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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 RAJJAB 10, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Gulf Bank Nepal PM Entrepreneurs Messi, Suarez, chairman says quake hatch hen-rental Neymar hit speaks at toll could idea for fans century mark Harvard5 be 10,0007 of14 fresh eggs in20 Barca rout Rights society blasts Min 23º Max 37º deportation of expats High Tide 09:25 & 21:05 MP accuses maid offices of inflating price Low Tide 02:05 & 15:10 40 PAGES NO: 16505 150 FILS

By B Izzak Indonesia executes 8, spares Filipina KUWAIT: The head of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights Khaled Al-Ajmi yesterday strongly criticized the deportation of expatriates, days after the traffic depart- Indonesia today executed seven CILACAP, Indonesia: ment said it has started deporting foreigners caught foreign drug convicts including two Australians by firing driving without a license. Ajmi described the deporta- squad despite a storm of international anger, reports tions as a “flagrant violation of human rights” that will said, but a Filipina was spared at the 11th hour. tarnish the country’s image, especially since Kuwait has Authorities put the seven plus a local man to death after become a humanitarian center. midnight on a high-security prison island in central The traffic department announced last week that it Indonesia. Eight convicts - two Australians, one from will deport expatriates driving without a license, adding Brazil and four from Africa, as well as the Indonesian - it has resumed deporting foreign drivers repeating seri- were put to death on Nusakambangan Island, MetroTV ous traffic offenses. The department said a few days ago and the Jakarta Post reported. that it actually deported three expatriates who were However the Filipina, Mary Jane Veloso, was spared caught driving without a license. However, Assistant after someone suspected of recruiting her and tricking Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Maj Gen Abdullah Al- her into carrying drugs to Indonesia turned herself in to Muhanna said no one has been deported for driving authorities in the Philippines. “Miracles do come true,” without a valid license, adding two expatriates are cur- her mother Celia told a Philippine radio station, adding rently being held at the deportation center for driving that her daughter’s two young boys were awake and offenses. He also added that controversial reports about yelling “Yes, yes mama will live”. a major hike in fees for driving licenses is still in the pro- The Philippine government also expressed delight posal phase. “Regarding increasing the fees for issuing a at the reprieve for Veloso, whose case attracted emotive driving license up to KD 500 that was published in appeals for mercy from boxing superstar Manny media, it’s still just a proposal and hasn’t been Pacquiao among others. “The Lord has answered our approved,” he said during a ceremony late on Monday. prayers,” Foreign Affairs Department spokesman Charles Authorities have made requirements for expatriates Jose said, as activists holding a vigil in front of the to obtain a driving license extremely difficult, making Indonesian embassy in Manila broke into cheers and already tough conditions even tougher. They have hugged each other. raised the salary requirement from KD 400 to 600 with In contrast, there was shock and anger in Australia the addition of a university degree. It has eased the con- over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran dition for certain jobs, but has threatened to withdraw Sukumaran, ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” hero- the license if professions are changed. Muhanna was in-trafficking gang, whose case has severely strained yesterday quoted as saying that 9,000 driving licenses ties between their government and Indonesia’s. JAKARTA: An Indonesian activist holds candles near the portraits of nine inmates, all convicted on drug of expats who changed their profession have been can- Continued on Page 13 charges, during a demonstration to demand the government to stop their execution yesterday. — AP celled. Continued on Page 13 News in brief Iran seizes ship after firing shots

Gulf leaders to meet DUBAI: Iranian forces fired warning shots across the waters not protected by that agreement. The master Organisation was quoted as saying by the Tasnim bridge of a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel as it of the cargo ship MV Maersk Tigris had initially refused news agency. “Generally speaking, if a shipping com- KUWAIT: Gulf leaders will meet in Saudi Arabia next week to prepare for a May summit with US President was traversing the Strait of Hormuz, boarded the ship an Iranian order to move further into Iranian waters, pany has debts and does not pay, the owners of the Barack Obama, Kuwait’s foreign minister was quoted as and directed it toward the Iranian mainland, a but after the warning shots were fired the vessel com- goods turn to the competent authorities,” he said. The saying, with the summit expected to touch on Iran’s Pentagon official said yesterday. The incident, which plied, Warren said. Fars news agency, citing “an informed source”, report- nuclear program and developments in Yemen. The prompted the US Navy to dispatch a destroyer and a The cargo ship was directed to waters near Larak ed that the ship “had a dispute with the Iranian port White House said earlier this month that Obama will plane in response, comes as Iran and the US along Island, he said. The island sits off the major Iranian administration, which obtained a court order to meet leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with other world powers try to hammer out a final port of Bandar Abbas and is one of several in the Strait impound” it. group of countries at the White House on May 13 and at deal over Tehran’s nuclear program. of Hormuz. Iranian state television reported that only Bandar Abbas is the main port for Iran’s Navy and the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, the The ship was traveling through the narrow strait, 24 crew were onboard the vessel, and hailed from separate naval forces operated by the elite following day. KUNA said Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah which is technically Iranian and Omani territorial Britain, Bulgaria, Romania and Myanmar. It said the Revolutionary Guard, as well as the country’s primary Al-Khaled Al-Sabah told journalists that GCC heads of water, but under international agreement is open to ship was seized based on a court order due to unspec- commercial port. It overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, the state would meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh on May 5. foreign ships making an innocent passage, said Col ified violations. “The ship confiscation order was highly strategic waterway at the mouth of the Arabian Sheikh Sabah said the Middle East had been rattled by Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. It wasn’t clear issued by a court and is linked to the Maersk compa- Gulf. the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program before a frame- whether the ship had strayed off course into coastal ny,” Hadi Haghshenas of the Iran Ports and Maritime Continued on Page 13 work agreement was reached last month.

Activist handed jail Baltimore smolders after riots Saudis arrest 93 KUWAIT: A court yesterday sentenced an opposition activist to 10 years in jail for publishing a diagram on Twitter showing how a petrol bomb is made, the court Kuwaitis urged to avoid protest areas suspects, foil US ruling said. The court convicted Sager Al-Hashash of National Guard troops deployed to head off unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri -was worrying. inciting attacks on policemen, providing training on BALTIMORE: embassy attack further rioting in Baltimore yesterday as President Barack “Since Ferguson... we have seen too many instances of the manufacture of Molotov cocktails, taking part in Obama warned that recent incidents “raise troubling ques- what appears to be police officers interacting with individ- RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has arrested nearly 100 an unlicensed protest, and disobeying police orders. tions” about the policing of black communities. Violence uals - primarily African American, often poor - in ways that jihadists, mostly linked to the Islamic State group, The charges were based on a tweet Hashash sent in and looting erupted in Baltimore on Monday after the raise troubling questions,” he said. Obama expressed sym- and foiled several plots to carry out attacks includ- July showing a diagram on Molotov cocktails which funeral of 25-year-old African American man Freddie Gray, pathy for civil rights leaders and protesters - as well as for ing on the American embassy, authorities said yes- explained how they are made. The ruling, which can who died after suffering severe spinal injuries during a police on the front line of demonstrations - and said terday. The arrests have taken place since December still be appealed, was issued in absentia because he is police arrest. Speaking in Washington, Obama condemned America needed to address the strained ties between offi- and most of those detained were Saudis, the interior not currently in Kuwait. Hashash, a young activist, was the rioting, but also said that a series of recent incidents - cers and blacks. ministry said in a statement published by the official handed a 20-month jail term in January for allegedly beginning last year with the police shooting of an Continued on Page 13 news agency SPA. It said two Syrians and a Saudi insulting HH the Amir. who had threatened to launch a suicide car attack against the American embassy in Riyadh last month Jets bomb Sanaa airport were among those held. The statement did not clari- CAIRO/ADEN: Jets from a Saudi-led alliance bombed fy if this group was linked to IS. the runway of Yemen’s Sanaa airport yesterday to pre- US consular services in Saudi Arabia were sus- vent an Iranian plane from landing there, Saudi Arabia pended for a week in March over what was reported said, as fighting across the country killed at least 30 at the time as “heightened security concerns”. Saudi people. Airport officials said warplanes had struck a security services had proof that led to the “early civilian aircraft operated by Yemeni Felix Airways, set- uncovering of terrorist activities in several parts of ting it ablaze, as well as a cargo plane. An official at the the kingdom by members of the deviant group”, a Yemeni civil aviation authority said the runway was tar- term the authorities use to refer to jihadists, the geted by 20 sorties that destroyed both the take-off ministry statement said. and landing runway. A spokesman for the Saudi-led The Sunni-dominated kingdom is part of a US- coalition said air force planes bombed the runway to led coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in stop an Iranian flight landing after it refused to coordi- Syria and Iraq, where the jihadists have seized nate with the coalition and the pilot ignored orders to swathes of territory. Among those arrested up to turn back. April 18 was a 65-strong IS-linked group plotting to target “residential areas, and operations to incite sectarian sedition” in attacks similar to the killing of Bahrainis lose nationality seven members of the minority Shiite community in DUBAI: Three Bahrainis have each been jailed for 15 Eastern Province in November, the ministry said. years and stripped of their citizenship for “terrorist That group includes a Palestinian, a Syrian and two acts”, a senior judicial official in the kingdom said stateless people, it added. They are accused of yesterday. “In a terrorism-related case, the criminal “recruiting young people”, “spreading the terrorist court sentenced three people to 15 years each in ideology” of IS, sheltering wanted individuals, train- prison, and to have their nationality revoked,” ing recruits and “coordinating travel to conflict Ahmed Al-Hammadi, the prosecutor in charge of zones”. “terrorist” cases, said in a statement. BALTIMORE: Protestors climb on a destroyed Baltimore police car during violent protests following the Continued on Page 13 funeral of Freddie Gray on Monday. — AFP LOCAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets GCC Secretary General Dr Abdul Latif Al- First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah meets Japanese Zayani. — KUNA photos legislature Kenya Akiba. Amir, GCC Secretary General discuss summit’s agenda

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Jarah Al-Sabah al legislature) Kenya Akiba on the occasion of his Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan attended the meeting as well. visit to the country. Palace yesterday GCC Secretary General Dr Meanwhile, HH the Amir and HH the Crown Also yesterday, National Assembly Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani. First Deputy Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem received Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah separately met Sheikh Nasser Al- Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah was pres- Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday. State of Kuwait Shin Boonam. Talks between ent at the meeting. In other news, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah the two sides dealt with bilateral relations in Talks between HH the Amir and Zayani Al-Khaled received Deputy Secretary-General of various fields and means of booting them. focused on the agenda of the upcoming 15th the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan and Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Republic of consultative gathering for GCC leaders to be Director for the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Korea Jassem Al-Bedaiwi attended the meet- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem meets Ambassador of the Republic held in Riyadh next month. Deputy Minister of the House of Representatives in the Diet (nation- ing. — KUNA of Korea Shin Boonam. Erdogan urges more trade with Kuwait

KUWAIT: Turkey seeks to increase the size of Wazzan said Kuwait’s national develop- its trade with Kuwait to top one billion dollars ment plan gives the private sector a leading in 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip role, which in turn offers a chance for a part- Erdogan said. He made his statements during nership with the Turkish counterpart. The a speech he delivered at a joint meeting of KCCI senior official highlighted the signifi- Turkish and Kuwaiti businesspeople at Bayan cance of economic legislations in Kuwait, Palace yesterday. which have enhanced the investment-attrac- He said that bilateral trade between his tive environment, referring to “strategic coop- country and Kuwait came to only $569 mil- eration” between Turkey and Kuwait in the lion in 2014, hoping this figure would be aug- latter’s new development plan. mented substantially when a free trade zone The plan is not confined to infrastructure between Turkey and the GCC was established. projects but it also includes promoting edu- Noting that GCC investments in Turkey cation and health services, and knowledge, were about two billion dollars, and decrying which can help enhance bilateral scientific, its low level currently, he touted the fact that technical and technological cooperation, his country’s economy has been posting an Wazzan added. incremental upswing for the past 12 year period including the period of the global eco- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sees off Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands nomic downturn, with an average annual Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the airport yesterday. — Amiri Diwan photos with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- growth rate of about 3 percent. Mubarak Al-Sabah. There has been successful monitoring of the nation’s economy during the past 12 year period as new large-scale projects have been Erdogan concludes launched including a new international air- port accommodating 150 million passengers, a third bridge over the Bosporus, and an underwater tunnel, said President Erdogan. two-day visit to Kuwait He urged the Kuwaiti business community to invest in Turkey, stressing the notion that “Kuwait is the gateway to the Gulf region and Amir, Turkish President hold official talks we mean to bolster our partnership with it.” He said that his country offered great conces- sions facilitating real estate ownership, noting KUWAIT: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his that Kuwait was among the vanguard of spouse Emine Erdogan and their accompanying dele- nations investing in real estate in Turkey. gation left Kuwait yesterday, ending a two-day visit He emphasized that Turkey had immense where he held talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh investment opportunities for Kuwaitis to con- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. sider in the sectors of agriculture, health, and The Turkish president was seen off at the airport industry. Moreover, he said “we are watching by HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf closely the infrastructure and development Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly projects in Kuwait” adding that Kuwait was speaks at a joint meeting of Turkish and Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem, HH the Prime well on its way to becoming a commercial Kuwaiti businesspeople at Bayan Palace yes- Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- and financial hub in the region. terday. Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign He further said that Kuwait’s five year Developing exchange Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, development plan offered attractive invest- Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Anas Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh ment opportunities for Turkish investors in Khaled Al-Saleh said that trade exchange has Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy the field of construction, urging his country- been developing, especially over the past Amiri Diwan Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, men to exchange expertise with their Kuwaiti years, as both sides are keen to bolster bilat- Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled counterparts in that vital field. eral ties in all fields. The visit by President Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, senior state officials and com- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and representatives of manders of the Army, Police and National Guard. HH Kuwait’s investments the Turkish private sector will help bolster the Amir and Erdogan held official talks that focused hosted a luncheon for the Turkish President and his Advisor Dr Yusuf Hamad Al-Ibrahim attended the Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the bilateral economic ties, Saleh said on the on ways and means of promoting and strengthening delegation. meeting. Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled met Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry sidelines of the businessmen meeting. cooperative relations between both friendly coun- Earlier, Erdogan received Ghanem, HH Sheikh with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and (KCCI) Abdulwahab Al-Wazzan said that He referred to bilateral talks for the private tries in all fields, issues of mutual interest and the lat- Jaber Al-Mubarak, and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled at his they discussed ways and means of promoting and Kuwait’s investments in Turkey, public and sector in both countries on fostering economic, est regional and international developments, Deputy residence in Bayan Palace. He also received Managing strengthening cooperative relations between both private, exceed $5 billion. Bilateral trade has trade and investment ties for mutual benefit. Amiri Diwan Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah said. Director of Kuwait Investment Authority Bader friendly countries in all fields, issues of mutual interest also risen five times compared to 2003, The Minister urged the Turkish companies to The talks were held amid a cordial atmosphere which Mohammed Al-Saad and Chairman of Kuwait Finance and the latest regional and international develop- Wazzan told the meeting. He pointed to wide invest in the development projects of Kuwait’s reflected the deep-rooted ties. HH the Crown Prince House (KFH) Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq. Head ments. Senior Foreign Ministry officials attended the and promising opportunities for promoting medium-term plan covering transport, con- was also present at the meeting. HH the Amir then of the accompanying mission of honor, Amiri Diwan meeting. — KUNA economic cooperation in various sectors. struction and infrastructure projects. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Turkish President’s spouse Emine Erdogan and her accompanying delegation visited Sadu House yesterday. — KUNA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 LOCAL Political solution in Yemen only solution: Kuwaiti FM Arab Media Forum concludes

KUWAIT: First Deputy Premier and because they are among the important Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled countries in the region, as Turkey is Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said a political solu- important for the Egyptian economy and tion is the only solution to the crisis in vice-versa,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said. Yemen, and efforts were being made to Turkey and Egypt not only have great bring Yemenis together on one negoti- financial, commercial and economic ating table. potentials, he said, but their role in the At an open dialogue session on the regional security and stability is crucial, last day of the Arab Media Forum last he added. The murderer pictured after he turned The murder weapon. Monday, he described the situation in Yemen as “worrying and one that we Helping Iraq himself over to police. had been trying to avoid over the past On Iraq, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled all four years.” No sooner did Yemenis cele- parties were keen on helping Iraq to Man kills colleague, brate the success of national dialogue, address threats facing its security. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said he was “Helping Iraq means helping ourselves,” “surprised” to learn that, last Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said. He said turns self over September, a group had rebelled the Islamic State (IS) has occupied one- against an agreement made by most of third of Iraq’s territories triggering the the people. “It is sorrowful that Yemen international community to unite Duo caught for bank forms’ forgery has stumbled. We do not want for Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah against it. “This group has hijacked our Yemen to drift into a wide-scale and religion,” he said. destructive civil war,” he said, revealing together at this crucial period. About Egypt’s role Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said 60 By Hanan Al-Saadoun and Forgery suspects caught that diplomacy is being carried out, and the joint Arab military force, he said About Egypt’s role in Decisive Storm, countries formed a coalition to fight IS, Meshaal Al-Enezi Criminal detectives arrested a citizen that UN chief Ban Ki-moon will soon be that its formation is based on the Arab he said this was “unsurprising” and was which was posing a threat “not only on and a Jordanian for forging bank forms and presenting a Security Council report on Defence Treaty which was drawn up “hoped for” by Arab states, for Cairo to Iraq but on everybody. Helping Iraq KUWAIT: A citizen who killed a colleague selling them. what has been agreed by parties in line before the creation of the GCC. This has have a leading focal role on security and means helping ourselves in confronting with a shotgun turned himself over and The Jordanian was arrested after a tipoff with UNSC resolution 2216. nothing to do with the GCC, he said of stability in the region. “We all saw at the this danger.” He said he led an Arab del- handed the weapon to police. He said the in the press he managed, where forgery the coalition. Sharm El Sheikh (Arab) Summit how egation to Baghdad to convey a mes- victim was badmouthing him. A source tools were found. The Kuwaiti was later Existing document Egypt managed to put things in their sage that the “security and stability of said the investigator of Jahra Hospital said arrested and confessed to selling the forms. He noted to the Gulf Cooperation More consultations rightful place and provide the appropri- Iraq is linked to the security and stability a 25-year-old Kuwaiti arrived with abdomi- Both were sent to concerned authorities. Council initiative on resolving the polit- Asked if a similar campaign was ate environment for joint work through of the region.” The visit, he added, was nal injuries after being shot at his work- ical stalemate in Yemen as an existing viable in Syria, he said that there were a encouraging Arab states to ratify the to express support to Prime Minister place in Saad Al-Abdullah, but died as doc- Rapists at large document, reiterating the need for a lot more meeting and consultations Arab joint defense treaty.” On the role of Haidar Al-Abadi’s government. Sheikh tors tried to save his life. Meanwhile, the An Ethiopian woman told Farwaniya political solution. The other need as a ahead of the intrusion in Yemen. The the media during the coalition airstrikes, Sabah Al-Khaled said his seven visits to aim was to prevent Yemen from a situa- he said it is important as it will be with suspect went to Firdous police station and police she was raped by a taxi driver and humanitarian one, he said. This should Iraq succeeded in addressing many out- tion a few other Arab countries, like Restoration of Hope. On the Strait of told them the victim had sullied his honor, another unidentified person. She said the be in line with the political efforts, standing issues between Kuwait and added the minister, urging all Yemeni Syria and Libya, have been through. Bab Al Mandab, he said, in spite of it cur- Baghdad. He said Jordan was playing a so he shot him. He was charged with homi- driver, also an Ethiopian, took her to a “Yemenis have been reasonably rently being under Yemen’s control that cide and sent to concerned authorities. desert area, then he and the other man parties to come forward. major role in the fight against terrorism, About UNSC Resolution 2216, he responsible, and managed within four Somalia was up to the challenge. citing His Highness the Amir Sheikh raped her before she to escaped. years to engage in dialogue,” he said. Somalia’s president has a clear cut view Investigations are ongoing in the case. said it hands everybody all required Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s visit details at this stage, adding “if the “We were following this and were only on a range of issues there like piracy to Jordan and his summit talks with King Yemenis commit to it - it covers the GCC two steps away from achieving this. and other affairs, to which he has Abdullah II. Jordan chairs the UN Security Surgery in the dark But it is unacceptable under any cir- involved his people on making future Dr Yousuf Al-Ruwaisan said power was initiative, national dialogue and calls on Council (UNSC) for the month of April. those who seize authorities to stop and cumstances to carry out a coup against plans, he said. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled cut during a surgery in Al-Bahar Eye Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the Arab return to political work.” the legitimate authority.” All the steps however conceded that the region will Hospital, and the operation was completed countries were working closely to form a On the UN chief’s envoy to Yemen that were made, like Decisive Storm, be more secure when these two coun- strategy against terrorism. with the use of a smartphone flashlight. Jamal Benomar remarks, that the Saudi- the GCC Initiative and the UNSCR 2216 tries regain their stability as the strait is The Kuwaiti top diplomat, mean- led coalition airstrikes derailed efforts all came after continuous in-depth dis- not only crucial to them, but the world while, said the former regime in Libya Employee robbed for a power-sharing deal in Yemen cussions and consultations. “No actions as a whole. ruled the country for 40 years without A Lebanese man said he was robbed of between warring factions, the Kuwaiti were carried out overnight.” These con- Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled establishing institutions to benefit KD 17,000 belonging to his company. A minister said that “this is his view,” and tacts have extended to Restoration of hoped to see rapprochement between the Libyan people. Terrorists make police source said the man claimed that two that the UN official should put his Hope now, he said. “We are allies and Turkey and Egypt. “We will be happy to good use of the insecurity state in persons followed him and forced him to efforts into bringing the Yemenis can all relate to the situation.” see Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement Libya, he said. — KUNA stop near a co-op. The two broke the windows of his car, and when he confronted them, they beat him and took the money.

Bootlegger arrested A Nepalese expat was arrested in Messila with 44 bottles and 72 plastic bags of liquor. The two suspects pictured with the He was taken to the proper authorities for forged documents. further action. Jleeb building without electricity for a week

By Ben Garcia there seems to be no end in sight to our ordeal. We thought it will be over in a KUWAIT: For nearly a week, residents of day, but it’s been a week now.” a building in Jleeb Al-Shoyoukh have The problem, according to some ten- been suffering without electricity. Most ants, is the building owner. “It is being of the food and groceries stored in said the owner hasn’t paid the electricity refrigerators are spoiled and some chil- bill. We are paying monthly rent and dren have fallen ill due to the heat. electricity is inclusive, so why do we “We cannot sleep properly. We have have to suffer due to his irresponsibility,” been suffering for the past six days,” said the exasperated residents asked. The a resident of the building, which has building haris promises power will be Zain’s Faisal Abul and Nawal Buresli are pictured with Public Authority for Civil Information’s team. dozens of relatively small rooms. “There restored soon. “Bukra (tomorrow), bukra, are at least 85 rooms in the building, he keeps on saying. Many bukras have with kids and families living here. The passed and we are still suffering,” a resi- Zain first private company temperature is now more than 40 C, and dent fumed. to apply E-Signature service In collaboration with Public Authority for Civil Information

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications essential documents with ease using a dedicated the logistics of the project. company in Kuwait, revealed that it has applied the online portal. This technological approach will ease PACI had founded the infrastructure of this proj- E-signature service to its employees in collaboration the process of issuing governmental related certifi- ect then developed a general framework study as with the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI). cates which require an individual’s identification, well as implementing, executing, and verifying the PACI officials were present at the company’s main noting that this modernized solution will result in a issuance of E-Signatures to the citizens and residents headquarters in Shuwaikh for a period of two weeks paradigm technological shift for both the private of the state of Kuwait. This project came to con- to ease the registration process. sector and the entire state. tribute to the modernization of the State of Kuwait With the latest implementation of the E- It is worth mentioning that the Public Authority and to take it through an electronic era that will Signature project, Zain positions itself as the first pri- for Civil Information has promptly responded to result in adopting the safest techniques to ensure vate-sector company to launch the E-signature serv- Zain’s request in introducing the E-Signature solu- the security and confidentiality of citizens’ and resi- KUWAIT: Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Bader Al-Essa (fourth from ice within the organization. The latest collaboration tion to its employees between the periods of 5 April dents information in all governmental transactions. right), ministry officials and Samsung Gulf Electronics representatives are pictured comes in line with the Kuwaiti government’s vision 2015 to 16 April 2015. PACI surpassed expectations Additionally, this project will enable the Kuwaiti gov- after the agreement’s signing. — KUNA of enabling electronic governmental solutions. in facilitating employees’ processes in updating their ernment to implement its promising vision to opera- Zain’s vision into shifting to the technological era Civil Identifications online through the support of a tionalize the concept of an E-Government. Kuwait, Samsung sign accord on will support its efforts of providing its human number of PACI representatives who were present at Zain considers itself as a core entity within the resources with the most convenient ways to apply Zain’s main headquarters to ease the process. community, and strives to keep up with the social prepping classrooms for disabled to any governmental paperwork necessities. With Additionally, 890 employees out of 1200 have suc- and economic development trends. The company the introduction of the E-signature service, employ- cessfully registered their personal E-Signature, further expressed its pride to be at the forefront of KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education all ages including those with special ees will now be able to issue certified documents wherein by the end of the registration period Zain private companies in adopting this technological signed an agreement yesterday with needs. The company’s special needs pro- like salary certificates, salary continuity certificates, extended its utmost gratitude and thankfulness to solution that will gain momentum in facilitating Samsung Gulf Electronics, whereby the gram has been successful in neighboring ‘To Whom It May Concern’ certificates and other PACI representatives who organized and facilitated transactions across the country. giant electronics company would equip states in the region encouraging the classrooms meant for children with spe- Ministry of Education in Kuwait to adopt cial needs with the latest learning trends it as well, said the minister. Competition teaches using modern technology. One of the first steps the company will Noting that it was the first agreement do in Kuwait is to establish “smart class of its kind in Kuwait, Minister of rooms”, equipped with appropriate elec- youths about cars Education and Higher Education Dr tronic paraphernalia, including IPADs for By Nawara Fattahova supporting this and other events that pro- Bader Al-Essa, who signed the agree- all school children, which would go far in vide traffic awareness.” ment on behalf of the ministry, said the making the learning process fun and KUWAIT: A total of 83 schools took part in The competition is held in cooperation agreement was signed after discovering appealing, said the company’s regional the 23rd Auto Mechanics and Traffic Systems with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry the benefits Samsung Gulf would be able president Mohammad Ismail Yun, who Competition, held under the auspices of of Education, and with the support of the to provide to school children with special signed the agreement yesterday on Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khalid, Deputy Prime Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of needs in the nation’s classrooms. behalf of the company. Minister and the Minister of Interior. Sciences. He said this discovery came about He said the company will have a spe- “Sponsoring this competition by the minis- Ahmad Al-Manfouhi, Chairman of KSC, having examined the South Korean com- cial team of experts whose task will be to ter of interior expresses his interest in the praised the continuing success of the com- pany’s approach to providing learning work closely with the ministry toward traffic issue and its social and economic petition through years. “During the past 23 abilities and skills to children with special bringing digital technology to curricu- impacts,” Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic years, the number of participants rapidly needs through its vaunted program lums meant for school children with spe- Affairs Maj Gen Abdullah Al-Muhanna said. increased, so we are now thinking of known as Samsung Hope for Children cial needs. The Samsung Hope for “We are proud of the success of this compe- expanding it to be regional, maybe by next tition through the previous years, and its an year. This awareness competition provides Children program saw the light in the Philanthropic Initiative. awareness event that improves youth skills. the future drivers education about vehicle The initiative focuses on programs Gulf region in 2010 in the UAE and has The increasing number of participants every maintenance to prevent car accidents. It that enhance health, education and sus- spread from there to other Gulf states year signifies the success of this competi- also teaches participants the love of work,” Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Maj Gen tainability opportunities for children of including Kuwait.—KUNA tion. The Traffic Department will continue he said. Abdullah Al-Muhanna LOCAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

KUWAIT: A picture from the round table discussion with the graduates. —Photos by Joseph Shagra Faisal Al-Ayyar hands over a certificate to a student. Proteges program celebrates fourth generation graduates

By Faten Omar a pleasure to recognize them. We all look for- through workshops aimed at self-development, forms for ambitious Kuwaiti entrepreneurs were able to explore the country. ward to what this generation will accomplish in creative thinking and communication skills. where they get to recognize their businesses’ It all started with a brainstorming session KUWAIT: The graduation ceremony of the the future. Young people are the means to They also discussed the climate for small and true potential and are guided on how they can about creating a project. The 25 individuals, fourth generation of ‘The Proteges’ program’s uplift any community,” she added. medium projects in the current government progress from being “small” to “big”. each of them unique and diverse with their students was organized yesterday by Kuwait Dana Mado, a ‘Small to Big’ graduate, system. own interests, hobbies and passions, chose one Projects Company Holding (KIPCO). “We are explained how important this program is to Small to Big (STB) is a corporate social Valuable lessons idea. The idea was to create inspirational art- proud to partner with the Proteges program, young Kuwaitis. Mado and other graduates responsibility initiative to assist the Kuwaiti A film at the ceremony showed the fourth work by local artists around Kuwait to target which seeks to help talented young Kuwaitis held a roundtable discussion about their expe- entrepreneurs in understanding market generation of Proteges experiencing amazing social issues in the community and spread posi- play a role in the development of Kuwait’s riences and the change in their lives by The dynamics and situations. It provides them with adventures and learning valuable lessons over tive messages. In a mere 96 days, the idea economy. KIPCO is keen to invest in Kuwaiti Proteges. The main idea of the program is essential tools and knowledge to take their a course of six weeks, all of which are part of became a reality through hard work, dedication youth and in the development of their skills,” based on training youth led by a group of coun- business to greater heights. STB’s mission is to endless experiences and memories. They spent and teamwork. Abeer Al-Omar, Director of Social Responsibility, selors in innovative ways, encouraging them to give small business owners the knowledge to two out of the six weeks at one of the top uni- At the end of the ceremony, Faisal Al-Ayyar, said. “The enthusiasm and teamwork that we discover their passion and providing tools to grow and develop their businesses while main- versities in Ireland - Dublin City University - CEO of the KIPCO, handed over certificates to saw from these guys is very inspiring, and it was help them face the challenges of working taining quality. It aims to provide exclusive plat- where they given sessions by mentors and the students. He also honored 6 initiators. NUSSLI delivers Kuwait’s pavilion at Expo Milano

More than 10 million tickets sold

MILAN: The Switzerland-based leading interna- tional turnkey supplier NUSSLI handed over Kuwait’s breath-taking pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 yesterday. NUSSLI Managing Director Dietmar Kautschitz carried out the initial han- KUWAIT: Ibrahim Al-Baghli, Chairman of the Ibrahim Tahir Al-Baghli Foundation dover of the pavilion to the Director of Kuwaiti (right) and Ali Hassan, chairman of the award’s organizing committee are pictured at pavilion Abdulrahman Al-Nasser and the State of the press conference. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Kuwait general commissioner at the Expo and the Ministry of Information’s Assistant Undersecretary for External Information Faisal Al-Mutallaqem. Foundation announces After touring the 2,800-meter pavilion, Mutallaqem lauded the outstanding work of the ‘Dutiful Son’ winners NUSSLI teams which created such an impressive structure. He also thanked the Italian architect By Nawara Fattahova projects in various countries. This was also Italo Rota for designing such an eye-catching appreciated by the United Nations, which master piece. KUWAIT: The winners of the third edition named him a humanitarian leader and Kautschitz meanwhile hailed Kuwait’s partici- of the ‘Dutiful Son’ prize by the Ibrahim honored Kuwait as an international center pation in the international event and the trust Tahir Al-Baghli Foundation for the Dutiful for humanitarian work,” said Ibrahim Al- Kuwaiti officials put in his company to build its Son were announced yesterday during a Baghli, Chairman of the foundation, during pavilion in the Expo. He also expressed apprecia- MILAN: NUSSLI representatives and Kuwaiti officials are pictured after the handover of the press conference held at the Kuwait the conference. tion for Kuwaiti officials for their great coopera- Kuwaiti pavilion. — KUNA Journalists Association. Students from both The prize spans several competitions. tion with the company teams to help abide by genders participated in this competitions. “We organized a short story competition the international standards in construction and ny’s contributions as part of social responsibility, tations. The expo set to kick off next Friday in It was held under the auspices of Minister and voluntary work competition for stu- to complete the project on time. seeking to achieve sustainable development. Milano, Italy with Kuwait’s participation, has sold of Education Dr Bader Al-Essa. dents of intermediate and secondary The Kuwaiti Pavilion, ‘Challenge of Nature,’ According to the statement, Kuwait’s partici- 10 million tickets around the world until yester- The foundation is a social voluntary grades during the academic year shows how the Kuwaitis made the desert inhab- pation in the global six-month gathering aims to day, which is a record number in the history of foundation with various activities to sup- 2014/2015 in cooperation with the activi- itable, and continue to do so, using education, highlight the “Kuwait experience” and the “civi- the event, the Commissioner said. port obedient children who are taking care ties department of the Ministry of technology, science and renewable energy to lized achievements the country has realized Sala is expecting the Expo to be of huge suc- of their parents, relatives or even their com- Education for the third consecutive year. I establish a modern, vibrant and growing com- since it was established.” These have been cess regarding the number of tickets sold, munity by executing various awareness thank the participating students, their par- munity which can contribute to global develop- crowned with His Highness the Amir Sheikh adding that 54 participating countries were able projects. It cooperates with NGOs and pub- ents and their teachers for their active par- ment and to feeding the world. Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah being hon- to complete their booths on the specified time. lic and private institutions in Kuwait for the ticipation. I also thank the staff of the min- The aim of the Kuwaiti Pavilion at the Expo ored by the UN as a Humanitarian Leader and The Expo Milano officials expect the number of benefit of the entire community. The foun- istry who worked on this prize, KJA and all Milano is to present the extraordinary mix of cul- the country a Humanitarian Center. visitors to reach 150,000 daily, with the possibili- dation also organizes competitions for stu- other institutions,” he said. ture and tradition as well as the contemporary Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) ty of rising to 200,000 on the weekends, while dents of all grades including universities, in Sixty-one students of both genders won and scientific aspects which form the foundation also announced its participation in the event, the total number of visitors for the event which addition of holding educational programs prizes in two categories during the scholas- of Kuwaiti culture. The basic design of the saying that it will be present in the Kuwaiti pavil- will conclude on October 31st is expected to focusing on obedience in all forms. tic year 2012/2013. This number rose to 69 Pavilion resembles the sails of a dhow, a tradi- ion through lectures and workshops on water exceed 20 million. The Kuwaiti pavilion will pres- “When we talk about humanitarian and this year, from which 40 students were tional wooden boat which is still in use today in desalination and processing and means of realiz- ent short documentaries about the marine activ- social work, we feel proud of the efforts of named winners in the short story category, the Arabian Gulf. With its design, the Kuwaiti ing water security. KISR will also cover certain ities in ancient Kuwait as well as life in the HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- while 29 students won in the voluntary Pavilion references one of the greatest chal- projects relevant to preservation of energy, alter- desert, and Kuwait’s efforts to use water in turn- Jabir Al-Sabah, who has supported many work category. lenges Kuwait faces due to its geographical loca- native power and sustainability of biodiversity, ing arid areas into agricultural lands. tion, its climate, and its vegetation - water. The Executive Director of the Water Research Center Expo Milano will be inaugurated by Italian second part of the Pavilion, toward the back, at KISR Mohammed Al-Rashed said. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Friday, May 1, consists of a greenhouse in which numerous Moreover, the KISR will offer the Expo 2015 with participation of large world dignitaries US Ambassador announces hydroponically cultivated plants which serve as opening ceremony an account of the major sci- including Kuwait’s Minister of Information and shade can be discovered. entific and technological achievements likely to Minister of State for Youth Affairs Salman trade mission to Houston enhance Kuwait’s water security and use of Humoud Al-Sabah who will represent His KPC, KISR participate renewable energy to provide electricity and Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait United States continues to be among Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) mean- water. Rashed will attend Expo Milano 2015 as a Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Douglas A Silliman announced yesterday Kuwait’s largest investors and private while announced it will take part in Expo Milano member in the higher committee for Kuwait’s The Expo is a major international exhibition that 27 Kuwaiti delegates will join him on a employers, particularly in the petrochemi- 2015. The KPC’s participation in the major world participation and the technical teams and exec- that has been held every five years since the trade mission to Houston, Texas, to attend cal industry. event, held under the theme ‘Feeding the Planet utive panel that prepared for the Kuwaiti pavil- 19th century. Covering 272 Acres, the event the Offshore Technology Conference May “Kuwait is the 37th major foreign - Energy for Life’ aims to consolidate its presence ion. expects an estimated 29 million visitors from 4-7. This will be the largest trade mission investor in the United States with $1.3 bil- on the world arena, the company said in a state- May 1st-October 31 2015. More than 140 partici- ever organized by the US Embassy. lion,” said Silliman in an interview on the ment. Exceeding expectations pating countries will showcase the best of their “The United States is a reliable source of sidelines of the reception. The corporation will provide Expo visitors Meanwhile, Commissioner for Expo Milano technology, which will offer answers to ques- products and services for Kuwait’s oil and with a review of remarkable progress achieved 2015 Giuseppe Sala announced that the number tions revolving around health, safety and better gas sector,” said Silliman in a press release. Kuwait energy hub by the Kuwaiti oil industry, as well as the compa- of tickets sold for the expo has exceeded expec- food nourishment. —KUNA “During their visit, these Kuwaiti companies On Kuwait’s potential of turning into an will meet a range of American businesses, international energy hub, the US envoy creating linkages that will ultimately said that Kuwait, in its capacity as a major SHIFT 5 contest expand the amount of trade between our player in the global energy market, is two countries,” he added. already pioneering in this field. On the US concludes economy, Silliman said it was growing bet- Commercial ties booming ter than any advanced economy in the KUWAIT: Chairperson of the Sheikh The Ambassador received the trade del- world, pointing out that two major stops to Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Award Sheikha egation at his residence to brief members the delegation while in the United States on the business opportunities available in will be New York and Washington, where Aida Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah expressed the US market. For those companies that Director Kuwait Direct Investment her pleasure at the success of the SHIFT are already conducting business in the Promotion Authority (KDIPA) Sheikh Dr 5 contest, saying participants were from United States, this trade mission will offer Mishaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will hold 99 countries around the world. The win- opportunities to build on their relation- meetings with parties concerned with ners were honored during a ceremony ships, as well as cultivate new ones. Since Kuwaiti legislations regarding foreign held under the patronage of Sheikha 2009, commercial ties between the US and investments. Aida in Qurtuba in the presence of repre- Kuwait have expanded by more than 188 The OTC is the offshore oil and gas sentatives from NGOs on whom the percent, with trade volumes growing from industry’s foremost event for the develop- questions of the contests revolved. The $5.2 billion in 2009 to $15 billion in 2014. ment of hydrocarbon resources in the areas winners represented 12 countries. The Over the same period, US exports to of drilling, environmental protection, Kuwait have grown by 87 percent, making exploration, production development, deputy head of the higher organizing Kuwait the US’s fifth largest export market innovation and technology. Founded in committee said the prize served its pur- in the Arab World. America holds its leader- 1969, OTC now attracts over 100,000 visi- pose by raising awareness about KUWAIT: Sheikha Aida Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah (center) is pictured at the ceremony. ship position as one of Kuwait’s top import tors and 2,700 exhibitors from around the Kuwait’s humanitarian efforts. — KUNA — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat partners. On the investment front, the world each year. — KUNA LOCAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Gulf Bank chairman speaks on ‘Disruptive Innovation’ at Harvard Business School Future opportunities, risks for the GCC banking industry

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank Chairman Omar Kutayba tain banks out of the game entirely. Disruptive Putting this in the context of the Gulf online or mobile banking, and around 50 per- innovation from outsiders. Alghanim delivered the first keynote address innovations shake things up, they destabilize region, Alghanim said that Bain& Company, a cent were using their phone for payments. A We cannot, should not, merely rely on regu- to over 500 Harvard alumni and regional busi- the status-quo, hopefully by offering some- top international management consultancy, third of respondents interacted with their bank latory walls to protect our businesses. We need ness executives at the Harvard Business School thing completely new to customers.” believes that as much as 30 percent of tradi- via social media, and a similar number use to figure out how to better serve our cus- Crossroads meeting, which was held at the J W tional bank revenues in the region could be Paypal or similar payment products. tomers and to bring them new products that Marriot Marquis in Dubai on Thursday, 16 April Major impact affected by innovations. This estimate was For “new and innovative products” cus- excite them. We need to make sure that when 2015. Alghanim went on to outline a number of based on the profile of the Gulf population - tomers said they would look to their current disruptive innovation opens new markets, cus- Other key note speakers included: His innovations he saw as having a potentially young, with an appetite for new and innova- bank first. But if they were to switch out: 1) tomers, or value propositions outside of tradi- Excellency, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al major impact on the future of the region’s tive products and services, and with a high they would prefer an Apple or a Google over a tional banking, we are prepared. And finally, Nayan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and banking industry. One important innovation is penetration of technology. Also, the Gulf is bank for payments; 2) they would not care we need to work with regulators to make sure Community Development; Osman Sultan, CEO, the emergence in the industry of companies characterized by smaller markets, where cost- who it is they are borrowing money from; and that disruption does not mean instability. Du; Dr B R Shetty, CEO of NMC Healthcare, UAE not traditionally involved in banking, that are of-entry is lower, and customers are generally 3) they would only slightly prefer a bank for There is no reason why the two should be the Exchange and Neopharma; Yogesh Mehta, better able to deliver payment apps and meet wealthier. their savings. Perhaps most telling of all, Gulf same. Bank found that 57 percent of the respondents At Gulf Bank this is something we think Mobile banking said that they expect innovations to come about all the time. We are working hard to To underline his point, Alghanim referred to from the tech giants like Apple, Google, or embrace innovation at all levels - both conven- findings of recent research from Gulf Bank. The Facebook - not from the banks. tional and disruptive - and we’re building a cul- bank asked over 2,700 individuals across the In concluding, Alghanim said: “Bottom-line, ture that seeks to keep us ahead of the game. GCC questions about their attitudes to and use our customers are tech-savvy and already We believe innovation is not only a critical part of mobile banking. This research found that 76 exploring new products. So we need to be of our business, but the key to future growth percent of respondents were already using aware that our customers are fertile ground for and success.” Bank execs attend workshop on corporate, IT governance

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Twenty eight local banking execu- tives in Kuwait yesterday attended a work- shop organized by the Kuwaiti Central Bank. The focus of the workshop was on corporate Gulf Bank Chairman Omar Kutayba Alghanim addresses the audience at the Harvard and IT governance. The event was held at the Business School Crossroads meeting. Sheikha Salwa Sabah Hall in Salmiya. The workshop was presented by Rolf von Rosing, CEO, Petroleum Middle East Ltd; Badr Al Olama, customer demand. The availability of mobile member of the ISACA’s Professional Influence CEO, Strata Manufacturing; and Timothy Butler, technology has also led to the rapid develop- and Advocacy Committee from Germany. Director of Career Development Programmes, ment of new innovations in financial services, Harvard Business School. such as the development of third-party agent Speaking on the conference theme of ‘dis- networks, which can offer a full range of retail ruptive innovation’ in the context of the retail banking products. Mobile technology also banking industry, Alghanim said: “Let’s be enables front-end payment systems, without absolutely clear, most innovations in financial the need for a traditional banking infrastruc- services are not disruptive. Interest-bearing ture. Peer2Peer lending, which connects retail checking accounts, 24-hour call-centers, ATMs, borrowers directly to lenders, is a further area and online banking are all relatively new offer- of innovation. It builds on the tradition of lend- ings that have a huge benefit to customers. ing circles, which have been around for a long Today, they are available through virtually time in communities in East Asia, India, and the KUWAIT: The participants pictured in a group photo. — Photos by Joseph Shagra every bank, and are almost indistinguishable in Middle East. guidelines and key operating procedures. achieve the desired balance between control form and function. These are the things that A fourth area of innovation combines man- Rosing, who is also the president of Korfa and empowerment. we spend most of our time on and where we aging risk in microlending with traditional sup- AG, a Swiss consulting network, has served The workshop was arranged in collabora- compete with each other all the time, behind a ply chain financing. Alghanim cited the exam- Rolf von Rosing speaks at the workshop. as consultant with large international banks tion with the Central Bank of Kuwait and the regulatory framework. They are things we have ple of Alibaba, which finances small businesses Highlights of the program included work- and insurance companies. In his presenta- Institute of Banking Studies. In attendance to do to remain competitive, but they rarely in China by linking borrowers directly to shops on best practices of good governance, tion, Rosing noted that executive managers were executives of local banks and some result in any sustainable competitive advan- investors, and integrating the SME supply the foundations of IT governance as well as need to introduce the right blend of princi- ranking officers from the Central Bank of tage. Real disruptive innovation causes chain and its financing, without the need for providing directions, policies, standard ples, policies and executive frameworks to Kuwait. upheaval in the industry. Often, it leaves cer- involvement with traditional banking services. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 LOCAL

In Brief

KRCS provides aid to Nepal Military live fire drills CBK sponsors SME exhibition KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) announced yesterday it will provide urgent humanitari- KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Army announced that its naval sponsored an exhibition for small and medium (SME) an and medical aid for quake-stricken Nepal. The forces will carry out a live ammunition shooting exer- businesses that was organized recently in coopera- Society, in coordination with the Kuwaiti embassy in cise today and tomorrow. The two-day exercise will take tion with Al-Yarmouk Mayorship and the Manpower Nepal and international organizations, will fulfill its place at an area of 16.5 nautical miles east of Ras Al and Management Restructuring Program. The spon- humanitarian obligations in manifestation of Kuwait’s Julayaah and 6 nautical miles north of Um Al Maradim sorship comes as part of the bank’s efforts to sup- keenness to help those in need throughout the world Island, the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Moral port the SME businesses’ sector in its contribution to and victims of natural disasters everywhere, said Dr Hilal Guidance and Public Relations said in a press statement comprehensive social development, CBK said in a Al-Sayer, KRCS Chairman. —KUNA yesterday. It urged all citizens, residents and picnickers not to approach these areas for their safety. —KUNA statement. Photo of the day

KUWAIT: A refrigerator placed next to a Sabeel water cooler at a street in Shamiya. The fridge is open for the public to donate extra food, water or any other items that passersby can pickup free of charge. The identity of the people behind the charity project is anonymous. — Photo by Joseph Shagra Gulf Bank sponsors ‘Earth Day’ event at Kuwait University

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank sponsored the ‘Earth Day’ event on 22 April 2015 at Kuwait University to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. Organized by the students of the Environmental Technology Management Club-O2, the Earth Day event gave the opportunity for more than 35 specialized associations, cen- ters, volunteer groups and individu- als to showcase their role in protect- ing the environment and encouraged initiatives to do even more towards guaranteeing the future of the plan- et. Children from the ‘Alresala Necessary’ kindergarten by Bibi Al Ayoob, attended the event to learn how to protect the environment at an early age. Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), Kuwait Oil Hadeel Al-Fadhli, Senior Manager at Gulf Bank, receives a token of apprecia- Company (KOC), Hand 2 Hand group, tion from the college’s administration. Dow celebrates Earth Kuwait Green Building Council (KGBC), schools and the Kuwaiti Farmer and Developer Naser Al-Azmi Day at Scientific Center participated in the Earth Day event. The keynote seminar was about the challenges facing the Kuwaiti envi- Environmental student challenge concludes ronment and included speeches by Eng Hanan Boushehri - Parliamentary KUWAIT: The Dow Chemical reach activities and community experts and artists, with winners Consultant and a former member in Company, in partnership with the en.v engagements in order to achieve sus- being decided based on both visitors’ the Municipality Committee, Dr. Initiative, celebrated Earth Day with tainable, long-term results.” votes and judges’ scores. George Sari - representative of the an event held at The Scientific Center The DMCP launched the “Al Yaal As part of the two-day event, an Public Authority for Environment, Kuwait (TSCK) on April 23rd and 24th, Agents of Change Challenge” in exhibition was held to highlight and Fahad Al Azmi - lawyer at Al as part of the awareness and educa- February, across schools and universi- some of the major achievements Hamad Legal Group. In addition, the tion efforts undertaken by the Dow ties in Kuwait. The research and cre- accomplished by the Al Yaal Initiative event also included an art exhibition Marine Conservation Program ativity-driven environmental competi- over the past three years. A series of about the environment, with art- (DMCP). The two-day event featured tion is the first of its kind in Kuwait, installations were used to educate works by Saad Al Waheeb and Bader an exhibition which wrapped up the targeting students in the hopes of visitors about the importance of Al Ghaith. project’s “Al Yaal Agents of Change encouraging the country’s youth to community-led environmental pro- The Environmental Technology Challenge” student competition, in take a more active and action-orient- grams and the great impact they can Management Department is the first addition to a full program that includ- ed role in boosting environmental have, by underscoring the inspiring of its kind as a scientific major ed live music, workshops and various awareness. Participants were asked to results achieved by Al Yaal and the College of Life Sciences aiming to other interactive activities. submit project proposals identifying DMCP thus far. educate students on fields of envi- Following the opening ceremony and studying local environmental Introduced in 2011, the DMCP has ronmental science locally and global- which featured statements by repre- issues, proposing solutions to been spearheading the national ly. The Earth Day 2015 was themed sentatives from The Scientific Center address them and recommending marine conservation movement in ‘It’s Our Turn to Lead’ to redefine Kuwait, en.v and Dow Chemical, visi- action to mobilize the wider public. Kuwait and advocating the protec- what progress looks like. Earth Day tors were treated to a VIP tour of the From amongst all participants, a tion of fragile marine habitats in the takes place every year on 22 April to Scientific Center. A number of envi- total of five teams were shortlisted to country such as Sulaibikhat beach, or focus on global warming and to push ronmental groups and educational develop their projects into visual the Mangrove Beach as it has been for clean energy. It was launched in institutions also showcased their own case studies that were exhibited dur- nicknamed by volunteers. The pro- April 22, 1977 and continues to the conservation efforts at booths set up ing the Earth Day event. The teams gram carries out its work through present day. It takes place globally and throughout the event. represented four educational institu- sustained beach clean-ups, educa- has launched a number of strategic Addressing the crowd during his tions: Kuwait National English School tional outreach activities and volun- environmental projects such as; The opening statement, Zahed Sultan, (KNES), American Creativity Academy teer engagements. Now in its third Green Cities Campaign, The Canopy Managing Director at The en.v (ACA) Boys School, American School year, the DMCP has managed to col- Project, A Billion Acts of Green(r) in Initiative, said: “Earth Day carries spe- of Kuwait (ASK) and Box Hill College lect 17 and a half tons of waste over addition to the current core program cial significance for us. With environ- Kuwait (BHCK). The environmental the course of more than 60 clean- such as Greening Schools and mental awareness at its highest across issues that were featured in the exhi- ups. The program is carried out under Promoting Environmental Education the country, this is a great opportuni- bition included littering, irresponsi- the umbrella of Al Yaal in partnership and Accelerating the Global Green ty for us to encourage people to move ble disposal of waste and used tires, with en.v and K’S PATH as a sustained Economy. Gulf Bank is keen to support beyond awareness and start taking and protecting marine habitats. The marine conservation initiative which humanitarian global initiatives that action to protect our national ecosys- teams were required to explain their aims to encourage community advo- contribute positively to both the tems and natural habitats. We have visual case studies to a panel of cacy in its efforts to preserve Kuwait’s Kuwaiti community and the world as a always focused one educational out- judges comprising environmental coastal environment. whole. An ‘Earth Day’ exhibition. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Washington, Tokyo Yemen crisis spills into new Iran-US nuke talks widen defense ties

Page 8 Page 12 Nepal death toll could reach 10,000 Nepalis dig through quake rubble for survivors

