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www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16160- Friday, May 9, 2014

SpeakerSpeaker visitsvisits AvenuesAvenues despitedespite controversycontroversy SEE PAGE 8

Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Scribbler’s Notebook By Jamie Etheridge A question for Kuwait

its role as the pioneer in the Gulf and inevitably fell behind its ommendations and proposals of every single step Kuwait [email protected] neighbors. should take - from reducing subsidies to implementing income Today, playing catch-up has become less important than taxes to streamlining bureaucracy - sitting on the shelves of uch has been said about the need to diversify Kuwait’s reaching a national consensus on what exactly Kuwait hopes to government offices. But what do the people want? Are hous- income away from oil, to reduce the number of expatri- become. Should economic development and greater openness ing and new schools, hospitals and roads enough? And is there M define the next 20 years? Should Kuwait wean itself off foreign any kind of agreement among the various segments and sec- ates and prepare the young generations for the future that is to come. There is nearly daily talk of how to fight corrup- labor - even if it means slimming down the private sector and tors of Kuwait society? It seems there are a lot of different tion and how to reform the system so that Kuwait may attract then growing a leaner, more localized economy? Should Kuwait visions of what Kuwait should be and little room for compro- more foreign investment, develop its economy and more easily open the door to foreign ownership of businesses and more mise. compete with its neighbors. free trade zones (a la Dubai?) Should it focus on a particular sec- Just before I graduated from college, one of our professors What is missing from all these discussions of plans, proposals tor or sectors like finance, Islamic finance or should it pursue a made us all write an essay: Where we want to be in 20 years. and blueprints, however, is a clearly stated vision of what rounded strategy that includes services, manufacturing, IT, etc? Most of us had never even thought about it. Graduation and Kuwaitis themselves want for their future. What about socially? Does Kuwait want to be liberal and finding a job were as far as most of us had got. But the question In the late 1950s when Kuwait’s oil wealth was new and the open or conservative and closed? Should it emulate Dubai or made me think: What really mattered to me enough that I’d country just began to realize the possibilities it might achieve, Doha or Riyadh? Should it encourage more intermarriage want to be still doing it 20 years hence? the vision was dominated by the ideas of Kuwait becoming a between citizens and foreigners or discourage this trend? The same question should perhaps be posed to every citizen modern, developed society and economy. Following the trau- Should Kuwait resist change at all costs and try to hold on to its of Kuwait: What is it, at the core, that you long to see for Kuwait’s matic experience of the invasion and the continued threat from glorious past? future? What do you want Kuwait to look like in 20 years? the north, Kuwait languished in a state of semi-becoming. It lost There are probably dozens of white papers filled with rec- The answers might surprise us all. l Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Local Spotlight Security is vital KUWAIT: Sheikh Ahmed Al- Mesh’al (center) checking the new police academy construction site in Reggae. By Muna Al-Fuzai

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he Avenues mall opened in 2007, and since Tthen it has been continuously developing to become a center of attraction and entertain- ment for people of all ages and nationalities for various reasons. I agree that this mall has pushed shopping experiences to new levels, keeping up- to-date with new benchmarks. The Avenues is one of the largest malls in the Middle East. So no one can argue the fact that the Avenues has achieved huge success in Kuwait and no other mall can compete with it. But while achieving success is easy, maintaining it is difficult and here is why. Security is key. When you go to a mall, you expect that you are safe and all security proce- dures have been taken care of to make your visit enjoyable and peaceful. No one wishes to spend his/her night at the police station. Last year, a young doctor was murdered by a

The question is why these fights keep happening? The mall is huge and has many entrances and exits and security men are all over.

few young men in the mall. It was shocking news and the court is still looking into the case. Since then, several negative incidents have occurred. It is as if this crime gave the green light to all trou- blemakers and maniacs to rush to the mall to make it risky. While the management has changed its policies over security, fights continue, some- times between families or teenagers. The question is why these fights keep happen- ing? The mall is huge and has many entrances and exits and security men are all over. I think the rea- son is that it is very crowded. So crowded that you inevitably can run into someone you don’t know or don’t want to see. No matter how big that mall is, you still feel you can’t get enough air, especially on weekends. The second reason is that it is an amusement point for teenagers who think they are clever and handsome, and eventually they act stupidly. Or what happened recently when a man took his lizard to the mall and became the talk of social media. He did it for fun but it was not funny. I never go to the mall on weekend nights. I don’t think it is the right time to have your best shopping experience. So avoiding rush times would be a better strategy. The mall is open all week long. I try to choose week nights or school days when the crowd is less and shops are quite. All dining tables are available too with no waiting period. Only then I can say that my shopping trip was enjoyable. Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

in my view KUWAIT: Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) took part in Kuwait’s 6th Scorching Data Security Forum and Exhibition that was held under auspices of His the grass Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah on May 7-8 at the Radisson Blue Hotel. The event was held in collaboration with the Central Apparatus for IT. By Abdellatif Sharaa

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s I was driving down the King Fahad Road Atowards Kuwait City one afternoon, I saw a laborer watering the grass on the sides of the road. I stopped my car and asked him why he was doing it at that time of day. I told him that it should There is too much not be done at this hour because the heat is so wastage of water intense, the sun is so bright that the water burns off and you end up scorching the grass. and on top of that, To my surprise, the man agreed with me (Kalam the inappropriate inta mazboot), but said his boss had ordered him to do and so he did. Sadly enough, this is a phenome- timing further non that takes place quite frequently all across damages the grass. Kuwait. You see gardeners and workers watering lawns in front of villas or grass in the roundabout or Protecting our sprinklers in the parks and along the Corniche right environment isn’t in the middle of the day. This is the absolute worst possible time to do it. just a government I can’t help but wonder whether the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources responsibility. supervises the use of water for these purposes or offers any guidelines to conserve whatever is left of small natural green areas around Kuwait. In many places that are arid or semi arid, governments will limit the times and days lawns can be watered as a way to get the most efficient and effective use of the water. There is too much wastage of water and on top of that, the inappropriate timing further dam- ages the grass. Protecting our environment isn’t just a government responsibility. Have you ever thought how much will be the cost of having something green to grow in our dear Kuwait? Here’s another thing to consider. The Kuwait Times recently published a photo of garbage bins left in the handicapped parking spaces along the seaside. The scene was really an eyesore in a beauti- fully manicured area, and there are many reasons why it was out of place. The municipality should not allow trash to be left at this time of the day right there in the open, especially that they are working hard to maintain the integrity of the scenery and landscaping and have their own inspectors there! Police should find out who placed the trash in such parking spots, depriving its rightful users from hav- ing the convenience they designated for. The Environment Public Authority should be appalled and it must act so decisively to prevent such acts with the force of law, bearing in mind that it is already summer in Kuwait and insects are crawling and flying with all the germs and viruses they can carry with them especially that the area is highly fre- quented by citizens and expatriates alike. I am surprised that on the same night the munici- pality announced that stray dogs will be collected from streets and neighborhoods to be treated and exported. I did not hear one dog bark in the area where I live as we were hearing them almost all night every night as they pass by back and forth. Believe me, I feel something is missing. Strange for this to happen and it must be a coincidence, but don’t you think that it will be great for other things to happen the same way? Think about it. Have a great and happy weekend! Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 6

Small stores convenient, famous for credit sales Getting to know your local

By Ben Garcia

onvenience stores, known in Kuwait as baqalas, are sprouting everywhere. You can see them in almost Cevery street and corner, a sign of relentless economic activities in this small but wealthy country. A single street in Salmiya may be home to five baqalas. In one street in Salmiya, for instance, one can find five baqalas. Despite the growing competition in the supermar- ket business with big grocery chains stores, baqalas continue to meet the daily needs of the country’s residents. The reason is because they and more convenient, accessible and carry a variety of every day items. Many neighborhood baqalas will deliver noted. Maidan Hawally has grown vertically, with straight to your door, sell you stuff on credit and many expats settling here. Two- and three-storey often have roadside service. Baqalas extend credit buildings have been demolished and replaced to customers for days, weeks and even months with 10- to 15-storey structures. The population if the baqala owner knows you or is familiar with too has grown significantly, and the needs of you. the people have also changed. “Technology has Ramatollah S, the owner of an Iranian baqala affected people’s needs too. They spend more on in Maidan Hawally, sells almost everything - from technology and need more food. In this area, we cooking gas to ice cream and even ashtrays and now have about three mobile shops. But many toothpicks. He sells fresh vegetables, processed customers still buy prepaid cards here. We also frozen meat and all kinds of beverages, as well as deliver to their flats without additional charges,” he Internet and prepaid phone cards. remarked. Ramatollah has three employees in his “I have many customers and many of them buy baqala, helping him in the daily operations, includ- on credit. They pay in the first week of the month ing his 19-year-old son and a Bangladeshi worker or after their payday,” Ramatollah said. He also of- he hired to deliver his products to customers who fers home delivery and curbside services. Despite don’t want to leave their homes. the growing competition in this business, Ramatol- lah’s baqala is never short of customers from all Challenges walks of life and all ages. Ramatollah told Kuwait There are many challenges in the baqala busi- Times that when he opened his baqala in 1995, his ness. They are checked regularly by the Municipal- was the only store in the area. “Now baqalas have ity. “They check whether our stocks are fresh and mushroomed in this area and we have at least 10 we are following the standards. If they see irregu- around here now, but I have never had zero busi- larities like expired food products, they close down ness - there are customers every day,” he said. the baqalas. One of my friends in Salmiya was fined In the 1990s, the only competitor he had was a and closed because he was caught selling expired small jamiya (cooperative society). “They sell much items. So in my baqala, I am very cautious. I check cheaper of course, but we are more accessible,” he my products regularly,” Ramatollah said. said. “The jamiya closes at 11 pm and opens at 9 in Many baqalas also face robberies. Unruly teens the morning. I open at 5 in the morning and close often snatch products and do not pay. “All we do is at 2 am. I also have lots of competitors nearby, just shout at them - what else can we do? We are and now we also have a live poultry shop, fresh open and anyone can enter, so if there are crimi- fruit and vegetable stores and many laundries. We nals planning to attack us, we cannot do anything. didn’t have these before. I also remember there There have been such cases in my baqala before, was only one restaurant at the corner - now we but thank God, these have subsided,” he said. have at least five restaurants,” Ramatollah added. “Yet I am pulling in KD 250- KD 350 every day,” he

Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 8

Photo of the day

KUWAIT: An attendant feeds the giraffes at the Kuwait Zoo in this May 2013 file photo. Zoo attendance drops during the warmer months in Kuwait as people travel and spend less time outdoors. — Photo by Joseph Shagra Fake military No income tax but a man arrested revision of subsidies KUWAIT: An Egyptian was arrested sources. A case was filed and further in Farwainya for disguising as military investigations are still in progress to Speaker launches public opinion poll at The Avenues official, said security sources. Case determine the motive behind the fir- papers indicate that a routine patrol ing. KUWAIT: Finance Minister Anas Al- Abdullah Al-Sabah said that the will also be revised and that elec- stopped the man’s German-made Saleh said yesterday the govern- government plans to lift subsidies tricity will be sold on the basis of vehicle and found out that he looked Kids kidnapped ment has no plans to impose on diesel to save around KD600 mil- consumption categories but this puzzled and he was wearing a mili- A Kuwaiti mother reported that income tax on individuals but is lion annually and reduce subsidies will be a part of the revision on sub- currently undertaking a study to on fuel to save another KD600 mil- sidies. The government has repeat- tary uniform. her divorced Saudi husband had kid- revise subsidies and an imminent lion by giving citizens a ration card edly said that it is not possible to napped their two kids and left to decision on diesel subsidies is which means that expats will have continue with the huge public sub- Lawyer attacked Saudi Arabia without her knowledge. After turning himself in, the expected soon. Speaking to to pay the full price. sidies which was put at more than shooter of the Kuwaiti lawyer Turki reporters outside the National Saleh said that following the KD5 billion annually. Maid steals KD 1,200 Assembly, the minister however National Assembly session in April In another development, Al-Khaldi justified his criminal act as a A citizen reported that his house- means of retaliation against the declined to provide any date for when the fiscal situation of the Assembly Speaker Marzouk Al- maid had stolen KD1,200 before she revising subsidies or any details on state was debated in the secret ses- Ghanem made a surprising visit to lawyer for filing several cases against fled the house, said security sources. him on behalf of his client; the shoot- what subsidies the government is sion, the government became con- The Avenues Mall yesterday to er’s divorcee. The suspect, who gave targeting other than diesel. vinced that certain subsidies, partic- attend the launch of a public opin- Egyptian collapses, dies But the minister reiterated that ularly on diesel, has no justification ion poll organized by the National in at the psychiatric diseases hospital, A 57-year-old Egyptian fainted said that he had been waiting out- the revision of subsidies does not especially that those who benefit Assembly. The move came after and dropped dead following a car- mean it will be “reduced but will from it are a few. Based on instruc- Ghanem said on Wednesday that side the building where the lawyer’s diac arrest at the Ministry of office is located for attacking him. As make sure it reaches those who tions by the prime minister, the the Avenues administration had Planning, said security sources. Case soon as the lawyer came out and deserve and need it and will not Finance Ministry has asked for data objected to political events at the papers indicate that the man just col- headed towards his car with an Asian, undermine the interests of low and from the Ministry of Oil about subsi- mall and MP Yacoub Al-Sane, the lapsed at 11.30 am and that all the assailant ran them over with his middle class people”. The minister dies on petroleum products and we organizer of the event, also said the vehicle, stepped out of it and fired attempts to revive him failed. said that the government study on got them. “We are about to com- visits of the Speaker and the Prime four shots at the lawyer and one at subsidies is focused on public sub- plete the study very soon and sub- Minister had been called off. The the Asian before fleeing the scene. Boy injured in brawl sidies that citizens do not benefit mit the results to the council of event is to poll the opinion of citi- An 11-year-old Kuwaiti sustained from. He did not elaborate. Saleh ministers to take the appropriate zens about plans to restructure Shots fired at vehicle several injuries in a brawl with other also did not make any specific refer- decision” the minister said. wages and end of service indemni- A Saudi national reported that peers in Sabah Al-Salem, said security ence if the revision of subsidies will The minister however insisted ty. A large number of youth three shots had been fired at his vehi- sources noting that the boy was hit only expatriates or will be com- that the decision will be purely activists launched a campaign on cle while it was parked outside his rushed to Mubarak hospital for treat- mon. technical and not motivated by Twitter calling to gather at the ven- House in Sulaibiya, said security ment. Last week, State Minister for political threats by MPs. Saleh also ue to protest against the Prime Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad said that the subsidies on electricity Minister and the Speaker. Local9 FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Bahrain’s GFH appeals Kuwait’s decision News KUWAIT: Bahrain-based Gulf Finance The company’s shares are listed in said in April this year that it would in brief House has appealed a decision by both Bahrain and Kuwait. That trading monitor the stock for six months. At Kuwait’s financial regulator to monitor spike came before an agreement signed the time of the trading spike, GFH its Kuwait-listed shares after the stock in June between Bahrain-based Khaleeji issued a market statement which said KPI launches its was traded in high volumes ahead of a Commercial Bank, an associate of GFH, there was “no recent or major develop- renewed brand company disclosure last year. In recent and Bank Al Khair to study a possible ment” that could have caused the high months, Kuwait’s Capital Markets merger. GFH said there was no relation trading volume, the company said. The KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), the Authority (CMA) has been clamping between the memorandum of under- CMA asks Kuwait-listed companies to international marketing arm of Kuwait Petroleum down on what it sees as unusual market standing (MoU) and high trading vol- explain high trading volumes. The Corporation (KPC), has officially launched its activity. Some executives and analysts umes witnessed on May 19-21. “GFH has MoU was signed on May 30 and renewed corporate brand. This initiative is part of have welcomed the move but others say filed a petition with CMA Kuwait against announced June 3 following regulato- the Company’s continuous efforts to refresh its cor- the watchdog is being heavy-handed. this decision,” the company said, adding ry approvals, the statement said. The porate brand and strengthen its competitive posi- Kuwait’s regulator noticed GFH stock the CMA has not imposed a financial merger plans were scrapped in March tion in line with its expansion projects, the compa- traded in high volumes in May 2013, the penalty. of this year after the two Islamic banks ny said in a release. The first visual manifestation of Islamic investment firm said in a state- The regulator notified GFH of its failed to agree on the structure and the new corporate brand will be the Capellen Nord ment late on Wednesday. probe into the firm last September and valuation of the deal.— Reuters station in Luxembourg, which will be opened offi- cially on the 15th of May, it added. The Company’s brand ‘Q8’ was launched in 1986 and renewed in Syrian held for killing Indian 1994. It reflects Kuwait’s maritime heritage; the sails symbolize the Arab dhow while the colors yel- guards; bedoon still at large low, red, and blue symbolize the desert, sun, and sea respectively, it noted. The new logo maintains this link with Kuwait’s heritage. There is a fresh and Three kids escape fire miraculously welcoming light blue. The number of stripes in the sails has been reduced in order to appear less com- By Hanan Al-Saadoun bedoon accomplice in the crime. His accomplice, however, is still plex; whilst the shape of the sails is more curved to at large. The suspect admitted that he and his accomplice used a KUWAIT: A Syrian expat was arrested in connection with the Kalashnikov machine gun to shoot at the victims, firing all 36 give a fresh younger look. Kuwait Petroleum armed robbery and the gunning down of two Indian security rounds in the magazine. Both victims were Indian nationals - International’s new brand value proposition is ‘eas- guards at a vegetable market in Sulaibiya recently while his Sharangdharan was killed on the spot while his colleague ing the journey”, it added. bedoon accomplice still remained at large, said security sources. Muhammaed Rashid Thangal died shortly after arriving at The sources said the culprit was brought before the police by his Farwaniya hospital. According to reports, the assailants escaped Arab League, Kuwait own folks after he admitted to committing the crime. The with KD13,000 from the victims after firing on them. A section of discuss ‘resolutions’ sources added that the suspect confessed to the crime and the local press had reported wrongly that the culprits were CAIRO: The Arab League and Kuwait held a new informed the police detectives about the involvement of his arrested last week following a raid in Sulaibiya. meeting yesterday to follow up on the implemen- tation of resolutions adopted during a recent Arab summit held in Kuwait. The participating Kuwaiti Snake caught delegation was led by the Gulf nation’s permanent A snake was yesterday caught at Haya Al-Habib delegate at the league Ambassador Aziz Al-Daihani Digestive System Center at Mubarak Hospital, said security while Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League sources. Ambassador Ahmed bin Helli headed the bloc’s delegation. Speaking to KUNA following the meet- ing, the Kuwaiti diplomat said the meeting - the second of its kind between both sides, was mainly meant to assess how the recent Arab summit’s res- olutions were being properly put in place. He voiced much satisfaction with the new approach KUWAIT: The body of one ofw the Indian security guards by the Arab League to monitor the implementa- lie on the ground in this file photo. tion of relevant resolutions. Al-Daihani cited the recent resolution to overhaul the inter-Arab bloc as a major issue tabled on the agenda of the League- Miraculous escape Kuwait meeting. Four working teams set up to find Three kids and their maid were miraculously rescued the optimal ways to revamp the league are expect- when a huge fire broke out in the family house in Hitteen, ed to come together at the Arab League on May 18 said security sources. The kids and four adults remained and 19. Fire in Salmiya trapped in the house that was engulfed by raging flames A fire broke out on the third floor of a Salmiya building until firemen broke into the house and evacuated them. spreading suffocating fume all over the building, said They were all treated by paramedics on the scene. Egypt strengthening security sources. Firemen from Hawalli and Salmiya rushed relations with Gulf to the scene and evacuated all the tenants without any CAIRO: Strengthening ties with other Arab states injury and managed to control the fire. Initial investigation especially with the GCC countries is a top priority showed that the fire started because of an electric short for Egypt, said Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil circuit at an air-conditioning unit. Fahmy said here late Wednesday. In a television interview last evening, Fahmy lauded the Arab states’ continuous support to Egypt, affirming that Egyptian Armed Forces would carry on its role peace keepers in the region. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Egypt would continue measures to reinforce the respect of human rights and democ- racy in the country, noting that the process so far did consist of some mistakes; however, Egyptians are moving on the right course to overcome obsta- cles. In regards to Egyptian-US relations, Fahmy said that the two countries were keen on bolster- ing ties. On the pending issue of the Grand Renaissance Dam with Ethiopia, Fahmy said that both Egypt and Ethiopia should work out issues of conflict in regards to the dam project, affirming that the matter should be resolved in a manner that benefit both countries. Local FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 News Islamic economy ‘going in brief

