International Women’s Day passed a while inspire to make a change, or encourage girls to people to become themselves, and girls to do what ago, and Mothers’ Day is around the corner, I become independent and educated women, but it their hearts want them to do, even if that means Sfigured why not type up something about can also go the other way around. getting a specific job, going to a certain university women empowerment? I’ve always felt very pas- I strongly agree that we are living in a time where to study, or choosing a different career. It is better to sionate about this topic, however, I never really controlling what our kids watch is extremely restrict- try something your heart desires and fail, than to do understood it until I started working in social media. ed. Hence, our kids are exposed to all the negative something you hate and fail. Life is short, opportu- Only because, it was when I started that I really real- and also positive things online at a very young age. nities lessen with time, people who love you and ized how important it is for women to empower and Being one of those girls thousands of women you let go might not always be willing to come inspire one another. and younger girls watch or follow, I know how hard back, but your education will always be with you, Many young girls around the Middle East are get- it can be to try not to use my influence in a negative regardless of where you end up. Support each oth- ting more and more educated and open to accept- way, even if that meant not talking or voicing my er, love each other but most importantly love your- ing women from different backgrounds, upbring- opinions about issues such as politics, religion and to anything different from you. That is the only way self first. ings and countries, especially with the alerting so on. That does not mean I erase a part of my iden- this world will cary on with birthing creativity and Let me know what you’d like to read about next increase and improvement of technology. Many girls tity, but it means I’d rather not provoke people with originality, especially beyond women. Encourage week my strong dolls! xx and now aware of how to use these social networks my opinions or influence someone in some nega- at a very young age. This results in tive way, even if I didn’t really mean it. girls growing up looking up to I would love to see more women show their these women that they follow more “manly” or aggressive side when it comes to or watch. Depending on what business-related issues, as women work twice, if not background they come from, triple, harder and more efficiently than men- not and what life their living being a feminist, but I’m more about empowering many young girls tend to women. I would also like to see women show their copy or “want to be” that real personalities and show their message that girl from that movie, or they’d like to spread to younger girls. Instagram or on TV. That may be great for girls Spread the right message who look up to We should always focus on the younger genera- women who tion, they’re our future, and that is the best and biggest investment anyone can make. The more we set a benchmark or idolize the right women, the more smarter, creative, strong and educated girls and women are born. We cannot deny that it’ll take generations, but we do lack this here in the Middle East. Women tend to automatically hate on each other or put each other down, from the simplest of things to the most important, not thinking that that girl you’re putting down is a future women, mother, teacher, and grandmother who will need encour- agement and support to spread the right message down to generations. Always keep and open mind, and an open heart German architect Frei Otto wins Pritzker a Official partnership launch between day before dying Longines & Behbehani Group erman architect Frei Otto was named as winner of the o spread their wings further, yesterday, Walter von Kanel, Group with the Swatch Group make it an ideal and solid part- brand showroom is just another step closer to our aim which prestigious Pritzker Prize on Tuesday, a day after his President of Longines, and Ali Morad Behbehani, ner for opening a new point of sale in the Middle East region,” is to bring luxury brands from around the globe to Kuwait. Gdeath at the age of 89, organizers of architecture’s top TBehbehani Group President, announced the partnership said Walter von Kanel, President of Longines. Based on this new partnership with Longines, we will contin- honor said. Otto, renowned for designs which incorporated of Longines with the Behbehani Group by adding Longines to On the occasion of this press launch, Longines ue offering the customers the best shopping experience in lightweight tent-like structures, had been informed he had the multi brand boutique belonging to the Behbehani Group Ambassador of Elegance Aishwarya Rai Bachchan caught the the country”. won the accolade shortly before his death, a statement said. in The Avenues Mall, Kuwait. The announcement was graced spotlight with a Longines watch from the Conquest Classic The press announcement in Behbehani Showroom was “Frei Otto’s career is a model for generations of architects and by the presence of the Longines Ambassador of Elegance and collection on her wrist. The brand highlighted indeed the followed by a launch with guests and media in the evening, his influence will continue to be felt,” said Tom Pritzker, who former Miss World, Ashwariya Rai Bachchan. stainless steel and pink gold model with its diamonds set which was enhanced by the stunning presence of Longines chairs the foundation which bestows the honor. Henceforth, Longines will be having a display space dedi- bezel for the opening of the new point of sale at The Avenues Ambassador of Elegance Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. “The news of his passing is very sad, unprecedented in the cated to its watch collections in The Avenues Mall, offering Mall. “I am very pleased to be invited to share this occasion Longines is also available in the other Behbehani Group history of the prize. We are grateful that the jury awarded him high level shopping experience in Kuwait. “Watch enthusiasts, and show my support to Longines. The sophisticated atmos- boutiques in the following locations: the prize while he was alive.” Otto, who designed the distinct collectors and customers will have the opportunity to view phere of Behbehani Avenues Showroom perfectly mirrors the Al-Hamra Luxury Center, The Avenues, Al-Kout Mall, Laila tented roof above Munich’s Olympic Stadium, which hosted Longines watches in one of the largest malls in the world. The elegance of the brand and its timepieces”, she said. Gallery, Behbehani Complex, Souq Sharq, Marina Mall, Salhiya the 1972 Summer Games and the 1974 World Cup final, had good reputation and long-term partnership of the Behbehani Behbehani said, “having the Longines brand in our multi Comple and The Gate Mall. been due to receive the award in Miami at a ceremony in May.