KATHMANDU: The death toll from brother and sister-in-law in the debris of Nepal’s devastating earthquake could Kathmandu’s historic Dharahara tower. reach 10,000, the prime minister said yes- The 19th century minaret collapsed on terday, as residents frustrated by the gov- Saturday as weekend sightseers clam- ernment’s slow response used their bare bered up its spiral stairs. hands to dig for signs of their loved ones. “Our hands are the only machine right “The government is doing all it can for res- now,” said the 27-year-old, part of a group cue and relief on a war footing,” Prime of locals pulling out bricks and blocks of Minister Sushil Koirala said. “It is a chal- concrete with cloth masks over their faces lenge and a very difficult hour for Nepal.” to ward off the stench of rotting bodies. International aid has finally begun arriving “There is just no one from the govern- in the Himalayan nation of 28 million peo- ment or the army to help us.” Scores of ple, three days after Saturday’s 7.9 magni- people were killed in the collapse of the tude quake, but disbursement is slow. tower. Elsewhere in the capital’s ancient According to the home (interior) ministry, Durbar Square, groups of young men the confirmed death toll stands at 4,349, cleared rubble from around an ancient with more than 7,000 injured. temple, using pickaxes, shovels and their “The death toll could go up to 10,000 bare hands. A few policemen stood by, because information from remote villages watching. hit by the earthquake is yet to come in,” Heavy rain later slowed down the res- Koirala said. The United Nations said 8 mil- cue work. The head of neighboring India’s lion people were affected by the quake National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and that 1.4 million people were in need one of the first foreign organizations to of food. Nepal’s most deadly quake in 81 arrive in Nepal to help in the search and years also triggered a huge avalanche on rescue effort, said finding survivors and Mount Everest that killed at least 17 the bodies of the dead would take time. climbers and guides, including four for- NDRF Director General OP Singh said eigners, the worst single disaster on the heavy equipment could not fit through world’s highest peak. All the climbers who many of the narrow streets of Kathmandu. had been stranded at camps high up on “You have to remove all this rubble, so Everest had been flown by helicopters to that will take a lot of time ... I think it’s safety, mountaineers reported yesterday. going to take weeks,” he told Indian televi- A series of aftershocks, severe damage sion channel NDTV late on Monday. KATHMANDU: An earthquake victim’s body burns during a cremation ceremony in the Pashupatinata temple in Kathmandu yesterday. — AFP from the quake, creaking infrastructure while water, food and power are scarce, with about 20 volunteers looking for two teams. We are really desperate for more tents and dogs trained for rescue efforts, and a lack of funds have slowed rescue Slept in the open raising fears of waterborne diseases. of his friends presumed buried under rub- foreign expertise to pull through this cri- the authorities are struggling to deliver efforts in the impoverished, mountainous Many people across Nepal slept in the There were some signs of normality ble. “We are clearing the debris ourselves sis.” The situation is worse in remote rural relief further afield. A crush at the main country sandwiched between India and open for a third night, their homes either yesterday, however, with fruit vendors set- with our bare hands.” areas. Highways have been blocked by international airport, where relief material China. In the capital Kathmandu, youths flattened or threatened by tremors that ting up stalls on major roads and public Officials acknowledged they were landslides, and many villages and com- and rescue teams are flying in while thou- and relatives of victims were digging into spread more fear among a traumatized buses back in operation. But with aid slow overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. munities are without water and electricity, sands of residents are trying to leave, has the ruins of destroyed buildings and land- population. In Kathmandu, as elsewhere, to reach many of the most vulnerable, “The big challenge is relief,” said Chief villagers surviving on salvaged food and slowed the flow of aid. India and China marks. “Waiting for help is more torturous thousands are sleeping on pavements, some Nepalis were critical of the govern- Secretary Leela Mani Paudel, Nepal’s top with no outside help. were among the first contributors to an than doing this ourselves,” said Pradip roads and in parks, many under makeshift ment. “The government has not done bureaucrat. “We urge foreign countries to While aid has begun arriving in the international effort to support Nepal’s Subba, searching for the bodies of his tents. Hospitals are full to overflowing, anything for us,” said Anil Giri, who was give us special relief materials and medical capital, including food, medical supplies, stretched resources. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 IS killings leave asylum seekers in Israel shaken

TEL AVIV: Sitting in his sparsely furnished Negev desert-a remote “open” facility that flat in Tel Aviv, Fikre Mariam lowers his eyes has a night-time curfew. More than 2,000 and recounts watching footage of his African migrants are housed in the sprawl- cousin-a fellow Eritrean asylum seeker- ing complex, where they can be held for up beheaded by jihadists in Libya. “It was hor- to 20 months under Israeli law. Once in rible. I’ve never seen anything like it in my detention, they face either “voluntary” life,” says Mariam, one of tens of thousands departure from Israel to a third country, of African migrants who has sought asylum usually Uganda or Rwanda, or transfer to in Israel. “Those people are not human the nearby Saharonim prison. Despite beings-it’s pure terrorism to commit and hardships in their home countries, few film atrocities like that.” have any hope of being granted asylum. Of Mariam’s cousin, 30-year-old Tesfay an estimated 30,000 Eritreans who have Kidane, was among a group of at least 28 arrived in Israel in recent years, only four African Christians killed in the graphic have been given official refugee status, video released on April 19 by the Islamic according to rights groups such as the State group in Libya. Sixteen of the victims Hotline for Refugees and Migrants. were shot in the head while the rest, It is not clear when exactly Kidane left including Kidane, were beheaded. The Israel, but family members say that after video said the victims were Ethiopians, but being turned away in Uganda he arrived in Kidane and two others have since been Sudan, then travelled to Libya hoping to be identified as Eritreans who were reportedly smuggled into Europe. Contacted by AFP, trying to reach Europe by sea through the interior ministry refused to comment Libya after being rejected for asylum in on Kidane’s case or the issue of asylum Israel. seekers. Meseret Fisahaie, an Israeli-born Their deaths have thrown the spotlight relative of Kidane who works for HRM- on the Jewish state’s controversial immigra- which had the grim task of announcing tion policies, which rights groups say have Kidane was dead-says she tried to convince IDLIB: Fighters pray after rebel fighters from Islamicfactions — including the Nusra Front captured the town of Jisr Al-Shughour from Syrian seen thousands of African asylum seekers him not to leave Israel. “Before he left he government forces, in Idlib province, Syria. — AP coerced into “voluntary” departures. told me he was thinking about going to a Kidane’s friends and family only learned of third country, after the interior ministry his death after the video surfaced, when told him he could get refugee status in relatives and a Tel Aviv-based immigrant Uganda or Rwanda,” she says. “I told him I Islamic State has killed over assistance group identified him and the had a bad feeling about it, but he just other two Eritreans. “It has given me night- laughed and said: ‘What do you think will mares,” says Kidsti Ghezie, another cousin happen to me?’” 2,154 off battlefield in Syria living in the same flat in southern Tel Aviv, where the walls are decorated with ‘Like living in a prison’ Christian icons and images. “I saw pictures At Holot, detainees who knew Kidane of him sitting in an orange jumpsuit. I say he felt he had no choice but to go. “It’s Iraq faces huge challenges dislodging IS didn’t want to believe it was him,” she says, like living in a prison,” says Aman Beyene, referring to the clothing IS routinely forces standing outside Holot’s main gate and BEIRUT: Ultra-radical Islamic State insurgents nated desert province captured by the Islamic dozen soldiers. In the past few years, Iraq’s army its captives to wear in execution-style squinting as a desert storm kicks up dust have killed at least 2,154 people off the battle- State group in their offensive last year. But as has been hollowed out by corrupt commanders videos. and sand. “(Kidane) gave up-he got field in Syria since the end of June when the the battles for Tikrit and Ramadi have shown, it siphoning off salaries and equipment and not depressed and decided to leave.” Beyene group declared a caliphate in territory it con- will be a hard slog for a much-diminished Iraqi training soldiers to do much more than man No hope of asylum says that after seeing the video of the IS trols, a Syrian human rights monitor said yester- army - especially given Baghdad’s reticence to checkpoints. A force that once numbered in the Kidane crossed the border into Israel killings, he is more afraid of leaving Israel day. The killings of mostly Syrians included arm Sunni tribesmen and local fears of the hundreds of thousands is now estimated by US from Egypt in 2007, joining an estimated than of living in detention. “I’d choose deaths by beheading, stoning or gunshots in Shiite militias backing government forces. officials to be around 125,000 at best and prob- 48,000 illegal migrants in Israel from Africa, imprisonment here over departure,” he non-combat situations, the Britain-based Syrian Earlier this month, Iraqi forces captured the ably a lot less, once all the so-called “ghost-sol- most of them Eritrean and Sudanese. He says. At the camp, Sudanese and Eritrean Observatory for Human Rights said, urging the northern Sunni-majority city of Tikrit from the diers” - non-existent names on the payroll - are worked at menial jobs before eventually migrants wander aimlessly, drinking beer United Nations Security Council to act. Islamic State group, but only with the backing purged. Shiite leaders and parliamentarians being detained and sent last year to the and smoking around the ashes of camp- “We continue in our calls to the UN Security from Iranian-trained and Iran-funded Shiite insisting that Anbar can only be retaken with Holot detention centre in the southern fires burned during the night.—AFP Council for urgent action to stop the ongoing militias and US airstrikes - methods that cannot the help of the militias. murder against the sons of the Syrian people work in Anbar province. The army has had some victories around despite the deafness of members to the The Islamic State is estimated to hold at Baghdad and in the eastern Diyala province 20 dead as Yemeni rebels screams of pain of the Syrian people,” it said in a least 65 percent of the vast province at this with the help of Shiite militias. But if they were statement. Islamic State, which also holds tracts point. The past weeks of seesaw battles in used in Anbar, it would only further alienate of land in neighboring Iraq, is an offshoot of Al- Anbar, with progress in areas like Garma east of the Sunni population in the province, where advance in heart of Aden Qaeda and has set up its own courts in towns Fallujah, a stalemate in the biggest city of the Islamic State group has been entrenched and villages to administer what it describes as Ramadi and an Iraqi rout near Lake Tharthar, since January 2014. Dhari Al-Rishawi, a Sunni SANAA: Houthi rebels and their allies war era” scare tactics in Yemen, after an air Islamic law before carrying out the killings. show that the army still needs help. But relying tribal leader in Anbar who helped form the advanced in the heart of Yemen’s second city drop of leaflets that criticize “Persian expan- The Observatory, which tracks the conflict on erstwhile Shiite militia allies may not be Sunni militias known as Sahwa or Awakening Aden in heavy fighting that killed at least 20 sion”. The reference, to Iran’s language and using sources on the ground, said its figure palatable to locals. “The Iraqi soldiers fighting Councils, which with the US military drove Al- people, medical and security sources said yes- ancient name, was contained on white paper included combatants, civilians and also 126 in Anbar are not well-trained enough for this Qaeda out of the province in 2006, said people terday. A Saudi-led coalition meanwhile fliers released from Saudi aircraft in recent Islamic State fighters who had tried to flee the battle. Many of the soldiers are there for the are terrified that the army will be bringing the pressed air strikes for a seventh straight day weeks. As the Middle East’s foremost Sunni group or were accused of being spies. It did not money, but the (Shiite militias), they are believ- Shiite militias. since announcing a halt to its bombing cam- and Shiite powers, Saudi Arabia and Iran are include several beheaded foreign journalists ers in this fight,” said an Iraqi brigadier general “We know that if the militias are involved, paign last Tuesday, an AFP correspondent increasingly seen as vying for supremacy in and a Jordanian pilot who was burnt to death involved in the Anbar campaign. “There isn’t yet there will be Iranian advisers and that would be and witnesses reported. The rebels and their the region, which remains beset by conflict by the group, so the probable figure is even a clear plan to liberate Anbar because of the a disaster because in this region there is a lot of allies have lost 200 dead to the strikes since and political turmoil. The conflict in Yemen, higher, the Observatory’s Rami Abdulrahman political and tribal disputes.” sensitivity over Iranian interference,” Al-Rishawi they began on March 26, a spokesman said, where a Saudi-led coalition of Sunni Arab said. Hundreds of people believed captured by Speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. “The tribes of Anbar accusing the coalition of escalating not end- states launched air strikes on March 26 the Sunni Islamist group remain missing, he because he was not authorized to speak to are ready to fight the Islamic State and eject ing its air war. In Aden, forces loyal to exiled against Huthi Shiite rebels whom Riyadh added. One of the worst massacres was against journalists, he said some tribes might be sup- them but on the condition that the state arms President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi were accuses Tehran of arming, has exposed their the Sunni Muslim Sheitaat tribe which had portive but others were with the Islamic State them.” Plans to create a National Guard with pushed back in the city’s central Khor Maksar deteriorating relations. been battling Islamic State in eastern Syria. group. He also lamented how soldiers would Sunni fighters have stalled because the Shiite- district as the rebels overran Hadi’s family “Dropping these leaflets, as untrue as they Islamic State has killed at least 930 Sheitaat throw down their weapons and flee when hard- dominated government suspects many of sup- home and the German and Russian con- are, has the goal of frightening the Yemeni tribespeople, the Observatory said. pressed. On Friday, government reports of porting the Islamic State group and refuses to sulates, a local official said. Nine rebels were people,” Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s advances in Anbar were belied by an Islamic arm them. Under the former Prime Minister killed in the fighting, a source close to them Supreme National Security Council, was quot- Huge challenges State attack on a water control system on a Nouri Al-Maliki, the Sunni Awakening force was said. ed as saying. An AFP correspondent in Sanaa Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are on a westward canal north of Islamic State-occupied Fallujah dismantled after the US pulled out in 2011, fur- Eleven dead were brought into govern- said the leaflets were dropped for two weeks push to retake Anbar, a sprawling Sunni-domi- that killed a division commander and at least a ther alienating the local population.—Agencies ment-run hospitals, the city’s health chief Al- during Operation Decisive Storm, the name Khader Lasswar said, without specifying given to the air campaign which officially whether they were pro-Hadi militiamen or ended last week. Air strikes, however, have civilians. Hadi fled to neighboring Saudi continued. The leaflet, in Arabic, said: “My Yemen crisis spills Arabia when the rebels closed in on Aden last brother of Yemen. The real goal of the coali- month and the southern port city has seen tion is to support the people of Yemen into new Iran-US fierce fighting ever since. The rebels have against the Persian expansion.” received crucial support from army units still However, Shamkhani, a close adviser of nuke talks loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was forced from power in 2012 after a countered by saying Iran was helping in NEW YORK: US top diplomat John Kerry met his Iranian bloody year-long uprising. Their bases have Yemen by opposing the air strikes and provid- counterpart Monday hoping to push forward tough been one of the main targets of the Saudi-led ing aid. “They say the Iranian brothers were nuclear negotiations as they reach the final phase, but also air campaign and one in the heart of the the only ones who came to our help and aiming to ease unrest in Yemen. The secretary of state hud- rebel-held capital Sanaa was hit before dawn received our wounded,” Shamkhani cited dled with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday, an AFP correspondent reported. Yemenis as saying, describing the leaflets as for the first time since they hammered out the ground- Witnesses also reported air strikes on the “simplistic” and accusing Saudi officials of breaking parameters for a final deal to curb Iran’s nuclear rebels and their allies in oil-rich Marib backward thinking. “This is a technique that ambitions during marathon eight-day talks in Switzerland province, east of the capital, around third city western governments used to frighten peo- earlier this month. Taez, and in the Red Sea port of Hodeida. A ple in the cold war era,” he said. “This action Since the talks under the aegis of the P5+1 group spokesman for the pro-rebel armed forces by Saudi Arabia is repeating that failed west- resumed in earnest in the fall of 2013, the US has insisted said that 112 soldiers, 43 policemen and 45 ern method, and shows how old the minds of they are solely focused on the nuclear program. But Houthi militia had been killed in five weeks of Saudi politicians are.” coalition air strikes. In a statement carried by Iran summoned the Saudi charge d’af- increasingly, US officials have acknowledged that discus- the rebel-controlled Saba news agency late faires in Tehran on Friday to protest after the sions on other burning concerns, such as the growth of Monday, Brigadier General Sharaf Luqman kingdom’s fighter aircraft allegedly turned Islamic militants in Iraq and the unrest in Yemen fueled by accused Riyadh of “moving into a new stage” back humanitarian aid flights headed for Iran-backed Shiite militias, have bled into the talks of its air war, not halting it as promised. The Yemen from Tehran. Relations have been between two nations who do not have diplomatic ties. Kerry said ahead of the talks that he was “confident that rebels have said they will not return to UN- steadily worsening between Iran and Saudi CAIRO: Yemeni women wait outside the Yemeni embassy in Cairo, Egypt. — AP brokered peace talks until the air strikes end. because of the fighting in Yemen, leading to Yemen will be mentioned certainly, because Iran is obvi- heavy criticism by Khamenei and other top ously a supportive party to the Houthis.” “I will certainly ‘Anti-Persian’ leaflet officials. “What the Saudi government is Thousands stranded in urge that everybody do their part to try to reduce the vio- Meanwhile, a top Iranian security official doing in Yemen resembles exactly what the lence and allow the negotiations to begin,” he told yesterday accused Saudi Arabia of using “cold Zionist regime did in Gaza. —Agencies reporters, adding that the future of Yemen must be decid- Egypt; Yemen war rages ed by Yemenis and not “external parties and proxies.” Iran and the United States along with world powers are locked CAIRO: As a Shiite rebel offensive and saying some 3,800 Yemenis are trying to in a tough cycle of negotiations seeking to reach a deal by Saudi-led airstrikes rage on in Yemen, get home. Abu Bakr Badheeb, the June 30. thousands of Yemenis remain stuck in spokesman of the Yemeni Embassy in Egypt, unable to return home. Saudi Cairo, said 4,700 of the 5,800 citizens of his Shedding Armageddon fears Arabia, which launched its campaign country now in Egypt want to return. An Kerry and Zarif met at the New York residence of Iran’s against Houthi rebels in late March, has embassy statement suggests that number permanent representative to the United Nations, fresh closed the airspace over the Arab world’s grows by 200 each day as flights are can- from addressing a UN conference on the Nuclear Non- poorest country, halting all commercial celled. It said embassy officials, as well as Proliferation Treaty. “The vast majority of the world has flights. And while the plight of foreigners Yemeni businessmen living in Cairo and come to the conclusion-united around the belief that in Yemen trying to escape has caught the international agencies, are trying to find a nuclear weapons should one day be eliminated,” Kerry told attention of many, Yemenis trying to return way to relieve their plight. the conference. “Today the race to nuclear arms that once home increasingly have fewer options as But the embassy, surrounded by police, their money runs out, with some saying has become a growing focal point for the sparked the fear of imminent Armageddon in billions of they even sleep on the streets of Cairo. “We anger of Yemenis still in Egypt. Some say human beings and hearts, that has been supplanted in a have nothing left to sell,” said Saleh Hadad, they can’t get visas for family members wary but steady march... toward the promise of peace.” a Yemeni man from the country’s Marib who fled the violence in Yemen to come to While the global community was closer than ever to a province. “Where are we supposed to go?” Cairo. And while some in Yemen make a deal with Iran, Kerry said “the hard work is far from over Many, like Hadad and his mother, who perilous voyage across the sea to Djibouti and some key issues remain unresolved.” “If we can get has liver cancer, traveled to Egypt for med- to begin lives as refugees, many of those there, the entire world will be safer,” he insisted. Lower-lev- ical care they can’t receive back home. in Egypt simply want to return home. “We el negotiations resumed last week in Vienna after the April Some families have been able to scrounge are just simple farmers from the country- 2 breakthrough in Lausanne, but little has trickled out up small apartments to rent. Others say side,” Yemeni traveler Khaidara Hussein about the discussions. The 75-minute meeting was “pro- SANAA: A Shiite fighter, known as a Houthi (bottom) collects ammunition at the resi- they have become effectively homeless. said. “We would rather return and die ductive,” a senior State Department official said, adding the dence of a military commander of the Houthi militant group, destroyed by a Saudi- Estimates widely range on how many are among our families than live like this two men had discussed the outcomes of last week’s talks led airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen yesterday. — AP now stuck, with activist Rawan Al-Aghbary here.”—AP and “a path forward.”—AFP INTERNATIONAL WENESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Forgotten victims of Mexico drug war’s stray bullets

OCOTLAN: The mechanic was working under a car are caught in the crossfire. But there are no official lies should be treated, said Gerardo Rodriguez try not at war, where there are “extrajudicial actors when he turned his head and saw a dozen pick-up figures on the number of bystanders killed in the Sanchez Lara, a national security expert. “The issue is who kill civilians, the issue of compensation is more trucks creeping down the street in Mexico’s western drug war, according to experts. complex and very new in Mexico,” he said, noting complicated,” the expert said. state of Jalisco. “The devil is on the loose,” Jorge The country lacks legislation on who should com- that in a country at war, those who lose or the state Rodriguez said the state should provide compen- Gerardo Herrera said ominously to his colleagues as pensate the families of victims, and how those fami- will usually be made to pay damages. But in a coun- sation to families of civilians killed in clashes, just as he turned back to the car he was fixing in the town it takes care of relatives of dead police officers. One of Ocotlan. Suddenly, a gunfight erupted and a stray major case of innocent civilians caught in the drug bullet landed in the mechanic’s heart, turning him war took place last year in southern Guerrero state, into the latest innocent and forgotten victim of where crooked police officers opened fire on bus- Mexico’s cruel drug violence. loads of college students. Three students and three His death was recounted by the garage’s owner, bystanders were killed. Another 43 students were Felipe de Jesus Ramirez, who was there when mem- abducted by officers and delivered to a drug gang, bers of the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug which killed them and incinerated their bodies, cartel ambushed a federal gendarmerie convoy on according to prosecutors. In the northern state of March 19. Eleven people died in the shootout, Tamaulipas, shootouts have regularly erupted in the including five police officers, three suspected gun- cities of Matamoros, Reynosa and Tampico this year. men and three bystanders. The victims included a Residents have used social media to indicate where teenager who was returning home after doing his shootouts take place so that people can take cover. homework at a friend’s place. “We could hear the bullets whizzing by,” Ramirez said. He ran into his Hiding in bathroom garage with a woman and five girls who had been But the people of Ocotlan, a town of 90,000, did walking nearby. Jorge Gerardo died as he stepped not have much time to react to the March 19 onto the sidewalk, caught by a bullet that felled him ambush. An altar with flowers and candles was instantly. He was 25 and about to get married. placed on the spot where the teenage student was killed, just 400 meters from where the mechanic was No compensation hit. The walls of homes still bear the scars of bullet More than 80,000 people have died in Mexico’s holes. One woman said she and her son hid in the drug war since late 2006, when then president bathroom when the bullets began flying. “Thank Felipe Calderon deployed troops to crackdown on God, they were only 9mm bullets” and not more drug cartels. The controversial deployment, which lethal ammunition fired by AR-15 or AK-47 assault has continued since President Enrique Pena Nieto rifles-weapons used in other attacks and that are took office in 2012, has led to numerous clashes ACAPULCO: Two bodies of four dead people lie on a street in downtown Acapulco, Guerrero State, powerful enough to penetrate walls, said the between gangs and security forces. There are deaths Mexico. Guerrero is one of Mexico’s poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has woman, who asked for security reasons to remain on both sides, and occasionally innocent bystanders flourished. — AFP anonymous. — AFP Vietnam and US test hard-won friendship

BANGKOK: After tanks from communist North der war. Such a crude response is unlikely today, Vietnam burst through the gates of the but China - Vietnam’s biggest trading partner - Presidential Palace in Saigon 40 years ago has other tools at hand. Nguyen Phu Trong, as Thursday, Washington imposed a punitive eco- Communist Party chief - effectively the top nomic embargo that kept Hanoi from receiving leader in Vietnam - is expected to make an assistance even from multilateral institutions unprecedented visit to Washington later this such as the World Bank. For decision-makers in year. To allay Chinese anxiety, he led a top-level Hanoi and Washington, an anniversary more sig- delegation to Beijing earlier this month to affirm nificant to relations today comes this summer: their traditional ties. The countries restored diplomatic relations in Shared interests in boosting business have July 1995. Then-President Bill Clinton also lifted also been a big factor in the evolution of rela- the embargo and brokered a bilateral trade tions. Hanoi and Washington both see benefit in agreement; when he finally visited the Vietnam joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Vietnamese capital in 2000, he received a rock- controversial and yet-to-be-finalized regional star welcome. trade pact. But some US lawmakers feel that Hanoi should clean up its human rights act Mutual rival before getting trade privileges predicted to sub- The countries’ ties, though strained on issues stantially pump up its economy. The human such as human rights, has grown since then, rights issue also stands in the way of the United thanks in part to a mutual rival: China. Bilateral States lifting a ban on the sale of lethal arms to friendship was formalized in 2013, when Vietnam. It was partially lifted to allow the mar- Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang visited the itime security aid package, but Hanoi feels it White House and with President Barack Obama should be cleared as a sign of trust that launched a “Comprehensive Partnership” for Washington doesn’t lump it in with countries cooperation in political and diplomatic relations, such as North Korea. trade and economic ties, defense, the war lega- Hanoi and Washington both see benefit in cy and many other issues. The two countries Vietnam joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pledged respect for “each other’s political sys- controversial and yet-to-be-finalized regional tems, independence, sovereignty, and territorial trade pact. But some US lawmakers feel that integrity.” Hanoi should clean up its human rights act Both countries regard with wariness the off- before getting trade privileges predicted to sub- shore territorial claims by Beijing in the South stantially pump up its economy. While Vietnam’s China Sea, including in traditionally Vietnamese long-term human rights trend has been a sharp waters. Washington frames its South China Sea improvement on the immediate post-war era of policy in terms of freedom of navigation and re-education camps, its record on freedom of HO CHI MINH CITY: People commute along a road in Ho Chi Minh City. Forty years after it won the war, the Communist Party still rules Vietnam peaceful resolution of disputes, but its credibili- expression is poor. The Committee to Protect with an iron fist. — AFP ty as a Pacific power rests on showing a little Journalists this month listed it among the 10 muscle and tightening military alliances. It worst countries worldwide in restricting press would like to have Hanoi as a partner. The first freedom, alongside such nations as Eritrea, US Navy goodwill and friendship port call in North Korea and Saudi Arabia. Jamaican brings attention Vietnam took place in 2003, and since then the Hard-liners in Hanoi regard the human-rights two countries have held an increasing number issue as a stalking horse for regime change. of noncombatant exercises and high-level Apart from military ties, Vietnam’s relations with defense dialogues. the United States are already on par with those to rapes targeting lesbians of other Southeast Asian nations. VIP visits are Shared interests common. Just this month Vietnam hosted At the end of 2013, Washington agreed to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus for a joint navy provide Vietnam with five patrol boats as part of activity, and a congressional delegation led by ‘Leave this lifestyle and go back to church’ an $18 million maritime security assistance Democrat House leader Nancy Pelosi met with package. But an actual alliance with the United President Sang. The United States is Vietnam’s KINGSTON: When Angeline Jackson and a friend were States would antagonize China, Vietnam’s big largest single-country export market, and ambushed at gunpoint and sexually assaulted on a brother both ideologically and historically. After Vietnam’s exports to the US compete strongly wooded trail outside the Jamaican capital, police ini- Vietnam offended China by invading Cambodia with those from the more mature economies of tially seemed less concerned about the attack than in 1978, Beijing launched a brief but bloody bor- Malaysia and Thailand. —AP the fact she is a lesbian. “The first policewoman I spoke to told me I should leave this lifestyle and go ‘Batman’ theater gunman back to church,” Jackson recalled of the 2009 attack, shaking her head in frustration. It is an attitude all too common on the island, trial hears massacre plans where gay rights activists say homosexuals suffer per- vasive discrimination and occasional attacks. Activists CENTENNIAL: Alleged “Batman” theater gun- trapped explosives he rigged at his apart- say some LGBT people have even been the victims of man James Holmes meticulously planned the ment failed to go off. The 27-year-old, who brutal sexual assaults intended to force them into 2012 massacre after breaking up with his girl- has pleaded not guilty due to insanity, lis- becoming heterosexual or punish them for not fitting friend and flunking college, prosecutors said tened calmly as the prosecutor set out his societal norms. Jackson says she was targeted by a Monday, giving harrowing details of the case on the first day of his trial, which could small group of anti-gay rapists who posed as lesbians slaughter. In opening remarks at Holmes’ trial, see Holmes face the death sentence. Holmes- on an Internet chatroom and lured the two women to prosecutor George Brauchler gave the first who sported neatly-trimmed brown hair and the remote footpath. The response to her attack authoritative blow-by-blow account of the a beard for the first court session-has been in inspired Jackson to take action. Now, the 24-year-old killings that left 12 dead and 70 injured in custody since the night of the mass murder in woman directs Jamaica’s only registered organization Aurora, Colorado. “On a cool July night... 400 Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. for lesbians and bisexual women. Grisly and harrowing evidence is being Jamaica has long had a reputation for intolerance presented at the trial. In an emergency 911 of male homosexuality, with many on the island see- ing it as a moral perversion imported from abroad. But call from that night, played in court, repeated Gay rights activist Angeline Jackson shots and screams can be heard as a caller the stigma against Jamaican homosexual women and tells the police dispatcher about the unfold- the underreported crime of targeted sexual assault of gay man, including cases of rape at knife or gunpoint. by two gunmen who hissed the anti-gay epithet lesbians is receiving growing attention. Last year, Vice ing massacre. Brauchler opened his case by “It is clear from victims’ testimonies that anti-LGBT “sodomite” at her as she lay bleeding on a street from President Joe Biden mentioned Jamaica’s struggle showing a photo of the back door of the animus is a factor,” said Graeme Reid, LGBT program two bullets. She later received asylum in the with “corrective rape for lesbian women” while speak- director for the New York-based group. Even when Netherlands and her story was told in the 2013 docu- Aurora movie theater, smeared with blood. ing about global gay rights. The phrase emerged years attacks are reported, prosecution is difficult in mentary “The Abominable Crime.” “Before the gun- “Through this door is horror,” he said. ago in South Africa where attacks targeting lesbians Jamaica’s inefficient, overwhelmed criminal justice shots, guys would always call me sodomite girl, les- “Through this door is bullets, blood, brains have occurred again and again in predominantly poor system. The main alleged assailant in Jackson’s case, in bian girl. They would come up to me and say, ‘You just and bodies.” Witnesses said Holmes-who had neighborhoods. fact, was acquitted in 2011, though he previously was need one good night of sex with a man,’” Edwards said bright orange hair at the time of the attack- Earlier this month, President Barack Obama singled accused of a number of rapes and sexual assaults. by phone from The Hague. The Associated Press does- threw smoke bombs before opening fire ran- out Jackson’s advocacy during his 24-hour visit to Police Superintendent Enid Ross-Stewart, head of the n’t normally reveal the names of sexual assault vic- domly with weapons including an AR-15 mili- Jamaica, telling a crowd that she courageously chose island’s sex crimes unit, said investigators have never tims, but the women in this story have come out pub- tary-style rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40- to speak out even though “as a woman and as a les- received a report of someone targeted because of licly to discuss their ordeals. caliber pistol. bian, justice and society were not always on her side.” their homosexuality and she believes that “all the peo- Although there are growing pockets of LGBT toler- With a population of less than 3 million, few incidents ple who are raped come forth.” ance in Jamaica, anti-gay attitudes continue to be Booby-trapped apartment of sexual attacks are reported to LGBT activists. The Sometimes, female victims of sexual violence wait fueled by some church leaders and dancehall reggae island’s main gay rights group, J-FLAG, has document- COLORADO: James Holmes appearing in Prosecutors say Holmes had enough to leave Jamaica before revealing their experiences. performers who disparage homosexuality. And like ed several cases over the years and Jackson’s burgeon- Reggae singer Diana King, who in 2012 became the other English-speaking Caribbean nations, sex court at the Arapahoe County Justice ammunition to kill everyone in the crowded ing organization has heard of about a dozen. first Jamaican musical artist to publicly come out as between men, in fact, is unlawful in Jamaica, with vio- Center in Centennial, Colorado. — AFP theater showing “The Dark Knight Rises.” Contrary to reports, the shooter’s orange hair gay, recently tweeted from her Florida home that lators subject to 10 years imprisonment and hard people filed into a box-like theater to be at the time was not linked to the film’s Joker Threats, sexual attacks when she was a 13-year-old on the island, she was labor, although the anti-sodomy law is rarely enforced. entertained... and one person came in to character, Brauchler said. The scope of the problem is impossible to gauge “gang raped for looking at a girl too long.” In her 2010 Jackson is gaining recognition here and abroad for her with accuracy in Jamaica. There’s no clear definition of slaughter them,” the prosecutor said, pointing His apartment was later found to be boo- memoir, Brooklyn-based writer Staceyann Chin writes work with her group, Quality of Citizenship for what constitutes a hate crime and police do not at Holmes in a hushed courtroom. “One guy by-trapped with an array of homemade she was ostracized after coming out as a lesbian on a Jamaica. But so far, few LGBT women are willing to risk specifically record threats or sexual attacks targeting Kingston college campus, and one day was herded exposure. who felt as if he had lost his career, lost his explosive devices, which police had to disarm lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. into a bathroom by several male students, who sexu- In the northern city of Montego Bay, a lesbian said love life, lost his purpose, came to execute a before entering the dwelling. Activists say Jamaican homosexuals targeted because ally assaulted her while telling her that women were she wasn’t ready to pursue justice for a 2011 attack plan... He tried to murder a theater full of peo- The prosecutor told how Holmes had of their sexual orientation prefer not to formally created for men to enjoy. she described as a “corrective rape” by a friend’s broth- ple to make himself feel better.” been dumped by his first ever girlfriend in the report attacks or threats, fearful of being stigmatized er. He cornered her, she recalled, remembering his The death toll could have been much months before the attack, and had also failed or blamed. Human Rights Watch last year reported it The Abominable Crime Jamaican patois: “You think me no know who you be? higher, Brauchler said-but a gun cartridge to make the grade at college, leaving him knew of 10 cases of sexual assault in Jamaica target- Some Jamaican lesbians have sought asylum You go on like you’re a man. Me see how you dress jammed in the movie theater, while booby- with no obvious next step. —AFP ing eight lesbians, one transgender woman and one abroad. In 2008, Simone Edwards survived an attack and me know who you be,” she said. —AP INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Birds of prey help NATO warplanes police Baltic air

ZOKNIAI: A NATO mission policing Baltic Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the engine and completely destroy an air- airspace amid heightened tensions with defense alliance but lacked the air power craft. These engines are very expensive, Russia has forged a rather exotic alliance to monitor their own airspace. not to mention the danger posed to to ensure the safety of pilots and their Under Moscow’s thumb until 1991, the pilots,” Polish airforce Captain Janusz jets. Four birds of prey-three falcons and three small states have been on high alert Szczypior, who is currently deployed to an eagle-soar over the tarmac near four since Russia annexed the Crimean penin- Zokniai said. Jets took off from the airstrip massive hangars at the Zokniai airforce sula from Ukraine last year. NATO jets a total of 150 times last year, often scram- base in northwest Lithuania. The winged have been scrambled dozens of times bled to monitor Russian warplanes. warriors flew in from Poland along with from Zokniai in recent months to escort The winged predators provide maxi- their trainer to keep runways clear of oth- Russian fighters and nuclear-capable mum safety at minimal cost. One falcon is er birds and wildlife, so as to avert poten- bombers flying near the Baltic states with worth up to 1,000 euros ($1,080) and eats tially disastrous collisions on take-off and their transponders switched off, sparking the equivalent of its weight in meat each landing. protests over the danger they posed to day. That compares favorably with the Experience shows that predatory birds civil aviation. In December, a Russian mili- cost of jet fuel when fighters can burn up and the ancient art of falconry vastly out- tary plane came dangerously close to a to 15 liters per second. perform man-made acoustic and visual passenger plane from Cimber Air, of the Officials at the Lithuanian base took a scare tactics, which wild birds quickly SAS group, which had taken off from shine to their fine-feathered allies and realize pose no credible threat. “All artifi- Copenhagen headed for Poznan in have signed Chroscinski to stay on for the cial methods work only for a short time Poland, according to the Swedish military. summer when wild birds are particularly because birds get used to them, but active in the area. they’re always mindful of predators,” ‘Ounce of prevention’ “Better an ounce of prevention than a Mariusz Chroscinski, a soft-spoken Polish Chroscinski sends his birds of prey fly- pound of cure,” Arnas Glazauskas, coordi- falconer said. The Polish airforce brought ing above the airbase and walks up and nator of international forces at Zokniai the 26-year-old to Zokniai to help out down the runways with a hunting dog to said. “The method is proving very effi- with its four-month rotation in NATO’s ensure wild birds keep their distance as cient, especially with the spike in take- Baltic air policing mission. NATO has been jets prepare for take-off. “Even the small- SIAULIAI: Falconer Mariusz Chruscinski holds a falcon at the Zokniai air base offs and landings we’ve experienced guarding Baltic skies since 2004, when est of birds can be swallowed up by a jet near Siauliai, Lithuania. — AFP lately.” — AFP ‘Hundreds’ found dead as Boko Haram strikes again Decomposing bodies litter the streets of Damasak

MAIDUGURI: Hundreds of people have been The former military ruler said in a statement found dead in the northeast Nigerian town of issued by his All Progressives Congress party: “No Damasak, apparently victims of the Boko Haram religion allows for the killing of children in school insurgency, as details emerged on Monday of dormitories, in markets and places of worship. fresh attacks by the militants. Reports of decom- “They have nothing to do with religion. They are posing bodies littering the streets of Damasak terrorists and we are going to deal with them as came as president Muhammadu Buhari we deal with terrorists.” denounced the Islamists as a bogus religious Buhari was speaking after Boko Haram fight- group and vowed a hard line against them when ers stormed the island of Karamga on Lake Chad he comes to power at the end of next month. in motorized canoes before sunrise on Saturday. Northeast Nigeria has been relentlessly tar- Troops from Niger stationed on the island “were geted throughout the jihadists’ six-year uprising caught off guard” and suffered heavy losses, said but there had been a lull in violence in recent Umar Yerima, a fisherman who witnessed the weeks. A coalition of troops from Chad, raid but escaped by hiding in long grass near Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria has claimed major the shore. Niger’s military confirmed the attack victories since February, reportedly flushing the but did not provide a death toll. A security militants out of areas they previously controlled. source in Chad said Niger lost 48 soldiers and The discovery of hundreds of bodies, including another 36 were missing. Another source, an women and children, and the latest attacks official from southeastern Niger’s Diffa region, underlined both the brutality of the conflict and said the toll was much higher at 80 dead and the continuing threat posed by the extremists. some 30 missing. Yerima told AFP the Islamic State group-allied militants “turned their guns” Mass graves onto civilians after overpowering the troops, fir- The grim find in Damasak “far outnumbered” ing at people who had jumped into the water to that of about 100 bodies found in a mass grave avoid detection. Some residents were also burnt under a bridge after the town was liberated in alive in their homes, he added. early March by Chadian forces, said local resident Kaumi Kusur. “Dead bodies were found in hous- Shot dead ZVORNIK: Bosnian policemen Stevo Milovanovic and Zeljko Gajic lie in their hospital beds in eastern Bosnia town of Zvornik, a day after an es, streets and many more in the Damasak River On Friday, suspected Boko Haram fighters attack at their police station in Zvornik. — AFP which has dried up,” he said, adding the victims disguised as soldiers intercepted a group of were buried in 20 mass graves at the weekend. people trying to return to their homes to collect Mohammed Sadiq, another local who helped in abandoned food supplies in northeastern Yobe the burials on Saturday, put the death toll at state. “The men, 21 of them, were stopped at Gunman storms Bosnian more than 400 but the Borno state government Bultaram (village) by gunmen we believe are did not state a precise figure, giving a toll of Boko Haram who shot them dead,” said Baba “hundreds”. Nuhu, an official with the Gujba local govern- The victims had been covered by sand from ment. Like many Gujba residents, Nuhu and the encroaching desert, with the burial ordered Haruna Maram, the brother of one of the vic- police station, kills one by the state authorities, which are looking at the tims, have sought refuge from the violence in return of thousands of people displaced by the Yobe’s capital Damaturu. “My brother and 20 violence. Buhari, who takes office on May 29, was others wanted to bring back their grains to aug- elected last month on a pledge of a tougher ment their lean food supplies,” Maram said. Security level raised after apparent Islamist attack approach to Boko Haram than the current “Unfortunately, they were killed by (the) same administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Boko Haram we ran away from.” —AFP SARAJEVO: A gunman shouting “Allahu Akbar” killing a policemen before he stormed into the and an attack on the US embassy in the capital (God is greatest) attacked a police station in east- station and wounded two other officers. He was Sarajevo a year later. “What happened in Zvornik ern Bosnia on Monday, killing one police officer then killed in an exchange of fire. is a classic terrorist attack that deserves utmost and wounding two before he was shot dead, a Ibric also had a pistol and pockets filled with condemnation,” said the chairman of Bosnia’s police spokeswoman said. The attack occurred at ammunition, while another shot gun was found three-man inter-ethnic presidency Mladen Ivanic, around 7 pm in Zvornik, a town in Bosnia’s Serb- in his car. Lukac told the Serb Republic television a Bosnian Serb. dominated autonomous region, the Serb that a man from Ibric’s village said he had acted in Most Bosnian Muslims practice a moderate Republic, which together with the Bosniak-Croat a strange way in recent days and prayed in a local form of Islam but some have become radicalized Federation makes up the Bosnia that emerged mosque in an unusual way. “We have all indica- after the war, in which most victims were Muslims. from the 1992-95 war. tions that he was connected to the Wahhabi The government estimates that up to 200 have “This is the worst terrorism attack that could movement,” he said, referring to the followers of gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for the Islamic State happen in the Serb Republic,” regional Interior the puritanical Sunni Wahhabi sect whose num- group. Thousands of Muslim Bosniaks were Minister Dragan Lukac told local television, bers have grown in Bosnia after the war under the expelled from Zvornik by Serb forces during the adding that security levels had been raised after influence of foreign fighters who had fought on war but some have since returned. Lukac said that the attack. Lukac identified the attacker as 24- the side of Bosnian Muslims against Bosnian special police forces were sent to the area to help year-old Nerdin Ibric from a village near Zvornik. Serbs and Bosnian Croats. prevent any incidents out of retaliation against He said the attack was carried out while police Doctors said the police officers’ wounds were Muslims there. “We shall see if this had been officers were changing shifts, and that he obvi- not life-threatening. This was the first attack of its planned or was an individual act,” he added. The ously knew that most officers would be present at kind in the Serb Republic, though similar ones presidency and central government, as well as the that time. He said that Ibric drove his car to the have occurred in the Federation, including a 2010 Serb Republic government, called emergency ses- police station and opened fire with a shot gun, bomb attack on a police station in central Bosnia sions yesterday. — Reuters As UK election looms, Ireland fears ‘Brexit’

MYKOLAIV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (left) watches a military exercise LONDON: With elections looming in Britain, the Irish positive impact it has had on Northern Ireland, our bad old days when there were border controls on this of the Ukrainian armed forces in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. — AP government has taken the unusual step of beginning economies, and the British-Irish relationship has been island,” said David Farrell, director of the Institute of a campaign to warn its biggest trading partner nothing less than transformative,” Irish Prime Minister the Irish-British Studies at University College Dublin. against leaving the European Union. British Prime Enda Kenny said in a speech in Belfast in Northern “Over the long-term there are serious ramifications.” Poroshenko warns Minister David Cameron’s promise of an EU member- Ireland in March. A key concern is the physical return Kenny described Brexit as “the most profound issue ship referendum by 2017 if he is re-elected has set off of a 90-year-old border between Ireland and Northern that the North would have to deal with in the coming alarm bells in Dublin, keen to guard its burgeoning Ireland, which has all but disappeared in recent years. years,” and is setting up a new government unit dedi- of ‘threats of war’ recovery from a painful economic crisis. “Keeping the “I’m old enough to remember what it was like in the cated to Brexit and British-Irish ties. —AFP EU intact, with the UK at the centre of it, is really worth KIEV: Ukraine’s leader warned yesterday that a graphical area of ceasefire violations by the sepa- fighting tooth and nail for,” Irish Foreign Minister war with pro-Russian separatists could still break ratists has widened,” military spokesman Charlie Flanagan said at the launch of a study on the out again as its military said the rebels had Oleksander Motuzyanyk told journalists. possible impact of “Brexit”, or Britain exiting Europe. greatly stepped up attacks and widened the Attacks had been intense around Shyrokyne, Concerns centre on the effect on trade between area of their operations despite a ceasefire. A east of the coastal city of Mariupol on the Sea of Britain and Ireland that amounts to over 1 billion military spokesman said one Ukrainian service- Azov, he said. Motuzyanyk also alleged that euros a week ($1.1 billion) and the prospect of manag- man had been killed-the fourth fatality among rebels were using large-caliber weapons and ing a land border with Northern Ireland, which is part the Ukrainian armed forces in four successive grad rocket systems in violation of the February of the United Kingdom. days-and 14 others wounded in a surge in vio- ceasefire. Near Donetsk, a big city now under Dublin is also loath to imperil progress on peace in lence at flashpoints in Ukraine’s east and south- rebel control, separatists were trying to probe the north, and the turnaround of its long-fraught rela- east. The latest violence has revived concerns Ukrainian government defenses at Avdiyivka, a tionship with Britain. “It’s the main geopolitical risk to that a peace deal, brokered in Minsk, Belarus, by coke-producing centre and the northern gate- Ireland in the next 12 months, more so than a war in the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and way to the city, he said. “The increase in the Russia or the Greek situation spilling over,” said France, in February could collapse. Both sides quantity of armed attacks ... demonstrate the Stephen Kinsella, senior economist at the University of accuse each other of violations. unwillingness of the separatists to settle the Limerick. Dublin kept silent over a 2014 referendum Speaking at a conference called to reassure conflict by peaceful means,” Motuzyanyk said. on Scottish independence, but has decided to speak Ukraine’s Western backers that Kiev would stick Speaking to journalists at the conference in out on EU membership, Ireland’s ambassador to to reforms to earn a place in mainstream Europe, Kiev, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said: “It has Britain Dan Mulhall said. “There is concern in Dublin. President Petro Poroshenko said Kiev saw no to be clearly stated: attracting a private investor Ireland is the country that would be most affected by other solution to the conflict in the east other to a country which is at war with a nuclear- a British exit from the EU, apart from Britain itself,” than by negotiations and diplomacy. But he armed state - the Russian Federation - is very dif- Mulhall said. “Whenever I have the opportunity I will added: “We are still under a threat of war.” More ficult.” From Belgrade, German Frank-Walter make the point. In almost all of the speeches I do pub- than 6,100 civilians, separatists and military per- Steinmeier called on both rebels and the licly I include an element about Europe.” sonnel have been killed so far in the conflict. Ukrainian government “not to risk the Minsk Fighting erupted in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking peace agreement.” “The process of implementa- Risk to peace east after the Moscow-backed president was tion (of the Minsk agreement) must be acceler- A British exit from the EU would be an end to a ousted in a public revolt and Russia annexed ated unfortunately over recent days we have forum in which Ireland has often found itself arguing LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron makes Crimea. “In the past 24 hours the resistance (from backtracked in terms of the conflict intensifying,” on the same side as its neighbor, re-booting relations a speech surrounded by workers during his visit to Kelvin Hughes, a company which manufac- separatists) has significantly increased. The geo- he said. — Reuters after centuries of acrimony between the two. “The tures naval tactical radar systems, in north London. — AP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

52 missing, feared dead in Afghanistan landslide

KABUL: At least 52 people, mostly gency in what is expected to be the year,” he added, highlighting the chal- of families homeless in Argu district of Taleban, which launched its traditional women and children, are missing after a bloodiest spring-summer fighting sea- lenges facing the relief effort. Lal Badakhshan province which borders spring offensive last Friday. The militants landslide swept through a village in son in a decade. Mohammad Ahmadzai, the police Tajikistan, China and Pakistan. And last have stepped up attacks on government Afghanistan’s remote mountainous At least 25 women and 22 children spokesman of Badakhshan, confirmed June flash floods killed around 80 people and foreign targets in recent weeks, northeast yesterday in the latest natural were among those missing in the latest the toll. “Initial information shows 100 in a remote mountainous district of inflicting a heavy toll on civilians and disaster to impact the war-torn nation, landslide in Jaryo Bala village of houses have been destroyed in the land- neighboring Baghlan province after Afghan security forces. This year’s officials said. The disaster in Badakhshan Badakhshan, deputy provincial governor slide and 52 people are missing,” heavy torrential rains. Severe flooding Taleban offensive marks the first fighting province comes nearly a year after Gul Mohammad Beidar said. “We have Ahmadzai said. also affected a vast swathe of season in which Afghan forces will battle another landslide triggered by heavy asked Kabul for help and they have said Flooding and landslides often occur Afghanistan last year, particularly north- the insurgents without the full support rains buried a village in the isolated they are sending two helicopters to during the spring rainy season in north- ern provinces, leaving 175 people dead of US-led foreign combat troops. NATO’s region, killing at least 300 people. The assist with the rescue operations,” Beidar ern Afghanistan, with flimsy mud houses and tens of thousands displaced. combat mission formally ended in disasters highlight the challenges facing said. “This is a remote area on the border offering little protection against rising Afghanistan is currently in the grip of December but a small follow-up foreign underdeveloped Afghanistan as the with Tajikistan and the road to this dis- water levels and torrents of mud. The fierce battles in various provinces force has stayed on to train and support country battles a resilient Taleban insur- trict remains closed for six months of the landslide in May last year left hundreds between local security forces and the local security personnel. — AFP