Saudi woman killed beyond Islamic nations’ defying driving ban RIYADH: A Saudi woman was killed in a car crash in Main challenge - poor understanding the capital yesterday as she defied the kingdom’s long-standing ban on female driving, local media BRUSSELS: The main challenge facing Islamic economy is geneous in their consumption habits and added Islamic prod- reported. The woman, in her 20s, lost control of her poor understanding of Muslim consumers and their needs, ucts could also be potentially interesting to non-Muslims. vehicle and crashed into the wall of a youth club in according to Professor Laurent Marliere, a Belgian expert on He referred to a survey conducted by Thomson Reuters in Riyadh, according to the website of the local Al- Islamic economy and finance. Interviewed by KUNA, he said 2013, which showed that the global expenditure of Muslim Jazeera daily. The car caught fire and she died, it said. Islamic financing which is one of the most mature sectors of consumers on food and lifestyle sectors was $1.62 trillion in Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia is the only country in the Islamic economy, is unable to make a real breakthrough 2012 and expected to reach $2.47 trillion by 2018. Islamic the world where women are not allowed to drive. because of the very fact that it is industry-driven and not mar- financial assets in 2012 were estimated at $1.35 trillion in total However, they usually get behind the wheel in desert ket-driven. disclosed assets and growing at 15-20 percent a year in most regions away from the capital. Yesterday’s deadly The term Islamic economy can be considered through vari- markets. This report estimates the potential value of Islamic accident was not the first of its kind involving a ous angles. Some take it to mean the economies of the 57 banking assets in its core markets to be $4.1 trillion. “The woman driver. In January 2012, a female driver was member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Islamic economy goes beyond Islamic countries. It is a de facto injured and her companion killed when their car (OIC) or to products offered in compliance with Islamic Sharia global endeavour, as most suppliers to the Islamic markets are overturned in the northern Hael province. And in (jurisprudence) such as finance and food products. Others based in the West,” he said. November 2010, a woman driver was killed along believe it is one segment of the global economy, which focus- Marliere said that merely copying what Malaysia has done with three of her female passengers in a similar acci- es on Islamic consumers, regardless of location. for Islamic finance is “unrealistic because the Malaysian model, dent. Women in the kingdom who have the means “Islam and Muslims are a global paradigm with specific although a great lesson to the world, is not a complete success hire drivers while others must depend on the good- needs and requirements that need to be serviced accordingly. since it has not managed to conquer more than a regional will of male relatives. Women’s rights activists make The fact that large forums like the World Islamic Economic space. It has failed to become global.” He stated that the world frequent calls to challenge the ban and those who do Forum (WIEF) hold their annual gatherings in non-Muslim map is no longer focused on the Atlantic or the link between so post online videos showing themselves behind the countries is evidence that the Islamic economy is a worldwide the US and Europe, but is now shifting to the Asia-Pacific wheel. In addition to not being allowed to drive, phenomenon,” stressed Marliere who is also head of ISFIN, an region, and opined that the Gulf region, in particular Dubai, Saudi women must cover themselves from head to Islamic lawyers firm which has branches in 60 countries. In could become a hub of Islamic finance. “Dubai has managed toe and need permission from a male guardian to terms of figures, one could consider the 1.65 billion Muslims to combine an Eastern and Western cosmopolitan culture, travel, work and marry. who constitute the Ummah as the market of the Islamic econ- which makes it easier to carry out business and trade,” he omy. But, he noted that Muslims across the world are hetero- remarked. — KUNA

Saudi plans to build pilgrimage airport RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is planning to build a new international airport to serve pilgrims to Makkah in the nearby city of Taif, its General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) said yesterday. GACA is preparing a tender and will ask consortia of international and local companies to bid to develop the airport, and aims to award a contract in the first half of 2015, spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibani said. He said it will be developed on a build-operate-transfer basis, in which a developer finances the construction and recoups its investment by operating the airport. The airport will serve visitors for the annual haj, as well as umrah, a lesser pilgrimage to Makkah which can be performed at any time of year. GACA’s board approved the proj- ect on Wednesday and is working with the KUWAIT: The American Womenís League (AWL) recently hosted a special farewell breakfast party in honor of His International Financing Corporation, the consulting Excellency, the American Ambassador, Matthew Tueller (center right) and his wife, DeNeece Tueller, the honorary presi- wing of the World Bank, to help prepare the tender, dent of AWL at the Regency Hotel. the spokesman said. Most of the several million haj pilgrims coming from abroad each year now arrive at a special terminal in Jeddah’s international airport, AWL bids farewell to US ambassador but others fly into Medina, the city where Islam’s KUWAIT: The American Women’s League thanks and praised the AWL for its efforts ing to rebuild AWL and promote the AWL founder established the first Muslim community. (AWL) recently hosted a special farewell over the past year. He felt that the AWL had Cancer Support Group as she herself is a can- breakfast party in honor of outgoing US made a difference in the lives of its members cer survivor. AWL member, Doreen Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew Tueller and by promoting informative as well as enter- Abdulelah, put it best when she said: his wife DeNeece Tueller, the honorary presi- taining events, activities and seminars. He “DeNeece Tueller has been the most signifi- 4 new MERS deaths, 18 dent of AWL. Held at the Regency Hotel in also mentioned the new ambassador, cant of all the ambassadors’ wives in the his- more infections in Saudi Salwa, the breakfast was attended by AWL Douglas Silliman, who will be arriving from tory of the AWL. She has been there to help RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced four more board members, guests and members. Iraq. Tueller explained that he will be serving out and support every activity. She has been deaths from the MERS coronavirus and 18 new infec- Deborah Al-Qanai, AWL president, opened as US Ambassador to Yemen and will take generous of her time and most hospitable in tions, as it battles to contain the mystery disease the breakfast by welcoming everyone in bid- up his duties later this summer. opening her home to host several parties for which has now killed 121 people in the kingdom. The ding farewell to the Tuellers. DeNeece Tueller gave a very warm AWL members. No one has done as much as World Health Organization (WHO) after a five-day “His Excellency has always been there to speech and mentioned her delight in help- she has.” mission to Jeddah pinpointed breaches in its “recom- support AWL. AWL appreciates the efforts mended infection prevention and control measures” the Tuellers have made in helping to pro- as being partly responsible for an increase in infec- mote and support the League. His wife, tions in the Red Sea city. The disease, which first DeNeece, has been with us at almost every appeared in the kingdom in September 2012, has activity and seminar. She has been with us now infected a total number 449 Saudis, accounting from the inception of the AWL Cancer for the bulk of cases registered across the globe. Two Support Group supporting and encouraging of the latest deaths reported late on Wednesday-of a us to do our very best to educate and inform 65-year-old woman suffering from several illnesses everyone about cancer. Her efforts in build- and a 45-year-old woman-occurred in the capital ing the AWL and the AWL Cancer Support Riyadh. Both died on Tuesday. In Jeddah, the com- Group have been much appreciated and we mercial capital, a 70-year-old woman died on Monday are grateful for her dedication and support and a 60-year-old man died on Tuesday, the health as well,” Al-Qanai said. She then presented, authorities said. Among the 18 people newly infected on behalf of the AWL, a plaque as a token of is a 10-year-old boy who was taken to a government appreciation to His Excellency, Ambassador hospital in Jeddah following an accident on April 29. Tueller and a commemorative plate to Mrs After he was discharged from the hospital on May 2, Tueller. She ended by saying, “We all wish them the very best wherever life may lead MERS symptoms began to appear and he was rushed KUWAIT: The American Ambassador’s wife DeNeece Tueller (left — front row) to intensive care. them in the future” Ambassador Tueller said a few words of seen during the special farewell breakfast party the Regency Hotel . FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 World powers Rebels blow S Africa’s ANC join search for up historic rolls to victory abducted Aleppo hotel Nigerian schoolgirls12 14 15

SHABWA: Yemeni soldiers brandish their weapons as they take part in an offensive against extremists. — AFP US closes Yemen embassy Western missions on alert as army advances against Qaeda SANAA: The US embassy was closed to the statement. On Monday a Frenchman was As the operation entered its 10th day yes- a merger of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and Saudi public yesterday in Yemen after a spate of killed and another was wounded when gun- terday the defense ministry announced that Arabia, has been linked to a number of failed attacks against foreigners and fears that Al- men opened fire on their car in Sanaa’s diplo- the army had seized control of a major AQAP terror plots against the United States. Qaeda will seek revenge for a deadly offensive matic district. Both worked for a private secu- stronghold in Azzan, in southern Shabwa AQAP leader Nasser Al-Wuhayshi vowed, in in the south. “The embassy is closed today. rity firm that officials said was guarding the province. Authorities have reported that sev- a rare video appearance last month, to attack And this will remain in effect until further European Union delegation in Yemen. eral Al-Qaeda commanders were among Western “crusaders” wherever they are. Al- notice,” an employee at the US mission in a On Wednesday, Yemeni security forces dozens of suspected militants killed since the Qaeda usually uses the term crusaders to refer heavily-guarded neighborhood in northeast shot dead the head of a “terror cell” behind operation was launched on April 29. “These to Western powers, especially the ones which Sanaa, told AFP. Monday’s attack, the country’s supreme secu- huge losses will push Al-Qaeda to commit have intervened militarily in Muslim countries, Police were deployed along all roads lead- rity committee said. Later that day the interior hysterical and desperate acts by mobilising its mainly the United States, Britain and France. In ing to the embassy and conducted a thor- ministry said it was searching for suspects supporters and dormant cells to attack police her statement on Wednesday the State ough inspection of vehicles in the vicinity in whose vehicles were involved in recent and army officers,” the interior ministry said Department spokeswoman said that line with security measures put in place sever- attacks in Sanaa after “five Al-Qaeda terror- Monday. Washington would “evaluate the security every al months ago. State Department spokes- ists” were arrested in several parts of the capi- day and.. reopen the embassy to the public woman Jan Psaki said Wednesday that the tal. The suspects had “arms, ammunition, and Attacks on ‘crusaders’ everywhere once it is deemed appropriate. The US embassy embassy would be temporarily closed to the devices used to carry out terrorist acts” in The offensive against AQAP suspects was and several Western missions in Yemen closed public “due to recent attacks against Western their possession, it said. The developments launched in the rugged southern and central in August after US warnings of an Al-Qaeda interests in Yemen”. came as Yemen pressed with a deadly offen- provinces, where a wave of US drone strikes attack. AQAP took advantage of the weakening These attacks “and information we have sive against strongholds of Al-Qaeda in the killed scores of suspected militants last of the Sanaa central government after a popu- received have given us enough concern to Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the lawless south month. AQAP is seen by the United States as lar uprising in 2011 forced out veteran presi- take this precautionary step,” she said in a of the country. the network’s deadliest franchise. The group, dent Ali Abdullah Saleh. —AFP International FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

For victim-turned-guide, Iraq gas attack still vivid

HALABJA: For years, Umed Rashid has guided visitors around a monument to victims of a 1988 gas attack in Iraq, but unlike many guides, he learned about his subject first hand. The 40- year-old vividly recalls the horrifying period more than a quarter century ago when his family was killed by a gas attack launched by the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein, believed to be the worst ever against civilians. Now, he walks groups of tourists, visiting civil servants and students around a monument dedicated to the attack in the northern Kurdish town of Halabja, which lies in Iraq’s autonomous northern Kurdish region, a short drive from neigh- boring Iran. “I want to convey the story of Halabja to people both outside and inside Kurdistan,” Rashid says. “I want to tell them that Halabja is not a city of one incident or event. “It is a city of many calamities and disasters.” As Iraq’s eight- year war with Iran was coming to an end, Kurdish peshmerga rebels, with Tehran’s backing, took over the farming community of Halabja. The Iraqi military bombed the area, forcing the rebels to retreat into the surrounding hills, leaving their families behind.