In comments by the architect made before his death, Otto said he had “never done anything to gain this prize.” “My archi- tectural drive was to design new types of buildings to help poor people, especially following natural disasters and catas- trophes,” he said. “So what shall be better for me than to win this prize? I will use whatever time is left to me to keep doing what I have been doing.” Pritzker organizers described Otto as a “distinguished teacher and author” who pioneered the use of modern lightweight structures for many uses. “He believed in making efficient, responsible use of materials and that architecture should make a minimal impact on the environment,” a statement said. Otto was “a Utopian who never stopped believing that architecture can make a better world for all.” Peter Palumbo, the chairman of the Pritzker prize jury, described Otto as a “titan of modern architecture.” “His loss will be felt wherever the art of architecture is practiced the world A group photo shows (center) Ashwariya Rai Bachchan, Longines Ambassador of Elegance and former Miss World, over, for he was a universal citizen,” Palumbo said in a state- (fifth to the right) Ali Morad Behbehani, Behbehani Group President and (third to the left) Walter von Kanel, President ment. of Longines during the launch. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Fashion

Chanel brings fantasy Paris to life at fashion week

aris, according to lore and legend, is a city predomi- nantly inhabited by elegant women, chic cafes and Pfamous faces. Visitors, of course, find the reality more down-to-earth. The French capital can sometimes seem more heavily touristed, surly and less sartorially obsessed than they might have anticipated. But Chanel, the fashion house that is perhaps the most synonymous with Paris’s reputation for glamour, is determined to keep the Paris dream alive. On Tuesday, it pulled out all the stops as it showed off its autumn-winter women’s collection in a pop-up but fully functioning, specially-built Paris cafe that served both as catwalk and as guest refreshment. Designer Karl Lagerfeld created the cinema-grade set from scratch in the middle of a neoclassical, glass-roofed exhibition hall in the middle of the city. Waiters in crisp white shirts and black vests carried silver trays with steaming coffee and croissants to models as they slid in to sit in one of the glass-and-brass trimmed booths or to stand nonchalantly at the wooden bar after their turn down the runway. The vast illusory cafe was dubbed “Brasserie Gabrielle” in a nod to the famous founder Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, nicknamed “Coco”. The resulting cafe scene was so utterly, archetypically Parisian that fans of the movies “Amelie” or “Midnight in Paris” might recognise an imagined ideal once again stage-managed into fleeting reality. “It’s the biggest French brasserie ever,” Lagerfeld boasted after the show, as he proudly stood behind the mock/real bar to speak to journalists. “It’s an idealized vision of a Paris of today that I wanted to amplify, to pour water on ‘French bashing’. “Even if the French say that France is ugly, it’s not so ugly-no need to exaggerate. It’s not as bad as all that.”