News in brief Pakistan hangs 100th convict

Saudi beheaded Pakistan guard shoots, kills himself at US Consulate RIYADH: Saudi Arabia beheaded a citizen yesterday after convicting him of murdering a compatriot, the interior ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yesterday carried out its 100th exe- ministry said. Faris Al-Qahtani was found guilty of shooting cution since lifting a moratorium on the death penalty last dead Hadi Al-Yami and stealing his money and car, the December, in what rights group Amnesty International ministry said in a statement carried by official Saudi Press described as a “shameful milestone”. Hangings resumed after Agency. His execution in the southwestern province of the country’s bloodiest-ever militant attack, in which the Abha was the 69th in the kingdom so far this year. That Taleban gunned down 154 people-mostly children-at a compares with 87 in the whole of 2014 in what Amnesty school in the northwest. Munir Hussain, who was convicted of International has called a “macabre spike” in the kingdom’s a double murder in 2000, was hanged in the town of Vehari in use of the death penalty. The London-based human rights Punjab province, said Syed Babar Ali Shah, superintendent of group ranked Saudi Arabia among the top three execution- Vehari jail. “He was convicted for murdering his nephew and ers in the world last year. Drug trafficking, rape, murder, niece with an axe over a property dispute in November 2000,” apostasy and armed robbery are all punishable by death said Shah, adding that Hussain was sentenced to death in under the kingdom’s strict version of Islamic sharia law. 2001. A second prison official confirmed the execution. Amnesty said Islamabad was gaining a reputation as one of the world’s leading executioners. A moratorium on the Rape, murder of nun death penalty had been in force since 2008, but after the JOHANNESBURG: South African police said yesterday school attack it was lifted for those convicted of terrorism they had arrested three people for the rape and mur- offences. In March it was extended to cover all capital der of a 86-year-old nun of Austrian origin nearly two offences. The European Union, the United Nations and human weeks ago. Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, from the rights campaigners have all urged Pakistan to reinstate the Sacred Heart Home Convent in the village of Ixopo, moratorium. Critics say the country’s criminal justice system is southwest of Durban, was found murdered in her marred by police torture, poor legal representation for victims room after being suffocated with a towel, and her and unfair trials. hands tied with an electric typewriter cord. Police said Amnesty estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 pris- the three male suspects, aged between 25 and 35, oners on death row, most of whom have exhausted the would appear in a local magistrate’s court today on appeals process. “In reaching this shameful milestone of 100 murder, robbery and rape charges. “They were found executions in just over four months, the Pakistani authorities in possession of some of the stolen property which are showing total disregard for human life,” said David were positively identified as property belonging to the Griffiths, the group’s deputy Asia Pacific director, in a state- victim,” police said in a statement. “It is alleged that for- ment. “Our concerns are heightened by manifestly unfair trials eign currency had been taken from Tiefebacher’s in many cases that fall well below minimum standards set by room. It is also suspected that the victim was raped international law. This conveyor belt of killing will do nothing before she was killed.” Austrian-born Tiefenbacher was to address the root causes of crime and terrorism, and must PESHAWAR: Pakistanis carry the lifeless body of an infant killed from heavy rain and windstorm that reached up to buried on Monday in Ixopo after a church service at end immediately.” a speed of 120 kph (which collapsed hundreds of buildings, uprooted trees, and electric poles, in Peshawar, Sacred Heart, where she worked as a school secretary Campaigners have particularly highlighted the case of Pakistan. Officials say death toll has risen to at least 45. — AP and administration officer for 40 years. Shafqat Hussain, whose lawyers say he was a juvenile at the time of his murder trial. They say evidence obtained as a result Guard shoots, kills himself his death that he shot himself because of his “uneasy relations of torture was used against him. Hussain is due to be hanged In another development, police say a Pakistani private with his family.” Officials at the US Consulate in Lahore, as well 10 Pakistanis, Indian die on May 6 after the government ordered an investigation to try guard has shot and killed himself in front of the US Consulate as the US Embassy in Islamabad, were not immediately avail- RIYADH: At least 10 construction workers from Pakistan to determine his true age. The probe, carried out by the in the eastern city of Lahore. Senior police officer Safdar Raza able for comment. US diplomatic posts around the world rely and one from India were killed in the collapse of a conven- Federal Investigation Agency, found Hussain was an adult at Kazmi said the guard shot himself with his own gun during on armed local police and private guards for their security tion centre being built in Saudi Arabia, an Asian diplomatic the time of his conviction, according to media reports, though business hours yesterday at the consulate. Kazmi said Shah outside their walls, while US Marines often provide security on source said yesterday. The building, at a university in its results have not been published officially. was transported to a hospital, where he told officers before their grounds. — Agencies Qassim northwest of the capital Riyadh, collapsed on Monday. The bodies of six Pakistanis had been pulled from the rubble and rescuers were trying to free the bodies of two more, the diplomatic source told AFP, speaking on con- dition of anonymity. The diplomat said three other people Bangladesh opposition wounded in the collapse had also died, including two more Pakistanis and an Indian. A spokesman for the Saudi Red boycotts city elections Crescent Authority gave a different toll, saying six people had died, after providing an initial count of two dead late DHAKA: Bangladesh’s main opposition BNP boycotted a general election in 2014 on Monday. The spokesman did not give the nationalities of party pulled out of mayoral elections yes- but has returned to politics recently after the victims. Sniffer dogs were assisting in the search for up terday saying the polls were rigged, deep- three months of crippling protests aimed to six other workers believed still trapped under the con- ening a political crisis plaguing the at toppling Hasina failed to unseat her. crete. The diplomatic source said he understood that steel impoverished country. The Bangladesh The opposition party, led by former prime mesh had been laid and foundation columns were in place. Nationalist Party (BNP) announced it was minister Khaleda Zia, accuses Hasina of boycotting the elections in the two cracking down on dissent since her con- largest cities of Dhaka and Chittagong, troversial walkover re-election in January more than four hours after voting got last year. It has ruled the country three Arab Israelis rally under way. The polls are seen as a key test times and was hoping a strong showing JERUSALEM: Israel’s Arab minority observed a general of the popularity of Prime Minister Sheikh in the city polls would add momentum to strike yesterday that was to climax with a rally in Tel Hasina and her centre-left ruling Awami a long-running campaign to force new Aviv to protest against a wave of demolitions of Arab League party, which the BNP says is national elections. homes. In Arab towns in the north, schools, colleges, becoming increasingly autocratic. But yesterday’s boycott is likely to fur- public institutions, banks and most shops remained KABUL: Afghan women walk past the palace of the late King Amanullah Khan, which “We’re formally announcing that we ther entrench a political crisis pitting the closed, Arab media outlets reported. The Higher Arab was destroyed during the civil war in early 1990s, in Kabul. — AP are withdrawing from these elections. families of Zia and Hasina, who are known Monitoring Committee, which represents Arab com- There were riggings in 98 percent of the as the “Battling Begums”. Bangladesh has munities in Israel, said it was a protest against growing voting booths,” BNP spokesman Moudud been plagued by unrest for the last two racism as well as the acceleration of house demoli- Taleban, Afghan forces battle Ahmed told reporters at the party’s head- years and has a long history of deadly tions. “This strike is a response to the increased action quarters in the capital Dhaka. “Our political violence. Scores of people have by the Israeli authorities against Arab homes and the for control of northern city polling agents were not allowed to enter been killed in firebomb attacks on vehi- ongoing harsh policy of incitement to hatred against voting booths. Some were kicked out cles since the start of the year, when Zia Arabs which was launched by Prime Minister KABUL: Afghan forces battled Taleban fight- said five police officers had been kidnapped while others were arrested. This is no elec- called a transport blockade as part of her Benjamin Netanyahu during the elections,” it said. It ers on the outskirts of a northern city yester- and 28, including a police commander, were tion. Once again it was proved that there efforts to force the government to hold was referring to an incident on March 17 when day, with police in Kunduz province saying missing. A spokesman for the Taleban, is no democracy in this country,” he fresh elections. More than 120 people Netanyahu played the race card, warning rightwing scores of combatants had been killed as Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed that only two added. Local media reported allegations died as opposition activists firebombed Jewish voters to turn out because Arab Israelis were insurgents mounted an offensive following insurgents had been killed in the Kunduz of irregularities and ballot-box stuffing hundreds of buses and trucks and police going to the polls “in droves.” His remarks drew a the withdrawal of most NATO forces. Having fighting. “The enemy is not in a position to while voting was suspended in at least responded by firing live rounds. The BNP rebuke from US President Barack Obama, and were announced their spring offensive last week, cause casualties to us but suffer losses them- two centres in Dhaka. claimed last week that Zia, 69, had been widely criticized in Israel as well as abroad. the Taleban are seeking to gain territory in selves,” Mujahid said, adding that Taleban Election Commission spokesman S.M. the victim of an assassination attempt the north, where the Afghan army and “have high morale”. Kunduz was the insur- Asduzzaman said he had not heard of any when the car in which she was travelling police have less presence than in the tradi- gents’ last stronghold before US-led forces complaints of rigging by candidates. The was shot at from close range. — AFP tional Taleban strongholds in the country’s drove them from power in 2001.— Reuters south and east. The Taleban push is a major test of the NATO-trained Afghan army and police, who are fighting with almost no air support or help from the few thousand remaining US and allied troops. Afghan forces sent reinforcements to Kunduz this week after the Taleban penetrated a south- ern district of the provincial capital, called Kunduz city. “Our security forces have pushed the Taleban back in the Gul Tepa area of Kunduz city,” said provincial police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, though he acknowledged HIZMA: Picture taken from Palestinian village of fighting was still taking place within the city Hizma shows the new housing units in the limits yesterday. About 60 kilometers north Jewish settlement of Neve Yaakov in the north- of Kunduz city, government forces killed a ern area of east Jerusalem. — AFP Taleban commander known as Mullah Mustafa in Imam Saheb district, Hussaini said, adding that a total of 50 insurgents had German population shrinking died in the past few days’ fighting. Nine BERLIN: Germany’s Federal Statistical Office says it expects Afghan security forces have been killed in the country’s population to shrink by a tenth or even more the fighting, Hussaini said. “The Taleban by 2060 as deaths outpace births. The office forecast yes- have made some gains in Imam Saheb terday that the population of Europe’s leading economic where we had fewer checkpoints. Now, we power, which stood at 80.8 million in 2013, will grow for have a defensive line where we can prevent the next five to seven years and then start dropping. It said the Taleban from moving forward,” he said. that, in 2060, the figure likely will stand at between 67.6 An internal report from the Ministry of and 73.1 million - depending on how many new immi- Interior indicated government forces had grants there are. It said it expects a significant drop in the been forced to abandon at least four check- DHAKA: Bangladeshi protesters attack the convoy of the country’s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. A mob armed working-age population, with the number of people aged points in the five areas of Kunduz province with sticks and rocks attacked the car of Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia for a third consecutive day, damaging vehi- 20-64 dropping from 49 million to somewhere between 34 under attack, with insurgents seizing govern- cles in her convoy and injuring at least two people. Video footage aired by the private Bangla Vision station showed one of the and 38 million. The population of over 65s is expected to ment vehicles, weapons and a radio in Imam windows of her car was smashed as dozens of people attacked the convoy and beat one of her private security guards as he tried grow from 17 million to 22 or 23 million. Saheb. The report obtained by Reuters also to escape, despite a police presence. — AFP INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Hear this now: Propaganda drive in Xinjiang village

ELISHKU: In the months since the carnage in Elishku, preventing them seeking better prices for their crops the village has acquired an Orwellian atmosphere, with elsewhere. “Our only choice now is the state-set cotton loudspeakers perched atop 10-metre poles throughout price, take it or leave it, and it’s less and less every year,” the village blaring Chinese government propaganda on said farmer Yusup, who grows cotton and wheat on his a constant loop. The messages started being broadcast four-hectare plot, and would only give his first name. after a violent clash last July in which authorities say Yusup’s house is down the street from the site of the nearly 100 people died when militants attacked a police face-off between villagers and soldiers and he was visi- station. According to residents though, security forces bly tense when talking about the violence, saying his opened fire on protestors. children were “traumatized”. The slogans are loudest in the township bazaar, the The collective punishment is acutely felt in an area centre of commerce and social life, but are even audible where average income is a little over $2 a day, according as farmers toil in the fields. One message describes the to the website of the Yarkand county government, “Seven Behaviors of a Religious Extremist” as including which includes Elishku. Behind the razor-wire-topped “quitting drinking and smoking, or refusing to drink with gates of Elishku’s government compound, roughly half friends” and “refusing to open restaurants or shops dur- the courtyard is occupied by crude wooden benches fac- ing Ramadan”, a common practice across the Islamic ing a stage that officials say is used for “political educa- world. The Uighur-language lecture, read in a confident tion”. In the main building, inside the “Youth Education male voice, also promises rewards of up to 200,000 yuan Room”, portraits of Communist revolutionary Mao ($32,000) - more than 40 times the average annual Zedong and economic reformer Deng Xiaoping hung income-for actions ranging from “effectively preventing above a Chinese flag. Posters headlined “Boycott illegal terrorist activities” to reporting on those “engaging in religious activities, maintain religious harmony and sta- illegal religious behavior”. bility” showed 28 cartoon examples such as collecting Villagers tolerate the constant drone and increased contributions, loudspeakers on a mosque, and unofficial police presence, but say increased restrictions on move- XINJIANGA: A man rides on a donkey cart in the town of Elishku, in Yarkand, in China’s western rituals-including some with Buddhist or Christian ment are beginning to chip away at their livelihoods, Xinjiang region. — AFP emblems. — AFP US and Japan widen defense ties in historic sea change Japanese forces get a wider global role

NEW YORK: The United States and Japan unveiled new rules for defense cooperation Monday in a historic move that will give Japanese forces a wider global role amid con- cerns over China’s rising sway. Under the revised guidelines, Japan could come to the aid of US forces threatened by a third country or, for exam- ple, deploy minesweeper ships to a mission in the Middle East. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter revealed the new rules alongside Japanese Foreign JAKARTA: An Indonesian activist holds candles near portraits of nine inmates, all Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Gen convicted on drug charges, during a demonstration to demand the government to Nakatani after talks at a New York hotel. stop their execution yesterday. — AP Although officials said the new doctrine is not aimed at China, there has been increasing concern over moves by Beijing to try to scoop Indonesian executions: up disputed areas of the South China and East China Seas. But they pointedly made mention of Questions and answers North Korea as another source of tension in the region. Kerry stressed the United States saw the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in Chinese as JAKARTA: Eight foreigners and a Indonesian condemned inmates will be positioned and the Diaoyus, as firmly under Japan’s control. facing execution on a prison island are lay out their rifles. A commander loads each Washington “commitment to Japan’s security believed to be spending their last hours yes- rifle with one round but only three of the remains ironclad and covers all territories under terday before they are led into a clearing, tied rounds are live. The rest are blanks, meaning it Japan’s administration, including the Senkaku to posts, and shot by firing squad. Despite cannot be determined who fired the fatal Islands,” Kerry said. The sovereignty of the isles international outrage and desperate appeals shot. Prisoners sentenced to death for the has been a source of friction between Tokyo and for mercy from relatives, Jakarta looks set to same crime-like the two Australian ringleaders Beijing for decades. The top US diplomat said execute the group, who include nationals of the so-called “Bali Nine” heroin-smuggling the new guidelines would make Japan safer, and from Australia, Brazil, Nigeria and the gang-must by law be executed at the same bring greater stability to the Asia-Pacific region. Philippines. Under Indonesian regulations the time but by a different firing squad. It is not Historic transition eight men and one woman will be given the known how many firing squads will be used “Today we mark the establishment of Japan’s WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome Prime option of sitting, kneeling or standing as they and into what number of groups the convict- capacity to defend not just its own territory, but Minister Shinzo Abe and Akie Abe of Japan to the White House during state arrival ceremonies meet their fate. The position of their hearts ed will be divided. also the United States and other partners as in Washington DC. — AFP will be marked on their clothes in black ink to needed,” Kerry told a joint press conference. provide a target for the 12-man firing squad. If How are prisoners executed? Under the previous rules, Japanese forces Japan can respond to attacks on third countries “This is a historic meeting. It’s a historic transi- the convict survives the initial volley of gun- The condemned inmates are marched to a could assist American troops only if they were if they are in close association with Japan and if tion in the defense relationship between our fire, then an officer delivers a shot to the head clearing, where their hands and feet are operating in the direct defense of Japan. Kishida those attacks directly affect Japanese security,” two countries.” The guidelines came a day before with a handgun. Here are key questions and bound and they are placed in front of individ- stressed the “importance of the rule of law,” the official added. One possible scenario could US President Barack Obama rolls out the red car- answers about the process: ual posts. They are given the option of sitting, adding “we cannot let unilateral action to have Japan shooting down a missile headed kneeling or standing and can wear a blindfold pet at the White House for Japanese Prime change the status quo... be condoned.” The toward the United States, even if Japan itself was Minister Shinzo Abe. Where executions take place? if desired. The prisoners then have a final three amended guidelines were drawn up to reflect a not under attack. Nakatani said that since 1997, when the Indonesia executes death row inmates at minutes with a religious counselor, before a reinterpretation of Japan’s constitution by Abe’s The reinterpretation of the constitution and defense ties were last revised, “the security envi- Nusakambangan, a rugged island off Central commander draws a black mark on the government last year allowing for “collective the new defense guidelines are part of Abe’s bid ronment in the United States and Japan has Java that has served as a high-security jail inmate’s clothing over the heart. The squad defense.” Carter said the new rules removed the to soften Japan’s constitutional commitment to changed dramatically.” The new guidelines since Dutch colonial rule. Among the more commander then raises a sword. The marks- constraints of geography, adding that US-Japan pacifism. The United States imposed the princi- would “draw a picture of the Japan-US alliance notorious inmates to spend their final days men take aim and fire when he swishes the cooperation had now moved “from being locally ple after World War II, but now strongly supports for the next decade and beyond,” Nakatani said, there were Imam Samudra, Mukhlas and blade down. If a doctor determines the pris- focused to globally focused.” Japan’s new approach. Veteran Republican law- revealing he had also laid flowers earlier at the Amrozi, three men behind the 2002 bombings oner has survived, an officer delivers a single maker John McCain hailed the “historic moment” 9/11 memorial in tribute to those killed in the on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 peo- shot to the head by handgun. Missile defense in ties that would help “meet emerging threats September 11, 2001 attacks. In an implicit refer- ple. They were put to death there in 2008. The new guidelines would “allow us to mod- in space, cyberspace, missile defense, and else- ence to China, Kerry said: “We reject any sugges- Those sentenced to death are eventually Do Indonesians support this? ernize the US-Japan alliance... helping us open where.” And he welcomed “a reinvigorated Japan tion that freedom of navigation, overflight and transferred to Nusakambangan. In a nationwide survey published last new areas of military cooperation,” he said. A US standing side-by-side with the United States to month by pollster Indo Barometer, 84 percent other unlawful uses of the sea and airspace are official earlier indicated Japan would now be protect the rules-based international order our privileges granted by big states to small ones, How much notification? of respondents supported the death penalty able to defend US ships engaged in missile two nations have worked so hard to sustain and subject to the whim and fancy of the big state.” Authorities must provide a minimum 72 for drug traffickers, while just 12 percent dis- defense activities near its territory. “It means that defend.” — AFP hours’ notice. Once this is given, the prisoners agreed. The broad public support partly are moved to isolation cells to wait. If they are explains why President Joko Widodo-who foreigners their governments are informed of believes Indonesia faces a drugs emergency- the impending execution. has been so unwavering in his determination 40 years later, communism’s to put drug dealers to death. Many in What happens next? Indonesia view drug dealers as akin to terror- One hour before the scheduled execution ists, mass murderers or rapists. The country has ‘hollow victory’ in Vietnam time, a team of 12 specially trained policemen some of the world’s toughest anti-drugs laws assembles at the site. They take position five and sentences for possession of even minor to ten metres (16 to 32 feet) from where the quantities of narcotics can be harsh. —AFP HO CHI MINH CITY: Forty years after it won the side has been changing to become more like the ties against people of the old regime,” Vu Hong war, the Communist Party still rules Vietnam with losing side.” Public anger with the one-party Nam, chairman of the Communist Party’s nation- an iron fist. But with crony capitalism, corruption state simmers over a range of ills, including al committee on Vietnamese residing abroad Captain of doomed ferry and inequality now rife, many claim its victory widening income disparity, land disputes and said. Only a small section of the overseas was a hollow one. From a shattered society corruption scandals-often involving wealthy par- Vietnamese community oppose the govern- sentenced to ‘life in jail’ plagued by poverty and food shortages, to a ty cadres. But the newfound prosperity of recent ment, he added. “They left with prejudice and middle-income country and World Trade decades means the majority of the population the prejudice remains the same as time goes by,” SEOUL: The South Korean ferry captain responsi- Organization member, Vietnam’s authoritarian seem content to accept the status quo for now, he said. ble for last year’s disaster that killed more than socialist regime has overseen huge change since experts say. And for many young job seekers the 300 people, mostly school children, was given an Saigon fell to communist troops four decades South has come to be seen as more socially liber- ‘I have struggled alone’ increased sentence of life in prison yesterday by ago. On Thursday, Communist Party rulers will al and free market-oriented than the conserva- Economically, South Vietnam’s fate after its an appellate court that convicted him of homi- gather for a military parade in Ho Chi Minh City- tive capital Hanoi. surrender echoed what occurred in North cide. A district court in November had sentenced formerly Saigon-to commemorate the day their Vietnam following the rise of the communists in Lee Joon-seok to 36 years in prison for negligence tanks rolled into city, prompting the surrender of Ideological battle 1954 - the state seized land, houses, factories, and abandoning passengers in need but acquit- the US-backed South and reunification of the For some older Vietnamese who lived and shops. The reforms of the late 1980s, sparked ted him of homicide. Victims’ relatives criticized country. The war left millions of Vietnamese dead through the war, the ideological cleavage by a tanking economy, brought prosperity but the verdict at the time, saying it was too lenient. as well as 58,000 American servicemen sent to between the communist victors and the south- the party’s networks have gorged on the newly Prosecutors earlier had demanded the death stanch the advance of the communists. ern so-called “nguy”-puppets-has not been created wealth, critics say. “There was no moral penalty for Lee. Lee’s sentence was increased But critics say the victorious Communist Party bridged. “There was reunification in terms of foundation for development,” lawyer Bich said, because the Gwangju High Court convicted him is now ideologically bankrupt, with the state political control, administration of the country, arguing that state-owned enterprises are pre- of the homicide charges while upholding most of abandoning the social equality dreams of its but there was no psychological integration,” dominantly run by the well-connected rather other charges that led to his November convic- founding president Ho Chi Minh and enforcing Nguyen Ngoc Bich, a 70-year-old lawyer from than the competent. tion, according to a court statement. tight controls on an increasingly critical public. South Vietnam who spent 12 years in a reeduca- The government says it is cracking down on Lee committed “homicide by willful negli- “This is not a communist country,” says Le Cong tion camp after the war said. Soon after the graft, while keeping the economy on course for gence” because he fled the ship without making Dinh, a lawyer and government critic, who South surrendered, hundreds of thousands fled 6.2 percent growth in 2015 — its 24th straight any evacuation order though he, as a captain, is remains under house arrest after a 2010 convic- in rickety boats-many drowning during their year of expansion since economic reforms kicked required by law to take some measures to rescue Lee Joon-seok, the captain of the sunken his passengers, the statement said. “For whatever tion on subversion charges. “They came to pow- journeys-creating a 4.5 million-strong in 1991. Yet for many of those who fought on the excuses, it’s difficult to forgive Lee Joon-seok’s South Korean ferry Seoul. er by adopting the socialism, communism of Vietnamese diaspora, often fiercely critical of losing side, their struggles did not stop when the action that caused a big tragedy,” the court state- island for a school trip. Lee has said he issued an Marx and Lenin that’s why they try to continue Hanoi. To this day, when any top party official vis- hostilities ceased. Soldiers from the North who ment cited the verdict as saying. The appellate evacuation order. But many student survivors the ideology. But what we see on the streets of its the US, they are met with protesters flying the fought for the Communists receive pensions and court sentenced 14 other navigation crew mem- have said they were repeatedly ordered over a Vietnam is capitalism, not communism,” he said South Vietnam flag. Historians say up to 200,000 healthcare support, while those from the South bers to 18 months to 12 years in prison, the state- loudspeaker to stay on the sinking ship and that in a rare interview at his closely monitored Ho of those from the South who stayed were sent to are not so fortunate. “I’ve never received any- ment said. In November they had received sen- they didn’t remember there any evacuation Chi Minh City apartment. re-education camps from which the last prisoner thing from the Vietnamese government, noth- tences of five to 30 years in prison. orders made by crewmembers before they Party sympathizers hail the rewards of the emerged in 1992. Due to tight control over the ing,” said South Vietnam veteran, Nguyen Van Lee and the 14 crew members have been the helped each other to flee the ship. market reforms of the late 1980s impressive media and education system, experts say many Quang, 63, who lost both his legs above the subject of fierce public anger because they were In November the Gwangju District Court sup- growth rates, soaring foreign investment, and people in Vietnam are not aware of the scale of knee in the war. “I was a soldier, I fought for among the first people rescued from the ship ported Lee’s claim to have made an evacuation sharp reductions in poverty. But as Huy Duc, a the persecution in the post-war period. The gov- South Vietnam... but my life, compared to injured when it began badly listing on the day of the order and said that there wasn’t proof that he prominent author who wrote a book about post- ernment denies all allegations of persecution. Communist soldiers, has been a struggle. And I sinking in April last year. Most of the victims were knew his escape from the ship would cause a war Vietnam, explained to AFP: “The winning There was “no discriminative or inhumane activi- have struggled alone.” — AFP teenagers who were en route to a southern massive loss of life. —AP NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Cyclists compete between Vallee de Joux and Juraparc during the UCI Tour de Romandie World Tour stage cycling road race yesterday near L’Abbaye, western Switzerland. —AFP Saudis arrest 93 suspects, foil US embassy... Baltimore smolders after riots Continued from Page 1 ministry said he confessed during questioning that had Continued from Page 1 violence came after a dignified service for Gray, who died pledged allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The eight days after his spine was all but severed as he was Another 15 Saudis formed a group linked to IS abroad, second of the two Saudis was also “affected by IS after he He said it was important that “we don’t just pay atten- detained by city police. An investigation has been launched calling itself “Jund Bilad al-Haramain” or Soldiers of the Land followed them on social networks”, and has confessed to tion to these communities when a CVS burns. And we don’t into the cause of his injuries, but many see the incident as of the Two Holy Mosques, in reference to Saudi Arabia being making arms. Saudi “security forces will stand strongly and just pay attention when a young man gets shot or has his only the latest example of police brutality against black sus- home to Islam’s holiest sites, the ministry said. It said that cell decisively against anyone who considers undermining the spine snapped. I think there are police departments that pects. Gray’s family also appealed for calm, but tempers was led by a bomb-making “specialist” and was testing car country’s security and stability,” the ministry said. have to do some soul searching. I think there’s some com- boiled over as young, mainly African American men pelted bombs, planning to attack security headquarters, soldiers News of the arrests came as Saudi security forces yester- munities that have to do some soul searching. I think we as police with stones and ransacked businesses. and residential areas. day detained a second suspect in the fatal shooting of two a country have to do some soul searching. This is not new. As volunteer cleanup teams took to the streets yester- Nine other Saudis, among them a woman, were arrested policemen blamed on IS. The policemen were killed in an It’s been going on for decades.” day, residents spoke of their terror as gangs roamed the for allegedly promoting “terrorist organisations” on social April 8 drive-by shooting in an eastern district of Riyadh. Meanwhile, the Kuwait Embassy in Washington urged streets fighting police and destroying property. “It was hor- networks and trying to “lure young people” to send them to Authorities had said on Friday that they had seized three citizens to avoid areas where protesters gathered in rific to the point where my children were actually crying conflict zones, among other activities. They had threatened bomb-laden cars during investigations into the killings. Baltimore. In a statement late on Monday, the embassy trying to get back to the house because there was so much to bomb government headquarters and residential areas, Nawaf Al-Enezi, a 29-year-old Saudi citizen, was taken into advised citizens to avoid areas where “demonstrations and going on,” Latania Graham told AFP. Many residents con- and “used the woman in a failed attempt to lure a military custody early yesterday morning after callers tipped the protests and acts of violence” continue to take place, and demned the rioters, but also spoke of their distrust of police official and assassinate him”. police off. Enezi was found in a hideout about 100 km east stressed “the need to follow the instructions of local author- following incidents of alleged brutality. Pierre Estep, 56, said Two other Saudis were arrested separately. One, held in of Riyadh and was wounded by police gunfire during the ities in this regard”. The embassy further appealed to citi- officers had held him at gunpoint during a search for drugs the ultraconservative Qassim region, has been linked to IS arrest. The interior ministry last week announced a $267,000 zens to communicate their concerns and report any emer- when he was only 16 years old. “He told me he was the next abroad and had “contacted them to form a terrorist cell”. The reward for information leading to his arrest. — Agencies gencies, expressing its wishes for citizens’ safety and securi- thing to God. He said: ‘I’ll mess around and take your free- ty. dom, or I might mess around and take your life’,” Estep told In Baltimore, thousands of military and police reinforce- AFP. ments deployed onto the streets after a night of mayhem Joining many others to express suspicion that the inves- Iran seizes ship after firing shots saw stores looted, buildings burned, 15 police wounded tigation into Gray’s death would be a police whitewash, and 200 suspects arrested. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Estep said the situation was getting worse. “I’m not saying Ocean nation apply in this situation. Continued from Page 1 inspected a National Guard barricade yesterday and vowed the police have an easy job, but the way they police now...,” The Iranian vessels, numbering five or six, were with to “make sure what happened last night in Baltimore City is he said. “I could go on with these horror stories about peo- The strait is the route for about a fifth of the world’s the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, he said. The not going to happen again”. “This violence is not going to ple living in a black neighborhood.” Baltimore schools were oil and is only about 33 km wide at its narrowest point. incident began at about 4:05 am US Eastern Daylight be tolerated,” Hogan told reporters at the temporary check- closed yesterday as a safety measure, although some resi- Ships traversing the chokepoint have even less room to Time, he said. After the cargo ship sent a distress call, the point, manned by riot police and Guard troopers with dents worried that this would lead to more restless maneuver. The shipping lane in either direction is only US Navy sent the destroyer USS Farragut and a Navy assault rifles. “By tonight, you’re going to see an over- teenagers on the tense streets. The Orioles, the city’s base- two miles wide, with a two-mile buffer zone between maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to the area whelming display of people out there on the streets pro- ball team, cancelled games against Chicago’s White Sox on them. of the incident to monitor the situation, according to tecting the citizens.” Monday and again yesterday. The violence is the latest in a “It is inappropriate” for the Iranians to have fired Warren. Lt Joseph Hontz, a spokesman for the US Navy’s Baltimore declared an overnight curfew from 10:00 pm series of confrontations between US police and mainly warning shots across the ship’s bridge in yesterday’s cir- 5th Fleet in Bahrain, which oversees American maritime yesterday to be in force for a week, and local and national young African American men enraged by what they see as cumstances, Warren said. He said it was too early to operations in the region, declined to comment further leaders have appealed for calm. The initial trigger for the racist attitudes. — Agencies know whether the Iranian intervention amounted to a on the incident and referred queries to the Pentagon. violation of the freedom of navigation through a water- Maersk, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, said the way heavily used by international shipping. Warren said ship was chartered to Rickmers Ship Management, the cargo ship had been boarded by Iranians, but no one based in Hamburg, Germany. Maersk said it had no infor- Indonesia executes 8, spares Filipina was injured and no Americans were involved. The mation about the crew or the cargo. Sabina Pech, a not to kill him. Call off the execution. Please don’t take my spokesman said the US government has “certain obliga- Rickmers spokeswoman in Hamburg, said she was aware Continued from Page 1 son,” said Sukumaran’s mother Raji, in a tearful plea after tions” to defend the interests of the Marshall Islands, but of the incident but had no information and could not Steven Ciobo, parliamentary secretary to Australian visiting him. Chan, who like Sukumaran is in his 30s, mar- he was uncertain how those obligations to the Pacific comment. — Agencies Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, tweeted that “there are few ried his Indonesian girlfriend in a jailhouse ceremony with greater displays of abuse of State power and regressive family and friends on Nusakambangan on Monday, his thinking than the death penalty”. final wish. Rights society blasts deportation of expats In Indonesian executions, convicts are led to clearings Australia had mounted a sustained campaign to save just after midnight, tied to posts and then giving the its citizens, who have been on death row for almost a Continued from Page 1 cost and what offices charge is huge. option of kneeling, standing or sitting before being exe- decade, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott repeatedly The lawmaker had submitted a draft law calling for cuted by 12-man firing squads. President Joko Widodo has appealing for them to be spared. In Sydney late yesterday, Ajmi also warned that decisions concerning expatri- the establishment of a public shareholding company to been a vocal supporter of the death penalty for drug traf- about 300 supporters of the Australian pair held a vigil, ate workers that are being considered by the authorities start recruiting maids at reasonable prices. The bill pro- fickers, claiming Indonesia is facing an emergency due to with several people displaying signs calling for the could lead to a catastrophe and will have serious conse- poses that state agencies have a 50 percent stake in the rising narcotics use. He turned a deaf ear to appeals from Indonesian president to show mercy. The execution of the quences on the country. He said that some of these company while the remaining 50 percent is sold to citi- the international community led by United Nations chief Brazilian convict, Rodrigo Gularte, has also generated decisions breach international treaties and agreements. zens. The proposal was however rejected by the Ban Ki-moon. much criticism in his homeland, with his family saying he Ajmi however did not provide details about such deci- National Assembly’s health and labor committee, which There was swift condemnation of the executions, with should not face the firing squad as he has been diagnosed sions. said state agencies refused to participate in the compa- Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s research director with schizophrenia. Meanwhile, MP Kamel Al-Awadhi, who has been ny. But Awadhi managed to secure enough support in for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, labelling them “utterly Three of the African traffickers are confirmed as being pushing for the establishment of a shareholding com- the Assembly to take the proposal away from the health reprehensible”. “They were carried out with complete dis- from Nigeria. However it is not clear whether the fourth pany to recruit domestic helpers, highlighted yesterday committee and send it to the financial and economic regard for internationally recognized safeguards on the holds Ghanaian or Nigerian nationality. A Frenchman was the highly exaggerated prices private recruitment affairs committee, claiming he has government backing. use of the death penalty,” he said. In the hours before the originally among the group set to be executed but was offices charge from people. He said that based on offi- In the meantime, head of the Assembly’s human convicts were put to death, there was a flurry of activity as granted a temporary reprieve after authorities agreed to cial letters from Sri Lanka, the actual cost of hiring a rights committee MP Abdulhameed Dashti said yester- ambulances carried coffins to the island, and relatives allow an outstanding legal appeal to run its course. Jakarta domestic helper is just around KD 160, while some day the panel was unable to hold its regular meeting for made final anguished visits to their loved ones. executed six drug convicts, including five foreigners, in offices charge as much as KD 1,160 per maid. Awadhi the lack of quorum. He said the meeting was scheduled Relatives of Chan and Sukumaran wailed in grief as January sparking an international outcry as Brazil and the said this supports an earlier letter by the Philippine to discuss a proposal to establish a national commission they headed to the island, and one relative collapsed amid Netherlands - whose citizens were among those put to embassy, which also said the difference between actual for human rights. a huge scrum of journalists. “I am asking the government death - recalled their ambassadors. — AFP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 ANALYSIS

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Focus No one wants prints on Greece murder weapon

By Paul Taylor

e’re going bust.” “No, you’re not.” “You’re strangling us.” “No we’re not.” “You owe us for World War “WTwo.” “We gave already.” The game of chicken between Greece and its international creditors is turning into a vicious blame game as Athens lurches closer to bankruptcy with no cash-for-reform agreement in sight. Europe’s political leaders and central bankers and Greek politicians agree on only one thing: If Greece goes down, they don’t want their fin- gerprints on the murder weapon. If Athens runs out of cash and defaults in the coming weeks, as seems increasingly possible, no one wants to be accused of having pushed it over the edge or failed to try to save it.Greece’s leftist government has already identified its culprit of choice - Germany, Europe’s main paymaster, accused of having inflicted toxic austerity policies on Greeks, causing a Fake painting dupes London gallery goers “humanitarian crisis”. Euro zone governments are preparing the ground to blame the novice government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for hav- By James Pheby ing blustered, obstructed, failed to meet commitments and evaded hard choices while Athens burned. “We are doing he results are in of a battle that pitted London’s culture everything we can to save Greece from itself, but in the end, it’s vultures against a Chinese workshop churning out up to them,” is the message pouring out of Berlin, Brussels and Treplicas of the world’s most famous paintings, revealing IMF headquarters in Washington. a clear victory for the cut-price masters. For nearly three Tsipras and outspoken Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis months, visitors to London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery have tried at first to mount a coalition against Berlin, touring France, pored over 270 paintings in its permanent collection, includ- Italy, Britain, Brussels and media studios after their election. ing works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Gainsborough, know- They found no allies outside the media. Tsipras revived ing that there was one $120 fake in their midst. Around demands for reparations for the Nazi German occupation of 3,000 people voted for their pick of the replica, but only 300 Greece in 1941-44, which his government put at Ä279 billion correctly identified it as French artist Jean-Honore ($303.5 billion) - more than its Ä240 billion bailout from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund. Berlin Fragonard’s 18th century portrait “Young Woman”. responded that it had already compensated victims and a “The white looks too bright and fresh,” said visitor Emma 1990 agreement with the four victorious World War Two pow- Hollanby, as she looked at the two paintings side-by-side, ers on German unification had put an end to war claims. depicting an unknown woman with rouged cheeks and red German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been careful to lips, peering seductively at the viewer. “But it’s easy to say express goodwill and tried to build a relationship of trust with when it’s next to it (the original), and I probably wouldn’t Tsipras while insisting Greece must meet its lenders’ reform have got it,” admitted the 26-year-old, who works in a gallery. conditions, which include fiercely resisted pension cuts and The experiment was the brainchild of American artist labour reforms. “Everything must be done to prevent” Greece Doug Fishbone, who wanted to “throw down the gauntlet” running out of money, she said after talks with Tsipras last to museum-goers and make them look more closely at the week. “On the German side, we are prepared to provide all the great works. Chief curator Xavier Bray said he chose the support that is asked of us. But of course reforms must be Fragonard painting as “it’s one of our great pictures, but done,” she added. tends to be something that doesn’t engage”. The replica was Investors briefly hoped her pledge might be a turning ordered from Meisheng Oil Painting Manufacture Co. Ltd in point, similar to European Central Bank President Mario Xiamen, in China’s southeastern Fujian province. Draghi’s 2012 vow to do “whatever it takes to preserve the The gallery emailed a jpeg of its chosen picture, paid euro”. But Merkel’s comments could also be interpreted as an exercise in pre-emptive blame avoidance. Unlike Draghi, she $126 including shipping via PayPal, and received the rolled- did not say who should do everything to stop Greece going up replica within three weeks by courier. Bray called the bust. Her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, is openly scep- response to the gallery’s spot-the-fake challenge “very grati- A woman looks at an original painting by Jean-Honore Fragonard titled ‘Young Woman’ (left) and a replica ordered tical of whether Athens can avoid crashing out of the euro fying” and said it had boosted visitor numbers. “People have from China by the gallery at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London yesterday. — AFP zone. Angry euro zone finance ministers made clear they were been actually looking at the pictures,” he told AFP. “Rather lowed by a classmate, who noted that the fake was “all white recognised the fake because “I’ve always loved that painting”. far from a deal with Greece, rejected Varoufakis’ plea for early than looking at the label first and then the picture, they did and brighter”. “It’s dark but shines through, it has a luminous quality about cash in return for partial reform and told him they would not the opposite.” He added that children had been particularly As well as examining the type of canvas used, how it was it,” explained the 75-year-old. “Whereas the fake just looks even discuss longer-term funding and debt relief until Greece engaged. “They don’t seem to have that mindset that makes prepared, the brushwork and what type of pigments and wrong, it hasn’t got that magical quality.” The ultimate aim of signed and implemented a full reform plan. While Greece’s them think what an Old Master should look like, they go varnish were employed, the experts rely on the artist’s innate the experiment, Bray said, was to give a “kick of life” to the leaders insist Europe must heed and respect the democratic straight for what looks different,” he explained. creativity to identify the fakes. “The original is almost what a old collection. “In this country we take for granted a lot of will of the Greek people, its creditors reply that they too have On cue, a group of young schoolchildren gathered to play magician would paint,” said Bray. “You look at this (the fake). the great art that we are surrounded by,” he said. “It was part democratic mandates from their voters. a highbrow game of spot the difference. “That one’s not the It’s industrial and the expression is empty.” of my intention to make people realise how lucky they really In Varoufakis’ narrative, euro zone countries did not lend all fake one because it’s browner, it looks older,” said one, fol- Painter Jane Preece, a regular visitor, said she would have are.” — AFP that money to save Greece in the first place but to protect their own banks, which had imprudently lent Athens billions. Nonsense, say euro zone officials. Those banks took losses in 2012 when Greek debt to private bondholders was restruc- Entrepreneurs hatch hen-rental idea tured. Varoufakis has widened the circle of blame to the ECB, accusing it of “asphyxiating” Greece by starving its banks of liq- uidity and severely limiting their short-term lending to the By Kathy Matheson a garden and small flock of chickens. “It’s a slippery slope,” softly and briefly after laying an egg, Phillips said. He has government. Tompkins said with a laugh. “We had the garden, we got picked up coops from urban sections of Washington where That prompted an indignant response from ECB President he name of Jenn Tompkins’ company sends customers some chickens; we had a bigger garden, got some more residents didn’t realize their neighbors had chickens until Mario Draghi, who told the European Parliament the central into fits of laughter. “When I answer the phone and I chickens. And now we have a chicken rental business.” The they saw the birds leaving. bank’s support for Greece amounted to some Ä110 billion, but Tsay, ‘Rent The Chicken, this is Jenn,’ they giggle and say, rental coops have wire bottoms and wheels so customers Leslie Thyberg has rented from the Tompkinses for about it was barred by treaty from monetary funding of govern- ‘I would like to rent the chicken.’ And then they giggle some can move them to different spots in their yards, giving the a year in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where ments. For weeks Greek officials have been telling their euro more,” Tompkins said. But poultry leasing has turned out to hens fresh grass and bugs to eat in addition to their feed. the concept’s popularity has led city officials to try to stream- zone counterparts they have run out of money, only to find be a serious investment as more people want fresh eggs Two chickens collectively produce about a dozen eggs each line permits for backyard livestock. spare cash to make the next debt payment. “They have cried from humanely raised hens, without the responsibilities of week. Companies suggest would-be renters speak to neigh- The healthful, tasty eggs and quiet good nature of the wolf so often that when they are really going bust, no one will ownership. In two years, Pennsylvania-based Rent The bors first and do some research to ensure they don’t run birds has won over skeptics like her husband, Thyberg said. believe them,” one EU negotiator said on condition of Chicken has expanded to three other states, plus Toronto. afoul of local ordinances or homeowners associations. But She enjoys relaxing with a cup of tea or glass of wine while anonymity. The growth is not an aberration. Coop rentals are boom- regulations can be nebulous, especially when the birds are watching the hens hunt and peck in the backyard. “They Insiders say the ECB is determined that the central bank will ing nationwide as residents in cities, suburbs and the coun- temporary, and are usually enforced only after complaints. have personalities,” Thyberg said. “I didn’t really think about not be the institution that pulls the plug. If it considers support for Greek banks is no longer tenable, it will seek a political tryside flock to the anti-factory, locally sourced food move- Unlike crowing roosters, hens are generally quiet, clucking chickens having personalities.” — AP decision by European Union governments. “This is not some- ment. Some families also rent fowl as an educational experi- thing unelected central bankers should decide,” a source in the ence for their children. “As a society, we don’t really like com- Eurosystem of central banks said. European Commission mitment,” Tompkins said while visiting an affiliate in Mount President Jean-Claude Juncker is eager to hold Tsipras’ hand Holly, New Jersey. “We don’t want a contract on our cell- until the last minute in the hope that he will impose an phones; we don’t want long-term commitment with our unpalatable economic reform deal on left-wingers in his Syriza cable company. With chickens, they can live to seven or 10 party before it is too late. —Reuters years, and people are a bit scared of that.” Rentals remove that risk. Prices depend on the company, location and lease duration but start around $150 month. Most basic packages include two hens, a coop, feed and All articles appearing on these phone availability to answer questions. Birds can be returned early if things don’t work out - and are available for adoption pages are the personal opinion of if things go well. Rent a Coop, based in the Washington sub- the writers. Kuwait Times takes no urb of Potomac, Maryland, started out renting five or six coops per month in 2012, according to co-owner Tyler responsibility for views expressed Phillips. Now they’re renting 25 to 30 monthly and are open- ing a second location in New Jersey. “I think it will be sus- therein. Kuwait Times invites tained,” Phillips said of the business model. “People want to know where their food comes from.” readers to voice their opinions. Further evidence comes from the growth of Please send submissions via email BackyardChickens.com, an online forum that started eight years ago with 50 members and now has more than 325,000, to: [email protected] or according to administrator Rob Ludlow. The site gets about 7,000 daily posts from chicken enthusiasts, Ludlow said. Jenn via snail mail to PO Box 1301 and Phillip Tompkins incubated their company in 2013 at Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves their homestead on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. Jenn Tompkins’ home-based job as a university research assistant the right to edit any submission was ending, and she began looking for another way to work from her house. as necessary. They had recently moved to western Pennsylvania from a In this April 6, 2015 photograph, Jenn Tompkins (right) delivers a small Rent The Chicken coop to a customer in rowhouse near Baltimore in search of a simpler lifestyle, with Chesterfield, New Jersey. — AP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS

Injury sidelines McCaw Wimbledon prize money Taylor to skipper England rises again for winners WELLINGTON: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been ruled out of the LONDON: England will send out an inexperienced one-day side to take on Ireland next Canterbury Crusaders’ crunch Super Rugby match against Wellington LONDON: The winners of this year’s Wimbledon singles month with five uncapped players named yesterday in a squad led by new captain James Hurricanes after suffering a head-knock. The 34-year-old flanker was briefly titles will share a prize fund of 1.88 million ($2.87 million, Taylor. The bold move is down to the fact that the Test team arrive back from duty in the knocked unconscious after being hit by a knee to the temple during last 2.63 million euros) after organisers yesterday announced a West Indies just one day before the May 8 fixture. week’s match against the Auckland Blues. After McCaw came to training still fourth consecutive prize money increase. There has been a Taylor will lead the team in Dublin in just his 18th one-day international, while Zafar suffering a mild headache on Monday, the team decided not to risk him, coach rise of seven percent from the 1.76 million paid to the sin- Ansari, Sam Billings, James Vince, Lewis Gregory and David Willey are all in with Todd Blackadder said. “He was a little bit blurry and felt a little bit gles champions in 2014, with overall prize money leaping a chance of making their senior debuts. “To be given the opportunity to lead off, so it’s best not to risk him,” Blackadder told reporters in New from 14.6 million to 26.75 million in the past four years. It your country is a huge honour,” said Nottinghamshire batsman Taylor. Zealand yesterday. preserves the tournament’s status as the highest-paying “There are still some very experienced and talented cricketers in that team “He just got his head on the wrong side and just got competition in professional tennis. “Without the world’s who I’d have been delighted to have as my captain, so it is a privilege and kneed in the temple. Even after the game he was really chip- best tennis players, we wouldn’t have the world’s best ten- one I’m going to relish. per and was fine, and even today, he was 100 percent, but it’s nis tournament,” All England Lawn Tennis Club chairman “It’s going to be brilliant, leading an England team in a one-day interna- just not worth risking him. “All signs are pretty positive. Philip Brook told a press conference. tional. We know it will be a tough game against Ireland and this match Hopefully, he’s back for next week.” “And we recognise the players are an essential ingredi- provides a great chance for us all to show we can play a huge role in Matt Todd is likely to step in as the starting num- ent of our championships. The level of prize money is limited-overs cricket in years to come.” The 11-man squad will be ber seven against the table-topping Hurricanes in affordable to this championship, so we feel it’s important topped up with players who do not make the cut for the third Wellington but the loss of the New Zealand skip- that we should reflect that in what we pay the players.” Test in Barbados. Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, currently in the per will be a big blow to the Crusaders (5-5), Brook also confirmed that Wimbledon chiefs had “reluc- Caribbean as cover for Jos Buttler, has already been included whose hopes of making the playoffs are on a tantly” turned down the chance to host Great Britain’s in the 50-over squad and could be joined in Ireland by the knife-edge. All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg will Davis Cup quarter-final against France on July 17-19, which likes of Adil Rashid, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett, should also miss another match for the Crusaders as he is instead taking place at Queen’s Club. —Reuters they fail to force their way into the Test side.—AFP battles to recover from a calf injury. —Reuters

MLB results/standings

Boston 6, Toronto 5; Kansas City 6, Cleveland 2; NY Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 1; Atlanta 8, Washington 4; Cincinnati 9, Milwaukee 6; NY Mets 3, Miami 1; Seattle 3, Texas 1; Chicago Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 0; Detroit 5, Minnesota 4; Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 1; Colorado 5, Arizona 4; LA Dodgers 8, San Francisco 3; Houston 9, San Diego 4.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Yankees 12 8 .600 - Boston 11 9 .550 1 Tampa Bay 11 9 .550 1 Baltimore 9 10 .474 2.5 Toronto 9 11 .450 3

Central Division Detroit 14 6 .700 - Kansas City 13 6 .684 0.5 Chicago White Sox 8 9 .471 4.5 Minnesota 8 11 .421 5.5 Cleveland 6 12 .333 7

Western Division Houston 12 7 .632 - LA Angels 9 10 .474 3 Seattle 8 11 .421 4 Oakland 8 12 .400 4.5 Texas 7 12 .368 5

National League Eastern Division NY Mets 15 5 .750 - Atlanta 10 9 .526 4.5 Miami 8 12 .400 7 Philadelphia 8 12 .400 7 Washington 7 13 .350 8

Central Division St. Louis 12 6 .667 - Chicago Cubs 11 7 .611 1 Pittsburgh 11 9 .550 2 Cincinnati 9 10 .474 3.5 Milwaukee 4 16 .200 9

Western Division LA Dodgers 12 7 .632 - Colorado 11 8 .579 1 San Diego 11 10 .524 2 Arizona 8 11 .421 4 MIAMI: New York Mets’ Eric Campbell (29) slides safely into second base on a double as Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (right) catches the late throw in front of San Francisco 8 12 .400 4.5 second base umpire Brian Knight, in the ninth inning of a baseball game. —AP Mets end Marlins winning streak

MIAMI: Daniel Murphy hit a three-run homer 13 strikeouts for Phillies pitchers. BRAVES 8, NATIONALS 4 ing a fan. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts was seat- runs on eight hits in four innings. with one out in the ninth inning as the New Kelly Johnson homered and drove in ed near the fan, asked a team trainer for ice York Mets ended the Miami Marlins’ five- ROYALS 6, INDIANS 2 three runs and Eric Stults pitched 6 1-3 and a towel and assisted until paramedics ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4 game winning streak with a 3-1 comeback Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas and the strong innings as the Braves beat arrived. Justin Morneau hit a three-run homer and victory Monday. Royals kept AL Cy Young pitching award win- Washington to give the Nationals their sixth The fan was carried from the stands on a Tyler Matzek pitched five effective innings The Marlins grabbed the lead in the ner Corey Kluber winless this season, beating straight loss. stretcher. There was no immediate report on before leaving with a hamstring injury as the eighth with three consecutive two-out sin- the Indians. Johnson’s two-run homer into the right- the fan’s condition. Vance Worley (2-2) went Rockies held off the Diamondbacks. gles, breaking up Dillon Gee’s shutout bid in Kluber (0-3) gave up six runs, four of them field seats came in Atlanta’s three-run sixth six innings. Morneau hit his three-run shot off Chase a game that took only 1 hour, 58 minutes. earned, and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings. After inning off Doug Fister (1-1). Fister gave up 10 Anderson (0-1) in the first inning and made a It was the fastest nine-inning game in the going 18-9 last year, he hasn’t won in five hits and five runs, four earned, in 5 2-3 REDS 9, BREWERS 6 diving stop to save a run in the sixth. Corey majors since the Padres and Astros also fin- starts and has a 4.24 ERA. innings. Jason Marquis hitt a run-scoring single Dickerson had three of Colorado’s 11 hits and ished in 1:58 on June 27, 2012, according to Gordon drove in two runs, and had a go- The Nationals committed four errors, and slumping Jay Bruce homered and drove drove in a run. STATS. ahead double in the sixth. Moustakas had including two by Fister on errant pickoff in three runs, leading the Reds to a victory Matzek (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits Jarred Cosart matched Gee by allowing four hits, including an RBI single in the sev- attempts. The losing streak is Washington’s over the Brewers. before going out with a left hamstring injury just two hits in eight scoreless innings. But enth, and is 11 for 25 lifetime against Kluber. longest since six straight from July 19-24, The Reds ended a three-game losing after his first pitch of the sixth inning. the Mets rallied against closer Steve Cishek The Indians committed a season-high three 2013. streak by beating the worst team in the Arizona cut a three-run lead to one by the (0-1). errors and have lost seven of 10. Jason Stults (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits majors, one that’s trying everything to get eighth inning, but John Axford worked The Mets (15-5) won with five hits. They Vargas (2-1) gave up two runs in five innings. and three walks. Johnson had three hits, going. Manager Ron Roenicke left slumping around a pair of singles in the ninth inning have the best record in the majors and including a run-scoring single off Rafael Ryan Braun out of the lineup on Monday to for his third save after closer Adam Ottavino improved to 5-0 against Miami. Murphy also RED SOX 6, BLUE JAYS 5 Martin in the seventh. change things up. went on the disabled list earlier in the day. made an acrobatic defensive play at second Mookie Betts hit a game-ending RBI sin- All it led to was another loss that dropped Paul Goldschmidt had three hits for the base in the ninth. Jeurys Familiar earned his gle to lift the Red Sox to a victory over the CUBS 4, PIRATES 0 the Brewers to 4-16. Marquis (2-1) had an RBI Diamondbacks, who have lost four straight. major league-leading ninth save in as many Blue Jays. Pablo Sandoval homered for the Kris Bryant drove in two runs, Jason single during a four-run second inning that chances. Carlos Torres (1-0) retired Giancarlo second straight day for Boston, hitting a solo Hammel threw eight scoreless innings as the snapped the Reds’ 0-for-20 streak with run- DODGERS 8, GIANTS 3 Stanton on a popup with two on to end the shot before leaving the game with a sore Cubs beat the Pirates. Bryant got two hits, ners in scoring position. Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson homered, eighth. neck. He also had a two-run single. including a two-run single, as the Cubs won doubled in a run and made a sparkling The Red Sox have won the opener of each their third in a row. The prized rookie has MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1 defensive play to deprive Angel Pagan of an YANKEES 4, RAYS 1 of their seven series this season.Russell nine RBIs in 10 games since being called up Taijuan Walker pitched seven solid RBI double, leading Los Angeles to a victory Brian McCann hit a tiebreaking home run Martin had a two-run double and rookie from the minors. Hammel (2-1) gave up four innings, Nelson Cruz and had an RBI single over the Giants. and Adam Warren pitched effectively into Devon Travis belted his sixth homer for the hits, walked none and struck out seven. Cubs against his former team as the Mariners beat Pederson’s homer came in the sixth the sixth inning as New York ended Tampa Blue Jays, who were coming off a three- rookie Addison Russell got a hit and scored a the Rangers in a rain-delayed series opener. inning against George Kontos, and pinch-hit- Bay’s five-game winning streak. game sweep against Tampa Bay on the first run in his Wrigley Field debut. Walker (1-2) struck out five and allowed only ter Justin Turner added a three-run shot in Alex Rodriguez went hitless in three at- leg of their 10-game road trip. Russell lost control of his bat in the sev- an unearned run. the eighth off Yusmeiro Petit. bats, failing to tie Willie Mays for fourth place enth inning and it flew into the stands, injur- The Rangers, on the same day they reac- Brett Anderson failed to go the required on the career homer list at 660. But the quired 2010 AL MVP and five-time All-Star five innings for a win after his teammates Yankees won their fourth straight over slugger Josh Hamilton in a trade with the Los staked him to a 4-0 lead through four. Carlos Tampa Bay, moving atop the AL East alone Angeles Angels, missed a chance to win con- Frias (1-0) relieved with two outs in the fifth for the first time this year. New York swept a secutive games for the first time this season. and was credited with his second major three-game series at Tropicana Field from Texas is the only AL team without consecu- league victory after pitching 1 1-3 innings April 17-19. Justin Wilson (1-0) pitched an tive victories. After rain delayed the start of and retiring Justin Maxwell on a comebacker inning for the win, and Andrew Miller earned the game for 55 minutes, Yovani Gallardo (2- with the bases loaded to end the Giants’ his eighth save by finishing New York’s ninth 3) walked the first two batters. three-run fifth. victory in 11 games. Brandon Gomes (0-1) There was a fielder’s choice grounder took the loss. before Cruz put Seattle ahead to stay with ASTROS 9, PADRES 4 his single through the right side of the Colby Rasmus homered and drove in PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 1 infield. That was the majors-best 21st RBI for three runs as the surprising Astros beat the Cole Hamels won for the first time in sev- Cruz, who played in Texas from 2006-13. Padres for their fourth straight victory. en starts dating to last September, and Ben Jed Lowrie and Jason Castro also home- Revere’s two-run double in the seventh TIGERS 5, TWINS 4 red for the AL West leaders, who have won inning was the go-ahead hit for Philadelphia Yoenis Cespedes had a homer, a double nine of 10. Jose Altuve had two hits and an against St. Louis. and three RBIs to back David Price in the RBI double against San Diego ace James Hamels (1-2) and John Lackey (1-1) both Tigers’ victory over the Twins. Jose Iglesias Shields in the opener of a three-game inter- went seven innings. Hamels had a season- raised his average to .397 with a homer and a league series. best nine strikeouts and allowed just four triple among his three hits and Price (2-1) Pat Neshek (1-0) retired the only two hit- hits, while the Phillies put only two runners gave up three runs on six hits and struck out ters he faced to earn the win. The game was in scoring position before their three-run seven in six innings for the Tigers (14-6), who tied at 4 in the eighth inning before Joaquin seventh. The Cardinals have lost two straight have won three straight after a four-game Benoit (3-1) yielded three runs as Houston since ace Adam Wainwright tore his left losing skid. Joakim Soria picked up his took the lead for good. Rasmus and Chris Achilles. The team announced before the eighth save in eight chances. Danny Santana Carter each drove home a run in the inning. game that the two-time 20-game winner will had two hits and an RBI for the Twins (8-11), Cory Mazzoni made his major league debut miss the rest of the season. Jonathan ST. LOUIS: Philadelphia Phillies’ Freddy Galvis lays down a bunt during the ninth inning of a who had the tying run at second base with in the ninth for the Padres and gave up a Papelbon earned his fifth save and made it baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals. —AP one out. Tommy Milone (2-1) gave up five two-run homer to Rasmus. —AP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS

Day to defend WGC-Matchplay LOS ANGELES: Jason Day will be defend- draw following the withdrawal for personal ing his title when the new look WGC- reasons of Phil Mickelson. Matchplay Championship gets underway in A former world amateur number one, San Francisco today, but many will be hop- Ilonon has long since acquired “journey- ing for a final pitting Rory McIlroy against man” status in the pro ranks, but he Jordan Spieth. believes that the matchplay format is a The stage was set for what could be an great leveller when taking on the likes of enduring golfing rivalry at Augusta Spieth. “Hey, it’s matchplay and anything National earlier this month when the 21- can happen - we all know that,” said Ilonen. year-old American Spieth won the Masters, “I definitely don’t have anything to lose and his first major title, in record-breaking against Jordan. If you look at how good he fashion. McIlroy, at 25 a four-time major has been recently, and as much as I hate to winner from Northern Ireland, took fourth say it, how bad I have been lately, then place on that occasion and both men there really is nothing for me to lose. “My spoke of their eagerness to go head-to- form has been poor but we know how head on the biggest of stages. quickly it can turn in this game and maybe Whether that will happen on Sunday at matchplay is what I need to get to going. Harding Park Golf Club Course is, of course, “I have a pretty good matchplay record a matter of conjecture as the top 64 players and I have to say that winning the Volvo in the world make the all-too-rare switch Match Play at the London Club last year from strokeplay to matchplay where the was basically what got me into this tourna- margin between victory and failure is all ment. “That win is basically what got my the thinner. ranking high enough to sneak in here and At least this time around, the margins beating a lot of the European Ryder Cup are somewhat larger. Hitherto, one loss players in that tournament so soon after meant a trip home, but the new round- they had won in Gleneagles gave me a lot robin format being employed, involving 16 of confidence and belief that I can do well groups of four golfers each, means that in this format.” second chances are available. Other top groupings see Bubba Watson McIlroy is the top seed in Group 1 with go up against Louis Oosthuizen, Keegan strong opposition from 2014 FedEx Cup Bradley and Miguel Angel Jimenez in Champion Billy Horschel, 20112 FedEx Group 4 with title-holder Day facing Zach Champ Brandt Snedeker and 2012 PGA Johnson, Branden Grace and Charley Championship winner Jason Dufner. Hoffman in Group 7. Spieth headlines Group 2 where he Mickelson’s absence adds to the non- faces former world number one Lee qualification of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, Westwood, Matt Every and Mikko Ilonen - neither of whom are ranked high enough who was the last player to make it into the to gain entry. —AFP Europe captain Koch heaps Solheim pressure on US

LONDON: Europe’s Solheim Cup skipper and 4 drubbing. Carin Koch believes all the pressure will be “It will be all about having some laughs on opposite number Juli Inkster and her together in September and it helps having United States side at the biennial team Charley in the team,” said Koch who has CHICAGO: Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson (31) drives the lane between Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and Taj Gibson during the event in Germany in September. won twice on the U.S. LPGA Tour and once first half in Game 5 of the NBA basketball playoffs. —AP Koch was involved as an assistant cap- on the European circuit. tain when fellow Swede Liselotte Neumann “That’s what we had with her last time guided the visiting team to a record-break- and it was great. You need people like her ing 18-10 victory in the women’s equiva- around to create a good atmosphere. “She Bucks stop Bulls charge lent of the Ryder Cup in Colorado two years was so much fun to have around and that ago. Europe will be going for an unprece- was a big part of having her as a wildcard CHICAGO: Michael Carter-Williams had 22 regular season missed three straight from dented third straight victory at the St Leon- pick. It wasn’t just that she was an amazing points and eight assists, and Khris Middleton NETS 120, HAWKS 115 behind the arc in the final seconds with the Rot Golf Club in Heidelberg later this year player, it was also that Liselotte thought scored 21 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avoid- Deron Williams rebounded from two dismal Hawks trailing by three. but the skipper says she feels no extra bur- she would be a good influence in the team ed elimination again with a 94-88 victory over games with 35 points as the Brooklyn Nets lev- den of expectation. room. the Chicago Bulls on Monday in Game 5 of their eled their series against the Atlanta Hawks at TRAIL BLAZERS 99, GRIZZLIES 92 “I think it’s the US team that has the “Charley is such a bubbly person and it first-round playoff series. two games each. Damian Lillard had 32 points as Portland most pressure because they’ve lost the last was all new and fresh to her last time.” With With a 3-2 lead, the Bulls will try to close it The Nets, just 38-44 in the regular season, avoided elimination from the playoffs. Memphis two matches and losing three in a row just under five months to go before the out again tomorrow at Milwaukee. No team has won the second straight in the series and moved led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter, wouldn’t be that much fun,” the 44-year-old Sept. 18-20 matches begin, Koch is unsure ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA two victories from becoming the sixth No. 8 but Portland rallied to deny the Grizzlies their Koch told Reuters in an interview. of the make-up of her side but she will not postseason series. seed to beat a No. 1 - only the fourth since the first-ever playoff sweep. LaMarcus Aldridge had “I see it as a positive thing. We made his- be unduly worried if half her side are first- The Bucks regrouped after a nine-point lead first round became best-of-seven. 18 points and 12 rebounds for Portland. Game 5 tory last time and now we can make it timers to the competition. dwindled to three, and they hung on again after Bojan Bogdanovic made the go-ahead 3- is today in Memphis. again and it’s neat to have that goal to aim “I’m not sure experience is that impor- a seven-point lead shrunk to four with just over pointer with 1:25 left in overtime but the Nets Memphis was playing without point guard at. “I’m not going to put on any extra bur- tant because Charley was one of six rookies a minute remaining. never would have gotten there without Williams, Mike Conley, who was inadvertently elbowed in den, it’s going to be fun for us,” added Koch last time round,” she said. “I know I played Carter-Williams hit 10 of 15 shots while out- whose 16 points in the fourth quarter were two the face in the third quarter of Game 3 and at the Ladies European Tour’s great when I was a rookie and it happened playing Derrick Rose. Giannis Antetokounmpo fewer than he had total in the first three games underwent surgery on Monday morning. His sta- Buckinghamshire Golf Club headquarters with Charley too. You are so excited to be scored 11 points and reserve OJ Mayo added 10 of the series. tus for the rest of the playoffs is uncertain. on the outskirts of London. there that you feel confident, on top of the for the Bucks. Brook Lopez had 26 points and 10 rebounds The winner of the series goes on to face the Listening to the Arizona-based Swede world and your game kind of follows on Pau Gasol had 25 points and 10 rebounds for for the Nets. Jeff Teague had 20 points and 11 Golden State Warriors in the second round. Marc explaining her plans, it is clear fun will be a from that. “I look more at results and per- Chicago but Rose and Jimmy Butler struggled. assists, and DeMarre Carroll added 20 points and Gasol led the Grizzlies with 21 points. key characteristic of the week for her and sonality, how many birdies the girls make, Rose was 5 of 20 from the field and missed all nine rebounds for the Hawks, who host Game 5 CJ McCollum added 18 points for the Blazers, her 12-strong team. how good they are at match play, rather seven 3-point attempts. He committed six of his today. who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the “If we have fun together, if we laugh than how much experience they’ve got.” team’s 13 turnovers. Butler scored 20 points but Kyle Korver had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Grizzlies - including all four regular-season meet- together and have a good time, then you Koch, though, will be able to draw on shot 5 of 21. but the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter during the ings. —AP get the team spirit and you can get the the advice of some big hitters among her right result,” said Koch. support staff. Former world number one “That’s a big part of it. That’s something Annika Sorenstam is one of her vice-cap- I’m going to be working a lot on, how can tains while Fanny Suneson, who used to we make sure the players have some fun caddie for six-times major champion Nick Capitals defeat Islanders when we get together in the team room at Faldo, will also be a “strategic adviser”. night?”. “It’s a very important week for the tour WASHINGTON: Rookie Russian forward Evgeny and for women’s golf in general,” said Koch. Kuznetsov skated around every opponent on AMAZING HULL “To have viewers all round the world the ice, putting Washington ahead with less than Charley Hull captured the imagination watching on TV, we don’t get that as much 7 1/2 minutes left in Game 7 Monday as the of the golfing world in 2013 when, as a 17- as the men do. Capitals beat the New York Islanders 2-1 to year-old rookie, she won two of her three “Week in, week out we do as much as advance to the second round of the NHL play- matches to inspire Europe to their first vic- we can but during the Solheim Cup you offs. tory on American soil. can make a big impact on people. The level Kuznetsov scored the sort of athletic, breath- The icing on the cake came in the final- of golf is normally amazing so this is our taking goal his better-known teammate, Alex day singles when the English teenager chance to inspire young women golfers Ovechkin, often does, taking the puck from the handed the experienced Paula Creamer a 5 everywhere.”—Reuters right boards and heading across the ice before sending a rising shot over sprawling goalie Jaroslav Halak. Joel Ward gave Washington a 1-0 lead late in the second period, and Frans Nielsen pulled New York even early in the third. Braden Holtby only needed to make 10 saves. The Capitals now face the Presidents’ Trophy- winning New York Rangers, who eliminated Washington from the 2012 and 2013 playoffs - in Game 7 each time. The Islanders’ loss ends their playing days at Nassau Coliseum, which opened in 1972. The team is moving to Brooklyn next season. This was the first Game 7 of this year’s NHL playoffs and it was a fitting conclusion to this particular matchup. Through the first six games, each team scored 14 goals. Each won on the road. Each won in overtime. And during the reg- ular season, both finished with 101 standings WASHINGTON: Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) keeps his eye on the puck as New York points, and three of their four head-to-head Islanders left wing Matt Martin (17) attempts to deflect it during the third period of Game 7 in meetings went to overtime. Washington, the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs. —AP though, controlled Monday’s action, outshoot- ing New York 26-11. the first period, and Johnson added another the Lightning, who led the NHL in goals during In Detroit, Tyler Johnson scored two goals in goal in the second to give the Lightning a 3-0 the season but had been struggling to score on his latest stellar performance as the Tampa Bay lead. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Detroit, but the Red Wings and goalie Petr Mrazek in this Lightning held on for a 5-2 victory over the Red Alex Killorn answered with an unassisted goal series. Mrazek made a sensational save on Brian Wings, forcing a Game 7 in their first-round play- with 5:09 remaining, and Cedric Paquette added Boyle in the second period, but Tampa Bay had off series. Johnson and Jason Garrison scored in an empty-netter. Ben Bishop made 22 saves for already taken a 2-0 lead by that point.—AP Carin Koch in action in this file photo. Kuwait ready to host squash tourney

KUWAIT: Kuwait Squash Fede- with the tournament. He said the held at Salem Al-Sabah Squash with six players Abdallah Al- tournament held in Saudi Arabia ration is ready to host the 18th preparations are linked to courts, Complex is distinguished with the Muzayyen, Salem Fayez, Ali Al- earlier this month which Kuwait Asian men’s singles squash tourna- training and the entire technical participation of the best players in Ramzi, Falah Fayez Ammar Al- won was a strong preparation for ment scheduled to start on Friday and administrative affairs in order the continent as ranked by the Tamimi and Yousuf Nizar, adding this tournament which will witness with the participation of 80 play- to guarantee the success of this international federation, while it is that the players are well prepared. fierce challenges and is much ers, said Federation President continental gathering which technically supervised by the Asian He said the players are in high spir- stronger that the Gulf due to the Waleed Al-Sumaiee. He said the attracts 55 men and 25 female and International Federations. He its and determined to achieve yet presence of players from Pakistan, Higher Organization Committee, players from more than 15 coun- said the matches will be tough another sporting achievement for India and Malaysia. He appreciated which he heads and includes sev- tries as matches will be held especially during its advanced Kuwait. the support of PAYS in various eral board members completed all according to the knock out system. stages. Al-Sumaiee said the participa- fields both domestically and preparations that are connected He said the championship to be He said Kuwait will participate tion of Kuwait team in the Gulf abroad. — KUNA Waleed Al-Sumaiee WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS Busch’s win shows attempt to change

CHARLOTTE: Kurt Busch’s win at Richmond every race and contended for the win each International Raceway would only be consid- week. He won two poles, probably would ered redemption if anyone had ever ques- have won at California until late debris cau- tioned his driving ability. tions interfered and finally got the win But for all the speed bumps and setbacks Sunday that will qualify him to race in in his career, Busch’s talent has never suffered. NASCAR’s championship playoffs. And not a single competitor has ever sug- The last six weeks have shown nothing gested that he’s not the ultimate wheelman. short of the driver Gene Haas hand-picked to So it was easy Sunday to get caught up in drive a new fourth car he funds out of his the personal satisfaction Busch showed in own pocket. Haas knew he was bringing in a winning at Richmond. NASCAR’s 2004 cham- volatile driver with a history of making ene- pion has been fighting for four years to mies, but he also knew Stewart-Haas Racing rebuild his career, and the Richmond win was was getting one of the top talents in NASCAR. proof once again that Busch always seems to The question that never went away was: find a way to rebound from all those self- When was Busch going to self-destruct? inflicted wounds. The wheels began to fall off long before This time it was an allegation of assault by that night with Driscoll at his motorhome. an ex-girlfriend, who accused Busch of being Busch’s performance tailed off late last sum- suicidal when she rushed to his side last mer and, as the reality set in that he was not a September in his motorhome at Dover legitimate title contender, his fuse grew International Speedway in Delaware. shorter and shorter. Patricia Driscoll claimed Busch assaulted He was ultimately eliminated from the her that night, and she ultimately asked that Chase for the Sprint Cup championship on he be charged with a crime. What followed the same weekend Driscoll alleges the assault was two months of headline-grabbing drama occurred. as Busch fought Driscoll’s request for a no- Busch has steadfastly maintained his inno- contact order. cence, but that time out of the car at the start Many of his flaws were exposed over four of the season had to make him think: What days of tawdry testimony during NASCAR’s was it that he was doing to constantly find offseason. When it was finally time for Busch himself in all these ugly incidents? He has to go back to work and seek solace in his race clearly been on a mission to prove something car, a Delaware judge granted Driscoll’s since his reinstatement, but that can only be KHULNA: Bangladeshi cricketer Mominul Haque plays a shot during the first day of the first cricket Test match between Bangladeshand request and ruled Busch likely had assaulted done off the track. Busch himself noted after Pakistan at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. —AFP her. NASCAR moved swiftly in suspending Sunday’s win that it was never difficult during Busch two days before the season-opening this latest controversy for him to separate his Daytona 500, and his time on the sidelines personal life from his professional life, and covered the first three races of the year. Busch that he was “standing on the truth the whole Mominul leads B’desh’s was reinstated only after the Delaware attor- time. “That gave me the feeling of when I do ney general declined to press charges and get back to the car, it’s going to be easy to NASCAR said he’d sufficiently completed a focus, and I think I’ve shown that,” he said. program that cleared his return to competi- Yes, he certainly has. The win showed he is good start in first Test tion. Busch has certainly presented himself as the driver everyone knew he was, and in that a humbled man in the six weeks since his post-race celebration, it might have also return. He has not been argumentative in shown the person he’s trying to become. KHULNA: Mominul Haque scored 80 as was on 17. Yasir broke a 52-run opening stand before making way for Misbah-ul Haq in the public, he has maintained his composure “Victory lane is victory lane - I was standing Bangladesh made an impressive start in the first between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul just before Tests, said the day’s honours were shared after when faced with adversity on the race track there, the confetti is flying, they gave us the Test against Pakistan in Khulna yesterday, reach- lunch by having Tamim (25) caught at forward the dismissal of Mominul in the last over. and he seems to be putting forth an effort Champagne bottles ... it doesn’t change,” he ing 236 for four by stumps on the opening day. short-leg by Azhar Ali. “Obviously after picking Mominul’s wicket we not to do anything that could call his charac- said. “As I’m older, I can appreciate it more The talented 23-year-old left-hander batted Yasir, who had missed the preceding limited- are happy,” he said. “It has raised the team’s spir- ter into question. because of the time and effort that it takes to fluently to pass 50 for the 12th time in his first 13 overs series due to injury, ended the day with its and hopefully we can dismiss them early In the meantime, he’s been spectacular on assemble a good group of guys. That’s where Tests before being trapped leg-before by figures of one for 58 in 18 overs. tomorrow.” the race track. Since his fifth-place finish at I recognize what now I might have took for Zulfiqar Babar off the last ball of the day. Imrul survived a strong leg-before appeal off Bangladesh handed Test debuts to Soumya Phoenix in his return, Busch has led laps in granted.” —AP Opener Imrul Kayes made 51, Mohammad the third ball of the innings from Junaid Khan as Sarkar and fast bowler Mohammad Shahid, Mahmudullah scored 49 and Shakib Al Hasan the TV umpire turned down Pakistan’s review. while Pakistan picked uncapped batsman Sami was unbeaten on 19 after the hosts elected to Hafeez, who dropped Tamim at leg slip off Aslam for the opening match of the two-Test Gasquet makes winning take first strike in good batting conditions at the Zulfiqar when he was on 16, made amends by series. Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. Mominul has scored taking a return catch to dismiss Imrul after Pakistan also ignored senior off-spinner a half-century or more in his last 10 Tests. Only lunch. Pakistan had to wait for almost two hours Saeed Ajmal, preferring to go in with two spe- return after back injury four batsmen-Viv Richards of the West Indies, for their next success, which came after tea cialist slow bowlers in Zulfiqar and Yasir. The South Africa’s AB de Villiers and the Indian duo when wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed dived to his hosts swept the ODI series 3-0 and also defeated ESTORIL: Fifth seed Richard Gasquet made finish the match as win,” said Gasquet. “I’m of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag-have right to remove Mahmudullah off Wahab’s bowl- Pakistan for the first time in a Twenty20 interna- a winning return after nearly six weeks out feeling better than a week ago, I’m more scored more 50s in consecutive Test matches. ing. Azhar, who led Pakistan in the one-dayers tional. —AFP with a back injury as the Frenchman beat confident with my body. “I think we are in a good position, but if I had Marinko Matosevic of Australia 7-6 (9/7), 6- “I’m very happy with the way I won not been out we would have been on top,” 1 at the Estoril Open yesterday. The former today. I had no pain, but recovery is a long Mominul said after the day’s play. “Surviving SCOREBOARD ATP number seven currently ranked 28th process. I have nothing to lose and can only here is easy, but scoring runs is difficult.” KHULNA, Bangladesh: Scoreboard of the opening day’s play in the first Test between took less than 90 minutes to dispatch the get better. I need to play as many matches Mominul put on 40 for the second wicket Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium in Khulna yesterday: 82nd-ranked Matosevic in the opening as possible. with Imrul, 95 for the third with Mahmudullah round. “I’m feeling good now, but I had this and 49 for the fourth with Shakib as Pakistan’s Bangladesh 1st innings: Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Tamim), 2-92 (Imrul), 3- Gasquet was one of two French winners injury for three months last year and it bowlers toiled for success on an unhelpful pitch. Tamim Iqbal c Azhar b Yasir 25 187 (Mahmudullah), 4-236 (Mominul). as qualifier Kenny De Schepper put out came back this year. “It’s in my head a bit, Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, off-break bowler Imrul Kayes c and b Hafeez 51 To bat: Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Portugal’s Gastao Elias 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to move it’s tough to play right now without think- Mohammad Hafeez, left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz Mominul Haque lbw b Zulfiqar 80 Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, into a second-round meeting with Gasquet. ing about it.” and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar claimed a wicket Mahmudullah c Sarfraz b Wahab 49 Mohammad Shahid Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta advanced Gasquet finished with nine aces and each, but Pakistan were let down by shoddy Shakib Al Hasan not out 19 Bowling: Junaid 16-2-40-0 (2nb), Wahab 19-5- over Constant Lestienne of France 6-3, 6-1. three breaks of serve. He won the opening catching and fielding. Extras (lb5, nb7) 12 40-1 (5nb), Hafeez 15-5-38-1, Zulfiqar 21.5-3- Gasquet has played a pair of finals in set in a tiebreaker and broke early to domi- The most expensive let-off was by Zulfiqar, Total (for four wickets, 89.5 overs) 236 55-1, Yasir 18-1-58-1. Portugal, losing to Novak Djokovic in 2007 nate the second set on the way to victory. who spilled a simple return catch when Mominul and Juan Martin del Potro in 2012. Matosevic saved match points and Gasquet last took to a court on cement forced the seed to salvage a break point in in Indian Wells on March 15, retiring with a the final game before Gasquet claimed the herniated disc in his back against German win. Nick Kyrgios, the seventh seed who Michael Berrer in the second round. turned 20 on Monday, was awaiting his clay Owner Zayat’s three horses The 28-year-old improved to 11-4 on the season start after a spring ankle injury, with season after his winning debut on clay. “I’m the Australian starting against Spanish spe- feeling better, it’s as important for me to cialist Albert Ramos-Vinolas.—AFP take aim at Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE: Ahmed Zayat can’t contain his The sport has taught the ultra-competitive attempt between sire Pioneerof the Nile and enthusiasm at having three horses running in Zayat a tough lesson: You may win at a 25 per- dam Littleprincessemma, named for one of his the Kentucky Derby. The fast-talking Egyptian cent clip, but 75 percent of the time you’re going daughters. businessman is alternately nervous, hopeful and to lose. “The first orientation is getting adjusted “Sentimentally, I like him more,” he said of the tickled pink. to being competitive and yet needing to turn colt named by a fan through a contest on the “Hyper” is how trainer Bob Baffert describes the page and move on.” family’s website. The brown colt with the unusu- his client, whose American Pharoah is expected Baffert is in the unusual position of training ally short tail - another horse chewed the end of to be the early favorite for Saturday’s 141st Run the probable favorite and second choice this it off on the farm - is coming off an eight-length for the Roses. year. He’s got American Pharoah for Zayat, who win in the Arkansas Derby. Listening to Zayat’s bubbly chatter, there’s no lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, and undefeated “From day one, he’s been an absolute super- hint of the run of bad luck he’s endured at the Dortmund for India-born owner Kaleem Shah. star,” Zayat said. Son Justin favors El Kabeir Derby. Three times his horses have finished sec- “Hope for a dead-heat,” the white-haired because he spends so much time in New York ond behind long shots. trainer joked. Zayat has a close-up view of with the horse. The name translates to the boss, In 2009, 50-1 Mine That Bird sneaked up American Pharoah’s biggest rival every time he and it’s how the elder Zayat’s father is addressed along the rail and beat Pioneerof the Nile. In visits his colt at Baffert’s barn. Dortmund is by the family. The colt is trained by John 2011, Nehro was defeated by 20-1 Animal housed in a nearby stall. “I have tremendous Terranova, although he’s also staying in Baffert’s Kingdom. A year later, 15-1 I’ll Have Another respect for Dortmund, I have tremendous appre- barn. His third horse, Mr. Z, is named for Zayat, beat Bodemeister. ciation for Mr. Shah,” Zayat said. “He’s put a lot of but not by choice. His four children submitted Baffert can count two of those losses among money into the game. He’s also passionate. If it’s the name without him knowing because he his Derby defeats, having trained Pioneerof the not going to be me (winning), it’s going to be thinks it’s “corny” to name horses after yourself. Nile and Bodemeister. “Luckily they run the someone else.” Mr. Z is trained by four-time Derby winner D. Derby every year,” he said. Baffert refuses to choose between American Wayne Lukas. The chestnut colt is the most Richard Gasquet in action in this file photo. Zayat had a double-dose of bad luck in 2010. Pharoah and Dortmund, comparing it to a par- experienced among the 20-horse field, having His early Derby favorite Eskendereya was with- ent asked to pick a favorite child. Zayat has no raced 12 times with just one victory but nine in- drawn days before the race with a leg injury and such problem with his trio. the-money finishes. So it’s try, try, try again for he filed for bankruptcy protection to keep his He is unabashedly partial to American Zayat at the Derby.”If you love it, you keep com- Nishikori eyes tennis summit racing operation afloat after a bank claimed he Pharoah, the product of Zayat’s first breeding ing to the well,” he said.—AP defaulted on $34 million in loans. TOKYO: Japan’s Kei Nishikori has the ability anyone would write off his chances at the Baffert has won the race three times, but not to reach the summit of men’s tennis and is French Open. He has a good shot.” since 2002. He’s been training for Zayat since technically already better than world num- Nishikori, 25, who retained his Barcelona 2007, becoming close friends while enduring ber one Novak Djokovic, according to his title at the weekend to capture a ninth the sport’s ups and downs together. They former mentor. career tournament, learnt a harsh lesson exchange calls or text messages “like 10 times a Shuzo Matsuoka told AFP yesterday it after being floored by Croatian Marin Cilic day,” Zayat said. was “only a matter of time” before Nishikori, in last year’s US Open final, insisted “We know the game. It changes every second who broke into the top five last season, Matsuoka. “He had never reached a grand and every time he calls me my heart sinks for 30 captured his first grand slam title. slam final before and he felt the pressure seconds,” the owner said, knowing it could be “Kei is hitting the ball harder and con- for sure,” said Matsuoka, who in 1992 bad news about his horses. Zayat took his first trolling opponents more than last year,” became the first Japanese player to win an crack at the Derby in 2008, when Z Fortune fin- Matsuoka said in an interview. “He has a ATP title. “But it’s only a matter of time ished 10th and Z Humor was 14th. decent chance of winning the French before Kei wins a grand slam. If he wins Now 52, he retired 10 years ago, having sold Open. He’s knocking on the door, for cer- one, he could go on to win a bunch.” his beer distributorship to Heineken for $280 tain. I’m not being biased but he plays bet- Matsuoka believes that Nishikori has million and plowed the proceeds into buying ter tennis than Djokovic or (Rafa) Nadal.” nothing to fear from the so-called big four more horses. His love of the sport is a family Matsuoka, who has watched Nishikori of men’s tennis-Djokovic, Nadal, Roger affair, with Justin, one of his four children, acting develop since first encountering him as a Federer and Andy Murray. as racing manager for Zayat Stables. shy 11-year-old, added: “That said, he “Murray had it incredibly tough,” said “He has a lot of passion,” Baffert said. “The knows there are still questions over his Matsuoka, referring to the Scot’s agonising clients that have a lot of passion, those are the mental strength and that tennis is about wait for a first major title. “He was coming best clients because they really want to do well. more than just pure talent. up against the other three at their absolute They invest a lot of time along with money. It’s “Seeing Kei dominating on clay puts him peak. But their powers are fading a little like owning their own team. They’re very com- right behind Djokovic in terms of who you now, without a doubt, and a new genera- petitive, which is good. It’s a trainer’s dream to LOUISVILLE: Carpe Diem runs on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby would fancy to win right now. I don’t think tion of players are on the rise.—AFP have clients like that.” at Churchill Downs. —AFP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS

Megafight numbers add up to new sporting landscape

LAS VEGAS: Even in Las Vegas where yet we have said that about a lot of most eagerly anticipated in boxing “When you have a billion people, if and famous with only 500 offered for fortunes are won and lost on the roll of things in global sports: television rights, since the 1975 ‘Thrilla in Manila’ you just get 10 percent of the popula- sale to the general public. the dice, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and $2 billion franchises, billion dollar stadi- between Muhammad Ali and Joe tion to watch a fight on television, you As usual, casinos up and down the Manny Pacquiao have Sin City abuzz ums. Frazier. The current PPV record is 2.5 mil- do the math.” And the numbers are eye- Las Vegas Strip will flash the names of over a megafight that will generate mil- “So nothing surprises me anymore lion buys for a 2007 fight between popping. big-name headliners on their glitzy mar- lions and reshape the sport business but this in many ways is a watershed Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya but While sport fans have grown numb quees but for this weekend the hottest landscape. event for boxing and maybe the busi- Saturday’s bout should obliterate that to multi-million soccer transfer fees and ticket in town once again belongs to From $100,000 ringside seats to $150 ness of sport.” mark with at least 3 million boxing fans routine $100 million player contracts boxing. million paydays, Saturday’s long-await- Even by Las Vegas standards, a desert expected to tune in. “A lot of people the figures surrounding Saturday’s fight “Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is an ed showdown between the greatest city built on excess, Mayweather and over the last half dozen years have been have provided a ‘take notice’ jolt. With event that transcends not just boxing fighters of a generation is expected to Pacquiao will bank a king’s ransom, their saying, ‘Well MMA or UFC is taking over,’” Showtime and HBO predicting unprece- but sport in general,” Peter Nelson, vice be the richest fight of all-time and night’s work likely to land both men at famed ring announcer Michael Buffer dented pay-per-view numbers ticket president of programming for HBO smash records in knockout fashion. the top of Forbes’ 2015 highest-paid told Reuters. “MMA, UFC, no doubt brokers have also been startled at the Sports, told Reuters. “The quality of “It is precedent setting and it breaks athletes list. The undefeated about it, are very successful and have a staggering prices on the resale market competition is what attracts fans. every financial model known to man,” Mayweather (47-0) is guaranteed $120 hard core and loyal group of fans ... but with some ringside seats on StubHub “People want to see athletes at the Rick Horrow, sports lecturer at Harvard million and Filipino Pacquiao (57-5-2) is they don’t have the scope or the world- commanding $109,000. top level of their sport in the toughest Law School, told Reuters. “The pay-per- assured $80 million but could top those wide appeal that boxing does. The MGM Grand Garden Arena, test imaginable. “Greatness is more than view is $100, the tickets are almost unaf- figures depending on pay-per-view “Boxing is huge in Russia and the which has a capacity of 16,800, will be talent, it’s seeking out moments of fordable for even the millionaire fight (PPV) sales. eastern European countries. Asia, of packed with high rollers, A-listers, enter- adversity and moments of reckoning fan. Showtime and HBO will jointly course, with Pacquiao. Chinese fighters tainment moguls and business tycoons, and showing people what you can do in “The numbers are almost unrealistic broadcast the bout, which is one of the now have started to step up. tickets out of reach for all but the rich those moments.”—Reuters

plot on how to hit Mayweather

LOS ANGELES: Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach have spent the past two months trying to solve the biggest puzzle in modern boxing. How does anybody hit Floyd Mayweather Jr., a fighter whose perfect career is built on being nearly impossible to touch? Pacquiao and Roach will reveal their answer in detail Saturday night in Las Vegas, when the fighters meet in the richest bout in boxing his- tory. But clues to a strategy for breaking Mayweather’s impenetrable defense were evi- dent in Pacquiao’s final workout at Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood on Monday. Pacquiao was a whirlwind of motion from the moment he stepped in the ring, throwing dozens of punches in combinations against Roach’s mitts and chest protector. While Roach took a much-deserved break, Pacquiao shad- owboxed across the canvas, peppering the air with hundreds of rapid-fire punches long after his workout could have been over. “You can beat Floyd Mayweather if you out- work him and never give him a chance to do the things he does best,” Roach said. “Manny is punching real hard, but I want him to outscore (Mayweather) in every round. I think we can win a 12-round decision. We want to throw a ton of punches.” Pacquiao is betting on aggression, activity and punch volume to defeat Mayweather, according to the fighter and his longtime train- er. The eight-division world champion has trained fiercely to fight 12 rounds of nonstop offense against the pre-eminent defensive fighter of his generation. “I’m not really looking for a knockout,” Pacquiao said. “We’re not looking only for a knockout, but for throwing a lot of punches, and also making sure that every round, we’re LAS VEGAS: At left, in a May 4, 2013, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr. exchanges punches with Robert Guerrero (not shown) in aWBC welterweight title fight. At right, in a Nov. 12, ahead on points.” 2011, file photo, Manny Pacquiao exchanges punches with Juan Manuel Marquez (not shown) during a WBO welterweight title fight inLas Vegas.—AP Pacquiao has built his remarkable career on otherworldly quickness and old-fashioned vol- ume punching, both outmaneuvering and out- working nearly all of his opponents over the Heavyweight appetizer for Mayweather, Pacquiao past 10 years. He has never faced a fighter with Mayweather’s skills in defense and counter- punching, but Roach believes Mayweather has NEW YORK: Wladimir Klitschko joined Joe Louis shadowed by Saturday’s upcoming bout. the legs? They were bigger opponents, but were lenger Jennings, said Pacquiao’s attitude would never dealt with an opponent as relentless as in the record books with his title bout on Saturday “Thankfully, it’s not the undercard,” Klitschko they slower? Were they southpaw, were they be key. “Depends which Pacquiao comes,” Shaw the southpaw Filipino congressman. but the event took a decided back seat to box- said with a laugh, acknowledging how he would energetic?” he rattled off. “Were they on him like a said. “If it’s the real religious Pacquiao that comes “Our volume of combinations is much high- ing’s latest ‘Fight of the Century’-Mayweather v have ranked in the billing for the extravaganza. swarm of wild bees after you disturbed the bees’ in and doesn’t have the killer instinct he had years er than Mayweather’s,” Roach said. Pacquiao. Klitschko matched the legendary Louis “Obviously, Jennings and Klitschko is not the nest and they’re all over you? That is how ago, I don’t think he has a chance. “Mayweather waits for you to finish your com- by climbing into the ring for his record-tying 27th mega-fight.” The Las Vegas bout is expected to be Pacquiao fights.” Promoter/manager Shelly Finkel “If he goes in and takes Mayweather into a bination and throws back with the big right world heavyweight championship fight but the boxing’s richest and there was no shortage of said he thought the fight would be tougher than street fight, maybe he hits him low, gets a point hand or the check hook, and we’re not going Ukrainian’s win against Bryant Jennings was a comment. many think.“I believe Mayweather will win taken away, pushes him... “I remember (Evander) to be there for that. We’re going to be in and mere prelude to bigger things. Most favored Mayweather, as do the odds- because he’s just a better fighter,” Finkel said. “But Holyfield telling me the night before he went in out, and I plan on Manny outscoring him that “This event with Wladimir Klitschko, heavy- makers. Bernard Hopkins, a longtime mid- this is not going to be easy. Pacquiao is coming the ring with (Mike) Tyson, ‘I’m going to push him way.” Roach also seems confident Pacquiao can weight champion of the world returning to dleweight champion who became the oldest to fight. He has to. His whole country depends on into the ropes. If he hits me once, I’m going to hit move better than Mayweather in a 12-round Madison Square Garden, is the perfect hors d’oeu- world champion by taking the light-heavyweight it.” him twice. If he pushes me once, I’m going to fight, a remarkable prediction based on obser- vre to what the main course will be next week,” crown at age 46 and won again at 49, expects the Iran Barkley, the former world middleweight, push him twice.’” vation. The trainer believes Mayweather’s legs Peter Nelson, HBO sports programming vice pres- aging combatants to wage a lively battle. super-middleweight and light-heavyweight Former undisputed heavyweight champ will fade in the second half of the fight, partic- ident, told Reuters. “The first six rounds, I believe you’re going to champion, also picked Mayweather. “Floyd is the Lennox Lewis joked about the gravity of the ularly if Pacquiao chases him around the ring The biggest buzz among boxing notables get your money’s worth,” he told Reuters. “Back mecca of boxing right now,” he said. welterweight showdown. “Only heavyweight for the first half. gathered in the Big Apple centered on the long- and forth, before Mayweather is going to figure “I see it as a big fight like Sugar Ray Leonard fights are the ‘Fights of the Century’,” he said, Evidence of the decline in the 38-year-old awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather him out.” and (Roberto) Duran in the years of ‘No Mas’. Both with a nod to indelible moments produced by Mayweather’s legs is debatable, but Roach and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2. But Hopkins expects Pacquiao will present a of these guys are going to put on a tremendous the likes of Louis and Muhammad Ali. “But I’m insists he saw it in Mayweather’s two most Even Klitschko understood his place in the unique challenge. “Look at Floyd’s wins in the last fight. But my man Floyd is going to be victorious.” going to be watching it. I’m trying to get some recent fights against Marcos Maidana. The boxing landscape when asked about feeling over- five or six fights. Did you see anything different in Gary Shaw, promoter of losing heavyweight chal- tickets.”—Reuters hard-hitting Argentine seemed to land more clean shots on Mayweather than anybody in recent history through persistence and vol- ume, although Mayweather has scoffed at the Fight week begins with notion. “Mayweather’s legs are shot, and you saw it twice last year,” Roach said. “He’s not becoming caravan to Las Vegas more crowd-pleasing. He just can’t move like he used to, so he has to exchange more. As LAS VEGAS: The last time Freddie Roach was Delano Las Vegas hotel at Mandalay Bay long as we can hit him and then move, on the interstate linking Los Angeles with this sometime early evening Monday following Mayweather can’t touch us.” boxing capital, he was written up for going seven weeks of training at Roach’s Wild Card Roach has closed Pacquiao’s sparring ses- 140 mph. Boxing Club in Hollywood. His arrival marks sions to the media, an unusual tactic for the Roach will be driving a lot slower as part of the unofficial kickoff to a fight week unlike duo. Roach said it’s because they’re working a colorful caravan of hundreds of cars heading any other in a city used to hosting the biggest on a detailed game plan that includes “a little down Interstate 15 with Manny Pacquiao for fights. bit more of a surprise. Stuff he hasn’t seen his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. So far it doesn’t look like promoters under- before.” “Manny will spar for the last time and after estimated the demand for the fight. The But Roach has echoed Pacquiao’s decision that we’ll break camp and everyone will go to cheapest ticket on the StubHub website to downplay the possibility of a knockout. their cars and trucks,” Roach said. “The Sunday was $5,245, while ringside seats were Mayweather has rarely even been in trouble in entourage used to be about 100 cars, I’d say being offered for as much as $106,950. Even his career, much less stopped, while Pacquiao there might be 1,000 cars this time.” Fight tickets to watch on closed circuit at various hasn’t stopped anyone in his last nine fights week is finally here, and even in a city known MGM-owned properties in Las Vegas - which since 2009. for the outlandish it is shaping up to be some- originally sold for $150 - were being offered at “I can’t count on him knocking this guy out, thing special. The richest fight in history has $620 or more online. because he really has never been a big punch- spawned $100,000 ringside tickets, hotel Everybody will pay for a fight that will likely er at 147 (pounds),” Roach said. “That’s because rooms going for $1,600 a night, and a pay-per- earn Mayweather $180 million and Pacquiao by fight time, most of the guys he’s fighting view price just a nickel shy of a $100 bill. $120 million. Even Roach had to shell out have been 160, and they’re just bigger guys.” Even $10 tickets to see the two fighters at $70,000 for 20 tickets for family and friends, But Roach wants Pacquiao to be ready to the weigh-in are running as much as $700 though he was able to get his at retail prices. fight from the opening bell, something that through online ticket brokers. Everything is “My mother asked for four tickets and my shouldn’t be hard with the likely frenzy in the MGM Grand Garden. over the top for the megafight that was five mother gets whatever she wants,” Roach said. PHILIPPINES: Passengers disembark from an AirAsia Philippines Airbus A320 passenger “For some reason, I have an idea that years in the making. That includes the caravan “My brothers and sister all want to go. I’m hap- plane with the livery of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao upon arrival from Cebu city. —AP that will bring Pacquiao to Las Vegas, featur- py I can afford to buy them tickets.” (Mayweather) is going to come out really quick ing hundreds of cars and a custom bus While Pacquiao will be arriving in town, tacular performance, you can count on that.” his way to town. A seven-time winner of the on us and try to knock Manny out in the first wrapped in Pacquiao’s image for some of the Mayweather lives here and has been training Ellerbe said he isn’t surprised by the trainer of the year award by the Boxing Writers round,” Roach said. “I think he’s been watching the tape of Manny getting knocked out (by luckier members of his entourage. at his own gym just west of the Las Vegas demand for anything to do with the fight, of America, he said Pacquiao guaranteed him Juan Manuel Marquez). Mayweather does have “I might have the fastest car,” Roach said. Strip. His promoter, Leonard Ellerbe, said which will smash records for biggest gate and a win last week so he would win the award for that big overhand right, or that long right “But if I get one more of those tickets I can’t Sunday that Mayweather will treat the week almost surely set records for pay-per-view an eighth time. hand. I think he’s going to use that against us. drive anymore. I asked the police officer, why just like any other big fight he has been sales. “Everything is out of the stratosphere,” “This will be my biggest win ever,” Roach We’re prepared for that one also. “I think do they make these cars so fast if you can’t involved in. he said. “It shows you the world wide appeal said. “This one really counts, it will be in the of this fight.” history books the rest of our lives. I think my Mayweather will come right after us. I hope he drive that way? I should have shut my mouth.” “It’s a typical fight week, business as usual,” does. We’re ready.” —AP Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive at the Ellerbe said. “Floyd is going to put on a spec- Roach can be forgiven if he speeds a bit on guy is ready for it.” —AP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS

Preview Favors needed again as Juve look to clinch title

MILAN: After their weekend derby dis- to the semi-finals of the Champions ahead of a game that he will miss due to run of just one defeat in six. who are into the Europa League semi- appointment, Juventus will need favors League for the first time in 12 years to suspension. Paul Pogba is still sidelined, “We will have to grit our teeth finals and have won their last three Serie from elsewhere if they are to secure a the low of losing 2-1 to city rivals Torino, but Claudio Marchisio is back after a ban because a very difficult week awaits. I A matches, scoring 10 goals in the fourth consecutive Serie A title in front their first defeat in the so-called ‘Derby and the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio am convinced that our season will be process. of their own fans today. della Mole’ since 1995. Chiellini and leading scorer Carlos Tevez decided on the final day,” said Lazio Their latest victory was a 4-2 crushing Fourteen points clear at the top of That match was also marred by crowd are in line to return to the team. coach Stefano Pioli after his team’s 1-1 of fellow European hopefuls Sampdoria the table with six matches remaining, trouble, with the Juve team bus being Fiorentina are dangerous opponents draw with Chievo on Sunday. Lazio are a and their run has revived their Massimiliano Allegri’s side entertain attacked on its way to the ground and on paper, although a 3-1 home loss to point better off than capital rivals Roma, Champions League hopes before Rafa Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium several Torino fans then being hurt struggling Cagliari on Sunday was their who go to Sassuolo looking to improve Benitez’s men go to Empoli on Thursday. knowing a win will see them confirmed when a paper bomb was thrown inside third in a row in Serie A, with coach on a run of just three wins in their last 15 Meanwhile, under-pressure AC Milan as champions provided nearest rivals the stadium. Vincenzo Montella admitting their run to Serie A games, the latest outing a 2-1 coach Filippo Inzaghi is keeping his Lazio slip up at home to Parma. Juve risk having part of their stadium the Europa League semi-finals has defeat away to Inter on Saturday. “We under-performing players in retreat at A draw could also be enough for the closed as a punishment, which would sapped energy. need to have a burning desire to start their Milanello training ground ahead of Bianconeri to clinch their 31st scudetto take some of the gloss off an end to the Rather than postponing Juve’s title winning again. Things are not going today’s home clash with Genoa. this midweek, but only if Lazio, Roma season which promises so much. celebrations, Lazio’s priority is on hold- well, we need to change things in the six Inzaghi blasted his team after the and Napoli all fail to win, with the latter “Sorry to have lost the derby. We did- ing on to the second automatic matches that are left,” declared midfield- weekend defeat at Udinese, which left not in action away to Empoli until n’t get much luck. We continue to pedal Champions League qualifying spot as er Miralem Pjanic. them in 10th place and appeared to kill tomorrow. In the last week, Juve have towards winning the scudetto,” defender they entertain a Parma side who have Roma’s position on the podium is off their chances of European qualifica- gone from the high of winning through Leonardo Bonucci wrote on Twitter delayed their inevitable relegation on a under threat from a resurgent Napoli, tion. —AFP Al Mohannadi withdraws from FIFA executive race

MANAMA: Qatar Football Association vice-pres- Figo will hope to convince delegates at this increasing the number of teams participating in ident Saud Al Mohannadi has pulled out of elec- week’s Asian Football Confederation Congress the World Cup, we not only make sure that we tions for a place on the FIFA executive commit- that a vote for him would boost the region’s include more countries from across the world, tee, saying West Asia should support one candi- chances of more places in future World Cup but also enable FIFA to raise significant date. finals. increased revenues that can be used to invest in Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Figo told Reuters before he left for tomor- the growth of the game globally.” Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, one of row’s congress in the Bahrain capital of Manama sport’s most influential powerbrokers in the that he also wanted more non-Europeans FOOTBALL HUBS world, is heavily expected to be voted on to involved in working for FIFA, which should Figo will also tell Asian delegates of his plan FIFA’s decision-making board. Al Mohannadi become more of a multi-cultural organisation. for what he calls “football hubs” involving called on Sheikh Ahmad and Oman’s Khalid Al The former Portugal international, 42, said in localised regular meetings with presidents and GERMANY: Berlin’s mayor Michael Mueller lifts the trophy of the 2015 FIFA Women’s Busaidi to settle on one candidate from West an email exchange that the increased populari- general secretaries of national associations. Football World Cupat the Rotes Rathaus city hall in Berlin. The FIFA Women’s World Asia. “I am grateful to the football fraternity for ty of the sport in Asia and rising standards of “I think these would benefit the AFC. Cup will take place from June 6 to July 5, 2015 in Canada. —AFP their wholehearted support,” Al Mohannadi said play were just two reasons why he wanted to Representing countries from the Middle East to in a statement. “I hope Asian football remains see the World Cup expanded. “I think the grow- Australia, the AFC is the confederation with united and prospers as a powerful football ing popularity and quality of football in the dif- more time zones than any other.” body.” ferent regions represented within AFC are argu- Figo, however, will have his work cut out in Bournemouth awakes to The Qatari, who will be elected one of the ments in favour of opening the debate around getting Asian delegates to vote for him when Asian Football Confederation’s vice presidents expanding the World Cup to 40 or 48 teams most have already pledged their support for English top-flight reality on Thursday at the body’s congress in Bahrain, with additional teams weighted towards non- incumbent Sepp Blatter. was one of seven candidates vying for the three European nations,” he said. A similar problem faces the other candidates, LONDON: The genteel English seaside town “unbelievable”, they was no exaggeration. places on FIFA’s all-powerful executive commit- Figo’s proposal for a larger World Cup is one Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Michael of Bournemouth awoke yesterday to the Bournemouth has always been better known tee. of the cornerstones of his manifesto and he van Praag of the Netherlands, who will also be astonishing prospect that its soccer club, on for its sandy beaches, leafy parks and Victorian AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al intends to tell Asian delegates exactly how they in Bahrain, but Figo believes the time has come the brink of extinction only five years ago, will pier than for footballing prowess. Khalifa, who is standing unopposed for re-elec- can benefit from his plan. for change. be revelling in the glamour and wealth of For decades, the club’s notable achieve- tion in his hometown, will take up one spot The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will comprise “I also want to bring more people from non- Premier League football next season. Barring a ments were restricted to Ted MacDougall’s after pushing through changes to ensure the 32 finalists but nothing is yet written in stone European confederations into the FIFA staff,” he near-impossible 20-goal swing in the final record tally of nine goals in an 11-0 FA Cup head of Asian soccer was automatically on the for tournaments beyond that date with Asia cur- said. “A staff that would really represent the games on Saturday, Bournemouth will be pro- win over Margate in 1971 and an upset victory board. rently allocated four guaranteed berths at finals world and benefit from multicultural human moted from the Championship to challenge over holders Manchester United in the same Incumbents Worawi Makudi of Thailand and and the possibility of a fifth via an inter-conti- resources. There are a lot of competent people the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in competition in 1984. China’s Zhang Jilong are also standing for re- nental playoff. in the AFC federations who could do a good job English soccer’s top flight for the first time in Those moments looked set to be their epi- election at the AFC Congress in Bahrain on Figo added: “I propose the FIFA Congress in FIFA,” he added. their 116-year history. It is a turnaround few taph when they were forced into administra- Thursday along with Japan’s Kohzo Tashima, should study and decide on a new format for The presidential election takes place during would have thought possible. “It’s been an tion seven years ago. Two years of desperate Chun-Mong-gyu of South Korean and Malaysian the best competition in the world. “I’m con- the FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 29, where amazing journey,” one we never expected to fund-raising, with fans shaking collecting tins Prince Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. vinced this is the future and I don’t believe the Blatter will be hoping to secure a fifth term at go on. It doesn’t seem real,” Manager Eddie and chairman Jeff Mostyn throwing in 750,000 Meanwhile, FIFA presidential candidate Luis World Cup quality would be affected. “By the helm of soccer’s governing body. —Reuters Howe said after Monday’s promotion-clinch- pounds ($1.15 million) of his own money, just ing match. “This club was on its knees six years about kept them afloat. ago, we had nothing, the bailiffs coming in However, when they began the 2008/09 every day and people not getting paid. season in the fourth tier and the wolves still at “A group of supporters put their hands in the door, the future looked bleak. Somehow, their pockets to keep the club alive and they they escaped the drop into the abyss of minor are reaping the rewards. Bournemouth’s stadi- league football, and slowly began to fix their um holds only 12,000 - big enough for the finances, securing an unlikely promotion the fourth-tier club they were - and its annual following year. turnover is around five million pounds; but The club was bought by Russian business- promotion to a Premier League awash with man Maxim Demin in 2011, enabling Howe cash from its billion-pound TV deals will be to start buying players of increasing quality. worth at least 120 million even if they last only Still only 37, Howe may now be eyed by one season. other clubs, but having become the town’s idol, it seems inconceivable he would WOLVES AT THE DOOR depart before enjoying at least one season Monday’s 3-0 home win over Bolton among the elite. “I have always felt the sup- Wanderers sparked celebratory mayhem as porters are with me,” he said. “It shouldn’t supporters of the “Cherries” poured onto the be them thanking me, it should be me pitch. When fans, players, management and thanking them. It is a family club and chairman told TV cameras the moment was deserves its moment in the sun.” —Reuters Bale, Benzema likely to be fit for Juve clash