Suffocated to death Then, at 11:35 am (0835 GMT) on March 16, 1988, Iraqi jets swooped over the town, spraying a cocktail of chemical agents including mustard gas that left residents writhing and coughing up green vomit before dying in agony. An estimated 5,000 peo- ple were killed, three-quarters of them women and children. Just a teenager at the time, Rashid remembers his family pil- JOHANNESURG: South Africans protest yesterday in solidarity against the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in ing into a pick-up truck to try to escape. Apart from him, howev- Nigeria by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram three weeks ago. — AFP er, everyone died of suffocation. He has a photograph of the truck packed with around 25 dead villagers, including members of his family, stopped on the road with the driver slumped over World powers join search for the wheel. “When we escaped Halabja, we saw many martyrs on the streets, but we could not help them because we had already been affected by the chemical gas,” he says. He himself briefly abducted Nigerian schoolgirls slipped into a coma, to the point that rescue workers thought he had also died and placed him in a coffin before he awoke again.—AFP Crisis overshadows world meet

KANO: World powers, including the United States and China, have there are more than 200 dead,” the source said, adding that 2,000 joined in the search for the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Nigerians, including soldiers had fled to Cameroon. “Some of the Boko Haram Islamists who have also killed hundreds in the country’s bodies were charred. It was horrific. People had their throats slit, northeast this week. Amid global outrage over the kidnapping of others were shot,” the source added. the teenagers, the United States and France are sending specialist In a fresh attack, suspected Boko Haram militants killed on teams to Nigeria, while London has agreed to deploy “satellite imag- Wednesday seven people in Buji-Buji village, also in Borno state, the ing capabilities”. China promised to supply “any useful information village head, Mohammed Garba told journalists. “Gunmen number- acquired by its satellites and intelligence services” to Nigeria. ing about 20 invaded our village around 3:00 am (0200 GMT) while The police on Wednesday police offered $300,000 (215,000 most people were sleeping... The gunmen opened fire on people as euros) for information leading to the rescue of the girls. The latest they attempted to escape from the ravaging fire. “Seven persons insurgent attack targeted the town of Gamboru Ngala on the bor- died on the spot, while so many others were injured,” he said.—AFP der with Cameroon, where gunmen this week razed scores of build- ings and fired on civilians as they tried to flee. Area Senator Ahmed Zanna put the death toll at 300, citing information provided by Abu Hamza managed locals, in an account supported by numerous residents. Zanna said the town had been left unguarded because soldiers based there had been redeployed north towards Lake Chad in an strip club in London effort to rescue the kidnapped girls. Nigeria’s response to the kid- nappings has been widely criticized, including by activists and par- NEW YORK: British hate preacher Abu Hamza told his US ents of the hostages who say the military’s search operation has terror trial Wednesday how he once jointly managed a AMMAN: This image shows an on-air fight between Jordanian been inept so far. President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration London strip club in his quest to live a Western, movie-style journalists Mohammad Al-Jayousi (left) and Shaker Al-Johari, has sought to appear more engaged with the plight of the hostages life. Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, 56, better known in Britain as (right) that took place during a talk show over a disagree- in recent days, especially after Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau Abu Hamza Al-Masri, has pleaded not guilty to 11 kidnap- ment on the Syrian crisis. — AP released a video threatening to sell the girls as “slaves”. In a second ping and terror counts that pre-date the 9/11 attacks. kidnapping, 11 more girls aged 12 to 15 years were seized Sunday Blind in one eye and with both hands blown off in an Journalists in Jordan from Gwoza, an area not far from Chibok and also in Borno state, explosion in Afghanistan, he faces life in prison in a maxi- Boko Haram’s base. The group’s five-year uprising has killed thou- mum security US prison if convicted by jury at the New York sands across Africa’s most populous country and top economy, with court. Taking the stand for the first time in his trial, wearing fight on live TV show many questioning whether Nigeria has the capacity to contain the tracksuit bottoms, a blue T-shirt and orange socks, the violence. Egyptian-born former civil engineer spoke softly. AMMAN: Two journalists in Jordan having a televised debate At one stage he elicited laughter from jury members by about the civil war in neighboring Syria literally turned - and Charred bodies, throats cut doling out marital advice, saying it would be “silly” for a man overturned - the table on each other during an on-air brawl. Islamist fighters riding in armored trucks and on motorcycles to tell his wife he didn’t love her. “This is a silly kind of truth,” The speakers broke apart the studio’s table they had been stormed Gamboru Ngala after midday on Monday. The extremists he said, explaining the man could easily change his mind seated in an attempt to fight each other. overran the town, making it too dangerous for locals to immediately multiple times. “Maybe he loves her later” or “maybe she is The program aired Tuesday on the “Seven Stars” satellite return, survivors said. When the militants left, residents discovered the best person for him,” he said in an almost scholarly voice. television channel. It featured journalists Shaker Al-Johari and their town “littered” with dead bodies, Musa Abba, a witness, told He also said his engineering studies included the World Mohammad Al-Jayousi talking about the 3-year-old war pit- AFP. “All economic and business centers have been burnt. The mar- Trade Center, destroyed in the 9/11 attacks he has praised, ting rebels against President Bashar Assad’s government, a ket in the town which attracts traders from all over the area... has and the effect of “explosions” and demolition-which he said conflict activists say has killed more than 150,000 people. been completely burnt,” the senator said. became “useful” later in life. He is charged over the 1998 kid- However, the debate fell apart as Al-Jayousi accused Al- Gamboru Ngala has been attacked repeatedly in the past but napping in Yemen of 16 Westerners, conspiracy to set up a Johari of supporting the Syrian rebels. Al-Johari then accused Abba said “this (was) the worst Boko Haram attack (the town) has jihad training camp in Oregon in 1999, of providing material al-Jayousi of taking money for supporting Assad. The two seen”. The Cameroonian military has reinforced security in the town support to Al-Qaeda, of assisting the Taleban and of sending men fought each other and pulled the table apart in their of Fotokol on the Nigerian border, a medical official told AFP by recruits for terror training in Afghanistan.—AFP scuffle. — AP phone, requesting anonymity. “The toll is very heavy. We believe

International FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Syrian rebels blow up historic Aleppo hotel

BEIRUT: A rebel-claimed bombing yesterday in the drawal from Homs yesterday, a day after hundreds of northern Syrian city of Aleppo leveled a once luxurious fighters evacuated from the city under the cease-fire hotel near the ancient Citadel that government troops deal. No such agreement appears to be in sight in used as a military base, causing multiple casualties, Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and former commercial hub. activists and militants said. Syrian state television said the The city has been carved up into opposition- and gov- explosion struck the Carlton Hotel in a government-held ernment-held areas since the rebels launched an offen- area on the edge of a contested neighborhood in the old sive there in mid-2012, capturing territory along Syria’s part of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for northern border with Turkey. Human Rights, which maintains a network of activists on the ground, said at least 14 soldiers were killed in the Syrian forces underplay war casualties blast. The Islamic Front, Syria’s biggest rebel alliance In recent months, government aircraft relentlessly has which claimed the attack, claimed to have killed 50 sol- bombed rebel-held areas of the city and the opposition diers. Both groups did not say how they know how many fighters have hit back, firing mortars into government- soldiers died, and the claims could not be independently held areas. The rebels also have detonated car bombs in verified. In a live broadcast from the site of blast, the sta- residential areas, killing dozens of people. The Islamic tion’s correspondent in Aleppo stood on a huge pile of Front posted a statement on its official Twitter account rubble with twisted metal and palm trees sticking out, yesterday saying that its “fighters this morning leveled saying that the army had been using the building as a the Carlton Hotel barracks in Old Aleppo and a number base and soldiers were positioned there at the time of the of buildings near it, killing 50 soldiers.” explosion. In the broadcast, Syrian TV did not mention The Observatory said Islamic Front fighters planted a casualties but said the rebels blew up the building by huge amount of explosives in a tunnel they dug below tunneling underneath and planting explosives. the hotel and detonated it remotely. It said the hotel was completely destroyed in the blast and at least 14 govern- Deadly attacks against forces ment soldiers were killed in the blast. The Syrian govern- “They use tunnels like rats because they cannot face ment does not publicize its casualties in the civil war. the Syrian Arab Army,” the correspondent said, adding Meanwhile yesterday, more rebels were expected to that the explosion felt like an earthquake to those leave the central city of Homs as an evacuation of oppo- around Aleppo. The attack was the second carried out by sition fighters moves into its second day. Homs Gov Talal the Islamic Front against the Carlton. The first, allegedly Barazi told Syrian state TV that that the evacuation carried out also through explosives-packed tunnels, process is being conducted in “positive atmosphere.” caused a partial collapse of the building in February. The Barazi was seen touring Homs on Lebanon’s Al-Manar Front, an alliance of several Islamic groups fighting to TV, which is owned by the Shiite militant group topple Assad, appears to favor this technique and has Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been battling rebels in Syria used it to carry out deadly attacks against government alongside government troops for months. A reporter forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. with Syrian state TV was seen broadcasting live from an Yesterday’s explosion was much more powerful and entrance to Homs Old City. Standing near the city’s main sent an enormous mushroom of gray smoke into the sky square known as the Clock Square, the reporter inter- and over the ancient city, according to a video posted viewed a priest who said he hoped people in the city online by activists. The video appeared genuine, match- would be safe again. The Observatory, which has been ing Associated Press’ reporting on the blast. The explo- documenting Syria’s 3-year-old conflict, said that about sion was a blow to President Bashar Assad’s government 250 opposition fighters remain in the old districts of in the north as his troops prepare to regain control of the Homs, where they have been holed up under a crippling ALEPPO: A combo of image grabs taken from a video uploaded on YouTube by central city of Homs following last week’s cease-fire government siege for more than two years. The Syria’s biggest rebel alliance, the Islamic Front yesterday shows dust and agreement after a fierce, two-year battle with the rebels Observatory’s head, Rami Abdurrahman, said more than smoke billowing from an explosion at a luxury hotel turned army base. — AFP trying to oust him. Rebels were completing their with- 960 left the city Wednesday. — AP 15 International FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Ukraine rebels snub Putin