Retro and timeless The German designer who lives in Paris-”I’m international, global!” he exclaimed-said he could get away with pumping up the Paris illusion because he’s not French. “If a French person had done it, it would been patriotic.” Kris Jenner, an avid Chanel client and the mother of Kim Kardashian who was attending other Paris fashion shows with husband Kanye West, said she found the cafe setting “absolutely wonderful, magnificent”. “I can’t believe he (Largerfeld) put all this together in such little time,” she told AFP. The collection models displayed in Chanel’s ersatz cafe featured knee-length skirts and dress ensembles in the house’s signature checkered black-and-white. There were also two-tone numbers that showcased Chanel’s take on the ubiquitous winter parka: a fashion-statement pillowed jacket complete with hood. Other looks boasted autumn colors including bronze and dark blues, and many were accessorized with Chanel’s range of instantly recognizable handbags. All the models had their feet encased in the same shoes: cream-beige with black-toes and practical square heels. The clothes appeared to glide in and out of a range of retro periods from the last century, their timelessness emphasised by the brasserie in the background. Lagerfeld, who seems indefatigable at age 81, said he took great pleasure in unveiling eight collections a year, instead of the four ready-to-wear and haute couture ranges brought out by most other top-end houses, or even just the haute couture series some designer rivals like Jean Paul Gaultier have fallen back on exclusively. Other designers “may be a little lazy,” Lagerfeld said mischievously. “You have to know in what kind of world you live. If the pace of the world is too big for you, there are other jobs. Or do half-time jobs. That’s not my problem.”— AFP

Models present creations for Chanel during the 2015-2016 fall/winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show on March 9, 2015 at the Grand Palais in Paris. — AP/AFP photos lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Fashion

Models present creations for Alexander McQueen.

Models present creations for Louis Vuitton. Jury finds Pharrell, Thicke copied for ‘Blurred36 Lines’ song THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

A gallery team member applies numbered stickers as she makes final adjustments to the displays at the “RCA Secret” postcard art sale at the Royal College of Art in south London yesterday. Twenty-three curators from around the world have been invited to commission three artists to make postcards for the sale. The postcards will be displayed anonymously before being sold for GBP 55 each (about 78 euros) in a one-day sale to help support young artists. The buyer doesn’t know the identity of the artist until having made the purchase. For this year’s exhibition postcards have been received from renowned artists and designers working across fine art, fashion and photography. — AFP