MADRID: Holders Real Madrid are likely to Barca when they run out at the Bernabeu have forwards Gareth Bale and Karim to face Almeria on Wednesday, with the Benzema back for next week’s Champions leaders hosting Getafe at the Nou Camp League semi-final first leg at Juventus, later on Tuesday. coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday. Barca have 81 points with five games Wales winger Bale has been sidelined by left, with Real on 79, seven ahead of cham- a calf injury for just over a week, while pions Atletico, who play at Villarreal today. France striker Benzema has not featured “It’s a time of the season when all the since hurting his knee in the Champions games are life and death for every team,” League quarter-final first leg at Atletico Ancelotti, a former Juve coach, told a news Madrid on April 14. conference. “We have to prepare this match Ancelotti, whose side host relegation- (against Almeria) bearing in mind that it SPAIN: Valencia’s French midfielder Sofiane Feghouli shoots to score a goal next to Granada’s Portuguese defender Luis Carlos Ramos Martins threatened Almeria in La Liga on comes before a very difficult and very during the Spanish League football match. —AFP Wednesday (1800 GMT), said Bale was due demanding run of games,” said the Italian. to return to training with his team mates “We have a tough calendar, the matches Valencia recaptures on Thursday and Benzema would probably are very, very difficult,” he added ahead of Matches on TV be back with them on Sunday. next Tuesday’s clash with Juventus in Turin. Their return will boost Real for what “But we have confidence we can play fourth spot (Local Timings) Ancelotti called a “life and death” couple of well because the team is in good shape, it’s weeks, when in addition to the Juve tie in fresh and can compete in all the games.” MADRID: Valencia recaptured fourth Elche on Saturday. English Premier League Europe’s elite club competition they play at “We are not thinking about whether Barca place in La Liga from Sevilla when Barca lead on 81 points, with Real Leicester v Chelsea 21:45 beIN SPORTS Sevilla and host Valencia in La Liga. Real will slip up we just have to focus on the Sofiane Feghouli scored the pick of the Madrid two adrift of their arch rivals in Spanish League could find themselves five points behind matches we have.”—Reuters goals in a 4-0 stroll at home to second- second. Peter Lim’s recent takeover of Eibar v Sevilla 21:00 from-bottom Granada on Monday. Valencia has given fans hope the beIN SPORTS Sevilla’s 2-0 success at home to Rayo Singapore billionaire’s investment will Real Madrid v Almeria 21:00 Vallecano on Sunday had edged them help propel their team back to the top beIN SPORTS Celta v Malaga 21:00 ahead in the battle for Spain’s fourth in Spain and make them contenders in beIN SPORTS Champions League berth, which carries Europe again. Villarreal v Atletico 23:00 a place in qualifying for Europe’s elite They last won La Liga in 2004 under beIN SPORTS club competition. Valencia, who missed Rafa Benitez having reached consecu- Elche v Deportivo 23:00 beIN SPORTS out on a lucrative place in continental tive Champions League finals in 2000 Italian League competition last season, crushed a weak and 2001, losing to Real and Bayern AC Milan v Genoa 21:45 Granada side apparently doomed to rel- Munich respectively. beIN SPORTS egation, with Javi Fuego, Dani Parejo The club were hobbled by financial Citta v Torino 21:45 and substitute Alvaro Negredo also on problems over the subsequent decade beIN SPORTS Cesena v Atalanta 21:45 target at the Mestalla. which forced them to cash in top play- beIN SPORTS Algeria forward Feghouli finished off ers, including David Villa, David Silva Sampdoria v Hellas 21:45 a superb move for Valencia’s third goal, and Juan Mata, to stay afloat. beIN SPORTS curling the ball into the top corner after However, Lim and his representa- Lazio v Parma 21:45 beIN SPORTS Negredo’s first-time pass sent him clear tives have pledged a long-term commit- Juventus v Fiorentina 21:45 on the left of the penalty area. ment and some wise spending on play- beIN SPORTS Valencia have 68 points with five ers over the summer could lay the foun- Chievo v Cagliari 21:45 games left, two ahead of Sevilla and dations for a run deep in the beIN SPORTS Sassuolo v Roma 21:45 four behind third-placed champions Champions League next term if Valencia beIN SPORTS Gareth Bale in action in this file photo. Atletico Madrid, 3-0 winners at home to secure their place.—Reuters Owner Zayat’s Valencia three horses recaptures take aim at fourth spot Kentucky Derby

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 201517 19

Megafight numbers add up to new sporting landscape Page 18

SPAIN: Barcelona’s Neymar, from Brazil, controls the ball during a Spanish League soccer match against Getafe at the Camp Nou stadium. — AP Barca stars rout Getafe 6-0

MADRID: Barcelona’s star front three of Lionel from the side that won 2-0 at Espanyol on to bring up the century. Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar brought up a Saturday with one eye on next week’s Moments later Xavi scored what could well Spanish League results/standings century of goals in all competitions as the Champions League semi-final, first-leg against be his final goal at the Camp Nou with the veter- Catalans moved five points clear at the top of La Bayern Munich. an expected to move to Qatar at the end of the Barcelona 6 (Messi 9-pen, 47, Suarez 25, 40, Neymar 28, Xavi 30) Getafe 0 Liga with a 6-0 humbling of Getafe yesterday. That decision was richly rewarded in a stun- season by curling the ball high into the far cor- Playing later All three were on target inside 28 minutes as ning first-half display that tore the helpless visi- ner. Xavi’s flick then set up Suarez to finish in Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad, Levante v Cordoba (2000) Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot tors to shreds. Messi put his recent yips from the similar style to register his 21st goal of the sea- Spanish League table after yesterday’s Sociedad 33 9 12 12 36 43 39 before teeing up Suarez to volley home and penalty spot behind him as he opened the scor- son before the break. Despite the upcoming early match (played, won, drawn, lost, Getafe 34 10 6 18 28 52 36 Neymar was left with the simple task of register- ing by chipping the ball straight down the mid- date with former coach Pep Guardiola and goals for, goals against, points): Elche 33 9 7 17 27 57 34 ing the 100th goal between the trio from dle of the goal in the style made famous by Bayern in eight days time there was little let up Barcelona 34 27 3 4 97 19 84 Levante 33 8 8 17 31 60 32 Suarez’s pass. Czech legend Antonin Panenka in the 1976 from the hosts after the break. Real Madrid 33 26 1 6 99 30 79 Almeria 33 8 7 18 27 52 31 Xavi Hernandez then curled home a stunning European Championships after Suarez had been However, the goals did dry up after Messi had Atletico 33 22 6 5 64 26 72 Eibar 33 8 7 18 28 46 31 fourth before Suarez made it 5-0 with a similar felled by Alvaro Arroyo. curled home his 38th league goal of the cam- Valencia 33 20 8 5 60 25 68 Deportivo 33 6 11 16 29 52 29 finish into the far corner and Messi rounded off Getafe nearly drew level moments later when paign to move within one of Cristiano Ronaldo Sevilla 33 20 6 7 60 37 66 Granada 33 4 13 16 21 61 25 the scoring in typical style on his favoured left Claudio Bravo made a brilliant recovery save to in the race to be La Liga’s top goalscorer two Villarreal 33 14 11 8 44 30 53 Cordoba 33 3 11 19 21 52 20 foot early in the second-half. Real Madrid can claw Fredy Hinestroza’s lob to safety to make up minutes into the second period. Malaga 33 13 8 12 36 39 47 close the gap at the top back to two points for his original poor positioning. The four-time World Player of the Year came Bilbao 33 13 7 13 33 37 46 NB. Top three qualify automatically for the when they host Almeria today. Barca boss Luis Suarez put the result beyond doubt with a close to a seventh hat-trick of the season six Espanyol 33 11 9 13 39 42 42 Champions League, fourth goes into the play- Enrique had resisted the temptation to rest any sumptuous volley from Messi’s inviting cross and minutes from time, but Vicente Guaita made a Celta Vigo 33 11 9 13 39 38 42 offs. Fifth and sixth carry Europa League of his front three despite making four changes the Uruguayan then turned provider for Neymar fine save to turn his free-kick to safety. — AFP Rayo 33 13 2 18 38 61 41 places. The bottom three sides are relegated. Man United, Barcelona in Panel detail Lee’s San Francisco showdown negligent practices NEW YORK: European heavyweights before travelling to Florence to tackle Fiorentina Manchester United and Barcelona will face off in on August 2. KUALA LUMPUR: For seven years, Lee court practices require wholesale changes. a glamour friendly in San Francisco on July 25, Chelsea and PSG will face off in Charlotte, Chong Wei, one of badminton’s finest ath- The banned anti-inflammatory was organisers of the International Champions Cup North Carolina, on July 25 in a rematch of their letes, took cordyceps tablets from unmarked thought to been on the casing of “one or announced yesterday. English giants United, Champions League last 16 encounter earlier this containers on the advice of a mysterious more” of Lee’s cordyceps tablets, which he who won the 2014 tournament, will tackle year, which saw the French side progress on friend without any knowledge of how they took two of each day from his teenage years Spanish league leaders Barcelona at the Levi’s away goals. were capsulated or stored. after his mother thought it would be benefi- Stadium in Santa Clara, which was only opened Chelsea, who are on the verge of winning the It was a risky practice, unheard of in most cial for his health. in July last year. Premier League title, begin their US tour with a Olympic sports, that led to a positive test last Cordyseps, a natural food product, “is a fun- United will also play Mexican side Club game against New York Red Bulls in New Jersey year for the man who had spent almost 300 gus which grows parasitically on the larvae and America in Seattle on July 17, San Jose on July 22. weeks as the world number one. pupae of insects in winter, leading to the for- Earthquakes on July 21, at a venue to be Jose Mourinho’s side will also tackle “From an athlete in such a prominent mation of a fungal fruiting body in summers,” announced, and Paris Saint-Germain at Chicago’s Fiorentina at their Stamford Bridge home in position the demands of caution to avoid the panel determined. When Lee moved to negligence are expected to be very high. Kuala Lumpur from his hometown of Perak in Soldier Field on July 29. London on August 5, three days before the 2015- Even though he has been cautious, Lee 2000, his mother would have the cordyseps “Manchester United has a great history of 16 Premier League season begins. Chong Wei has not met the required level, a crushed and put into gelatin capsules and sent visiting these US cities, creating memorable “I’m pleased we are able to announce our fix- 12-page Badminton World Federation report to the promising shuttler, the BWF’ panel said in experiences for players and fans that date back tures for what promises to be an exciting sum- (BWF) said. their 12-page decision. as far as the 1950s,” said United managing direc- mer,” said Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck on the “Mr Lee exposed himself for a completely That changed, though, around 2007 when tor Richard Arnold in a club statement. club’s website. unnecessary risk of consuming illegal sub- the wife “of a very influential man in Malaysia” “After this month’s Manchester derby broke “As promised, we face some excellent oppo- stance for many years.” The 32-year-old twice that Lee had befriended began sending the records to become the most-watched Premier sition across several iconic venues in the United Olympic silver medallist’s is free to return to then reigning Commonwealth Games gold League match in US cable television history, the States and to top it off we are delighted to be the court on Friday after the backdated BWF medallist cordyseps as a gift. The wife would club is excited to be returning to the United hosting Fiorentina at Stamford Bridge in front of eight month ban for having the non-perfor- purchase the cordyseps and have them States at a time when the appetite for football is our loyal fans.” Aside from the 10-team US tour- mance enhancer dexamethasone in his sys- grounded down and capsulated at a shop in greater than ever.” nament, the International Champions Cup is also NEW YORK: Former player Eric Abdidal, tem. the Malaysian capital with Lee taking two every Barcelona are also due to play the Los staging games in Australia, where Manchester representing FC Barcelona, speaks at a His game, built on expert retrieving and morning. Lee said he didn’t want to name the Angeles Galaxy at California’s Rose Bowl on July City will play Real Madrid, and China, with AC press conference for the launch of the incredible reflexes may need little modifica- wife, fearing the consequences for her if she 21 and Chelsea in Washington DC on July 28 Milan set to play city rivals Inter. —AFP International Champions Cup. — AFP tion before next year’s Rio Games but his off- was associated with the case. — Reuters Gulf banks tighten credit for small firms

Page 22 Business Oil rebalancing on the edge WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Page 25 Britain’s recovery sharply slows in Family Business Network GCC releases white paper pre-poll setback Page 26 Page 23

TOKYO: Takeshi Idezawa, the new president of Japan’s smartphone based social networking service (SNS) “Line” speaks at the “Line Developer Day” in Tokyo yesterday. Line is set for an initial public offering as early as this year after shelving plans for a listing in 2014. — AFP Jazeera Airways posts 44.6% rise in Q1 net profit Operating revenue KD12.9 million, up 3.5% from Q1 2014

KUWAIT: Jazeera Airways Group yesterday announced 2014 and a share buyback program. All payments will be (KD0.1) and up to KD8 million in 2015 earnings and other financial results for the first quarter of 2015. The company executed separately over the next few months with the reserves that are required by law to be distributed prior to registered a net profit of KD3.0 million, an increase of 44.6 last payment expected to take place in August 2015, executing the planned share buyback program. percent from the same quarter last year. The strong pending regulatory and shareholder approvals. Jazeera Airways Group’s share buyback program will be growth was driven by an increase in demand and higher On January 15, 2015 the company announced the sale the first voluntary share buyback program exercise in load factors. of its leasing fleet of 15 Airbus A320s for USD507 million Kuwait based on the new share buyback procedures stat- (KD148.5 million). The sale was part of a strategic move to ed by Kuwait’s new Commercial Companies Law (97/2013) Q1 Financial Highlights: exit the aircraft leasing business and focus on the compa- and its executive regulations. The board has committed to Operating revenue: KD12.9 million, up 3.5 percent from ny’s star performer - the passenger airline Jazeera Airways, executing the dividends and the payouts as soon as share- Q1 2014 which generated 80 percent of the company’s net profit holder and regulatory approvals are secured. Operating profit: KD2.4 million, up 141.2 percent from Q1 historically. The sale transaction is reflected in 2014 finan- 2014 cial accounts and is expected to close by June 30, 2015. Background Net profit:KD3.0 million, up 44.6 percent from Q1 Discontinuing operations represents income from the As of December 31, 2014, Jazeera Airways Group’s cash 2014 leasing business. balance stood at KD66 million as a result of retained earn- Jazeera Airways Group Chairman, Marwan Boodai, said: ings generated by the company’s strong performance in “With a 44.6 percent increase in net profit from Q1 2014, The company’s board-recommended shareholder pay- recent years. this quarter’s earnings clearly reinforce our decision to ments in 2015 are as follows: As a result of the fleet sale transaction, Jazeera Airways focus on the airline business. The opportunity for the air- Special Cash Dividends for 2014: Group will receive KWD148.5 million in cash. The proceeds line continues to be at home despite the political chal- KD20 million to be paid following shareholder approval will be used to settle all of the company’s outstanding lenges we see in the region. We operate in an area that has at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders debt, amounting to KD116.6 million at the end of 2014. one of the fastest growing populations in the world and scheduled May 21 2015. Following these steps, the company expects the cash bal- enjoys one of the highest disposable incomes in the ance to rise to above KD80 million by end of 2015 without world.” Share buyback program payments: taking into account the board-recommended shareholder Last month, the company’s board recommended Up to KD30 million, which includes KD22 million for the payments. The company’s paid-up capital is KD42 million. record dividends and payments to shareholders totaling purchase of 220 million shares out of the total 420 million The fleet sale transaction is reflected in 2014’s financial up to KD50 million in the form of special dividends for outstanding issued shares at the nominal price of 100 fils accounts. Qatar opens $1 billion Egypt hits 4-month low on tax woes environmental gas project DOHA: Qatar officially unveiled yesterday an area where it is compressed to be ready for MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS what it said is the world’s biggest environ- use again either as LNG or fuel gas. mental project, a $1 billion plant to capture LNG is gas cooled to -160 degrees Celsius DUBAI: Egypt’s bourse fell to a four-month low detailed bylaws which the government approved tious before the two-day US Federal Open Market wasted gas. The Jetty Boil-Off Gas Recovery until it turns into a liquid and can be trans- yesterday because of the introduction of taxes on this month. The Egyptian Association for Financing Committee meeting starting later yesterday. Project (JBOG) would capture enough gas to ported by boat. Kaabi said the scheme was power 175,000 cars per year or 300,000 driven by environmental concerns not eco- capital gains and dividends this month, while and Investment Studies and a group of investors Market expectations for a US interest rate increase homes, Qatari officials said. nomic factors, despite predictions that most Gulf stock markets barely moved, awaiting filed a lawsuit this week seeking to scrap them. have been pushed further down the road, with It also allows Qatar, the largest producer of resource-rich Qatar’s dominant position in the news on US oil inventories and interest rates. The Another concern is Egypt’s continuing short- few investors now expecting a rate hike in June liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, to LNG market could come under increasing Cairo index slid 1.9 percent to 8,331 points, its low- age of foreign currency, which hurts companies and most predicting a move later this year. recover a further 29 million cubic feet of gas threat from competitors such as the United est level since Dec. 18, ignoring positive news such that rely on imports of goods, feedstock or equip- But there is risk associated with this week’s Fed per year. Qatari officials said it would save the States or Australia in the next few years. as first-quarter earnings. ment. Through administrative measures, authori- meeting because the US dollar’s strength has hurt equivalent of 1.6 million tons of CO2 each “This is nothing to do with it,” said Kaabi. Egypt’s second-biggest listed property devel- ties appear to have largely stamped out the cur- Gulf-based exporters such as Savola Group, Saudi year. “It is the largest (environmental) project “It’s a purely environmental project.” oper Palm Hills , for instance, tumbled 5.7 percent rency black market, but this has made it more diffi- Arabia’s top food maker. Savola shares fell 0.8 per- in Qatar,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the The scheme has been operational since despite saying that first-quarter net profit had cult for some firms to obtain hard currency. The cent yesterday. Dubai property stocks are also sen- Qatargas chairman. October and has recovered gas from over 500 more than quadrupled to 215 million Egyptian Egyptian benchmark has strong technical support sitive to the US rate outlook. “It is also the largest in the world, others ships. It was officially inaugurated on Tuesday at its December low of 8,125 points. Saudi Arabian heavyweights Saudi Basic pounds ($28.2 million). Market players have can confirm to me whether that is right or by a number of high-ranking Qatari officials, blamed the continuing sell-off on regulations for Industries and National Commercial Bank were wrong.” The JBOG project salvages gas nor- including Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin taxes on capital gains and dividends. The new SAUDI, DUBAI among the main supports on Tuesday, climbing mally lost and burnt off in a flare when the Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani. rules have been criticized by the head of the In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia’s index was nearly flat 0.5 percent each. Most other Gulf markets also fuel is transported onto ships. Officials say it Kaabi added that there were no industrial Egyptian stock exchange among others; he said as Brent oil stood unchanged ahead of weekly US moved 0.1 percent or less, with the exception of will result in a 90 percent reduction in flaring accidents or man hours lost during the con- they were too complex. Fund managers complain crude inventory data. Crude reserves are expected Dubai, which climbed 0.7 percent to a new 4-1/2- at the Ras Laffan port in northern Qatar, the struction of the JBOG plant. “There’s a lot of they are too burdensome. to hit another high, but a weaker dollar helped to month closing high of 4,182 points. It faces major largest LNG export terminal in the world. talk about Qatar and the welfare of workers. I The taxes were originally introduced in July put a floor under oil prices yesterday. technical resistance at 4,251 points, the 200-day Instead of the wasted gas being burnt off, think we have shown how much care we have 2014 but could not be implemented without Equities investors across the world were cau- average.— Reuters JBOG would collect the fuel and transport it to taken at this complex,” he said. —AFP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Gulf banks tighten credit for News in brief

Kuwait crude price up small firms as cheap oil bites 15 cents to $59.49pb KUWAIT: The price of Kuwaiti crude oil went up 15 cents yesterday and stood at $59.49, said Kuwaiti Petroleum Corp (KPC) yesterday. At the global mar- GCC deposits still rising, liquidity ample ket, the Brent mix for June delivery hit a four- month record high reaching $65.28pb due to the DUBAI: Banks are tightening lending conditions for small, private financial companies. But what’s happening with SMEs could even- from the previous quarter, according to Abu Dhabi Commercial ongoing military operation in Yemen and the drop companies in the Gulf - a sign that the region’s economies are not tually become a trend for the wider corporate sector. And since Bank. But contract awards fell in some countries such as Saudi in the rate of the US dollar. The US crude price for escaping damage from the plunge of oil prices. Mostly, the six rich SMEs account for much of the job creation in the GCC - they are Arabia and the UAE as governments reacted to cheap oil by sus- June delivery went down to settle at $57.15pb due nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are coping com- officially estimated to employ over 40 percent of the workforce in pending some non-essential projects. Even in Qatar, where to fears of an increase in US crude reserves. fortably with the new era of cheap oil. Heavy state spending is Dubai - their fate matters. awards are increasing, the government is economizing by offering keeping economies growing strongly. Rather than borrow domes- less generous price terms to some contractors. tically or run down their deposits at local banks, governments of Liquidity While bigger firms can easily cope with delays or cut-backs to US dollar stable at countries such as Saudi Arabia are covering much of the budget Banks are still lending generously to bigger borrowers. The vol- contract awards, small companies can face life-or-death situations KD 0.301 vs dinar deficits due to cheap oil by bringing home some funds stored ume of new syndicated loans in the Middle East during the first - making bankers more reluctant to lend to them. abroad. This is preventing the drop in new oil revenues from quarter of 2015 doubled from the previous quarter to $23.25 bil- KUWAIT: The exchange rate of the US dollar shrinking the ample liquidity in GCC banking systems. Deposits lion, the second-highest quarterly total since 2008, according to Other factors against the Kuwaiti dinar was stable at KD are continuing to grow, though in some cases more slowly, and Thomson Reuters data. There are other reasons for reluctance to lend to SMEs. Real 0.301 yesterday, while the euro went up to KD interbank lending rates are near multi-year lows. Loan rates are still falling for the big borrowers. State oil giant estate markets in Dubai and some other GCC economies have 0.328 compared to Monday’s rates. The So for many companies in the Gulf, it’s still a borrowers’ market Saudi Aramco borrowed the equivalent of $10 billion in March at peaked for now. Also, a global US regulatory crackdown on mon- Central Bank of Kuwait said in its daily bulletin for loans - credit is easily available at rock-bottom rates. The excep- rates several basis points cheaper than its previous 2010 loan facil- ey laundering has increased compliance costs for banks doing that the sterling was up to KD 0.459, the same tion is small firms that do not have the advantage of shareholding ities. But smaller, private companies are having a different experi- SME business; banks must spend more time and effort checking case with the Swiss franc which was at KD links to governments. They are finding it increasingly difficult to ence. Dany El Eid, founder of digital technology firm pixelbug in their clients are legitimate, which is economically worthwhile for 0.316. The Japanese yen was unchanged at borrow and when they can secure loans, banks are demanding Dubai, says banks are getting tougher. big firms but not so much for small ones. KD 0.002. tougher terms such as more collateral, stricter documentation and “Banks make unreasonable demands that include time-con- Last year, Standard Chartered Bank closed the accounts of shorter tenors, bankers and businessmen say. “They are tightening suming documentation, penalties on early repayments, and short thousands of SME clients in the UAE in an anti-money laundering credit lending norms because of the overall impact of low oil repayment periods for giving loans besides charging heavy inter- settlement with US authorities. It explored the idea of selling the prices and the consequent freeze on oil industry capex-heavy est rates,” he said. Eid said he borrowed 200,000 dirhams ($54,500) accounts, but no sale could be arranged by the deadline. “We are Etisalat to raise up to projects...” said Dubai-based Vikram Venkataraman, managing in February from beehive, a peer-to-peer online lending platform seeing the SME sector under stress more often - sometimes a $500m through bond tap director at Vianta Advisors, which works with smaller companies for small businesses in the United Arab Emirates, at 14 percent result of changes in commodity prices and sometimes liquidity- DUBAI: Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications around the region to raise bank finance. compared to 24 percent demanded by a local bank. related, which may be due to some well-publicized exits from this operator Etisalat will raise up to $500 million Lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is only Bankers say they have become more cautious about lending market,” said a senior banker handling loan portfolios at a UAE through a re-opening of its June 2019 bond, which a tiny part of banks’ business; in 2010, SMEs accounted for about 2 to SMEs because low oil prices could deprive the companies of bank. was expected to price later, a document from lead percent of GCC banks’ loans, according to a World Bank study. access to fresh business. New economic projects awarded in the “Regional banks, as a result, are monitoring their exposures arrangers showed. Price guidance for the issue has SMEs rely heavily on other funding sources, such as non-bank GCC totalled over $40 billion in the first quarter, up 9.9 percent more intensely.”—Reuters been set in the area of 80 basis points over midswaps, the document showed. The bonds will be fungible with those issued earlier in the series after 40 days. Etisalat, rated Aa3/AA-/A+ by the main credit agencies, said in a statement to the UAE’s du stock exchange that it would issue bonds under its $7 billion global medium-term note program. It did misses profit not provide any details. HSBC and National Bank of Abu Dhabi are bookrunners for the bond tap. Last June, the company sold $4.3 billion worth of maid- expectations en bonds in four tranches with maturities ranging from five to 12 years, setting a record as the DUBAI: Du, the United Arab Emirates’ No.2 telecom region’s biggest corporate issue ever. operator, reported a 0.6 percent fall in first-quarter profit yesterday, missing analysts’ estimates as its mobile subscriber base shrunk slightly and it paid a EIIB transitions to asset higher tax rate than a year earlier. The company, which management model ended Etisalat’s domestic monopoly in 2007, made a LONDON: London-based European Islamic net profit of 487.1 million dirhams ($132.6 million) in Investment Bank said yesterday it plans to the three months to March 31, down from 490.3 mil- close a proposed 20 million pound ($30.5 mil- lion dirhams from the prior-year period. Analysts lion) tender offer for its own shares in May as polled by Reuters on average forecast du would make it transitions into an asset management busi- a quarterly profit of 564.7 million dirhams. ness model. In February, the sharia-compliant First-quarter revenue was 3.05 billion dirhams. This compares with 2.96 billion dirhams a year ago. firm said it had received regulatory approval The operator had 7.48 million mobile subscribers to relinquish its banking license and is now an as of March 31, down 0.9 percent from 12 months ear- investment firm regulated by the Financial lier, a drop du’s chief executive Osman Sultan attrib- Conduct Authority. EIIB plans to invest $1 bil- uted to a government-led campaign to re-register TOKYO: A man looks at an electronic stock board of a securities firmin Tokyo yesterday. Asian stock markets were luke- lion in a mix of property transactions over the mobile accounts in an effort to tackle misuse of warm yesterday, taking a cue from losses on Wall Street ahead of earnings from major Asian companies and the Federal next 24 months, it said in a statement. It held mobile phones for criminal activity. “Probably, the sec- Reserve’s policy meeting. —AP $1.1 billion in assets under management as of ond quarter will still see the effect (the drop in du’s) December. The firm posted a pre-tax operat- subscriber base because we suspended a significant ing profit of $2.3 million in 2014 compared number in Q1,” Sultan told a conference call. “When with $2.23 million profit a year earlier. EIIB is we suspend a batch (of numbers), it doesn’t mean all Mortgage rules spark drop one of around 20 institutions in Britain that of this batch will be disconnected. We have a percent- offer sharia-compliant financial services, age coming to re-register.” in Riyadh property sales which follow religious principles such as a Du’s quarterly mobile revenue was 2.24 billion ban on interest and gambling. dirhams almost flat compared with the prior year’s 2.23 billion dirhams. Mobile data provided 30.9 per- DUBAI: Residential property sales in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh said in the report. “Sales are expected to decrease further (due to) cent of this mobile revenue in the first quarter, up have plunged since the kingdom introduced tougher mortgage the mortgage laws,” he said in an emailed response to questions. from 27.6 percent a year ago. “People are using rules last November, research from JLL shows, and the consultan- “The laws have affected other parts of Saudi, including Jeddah.” Oman plans floating mobiles for more and more activities - the challenge is cy predicted the restrictions would spur further country-wide The government last month announced plans for a new tax on storage for crude delivery declines. Buyers can now borrow a maximum 70 percent of a undeveloped urban land, aimed at pushing landowners to devel- how to keep monetising this,” added Sultan, warning SINGAPORE: Oman Tank Terminal Company there was a “disconnect between growth in usage and property’s sale price; previously, there were no sector-wide limits. op unused plots and ease the shortage of affordable housing. The curbs were announced in 2013 and implemented in But uncertainty over the nature and timing of the tax, which (OTTCO) plans to start operating a floating storage growth in revenue associated with these activities”. facility later this year to help to boost trading in Du paid royalties - or tax - of 437.9 million dirhams November 2014 after the introduction of laws to facilitate mort- have not been decided, may initially at least also depress property gage lending. The restrictions aim to prevent a bubble forming in sales, Ghaznawi added. Prior to the mortgage laws, Saudis could crude oil futures on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange in the first three months of 2015, up from 375 million (DME), trade sources said yesterday. The storage dirhams in the prior-year period. For 2014, du paid 10 residential real estate of the kind seen in Dubai several years ago. obtain home loans to buy property, but this had to be from the Authorities want to encourage home ownership and prevent ordi- same bank into which their salary was paid, and instalments were will help to increase monthly trade volumes on the percent of its regulated revenue- which excludes the DME by 2 million barrels and also help to curb price likes of handset sales-and 25 profit of its regulated nary Saudis from being priced out of the housing market. But the deducted from the borrower’s monthly pay packet. Fayyaz volatility, they said. The storage will make more oil profit in royalties. market’s initial reaction to the restrictions shows how difficult it Ahmad, director of JLL’s Riyadh operations, said that in the short These taxes have risen to 12.5 and 30 percent, can be to adjust supply and demand in line with social objectives term, “access to property will be limited as people are priced out available that can be delivered against the futures respectively, this year. Quarterly fixed revenue rose 20 in Saudi Arabia, which faces a shortage of available land and a rap- of the market while the market regulates itself, but in the longer contracts. OTTCO, majority owned by the Oman Oil percent year-on-year to 616.1 million dirhams, but idly growing population. The number of house sales in Riyadh term it is expected that people will still have access to property.” Company (OOC), will lease storage space on board wholesale revenue fell 12.5 percent to 151.3 million between the time the new lending limits were introduced and the The Saudi central bank “wants to avoid a banking crisis similar a Very Large Crude Carrier, via a tender process to dirhams over the same period. Sultan said du had no end of last month fell 70 percent from a year earlier, JLL wrote in a to the one in the United States in 2008”, which was triggered by four companies for a year, they said. Each company plans to raise any debt in 2015. The company’s shares report this week. The number of apartment sales dropped 33 per- souring house loans, added Ahmad. Riyadh house sales prices fell will have space to store one cargo, or 500,000 bar- were down 1 percent at 0943 GMT, while Dubai’s cent. 2 percent in the first quarter versus the preceding three months, rels. The tender could be issued in June or July so index was up 0.4 percent. — Reuters “Recent changes to mortgage regulations have resulted in a while rents rose 2 percent, JLL estimates. About 5,000 housing that the storage space would be allocated before shift in demand away from residential sales to rentals,” Jamil units were completed in the first quarter, bringing the city’s total September when trade in November-loading car- Ghaznawi, national director and country head of JLL Saudi Arabia, stock to about 976,000, JLL added. — Reuters goes starts, the sources said. EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. GOLD Saudi Riyals 81.524 Asia 20 gram 243.470 Jordanian Dinar 427.257 Bangladesh Taka 0.003547 0.004147 10 gram 124.430 Egyptian Pound 39.596 Chinese Yuan 0.047415 0.050915 ASIAN COUNTRIES 5 gram 62.900 Japanese Yen 2.544 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.262 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036949 0.039699 Indian Rupees 4.755 Indian Rupees 4.770 UAE Exchange Centre WLL Indian Rupee 0.004639 0.005040 Pakistani Rupees 2.977 Pakistani Rupees 2.979 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000019 0.000025 Srilankan Rupees 2.259 Bangladesh Taka 3.886 Japanese Yen 0.002464 0.002644 Philippines Pesso 6.838 Nepali Rupees 3.011 CURRENCIES TELEX TRANSFER PER 1000 Kenyan Shilling 0.003349 0.003349 Australian Dollar 237.10 Cyprus pound 743.019 Singapore Dollar 228.160 Korean Won 0.000272 0.000287 Canadian Dollar 250.71 Japanese Yen 3.524 Hongkong Dollar 39.052 Malaysian Ringgit 0.081325 0.087325 Bangladesh Taka 3.888 Swiss Franc 321.80 Syrian Pound 2.600 Euro 328.14 Nepalese Rupees 3.973 Nepalese Rupee 0.003036 0.003206 Philippine Peso 6.848 Pakistan Rupee 0.002821 0.003101 Thai Baht 9.341 US Dollar 303.00 Malaysian Ringgit 84.142 Sterling Pound 455.35 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 49.190 Philippine Peso 0.006732 0.007012 Sierra Leone 0.000067 0.000073 GCC COUNTRIES Japanese Yen 2.57 Thai Bhat 10.262 Saudi Riyal 80.739 Bangladesh Taka 3.890 Turkish Lira 113.266 Singapore Dollar 0.223986 0.229986 Qatari Riyal 83.180 Indian Rupee 4.816 South African Rand 0.018963 0.027463 Omani Riyal 786.610 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.265 Bahrain Exchange Company Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001878 0.002458 Bahraini Dinar 80.417 Nepali Rupee 3.012 Taiwan 0.009628 0.009808 UAE Dirham 82.443 Pakistani Rupee 2.983 CURRENCY BUY SELL Thai Baht 0.008964 0.0009514 UAE Dirhams 82.37 Europe Bahraini Dinar 804.24 Belgian Franc 0.007898 0.008898 ARAB COUNTRIES Arab Egyptian Pound 39.60 British Pound 0.452542 0.461542 Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.650 Bahraini Dinar 0.796587 0.804587 Jordanian Dinar 430.52 Czech Korune 0.003984 0.015984 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 39.591 Egyptian Pound 0.038276 0.041376 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.413 Omani Riyal 785.82 Danish Krone 0.040038 0.045038 Qatari Riyal 83.44 Euro 0.322966 0.330966 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000085 Tunisian Dinar 156.410 Iraqi Dinar 0.000192 0.000252 Jordanian Dinar 427.230 Saudi Riyal 80.72 Norwegian Krone 0.034886 0.040086 Jordanian Dinar 0.423005 0.430505 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.031 Romanian Leu 0.086846 0.086846 Slovakia 0.009023 0.019023 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Syrian Lira 2.158 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Morocco Dirham 30.883 Swedish Krona 0.031037 0.036037 Lebanese Pound 0.000152 0.000252 Swiss Franc 0.310283 0.320483 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021749 0.045749 Turkish Lira 0.113673 0.120673 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Nigerian Naira 0.001249 0.001884 US Dollar Transfer 302.650 US Dollar 302.700 Omani Riyal 0.780351 0.786031 Euro 331.860 Australasia Qatar Riyal 0.082447 0.083660 Canadian Dollar 249.437 Australian Dollar 0.228324 0.239824 Sterling Pound 462.150 Saudi Riyal 0.080097 0.080797 Sterling Pound 459.617 New Zealand Dollar 0.224132 0.233632 Canadian dollar 249.710 Euro 329.308 Syrian Pound 0.001283 0.001503 Turkish lira 111.130 Swiss Frank 312.600 Tunisian Dinar 0.152318 0.160318 Swiss Franc 319.250 America Bahrain Dinar 801.850 Canadian Dollar 0.243396 0.251896 Turkish Lira 0.113673 0.120673 Australian Dollar 237.730 UAE Dirhams 82.718 UAE Dirhams 0.081446 0.082595 US Dollar Buying 301.450 US Dollars 0.298650 0.303350 Qatari Riyals 83.964 US Dollars Mint 0.299150 0.303350 Yemeni Riyal 0.001368 0.001448 BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Santander lending drive lifts Q1 profits

MADRID: Santander yesterday showed September, boosted capital levels with a uncertainties - very low interest rates putting the financial crisis behind it. Novo Banco in Portugal, the only core the benefits a drive to boost lending 7.5 billion euro share sale in January to and increasing regulatory requirements,” Santander said growth could slow in country where Santander’s lending was across its main markets, which helped back the lending push. Chief Executive Jose Antonio Alvarez its British arm due to growing competi- down versus a year ago. the bank to produce a 32 percent jump But Santander said rising competition told an investor conference call. tion and it flagged increasing costs from Overseas income, which helped the in first-quarter profits. could squeeze margins in markets such Alvarez said net interest income, or implementing local regulations. bank weather a real estate crash and Under new boss Ana Botin, the euro as Spain. It will have to keep adding new earnings on loans minus deposit costs, First-quarter profit in Britain, which Spain’s downturn, is still propelling prof- zone’s biggest bank by market value is clients to make up for this margin pres- could suffer in Spain in the coming quar- like Brazil makes up about a fifth of earn- its. Even in Brazil, where it has faced hic- trying to grow income by expanding its sure, which is fuelled by cheap European ters. Net interest income and fees there ings, rose 14 percent in pounds. cups due to a slowing economy, first loan book rather than through acquisi- Central Bank loans. Santander said it dropped 1 percent in the January-March Santander’s group profit of 1.72 billion quarter net income was higher than tions. Lending was up in most of its key would be able to achieve this in most period from a year ago, disappointing euros ($1.9 billion) was in line with expected, rising 41 percent as charges markets since December, including in countries, in an environment in which some analysts. expectations. The bank said a weaker against soured debts fell.Santander said Brazil and Britain. Net income also grew rivals are facing similar difficulties, even “Spain was the weakest link, especial- euro against the dollar and the pound it was on track to meet group targets for in nine of its 10 core countries, except as European economies recover. ly in revenue terms,” Credit Suisse analyst had boosted earnings. Santander’s 2017. It aims for a return on tangible for Chile. “We are facing a relatively benign Ignacio Cerezo said in a note. Spanish shares were up 0.8 percent at 11.55 GMT. equity, a measure of profitability, of 12 Botin, who took over as chairwoman growth environment in our main mar- banks are also facing subdued demand The bank says it is now shying away to 14 percent, and said this stood at 11.5 from her late father Emilio last kets, probably (except) Brazil, with some for loans even though Spain is finally from doing deals, though it is eyeing percent at end-March. — Reuters

Hong Kong move offers few clear benefits for HSBC

HONG KONG/LONDON: The regulatory banking licenses in Hong Kong, and there case for HSBC to shift its head office from could be tax implications elsewhere. London to Hong Kong is not clear-cut and the huge bureaucratic upheaval such a Limited benefits? move would involve may outweigh other “It’s not apparent why it should be a sig- advantages, lawyers and analysts say. nificant benefit from a regulatory perspec- Hong Kong’s regulators could impose a tive,” a former European regulator said. “It’s string of conditions on the bank, while not easy to switch domicile and the ques- authorities in Britain and elsewhere might tion will be what are the real benefits that also insist on onerous requirements before would achieve. I don’t think you’ll see the signing off on a change of domicile. These UK roll over and say this is a great idea.” could include extra guarantees on how HSBC would have to exit the UK totally HSBC could be rescued without burdening to avoid Britain’s bank levy and European their taxpayers. China’s tightening political Union regulation, a step few expect, grip on Hong Kong is another factor for although one expert suggested it could cut regulators across the world, especially in its bank levy bill by separating off its retail the United States, could persuade the bank and wholesale activities there. not to move its headquarters following a Retail operations of banks in Britain will review announced on Friday. have to be ring-fenced with extra capital in “HSBC operates one of the 10 largest US the UK from 2019. Some analysts argue banking holding companies and so for that HSBC could actually be hit by higher them to relocate into a perceived Chinese capital requirements in Hong Kong given regulatory jurisdiction could be challeng- that the lender’s balance sheet is eight ing,” said Jim Antos, bank analyst at Mizuho times the size of the local economy. Securities Asia in Hong Kong. “We would expect exceptionally conser- “All the bank’s main regulators-UK, US, vative regulation from the Hong Kong Hong Kong and maybe Singapore-would Monetary Authority,” said Morgan Stanley have to agree, and that process if it took a analysts. But others challenge this assess- year would be very fast.” Lawyers and for- ment, saying the bank’s subsidiary-style mer regulators who spoke on condition of operations mean moving its domicile may anonymity given HSBC’s reach into the not make that much difference to the financial sector doubted the bank would group structure. actually make the move, the prospect of Capital calculations could change in LONDON: Workmen carry tools to a construction site in south London yesterday. Britain’s economy grew far slower than expected in the first which pushed its stock up 3 percent after other ways, however, due to local differ- quarter of 2015, official data showed yesterday, delivering a blow to the government just nine days before a general election. AFP— the review was announced. ences in how regulators assess risk-man- HSBC has been a vocal critic of the regu- agement models. lations and extra taxes imposed on British “There are a number of capital rules that banks since the financial crisis, while are domicile-specific, especially the use of Britain’s recovery sharply Chairman Douglas Flint said on Friday the capital models for things like credit risk and threat of a British exit from the European market risk,” said Keith Pogson, managing Union was another reason for the review. partner for financial services, Asia Pacific, at While the regulatory regime in Hong consultancy EY in Hong Kong. slows in pre-poll setback Kong is generally less prescriptive than in “These have to be approved by the the west, a bank that wants to operate home regulator, and the Hong Kong globally cannot escape the more detailed Monetary Authority hasn’t been as gener- Osborne says data shows recovery not in the bag rules in London or New York, said a ous in approving those internal models in London-based lawyer just back from a stint the past as the UK regulator.” LONDON: Britain’s economy slowed sharply in nated by references to the success of the gov- very weak GDP reading would raise questions in Asia. Lawyers and consultants say the key the first three months of 2015, a setback for ernment’s “long-term economic plan” and on about the core message of the Conservatives. Given the speed and scope of reforms question facing HSBC and other banks is Prime Minister David Cameron who has staked having another term in office to finish fixing He said a bad set of balance of payments since the financial crisis, few analysts not where to locate the head office but his campaign for re-election next week on the Britain’s public finances. announced just before an election in 1970 was believe a full picture of the new regulatory how to make money in a world of low inter- strength of the recovery. Gross domestic prod- An opinion poll on Tuesday gave the seen as a big factor in the shock defeat of world has emerged, meaning further rule est rates and burdensome regulation in uct grew by 0.3 percent in the January-March Conservatives a one percentage-point lead over Labor’s prime minister at the time, Harold changes could yet wipe out advantages general. “The market has over-reacted to period, the slowest quarterly rate since the end Labour, the latest in a string of polls pointing to Wilson. offered by one location over another. something that’s not that likely,” said of 2012 when there were fears Britain was head- deadlock in the campaign. “However, it could also raise the importance HSBC would have to apply for new Mizuho’s Antos. —Reuters ing into recession. The preliminary reading of GDP is largely an of the economy in voters’ minds, above other Economists said the weakness was likely to estimate and the figures are often revised. The things like the health service, and that could be a blip, with the economy still on course for chief economist at the Office for National play into the Conservatives’ hands,” Ludlow said. another strong year of growth. But coming just Statistics, Joe Grice, warned against reading too Britain’s economy is now 4.0 percent larger Deutsche Bank co-CEO nine days before what looks like being the clos- much into the data. But the growth rate was half than its peak before the financial crisis, and 8.4 est national election in a generation, the num- that of the last three months of 2014 and below percent bigger than when Cameron’s on trial over battle bers put Cameron’s Conservatives on the back the median forecast for only a marginal slow- Conservative-led coalition came to power in foot. Finance minister George Osborne said the down to 0.5 percent in a Reuters poll of econo- May 2010. recovery could not be taken for granted and mists. British government bond prices rose and The weak first-quarter growth contrasts with with media mogul urged voters to stick with the Conservative the pound briefly weakened against the dollar. an upbeat tone from the Bank of England at its Party. “The future of our economy is on the bal- latest monetary policy meeting, and most econ- BERLIN: Deutsche Bank co-CEO Juergen Attempted fraud can carry a prison sen- lot paper at this election,” he said. “With rising Services slow down omists expect the economy to keep its momen- Fitschen went on trial yesterday along with tence of between six months and 10 years. instability abroad, now is the worst possible time Britain’s economy was 2.4 percent bigger tum in 2015 after last year’s growth of 2.8 per- two of his predecessors, charged with Prosecutor Christiane Serini read out the to vote for instability at home.” than it was in the first quarter of last year, the cent. “We think underlying growth in the econo- attempted fraud for allegedly colluding to indictment, which accuses the defendants But the opposition Labor Party seized on the ONS said. The Reuters poll had forecast annual my is significantly stronger than in today’s data,” deceive judges in a long-running legal bat- of pursuing a plan to deceive judges and data to challenge the Conservatives’ claim to be growth of 2.6 percent. The ONS said quarterly said Kevin Daly, an economist at Goldman Sachs tle with a now-deceased media mogul. fend off demands for damages, to a packed trustworthy guardians of the economy. “While growth in Britain’s dominant services sector and one of only two forecasters in the Reuters The trial that opened in the Munich courtroom, news agency dpa reported. the Tories have spent months patting them- slowed to 0.5 percent from 0.9 percent in the poll to predict the data correctly. state court caps a saga that has dogged Fitschen and the other defendants have selves on the back, these figures show they have previous three-month period. Industrial output “We would anticipate over time that the weak Germany’s biggest bank for more than a denied any wrongdoing. “I am confident not fixed the economy,” Labor’s would-be shrank slightly and construction contracted by ONS data is likely to be revised higher into line decade. The case stems from a 2002 inter- that what I have always said can be validat- finance minister Ed Balls said. Labor has focused 1.6 percent. with the stronger activity implied by business view in which then-CEO Rolf Breuer sug- ed in court - and that is that I see no reason on what it calls a cost-of-living crisis. Wages Strong private-sector surveys of business had surveys and other activity indicators.” But some gested that banks wouldn’t lend Leo Kirch’s why these charges were filed against me,” have failed to keep pace with inflation through- led most economists to predict only a moderate economists have said an inconclusive outcome media group any more money. Kirch Fitschen said on Monday. Kirch died in July out most of Cameron’s five-year premiership. slowdown. Adam Ludlow, a senior consultant of next week’s elections could hurt confidence accused Breuer of contributing to his com- 2011. Deutsche Bank settled with Kirch’s Conservative campaigning has been domi- with polling firm ComRes, said on Monday that a and slow investment. — Reuters pany’s subsequent bankruptcy and sued. heirs last year by agreeing to pay 775 mil- Prosecutors allege that Breuer made false lion euros ($842 million). Fitschen and statements in court in 2011 and that bank Anshu Jain became joint chief executives of executives including Fitschen and co- Deutsche Bank in 2012, succeeding defendants Breuer and Josef Ackermann, Ackermann. The Munich trial is scheduled UK unions notify Tata Steel another former CEO, backed a written sub- to last until September, with 16 court ses- mission containing a false statement. sions set. It opened days after the bank Fitschen himself testified in June 2011 agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement with US of industrial action ballot and prosecutors say he made contradictory and British authorities over the manipula- statements, trying both to avoid giving tion of benchmark interest rates, an unre- “demonstrably false information” and to lated case that also has cast the company LONDON: British steel unions have given official tabled proposals to the trade unions whereby posal to close the scheme to future accruals.” avoid torpedoing the defense strategy. in an unflattering light. —AP legal notice to Tata Steel UK about their inten- the defined benefit scheme would remain open Producing steel profitably in Britain has become tion to start balloting some 17,000 members for to future accruals subject to a number of modifi- difficult given cheap imports and given demand industrial action from May 6, one day before the cations.” has yet to recover to pre-2008 levels. Also, the country’s general election. The unions are locked “As agreement could not be reached, the UK steel sector’s labor, logistics and energy costs in a dispute with the company about its propos- company has initiated a 60-day statutory consul- are higher even than mainland Europe, which al to change their pension scheme. Should the tation period with scheme members on a pro- itself struggles to compete globally. — Reuters ballot result in a vote to strike, it would be the biggest action in the UK steel sector in three decades. “We are urging our members to vote for strike action,” said Roy Rickhuss, Chair of the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee and General Secretary of Community. “Unfortunately there is no sign of Tata show- ing any willingness to re-enter meaningful dis- cussions with the trade unions about the future of the British Steel Pension Scheme.” Three unions-Community, GMB, UCATT-have given Tata Steel legal notice about the ballot, while a fourth-Unite- is expected to give notice in the next few days. The unions accuse Tata of not taking up their offer to re-enter discussions about the pension scheme. They are urging their MUNICH: Deutsche Bank co-CEO Juergen Fitschen (back row, second right), Deutsche members to vote in favor of strike action or in Bank ex-chief executive Josef Ackermann (middle row, second right), Deutsche Bank favor of industrial action short of a strike. ex-chief executive Rolf Breuer (front row, right) and their lawyers wait for the start of A Tata Steel spokesman said: “We are aware of FRANKFURT: The chart of Germany’s share index DAX is on display at the German Stock their trial at court in Munich, southern Germany yesterday.—AFP the proposed date of the ballot. The company Exchange in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, yesterday. — AFP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Stocks cool, dollar slides ahead of Fed