DONETSK: Pro-Moscow rebels fighting in east Ukraine vowed yesterday to press on with disputed independence referen- dums, defying a call from President Vladimir Putin to postpone the vote in a bid to ease tensions. “The vote will happen on May 11,” the leader of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, told reporters. A referendum would also take place in the city of Lugansk, rebels there said. A rebel spokeswoman in Slavyansk, a flashpoint town that has been the focus of rebel combat against troops, confirmed to AFP the vote would take place despite an ongoing Ukrainian military operation. The move reignited the crisis in Ukraine after Putin on Wednesday made a surprise call to the rebels to post- pone their referendums and backed a presidential election planned by Kiev’s interim leaders on May 25 that he had only recently described as “absurd”. Yetserday, Cold War-style ten- sions surged to the fore once again, with Russia test-firing ballis- tic missiles while its defense minister stressed the country’s nuclear capable forces remained on “constant combat alert”. Putin said Kiev’s military operations against the rebels must end as a condition of the referendums being delayed. Initially caught off guard by Putin’s appeal, the rebels yester- CAPE TOWN: Supporters of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposing Congress of the People (COPE) sing and day rejected the Russian leader’s proposition. “The date of the dance together next to a polling station.—AFP referendum will not be postponed,” Pushilin said. One Slavyansk resident who gave his name as Sergiy told AFP the referendum “must go ahead as soon as possible before the presidential elec- tion. Whatever happens, I’ll go and vote.” S Africa’s ANC rolls to victory ‘Undeclared war’ Opposition gaining ground after high turnout Kiev vowed to press ahead with what it calls an “anti-terror- ist” operation against insurgents holding a dozen or so towns PRETORIA: The ruling African National out policies to boost growth. “There’s no ty would improve on the 16.7 percent it and cities in the east. “The counterterrorist operation will go on Congress (ANC) swept toward victory in deeply insightful change, but the bot- won five years ago as it gradually sheds regardless of any decisions by any subversive or terrorist groups South Africa’s fifth post-apartheid elec- tom line is that by 2019 they are going its image as the political home of privi- in the Donetsk region,” Andriy Parubiy, secretary of Ukraine’s tion yesterday, handing President Jacob to have to be growing this economy and leged minority whites. The militant EFF, national security and defense council, told reporters in Kiev. Zuma the clout to push through pro- making sure they can still raise tax rev- launched by Malema after he was Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said in a speech marking business reforms in the face of union enue.” Zuma hinted this week that the expelled from the ANC in 2012, was in the Soviet victory against Nazi Germany that Ukraine was facing and leftist opposition. Burdened with ANC needed to take a more pro-busi- third place with 4.9 percent. “a real albeit undeclared war”. Putin had also said Wednesday sluggish economic growth and damag- ness tack, accusing the main platinum after his meeting with OSCE chair and Swiss President Didier ing strikes in his first term, the scandal- union of irresponsibility for dragging ANC member shot Burkhalter that Russia had withdrawn its estimated 40,000 plagued Zuma has devoted less and less out a four-month wage strike, and he Turnout was high across 22,000 troops from the Ukrainian border. time over the last year to the wishes of hinted at reforms in the pipeline. “We polling stations nationwide, officials But NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told unions, whose long walkouts have hit need an overwhelming majority so that said, and voting passed off smoothly reporters in Warsaw he had yet to see “any indications” that confidence in Africa’s most developed we can change certain things so that we although the ANC said one of its mem- Russia had actually done so. A Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry economy. can move faster,” Zuma told a news con- bers was shot dead outside a polling sta- Peskov said Moscow needed time to study the rebels’ snub. He has also batted away opposition ference. “There are things you need to tion in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s “This is a new development ... it needs to be analyzed,” Russian from the far left, squelching some remove so you can move faster. I won’t home province. Polls ahead of the elec- news agencies quoted him as saying. The European Union said expectations the Economic Freedom be specific.” tion, the first to feature voters born after the planned referendums “could have no democratic legitimacy Fighters (EFF) led by his former protege One influential minister said the ANC apartheid, had put ANC support near 65 and would only further worsen the situation”. Julius Malema - would ride a wave of would focus on policies adopted at a percent, a touch below the 65.9 percent populist anger over widespread poverty 2012 leadership conference, when it it won in the 2009 vote that brought ‘Talking through his hat’ and unemployment. The ANC, the liber- rejected “wholesale nationalization” of Zuma to power. Putin’s proposals had appeared to offer the first glimmer of ation movement that swept to power industries and sought to quell investor The rand firmed as much as 1 percent hope that the seemingly inexorable decline into war might be two decades ago under the leadership concerns with business-friendly pro- against the dollar, to 10.35 - its strongest averted. But they sparked mixed reactions from a skeptical West. of Nelson Mandela, had won 63.7 per- nouncements. “The policies of the new level this year - as the ANC’s margin of German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the cent of Wednesday’s vote with nearly coming government, the principles that victory became clear. The benchmark “constructive tone” of Putin’s comments, but Yatsenyuk said the two-thirds of districts counted, the will provide the framework for the new Top-40 stock index was little changed. Kremlin strongman was “talking through his hat”. Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) administration, have already been set The ANC’s enduring popularity has con- The Ukrainian foreign ministry issued a statement saying said. out,” Public Enterprises Minister Malusi founded those who had expected its Putin’s call to push back the referendums was “just a mockery “With this, he is much less beholden Gigaba told Reuters. “That is what we support to wane as the glory of its past and by no means a sign of goodwill” because the votes were ille- to the left,” Cape Town-based political are going to implement.” receded into history and voters focused gal. While the government wants to have a “full-scale national analyst Nic Borain said, adding he The ANC’s nearest rival, the instead on the sluggish growth and slew dialogue... a dialogue with terrorists is impermissible and incon- expected Zuma to appoint a technocrat Democratic Alliance, was on 22.1 per- of scandals that have typified Zuma’s ceivable,” the ministry said.—AFP cabinet with the express mandate to roll cent, upholding poll predictions the par- first term.— Reuters Venezuelan officials break up protesters’ camps

CARACAS: Hundreds of National Guard members to be in court for a hearing on whether he should cials who crushed anti-government protests by aimed at overthrowing the administration. and police broke up four camps maintained by begin trial on charges stemming from the anti- students, opposition leaders and others and Opponents have repeatedly rejected the gov- student protesters and arrested 243 people in an government protests or whether he should be freezes their assets. ernment’s frequent allegations about coup early morning raid, Venezuelan officials said yes- freed. The South American country has been roiled attempts, calling them an effort to distract atten- terday. The camps consisting of small tents were The latest clashes also come as the US Congress since February by demonstrations that have killed tion from the country’s problems. They say the installed more than a month ago to protest against moves closer to imposing economic sanctions 41 people on all sides, and left another 785 injured. protests arise from widespread discontent with 57 the government of President Nicolas Maduro. against Venezuela’s leaders. State Department offi- At least 2,200 people have been arrested in con- percent inflation, record shortages and authoritari- Venezuela’s Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez cials will brief a Senate committee on the violent nection with the protests over the last few months. an practices. Torres said the tent cities were dismantled earlier street protests that have rocked the country for Maduro’s administration has grown increasing- In Washington, US Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla, a in the morning. Rodriguez Torres told state televi- weeks, and a House panel will finalize its version of ly fed up with the demonstrations and last week sponsor of the sanctions legislation in the Senate, sion that the 243 people who were arrested would a sanctions bill today. announced that it had arrested 58 foreigners, said the message that penalties would carry is appear in court in the coming hours. The move The legislation in both chambers is relatively including an American, on suspicion of inciting vio- important. The move comes as human rights was announced just hours before top opposition modest. It centers on $15 million in new funds to lent street protests against the government. Both groups accuse Venezuelan security officials of leader Leopoldo Lopez, who’s been in a military promote democracy and rule of law in the South Maduro and Rodriguez Torres have denounced arresting, torturing and even killing unarmed prison outside Caracas since February, is scheduled American country. It bans visas for Venezuelan offi- what they describe as a plot to promote unrest demonstrators.—AP International FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 North Korea preparing for 4th nuclear test?

SEOUL: North Korea is making final prepara- and missile tests earlier this year. South Korea experts believe North Korea has a handful of missions. A ministry statement called the tions to conduct its fourth nuclear test, South has warned North Korea would face serious rudimentary bombs, though it’s not yet drone flights a military provocation and said Korea’s defense minister said yesterday, but consequences if the test is made. believed to be capable of producing warheads South Korea will react strongly. North Korea he added that it could be a bluff. Defense Pyongyang could be trying to gain lever- small enough to mount on a long-range mis- has denied it sent such drones and accused Minister Kim Kwan-jin told South Korean jour- age with Washington. The US demands that sile that could threaten the US. Another South Korea of plotting a fabrication. nalists that North Korea is able to detonate a the North give up nuclear activities before nuclear test could put the North a step closer South Korean defense officials said the nuclear device at any moment, though he did- long-dormant negotiations can resume, a con- to that goal. Recent months have seen ani- drones are considered crude and low-tech n’t elaborate on what the final step of its dition North Korea refuses to accept. North mosities flare up on the Korean Peninsula with but that it’s the first time North Korean drones preparations would be, according to ministry Korea says it needs nuclear weapons as a Pyongyang conducting a barrage of rocket have been found crashed in South Korea. The officials. deterrent against US military threats. Many and missile tests and resuming fierce rhetoric two Koreas are divided along the world’s Kim also said that although North Korea is North Korea watchers had suspected a nuclear against Seoul and Washington. Before then, most heavily armed border since the 1950-53 ready to conduct a nuclear test, it may not test would occur when President Barack the North had been gradually dialing down its Korean War ended with an armistice, not a intend to set off the device soon, and instead Obama visited Seoul last month, but nothing threats and seeking improved ties with South peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops is trying to trick outside observers into believ- happened. Analysts remain divided over Korea in what foreign analysts said was an are deployed in South Korea as buttress ing a test is imminent, the officials said, whether North Korea will go ahead with a test attempt to lure investment and aid. against potential North Korean aggression. A requesting anonymity under department soon. A fourth test would mark another defi- Yesterday, Seoul’s Defense Ministry year ago, Pyongyang made a torrent of rules. North Korea has threatened in recent ant response to US-led international pressures announced that a joint investigation by South threats to launch nuclear strikes against Seoul weeks to conduct a nuclear test to protest on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear Korea and the US concluded that three drones and Washington in protest of UN sanctions what it calls US and South Korean hostility and weapons program. North Korea conducted found in the South in March and April were that were toughened following its third bomb international condemnation over its rocket nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Western flown by North Korea on military surveillance test. — AP