Hong Kong gets creative as Detroit art museum to open Rivera Art Basel comes to town and Kahlo exhibition in March he Detroit Institute of Arts, renowned for its Diego flying forest, a styrofoam mausoleum and a giant are now home to galleries and local artists’ studios. “It’s Rivera murals, is set to open a public exhibition of his works and those of his wife, Frida Kahlo, this month, seesaw will greet visitors to Hong Kong’s Art less polished than the whirl of the fairs and you really T the biggest since the museum’s collection was threatened Basel fair from Friday as the finance hub trans- get a feel for Hong Kong’s artistic soul,” she said of the A in the city’s bankruptcy. “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in forms into a creative playground. The annual show festival, which is in its fourth year. Co-founder Claudia Detroit” will feature nearly 70 works by the Mexican artists comes as Hong Kong’s status as a centre for collectors Albertini compared the Art Week buzz to the atmos- and is the first to focus on the 11 months they spent in grows, with artists, gallerists and celebrities gathering at phere at European fashion weeks. “I don’t think Hong Detroit in 1932 and 1933, when Rivera worked mainly on the harbor side convention centre. Greater China, Kong is far behind art cities like Miami and Berlin, it the “Detroit Industry” murals. grouping the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, main- plays an important part on the global art stage,” she Rivera’s preparatory drawings for the 27-panel “Detroit tained its market leader status in 2014, accounting for said. Industry” frescoes, which have not been shown in nearly 30 $5.6 billion in global art sales closely followed by the A new event, Art Central, will also take place from years, will be part of the exhibit opening on Sunday. The United States-according to data firm Artprice. Saturday on the Hong Kong waterfront. “The fair is idea for the exhibit arose more than a decade ago, but completely rooted in our city, with a focus on Hong uncertainty over the city-owned institution’s finances and Kong galleries and artists, and regional market trends,” other setbacks delayed the process, museum director said co-founder Tim Etchells. Graham Beal said. Dozens of works were obtained on loan from museums in the United States and Mexico and from ‘Natural curiosity’ - private collectors. “When we knew we had a life in front of Art Basel Hong Kong kicked off three years ago and us, we returned to the idea of the Rivera exhibition, based is the newest addition to the international art show, on the Rivera murals,” Beal said. which started in Switzerland in 1970 and also has a Curator Mark Rosenthal teamed with experts in labor, Miami Beach edition. Drink-soaked and glamorous it medicine and the city’s Mexican-American community to attracted celebrities including model Kate Moss and give visitors a sense of what life was like for the artists in Depression-era Detroit. Rivera’s grandson Juan Coronel Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to Hong Kong last Rivera told reporters it was daunting to research his grand- year, with Victoria Beckham and Hollywood star Susan father but that the project helped him better understand Sarandon set to attend this year. Central to the display his contributions to modern art. His research included will be the large-scale “Encounters” pieces, including a reviewing archives of letters Rivera wrote to Kahlo when suspended forest of olive trees by Irish artist Siobh·n she left Detroit to be with her dying mother in Mexico, he Hapaska, a mausoleum made from styrofoam boxes by said. This picture taken on March 10, 2015 shows the tents of the Hong Kong-based Portuguese artist Jo„o Vasco Paiva Art Central event on Hong Kong waterfront. — AFP photos and a giant seesawing log propped up by Indian Fertility issues Buddhist statues by Indian artist Tallur L.N. “When the mural was finished, it was the most impor- The Asian artists on show will be displaying an exper- tant piece of modern art in the United States,” Rivera said. imental streak, while keeping true to their artistic tradi- Rivera, whose murals celebrating revolutionary themes tions, says new Art Basel Hong Kong director Adeline often met with controversy in the United States, considered Ooi. “I think the artists are approaching the mediums in the “Detroit Industry” murals his best work and they are a more daring way,” Ooi said. “It’s just a natural curiosity among the museum’s most celebrated pieces. especially with the younger group.” Ooi added that col- In Detroit, Kahlo, a then unknown artist plagued by fer- lectors’ appetites are also broadening as they look to tility issues and a distaste for American culture, developed snap up pieces from a variety of cultures. her most recognizable works, including “Henry Ford But while Art Basel can shine a spotlight on new tal- Hospital,” which is on loan from the San Francisco Museum ent, Hong Kong-based art critic John Batten said the of Modern Art. The painting shows a mourning Kahlo in a city needs to go further if it wants to be taken seriously hospital bed with a developed fetus outside her body but still attached by an umbilical cord. One hand holds a paint as an art hub, including boosting the number of art palette, representing her unrealized chance at motherhood museums. Hong Kong, which is home to multiple and her role as an artist. — Reuters gallery spaces, currently has just one museum dedicat- In this file picture taken on May 14, 2014 visitors are ed to art, the Hong Kong Museum of Art. “We are very seen next to an artwork entitled “rem(a)inder” (C) by poorly furbished by our public arts sector,” says Batten. Michelangelo Psitoletto at Art Basel in Hong Kong. “That’s one of the reasons why this week has such a big buzz in Hong Kong, because we don’t get much of it in But while the slick international display of Art Basel, the year.” which drew 60,000 visitors last year, is the headline The government is developing a new art and culture event during Hong Kong’s Art Week, smaller shows pop district on the Kowloon waterfront, where contempo- up all around town to coincide with the show-many of rary art museum “M+” is expected to boast a world-class them throwing the spotlight back on grassroots talent. collection. For Ooi, Art Basel is a chance to highlight “The art market in Hong Kong has seen such a boom in “the best that Asia can offer”. “It also shines the light on these last few years and yet local art is still pigeon-holed the Hong Kong scene... you literally see the city light up as ‘emerging’,” says Katie de Tilly, of Hong Kong’s central in a different way.” — AFP 10 Chancery Lane gallery and co-founder of the Chai Wan Mei Design Festival. Chai Wan is a mainly residential area in the far east of Hong Kong Island, where former industrial warehouses