LONDON: World shares slipped from record the euro reach a three-week high and helped “I think the real risk is so much uncertainty,” wave of European highs, was left 1 percent London. “But people are in wait-and-see mode highs yesterday as surging Chinese stocks took the pound recover after weak UK growth data said Societe Generale strategist Kit Juckes. “We lower, although it fell less than Germany’s DAX ahead of the Fed.” a breather and investors began to move to the caused it to tumble. could have two elections in 12-18 months, and and France’s CAC 40. US Treasury bond yields inched lower. The sidelines before the Federal Reserve’s policy Britain’s quarterly growth came in at 0.3 that would just see a cacophony of policy sug- Overnight in Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of euro climbed to a three-week peak of $1.0945, meeting. percent, below forecasts of 0.5 percent and the gestions that would only add to that uncer- Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan had followed up from a 12-year low of $1.0457 in mid-March. The dollar also weakened and Wall Street slowest pace in more than two years. The fig- tainty.” Wall Street lower, dropping 0.5 percent, but Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on was expected to open lower, with more macro ures came just nine days before a British elec- The pound dropped to $1.5188 and to only after touching its highest since January Monday reshuffled the team handling talks data and company earnings set to give the Fed tion, which is already brewing doubts about 1.3950 versus the euro, then rebounded to 2008. The main culprit was Chinese shares, with European and IMF lenders, a move seen its latest look at the US economy. European Britain’s future cohesion and its membership of $1.5295 and 1.3980 euro by 1200 GMT. Britain’s which dropped 1.4 percent. They had almost as an effort to relegate Finance Minister Yanis bourses also fell, while the dollar’s decline saw the European Union. FTSE stock index, which has been riding a doubled in value since October, when Western Varoufakis and get talks back on track. “He and domestic market-friendly trading links (Varoufakis) is creating a number of tensions, were set up. Hopes monetary policy would so that (reshuffle) can certainly help the nego- ease also helped. tiations,” Christian Noyer, one of the ECB’s top policymakers and Bank of France chief, said on Central scenarios Tuesday. The Fed will hold no news conference and Benoit Coeure, another ECB heavyweight, provide no forecasts when its meeting ends on stressed the bank was not expecting a Greek Wednesday. Analysts expect little or no exit from the euro. In commodities trading, change in its policy statement after recent crude oil extended Monday’s losses as ample weaker-than-forecast domestic data. The dol- supplies offset the conflict in Yemen and the lar, whose strength has been contributed to falling number of US rigs drilling for oil. Weekly the soft data, sagged against most of the US crude inventory data is also expected to world’s other major currencies and was at a show another high, and Saudi Arabia pledged session low of 118.85 yen after touching to supply more oil to China if needed, which 119.44 overnight. The Bank of Japan also kept traders cautious after prices reached 2015 meets this week. peaks last week. Brent recovered as the dollar “There’s been disappointment with the US slipped but was still down about 0.2 percent at data - that’s clear, and that’s feeding into the $64.67 a barrel. US crude shed about 0.3 per- dollar price action,” said Phyllis Papadavid, sen- cent to $56.80. Gold was up at $1,202 an ior global FX strategist at BNP Paribas in ounce. — Reuters BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Oil rebalancing on the edge Bank of America Merrill Lynch - Global Energy Weekly he staggering crude oil inventory build in the US has started to slow Tdown as demand from refiners picked up seasonally in response to strong margins. This factor, combined with expec- tations of tighter global oil balances down the road, has led to a rally in global crude oil prices since mid-March. In turn, the run- up in prices has led to renewed optimism on the energy sector, and a large increase in equity and debt issuance. Do fundamentals justify such a strong run-up in prices? Hardly. We see a potential double dip in prices by end Q3. The run-up in prices conceals a stubbornly weak underlying fundamental balance. Initially, the oil market surplus was reflected in large increases in crude inventories, placing downward pressure on crude oil prices, time spreads and dif- ferentials. Now we are about to see petro- leum products building as refineries ramp up after maintenance. However, the mar- see WTI prices for 2016 capped on We see continued weakness at the bot- half of 2015 and in 2016. Asian spot LNG ballooned well above the seasonal norm. ket seems to have found a spot crude price increased hedging activity in North tom of the barrel. From January 2015 prices could temporarily drop below For now, margins have held up, but finding low, and we lift our end-of-quarter WTI tar- America and maintain our 2016 WTI crude onwards, sulfur limits on bunker fuel will $6/MMBtu in 2H15 as new Australian sup- a home for these additional barrels of get for 2Q15 from $41 to $59/bbl. oil price forecast of $57. be reduced, crude, products pushing ship- ply starts up. We forecast Newcastle ther- gasoline and diesel could become a lot Even then, we see WTI prices double With oil now having to balance itself, pers to switch to gasoil. mal coal prices to average to $57/mt in more challenging, likely placing downward dipping to $50/bbl as refinery mainte- OPEC has given up on its traditional role of US natural gas prices will face further 2015 and to $52 in 2016.Stocks are high pressure on margins later in the year. nance kicks in again in September before keeping supply and demand in check. The weakness this summer as ample invento- and Chinese demand is weak, and recent Moreover, domestic US crude oil pro- recovering to $57/bbl by year end. We also cartel is now effectively dissolved. The con- ries and high production put pressure on production cuts announced are insuffi- duction has yet to see a meaningful raise our Brent end-of-quarter Q2 forecasts sequences of this shift in OPEC policy are prices. We introduce an end of 2Q15 target cient to balance the market. Lower oil decline despite the plunge in the rig count to $63/bbl, but lower Q3 to $54/bbl and profound and long-lasting. Since crude oil of $2.25/MMBtu and lower our 2015 US prices and producer FX have pushed down to levels last seen in 2011. Although US leave Q4 unchanged at $61/bbl. is a very cyclical commodity and demand nat gas price forecast to $2.85, from $3.90 USD production costs, requiring lower USD crude oil production has been shifting We revise our Brent 2016 average up to and supply are inelastic in the short run, prior. We expect prices to recover as the coal to force production cuts. towards sequential declines, we will $62/bbl from $58. The global oil balance OPEC’s formalized policy shift will mean market rebalances, and we forecast nat gas unlikely see year-over-year falloffs in pro- has turned out worse than expected in the much more volatile oil prices going for- prices to average $3.90/MMBtu in 2016. US market oversupplied duction until the fourth quarter given base first quarter, and our latest projections are ward, with a range of possibly $80/bbl. In our view, the run-up in prices con- effects. With operators focused on boost- pointing to 1.9 million b/d of oversupply in Iran’s crude exports could rise by 0.7m UK natural gas ceals a stubbornly weak underlying funda- ing efficiencies and cutting down service Q2 and 0.7 million b/d in 2H15. Thus inven- to 2.0m b/d by mid 2016 if sanctions are NBP prices will be pinned down at or mental balance. Initially, the oil market sur- and operating costs while having a large tories globally will continue to be pres- lifted, potentially taking market share from close to the coal price floor of 42p/therm plus was reflected in large increases in backlog of uncompleted wells at their dis- sured upward this year, keeping upside to US shale in 2016. Downside pressure on this summer, in our view. As LNG imports crude inventories, placing downward pres- posal, the decline in production may turn Brent prices capped. For next year, we only forward oil prices could range from $5 to ramp up in 2H15 NBP winter prices could sure on crude oil prices, time spreads and out to be rather shallow. expect a moderate draw in global invento- $10/bbl. drop from 52p/therm at present to below differentials. Now we are about to see ries. As such, we are revising up our 2016 As crude prices drop, better refining 45p/therm over the next six months. petroleum products building as refineries Shale production Brent forecasts from $58 to $62/bbl, but margins are leading to higher runs, creat- ramp up after maintenance starting with We expect US shale production to remain bearish relative to the forward ing the risk of a glut in the product mar- Frosty outlook for liquid gas the United States this month and Europe decline by 270 thousand b/d in Q4 15 YoY. strip, due to the big oil overhang, a weak kets. Despite a balanced distillate market We see the downward pressure contin- next month. In this context, it is worth not- Overall, this suggests any US crude oil outlook for EM demand, a return of US at present, the impact of new refinery uing as the global LNG market will likely ing that the amount of petroleum product inventory draw may disappoint relative to shale and a potential Iran deal. Also, we capacity will put pressure on gasoil cracks. remain very oversupplied in the second in storage in the United States has already seasonal averages. Egyptian investors turn to courts to abolish tax

CAIRO: Egyptian investors challenged the The Egyptian Association for Financing government in court yesterday over a tax and Investment Studies, representing stock on stock dividends and capital gains, say- market investors and traders, filed a lawsuit ing it is causing confusion and hampering in an administrative court demanding investment. changes to some articles of the law, Traders say the market still doesn’t Mohsen Adel, deputy head of the associa- understand how the tax will be calculated tion, told Reuters yesterday. or collected, adding to uncertainty aroused Adel, a member of the Egyptian Stock by an indefinite delay to parliamentary Exchange (EGX) board and an advisory eco- elections. The stock market hit a four- nomic council for the presidency, said on month low in early trade. The head of the his Facebook page that the lawsuits were Egyptian stock exchange complained the filed due to the government’s “failure to tax rules were too complicated and fund respond” to the issue. The tax applies to managers called them burdensome. dividends and capital gains made from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi approved trading stocks on the Egyptian stock mar- the law, which imposes a 10 percent tax on ket and unlisted companies. capital gains and dividends, last July as part “What we aim at through filing this law- of efforts to overhaul an economy battered suit is to abolish the law because it hurts by years of political turmoil. the investors, the stock market, and also But the “executive regulations”, which harms competition with our neighboring stipulate how the law will be applied, were markets,” said Awad Altersawi, the legal not published until earlier this month and adviser of the Egyptian Association for investors say they leave many ambiguities. Financing and Investment Studies. Finance Minister Hany Kadry Damian The main index of Egypt’s Stock has estimated that the stock market tax Exchange rose by 32 percent in 2014, the would raise between 3.5 million and 4.5 biggest jump among global markets. But million Egyptian pounds ($460,000 and the EGX has fallen this year, hit by liquidity $590,000). Profits from stock market trans- shortages and dropping further since the ATHENS: Greek Finance Minister Yianis Varoufakis (left) and Swiss Deputy Minister for International Financial Affairs Jacques de Watteville actions in Egypt were previously tax-free. new tax regulations were issued.— Reuters arrive for a press conference in Athens yesterday. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras shook up the team handling crucial talks with its creditors after relations between his embattled finance minister and the EU hit a new low. — AFP Spain spends its way Dijsselbloem: Greece will back to growth not make it without aid MADRID: At Diego Manrique’s second-hand Commission forecasts. car dealership on the outskirts of Madrid, Many firms are already seeing the business is picking up. A long economic cri- impact: New car sales jumped 40 percent in Athens reshuffles EU-IMF negotiating team sis has over the months brought many March, hotel spending was up 56 percent prospective buyers to appraise his cheap during the annual spring break and sales of AMSTERDAM: The head of the Eurogroup said Dutch-born moderate economist less likely to architect of US recovery from the Great deals - but now they are actually handing household goods like fridges have risen 3.1 yesterday that a recent shakeup of Greek Prime irritate the country’s creditors. Depression. “FDR, 1936: ‘They are unanimous in over money. percent so far this year. Minister Alexis Tsipras’ negotiating team would Euclid Tsakalotos, a 55-year-old economics their hate for me; and I welcome their hatred’,” “People are sick of not being able to buy Even waste collection is up as people not by itself resolve the impasse between professor and junior foreign minister, will keep a Varoufakis tweeted on Sunday. anything, they’re thinking ‘I’ve got credit replace bulky items such as TVs, according Greece and its creditors, and Athens would need close eye on the talks that have made little European Economic Affairs chief Pierre and now it’s time’,” said Manrique, whose to services group Ferrovial. Keeping up con- new loans to stay afloat. progress under maverick Finance Minister Yanis Moscovici commented that Varoufakis “is a smart monthly sales are up almost by half on last sumption depends on keeping up lending, “Without further loans, Greece won’t make it, Varoufakis. person, not always easy, but smart.” On Monday year’s. This recovery in consumer confidence which plummeted when Spain’s debt- that’s the reality,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the “Now that we are in the final stretch, we need however the Greek government announced that is underpinning official forecasts for a rise in fuelled economic boom came to a halt in Dutchman who heads the group of finance min- to reorganize our teams in order to have full Tsakalotos would head a “political negotiation Spain’s growth to 2.9 percent this year from 2008 but is now boosted by cheap isters of countries that use the euro. control and the best effectiveness possible,” team” to supervise the talks, and Greece’s top last September’s 2 percent. It’s also fuelling European Central Bank loans. Consumer Dijsselbloem said in a television interview it Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said yesterday. negotiator in Brussels-an economist close to the hopes of the centre-right government, credit association Asnef said lending rose may be of some help that the Greeks have “We need to have better coordination... often Varoufakis-has been recalled. Privately, European which believes this growth can help it win a for the second year in a row in 2014, to just there is poor understanding” with EU-IMF nego- officials could not hide their relief. “It was a nec- general election later this year - despite over 8 percent. appointed a single contact person for negotia- polls showing declining support - and con- “We’re getting visits from banks, they’re tions, with Greek Finance Minister Yanis tiating teams, he told Star TV, admitting that essary step,” a European source told AFP. tinue for another five years. Yet the turn- opening the tap a little more,” said Pedro Varoufakis apparently sidelined. But he said there was a “negative climate” towards An Athens-based economist, speaking on around story may be tested much sooner Cobos, whose tiny dealership sells 1 to 2 there had been little progress in negotiations Varoufakis. condition of anonymity, concurred. than that, putting the onus on industry and cars a month compared to 30 to 40 at over the past two months, and signalled he did Rotterdam-born and Oxford-educated exports to drive the recovery instead. Manrique’s next door. not think a Greek referendum on a deal with Tsakalotos, who taught economics at Kent Varoufakis ‘poison’ to talks Some economists predict the rebound creditors would be a good idea. Tsipras has said University in Britain between 1990 and 1993 “The climate with Varoufakis was so poisoned among consumers may ease in a year or so, WHAT’S NEXT? he may submit an eventual deal to the Greek before relocating to Athens, is as discreet as that it was impossible to move forward,” he said. given that the jobless rate is unlikely to fall But key factors that have been boosting people for approval if its terms are contrary to Varoufakis is flamboyant. “Tsakalotos has a more low-key profile. At this below one in six of the workforce for several spending, like negative inflation and a the platform he campaigned on. Fond of long diatribes, Varoufakis in three stage it will be a considerable improvement,” the years. Family budgets also remain strained: weaker euro, are expected to fade. The “It would cost money, it would create great short months has managed to irritate several of economist added. Tsipras has sought to sugar A majority of households is still telling poll- impact of recent salary cuts which have political uncertainty, and I don’t think we have his fellow European ministers, as well as pick the pill, calling Varoufakis an “important asset” to sters that their situation has not improved been an overly popular cost-saving tool by the time,” Dijsselbloem said. “And I don’t think fights with some media whose coverage did not the government and the country. over the last six months. Spanish businesses of late will also act as a the Greeks have the time for it.” The Dutchman meet his standards. A self-styled “erratic Marxist”, “The negotiation does not belong to a single “The rebound has come to a great extent brake, as could a reluctance by Spanish said it should not have come as a surprise to 53-year-old Varoufakis courted controversy. person. It never did. The negotiation is always at the expense of savings,” said Angel households - among the most indebted in Greece’s government that the European Central in March when he and his wife posed for under the responsibility of the prime minister,” Laborda, an economist at Spanish think Europe - to take on more loans. Bank has not relaxed limits on how much Greek celebrity Paris Match magazine inside their Tsipras said. tank Funcas, which expects growth in In the short-term, rising tourism and government debt its banks may use as collateral. beautiful Athens apartment. The minister was But even the premier could not resist taking a household consumption to slow in 2016, in exports should help make up the gap. But a “The Greek government gambled that if it also placed on the defensive that month after swipe at his finance minister’s proposal to turn line with the 13 out of 17 consultancies it clear long term growth model is yet to negotiated with us the ECB would open its being accused of raising his middle finger to tourists into undercover tax agents. Promoting surveyed on the matter. emerge, and in the meantime, the business cashier windows, relax its rules,” Dijsselbloem euro-zone paymaster Germany in a 2013 speech. the use of credit cards, Tsipras said, “was simpler environment is still far from being back to said. But “there will be no easy access to the Varoufakis insisted that the video footage than that other idea involving people with (hid- KEEP ON LENDING its former health, Cobos pointed out. “After ECB’s windows until there’s a solid agreement had been “doctored”. The final straw came after a den) cameras etc.”Greece has been trying to In the short-term, private consumption is some very bad years, things have been a lit- with the Eurogroup,” he told RTL Nieuws. “That’s stormy Eurogroup meeting in Riga last week negotiate a deal that would unlock 7.2 billion seen reaching 2.7 percent in 2015, one of tle better, we’re getting more calls... (But) been made clear to them time and time again.” where Varoufakis was “isolated” by his fellow euros ($7.8 billion) in remaining EU-IMF bailout the highest rates in Europe, after reaching a sales are not even back to 2011 levels,” he Running out of time and money, Greece’s euro-zone finance ministers according to several money that the debt-ridden country needs to six-year high in 2014, according to European said. — Reuters hard-left government has reshuffled its EU-IMF reports. He reacted by quoting former American avoid default and a possible exit from the negotiating team and given a key role to a president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), the euro.—AFP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Family Business Network GCC releases a legal white paper

ABU DHABI: Most family owned businesses in the ernance, professionalization and next generation and across various legal vehicles” GCC will face a succession challenge within the next can be futile,” said Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al-Ghurair, Fadi Hammadeh also eluded to the need for a decade. A groundbreaking legal white paper by the Chairman of the Family Business Network GCC. “It is family business law in each GCC country to address Family Business Network GCC provides a set of con- critical that family businesses take adequate time some of the current legal structure challenges. crete recommendations and highlights the need to to incorporate the legal structure that best fits their “Effective family business succession planning strengthen legal framework across the GCC, after family business succession plan, unique family aims to achieve management and ownership conti- assessing the legal structures available to GCC fami- dynamics and goals.” nuity. GCC family businesses are particularly vul- ly businesses for their succession planning. Many family businesses in the GCC have gradu- nerable to risk of fragmentation due to lack of An estimated $1 trillion in assets will be trans- ally shifted their attention to succession planning impenetrable legal frameworks to support their ferred to the next generation of family owned com- and a focus to maintaining the family legacy. In continuity. Given their importance to GCC panies over the next decade in the Middle East. The turn, founders are seeking efficient means to trans- economies, there is an urgent need for specific handover from the first to the second generation, fer ownership to future generations. FBN GCC legal laws to assist family business generational transi- and increasingly, the second to third generation white paper analyzes the effectiveness of legal tion in this region”. will have tremendous implications on the sustain- structures, such as the Trust legal framework in the The legal paper will be distributed to FBN GCC ability and growth of companies. What is needed Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in the network members at their upcoming annual sum- now, the FBN GCC says, is for family businesses to UAE and the Waqf legal framework, a recognized mit held in Dubai on 29th and 30th of April. take adequate time to incorporate the legal struc- Islamic concept, explored as a succession planning The summit held under the theme “Family ture that best fits their succession plan, unique tool by GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia. Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al-Ghurair Enterprises: Build to Last” is an exclusive gathering family dynamics, and goals. Fadi Hammadeh, General Counsel of Al-Futtaim gate outlook at legal obstacles, risks and solutions for family business leaders and experts to discuss “We have realized that without a well-planned group, who helped author the white paper, talked for succession planning, in the context of GCC fam- the challenges and solutions for succession plan- and resilient legal structure for a family business, about what makes FBN GCC white paper unique: ily dynamics. This is the first time that a study takes ning as well as new strategies to build sustainable the pursuit of continuity by focusing on good gov- “FBN GCC legal white paper presents an aggre- a comprehensive approach, across GCC countries, businesses. Stocks fluctuate as company earnings reports pour in NEW YORK: US stocks fluctuated between company had to slash its 2015 annual fore- gains and losses yesterday as investors cast, due to the rising dollar and low demand worked through the latest round of earnings for appliances in Brazil, it said. reports. Pharmaceutical stocks rose after drug FED WATCH: Much of the focus over the giant Merck reported better-than-expected coming two days will be on the Fed’s meet- results. Investors also reacted negatively to a ing. At the two-day meeting, which ends report that showed US consumer confidence Wednesday, policymakers are set to discuss at a four-month low. when the Fed should start raising interest KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industri- rates again. The Fed opened the door to rate al average was up 27 points, or 0.2 percent, to increases after its March meeting, but some 18,063 as of 11:10 a.m. Eastern. It was down recent weak economic data might complicate that picture. GLOOMY: The Conference Board said yes- terday that US consumer confidence fell in April to the lowest level in four months, knocked down by a slowdown in hiring. The Board said its consumer confidence index fell to 95.2 in April from 101.4 in March. That was the lowest level since 93.1 in December. Consumers’ assessment of current economic conditions fell for the third straight month, and their expectations for the future also fell. GREECE: Investors are continuing to watch negotiations between Greece and its creditors. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras NEW YORK: A Wall Street sign near the decided Monday to reorganize his negotiat- New York Stock Exchange, in New York. ing team with European officials, which DOHA: Bollywood Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan inaugurates Malabar Gold & Diamonds’s 132nd outlet in Doha. Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador of Stocks opened mostly higher yesterday appears to have eased concerns that a deal India, Qatar, M P Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Group; Shamlal Ahamed M P, Managing Director- International Operations; Abdul Salam K P, as the healthcare sector rebounded will be made before Greece could default. Group Executive Director; other directors, personalities from media and well-wishers look on. from a slump the day before. —AP Tsipras also laid out the hope that a deal will be concluded by May 9, two days ahead of a 120 points earlier. The Standard & Poor’s 500 meeting of European finance ministers. Kareena Kapoor Khan opens Malabar index rose a point to 2,110 and the Nasdaq EUROPE: Germany’s DAX fell 1.9 percent, composite was unchanged at 5,060. France’s CAC-40 index lost 2 percent and the HEALTHY: Merck rose $2.94, or 5 percent, UK’s FTSE 100 fell 1.4 percent. Greek stocks Gold & Diamonds outlet in Doha to $60.03. While the company’s profits fell 44 bucked the trend. The Athens stock market DOHA: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading sive style statement. worth QAR 500, the customers get a chance to percent from a year ago, the results still hand- rose 1.4 percent. The yield on Greece’s 10-year jewellery retailers opened its 132nd outlet in Their branded jewellery segment includes enter raffle draws to win 1 kg of gold each in 2 ily beat analysts’ estimates. Adjusted earnings bond fell to 10.80 percent from 11.56 percent Qatar. Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan Ethnix - Handcrafted Designer Jewellery, Era - draws. Those who buy diamond jewellery worth for the maker of diabetes drugs Januvia and the day before. That’s a sign investors are less inaugurated this showroom on 23rd April 2015 in Uncut Diamond Jewellery, Mine - Diamonds QAR 500 will get 2 raffle coupons and double the Janumet were 85 cents a share versus the 75 worried about Greece defaulting on its debt. the presence of Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador of Unlimited, Divine- Indian Heritage Jewellery, chance to win. cents expected by analysts. EURO RISING: One of the clearest indica- India, Qatar, M P Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Precia - Precious Gem Jewellery and Starlet - Kids The customers also get a fabulous chance to APPLE: The iPhone and computer and tors of the improving Greek backdrop has Group; Shamlal Ahamed MP, Managing Director- Jewellery. buy 8 gm gold coins with absolutely no making maker reported a record quarterly profit of been the rise of the euro. The euro rose to International Operations; Mr. Abdul Salam K P, Malabar Gold & Diamonds operates 55 inter- charges from any of Malabar Gold & Diamonds $13.6 billion, but Apple’s outlook was not as $1.0975 from $1.0881 the day before. It hasn’t Group Executive Director; other Directors, per- national showrooms in GCC and Singapore. They outlets in GCC during this period. rosy as some analysts had predicted. Apple traded above $1.10 since mid-March. sonalities from media and well-wishers. are planning to come up with more showrooms To add more glitter to this season, they have fell $2.31, or 2 percent, to $130.29. Apple had ENERGY: Benchmark US crude fell 10 cents Conveniently located at Lulu Hypermarket, D- in UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also unveiled the latest collection of jewellery a record $193.5 billion in cash on its balance to $56.89 a barrel in New York. Brent crude fell Ring road, Doha, this new showroom will take in the coming months. They are also all set to specially designed for the festive season in gold sheet and plans on increasing its dividend four cents to $64.78 a barrel in London. the total number of Malabar Gold & Diamonds expand their presence in the Far East market by and diamonds to suit the tastes of their multicul- and share buyback. BONDS: US government bond prices fell. The showroom in Qatar to 6.The customers will surely opening their first outlet in Malaysia next month tural and multinational customers. Moreover, the ON SALE: Appliance maker Whirlpool yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.95 be delighted to have another Malabar Gold & Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan will inaugurate customers can update any of their old ornaments dropped $16.60, or 8 percent, to $181. The percent from 1.92 percent late Monday. —AP Diamonds outlet in this locality, which will offer their showrooms in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia &in purchased from GCC with the brand new entic- them more comfort and convenience. Manama- Bahrain on 9 May 2015 and 14 May ing collection of Malabar Gold & Diamonds with- This showroom showcases a breathtaking of 2015 respectively. out any loss. Any 22 ct old gold ornaments pur- VIVA launches new prepaid collection of jewellery with the perfect combina- Like all their outlets in GCC and Singapore, chased from GCC can be exchanged with tion of precious metals and stones that can hold their new outlet in Qatar will also take part in Malabar Gold & Diamonds designs by paying packages for Syria, Ethiopia you spell-bound. Each piece meticulously crafted their festive campaign- ‘The Great Gold Rush’, giv- only making charges ensuring they don’t lose in gold, platinum, diamonds and precious stones ing their customers a life changing opportunity any value on the rate of gold. KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing ways to facilitate the lives of its cus- is not only unique, but also express the personali- to win a whopping 25 kilos of gold until 30 June All these offers will be valid at their outlets in and most developed telecom operator, tomers and share with them the latest in ty of the wearer, ultimately becoming an exclu- 2015. With every purchase of gold jewellery Qatar until 30 June 2015. announced the launch of its latest pre- communication technology. paid packages for Syria and Ethiopia pre- VIVA is the fastest-growing telecom senting customers with very attractive operator in Kuwait. Launched in and affordable offers. The packages were December 2008, VIVA makes things Trade deal poses dilemma launched on Friday 17th of April 2015 Possible for its customers by transform- VIVA’s prepaid customers can now ing communication, information and enjoy communicating with their family entertainment experiences. The compa- and loved ones for only KD 5 per month, ny has rapidly established an unrivalled for Clinton in primary and benefit from 15 minute international position in the market through its cus- calls to Syria or Ethiopia, in addition to tomer centric approach. VIVA’s quest is to WASHINGTON: On a trip to Australia in 2012, Hillary that Congress can only vote for or against, not amend. Morocco but opposed the Central American Free 1.5 GB internet data, 150 minutes local be the mobile brand of choice in Kuwait Rodham Clinton lavished praise on the proposed In a fundraising email entitled “Hard Choice?” - a Trade Agreement. In a November 2007 presidential calls, and 1,500 VIVA to VIVA minutes. by being transparent, engaging, ener- Trans-Pacific Partnership, calling it the “gold standard” likely reference to Clinton’s memoirs, “Hard Choices” - debate, Clinton described the North American agree- VIVA had launched a similar promotion in getic and fulfilling. VIVA continues to take in efforts to create open and fair trade. O’Malley said a fast track on the Pacific deal would ment, with Canada and Mexico, as “a mistake” and March 2015 to India, Bangladesh, a considerable share of the market by Now, early in her Democratic presidential cam- produce an agreement that “could depress wages and called for a “trade timeout.” Pakistan, Philippines and Egypt and con- offering an innovative range of best val- paign, she’s striking a different tone - determinedly cost us jobs. That’s the last thing we need right now.” In that vein, she said she opposed then-pending tinues to present customers with this ue products, services and content propo- noncommittal, with a hint of skepticism about the Clinton’s support for trade deals has fluctuated trade agreements with Korea, Columbia, and Panama. ongoing promotion. sitions; a state of the art, nationwide net- sweeping trade agreement she promoted as President with the political calendar. As first lady, she trumpeted But fast-forward to July 2011 when, as secretary of VIVA reiterates its commitment to pro- work and world-class service. VIVA offers Barack Obama’s secretary of state. “Any trade deal has the North American deal brokered by her husband, state, she described those three deals as “critical to our viding unique promotions designed to internet speeds of more than 100 Mbps, to produce jobs and raise wages and increase pros- telling unionized garment workers in 1996 that the economic recovery.” Trade is polarizing, she said create an exceptional customer experi- due to the implementation of the most perity and protect our security,” Clinton said at a New agreement was “proving its worth.” In her 2003 mem- then, but “done right, it creates jobs.” She also repeat- ence and reward its prepaid customers advanced fourth generation (4G LTE) net- Hampshire community college last week. The 12- oir, she noted that the deal was “unpopular with labor edly lent her support to the Pacific trade initiative for their continued trust in VIVA. VIVA will work in Kuwait resulting in superior cov- nation Trans-Pacific Partnership under negotiation by unions” but “an important administration goal.”Her being pushed by her boss, Obama, at that time, saying continue to seek new and innovative erage, performance and reliability. Obama has divided the Democratic Party, leaving support for trade pacts began softening during her she wanted to “expedite the negotiations as much as Clinton caught between angry liberal activists and the time as a New York senator, when she voted for trade possible” and describing the deal as including “strong president she once served. It’s a fight Clinton has seen agreements with Chile, Singapore, Oman, and protections for workers and the environment.”—AP before. She went from backing the North American US consumer confidence Free Trade Agreement in the 1990s to renouncing it during her first presidential bid in the 2008 campaign - her positions on trade shifting several times over her slides this month decades in politics. WASHINGTON: US consumer confidence fell age groups. Now, Republicans are pressing for a closer look at this month to the lowest level in four months, Also weighing on consumers’ spirits: what she’s said and done on trade, with the Republican National Committee filing a request under knocked down by a slowdown in hiring. The Gasoline prices, which tumbled to a nation- the public-records law for her State Department corre- Conference Board said yesterday that its con- wide average low of $2.03 a gallon in late spondence with the US trade representative. At the sumer confidence index fell to 95.2 in April January, have bounced back up to $2.55 a same time, key Democratic constituencies are press- from 101. 4 in March, the lowest reading since gallon, according to AAA. That may be damp- ing Clinton to take a firmer stance against the emerg- December’s 93.1. ening the desire and ability of Americans to ing deal, which would eliminate tariffs and many oth- Consumers’ assessment of current eco- go shopping. Still, gasoline prices were more er trade barriers for the US, Canada and Asian coun- nomic conditions fell for the third straight than a $1 higher, or $3.70, a year ago. tries in their commerce with each other. “The labor month, and their expectations for the future Economists believe that overall economic movement opposes Fast Track,” AFL-CIO President fell as well. Lynn Franco, the Conference growth slowed to between 1 percent and 1.5 Richard Trumka said yesterdayreferencing congres- Board’s director of economic indicators, percent in the January-March quarter. They sional legislation that would speed passage of the blamed “the recent lackluster performance of are forecasting a rebound to growth of pact. “We expect those who seek to lead our nation the labor market.” The American economy around 3 percent for the rest of this year. The forward to oppose Fast Track. There is no middle generated just 126,000 jobs last month, economy grew 2.4 percent in 2014. Consumer ground.” breaking a 12-month streak of at least spending accounts for about 70 percent of US Potential Democratic rivals are using Clinton’s his- 200,000 new jobs a month; 31 states regis- economic activity. tory to question her commitment to protecting US tered job losses in March. Consumers’ view of Daniel Silver, an economist with J P workers. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independ- the current job market deteriorated in April. Morgan, warned in a research report that ent who may seek the Democratic nomination, sought They were also more likely to “the recent weakening in confidence raises to delay consideration of the pact, calling it a “job- say that there would be fewer jobs and some questions about whether we will see killing” deal “negotiated in secret.” He has long opposed trade liberalization. that their own incomes would be lower in six real consumer spending accelerate as much Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is NEW YORK: Taxis drive past a Bank of America branch in New York in this February 23, 2009 file months. The share saying they planned to as anticipated.” Despite the drop this month, expected to launch a Democratic campaign this photo. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Bank of America to see buy a car or a major appliance within six the confidence index is well above April spring, is also against so-called fast-track legislation, whether it broke rules by speculating with its customers’ funds, a person close to the matter months fell. The decline in confidence hit all 2014’s 81.7. —AP which lets the administration negotiate an agreement said yesterday. — AFP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 TECHNOLOGY Microsoft Lumia 430 now available in Kuwait KUWAIT: Built with the latest Windows Dual SIM allows people to assign unique Lumia 430 Dual-SIM will be available in two Phone 8.1 software, a Qualcomm profiles to their SIM cards, such as “work” or colors: bright orange and black. Snapdragon processor featuring dual-core “family,” to help them better manage daily CPU running at 1.2GHz, and with Microsoft communication. Specifications Office, Skype and OneDrive pre-loaded, the Favorite apps like Facebook, Twitter, Operating system Lumia 430 Dual SIM is designed to help WhatsApp, Candy Crush Saga and Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim people achieve more at work, at play and Instagram are available, with more apps Display on the go. It is also the most affordably and entertainment just a click away on the 4-inch LCD (800 x 480, 15:9), 235 PPI priced Lumia that will be upgradeable to Windows Phone Store. Battery Windows 10.1 “People around the world have 1500 mAh replaceable The Lumia 430 Dual SIM features a com- responded enthusiastically to our afford- Processor pact, durable and colorful design with a able Lumia range. We continue to invest in 1200 MHz dual-core Qualcomm(r) vivid 4-inch WVGA display that brings all this segment to ensure that as many peo- Snapdragon(tm) 200 processor the latest apps, games and videos to life. ple as possible can enjoy signature Main camera With Lumia 430, people can instantly Microsoft experiences, even on a tight 2MP, Fixed focus achieve more every day, and they can use budget,” saidVithesh Reddy, General Front-facing camera Microsoft Office and Outlook for work and Manager - Lower Gulf, Microsoft Mobile VGA 0.3 MP personal productivity. Devices. Memory They can access up to 30 GB of free “The Lumia 430 Dual SIM continues our 8GB + 30 GB OneDrive***, MicroSD up cloud storage on One Drive for safekeeping commitment to combining the right hard- to 128 GB important content. People can experience ware, software, services and apps with the Dimensions the fun of video calls with Skype-integrated right price to give people a smartphone 120.5 x 63.19 x 10.63 mm calling and a front-facing camera. Smart they can afford and be proud to use.”The 127.9g Forget the watch: iPhones are still the main event Apple sold more than 61 million iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO: The iPhone is still the engine behind Apple’s phenomenal success, even if attention lately has been focused on its new smartwatch. While skeptics question whether the compa- ny’s future is tied too much to one product, the iPhone’s popularity was the reason Apple turned in another blow-out financial report Monday. This image released by Activision shows a scene from “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3,” the third The results far surpassed most analysts’ expecta- installment in Treyarch’s military shooter saga, scheduled for release Nov. 6. — AP tions for the first three months of the year, when sales traditionally fall from their holiday-season peak. Apple sold more than 61 million iPhones ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’ in the quarter, accounting for more than two- thirds of its $58 billion in revenue for the three- SANTA MONICA: “Call of Duty: Black Ops enhancements. That creativity can be month period and the lion’s share of its $13.6 bil- 3” is enlisting a few new recruits. The third shown off between levels inside a new vir- lion in profit. installment in Treyarch’s popular military tual safe house. As expected, the numbers were down from shooter saga is adding the option to play the previous quarter, when holiday shoppers cooperatively with other gamers in the STAYING POWER bought a record 74 million of Apple’s new plot-driven campaign. The developer is also The new entry follows the events of iPhone 6, 6 Plus and older models. But the 61 ditching traditional avatar customization in “Black Ops II,” when drones hijacked by a million was a 40 percent increase over the num- its multiplayer mode, instead opting for terrorist in 2025 crippled the world. In the ber of iPhones sold in the first three months of players to pick among nine distinct charac- campaign, which begins five years later, 2014. “We’re seeing great results all over the ters, each with their own unique weapon soldiers can be upgraded with about 40 world,” Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri and ability. cybernetic modifications, which allow play- told The Associated Press, adding that iPhone “We wanted it to have a little more soul ers to accomplish such high-tech feats as sales grew 72 percent in China, where the com- to it,” said game director Dan Bunting after remotely hacking enemy robots or chain- pany has big hopes for expansion. TOKYO: In this Sept 19, 2014 file photo, a customer shows off the new Apple iPhone 6, right, a recent demonstration. “We were talking ing together melee strikes. Other products played a much smaller role. and 6 Plus at a store in Tokyo. Apple sold 61 million iPhones in the first three months of 2015, about voices and giving them personalities. Revenue from Mac computers rose 2 percent or 40 percent more than in the same period a year ago. That represented about two-thirds of It was kind of a leap of faith to say, ‘You’re JUMP AROUND from a year earlier, to $5.6 billion, while iPad rev- its $58 billion in revenue. — AP going to pick this character who is this guy Following the injection of rocket-thrust- enue fell 29 percent, to $5.4 billion - continuing or girl, and that is the character you’re ing soldiers in last year’s “Call of Duty: a steady decline in tablet sales. and was rising another 1 percent in extended New products gonna be.’ That was the direction we start- Advance Warfare,” the troops in “Black Ops Apple didn’t report any results for the new trading. The iPhone isn’t just Apple’s dominant Maestri, meanwhile, said the company is ed to explore.” 3” have similarly been granted wings. The Apple Watch, which it began selling this month product, said Frank Gillett, a tech industry ana- diversifying with new products like Apple Watch Other additions planned for the futuris- game’s 360-degree, momentum-based after the quarter ended. CEO Tim Cook told ana- lyst at Forrester Research. “It’s more than any- and Apple Pay, which on Monday added tic “Black Ops 3,” which is scheduled for movement system allows multiplayer com- lysts on a conference call that he was “thrilled” thing else what’s driving the success of their Discover to the list of payment cards that work release Nov. 6 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One batants to quickly grapple environmental with customer response, but added that it’s diffi- company.” Market researchers, however, expect with the service. and PC, include the ability to swim and surfaces, power slide across landscapes and cult to gauge demand because initial supplies smartphone growth to slow down worldwide While he acknowledged these currently pro- shoot at opponents underwater in the mul- cling to walls. are limited. Analysts estimate about 2 million this year, particularly at the higher price range vide minimal revenue to Apple, analysts say they tiplayer mode, as well as analyze the cam- have sold to date, suggesting early demand is where Apple competes, as most consumers in have big potential. And they are designed to paign’s more expansive battlefields with SPECIAL SOMEONE healthy but not of blockbuster proportions. industrialized countries have already bought work closely with the iPhone, which means each high-tech perspectives culled from team- Treyarch has dubbed its new multiplay- one. That could make it difficult for Apple to may bolster the other’s popularity in the future, mates’ intel. “With co-op players, they can er characters “specialists.” That’s because Bigger screens maintain its recent pace. Gillett said. be in multiple places,” said campaign direc- each operative comes equipped with their The iPhone is another story. Since it began “They’re extremely dependent on the Apple also announced Monday an expansion tor Jason Blundell. “In these larger environ- own personal weapon and ability outside offering models with bigger screens last fall, iPhone,” said investment analyst Colin Gillis at of its 2-year-old effort to give investors a bigger ments, they can be at different heights and the tried-and-true create-a-class system. Apple has vied with South Korea’s Samsung for BGC Partners. “At some point, the market share of the company’s huge profits. Maestri said positions in the battlefield, so to ensure For example, bow-wielding Brazilian the No. 1 position in the global smartphone dynamics change,” he said, adding that the ques- Apple will raise its quarterly dividend by 11 per- those engagements are just as riveting and Special Forces agent Outrider is outfitted market. By some estimates, Apple outsold tion is what could replace the iPhone if sales cent, to 52 cents a share, and has increased a $90 just as cinematic, we had to create a brand- with explosive bolts and the power to Samsung in the quarter that ended in begin to slow. billion stock buyback program to $140 billion. In new, goal-oriented animation system.” detect nearby enemies. December, and analysts will be watching closely Cook said he’s optimistic about new markets total, he said the program will return $200 billion Here’s a look at five of the biggest when Samsung reports its latest results this such as China, where Apple has made a strong to investors by the end of March 2017. changes coming to Activision’s blockbuster OPEN ARMS week. showing against Samsung and China’s Xiaomi by Apple ended the quarter with $193.5 billion shooter franchise: While the developers have done away As iPhone sales have surged, so has Apple’s appealing to a growing middle class. He also in cash and short-term securities. But since most with multiplayer character customization, stock. Apple shares have gained more than 50 said only 20 percent of iPhone owners have pur- of that is parked overseas to avoid paying higher FANTASTIC FOUR they’ve greatly expanded weapon person- percent over the last year, making it the world’s chased the newest models, which he painted as US tax rates, Maestri said Apple will likely take The campaign mode has been over- alization, providing players with more tools most valuable company. The stock closed a sign that many more will eventually upgrade advantage of low interest rates to borrow mon- hauled to encourage re-playability with up to trick out munitions. The game’s guns can Monday at $132.65, up 1.8 percent for the day, to the 6 or 6 Plus. ey for the program. — AP to four available co-op players. The levels be equipped with an optic and up to 5 will be more open than past “Call of Duty” attachments, camouflage and user- titles, and players will be able to customize designed paint jobs with up to 64 different Google pairs with European media their weapons, loadout, gender, outfit and layers on three sides. — AP to boost online journalism

LONDON: US tech giant Google unveiled a 150 sations. Google will create a European publishers’ more if journalism and technology work together million euro ($163 million) project yesterday with working group to explore product development rather than apart.” Amid complaints from news eight European publishers to support online jour- aimed at increasing revenue, traffic and audience organisations which claimed the US firm was eat- nalism after being accused of anti-competitive engagement, D’Asaro Biondo said. “Second, we ing away at online revenues, Google shut its pop- behaviour by EU regulators. will significantly increase our investments in train- ular online news service in Spain to protest a law The online firm’s Digital News Initiative is ing and research. which would make it pay for content. intended to “promote high quality journalism “Thirdly, we have allocated 150 million euros to Meanwhile the British government in through technology and innovation,” a top Google stimulating and supporting innovation in digital December slapped a new tax rate on multination- executive announced in London. journalism within the news industry. “The pur- al companies that seek to avoid paying their fair The company will try to develop products pose of this investment in innovation is to make share to state coffers. aimed at increasing news traffic, invest in digital grants available to projects which demonstrate Earlier this month the European Commission training and research in the industry, and fund new thinking in digital journalism... We want to said its preliminary view was that Google’s search innovation in digital journalism. stimulate and nurture ideas that come from those engine “infringes EU anti-trust rules because it sti- “Google has always wanted to be a friend and who are closest to the action.” He said the initiative fles competition and harms consumers.” If found partner to the news industry,” said Carlo D’Asaro was not about Google trying to “fix everything in at fault under those rules, the company faces a Biondo, the firm’s head of strategic partnerships in the news industry.” fine of up to 10 percent of its annual sales-in Europe. “Over the years, our relationship with “But I’m convinced that we will achieve much Google’s case, $66 billion in 2014. —AFP news and the news industry has often been mis- understood,” he told media executives at the Financial Times Digital Media conference. “We do want to play our part in the common Yahoo unveils new fight to find more sustainable models for news.” News publishers have long complained that online video series the Google News service takes traffic away from news media sites, and draws companies to pay for NEW YORK: US Internet giant Yahoo said Monday called “The Pursuit” aimed at millennials in the dig- advertising in searches rather than in newspapers. it was expanding its online offerings, unveiling 18 ital age. Chief executive Marissa Mayer is trying to D’Asaro Biondo insisted: “Through search new video series with which it hopes to attract a get Yahoo back on the growth track. “Yahoo is and news we send over 10 billion visits, for free, to larger audience and advertisers. Of these, 14 will amidst a multi-year transformation to return an publishers globally, each month.” Earlier this be featured in Yahoo’s digital magazines, which iconic company to greatness,” Mayer said in an month, the European Union formally charged focus on beauty, show business and finance. earnings statement last week. “This quarter, we Google with abusing its search engine’s domi- “I Am Naomi,” starring model Naomi Campbell, saw encouraging revenue growth of eight percent, nance and launched a sensitive probe into its pop- and “Riding Shotgun with Michelle Rodriguez,” with display revenue growing a modest two per- ular Android mobile phone operating system. which will feature actress Michelle Rodriguez driv- cent and search growing 20 percent.” Yahoo has Google accounts for about 90 percent of the EU ing cars, are among the new offerings. Music will been under pressure from activist shareholders to search market. be another big focus for the company as it courts deliver more value with lower costs and a narrow- millennials. It will be extending a deal with Live er focus. Mayer spent more than $1 billion to Journalism, technology ‘working together’ Nation to broadcast music festivals, and will join acquire the blogging platform Tumblr to reach a The Digital News Initiative brings together Les iHeartMedia to broadcast other music events. younger market segment and has made a push to TOKYO: A robot statue of C-3PO is displayed at the preview of the “Star Wars Vision’ Echos in France, Germany’s FAZ and Die Zeit, the Electronic dance music will be the theme of focus more on mobile content and search.But exhibition in Tokyo yesterday. Star Wars-related objects will be exhibited at the exhi- Financial Times and The Guardian in Britain, NRC “Ultimate DJ,” produced by Simon Cowell. And Yahoo remains far behind search market leader bition from today through June 28, while the new Star Wars movie will be screening Media in The Netherlands, El Pais in Spain and La Yahoo unveiled a new long-form series: a comedy Google, based on market surveys. —AFP end of this year. — AFP Stampa in Italy, as well as European media organi- WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 HEALTH Tiny California tribe turns to adoption to boost revenue ALTURAS: A tiny, casino-owning Native American to receive the tribe’s mail. The adoption of non- the federal Office of Indian Affairs for about 40 land- ber of the tribe. But the second casino, cigarette tribe in Northern California has pursued an unusual Indian people by a Native American tribe is unusual less Indians. business and other ventures put forward by the strategy to boost revenue: Adoption. and raises concerns, experts said. Siblings Phillip and Wendy Del Rosa are the only tribe’s adoptees did not pan out, and the adoptees The Alturas Rancheria in Modoc County has “It’s not necessarily against the law to adopt a two current tribal members who can trace their have now become part of tribal conflict, the Bee adopted five members - two of whom are non- white person. But if there’s no historical connection blood line to an original member of the 20-acre (8- said. Phillip Del Rosa said he adopted Phelps and Indian - in recent years, the Sacramento Bee to the tribe, it sounds like a scam to take advantage hectare) rancheria.Phillip Del Rosa said the tribe another man in part to stop another adoptee from reported. of their membership for business reasons and wanted to diversity its investments, which included trying to take over the tribe. The new members have come with ambitious manipulate the tribal government,” Howard the Desert Rose Casino. In 2003, it adopted Darren Phillip Del Rosa and his sister are now feuding plans to make money, including a cigarette manu- Dickstein, one of the nation’s foremost tribal Rose, a Karuk and Shasta Indian, to build a second and have formed alliances with adoptees, the Bee facturing plant. But the plans have fizzled out, and lawyers, told the Sacramento Bee. casino at better location. reported. At stake is about $2 million a year in rev- the adopted members have contributed to conflict The Alturas Rancheria has between three and It later adopted Calvin Phelps, a cigarette manu- enue, including $700,000 a year from the tribe’s among the tribe, according to the Bee. seven members depending on who is counting, facturer from North Carolina. Phelps was sentenced Desert Rose Casino. The fight has landed in state and federal courts, making it among the smallest of the 566 federally to 40 months in prison in 2014 after pleading guilty As the conflict goes on, federal and state officials and it recently required the US Postal Service to recognized tribes. The rancheria was started in 1924 to federal fraud charges involving his tobacco busi- have frozen hundreds of thousands of dollars in decide which of the feuding members was entitled with 20 acres east of Alturas that were purchased by ness. Wendy Del Rosa said Phelps remains a mem- funds for the tribe. — AP FDA: Medtronic must stop most sales of Synchromed drug pumps

WASHINGTON: The Food and Drug awaits the signature of a federal judge. The Administration says Medtronic must stop government says that Medtronic CEO Omar most sales of its implantable drug pumps Ishrak and neuromodulation business chief after years of uncorrected problems. Thomas Tefft sold medical devices that The FDA has filed a court order against failed to meet federal manufacturing stan- Medtronic that says the medical device dards, enforced under the Food, Drug and giant must halt most production and distri- Cosmetic Act. bution of its Synchromed II drug pumps, A consent decree is a form of legal set- which are implanted devices used to treat tlement in which a company agrees to patients with cancer, chronic pain and court-ordered actions without admitting severe muscle spasms. fault or guilt. The decree will remain in Among other defects, some effect until the FDA determines Medtronic Synchromed pumps had to be recalled has fixed the problems outlined in the doc- because they could lose battery power and ument. fail, endangering patients. In other cases, Medtronic will be legally required to hire the devices could cause patients to receive an outside expert to help correct the prob- too much or too little medication. lems. “Defendants are well aware that their Medtronic generally did not recom- practices violate the Act,” states the govern- mend that patients have the devices ment filing. “FDA has repeatedly warned removed, unless they were proven to be defendants, both orally and in writing, failing. The devices are surgically implanted about their violative conduct.” and deliver a drug solution to the area sur- The FDA issued the company three rounding the spinal cord. They are pre- warning letters about quality control and scribed for patients who do not respond to manufacturing problems at its drug pump oral medications or who experience severe facility in Columbia Heights, Minnesota side effects when taking them. between 2006 and 2013. FDA inspectors Medtronic said the agreement allows visited the plant five times over that period, MONROVIA: In this Friday, Sept 26, 2014 file photo, health workers stand outside the Island Clinic Ebola isolation and treatment center in the company to make some drug pumps the agency said in a Monday statement. Monrovia, Liberia. The World Health Organization said yesterday that it aims to identify all new Ebola cases in West Africa by the end of May to available on a limited basis to physicians. Medtronic plc is the world’s largest med- stop the spread of the lethal virus before the rainy season. — AP The Minneapolis-based company stressed ical device company, specializing in it is not announcing any new recalls or implantable pacemakers, defibrillators, safety alerts about its products. drug pumps and other medical equipment. New bird flu cases probable in “Patients with the Synchromed drug Last year the company completed a $43 bil- infusion system do not need to change lion acquisition of Ireland’s Covidien. The their current course of therapy, have the company now has its executive offices in pump removed, or take any other action as Dublin, where it benefits from Ireland’s low- Iowa, millions of birds affected a result of this agreement,” Medtronic said er corporate tax rates. in a statement. The settlement was announced concur- CHICAGO: Initial tests have found five probable Minnesota, said last week that avian influenza according Agriculture Department data. The FDA’s consent decree was filed in rently by the FDA and the US Justice new cases of the rapidly spreading avian influen- may drag its fiscal 2015 earnings toward the the US District Court of Minnesota and Department. — AP za on commercial poultry sites in Iowa, affecting lower end of forecasts. More than two dozen of IOWA HARD HIT more than 6 million birds, the state’s agriculture the poultry suppliers for Hormel’s Jennie-O Iowa, the leading US producer of table eggs, department and the US Department of Turkey Store unit have been hit by the outbreak. has been hardest hit in this outbreak, which was Internet billionaires face Agriculture said on Monday. Minnesota is the largest turkey-producing state first identified in a backyard poultry flock in Additional tests are pending to confirm the in the country. Oregon in December. off in Texas space race highly pathogenic H5N2, agency officials said. Last Tuesday, Mexico, the biggest buyer of US The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Positive results would push the outbreak’s chicken, halted imports of live birds and eggs Land Stewardship said on Monday that initial VAN HORN: An isolated edge of vast West Texas budget cuts, depletion and age, leaving astro- national tally to more than 15.1 million affected from Iowa. positive tests for H5 avian influenza have been is home to a highly secretive part of the 21st- nauts to hitch rides on Russian rockets. birds from commercial flocks in 13 states. Two bird flu strains have been discovered in found in a commercial egg-laying farm with an century space race, one of two being directed in In the avian influenza outbreak of 1983 to the United States this year. The H5N2 strain is in estimated 1.7 million birds in Sioux County; a the Lone Star State by Internet billionaires New hydrogen rocket engine 1984 in the northeast, which was the largest in Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, 250,000 egg-layer pullet farm in Osceola County; whose personalities and corporate strategies Any success by the newcomers would offer U.S. history, about 17 million birds were culled. Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South and in two commercial egg-laying operations in seem worlds apart. “significant potential for re-invigorating space “This is a big deal,” Iowa Secretary of Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. It has also O’Brien County with a total of 338,000 birds. The presence of Blue Origin, LLC, the brain- research and development in the state,” said Agriculture Bill Northey said during a conference been identified on farms in Ontario, Canada. Northey said a fifth farm, an egg-laying oper- child of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, barely regis- John Junkins, director of the Center for call on Monday. “Going forward, the question is The H5N8 strain has been identified in ation in Sioux County, with another 3.8 million ters in nearby Van Horn, a way station along Mechanics and Control at Texas A&M’s Interstate 10, a full decade after he began buy- Department of Aerospace Engineering. are we done? Or does this mean more birds as California and also in Idaho, US Department of chickens was identified on Monday as probably ing land in one of Texas’ largest and most Earlier this month, Bezos announced his we go forward.” Agriculture data showed. Wisconsin and infected. remote counties. company’s new hydrogen rocket engine, Iowa state officials have quarantined the five Minnesota have each declared a state of emer- The five sites have been quarantined, state Few visitors are allowed beyond the “No designed for suborbital missions, had complet- farm sites, Northey said. Positive test results gency over the outbreak. agriculture officials said. If the tests are con- Trespassing” sign and a remote-controlled gate ed hundreds of tests at the West Texas site, would mean that more than 9.5 million birds in Minnesota health officials said last week they firmed, all birds on the properties will be eutha- and into the desert and mountain environment adding, “soon we’ll put it to the ultimate test of Iowa have been affected by the virus. were expediting prescriptions for antiviral drug nized. reminiscent of the Air Force’s renowned Area 51 flight.” That could come late this year. Iowa farms, on average, house an estimated Tamiflu for farm workers and others who have Iowa said last week that a lethal strain of bird in Nevada. The privileged who do get inside A more powerful engine for orbital flights, 60 million egg-laying hens, Northey said. had direct contact with infected flocks. No flu had been found in hens at an egg-laying decline to describe what they’ve seen, typically fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas, is Also on Monday, the US Department of human infections have been reported in this facility near the city of Harris run by Sunrise citing confidentiality agreements. being developed with United Launch Alliance, a Agriculture confirmed that a Wisconsin turkey outbreak. Farms, an affiliate of Sonstegard Foods “No one gets in other than employees,” says venture of aerospace veterans Boeing Co. and farm with more than 1 million birds has tested The virus has not been reported in the coun- Company. The company said that facility houses Robert Morales, editor of the weekly Van Horn Lockheed Martin Corp. positive for the virus. More than 1.9 million com- try’s leading chicken meat producing states in 3.8 million hens. Advocate newspaper. At the opposite end - of Blue Origin officials declined requests for an mercial production chickens and turkeys in the South, which include Georgia, Arkansas, The virus can kill nearly an entire infected Texas and the competition - is the highly visible interview and site visit. “I’m so sorry,” spokes- Wisconsin have been affected by H5N2, state Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina. flock within 48 hours. Millions of turkeys and SpaceX venture, led by PayPal co-founder and woman Brooke Crawford said. “It’s just the way it and federal officials have said. The number of birds affected by the outbreak chickens are in quarantine waiting to be culled electric car maker Elon Musk. His company con- is.” Bezos’ love of space originated in Texas in the so far represents a fraction of the US commercial and large flocks have already been destroyed. tracts with NASA to resupply the International 1960s when his family moved to Houston, which ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY flock. Chicken dominates US poultry production. Officials have said they believe wild birds are Space Station and is building a launch site about dubbed itself “Space City USA.” The potential economic cost of the outbreak Poultry processors slaughtered nearly 8.7 billion spreading the virus but they do not know how it 600 miles from Van Horn, on the southernmost “For me, space is something that I have been is unclear. Hormel Foods Corp, based in chickens in 2014 and about 237 million turkeys, is entering barns. — Reuters Texas Gulf coast, with the much-publicized goal in love with since I was 5 years old,” Bezos, 51, of sending humans to Mars. said in a September interview with The SpaceX and Blue Origin are among several Washington Post, which he purchased in 2013. “I US companies engaged in the private space watched Neil Armstrong step onto the surface GSK shingles vaccine shows business. Both men have seemingly unlimited of the moon, and I guess it imprinted me.” resources - Bezos’ wealth is estimated at nearly Over the last decade, he has bought at least $35 billion, Musk’s at $12 billion - and lofty aspi- seven ranches, totaling 1,900 square miles, near benefits across all age groups rations: launching a new era of commercial the Texas-New Mexico border and Guadalupe space operations, in part by cutting costs Mountains National Park. through reusable rockets. “It’s very secretive out there,” said Maricel LONDON: An experimental shingles vaccine from in the form of shingles. GSK and Merck’s vac- intended to enhance the immunological Texas’ glory days of space exploration, when Gonzalez, chief appraiser for the Culberson GlaxoSmithKline is effective across all age groups, cines work in different ways. Zostavax is a so- response. “Right Stuff” Mercury astronauts trained in County Appraisal District. She declined to researchers said yesterday, boosting the prospects called live attenuated virus vaccine while HZ/su The adjuvant includes a component from US Houston and the city’s name was the first word describe it, citing a nondisclosure agreement. A of a key product in the British drugmaker’s devel- combines a protein found on the virus that caus- biotech firm Agenus, which is entitled to royal- spoken on the moon by Neil Armstrong, are UPS driver who recently emerged from the com- opment pipeline. In contrast to Merck’s estab- es shingles with an adjuvant, or booster, which is ties on any future sales. — Reuters long gone. The utilitarian Space Shuttle fell to pound also declined to talk. —AP lished Zostavax, currently the only product on the market, GSK’s vaccine HZ/su showed no diminu- tion in efficacy with age, according to detailed results from a large Phase III trial. Zostavax is less effective among people who are 70 years or older - a group often at risk from shingles. Goldman Sachs analysts said in a report yesterday that efficacy across age groups could give HZ/su a meaningful edge over Zostavax, and GSK’s product had the potential to achieve peak sales of around 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) a year. GSK had said in a brief release in December that HZ/su reduced the risk of shingles by 97.2 percent in adults aged 50 years and older. However, the full results of the clinical study giving age-group breakdowns were only dis- closed at a medical congress in Copenhagen on Tuesday and published online simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. These showed efficacy was maintained across age groups, ranging between 96.6 percent in people aged 50-59 years and 98 percent in those 70 years or older. The vaccine had a clinically acceptable safety profile, researchers on the GSK-funded study MADRID: A disabled woman affected by phocomelia (malformation of the limbs) due to TEXAS: In a Sept 22, 2014 file photo, US Rep. Filemon Vela, left, SpaceX founder and said, although reports of injection-site redness, thalidomide medicine drives a wheelchair during a protest in front of the Spanish parliament CEO Elon Musk, center, and Texas Gov Rick Perry turn the first shovel-full of sand at swelling and pain were common. Shingles is (Las Cortes) called by AVITE (Spanish Thalidomide Victims Association) in Madrid yesterday. the groundbreaking ceremony for the SpaceX launch pad at Boca Chica Beach, Texas. caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same First time marketed in 1957 in West Germany by the West German pharmaceutical company The SpaceX venture, led by PayPal co-founder and electric car maker Musk, is one of virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of Chemie Grunenthal, thalidomide was used against nausea in pregnant women resulting in two parts of the 21st-century space race being directed in the Texas by Internet bil- chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain about 10,000 cases of infants, reported in the world, being born with malformation of their lionaires. — AP nerve tissue but in older people in can reappear limbs. — AFP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 HEALTH