China detains journalist over ‘state secrets’ leak BEIJING: China has detained a prominent former journalist for leaking “state secrets”, police said yesterday, the latest move to silence critics of the ruling Communist Party ahead of June’s 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Gao Yu, 70, was “criminally detained on suspicion of providing state secrets to sources outside China”, the Beijing public security department said in a message on its verified microblog yesterday. Gao, the former deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine Economics Weekly, is a well-known journalist who was named one of the International Press Institute’s 50 “world press freedom heroes” in 2000. Her political writings have seen her jailed in the past. In 1993, she was sentenced to six years in prison on a similar “state secrets” charge. She was paraded yesterday on state-run China Central Television, in the latest instance of authorities publicly shaming influential critics of Beijing with televised confessions. It showed her being escorted down a hallway and interrogated by two uni- formed police officers. “I believe what I have done has touched on legal issues and has endangered the country’s interests,” said Gao, whose face was obscured on the broadcast. “What I have done was a big mis- take. I earnestly and sincerely have learned a lesson from this experience and admit my guilt,” she said. Gao had been missing for the past two weeks, and her associ- ates became alarmed when she did not show up at a private Tiananmen-related gathering she had been scheduled to attend. According to the official news agency Xinhua, Gao was held on April 24 on suspicion of having sent a copy of a “highly confiden- BANGKOK: Anti-government protesters sing a song as they ride on a truck during a rally yesterday. — AP tial” document to an overseas website last June. Police seized “substantial evidence” from her home and Gao has “expressed deep remorse about what she did”, Xinhua said, adding that she Thailand’s deposed premier was “willing to accept punishment from the law”. The Xinhua report did not name the document that Gao is alleged to have leaked. Yingluck faces politics ban But Gao has written previously on “Document No. 9”, a Communist Party internal communique calling for a harsh crack- down on dissent and warning against “perils” such as multi-party Thai PM indicted over rice subsidy scheme democracy and universal values. The document circulated early last year and its full text was published by a Hong Kong-based magazine last August. —AFP BANGKOK: Thailand’s deposed premier Yingluck Shinawatra faces protesters, who accuse the Shinawatras of poisoning Thailand a possible five-year ban from politics after anti-graft officials ruled with corruption, said they would appoint a new government yesterday that she should face impeachment proceedings, a move today-a move that would risk further political violence. sure to further enrage her supporters. But the National Anti- “Today we will take steps towards appointing a new govern- Corruption Commission (NACC) said it would not extend its probe ment,” protest spokesman Akanat Promphan told AFP earlier, say- into a costly rice subsidy scheme to the rest of the caretaker cabi- ing the government had lost “all legitimacy”. The protesters are net as feared by officials of the battered ruling party. known for their hyperbolic statements and it was not immediately That could have seen the cabinet ousted and sent the kingdom clear what legal basis their vow was based on. spinning into a deeper political crisis. “The commission considers But Akanat said the Thai constitution has an article that may there is enough evidence to indict (Yingluck) and refers (the case) enable the appointment of a new executive body by the Senate. to the Senate,” Panthep Klanarongran, chief of the National Anti- The appointment of a new premier by the anti-government group Corruption Commission (NACC) told reporters. “is the red line not to be crossed,” said Thailand-based author and If found guilty by the upper house Yingluck could face a five- academic David Streckfuss. “The Red Shirts will rise en masse,” he year ban from politics. The NACC said is still considering whether said referring to Shinawatra supporters who are due to hold a Yingluck should face criminal charges, which could see her given a mass rally tomorrow in a Bangkok suburb. The NACC’s decision jail term. Her billionaire elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra, lives comes a day after the Constitutional Court removed Yingluck from overseas to avoid a prison sentence for corruption that he con- office for abusing her power in the 2011 transfer of a security offi- tends was politically motivated in the wake of his ousting by an cial. The ruling Puea Thai party swiftly appointed a deputy premier FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO: Visitors stroll in a flower garden cov- army coup in 2006. Thailand remains stuck in a political quagmire and commerce minister-Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan-as ered by over 800,000 Shibazakura or Moss Phlox in full with the ailing government staggering on despite a slew of legal Yingluck’s replacement and vowed to push for new elections on bloom during the Fuji Shibazakura Festival yesterday. — AFP challenges and protests on Bangkok’s streets. Anti-government July 20 to cut a path through the turmoil. —AFP International FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Taleban set to attack before NATO exit

KABUL: Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan announced the on a training and counter-terrorism mission, but the ing season traditionally begins in April or May as snow start of their annual “spring offensive” yesterday, vowing a Taleban warned that the insurgency would continue recedes from the mountains, and the Taleban mark the final summer of bloody attacks on foreign forces before the against even a few thousand US troops. The Taleban “insists occasion with an annual declaration to attack foreign forces 13-year NATO combat mission ends. The Islamist extremists on the unconditional withdrawal of all invading forces... and and unseat the Kabul government. “The main target of the said that the offensive, beginning on Monday, would sees the continuation of its armed Jihad (as) imperative to current year’s blessed Jihadi operation shall be the foreign cleanse “the filth of the infidels” from the country, and achieving these goals,” said an English-language statement invaders and their backers under various names like spies, warned that Afghan translators, government officials and on the group’s website. “If the invaders or their internal military and civilian contractors and everyone working for politicians would also be targeted. stooges believe that reducing the number of foreign forces them like translators,” it said. The offensive will consist of The “Khaibar” offensive, named after an ancient battle will dampen our Jihadi fervour then they are sadly mistak- suicide bombings, “insider attacks” by Afghan soldiers and between Muslims and Jews, will coincide with a planned en.” It added that attacks during the coming “fighting sea- complex assaults on military facilities. second round of elections next month to choose a succes- son” would target US military bases, foreign embassies and “Such war techniques which shall inflict maximum loss- sor to President Hamid Karzai, who has ruled since the fall vehicle convoys, as well as the Afghan government. es on the invaders while preventing corporeal and financial of the Taleban in 2001. The 51,000 US-led NATO troops still losses on the ordinary civilians,” it added, though insurgent deployed in Afghanistan are set to withdraw by December, ‘Barbaric invaders’ attacks often kill non-combatants. The Taleban had vowed ending a long and costly battle to defeat the rebels, who “The days of... the barbaric invaders (on) the pure soil of to disrupt the first-round of presidential elections on April 5, launched a fierce insurgency after being ousted from pow- our country have come (to a) close, due to your 13-year but they failed to launch a major attack on the campaign or er. A small number of US troops may stay on from next year Jihad and sacrifices,” it told its fighters. Afghanistan’s fight- on polling day. —AFP Modi ‘tsunami’ forecast on India’s holy Ganges Modi accuses election agency of discrimination