Flying has become more energy efficient than driving LONDON: Flying has become less energy efficient and more likely to involve multiple intensive than driving, at least in the United occupants, which cuts energy consumption States, according to the surprising findings per person-mile dramatically. of an analysis of energy consumption by But aircraft are also more fuel efficient the University of Michigan’s Transportation over longer journeys than shorter ones Research Institute. because so much fuel is consumed during Transporting one person a distance of the takeoff phase. By some estimates, take- one mile by aircraft consumed on average off can account for as much as a quarter of the energy equivalent to 2,465 British ther- the fuel consumed on a short flight. mal units (BTUs), compared with 4,211 BTUs for moving one person one mile by MOBILITY DEMAND car, in 2012. Sivak’s analysis reveals some important If fuel use is adjusted to account for truths about energy consumption and commercial freight and mail carried on pas- transportation. First, energy consumption senger aircraft, flying consumed just 2,033 is directly related to the demand for mobili- BTUs per person mile, according to ty, a point which is often underplayed in researcher Michael Sivak. discussions about energy and climate One BTU is formally defined as the change. Aviation tends to account for a amount of energy needed to raise the tem- very high share of per capita fuel consump- perature of one pound of water by one tion and per capita greenhouse emissions degree Fahrenheit. Informally, it is roughly not because aircraft are inefficient but the energy released by burning a kitchen because of the long distances involved in match. A gallon of gasoline contains rough- air travel compared with other modes of ly 124,000 BTUs, a gallon of jet fuel about transport such as cars. 135,000 BTUs and diesel almost 139,000 Rising fuel consumption and green- BTUs. Sivak’s research shows driving con- house emissions stem from an increase in sumed 71 percent more energy per person- demand for very long distance travel - mile than flying in 2012, or more than dou- especially intercontinental flights and ble if flying data are corrected for cargo among middle and lower income groups- (“Energy intensities of flying and driving” which are a central part of a modern, inter- April 2015). connected world. Aviation still has a reputation for being a Second, modes of transport are not particularly energy-intensive mode of inherently efficient or inefficient. Better transportation for moving people but design can result in substantial efficiency Sivak’s findings suggest that reputation improvements. The way in which modes of may no longer be deserved. transport are operated is at least as impor- At the start of the 1970s, aircraft were tant as their physical construction. And reg- particularly inefficient and consumed twice ulations and fuel prices have an important as much fuel per person-mile than passen- role to play driving energy efficiency. ger cars (http://link.reuters.com/sek64w). At a global level, demand for mobility is SEATTLE: In this photo taken Thursday, April 9, 2015, Bamboo, an Asian elephant, walks in her enclosure at the Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle. Since then, however, the amount of set to increase significantly in the decades Elephants, one of the most popular animals at American zoos, could become very hard to find over the next few decades as aging pachyderms energy consumed per passenger-mile by ahead. As a higher share of the world’s pop- die and the rest congregate in the handful of zoos capable of caring for the large animals. Facilities like Seattle’s have already made the difficult aircraft has fallen by almost 80 percent ulation moves out of extreme poverty into and controversial decision to move their elephants to another zoo so they can join a larger herd. — AP while the efficiency of driving has middle income status, they too will want to improved by less than 17 percent. The travel long distances for work, leisure and crossover point, when aircraft became less to visit friends and family, and to consume Popular zoo elephants likely energy-intensive than cars, occurred products made far away, which implies an around the turn of the millennium. enormous increase in transport demand. One option is to restrain the demand for to get harder to see in future EFFICIENCY TRENDS mobility through regulations and actions The switchover in energy intensity is the designed to make transport much more result of several trends which have tended expensive (such as increasing the cost of SEATTLE: Visitors flocked to the leafy enclo- New rules Not feasible to make flying more efficient but have had fuel through taxes or emissions charges). sure at Seattle’s zoo to watch the two ele- At the same time, national guidelines There’s very little consensus - even among a much more ambiguous effect on driving. Another is to shift people and products phants, Chai and Bamboo, as they used their adopted in 2011 would require some zoos to animal experts - about what is the right New aircraft are much more fuel effi- from transport modes with high energy long trunks to play with balls and snack on close their elephant programs by 2017 if choice to make for the elephants currently in cient than the ones they replaced. Airlines intensity (such as aircraft) to ones which carrots and apples. they cannot increase their herds and expand American zoos. Bringing more Asian or have learned to operate them using less consume less fuel per passenger-mile (such The elephants would sometimes exhibit their facilities. African elephants to this country no longer fuel by cutting the amount of unnecessary as rail), though Sivak’s analysis raises ques- other behavior. Chai would pace from side to Some North American zoos have as few seems feasible and breeding programs have weight carried on board. And seat occu- tions about some of the assumptions com- side and bob her head up and down - a sign, as one elephant, said Rob Vernon, been minimally successful. Officials in Seattle, pancy is much higher than it was in previ- monly made about the energy intensity of animal activists say, of the stress of being con- spokesman for the Association of Zoos & which was forced into court over its decision ous decades. different modes of transport. In contrast, cars have become heavier The third option, and in many ways the fined inside the 1-acre area. It is common Aquariums, which drew up the guidelines. to move its elephants to Oklahoma, say they and more powerful and they are much most promising, is to improve fuel efficien- behavior, and a growing number of people The new rules encourage a herd of at least did what they thought would be best. Jensen more likely to be occupied by just the driv- cy within existing modes of transport. feel the giant animals - hard-wired to roam three elephants. was frustrated with the intense focus on er rather than passengers. Carpooling on Sivak shows this course holds enormous free across thousands of square miles in Africa Woodland Park Zoo, which has had ele- Seattle’s decision. the way to work, for example, has become promise through improvements in design and Asia - don’t have a place in American phants in its care since 1921, started dis- “The question is: Are we going to share the much less common than it was in the 1970s and choices about how transport modes zoos. cussing the future of its herd after a third earth with elephants?” she asked, noting that and 1980s. There are several important are operated. Airlines have become more Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo recently made pachyderm died in 2014. A community task African elephants are being killed at the rate of qualifications to this analysis. The data is fuel efficient, in part, because they have cut the difficult and controversial decision to force recommended in 2013 that the zoo 96 a day or 30,000 a year, for their ivory. “Sadly, based on the United States, famous for its excess weight and raised seat occupancy to close its popular elephant exhibit and move bring in more elephants and expand its facil- I am pessimistic.”John Houck, deputy director larger and more powerful passenger vehi- record levels. Cars on the other hand, at Chai and Bamboo to a larger zoo in Oklahoma ities, but zoo President and CEO Deborah of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in cles. Cars in the European Union and Japan, least in the United States, have become so they can join a larger herd. Others, like the Jensen said those goals were not achievable, Tacoma, Washington, has two Asian elephants, where vehicles tend to be smaller and heavier and drive around with most of the Bronx Zoo in New York City, say they are mov- in part because it’s so difficult to obtain new age 50 and 51. They are too dangerous to do lighter, consume far less energy per passen- seats empty. ing in the same direction, but will wait until elephants. well in a larger group and too old to move. ger mile. Improvements in transport design and one or more of their existing herd dies. And In the end, Seattle decided their best After they die, Tacoma plans to replace them Sivak’s research is an important operation offer the best hope of meeting zoos like Detroit have already retired their choice was Oklahoma, where 36-year-old with another endangered species, perhaps rhi- reminder about the effect that choices the world’s growing demand for mobility pachyderms to one of two U.S. animal Chai and 48 year-old Bamboo may become noceroses. about energy efficiency, vehicle size and while curbing greenhouse emissions. refuges. the old “aunties” of the herd, Jensen said. Looking out a decade or more, Houck does engine power have on fuel consumption. Efficiency improvements are, in turn, The analysis is also sensitive to trip linked to the price of fuel and government Many zoos can’t give elephants the space Activists who protested Seattle’s decision not see a future for Asian, and possibly African, length. The average length of a driving trip regulations. The three approaches to curb- they need. They are also social animals that believe the right place for older elephants to elephants in this country. Keeping a small is just 9 miles while an average flight is 914 ing emissions (fuel pricing, mode shifting prefer to live in a herd, but that is hard to pro- “retire” is at one of the nation’s two sanctuar- group of elephants in North America would miles — 100 times longer. and enhanced efficiency) are complements vide as elephant numbers dwindle, both in ies, in California or Tennessee. require the birth of seven to nine calves each Short car journeys tend to be much rather than substitutes. captivity and in the wild. As of December Toni Frohoff, director of In Defense of year. That is not happening, especially as more more energy-intensive than longer ones Nonetheless, the biggest reductions in 2014, there were 159 African elephants at 39 Animals’ elephant campaign, said the Seattle females become too old to reproduce. During because they are more likely to occur on greenhouse emissions are likely to come North American zoos and 139 Asian elephants zoo could have made a worse choice than a recent visit to the Seattle zoo with her two urban roads (with lots of starts and stops) from using existing transport systems more at 34 zoos in the US and Canada, according to Oklahoma, but she thinks the best choice small children, visitor Rebecca Young said she and have a single occupant. efficiently, rather than trying to force peo- the Maryland-based Association of Zoos & would have been a sanctuary. Chai and was sad to see the empty enclosure where Longer car journeys ones on the free- ple to stay at home by making travel dra- Aquariums. The group In Defense of Animals Bamboo are currently in San Diego, where Chai and Bamboo used to live. “I hope they ways and interstate network are more fuel matically more expensive. — Reuters says 21 zoos in North America have closed they were temporarily rerouted because of find joy in San Diego or Oklahoma or wherever their elephant exhibits since 1991. bad weather on their way to Oklahoma. they land,” she said. — AP WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

ACK and KFAS host symposium

he Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), in collabora- cation in particular. The outcomes of higher education are Private Universities and Dr. Adnan Shihab Eldin, Director tion with the Kuwait Foundation for the the result of a cumulative process.” General of KFAS, both who stressed on the importance of Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), recently held the He added: “What we are seeking is the support of the the forum and spoke on the potential of private universi- T“Achieving Excellence in Private Higher Education in higher private education sector by the provision of appro- ties in the State of Kuwait. Kuwait” Symposium at the premises of the Arab Fund for priate structures and legislations that allows for the Further sessions were then held with guest speakers Economic and Social Development. improvement of its performance and the achievement of a Prof. Mushtaq Al-Atabi, Dean of the Engineering School of Held under the Patronage of the Minister of Education better complementarity with the public higher education Taylor’s University - Malaysia, Dr. Ahmad Al-Eisa, Advisor to and Higher Education, Dr. Bader Al-Issa, the symposium sector. This will help the private higher education institu- the Saudi Arabia Royal Court and the Former President of aimed at highlighting successful regional and global prac- tions overcome obstacles that prevent their growth and Al-Yamamah Private University - KSA and Prof. Tariq Al- tices, while providing a platform for discussions on ways to threaten their sustainability. It will enable them to offer the Dowaisan, Vice Dean for Planning and Career Development enhance private higher education in Kuwait. curricula that meet the needs of the market as well as the of College of Engineering - Kuwait University, discussing Opening the symposium, Chairman of ACK, Abdullah Al international competition. It is important to give the pri- numerous private higher education successes and chal- Sharhan welcomed guests and stated: “The world economy vate higher education institutions a chance to develop lenges in Kuwait, the GCC and internationally. is steadily becoming knowledge-based. Such an economy their independent character, in line with their educational Concluding the symposium was a roundtable session requires manpower equipped with the knowledge and philosophy, and the expertise in the scientific and techni- chaired by Prof. Moudi Al-Humoud, Former Minister of skills, capable of meeting its special needs. It is a truism to cal fields which they wish to offer.” Education & Higher Education and Rector of the Arab Open say that the outcomes of higher education in terms of Abdullah concluded: “The aim of this meeting is to shed University in Kuwait, bringing an opportunity to discuss quantity, quality and type are a key element in the success light on the successes of Kuwait’s ten years’ experience in current and relevant issues affecting the private higher of development plans in a country. It is therefore essential private higher education and to compare it with that of are to continue to serve the Kuwaiti society.” education sector, highlighting the needs of the labor mar- that the educational institutions should be given due others. We aim to produce a list of recommendations that The symposium then continued with Prof. Walid Al- ket and debating ways to overcome obstacles that could attention in terms of motivating the investments necessary will support the sustainability of private higher education Kendari, Assistant Secretary-General for Research and hinder the development of private higher education insti- to raise the levels of education in general and higher edu- in Kuwait. This is necessary if these educational institutions Information at the General Secretariat of the Council of tutions in Kuwait.

Sebamed was among the participants in the awareness day that was held in Saad Al-Abdallah bloc 5 health center, where advice was given to patients and questions were answered. Sebamed is keen on participating in events that directly serves the public.

Upasana Dance Studio holds ‘Arangettam 2015’

pasana, a tribute to dance’, the famous rate the first-ever Arangettam of the budding Udayshankar Lal, Kalamandalam Priyam Anand dance schools in Kuwait, held talents at Upasana Studio was released by and Kalamandalam Aswathy. The senior batch- ‘Arangettam 2015’ on 24th April at Manju Warrier at the function. The performances es came up with elegant performances on ‘UAmerican International School, Hawally. The of the students were accompanied live by Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam styles show- function was inaugurated by the renowned Udayshankar Lal, Upasana faculty on casing the expertise they gained at Upasana Bharatanatyam dancer, mentor and visiting fac- Nattuvangam, Kottayam Jamaneesh Studio. The three-hour-long vibrant perform- ulty of Upasana Studio, N V Krishnan Payyannur, Bhagavathar on vocal, P V Anilkumar Vadakara ance of 57 students who came up with 14 spec- by lighting the traditional lamp. Chief Guest of on Mridangam, Murali Krishnan on veena and tacular dances, starting with ‘Pushpanjali’ till the evening Manju Warrier, classical dancer and Balamurali on violin. ‘Thillana’, accompanied live by renowned musi- South Indian actress and the Guests of honour Artist Dr Johnarts Kalabhavan presented the cians, proved to be a memorable experience for Mukesh, south Indian actor and Dr Methil caricature of Manju Warrier and Mukesh at the the audience. The event concluded with a clas- Devika, classical dancer, scholar and Upasana function. Mohiniyattan student at Upasana sical demonstration of ‘Vande Matharam’ pay- consultant joined Guru N V Krishnan Master in Sangeetha presented a mural painting of Dr ing tribute to motherland India. Dr Methil lighting the lamp along with Prathibha Menon, Methil Devika done by her as a tribute to the Devika addressed the students expressing her director, Upasana and Murali Menon. Guru. joy to witness such an effort by Upasana team. Krishnan Master, Manju Warrier and Mukesh Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi students at Upasana faculty for your continuous training shared their experiences and wished the stu- various branches of Upasana Studio gave their efforts: Kalamandalam Priyam Anand, dents all the very best for their debut classical debut performance after years of rigorous train- Udayshankar Lal and Kalamandalam Ashwaty. presentation. A colorful souvenir to commemo- ing under the extraordinarily talented faculties Ice skating rinks closed for maintenance

ead of Public Relations and Information Department at Touristic Enterprises Company said activities Hat the grand and minor ice skating rinks will be halted for maintenance purposes from 3/5 until 30/5, to work on the cooling system. The rinks will resume activities at its regular times after the above men- tioned date. WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Red Bull athletes from Kuwait to

The Three Red Bull Athletes. run in Dubai for those who can’t! More than 700 runners from the region registered online for global run

Wings for life World Run. David Coulthard, Felix Baumgartner, Marc Coma and others to drive the Catcher Cars around the world. he Wings for Life World Run, the race that raises runners will pass through 13 time zones, to raise money towards curing spinal-cord injuries is set awareness and funds for the non-profit foundation. to take place on Sunday, May 3, at 2 pm. More Since 2004, Wings for Life funds life-changing thanT 60,000 runners around the world will set off on a research projects and clinical trials around the globe unique contest staged simultaneously in 35 different where the foundation has made steady but valuable courses in 33 different countries in six continents, with progress to find a cure. During the inaugural World Dubai being the only Middle Eastern city to take part. Run event in 2014 Ä3.2 million ($4million) was raised Three Red Bull Athletes from Kuwait (Mohamed with all future entry fees and sponsorship of this glob- Jaffar - Motocross, Mohamed Al Attar - Parkour & al running event will help work towards that ultimate Mansour Al Safran - BMX) will travel to Dubai to join goal. Every step taken at the Wings for Life World Run thousands of runners around the world in a simulta- is a step in the right direction. neous global race for charity in 32 different countries. Worldwide, millions of people are dependent on a My participation in Wings For Life World Run wheelchair after sustaining spinal cord injury with means a lot to me, it’s something that I am proud of as traffic accidents and falls the leading causes of the my participation will support the research to find a debilitating injury. cure for champions that I know and are now on The 2015 Wings for Life World Run will be held on wheelchairs, said Mohamed Jaffar. May 3, (11 am UTC) in 35 locations around the world Mohamed Al Attar said: “My participation in Wings simultaneously. For Life World Run is the simplest thing that I can offer Please visitwww.wingsforlifeworldrun.com to learn to people who suffered from spinal cord injuries. This more about the event. 100% of the registration fees injury affected their lives and their sporting careers.” will go directly to fund research to find a cure for My participation in Wings For Life World Run spinal cord injuries. means a lot to me as I will be contributing to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, and these are things that anyone would like to help at but through Wings For Life World Run we will be able to do so. Said Mansour Dietrich Mateschitz presents the Wings for Life number 1 to Daniel Ricciardo dur- Abdo Feghali to Drive the Nissan X-Trail atcher Al Safran ing Formula One Winter Testing 2015. Car in Dubai. Although online registration is now closed, partici- pants can still register on-site at the Dubai Autodrome before 1:00pm on the day of the event. With no finish line ahead of them, participants will be eliminated when a Nissan X-Trail catcher car - released 30 min- utes after the start - passes them. Several local and regional celebrities and athletes will be joining in as a token of support for this noble cause. The Wings for Life World Run is organized in part- nership with Emirates NBD, Nissan, Rashid Centre for the Disabled, Puma, Garmin and exclusive broadcast- ers, Dubai Sports Channel, the proceeds are dedicated to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries, which affect nearly three million people around the world. Chris Khouri, a Dubai-based Wings for Life ambas- sador who suffers from a spinal cord injury himself said: “There are no excuses for anyone, whether able- bodied or disabled, not to take part in the Wings for Life World Run in Dubai. I myself will be running for those who can’t, because I can.” “We want to raise awareness about Wings For Life, a foundation that works with some of the world’s leading researchers to find a cure for those who can’t walk.Dubai is the only host city in the Middle East, and is the perfect place to have an exciting event such as the World Run. Everyone that will run with us will be personally contributing to bettering the life of someone with a Spinal Cord injury. Every little step counts towards bringing hope to millions around the world who can’t walk”. Added Chris Starting from sunrise to sunset, in spring and autumn, through night and day, joggers, celebrities, long-distance runners, triathletes and ultra-marathon Wings for Life World Run Activation with Daniel Ricciardo 2015 Australia - Melbourne. Kuwaiti athletes participation in last year’s Wings For Life World Run. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 TV PROGRAMS

07:40 Fast N’ Loud 10:10 Gravity Falls 08:30 Storage Hunters 10:35 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 08:55 Dallas Car Sharks Teenage Witch 09:20 Auction Hunters 11:00 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 09:45 How It’s Made Teenage Witch 00:35 Big Star Little Star 00:10 Doctors 10:10 How It’s Made 11:25 Jessie 01:30 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 00:40 Eastenders 10:35 Bear Grylls: Breaking Point 11:50 Jessie Of Dogs 01:10 New Tricks 11:25 So You Think You’d Survive? 12:15 Austin & Ally 02:00 Emmerdale 02:00 Little Dorrit 12:15 Marooned With Ed Stafford 12:40 Austin & Ally 02:25 Emmerdale 02:55 Pride And Prejudice 13:05 Storage Hunters 13:05 Good Luck Charlie 02:55 Coronation Street 03:45 Up The Women 13:30 Dallas Car Sharks 13:30 Good Luck Charlie 03:25 Kate Middleton: Heir We Go 04:15 The Weakest Link 13:55 Auction Hunters 13:55 Gravity Falls Again! 05:00 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n 14:20 Alaska: The Last Frontier 14:20 H2O: Just Add Water 04:20 Harry’s South Pole Heroes Roll 15:10 Kindig Customs 15:00 Dog With A Blog 05:15 The Chase 05:20 Teletubbies 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 15:20 Evermoor 06:10 Big Star Little Star 05:45 Charlie And Lola 16:50 How It’s Made 15:45 Girl Meets World 07:05 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 05:55 Woolly & Tig 17:15 How It’s Made 16:10 Violetta Of Dogs 06:00 Nina And The Neurons: In 17:40 Head Games 17:00 Teen Beach Movie 07:30 Kate Middleton: Heir We Go The Lab 18:30 Deadly Dilemmas 18:40 Dog With A Blog Again! 06:15 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n 18:55 Deadly Dilemmas 19:05 H2O: Just Add Water 08:25 Harry’s South Pole Heroes Roll 19:20 What Happened Next? 19:30 Violetta 09:15 Eggheads 06:35 Teletubbies 19:45 What Happened Next? 20:20 Binny And The Ghost 09:45 Eggheads 07:00 Charlie And Lola 20:10 Dallas Car Sharks 20:45 H2O: Just Add Water 10:15 May The Best House Win 07:10 Woolly & Tig 20:35 Auction Hunters 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 11:10 Emmerdale 07:20 The Weakest Link 21:00 Deadly Dilemmas 21:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 11:35 Emmerdale 08:05 Pride And Prejudice 21:25 Deadly Dilemmas 22:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:00 Coronation Street 08:55 Doctors 21:50 What Happened Next? 22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 12:30 The Chase 09:25 Eastenders 22:15 What Happened Next? Teenage Witch 13:25 May The Best House Win 09:55 Up The Women 22:40 Man vs Expert 22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 14:20 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 10:25 New Tricks 23:30 Head Games Teenage Witch Of Dogs 11:15 India With Sanjeev Bhaskar 23:10 Wolfblood 14:45 Big Star Little Star 12:05 Pride And Prejudice 23:35 Wolfblood 12:55 Up The Women 15:30 Eggheads 13:25 Gates 16:05 Eggheads 13:50 New Tricks 16:30 Royalty Close Up 14:40 India With Sanjeev Bhaskar 17:25 Mr Selfridge 15:30 Up The Women 00:05 How It’s Made 18:20 The Chase 16:00 Doctors 00:30 NASA’s Unexplained Files 00:00 Escape Club 19:00 Coronation Street 16:30 Eastenders 01:20 How Do They Do It? 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 19:30 Eggheads 17:00 The Weakest Link 01:45 How Do They Do It? 01:25 Keeping Up With The 20:00 Eggheads 17:45 Gates 02:10 Through The Wormhole With Kardashians 20:30 Royalty Close Up 18:05 New Tricks Morgan Freeman 02:20 Giuliana & Bill 21:25 Mr Selfridge 19:00 Doctors 03:00 Food Factory 03:15 Christina Milian Turned Up 22:20 Coronation Street 19:30 Eastenders 03:24 Food Factory 03:40 Christina Milian Turned Up 22:50 Emmerdale 20:00 Stella 03:48 Superhuman Science 04:10 E!ES 20:45 Stella 04:12 Superhuman Science 05:05 E!ES 21:30 Cardinal Burns 04:36 Sport Science 06:00 Keeping Up With The 21:55 Spooks 05:24 NASA’s Unexplained Files Kardashians 22:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 06:12 How It’s Made 06:55 Keeping Up With The 23:35 The Weakest Link 06:36 How It’s Made Kardashians 07:00 Game Changers 07:50 Style Star 00:00 Amazonia’s Giant Jaws 07:25 Gadget Show - World Tour 08:20 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 01:00 Crimes Against Nature 07:50 Mighty Ships 08:45 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 02:00 America The Wild 08:40 Food Factory 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 03:00 Inside 09:05 Food Factory 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 04:00 Inside World War II 09:30 Superhuman Science 11:10 Fashion Bloggers 05:00 Air Crash Investigation 00:15 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 09:55 Superhuman Science 11:35 Fashion Bloggers 06:00 Great Migrations 00:40 MasterChef 10:20 NASA’s Unexplained Files 12:05 House Of DVF 07:00 Evolutions 01:35 Antiques Roadshow 11:10 How Do They Do It? 13:05 Extreme Close-Up 08:00 Amazonia’s Giant Jaws 02:25 The Restaurant Inspector 11:35 How Do They Do It? 13:35 THS 09:00 Crimes Against Nature 03:10 Come Dine With Me 12:00 Game Changers 14:30 Style Star 10:00 America The Wild 03:35 Baking Mad With Eric 12:25 Gadget Show - World Tour 15:00 Keeping Up With The 11:00 Hubble’s Cosmic Journey Lanlard 12:50 Mighty Ships Kardashians 12:00 The War Generals 04:00 Beat My Build 13:40 How It’s Made 16:00 Keeping Up With The 13:00 Battleground Brothers 04:45 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 14:05 How It’s Made Kardashians 14:00 Britain’s Greatest Machines Notebook: Cosmo Cook 14:30 Superhuman Science 17:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 15:00 Shark Men 05:15 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 14:55 Superhuman Science 17:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 16:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 05:40 MasterChef 15:20 Through The Wormhole With 18:00 E! News 17:00 Brain Games 06:35 Baking Mad With Eric Morgan Freeman 19:00 Good Work 17:30 Brain Games Lanlard 16:10 How Do They Do It? 20:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 18:00 Evolutions 07:00 Antiques Roadshow 16:35 How Do They Do It? 20:30 Christina Milian Turned Up 19:00 Shark Men 07:50 Come Dine With Me 17:00 NASA’s Unexplained Files 21:00 Keeping Up With The 20:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 08:15 Beat My Build 17:50 Sport Science Kardashians 21:00 Brain Games 09:05 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 18:40 Food Factory 22:00 E! News 21:30 Brain Games Notebook: Cosmo Cook 19:05 Food Factory 23:00 Good Work 22:00 Evolutions 09:30 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 19:30 Strangest Weather On Earth 23:00 Hubble’s Cosmic Journey 09:55 Rick Stein Tastes The Blues 19:55 Strangest Weather On Earth 10:50 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 20:20 Space Pioneer 11:35 Antiques Roadshow 21:10 How Do They Do It? 12:25 Come Dine With Me 21:35 How Do They Do It? 12:50 Beat My Build 22:00 Strangest Weather On Earth 00:30 Guy’s Big Bite 13:40 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 22:25 Strangest Weather On Earth 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 01:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Notebook: Cosmo Cook 22:50 Through The Wormhole With Stewart THE EAST ON OSN MOVIES HD 14:05 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill Morgan Freeman 01:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:00 Hot In Cleveland 14:30 Bargain Hunt 02:00 Man Fire Food 23:40 How It’s Made 01:30 The League 15:00 Run For Your Wife 04:30 Blood Relatives 15:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:15 Rick Stein Tastes The Blues 02:30 Man Fire Food 02:30 You’re The Worst 17:00 Syrup 05:20 True Crime With 16:00 Cars Toons 16:10 Antiques Roadshow 03:00 Guy’s Big Bite 03:00 Community 19:00 Mental Aphrodite Jones 16:05 Lilo & Stitch 17:00 Come Dine With Me 03:30 Foodography 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 21:30 Fired Up! 02:00 PGA Tour Highlights 06:10 On The Case With Paula 16:30 Adventures Of The 17:25 Beat My Build 04:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Jimmy Fallon 23:00 Vamps 07:00 Golfing World Zahn Gummi Bears 18:15 Kirstie Allsopp’s Home Style 05:00 Chopped 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 08:00 Gillette World Sport 07:00 Deadly Affairs 17:00 Chip n Dale Rescue 19:05 Tareq Taylor’s Nordic 00:00 Violetta 06:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 09:00 Community 16:00 Gillette World Sport 07:50 Fatal Encounters Rangers Cookery 00:45 The Hive 06:30 Siba’s Table 09:30 The Simpsons 16:30 Live Snooker World 08:40 Murder Shift 17:25 Ducktales 19:30 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And 00:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 07:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 10:00 Marry Me Championship 09:30 Great Crimes And Trials 18:00 Art Attack Easy Food Teenage Witch 07:30 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Live World Golf 09:55 Stalked: Someone’s 18:30 Sofia The First 19:55 Extreme Makeover: Home 01:15 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 02:00 Phantom-PG15 08:00 Chopped Jimmy Fallon Championships Watching 18:55 Cars Toons Edition Teenage Witch 03:45 The English Teacher-PG15 09:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 14:30 The Simpsons 10:20 Forensic Detectives 19:00 The Adventures Of Disney 20:35 MasterChef 01:40 Wolfblood 05:15 Grace Of Monaco-PG15 Basics 15:00 Marry Me 11:10 True Crime With Fairies 21:25 Bargain Hunt 02:05 Wolfblood 07:00 Lost Christmas-PG15 09:30 Farm Kings 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Aphrodite Jones 19:30 Jake And The Never Land 22:10 Come Dine With Me 02:30 Violetta 09:00 Inescapable-PG15 10:30 The Big Eat... Stewart 12:00 Blood Relatives Pirates 22:35 The Hairy Bikers USA 03:15 The Hive 11:00 Grace Of Monaco-PG15 11:00 Mexican Made Easy 16:00 Hot In Cleveland 00:00 Champions Tour Highlights 12:50 On The Case With Paula 19:45 Doc McStuffins 23:00 Kirstie Allsopp’s Home Style 03:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 13:00 Diana-PG15 11:30 Chopped 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 01:00 Golfing World Zahn 20:00 Adventures Of The 23:50 Tareq Taylor’s Nordic Teenage Witch 15:00 Step Up Revolution-PG15 12:30 Siba’s Table 19:00 Modern Family 02:00 Snooker World 13:40 Who On Earth... Gummi Bears Cookery 03:45 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 17:00 Inescapable-PG15 13:00 Guy’s Big Bite 19:30 Modern Family Championship 14:05 Who On Earth Did I 20:30 Sofia The First Teenage Witch 19:00 At Any Price-PG15 13:30 Guy’s Big Bite 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 08:00 PGA Tour Highlights Marry? 20:55 Cars Toons 04:10 Wolfblood 21:00 The Immigrant-PG15 Jimmy Fallon 09:00 PGA European Tour 14:30 True Crime With 21:00 Chip n Dale Rescue 04:35 Wolfblood 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:00 The Iceman-18 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Highlights Aphrodite Jones Rangers 05:00 Violetta 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Stewart 10:00 Golfing World 15:20 Great Crimes And Trials 21:30 Ducktales 05:45 The Hive 15:00 Foodography 22:00 Mixology 19:00 WWE Vintage 15:45 Stalked: Someone’s 22:00 Lilo & Stitch 05:50 Mouk 16:00 Chopped 00:20 Fast N’ Loud 23:00 You’re The Worst 20:00 Trans World Sport Watching 06:00 Dog With A Blog 17:00 Guy’s Big Bite 01:10 Bear Grylls: Breaking Point 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 21:00 Live Snooker World 16:10 Murder Shift 06:25 Binny And The Ghost 17:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:00 So You Think You’d Survive? Championship 17:00 Blood Relatives 06:50 Girl Meets World 18:00 Siba’s Table 02:50 Marooned With Ed Stafford 00:00 The Happening 17:50 Fatal Encounters 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water 18:30 The Big Eat... 03:40 Storage Hunters 02:00 Now You See Me 18:40 Forensic Detectives 07:40 Jessie 19:00 Chopped 04:05 Dallas Car Sharks 04:00 Yellow Rock 19:30 On The Case With Paula 08:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place 20:00 Foodography 04:30 Auction Hunters 06:00 The Insider Zahn 06:00 Kid vs Kat 08:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:00 Chopped 12:00 Emmerdale 05:00 How It’s Made 09:00 Heart Of The Country 20:20 The Will: Family Secrets 06:10 Zeke & Luther 08:55 Austin & Ally 22:00 The Next Iron Chef 12:30 Coronation Street 01:30 ICC Cricket 360 05:30 How It’s Made 10:30 Promised Land Revealed 06:35 Kickin’ It 09:20 Austin & Ally 23:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 16:00 Emmerdale 02:00 Indian Premier League H/L : 06:00 Alaska: The Last Frontier 12:15 Salinger 21:10 Who On Earth... 07:00 Phineas And Ferb 09:45 Gravity Falls 23:30 Chopped 16:30 Coronation Street KKR v DD 06:50 Kindig Customs 19:00 Glee 14:30 The Insider 21:35 Who On Earth... 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 17:15 Heart Of The Country 17:30 Live Indian Premier League : 20:00 Marvel’s Agents Of RCB v RR 22:00 Unravelled 07:50 Supa Strikas S.H.I.E.L.D. 19:00 Kon-Tiki 22:50 Solved 08:15 The 7D 21:00 The Green Mile 21:00 Indian Premier League H/L : 22:00 Outlander SH v KKR 23:40 Dates From Hell 08:40 Ultimate Spider-Man 22:00 Indian Premier League RPT : 00:05 Dates From Hell 09:05 Lab Rats RCB v RR 00:30 Deadly Devotion 09:30 Kickin’ It 01:20 Stalked: Someone’s 09:55 Phineas And Ferb Watching 10:20 Boyster 01:00 She Wants Me-PG15 01:45 Stalked: Someone’s 10:45 Zeke & Luther 03:00 The Way Way Back-PG15 Watching 11:10 Lab Rats 01:00 Good Morning America 05:00 The Twilight Saga: Breaking 02:10 Unravelled 11:35 Phineas And Ferb 05:00 Good Morning America Dawn Pt. 2-PG15 12:00 Pair Of Kings 07:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Free Birds-PG 12:30 Supa Strikas 10:30 Coronation Street 09:00 Maleficent-PG 00:45 Body Bizarre 12:55 Kickin’ It 14:00 Live Good Morning America 11:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 01:35 Long Island Medium 13:20 Phineas And Ferb 20:00 State Of Affairs 13:00 Turbo-PG 02:00 Breaking Amish 13:40 Mighty Med 15:00 There Be Dragons-PG15 02:50 Say Yes To The Dress 14:05 Zeke & Luther 17:00 Maleficent-PG 03:15 Something Borrowed, 14:30 Pair Of Kings 19:00 Malavita-PG15 Something New 14:55 Star Wars Rebels 21:00 Penthouse North-PG15 03:40 What Not To Wear 03:00 Art Attack 15:20 Ultimate Spider-Man 23:00 The East-18 04:30 Cake Boss 03:25 Julius Jr. 15:45 Phineas And Ferb 00:00 Bullet To The Head 05:00 Little People, Big World 03:35 Calimero 16:10 Supa Strikas 02:00 Treasure Of The Black 05:30 Extreme Couponing 03:50 Henry Hugglemonster 16:35 Pair Of Kings Jaguar 06:00 19 Kids And Counting 04:00 Zou 17:00 Lab Rats 04:00 Stolen 06:25 Your Style In His Hands 04:15 Mouk 17:30 Mighty Med 06:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear 07:15 Say Yes To The Dress 04:25 Jungle Junction 18:00 Kickin’ It 08:00 The Cold Light Of Day 01:00 Top Cat: The Movie 07:40 Something Borrowed, 04:35 Art Attack 18:25 Kickin’ It 10:00 Stolen 02:45 The Missing Lynx Something New 05:00 Julius Jr. 18:50 Supa Strikas 12:00 Recoil 04:30 Tony Hawk: Boom Boom 08:05 Oprah’s Lifeclass 05:10 Calimero 19:20 Phineas And Ferb 14:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear Sabotage 08:55 Oprah’s Master Class 05:25 Henry Hugglemonster 19:45 The 7D 16:00 Stash House 06:00 Barbie And The Diamond 09:45 Cake Boss 05:35 Zou 20:10 Ultimate Spider-Man 18:00 The Cold Light Of Day Castle 10:10 Little People, Big World 05:50 Mouk 20:35 Phineas And Ferb 20:00 Recoil 08:00 Cinderella 10:35 Extreme Couponing 06:00 Jungle Junction 21:00 Lab Rats 22:00 R.I.P.D. 10:00 Quest For A Heart 11:00 Toddlers & Tiaras 06:10 Art Attack 21:25 Kickin’ It 11:30 Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs & A 11:50 Kate Plus 8 06:35 Julius Jr. Baby 12:40 Your Style In His Hands 06:45 Calimero 13:00 The Missing Lynx 13:30 Little People Big World: 07:00 Jungle Junction 14:45 Ploddy Police Car Holiday Surprise 07:15 Zou 16:00 Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia 14:20 Say Yes To The Dress: The 07:30 Calimero 00:00 Treasure Of The Black 18:00 Quest For A Heart Big Day 07:45 Loopdidoo Jaguar-PG15 20:00 The Olsen Gang In Deep 15:10 Cake Boss 08:00 Limon And Oli 00:20 Dead Or Alive 02:00 Stolen-PG15 Trouble 15:35 Little People, Big World 08:10 Jake And The Never Land 01:10 Dangerous Encounters 04:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear- 22:00 Ploddy Police Car 16:00 Toddlers & Tiaras Pirates 02:00 Speed Kills 06:00 The Cold Light Of Day-PG15 23:30 Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia 16:50 Say Yes To The Dress 08:35 Doc McStuffins 02:50 Built For The Kill 08:00 Stolen-PG15 17:15 Something Borrowed, 09:05 Art Attack 03:45 Caught In The Act 10:00 Recoil-PG15 Something New 09:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 04:40 Built For The Kill 12:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear 17:40 19 Kids And Counting 10:00 Sofia The First 05:35 Speed Kills 14:00 Stash House-PG15 18:05 Extreme Couponing 10:25 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 06:30 Built For The Kill 16:00 The Cold Light Of Day-PG15 10:55 Calimero 07:25 Caught In The Act 00:00 The Worricker: Salting The 18:30 What Not To Wear 18:00 Recoil-PG15 19:20 Oprah’s Lifeclass 11:10 Jake And The Never Land 08:20 Ultimate Animal 20:00 R.I.P.D.-PG15 Battlefield-PG15 20:10 Your Style In His Hands Pirates Countdown 22:00 Blade: Trinitiy-PG15 02:00 Streetdance: All Stars-PG15 21:00 Medical Anomalies 11:35 Limon And Oli 09:15 World’s Deadliest 04:00 Last Vegas-PG15 21:50 Outrageous Births 11:45 Loopdidoo 10:10 World’s Deadliest Killer 06:00 The Pretty One-PG15 22:40 Long Island Medium 12:00 Justin Time Three 08:00 Europa Report-PG15 23:05 Breaking Amish 12:15 Sofia The First 11:05 Dead Or Alive 10:00 No Clue-PG15 23:55 Medical Anomalies 12:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:00 Arctic Giant 01:30 Hello Ladies: The Movie 12:55 Speed Kills 12:00 Last Vegas-PG15 13:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 03:00 The World’s End 13:35 Zou 13:50 Built For The Kill 05:00 Big Daddy 14:00 Grace Unplugged-PG 13:50 Jake And The Neverland 14:45 Caught In The Act 07:00 Run For Your Wife 16:00 Europa Report-PG15 Pirates 15:40 Ultimate Animal 09:00 Fred 2: Night Of The Living 18:00 The Monuments Men-PG15 14:15 Doc McStuffins Countdown Fred 20:00 Homefront-PG15 03:00 Double Cross 14:45 Limon And Oli 16:35 Venom Island 11:00 The Simpsons Movie 22:00 Pain & Gain-18 03:45 Dates From Hell 14:55 Loopdidoo 17:30 World’s Deadliest Killer BULLET TO THE HEAD ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 13:00 Vamps 04:07 Dates From Hell 15:10 Sofia The First Three Classifieds

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (23/04/2015 TO 29/04/2015) SHARQIA-1 LAST KNIGHTS 10:30 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 1:00 PM BARELY LETHAL 12:45 AM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 3:15 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 5:45 PM FANAR-3 ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 8:00 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 1:00 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 10:15 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 3:15 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 12:30 AM TRACERS 5:30 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 7:30 PM SHARQIA-2 TRACERS 9:45 PM Special Show “BARELY LETHAL” 2:30 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 11:45 PM BARELY LETHAL 11:30 AM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 1:30 PM FANAR-4 BARELY LETHAL 3:30 PM THE FORGER 12:00 PM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 5:30 PM THE FORGER 2:00 PM BARELY LETHAL 7:30 PM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 4:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:30 PM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 6:00 PM Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant THE FORGER 8:15 PM BARELY LETHAL 12:05 AM Member of: ICCRC, CAPIC & CommissionerCommissioner for Oath AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 9:30 PM THE FORGER 10:15 PM WED THE FORGER 12:15 AM AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON -3D 12:15 AM AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON -3D 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3 FANAR-5 THE FORGER 12:45 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 12:15 PM THE FORGER 2:45 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 3:00 PM TRACERS 4:45 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 5:15 PM THE FORGER 6:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 7:30 PM ancient family, TRACERS 8:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 10:00 PM CHANGE OF NAME Changanacherry archdio- THE FORGER 10:45 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 12:30 AM cese, and working in Kuwait TRACERS 12:45 AM AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 10:00 PM I, Poli Shanker Reddy, hold- - from parents of well set- AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 12:45 AM er of Indian Passport No. tled BE/B.Tech RCSC boys of MUHALAB-1 reputed family working in BARELY LETHAL 11:45 AM MARINA-1 5622331 issued in Kuwait PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 1:45 PM TRACERS 11:30 AM on 12/03/2006 change my India or abroad. Email: THE AGE OF ADALINE 4:00 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 1:30 PM name to POLI SANKAR RED- [email protected] Deepika matrimonial.com PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 6:15 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 3:45 PM DY. (C 4975) ID: DM - 26205 Bethlehem BARELY LETHAL 8:15 PM TRACERS 6:00 PM 28-4-2015 THE AGE OF ADALINE 10:15 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 8:00 PM matrimonial.com ID: BARELY LETHAL 12:30 AM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 10:15 PM BETH53863 TRACERS 12:30 AM (C 4968) MUHALAB-2 MATRIMONIAL TRACERS 11:30 AM MARINA-2 ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 1:15 PM BARELY LETHAL 12:45 PM Marthoma girl 31, 151cm, ACCOMMODATION ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 3:30 PM BARELY LETHAL 2:45 PM MA, teacher divorcee seeks TRACERS 5:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 4:45 PM alliance from boys educat- A separate room available ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 7:45 PM BARELY LETHAL 7:30 PM ed graduate and above. ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 10:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:30 PM with bathroom and good Kuwait/India. Email: location for an Indian small TRACERS 12:15 AM BARELY LETHAL 12:15 AM [email protected] AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 12:15 AM AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 9:30 PM family or a working lady AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 12:30 AM (C 4973) near Al Rashid Hospital in 25-4-2015 MUHALAB-3 Salmiya from April 25th THE FORGER 12:00 PM MARINA-3 Parents invite suitable pro- onwards. (Preferably vege- THE FORGER 2:00 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 12:15 PM tarian). Contact: 99838117 THE FORGER 4:00 PM THE FORGER 2:30 PM posals for their daughter FAST & FURIOUS 7 6:00 PM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 4:30 PM (RCSC, 24yrs, 163cms, fair, or 99315825. (C 4974) THE FORGER 8:30 PM PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 6:30 PM B.Com, MBA) hailing from 25-4-2015 FAST & FURIOUS 7 10:30 PM THE AGE OF ADALINE 8:30 PM AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 10:30 PM THE FORGER 10:45 PM THE FORGER 1:15 AM THE FORGER 12:45 AM 112 FANAR-1 AVENUES-1 ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 11:30 AM TRACERS 12:00 PM Prayer timings ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 1:45 PM TRACERS 2:00 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 4:00 PM TRACERS 4:00 PM THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 6:15 PM TRACERS 6:00 PM Fajr: 03:44 ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 8:30 PM TRACERS 8:00 PM ZANKET AL SITAT-Arabic 10:45 PM TRACERS 10:00 PM FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Shorook 05:09 TRACERS 1:00 AM TRACERS 12:05 AM Automated enquiry about Duhr: 11:46 FANAR-2 AVENUES-2 BARELY LETHAL 11:30 AM BARELY LETHAL 11:45 AM Asr: 15:21 BARELY LETHAL 1:30 PM BARELY LETHAL 2:00 PM the Civil ID card is BARELY LETHAL 3:45 PM BIG GAME 4:15 PM Maghrib: 18:22 LAST KNIGHTS 6:00 PM BARELY LETHAL 6:30 PM Isha: 19:45 BARELY LETHAL 8:30 PM BARELY LETHAL 8:45 PM 1889988

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

Arrival Flights on Wdnesday 29/4/2015 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 Departure Flights on Wdnesday 29/4/2015 THY 767 Istanbul 14:10 Airlines Flt Route Time KNE 460 Riyadh 14:10 Airlines Flt Route Time UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 QTR 1084 Doha 00:05 FDB 057 Dubai 14:20 AIC 988 Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 SVA 2335 Jeddah 14:35 THY 772 Istanbul 00:15 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:10 CLX 792 Hanoi 14:45 JZR 239 Amman 00:20 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 UAL 981 IAD 00:25 IRC 527 Mashhad 14:55 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 742 Dammam 14:50 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:25 KAC 545 Alexandria 15:00 DLH 637 Dammam 00:35 KAC 540 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:50 FDB 072 Dubai 00:30 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 FDB 068 Dubai 00:55 KAC 788 Jeddah 14:55 DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05 JZR 555 Alexandria 01:15 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:55 THY 773 Istanbul 02:05 FDB 058 Dubai 15:05 JAI 574 Mumbai 01:30 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 15:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:50 KNE 481 Taif 15:10 JZR 539 Cairo 01:30 OMA 645 Muscat 15:05 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 02:55 KAC 617 Doha 15:15 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:40 KNE 462 Madinah 15:05 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 673 Dubai 15:20 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 KKK 6508 Istanbul 03:10 SVA 503 Jeddah 15:45 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:50 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 MSC 404 Sohag 03:30 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:55 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:15 RJA 640 Amman 15:55 OMA 644 Muscat 03:35 KAC 791 Madinah 16:00 KKK 6507 Istanbul 02:15 FDB 051 Dubai 16:10 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 KNE 473 Jeddah 16:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:25 KAC 512 Mashhad 16:10 FDB 068 Dubai 04:00 KNE 463 Madinah 16:00 MSC 403 Sohag 02:30 QTR 1072 Doha 16:20 QTR 1077 Doha 04:05 OMA 646 Muscat 16:05 OMA 643 Muscat 02:35 IRM 1180 Mashhad 16:35 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:10 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:05 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:45 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 QTR 1076 Doha 03:05 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 SYR 342 Damascus 04:25 RJA 641 Amman 16:55 CEB 7694 Manila 03:10 KAC 562 Amman 17:00 CEB 7695 Manila 04:40 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 FDB 067 Dubai 03:15 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 JZR 560 Sohag 05:00 FDB 052 Dubai 17:10 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 MSC 406 Sohag 05:00 QTR 1073 Doha 17:25 SYR 341 Latakia/KAC 03:25 JZR 357 Mashhad 17:30 THY 765 Istanbul 05:05 UAE 858 Dubai 17:40 KAC 1544 Cairo 03:35 JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 QTR 1085 Doha 05:20 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:40 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:00 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 RJA 643 Amman 06:35 IRM 1187 Tehran 17:50 DHX 170 Bahrain 04:20 SYR 343 Damascus 17:55 GFA 212 Bahrain 06:50 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 THY 770 Istanbul 04:40 GFA 944 LCA 18:00 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 184 Dubai 18:20 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15 FDB 065 Dubai 18:05 FDB 070 Dubai 07:05 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 BAW 157 London 06:35 JZR 483 Istanbul 18:20 JZR 164 Dubai 07:15 KAC 563 Amman 18:30 KAC 382 Delhi 07:30 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:35 BAW 156 London 08:30 JZR 538 Cairo 18:40 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:45 KAC 502 Beirut 18:35 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 JZR 238 Amman 18:45 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 18:55 KAC 539 Sharm el-Sheikh 08:50 GFA 944 Bahrain 18:45 KAC 204 Lahore 07:50 QTR 1080 Doha 18:55 QTR 1087 Doha 08:55 SYR 344 Damascus 18:55 QTR 1086 Doha 07:55 KAC 542 Cairo 18:55 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 FDB 066 Dubai 18:55 KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:00 KAC 619 Doha 09:30 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:20 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:55 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:30 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 KAC 344 Chennai 08:15 UAE 875 Dubai 19:05 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 KAC 117 New York 09:40 FDB 064 Dubai 19:50 KAC 352 Kochi 08:15 JZR 482 Istanbul 09:40 QTR 1081 Doha 19:55 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 FDB 063 Dubai 19:10 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:20 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 KAC 361 Colombo 20:00 KAC 362 Colombo 08:30 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 MSR 606 Luxor 19:30 JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:00 MSR 619 Alexandria 20:30 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:10 KAC 511 Mashhad 10:20 UAE 876 Dubai 20:35 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:15 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:40 FDB 061 Dubai 19:50 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:25 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 IRA 665 Shiraz 09:25 IRA 664 Shiraz 10:25 FDB 062 Dubai 20:35 KAC 288 Dhaka 09:25 AGY 684 Sohag 19:50 KAC 102 New York/London 19:55 FDB 056 Dubai 10:40 AGY 681 Alexandria 20:50 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 GFA 943 LCA 10:55 KAC 1543 Cairo 20:55 KAC 350 Kochi 09:40 OMA 647 Muscat 20:00 KAC 674 Dubai 20:00 KAC 501 Beirut 11:00 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:00 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 OMA 648 Muscat 21:00 GFA 943 Bahrain 10:10 KNE 480 Taif 20:10 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 KAC 175 Frankfurt/Geneva 11:15 DLH 636 Dammam 21:00 UAE 873 Dubai 10:40 KAC 561 Amman 11:25 KAC 283 Dhaka 21:05 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:20 ETD 919 Abu Dhabi 20:25 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 KAC 351 Kochi 21:05 MEA 404 Beirut 10:55 GFA 049 Bahrain 20:45 JZR 356 Mashhad 11:40 KNE 461 Riyadh 21:10 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 KAC 792 Madinah 20:55 KAC 741 Dammam 11:50 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:15 JZR 561 Sohag 11:25 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 MEA 405 Beirut 11:55 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 AGY 680 Alexandria 11:40 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 KAC 541 Cairo 12:05 GFA 049 Istanbul 21:30 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:45 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:15 KAC 103 London 12:10 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:50 FDB 073 Dubai 21:30 UAE 874 Dubai 12:10 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:05 IAW 157 Al Najaf 12:00 QTR 1074 Doha 21:30 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 FDB 074 Dubai 22:10 AXB 889 Mangalore/Bahrain 12:15 AIC 975 Chennai/Mumbai 21:35 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 KAC 381 Delhi 22:20 FDB 075 Dubai 12:25 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 AGY 685 Sohag 12:40 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 IZG 4167 Mashhad 12:30 KAC 546 Alexandria 22:05 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 ETD 920 Dubai 22:25 SAW 701 Damascus 12:35 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:10 IAW 158 Al Najaf 13:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 THY 764 Istanbul 22:10 JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 KAC 349 Kochi 22:30 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 JZR 125 Bahrain 22:15 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:10 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:30 SVA 9335 Jeddah 13:05 BBC 044 Dhaka/Dammam 22:40 FDB 076 Dubai 13:10 QTR1 075 Doha 22:40 THY 766 Istanbul 13:10 FDB 059 Dubai 22:50 AXB 890 Mangalore 13:15 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45 KAC 620 Doha 13:10 JZR 185 Dubai 22:55 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:20 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 CLX 792 Luxembourg 13:15 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 23:00 IZG 4168 Mashhad 13:30 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:05 IRC 526 Mashhad 13:55 FDB 071 Dubai 23:35 SAW 702 Damascus 13:35 KAC 203 Lahore 23:10 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 23:40 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:50 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 CROSSWORD 887 STAR TRACK

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

A stubborn streak-yours or someone else’s-could interfere with your purpose Be careful that you do not go on a spending spree today. You could lose today. There is perhaps a sense of challenge just now. You have many creative ideas, but pushing track of your purchases and buy a lot more than you intended. You are warm to those these insights on others may not be productive. You may find yourself ahead of the usual think- around you and you are appreciative of your own life and self, in general. New ways to ing today and with no technical or scientific person around to listen to your thoughts-patience, communicate or an easy manner will make conversations go well; you are more talkative your ideas will be heard. Write down your ideas for reference with the date. If you push now, you than usual. Higher education and foreign travel may be your dream. If you are searching could give up entirely. A sense of emotional coolness or detachment at the personal level, com- the papers for a new job, look for a business in which you will need to travel to other bined with an emphasis on idealism, is the nature of the cycle you are now entering. Someone countries. A dialogue with an older person may take place this evening. Someone you understands how you feel and is sympathetic. You will enjoy activities with your loved ones meet today may seem unrealistic and foggy-minded to you. Careful, this person may find tonight. you lacking in sensitivity if you do not exert some patience.