VARANASI: As he contemplated the vast crowds that greet- think that even one percent of (Muslim) votes will go to him.” ed Narendra Modi in India’s holiest city, the would-be prime The 63-year-old leader remains deeply controversial after minister’s top aide proclaimed the wave of support for his more than 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed in riots boss had become a “tsunami”. Rather than deny the opposi- in Gujarat in 2002 shortly after he came to power. tion’s assertion, the governing Congress party shot back that Meanwhile, opposition leader Narendra Modi sharp- tsunamis leave a trail of death and destruction. ened his attack on India’s election authorities yesterday, The salvo was typical of the war of words being waged in accusing them of discrimination in barring him from hold- Varanasi, one of the final contests in the world’s biggest elec- ing rallies to back his candidacy in Varanasi. “With full tion and whose combatants include two of India’s most responsibility, I’m accusing India’s election commission of talked-about politicians. If his Bharatiya Janata Party’s plan discrimination,” Modi told supporters at another rally in the MULTAN: An injured colleague of slain Pakistani lawyer Rashid Rehman comes off, Modi will emerge next week as Varanasi’s mem- electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, where one in every arrives at the hospital after an attack by gunmen. — AFP ber of parliament and India’s prime minister. six Indian voters lives. The independent monitoring agency But opposing him is anti-corruption champion Arvind is widely credited for ensuring free and fair elections in Kejriwal, who six months ago prevented the BJP from taking India, in which 815 million voters have been called to the Lawyers strike to mourn charge of Delhi’s state assembly in a stunning electoral polls over five weeks. — Agencies debut. The expectation this time is of a win for Modi in Pakistan defense lawyer Monday’s poll, the last day of voting in the whole six-week election. National results are due next Friday. MULTAN: Lawyers in Pakistan went on diately.” He added that Rehman had told “Everyone in Varanasi, everyone in India, knows that Modi strike yesterday to mourn a colleague the association he had received death is the frontrunner,” said T P Singh, a politics professor at the shot dead for defending a university lec- threats and they had asked the police to city’s Banaras Hindu University. “The people of Varanasi are turer accused of blasphemy, the latest provide security, but the request was excited that they won’t just be voting for their MP but also killing linked to the controversial law. declined. for their PM.” A sacred city around 420 miles (680 kilometers) Gunmen stormed the office of Rashid “Rashid Rehman had informed us that east of Delhi, Varanasi is a perfect platform for Modi to pres- Rehman in the central city of Multan on he was being threatened by various peo- ent himself as a sound administrator and proud Hindu. The Wednesday evening and started firing ple to stop defending the blasphemy city on the banks of the river Ganges teems with temples indiscriminately, killing him and two oth- case, otherwise he will be killed,” Qureshi and traffic, and it is regarded as particularly auspicious for ers in the room. It is the latest high-profile said. Rehman was representing Junaid Hindus to be cremated by the holy waters. Boys play cricket killing linked to Pakistan’s strict laws Hafeez, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya only yards from the burning bodies. against defaming Islam, which rights University who is accused of making campaigners say are often used to settle derogatory remarks. Hafeez was known Higher calling personal disputes. A prominent provincial at the university for his liberal views and Modi’s pitch has been to revive a city whose famous silk governor and a Christian federal minister the blasphemy case was registered after industry is fighting for survival. A BJP “vision document” were assassinated in separate incidents in pressure from right-wing student groups, includes pledges to clean up the filthy Ganges and make 2011 for criticizing the laws. Last month a according to a student who did not wish Varanasi an education hub. The BJP’s national secretary, Christian couple were sentenced to death to be named. Rameshwar Chaurasia, says Modi’s candidacy should also for sending a “blasphemous” text mes- have a knock-on effect in neighboring states. “Democracy is sage, with their lawyer suggesting they Rights activist a game of numbers and it was felt Modiji (ji is an Indian hon- were framed. Police official Zulfiqar Ali An official at the independent orific) would change the dynamics of at least 59 seats,” he said that Rehman’s attackers were young Human Rights Commission of Pakistan told AFP. men who reached the scene on motorcy- (HRCP) said that for a year, no lawyer was Uttar Pradesh state, which is home to Varanasi, accounts cle, and made no attempt to conceal their prepared to take up the case over fears for 80 out of 543 seats in the parliament, making it by far the identity using masks. Rehman, who was of attacks from extremist religious most important state. Congress appears to be an also-ran in about 50 and married without children groups. But Rehman, who was also a Varanasi after fielding a former BJP cadre who is accused of was pronounced dead in hospital. He was rights activist and coordinator of the attempted murder. Laxman Nishad, who rows pilgrims down hit by five bullets including one in the HRCP, decided to defend Hafeez. During the Ganges, said he would vote for Modi, a four-term chief head and one in the heart, according to the first hearing in March this year, minister of the relatively thriving coastal state of Gujarat. Doctor Ashiq Malik of the city’s Nishtar which took place inside a prison for “He has turned Gujarat into a golden place,” said the Hospital. security reasons, Rehman received boatman, 65. If Modi’s governance record adds to his appeal, “We are observing a strike and no threats from the complainant’s lawyers. his reputation as an unabashed Hindu nationalist as a former lawyer will appear in any court today to “During the hearing the lawyers of the member of the radical Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh group mourn and protest the killing of our col- complainant told Rehman that he divides voters. “He’s a hard worker and capable man who league,” Sher Zaman Qureshi, president wouldn’t be present at the next hearing believes in Hindu culture,” said Swamy Shesh Naryan as he GUWAHATI: Chief Minister of the western Indian of the District Bar Association Multan, told as he would not be alive,” said the HRCP took an early morning dip in the river. “There is nothing state of Gujarat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) AFP. “We demand that the killers of in a statement issued after the incident wrong with someone who is proud of his roots.”But Taj prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi gestures Rashid Rehman should be arrested imme- in March.—AFP Muhammad, a Muslim lawyer in Varanasi, said: “We don’t during an election rally. — AFP Opinion FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Fear of economic blow as births drop around world By Bernard Condon per person - fell 1 percent in the five biggest developed countries Germany and Italy. Now the proportion is also dropping in the from the start of 2008 through 2012, according to the World Bank. A United States, France and the United Kingdom, according to invest- ancy Strumwasser, a high school teacher from Mountain Lakes, drag on household wealth: Slower economic growth means compa- ment firm Research Affiliates, using data from the United Nations. NNew Jersey, always thought she’d have two children. But the nies will generate lower profits, thereby weighing down stock prices. Economists say it is rare for the number of working-age people as layoffs that swept over the US economy around the time her And the share of people in the population at the age when they a share of the total population to fall in so many major countries at son was born six years ago helped change her mind. Though she and tend to invest in stocks and homes is set to fall, too. All else equal, the same time. It’s usually because of war and famine, although such her husband, a market researcher, managed to keep their jobs, she that implies stagnant or lower values. Homes are the biggest source proportions also fell in the 1950s as baby boomers were born and fears they won’t be so fortunate next time. “After we had a kid in 2009, of wealth for most middle-class families. Births might pick up again, populations surged. The six countries with declining proportions of I thought, ‘This is not happening again,’” says Strumwasser, 41, of course. In France, where the government provides big subsidies working-age people now, plus China, accounted for 60 percent of adding, “I never really felt comfortable about jobs, how solid they can and tax breaks for children, birth rates are back where they were in global economic output in 2012, according to Haver Analytics, a be.” The financial crisis that followed the collapse of US investment the early 1970s. In other countries, women who put off having chil- research firm. The drops are small, a few tenths of a percentage point bank Lehman Brothers in 2008 did more than wipe out billions in dren in the recession might play catch up soon, as they did after each year off proportions of working age people, which had peaked wealth and millions of jobs. It also sent birth rates tumbling around World War II. Demographers note that women were having children in developed countries at 61.4 percent in 2009. But Research the world as couples found themselves too short of money or too later in life even before the crisis, and so births are likely to rise any- Affiliates expects the working-age share of total population to fall fearful about their finances to have children. Six years later, birth rates way. steadily for several decades, slowing economies each year, until they haven’t bounced back. For those who fear an overcrowded planet, But even a snapback in births to pre-recession levels will leave bottom at about 50 percent in 2040 or so. this is good news. For the economy, not so good. We tend to think economic growth comes from working harder and smarter. But econ- omists attribute up to a third of it to more people joining the work- force each year than leaving it. The result is more producing, earning and spending. Now this secret fuel of the economy, rarely missing and little noticed, is running out. “For the first time since World War II, we’re no longer getting a tailwind,” says Russ Koesterich, chief investment strategist at BlackRock, the world’s largest money manager. “You’re going to create fewer jobs. ... All else equal, wage growth will be slow- er.” Births are falling in China, Japan, the United States, Germany, Italy and nearly all other European countries. Studies have shown that births drop when unemployment rises, such as during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Birth rates have fallen the most in some regions that were hardest hit by the financial crisis. In the United States, three-quarters of people surveyed by Gallup last year said the main reason couples weren’t having more children was a lack of money or fear of the economy. The trend emerges as a key gauge of future economic health - the growth in the pool of potential workers, ages 20-64 - is signaling trouble ahead. This labor pool had expanded for decades, thanks to the vast generation of baby boomers. Now the boomers are retiring, and there are barely enough new workers to replace them, let alone add to their numbers. Growth in the working-age population has halted in developed countries overall. Even in France and the United Kingdom, with rela- tively healthy birth rates, growth in the labor pool has slowed dramat- ically. In Japan, Germany and Italy, the labor pool is shrinking. “It’s like In this April 14, 2014 photo, a 3-year-old boy plays in the playground of Community Day Preschool of Garden Grove in Garden health - you only realize it exists until you don’t have it,” says Alejandro Grove, California. According to the school’s executive director Sue Puisis, enrollment at the preschool has dropped by more Macarron Larumbe, managing director of Demographic Renaissance, than 50 percent since 2008. — AP a think tank in Madrid. The drop in birth rates is rooted in the 1960s, when many women entered the workforce for the first time and cou- ples decided to have smaller families. Births did begin rising in many families much smaller than they were decades ago, a shift that has Productivity Growth countries in the new millennium. But then the financial crisis struck. already affected industries and economies around the world. In A country can compensate for this demographic drag on econom- Stocks and home values plummeted, blowing a hole in household Japan, sales of adult diapers will exceed sales of baby diapers this ic growth by encouraging people to work longer or to use technolo- finances, and tens of millions of people lost jobs. Many couples year, according to Euromonitor International, a marketing research gies to increase output. But most economists doubt that such delayed having children or decided to have none at all. firm. In Germany and Italy, towns are emptying as families shrink and changes are forthcoming or would be enough. “You need incredible there aren’t enough children to replace older ones who are dying. productivity growth,” says Michael Feroli, a JPMorgan economist. He Fewer Babies And in South Korea, where births have fallen 11 percent in a decade, says economic growth of 3 percent is unlikely on a “sustained basis” Couples in the world’s five biggest developed economies - the 121 primary schools had no new students last year, according to even for the United States, which is blessed with a flow of immigrants, United States, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom - had Yonhap, the country’s government-backed news agency. albeit a slowing one, to soften the blow. 350,000 fewer babies in 2012 than in 2008, a drop of nearly 5 percent. Park Hyun-kyung, a 34-year-old hospital administrator in Daegu, Robert Arnott, chairman of Research Affiliates, thinks investors and The United Nations forecasts that women in those countries will have South Korea, says she would like to have three children, just like her policymakers don’t realize how much demographics will hurt an average 1.7 children in their lifetimes. Demographers say the fertil- parents. But she and her husband have decided to stick to one, if economies now because they never appreciated how much they ity rate needs to reach 2.1 just to replace people dying and keep pop- they have any. “Most jobs are not secure enough to allow couples to helped in the past. Payrolls rose as the oldest baby boomers started ulations constant. The effects on economies, personal wealth and liv- have a baby and raise kids,” she says. In China, where the working- working in the mid-1960s - then kept rising as those born later took ing standards are far reaching: A return to “normal” growth is unlike- age population is set to shrink next year, the government is relaxing jobs. Retirees were relatively few because most workers were young. ly: Economic growth of 3 percent a year in developed countries, the a policy that had limited many families to one child. It might not help And many women joined the workforce for the first time. average over four decades, had been considered a natural rate of much. Chinese are choosing to stick to one on their own. It was an unusual confluence of beneficial demographic shifts, and expansion, sure to return once damage from the global downturn Lei Qiang, a logistics manager in Shanghai with a 2-year-old perhaps unrepeatable. “The developed world in the past 60 years has faded. But many economists argue that that pace can’t be sustained daughter, has ruled out another child. “I just couldn’t think how had the most benign demography in the history of man,” Arnott says. without a surge of new workers. The Congressional Budget Office expensive it is to have two,” says Lei, 39. Economists are worried not But economic growth in developed countries will “tumble” to no has estimated that the US economy will grow 3 percent or so in each just because growth is stalling in working-age populations. Their more than a tepid 1.5 percent a year, on average, until 2040 or so, he of the next three years, then slow to an average 2.3 percent for next numbers as a share of the total population in many countries is estimates. And Arnott says economic growth per capita, a rough eight years. The main reason: Not enough new workers. falling. Economists like to see this share of total population rise, gauge of living standards, may “swing negative.” It’s already on its Reduced pay and lifestyles: Slower economic growth will limit because it means more people are earning money, expanding the way. From 1960-2000, GDP per capita rose an average 2.6 percent a wage gains and make it difficult for middle-class families to raise their tax base and paying for schools for the young and pensions and year in the big six developed countries. Since then, it has grown less living standards, and for those in poverty to escape it. One measure health care for the old. Before the recession, the number of these than 1 percent a year. Arnott thinks the demographic drag is going to of living standards is already signaling trouble: Gross domestic prod- potential workers as a proportion of total population was falling in worsen, subtracting roughly a percentage point from the annual rate uct per capita - the value of goods and services a country produces three of the world’s six biggest developed economies - Japan, in the next few decades.—AP FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Picasso painting fetches Bearded $31 million Eurovision in NY drag queen auction