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

Today is a good time to step aside and think a bit on what each of us does to pro- You crave organization and practicality and you want to get things accom- tect the future of our own space, neighborhood, city, state, country, etc. Very simply, the future plished. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place-and anything of our ability to live comfortably begins within each person’s personal space. The choice each of that gets in the way gets on your nerves. With a clean desk or office, you are ready to be us makes with our buying power is usually another important step to future comforts. Read creative and productive. This afternoon there are plenty of phone calls and if you are labels, know what the long words mean, understand the repercussions of today’s purchases, looking for new business, you will not have far to look. Health and work goals take on a recycle, eliminate unnecessary trips in your vehicle and encourage others to do all of the above. greater importance now. Figuring things out is an important factor in your professional This is a time of ending the old and preparing for the new. This is also a lucky day for making life-this takes on a special significance. This evening is a good time to run, ride your bicy- plans and finding your way through just about any difficulty you may discover. cle or walk a great distance. There is nothing like doing your exercise with other people- time goes by so much faster.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You have good practical job-related thoughts and ideas and you have the ability to You should be able to get your ideas across to others with little effort. This is the communicate with superiors or describe what you see in understandable ways. beginning of a bright and witty day. Your communication skills are at a high. Through new stud- You could be seen by others as just the person to be put in charge of some project requiring a con- ACROSS the early 1960s. ies, you will make great leaps forward in your career. You are just beginning to realize how much servative mind. Strong-minded persons are attracted to you, and you to them. It is time to take the 1. A master's degree in library science. 2. The capital of Western Samoa. you can do to make a positive difference in the life of others as well as your own life. This is a initiative in your financial affairs. On a more mundane level, you want to go out and discover the 5. A small cellular inclusion consisting of a ring of 3. A genus of Lamnidae. good time for clear deliberation and solving problems. This afternoon you may be in a serious world. You are very energetic today. Vigorous exercise will properly channel your energy. Some DNA that is not in a chromosome but is capa- 4. Large scissors with strong blades. frame of mind and may find yourself dealing with matters of much concern and responsibility. profound insights are available. Your sensitivity to others has increased but you may find your affec- ble of autonomous replication. 5. A syndrome that occurs in many women from Insert a bit of laughter into the afternoon-it will lighten your load for now. This evening, music tions misplaced. The romantic dreamer side of you is in full blossom. and all sorts of entertainment and enjoyment are likely to come your way. 12. An American doctorate usually based on at 2 to 14 days before the onset of menstrua- least 3 years graduate study and a disserta- tion. tion. 6. A large number or amount. 15. Large elliptical brightly colored deep-sea fish 7. A dull persistent (usually moderately intense) of Atlantic and Pacific and Mediterranean. pain. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. Showing your contempt by derision. 8. A vehicle resembling a bicycle but having skis 17. A beverage made by steeping tea leaves in instead of wheels. You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others. Fluency in communication sharpens your intellect today. You will be curious and water. 9. A long-acting crystalline barbiturate (trade You develop a knack for organizing things and people, as a sense of ambition and practicality talkative. Eating lunch with friends brings out the best in you. You are observant and quick to form impressions. Be wise in what you say. You could be urged to help make a decision today 18. Costing 10 dollars. name Mebaral) used as a sedative and as an takes hold. Winning the hearts of others can be a challenge you are eager to accept. Ideas and that will affect your living situation or life circumstances. Others may challenge your authority or 19. Formerly a term of respect for important anticonvulsant in the treatment of epilepsy. thoughts will have greater meaning and form just now. You may be very eloquent or forceful in speaking or communicating. People will understand just what you mean. This afternoon is a the direction you are taking. Once you have made your decision-stick with it. Events could con- white Europeans in colonial India. 10. A heavy brittle metallic element of the plat- good time to read a romantic book or take in a movie. Romance may be on your mind most of spire to make it difficult for you to act. Your taste in art and appreciation, however, is heightened. 20. (of pain or sorrow) Made easier to bear. inum group. this evening as well. Marriage may be in the forecast. Think before you leap because if love is real, Perhaps this evening is a good time to be entertained by selecting a movie or attending an art 22. The capital and largest city of Yemen. 11. A usually soluble substance for staining or it will last. Choose a partner that will want the same things from life that you want. show. Tonight is a good time to sit back and enjoy what you have-to live life. 24. Bar temporarily. coloring e.g. fabrics or hair. 26. Tropical starchy tuberous root. 12. An anxiety disorder associated with serious 27. An ancient city in southeastern Greece. traumatic events and characterized by such 29. Large long-armed ape of Borneo and symptoms as guilt about surviving or reliving Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Sumatra having arboreal habits. the trauma in dreams or numbness and lack 31. A bachelor's degree in science. of involvement with reality or recurrent Your management abilities and your intuitive insights are strong-they make for Indulge your curiosity because today your imagination and creativity are at their best. New ideas are easily understood and bring interesting and exciting rewards. Make the most of 33. The month following August and preceding thoughts and images. speedy results in the workplace. Welcome the trials and oppositions that occur with your finances now, as they are the tests that will let you know whether you are on the right track or this exciting day! You may find yourself working overtime. It is a good day to solve problems and October. 13. Paying particular notice (as to children or not. If your money investments work now they will continue to prosper in the future. Your make important decisions. You will find a way around almost any obstacle and are in control and 34. A parliamentary democracy on the island of helpless people). depth of feeling and passion needs attention and you can do this by simply listening to your able to guide yourself with ease. Your sense of inner direction is good and should lead to many pro- Barbados. 14. An informal term for a father. own response to others. Sometimes when you are concentrating extremely hard, it is tough to fessional opportunities. You are successful at handling tasks that require restraint and concentration. 38. A nucleotide derived from adenosine that 21. A group of islands off the west coast of Sicily tolerate interruptions. Correct this error by not allowing the interruptions to happen. Let others Your loved ones give you plenty of attention this evening. There are lots of things to talk about and occurs in muscle tissue. in the Mediterranean. know you will not want to be interrupted for a period of time and then show appreciation for lots of things to learn. Young people are encouraged by your enthusiasm. 40. A Mid-Atlantic state. 23. Advanced in years. their efforts. 42. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease 25. Not widely known. affecting connective tissue (skin or joints). 28. An organization of countries formed in 1961 43. A native American tent. to agree on a common policy for the sale of Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 44. Any of numerous local fertility and nature petroleum. deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peo- 30. A soft gray ductile metallic element used in You could be promoted because of outside influences. Perhaps there is much Work this morning fills every minute. You may be in a hurry to do all you can ples. alloys. praise from customers or the end results from your previous efforts have not gone unnoticed. before the noon break. Research and confirmation on some information is necessary and the 46. A small fragment of something broken off 32. French romantic writer (1766-1817). You seem able to multiply other people’s money quite well. Be very careful in what you try to internet is not enough for what you need. It could be you need confirmation on some sort of sta- tistics or a professional background. You could find yourself in the library this afternoon. Law and from the whole. 35. An athletic competition in which a disc- bring into your life because you may be stuck with what you get for some time. Ambitious schemes and the pursuit of success and status take on a high priority. This brings a focus on the philosophy and religion have much potential to impact your life. Tremendous mental energy may 48. Any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous shaped object is thrown as far as possible. practical, the successful, the pragmatic-whatever it takes to get you ahead in the future. The need additional breaks and exercise in order to be refreshed. If you are creating a report or a lec- substances obtained either as exudations 36. A narcotic drug that contains opium or an meek may inherit the earth, but the shrewd will collect the rent. A young person may need your ture, you will be influential. People are amazed at your productive results. You could be in touch from certain plants or prepared by polymer- opium derivative. attention this afternoon-you are wise to set aside some time for this person. This is a great time with your most personal emotions this evening, filling you with a sense of peace. ization of simple molecules. 37. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the for love. 49. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a fantastic adventures he had in his voyages. skewer usually with vegetables. 39. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver 50. An officer who acts as military assistant to a cells. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE Yesterday’s Solution more senior officer. 41. Deciduous South African tree having large 53. Someone who works (or provides workers) odd-pinnate leaves and profuse fragrant during a strike. orange-yellow flowers. 54. (botany) Of or relating to the axil. 45. Immature of its kind. 56. A reptile genus of Iguanidae. 47. A genus of temperate and arctic evergreen 57. Leave voluntarily. trees (see spruce). 60. Above the surround or above the normal 51. The district occupied entirely by the city of position. Washington. 63. A member of an agricultural people of south- 52. Worn or shabby from overuse or (of pages) ern India. from having corners turned down. 66. Sour or bitter in taste. 55. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali 67. Capable of being isolated or disjoined. earth group. 70. One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish 58. (of reproduction) Not involving the fusion of and Christian belief. male and female gametes reproduction". 74. White crystalline compound used as a food 59. A small tent used as a dressing room beside additive to enhance flavor. the sea or a swimming pool. 75. Wearing protective mail. 61. An Arabic speaking person who lives in 78. Type genus of the Bramidae. Arabia or North Africa. 79. The act of slowing down or falling behind. 62. A peninsula in southwestern Europe. 80. Hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans 64. State in northeastern India. in the pancreas. 65. Quietly in concealment. 82. Plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect 68. A Loloish language. stalks bearing bright-colored flowers com- 69. The twelfth month of the civil year. posed of three petals and three drooping 71. Made from residue of grapes or apples after sepals. pressing. 83. The United Nations agency concerned with 72. Prevent from being included or considered international maritime activities. or accepted. 84. Having cracks and crevices stopped up with a 73. United States writer noted for his droll epi- filler. grams (1902-1971). 85. A hormone produced by the anterior pitu- 76. Large northern deer with enormous flat- itary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex. tened antlers in the male. 77. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the faces. DOWN 81. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the 1. A youth subculture that began in London in rare earth group.

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GOSSIP Ariana Grande back in studio

riana Grande is recording new music. The 21-year- able to do what i love and to have the greatest, sweetest, had split from ‘Blessings’ rapper Big Sean after eight old singer took to Instagram to reveal a year on funnniest (but actually the funniest...... ever), kindest, months of dating. A joint statement from the former cou- Afrom releasing her chart-topping single ‘Problem’ most generous and genuine fans (loves) in the world by ple’s representatives read: “They both deeply care for each with Iggy Azalea, she “may or may not be in the studio” my side. “y’all are dream babes and i love you. here’s to other and remain close friends.”We kindly ask that the working on new music. Along with a photo, she thanked more music and memories (i may or may not be in the stu- media respect their wish for privacy regarding this person- her fans for their support, writing: “One year since #prob- dio working on it right now) (sic).” While the ‘Break Free’ al matter at this time.” lem!!!! what a year it’s been. i’ll never be able to find the star’s music career is going from strength to strength, her words to fully express my gratitude and appreciation to be love life is the opposite, as she recently announced she

Rixton reveal celebrity crushes Sam Smith ixton’s Charley Bagnall has a crush on Mine will always be on the phone or a text. Tom Hardy. The band’s guitarist admit- When I was at school, it would be like, ‘Do you Rted he has a soft spot for the 37-year- fancy anyone here?’” The band added they cancels tour old actor, while bandmate Jake Roche insist- were keen to release the song as their new ed his girlfriend, Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson, is the single because they believe it is perfect for am Smith has cancelled the remaining dates on his sold only woman for him. When asked about his the summer season. Jake added: “It’s our sum- out Australian tour. The 22-year-old singer has been celebrity crush, Charley told BANG Showbiz: mer jam. As a band, it’s more our sound. We Sdiagnosed with a small haemorrhage on his vocal cords “Mine are male, which is odd. Tom Hardy, he is wanted it to come after ‘Me and My Broken after becoming vocally exhausted due to months of concerts attractive.” Jake added: “Mine’s Jesy from Little Heart’ to show what we are about. “It’s just a around the world and has been advised to rest his voice. Sam Mix. She is lovely she is.” The musicians made happy, feel good song about getting lairy is devastated to have to pull out of the scheduled dates and is the comments in support of Cornetto’s Dare with your mates and having a good thing.” “so sorry” to the fans who were looking forward to seeing him in Love campaign - for which they have made Cornetto will be running a competition to win perform. In a statement posted on Facebook page, Sam said: “I a video for their single ‘We All Want the Same the ultimate after prom party, where Rixton am deeply, deeply saddened to tell my Australian fans, I have Thing’ - encouraging teens to find the confi- will perform for the lucky winner’s year group. to cancel my Australian tour. I have been vocally exhausted for dence to ask out their love interests on dates.. a while now however last night in Sydney I had a small haem- However, Jake, 24, admitted he still finds dat- Rudimental make orrhage on my vocal cords. The doctors have told me I need to ing difficult, despite being a lot more experi- fully rest until my vocal cords have healed, otherwise this enced than when he first asked a girl out. He could become a huge long-term issue, I am so sorry to all who said: “It doesn’t get easier when you get older. have bought tickets, I truly am. We will be announcing re- album on bus arranged dates very shortly. This kills me.” The ‘Stay With Me’ singer had already played shows in Brisbane and Sydney this udimental made their new album on a Amor, Kesi Dryden and DJ Locksmith - were week and had sold-out shows in Melbourne, Adelaide and bus. The drum and bass quartet are speaking ahead of the premiere of their new Perth to come. The ‘Lay Me Down’ star has tour dates around Rgearing up to release their as-yet unti- single, ‘Never Let You Go’, which will be the world locked in until September, and it is not known tled sophomore record following the success released in the UK on 14 June, and which they whether his Japanese dates, due to take place from May 8, will of 2013’s ‘Home’, and revealed their hectic described as a “feel-good tune”. Piers told BBC be affected with the singer waiting on further medical assess- touring schedule over the past few years Radio 1’s Annie Mac: “Picture yourself in ment. All ticket holders have been advised to get refunds from meant they had to create the majority of the America, on tour with Ed Sheeran, that’s what the point of purchase and cancelled ticket holders who pur- LP on the road. They explained: “We’ve been we were doing. We had a studio bus, and Ed chased their tickets from Ticketek and Ticketmaster will be playing shows everywhere and making a Sheeran introduced us to this guy who is Foy offered a first-purchase option on the new tour, set for record as we’ve been doing it.”We had a stu- Vance, who’s the singer, and we wrote this December 2015. dio bus in America, so we made it on an actu- tune and it’s a feel-good tune. We wanted to al bus, a lot of it. We met some amazing have that festival moment again. “It amplifies singers on the way and we picked up a lot of everything Rudimental is about, positivity, new inspirations as well, so it’s better than the wanting to get up and rave, enjoy life, and it’s last for us. “We kind of started making it as got all of those elements in it.” soon as we finished and released the first one, we were making it straight away, and we did- n’t stop touring. We carried on touring.” The four-piece group - featuring Piers Agget, Amir Sam Worthington signs up for Den of Thieves am Worthington is to star in ‘Den of Thieves’. The ‘Avatar’ actor has signed up to appear alongside Gerard Butler in the heist movie, which has been in development since 1998 Sbut will now start shooting in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico in January 2016. The heist movie follows a crew of notorious bank robbers who target the Federal Reserve in Los Angeles under the nose of a corrupt sheriff’s deputy, and will see Butler - who is executive producer - play the thief figuring out the plan. While The Wrap revealed Worthington’s casting, they didn’t give any information on the character he will play. Christian Gudegast co-wrote the script with Paul Scheuring and, following a number of changes, including Peter Berg being lined up to take the helm, in 2008 it was agreed he would also direct the project. Worthington was last seen in ‘Kidnapping Freddy Heineken’ and can next be seen alongside Josh Brolin and Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Everest’ and opposite Brit Marling in period thriller ‘The Keeping Room’. He also recently completed work on ‘Hunter’s Prayer’ - which doesn’t yet have a release date - and will appear in the long-awaited ‘Avatar’ sequels. Joss Whedon: Buffy gets more fan attention than Avengers oss Whedon has revealed ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ still Union J gets more fan attention than the ‘Avengers’. The 50-year- Jold film director has admitted the cult TV show com- for British Summer Time festival mands more interest than the Marvel superheroes, who are played by the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., nion J will headline the final day the BAFTA award-winning children’s and Scarlett Johansson. Joss said: “Buffy fans are a very intelli- of Barclaycard presents British presenters will be bringing their ‘On gent, passionate and literate lot. It was very weird for me. I USummer Time Hyde Park. The the Road Show’ to the London festival. thought, ‘We’re going to make this show good but we won’t former ‘X Factor’ contestants will be The duo said, “We’re so excited to be tell anyone about the metaphor’ and right away, everybody topping the bill on the Family Day of bringing our ‘On The Road Show’ to got it.” On the other hand, Joss revealed he enjoyed making the music festival on Sunday 28 June, Hyde Park. It’s a show that we hope ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ because it’s “weird” and has a “messi- and will be joined by ‘Britain’s Got will entertain the whole family; from ness” about it. He told Metro newspaper: “I’m very proud of Talent’ winners Collabro, as well as Dick kids, older brothers and sisters, Mums, everybody else who worked on (‘Avengers’) and that it’s a & Dom, Sam & Mark and Justin Dads, Grandmas and Granddads! It will weird movie. And we got to say some things that you don’t Fletcher. Dick & Dom said: “We’re really be jam packed with lots of fun, games normally get to say in a big summertime blockbuster. For all looking forward to being your twisted and laughs. It’s going to be awesome!” its messiness, it’s all heart.” Last week, Joss suggested he might ringmasters of the main stage for this Other acts on the day will be ‘Horrible make a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ movie at some stage in the massive family event. We’ll be bringing Histories’, ‘Brainiac Live!’ and theatre future. Asked if a Buffy movie will happen, Joss told BANG you the biggest names and best acts. company ‘Chickenshed’. Showbiz: “Never rule anything out, but I haven’t got anything It’s going to be THE best day out for planned at this stage.” the kids...... and you!!” Sam & Mark found fame together on ‘Pop Idol’ and

Lil Kim wants Empire role

il Kim wants a cameo role on ‘Empire’. and, two days later, a pair arrived for me. But The 40-year-old rapper is a big fan of the she didn’t tell me where she got that hair Lhip-hop music industry drama and its from! That’s all right Miss Naomi, I understand star Taraji P. Henson - who plays reformed girl!” Taraji admits she is stunned by some of drug pusher and show matriarch Cookie Lyon the topics covered in the daring drama, which - thinks a guest appearance from the singer was created by Lee Daniels. She told Grazia would “break the Internet”. Taraji explained magazine: “When I read the script I couldn’t how Kim had direct messaged her on Twitter believe a prime-time network was going to to ask about a guest role after learning she put it on TV.”When we began filming, Lee was Cookie’s hero. She added: “I was like, would say, ‘Oh my God, what are we doing?’ ‘Trust me girl, I’m working on it.’ That would And I’d reply, ‘I don’t know, but I’m glad to be break the internet.” If Kim does get a guest part of it.’ “ role, she will follow in the footsteps of Courtney Love and Naomi Campbell and Taraji was particularly impressed by the supermodel. She said: “She was pretty down- to-earth. I complimented her on her shoes WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 lifestyle

GOSSIP

Chris Evans: Hemsworth is like a brother to me

hris Evans thinks of Chris Hemsworth to be “like a like a brother at this point. We’ve had a very similar trajec- He told Esquire magazine: “We each have the brother”. The 33-year-old actor, who stars as Captain tory in, at least, being welcomed into this world. “We both standalone films as well, which can be a whole CAmerica in ‘The Avengers: Age of Ultron’, has took these [Marvel hero] roles. We were both timid and separate element of pressure and anxiety, and revealed that he and his Australian co-star - who plays nervous and didn’t know how it was gonna play out. It’s he’s just been so helpful to me. Just to have Thor - have developed a strong bond over the years, in been nice to kind of share this with him.” Evans revealed someone else who’s going through the same part because their careers have followed a similarity trajec- his co-star helped him make the transition into the Marvel struggles I am.” tory. Asked if Hemsworth is his best friend among the franchise, where they both star alongside the likes of ‘Avengers’ team, he said: “Oh yeah, [Chris Hemsworth] is Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson.

nna Kendrick loves wearing maternity trousers. The ‘Into The Woods’ star has Aconfessed her favorite item of clothing is a pair of pregnancy pants she was given while filming the new comedy drama ‘The Hollars’ - in which she plays an expectant mother called Rebecca. When asked to name the best thing she owns, Anna said: “I was Carey Mulligan: I’m too self given a pair of maternity pants on the set of The Hollars that we didn’t end up using. They’re amazing. So comfortable.” And when conscious to wear tight clothes she isn’t sporting maternity wear, the brunette beauty still opts to keep her look casual. Asked to describe the one outfit she arey Mulligan is too “self conscious” to wear fig- events, although she feels as if she has “improved a lit- would wear for the rest of her life, Anna said: ure-hugging clothing. The ‘Far from the tle” when it comes to posing in front of the camera. “A big, fuzzy cashmere J.Crew sweater, jeans CMadding Crowd’ star has confessed she prefers She told HELLO! magazine: “I hate the idea of standing and Converse - so at least I’d be comfortable.” to sport loose-fitting dresses on the red carpet as she in front of a hundreds of people while they take my However, the 29-year-old actress also enjoys feels uncomfortable when she shows off too much of picture. It’s a nightmare and I feel so uncomfortable. dressing up for high profile events and her slender physique. She said: “I’m so reserved. I like Maybe I’ve improved a little, but any time I’m on the admires fellow actress Cate Blanchett’s flaw- outfits that come to my knee and aren’t too tight or red carpet I lose all sense of myself. I find it so odd. I less look. Anna told ASOS magazine: “Cate revealing. I’m too self conscious of my body and my know it sounds like a contradiction but I never went Blanchett [is my red carpet style icon]. She appearance.” The brunette beauty, 29 - who is married into acting for all eyes on me.” wore this Givenchy Couture dress to the 2011 to Mumford and Sons star Marcus Mumford - added Oscars, it was the coolest dress I’ve ever seen. she hates having her picture taken at high profile It was futuristic and groovy at the same time. It helps that she’s, like, heaven.”

Hepburn, Moss, Beckham named most stylish Brits

loves maternity wear udrey Hepburn, Kate Moss and David Beckham have been named among the most stylish Britain’s of all Atime. A survey of 2,000 adults, entitled ‘The Great British Style Audit’, revealed the ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ star topped the list taking home 27% of the vote, while the late Princess Diana came in a close second place with 23%. The top 10 most Stylish Other royals to make it onto the list included the Duchess of Cambridge in fourth place and surprisingly, Elizabeth I, who took the sixth spot. Former soccer player David Beckham - Brits of All Time : who has starred in fashion campaigns for H&M and Belstaff - received 23% of the vote, with his wife Victoria Beckham, 1. Audrey Hepburn - 27% who is renowned for her eponymous label, coming in at 2. Princess Diana - 23% ninth place. While David was the highest scoring male to 3. David Beckham - 17% make it into the top 10, legendary ‘James Bond’ star Sean Connery was voted in at seventh place and 80s icon David 4. Duchess of Cambridge - 15% Bowie came eighth. 1960s beauty Twiggy took the fifth 5. Twiggy - 10% spot, while supermodel Kate Moss rounded off the list. The 6. Queen Elizabeth I - 10% survey was conducted to coincide with the launch of 7. Sean Connery - 9% Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 smart phone which has been described by the company as their “most stylish yet”. 8. David Bowie - 8% Marketing Director of IT & Mobile at Samsung, Ines van 9. Victoria Beckham - 8% Gennip, said: “Timeless elegance and style are qualities that 10. Kate Moss - 8% are common throughout the top ten; great style will always be in fashion whatever the era or situation. We recognise that many look for a phone that will not only perform bril- liantly, but look great - which is why the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are not only our most ground breaking in terms of technology - they’re our most stylish yet.” Anna Kendrick

Galliano to speak at Jewish cultural event Campbell ohn Galliano will host a fashion talk at a London syna- gogue. The 54-year-old designer - who was fired from doesn’t like being JDior in 2011 for making anti-Semitic slurs outside a Parisian cafe - will speak at Connect, a series of fashion-related events for the Jewish community. John will be the key note labeled a cougar speaker at the first Connect event on May 28, which will see him take part in a discussion with Rabbi Sam Taylor from the aomi Campbell insists she’s not a cougar in real life. The Western Marble Arch synagogue and Maureen Kendler from 44-year-old star plays fashion designer Camilla Marks in the London School of Jewish Studies. The talks will consist of N‘Empire’ - which is debuting on UK TV tonight - and her “conversations combining culture and community”, according character’s love interest Hakeem is 20 years her junior. Naomi is to the Central Synagogue London website. The designer was adamant it’s “not natural” to her, as she doesn’t date younger first introduced to Rabbi Sam Taylor by CondÈ Nast men in her actual personal life. The model-turned-actress said: International’s chairman and chief executive, Jonathan “(Camilla) is in her 40s, she likes young guys. I don’t date Newhouse, following his unceremonious exit from the brand. younger men so it’s not natural to me. Hakeem is younger than John has since made his return to fashion after being my brother. “I don’t like that word (cougar). It’s not that big a announced as the new creative director of Maison Margiela in deal, it’s just a word. But I’m from London and it’s not a word January this year. Coinciding with the release of his debut col- we associate with and say very often is it?” While Naomi has lection for the fashion house, the label - formerly known Cowell launches always been supremely confident on the catwalk, she admits Maison Martin Margiela - dropped the middle moniker of its she felt “shy” while filming the raunchy scenes with Bryshere Y. eponymous founder from its title in order to reflect “the evolu- ultimate DJ Gray - who plays Hakeem in ‘Empire’. Speaking to The Sun tion of the house”. newspaper, Naomi said: “It is nerve racking to have people talent show around you on your first day, on a pool table making out. “But Delevingne you have to do it, you have to get on with it, you have to get imon Cowell is launching a talent show for over it. I am shy at times in certain things and that was some- DJs. The music mogul has announced a thing I was shy about. But I did have fun.” ‘lives on’ vegan Snew show in collaboration with Yahoo titled ‘The Ultimate DJ’ in a bid to cash in on the success of electronic music stars such as Calvin Harris and chocolate Zedd in recent years. He wrote on Twitter: “We made an announcement today for a show with ara Delevingne “lives on” vegan chocolate. The Yahoo. The Ultimate DJ. We have partnered with 22-year-old supermodel reportedly can’t get Ultra. “The show is intended to showcase the Cenough of the snack and even carries it around incredible talent that electronic music has shown in little pouches in her pockets so she can get her fix at the world. It will be made with respect.” He added: a moment’s notice. The slender beauty is also said to “And am happy to confirm our new TV partners give out little cubes of the vegan treat at top catwalk Done and Dusted and the brilliant Hamish shows to shock the other models who live off a diet of Hamilton who will direct Ultimate DJ. (sic)” ‘The “water and cigarettes”. A source said: “Cara lives on veg- Ultimate DJ’ - which was created by Simon’s pro- an chocolate and carries it around in little pouches in duction banner Syco Entertainment - will follow a her pockets. “She loves to hand out vegan chocolate similar format to ‘The X Factor’, with DJs compet- pieces at shows and shock the skinny models living on ing against one another to win a Sony Music water and cigarettes. She’s the most anarchic, different, recording contract and a headline spot at a major original model I’ve ever come across.”And the Burberry music festival. The 55-year-old star - who is the model made sure vegan chocolate was on the menu show’s executive producer - made the announce- during a recent tea party which she held for her pals in ment at Yahoo’s NewFront presentation at New York City. An insider told the Daily Star newspa- Manhattan’s Lincoln Center yesterday. Speaking per: “A few of us went to have an afternoon’s fun with about his excitement at launching the new con- Cara in New York. We were stunned that a slim model test, he said: “Electronic music in one of the most entertains with chocolate and tea. “As soon as we important genres around the world and we want arrived her help brought in a silver tray of vegan to respect what’s happening around the world.” chocolate pieces and poured us this Russian caravan tea.”— Bang Showbiz lifestyle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Features

Alain Robert, the French urban climber dubbed Spiderman, climbs the 210m Tour Montparnasse skyscraper yesterday in Paris.— AFP photos French ‘Spiderman’ scales Paris tower for Nepal quake victims rench “Spiderman” Alain Robert yesterday climbed up the Before starting his climb, he said his thoughts went to These include the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest tower in highest building in Paris with a Nepalese flag in hand, in mountaineers stuck at the Everest base camp, where many died the world, the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, and Kuala Ftribute to the victims of the devastating earthquake that in avalanches triggered by the monster quake that has killed Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers. It is the third time that he has hit the country. The 53-year-old French daredevil scaled the more than 5,000 people and left some 10,000 injured. The climbed the Montparnasse Tower. “If I am still physically in 210-metre high Montparnasse Tower in the French capital with- Frenchman has climbed some 130 structures around the world shape, I will be able to climb until 60, 65 years old,” Robert out a security harness in a little less than an hour. During his without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for said. — AFP climb, he tried to fix a Nepalese and multicolor prayer flags to “most buildings climbed unassisted” according to Guinness the building, but these quickly fluttered away with the wind. World Records. Pop star Mariah Carey makes grand entrance for Vegas show

or anyone wondering what to expect for me,” she said, referring to her 2005 album from Mariah Carey’s coming series of Las “The Emancipation of Mimi”. Carey sang along FVegas shows at Caesars Palace beyond to the new song on a stage inside the casino, her 18 No. 1 hit singles, her grand entrance at one point filming herself and the crowd provided a hint of what’s to come. “No matter with an iPhone. The singer’s career hasn’t what, we’re going to make it into a festive always put her at the top of the charts. Her moment darling. It’s an extravaganza,” she last album, “Me. I am Mariah ... The Elusive said Monday evening, backstage at The Chanteuse,” was less than well-received. Colosseum. The songstress arrived to the ven- She stands by the album, produced by ue earlier to cheering screams at Caesars label Def Jam before she returned to Sony Palace’s entrance in a classic 1936 pink con- Music, rather Epic Records, for the chance to vertible trailing behind 18 mobile billboards work with Antonio “L.A.” Reid again. “I think bearing the titles of her No. 1 hits including giving your last album to a label that you’re Mariah Carey is seen at her Official Welcome to Caesars Palace on Monday in Las Vegas, “Always be my baby” from 1996 and leaving is never a good idea because there’s NV. — AP photos “Heartbreaker” from 1999. The gladiator-clad just not that incentive,” she said, adding it’s a men took it from there, carrying Carey new world for selling albums. “If you don’t go through the casino on a platform fit for out there and promote it in the proper way Cleopatra. and you don’t have 100 percent of the label The entrance marked her Las Vegas Strip behind you, it’s not going to work. It’s just the arrival bringing her chart-topping hits to The way it is.” The Grammy winner, among the Colosseum starting May 6 with performances best-selling female solo artists of all time through July on the same stage where Celine known for hitting the highest of notes, has Dion, Cher, Bette Midler and Shania Twain also been criticized for recent live vocal per- have called home for their residencies. formances. “Everyone in Vegas, there’s a new girl in town,” Asked if her Vegas shows would include she told the crowd of smartphone-filming backing vocals in addition to her own, she fans gathered inside the casino. Called said “I have so many overlapping parts and “Mariah #1 to Infinity,” the show has 18 sched- background vocalists and background things uled performances so far and has been timed that there’s always some confusion in some- with the debut of Carey’s newest breakup sin- thing about it,” but offered that if any confu- gle and music video dubbed “Infinity.” sion persisted, she would welcome anyone to Listeners have already drawn comparisons hear her while she sings naturally around her between the song and the end of Carey’s mar- house.— AP riage to Nick Cannon, the comedian and tele- vision host. When asked what “Infinity” is about, the mother of young twins with Mariah Carey is seen at her Cannon said it was about loving oneself first. Official Welcome to Caesars Mariah Carey waves at her Official Welcome to Caesars Palace. “It’s kind of emancipating, a re-emancipation Palace.

Oscar-Winning ‘Lord of the ‘Avengers’ assemble at hot topic Rings’ cinematographer with her universe fashion line Andrew Lesnie dies ho says superheroes can’t be stylish? Ashley Eckstein for Hot Topic. ment at retail.” inematographer Andrew Lesnie, whose son who looked out for the technicians around Eschewing spandex and body armor for “It’s been such a pleasure to work with Amy The six-piece collection includes dresses and career spanned nearly 40 years and him, was keen to have a good laugh and keep Wa more flattering look, geek girl apparel and Andrew to create this line from their initial jackets inspired by Thor, Iron Man, Captain Cincluded all of “The Lord of the Rings” everyone jollied along even when things were company Her Universe and Disney Consumer sketches to the final product sold in Hot Topic America, Black Widow and Loki. “Witnessing two and “The Hobbit” films, died of a heart attack at the most stressful for everyone,” owners Products have partnered for a new line of clothes stores,” said Eckstein. “Geek fashion is a trend that’s talented designers who truly understand the fans on Monday. He was 59. In addition to working Richard & Tania Taylor wrote on Facebook. inspired by the heroes of “Marvel’s Avengers” (and here to stay. Fangirls are making a statement in and fan culture win a competition at Comic-Con with director Peter Jackson on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “What an incredible man and we are very the villainous Loki). The fashion line will be avail- the fashion community, and this new Avengers 2014, and then seeing their spin on “Avengers” fantasy series, Lesnie was responsible for sev- fortunate to have had the chance to work with able mid-May exclusively at Hot Topic stores and collection is addressing their demand for more turn into real product at Hot Topic makes what we eral blockbusters such as “Rise of the Planet of him on so many wonderful projects.” Lesnie’s HotTopic.com, with an online pre-sale already fashion-forward designs.” “It’s exciting to see all do feel genuinely authentic-and so much fun,” the Apes” and Will Smith’s “I Am Legend.” In final work was Russell Crowe’s “The Water under way ahead of “Avengers: Age of Ultron’s” Marvel’s female fanbase grow with the second said Cindy Levitt, senior VP of merchandising and 2002, he won his first and only Oscar for lens- Diviner,” which opened this past weekend in marketing at Hot Topic. ing the original “Lord of the Rings” pic, “The limited release. Crowe took to Twitter late Monday to express his condolences. Lesnie Individual characters began his career as a camera assistant on the The new line is the latest in an expansive mer- horror film “Patrick” in 1978 and made a 1980 chandise plan for “Age of Ultron,” which also documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s includes 150 products for Target and campaigns return to bodybuilding in Australia. Lesnie shot with Acura, Dr Pepper, Visa, Wyndham hotels, music videos in the 1980s for INXS, UB40 and Harley-Davidson, Land O’Frost lunchmeats, Mental As Anything. Farmers Insurance and Hershey. Along with typi- cal kid-friendly fare including action figures, play- Magical effect sets and other toys from partners like Hasbro, Lesnie, who lived in Sydney, was also a fre- Lego, Hot Wheels and Funko, the “Avengers” tie- quent collaborator of director George Miller’s. ins will also spread to the food and packaged Lesnie worked on a documentary about goods categories, including Sage Fruit, Conagra Miller’s “Mad Max: Road Warrior,” which led to granola bars, Crunchpak and Chobani. his being hired to make the family-friendly “For the first film, we primarily focused on the “Babe” movies. Jackson hired Lesnie for the ‘Avengers’ property and the group shots,” Gitter told Variety back in March. “Now we’re broadening Andrew Lesnie “Lord of the Rings” trilogy after seeing his work on “Babe.” “I’d never worked with him or even the line and scope to create skews that focus on Fellowship of the Ring.” met him before, but he’d shot the Babe films the team and the individual characters as well... “I wouldn’t recommend that anyone do a and I thought they looked amazing, the way Strategically, we have each one of the retailers trilogy,” he joked at the time. After the “Lord of he’d used backlight and the sun and natural focusing on pulling different marketing levers to the Ring” franchise, Lesnie continued to work light to create a very magical effect,” Jackson May 1 release. The “Avengers” line features items installation of our collaboration with Her Universe, market this to their consumer in an organized behind the camera for Jackson on “King Kong,” said in a 2004 interview. “Babe had that larger- designed by winners of the first-ever Her Universe inspired by one of the most highly anticipated way.” Hot Topic recently partnered with Temple 2009’s “The Lovely Bones” and most recently, than-life feel about it that I wanted.” When he “Geek Couture” Fashion Show held at last year’s movies of 2015, ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’” said Street Productions for a line of clothing inspired “The Hobbit” trilogy. Jackson has yet to release won the Oscar in 2002, Lesnie thanked the San Diego Comic-Con, where attendees Amy Beth Paul Gitter, senior VP of licensing for Marvel at by BBC America’s “Orphan Black,” and with CBS an official statement on Lesnie’s passing, but “sensational” Peter Jackson, and dedicated his Christenson and Andrew MacLaine took top hon- Disney Consumer Products. “This collection brings Consumer Products and Showtime for a “Penny the staff at his production house in New prize to his partner, Bronwen and his sons Jack ors for their original creations. As part of the prize, awareness of the emerging fangirl trend into Dreadful” collection. — Reuters Zealand, WETA Digital, said they were “sad- and Sam.—Reuters they won the opportunity to design an exclusive mainstream fashion by uniting stylish designs dened” by the news. “Our memories of Andrew fashion collection with Her Universe founder with iconic characters to create a strong state- will always be of a wonderful and caring per- lifestyle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Music & Movies Middle East musical rise on display at French festival

rom Palestinian hip-hop to Egyptian electro to Lebanese blues-rock, artists Ffrom the Middle East are making inroads into Europe as witnessed at the latest Printemps de Bourges festival in France. The latest edition of the annual music event in central France features artists from the Middle East as diverse as hard-edged Palestinian rap- pers DAM to Asaf Avidan, the Israeli folk singer who has won growing acclaim with his unique, high-pitched, androgynous voice. The artists selected for the festival’s 39th edition, which runs through today, show the “dazzling and extremely creative scene” in the contemporary Middle East, said Elodie Mermoz, who was involved in programming. The six-day festival also features plenty of stars from the broader music world including the Australian folk rock duo Angus and Julia Stone, gender-bending singer Christine and the Queens, and French-Finnish indie band The Do. But with a showcase of eight artists from the Middle East, the festival is hoping to highlight some of the talent of a musical scene that-much like the region’s politics-is fast- French-Israeli singer Yael Naim performs on stage. moving. Mermoz said that the rising interest in Middle Eastern artists went hand-in-hand with the eruption of the Arab Spring. The region- wide revolt “has woken up the youth” and “from the moment they left the streets, they needed another ground for expression and that was music,” she said. Lebanese alternative rock band Mashrou’ Leila perform on stage at the 39th ‘Le Printemps de Bourges’ rock and pop music festival in Rise of Electro Shaabi Bourges, central France. — AFP photos Islam Chipsky, an energetic keyboardist from Egypt who brings an electro dimension to percussion-heavy songs, received an ecstat- ic response when he performed Friday. Chipsky, whose trio has also played under the name EEK, had a career performing at wed- dings in Cairo and debuted in Britain last year. He played down the significance of the Arab Spring on his music-part of the growing Electro Shaabi genre that combines traditional Arab forms with Western instruments. “We were always there in the underground scene before the Arab Spring, but maybe for (the fes- tival) you started to look at young people in these countries because of the Arab Spring,” he told AFP. “Of course we get different exposure right now-not only us but all the art scene in these Israeli singer Asaf Avidan performs on stage. countries-but that is not exactly that much related to the Arab Spring,” he said. Chipsky said that the Electro Shaabi genre had initially been written off as “ghetto music” for the poor, French Singer Hubert-Felix Thiefaine and his son but that the appeal has rapidly spread. “Right (From left) Haig Papazian, Hamed Sinno and Ibrahim Badr of Lebanese alterna- Lucas Thiefaine perform. now you can’t just ignore the fact that every- tive rock band Mashrou’ Leila perform on stage. one knows about this music in Egypt-if not in the area, in the Middle East,” he said.

Diverse styles Such a marriage between traditional and modern forms is increasingly widespread in the Middle East. Among other artists who enjoyed a warm reception in Bourges was the Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila, who bring together rock form with more traditional Arab vocals and violin. The group has already won a loyal following in the Middle East, despite lyrics that touch on sometimes sensitive topics such as homosexuality, and will tour Europe in the coming months. But some artists from the Middle East are unconcerned about whether their music rep- resents traditional elements. Sary Moussa, a Lebanese experimental electronic musician Juliette Greco, French singing icon and one of the last liv- who goes by the stage name RadioKVM, said: ing links to the post-war Parisian Latin Quarter jazz scene, “Like plenty of Lebanese, I’m a mix of all the performs on stage. cultures around me, including on television. “I French band Chinese Man performs on stage. French singer Arthur H performs on stage. come up with a synthesis of all of this culture and I don’t necessarily feel a need to be recog- nizably Arab,” he said. The same philosophy holds true for anoth- er Lebanese act, The Wanton Bishops, whose blues songs in English come off as more from the banks of the Mississippi than the Mediterranean. The band plans an extensive tour of France through July. Hip-hop has been a force for social commentary since its birth, and the Palestinian rappers DAM won a wide following a decade ago with “Meen Irhabi” (“Who’s the Terrorist?”). DAM has increasingly found an audience outside the region, with touring in recent years across Europe and North America as well as Japan. Avidan is not the only Israeli singer at the festival, with the French-Israeli star Yael Naim-who scored a top 10 US hit with “New Soul”-also performing.-AFP

An MC performs on stage with French band Egyptian singer Islam Chipsy and his acolytes Ta’Ta et Khalid Mando pose as part of Chinese Man. the 39th edition of ‘Le Printemps de Bourges’. Jamaican singer Clinton Fearon performs on stage.

Hollywood veteran Redford honored with Chaplin Award

obert Redford has added the Film Society of Redford has previously won accolades at the Oscars Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award to his list of hon- with an Honorary Award as well as the Golden Globes Rors for his work in front and behind the camera, and Baftas. and the Hollywood star said he still enjoys making He was joined for the New York gala by actress Jane movies after more than 50 years in the industry. The 78- Fonda and Broadway and recording star Barbra year old, known for films such as “Butch Cassidy and the Streisand, who presented the award to him. “It was Sundance Kid”, “Out of Africa” and “All the President’s unexpected, which makes it even more special,” Redford Men”, began his career - which has included acting, said. directing and producing - in the early 1960s. The Film Society first held the annual gala in 1972 to He founded the Sundance Institute to help emerging honor British-born Charlie Chaplin who had made his film makers 20 years later. The Utah-based Sundance career in the United States but had been living in exile Film Festival is now considered the top US independent in Europe after falling foul of US authorities - largely film festival. “It’s a creative enterprise, just like art, just over his political views. It has since been renamed after like painting, music. Creating something can be done in the actor and awarded to major Hollywood names such different categories,” Redford said on the gala’s red car- as Sidney Poitier, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese and Clint pet on Monday night. “So to do it in film is just another Eastwood. — Reuters expression, which is great. Because it translates so well Honoree Robert Redford arrives at the 42nd annual Jane Fonda arrives at the 42nd annual Chaplin Award because so many people see the work, if you’re lucky.” Chaplin Award Gala at Alice Tully Hall on Monday in New Gala. York. — AP photos Middle East musical rise on display at French festival

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 39

Some 300 colorful carp streamers fly on the foot of Tokyo’s lanmark Tokyo Tower. Koinobori or carp streamers are displayed for het May 5 Boy’s Festival in Japan, that reflect the parents’ wishes for boys to grow up as strong as the carp. — AFP

2 dogs from Texas Boat rides and paraglides an sniff out snails in hour from Nepal quake epicenter Ecuador’s Galapagos hen Darwin the Labrador retriever crashed out of a or the adrenalin-junkie tourists of Pokhara, just an service dog program for people, conservationists hour’s drive from the epicenter of Nepal’s earth- Wfound him a very different sort of job: sniffing out Fquake, it’s business as usual with boat trips and giant African land snails that are threatening crops on the paragliding in a town spared the destruction wreaked most visited of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. The pooch even elsewhere. Thousands of visitors flock to the picturesque has the perfect name. English naturalist Charles Darwin stud- destination every year, attracted by its scenic mountain ied the archipelago’s endemic species during a visit in 1835 views, clear, dry winters and abundance of adventure that helped develop his theory of evolution. sports, which also include zip-lining. The gold-colored Darwin and his pal Neville, a black Pokhara sits 73 kilometers east of the epicenter of Labrador rescued from an animal shelter, traveled in Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake, but when AFP visited December from Texas to Santa Cruz, the island in the chain Monday the only evidence of a disaster that has killed visited by tourists. The dogs were selected to hunt the mol- more than 4,000 people, were a few cracked walls. Two lusk, which is the largest species of snail found on land and days after the nation’s deadliest disaster in more than 80 can grow to 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) long. years, foreigners milled around a scenic valley lake, The dogs were donated by a US organization called Dogs shopped, ate at cafes and signed up in groups for their for Conservation, which trains canines to help people work- next sporting pursuit. “It was quite scary but to be honest I ing to preserve wildlife. Darwin and Neville are still being barely felt it and I only realized what was happening when trained, but have already begun their work sniffing out snails I saw people around me,” said Rick Tul, from the and their eggs, which are then removed by environmental Netherlands, putting on a life-jacket for a boat ride on a workers. Pokhara lake. The Dogs for Conversation website, which told of the “Everything here is great. Of course, you can sense that unsuccessful attempt to make Darwin a service dog for the locals are tense and worried but otherwise, everything humans, said he has found new purpose working in conser- is normal,” the 20-year-old told AFP. According to the US vation. “He’s more than qualified to be a service dog to Geological Survey, the epicenter was actually four kilome- Tourists take part in a paragliding session overlooking Pokhara.— AFP photos nature,” the site says. It says Darwin didn’t work out as a ther- ters closer to Pokhara than the capital Kathmandu, large AFP that no casualties have been reported on Annapurna, more than 50 people admitted to a local hospital. apy dog because he was too hyperactive, but his work as a parts of which have been reduced to rubble. But New adding “climbers are there but they are safe”. Dutch traveler Mariana Hoake said she was in sniffer dog has helped him became calmer and more Delhi-based quake expert Milap Chand Sharma said the Kathmandu when the quake struck before leaving for focused. township, which does not have a large number of high-ris- ‘No real damage’ Pokhara to escape the devastated capital, which now lies It’s the first time dogs have been called on to help protect es, is most probably located on a solid rock base and not Irish tourist Caroline Ahern, 26, described the moment in ruins.”It was terrible. I stood still and saw the temples the environment in the Galapagos archipelago. The 19 sedimentary material that shifts during tremors. the quake hit as feeling like “being on a boat”. “The earth- and buildings I had just visited crumble before my eyes. It islands and the surrounding marine reserve are considered Pokhara is gateway to the immensely popular trekking quake didn’t do any real damage here per se, but people was just unbelievable,” the 51-year-old told AFP. by UNESCO, the UN educational organization, to be a World circuit around the Annapurna mountain range, which was were really panicked. It was really loud, the windows were “I couldn’t stay there any longer since everything was Heritage Site in danger because of risks caused by human hit by a snowstorm last October that killed more than 40 shaking, people ran out of their buildings with their chil- down. There was no electricity or phone connection, so I development. people. Climbers on Annapurna mountain itself were dren,” Ahern added as she strapped on her paragliding left for Pokhara. Thankfully, this was untouched,” she Martin Espinosa, interim director of the Galapagos reporting on social media a need for helicopter evacua- gear before setting off a cliff. added. “Pokhara is peaceful, nothing compared to Biosecurity Agency, said the snails are among the most inva- tions. Mountaineering news Twitter account Northmen PK Some 70 kilometers away in Gorkha district, a village of Kathmandu after the quake. Here, everything is normal- sive species in the world, can harm other species and the said that, based on reports, the situation at Annapurna nearly 2,000 people was almost wiped out by the earth- people are back to work, kids are playing around, there’s ecosystem, and transmit diseases to humans. In the past, base camp was “all good but things getting desperate”. quake, according to locals. But in Pokhara, AFP saw shops power, Internet, everything.” — AFP workers for his agency ventured out in the rain at night to “#Makalu #Manaslu #Annapurna huge amount of and businesses running as normal. Only schools were shut hunt for the snails with limited success. climbers waiting heli evacuation in base camps,” they said, for five days after strong tremors and aftershocks on The plague currently affects some 20 hectares (about 50 referring to the fifth and eighth highest mountains in the Sunday. Pokhara was not spared completely though. acres) on Santa Cruz, including banana, pineapple, carrot, world. But tourism department chief Tulsi Gautam told Some homes were destroyed and there were injuries, with tomato, pepper, cassava and coffee crops, damaging the food supply for island residents. The giant snails are not found on the archipelago’s other islands.—AP

In this Oct 25, 2014 photo, courtesy of Rebecca Ross, Darwin the Labrador retriever sniffs at a snail in Jarrad Tul from The Netherlands poses at Phewa Lake in Pokhara. Paragliding instructor prepares for flight with while being trained in Texas. — AP Chinese tourist Star Xu off a high point in Pokhara.