Page 21 draws

controversy Page 23 You can walk on theceiling

of this house Models walk the runway during the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 show at Brook- Page 30 lyn Navy Yard on May 7, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of Brooklyn City.—AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Decor beauty that’s inspired by insects, reptiles and other creatures

any would agree with naturalist David Attenborough that nature “is the Mgreatest source of visual beauty.” And that includes the creepy crawlies: From snakes’ skins to the intricate physiology of the smallest bug, we can’t help but be impressed by the beauty of creatures that buzz, flit and slither. Artists and designers have long used insects, reptiles and other small animals as inspiration. Let’s grab our nets and catch a few of the most intriguing recent examples: In his “Pheromone” series, artist and designer Christopher Marley of Salem, Oregon, marries his passion for crisp design with a fascination for insects, sea organisms and birds by arrang- ing them simply yet artfully on plain back- grounds in shadow boxes. A stripey mountain kingsnake seems poised to meander north of the frame in which he resides. A prion urchin looks like a tiny alien In this photo ‘3 Snakes’ by Christopher Marley incorporates elements of nature into contem- spacecraft, sprung from the confines of the porary art pieces. In this photo Snakes slither in several ocean floor. Dozens of beetles are arranged directions, yet there’s a symmetry like the iridescent squadron of an entomologi- says. “Sharing the thrill of discovery is one of carapaces, wings, antennae and pincers for his and elegance that brings the imagery cal army. Butterflies form kaleidoscopic prisms. the most driving aspects of my work,” he says. mechanical menagerie. into a more decorative format. The displays are an arresting mix of science New York artist George Venson creates As Aristotle put it: “In all things of nature and art. The specimens, which died of natural birds, snakes and octopuses in vibrant, there is something of the marvelous.” — AP or incidental causes, come from museums, painterly hues, and then arranges the images breeders and zoos around the world, Marley on wallpaper. He wants the walls to “come alive,” and there’s a sense of movement in each design. Snakes slither through back- grounds of ink, acid green or ruby. In Osborne & Little’s exotic Komodo wallpa- per collection, holographic foil lizards skitter across a black, silver or gold background. Los Angeles designer Paul Marra’s Snake Lantern forges two sinuous creatures into the form of a steel and brass pendant lantern. Sculptor Mike Libby once found a dead beetle and got to thinking about how it had moved. He began dissecting and experiment- ing - at the same time taking apart an old wristwatch, and using those pieces - until he’d Photo shows ‘Limited Aesthetica Prism’ by come up with the first of an ongoing collec- artist Christopher Marley, who turns elements tion of fantastical steampunk arachnids, bees of nature into contemporary art pieces. Marley and other creepy crawlies. He uses real insect arranges masses of insects like these butter- carcasses and bits from watches, vintage type- flies and tropical beetles to create a gorgeous writers and old sewing machines to fashion and dramatic kaleidoscope.

Photo provided by Insect Lab, inspired by science fiction and science fact, Insectlab.com customizes preserved insect specimens, such as this grasshopper, with antique watch parts and mechanical components. Lifestyle FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

In this photo Eric Fausnacht and Christopher Kline, Bucks County, PA artists create whimsical screen prints and throw pillows by manipulating photographs of farm animals, such as this sheep, that reside on Fausnacht’s farm.

A beveled glass butterfly alights on silvered bamboo to make an elegant picture frame from Z Gallerie.

Heavy aluminum is cast into antler shapes to form This photo shows George Voutsa’s hand drawn butterflies that flit with A dragonfly with antique watch parts and the legs of an intriguing and sophisticated side abandon across a vibrant background hue in a wallpaper that’s part of a mechanical components. table from Z Gallerie. series that includes also octopi, birds and flowers.

In this photo silver metallic paint on cast resin creates an intriguing and glamorous accent in this herd of galloping horses from Z Gallerie.

Picasso painting fetches $31 million in NY auction ablo Picasso’s 1932 oil painting “Le lion however one of the lots expected to gen- Sauvetage” sold at auction for more than erate most activity-Picasso’s “Tete de Marie- P$31 million on Wednesday after a bidding Therese” (“Head of Marie-Therese”), valued war at Sotheby’s in New York which saw it surge between $15 million and $20 million, failed to past its estimated pre-sale price. The surrealist find a buyer. Another important work “La master’s enigmatic work-which was last sold a Seance du Matin” by French master Henri decade ago went under the hammer for Matisse, sold for $19.205 million, just below its $31.525 million following frenzied bidding over lower estimate of $20 million. A canvas by several minutes. The painting had been expect- French impressionist Claude Monet, “Le Pont ed to fetch between $14 million and $18 million. Japonais” (“The Japanese Bridge”) meanwhile The painting was part of 14 Picasso works fetched $15.845 million, in line with its esti- offered by Sotheby’s as part of its auction of mated range of between $12 million and $18 Impressionist and Modern Art. In total, eight million. Sotheby’s reported total sales of just lots were sold for an aggregate $62.088 mil- under $219 million. — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Lea Michele’s ‘Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s return’ marks box-office debut for Clarius Entertainment

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Rose Byrne, left, and Seth Rogen in a scene from ‘Neighbors.’ —AP

Rogen’s suburbanites ea Michele will be singing at Clarius Entertainment’s coming out party at the box office this weekend. LShe’s voicing Dorothy in the 3D animated family film “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return,” the first release vs Frat Boys from the two-year-old marketing and distribution com- pany. It’s not expected to challenge “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” or “Neighbors” for No. 1, but getting that comedy is an instant classic first film into the marketplace is milestone for the Clarius team. It will be in a healthy 2,641 theaters, impressive for want to live in Nicholas Stoller’s world. In his last film, the Assjuice (Craig Roberts) against his housemates - with an a first outing. bewilderingly underrated “The Five-Year Engagement,” he unexpectedly kind pep talk, ultimately earning the teen’s “We can’t be more pleased with the way exhibition demonstrated an impressive sense of fairness when medi- admiring loyalty. I has embraced us and given us their full support on our ating the protracted resentments between unhappy fiancés first picture,” said Michael Pade, distribution president at Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. Back-and-forth pranks Los Angeles-based Clarius, told TheWrap. Stoller displays a similar empathy for both sides of a feud Delta Psi also boasts the film’s most interesting relation- in “Neighbors,” and it’s that rare emotional intelligence - ship, that between slacker Teddy and studious Pete. As grad- The debut is a little bittersweet, however. Marketing along with the film’s sly, surprising jokes and self-aware side- uation looms closer, their friendship is strained by their veteran Geoffrey Ammer, who was president and chief stepping of comedy clichés - that makes this Seth Rogen inevitably divergent paths, and Stoller uses their increasing executive of the company, died in September of 2012. vehicle an instant classic. distance to ask compelling questions about hedonism and His memory is very much on the minds of the young As the first couple among their friends to move to the debauchery. “Neighbors” is keenly aware that college is a company’s staff as they go into their first box-office ‘burbs and pop out a kid, Mac and Kelly Radner (Rogen and bubble, and thus mines real poignancy from the fact that weekend. Rose Byrne) are anxious about losing their cool cred even Teddy is using his vendetta against Mac and Kelly to distract The Clarius team includes creative marketing chief before a frat house full of perpetual spring breakers moves in himself from his uncertain future. Andrew Williams, acquisition head Louise Chater and next door. Mac and Kelly’s first night as neighbors to a herd While the fully developed relationships between the char- Claire Heath, who’s handling publicity. William Sadleir is of party monsters gives them the chance to binge on beer acters ground the film, the high-concept gags will keep audi- founder and chairman of the new company, which is part and blunts like they’re skipping class tomorrow. But when ences’ bellies sore from laughter. The back-and-forth pranks of the Clarius Capital Group. In addition to this weekend’s

‘Neighbors’ review Delta Psi prez Teddy (Zac Efron) and his right-hand dude Pete between the Radners and the frat house escalate in nastiness opener, the company has two other films set for release (Dave Franco) throw parties night after night, the new par- and hilarity, and self-contained flights of comic fancy keep the this year. The Rob Reiner-directed comedy “And So It ents scheme to rid the house next door of its frat infestation. jokes rolling in, as when Teddy and Pete affirm their bond by Goes” stars Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton and is Efron’s ultramarine eyes twinkle with a sociopathic glint, trying to think of as many different ways to say “bros before scheduled to open on July 11. The Nicole Kidman-Colin but Stoller and writers Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien hos” as possible. A shirtless, sometimes pants-less Rogen aims Firth thriller “Before I Go to Sleep” is set for Oct 24. Mark aspire to something much more ambitious than a showdown for somewhere between Will Ferrell and Lena Dunham in Strong co-stars. between the good bougies and the petty millennials. Teddy revealing his body; the effect is both amusingly repulsive and spends a pitifully huge amount of time planning a kegger for politically transgressive. And because it wouldn’t be a Seth New kid on the block the ages, but he and Pete ensure that the fraternity is a real Rogen movie without a bazillion cameos, we’re treated to “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return” from Summertime brotherhood. His natural leadership abilities allow him to foil memorable scenes with comedy pros Hannibal Burress, Lisa Entertainment is inspired by Frank L Baum’s “The one of Mac and Kelly’s plans - to turn a pledge named Kudrow, Jason Mantzoukas and Randall Park. Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and the adventure book series written by his great-grandson, Roger Stanton Baum. “Dorothy’s Return” finds her back in the Kansas home that was devastated by the same tornado that whisked Simon makes 1st public appearance since arrest her over the rainbow. aul Simon performed a rousing set Wednesday’s event, which raised $1.1 mil- Most of the familiar Oz characters are in this one. and accepted an award from New lion for scholarships. “After my fee of a mil- Kelsey Grammer voices the Tin Man, Dan Aykroyd the PYork University in his first public lion is deducted, that’s $100,000,” Simon Scarecrow, Jim Belushi is the Lion and Bernadette Peters appearance since he and wife Edie Brickell said to laughs. He was energetic and pipes up as Glinda. Martin Short, Hugh Dancy, Patrick were arrested on disorderly conduct danced onstage, and the crowd stood Stewart, Megan Hilty and Oliver Platt give voice to new charges. The 72-year-old performed more dancing with him on songs like “Me and characters. than a dozen songs Wednesday night at the Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and Bryan Adams wrote original songs for the movie, Beacon Theatre in New York, where he was “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” dur- which is directed by Daniel St Pierre and Will Finn and honored at the 2014 NYU Steinhardt Vision ing the 75-minute set. produced by Summertime founders Ryan Carroll and Award Gala. He played guitar and sang hits Simon was honored for his humanitarian Singer Paul Simon and his wife Edie Roland Carroll and Bonne Radford. Clarius would like to such as “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Late work and accomplished music career, which Brickell see a first weekend in the low-teen millions for the PG- In the Evening” and “You Can Call Me Al.” includes 12 Grammy Awards and two induc- rated “Legends of Oz,” which was produced for $70 mil- Simon and 48-year-old Brickell became tions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as sang “Still Crazy After All These Years.” “So, lion, low by animation standards. That could be tricky, physical with each other during an argu- a solo artist and as part of Simon & money well spent,” Simon said after the per- with “Amazing Spider-Man 2” aiming for the family ment inside a cottage on their New Canaan, Garfunkel, among other accolades. formance as the crowd laughed. Tickets crowd and Fox’s “Rio 2” still in more than 3,000 theaters Connecticut, property last week. Brickell Performance students and alumni from the were priced at $300 and $200, and only the in its fifth week. But “Dorothy’s Return” will be the new told police Simon shoved her and she Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and ground floor of the three-tiered Beacon kid on the block - just like Clarius. — Reuters slapped him. Brickell didn’t attend Human Development joined him when he Theatre was occupied. —AP Lifestyle FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Conchita Wurst gives a per- formance in front of a small audience of fans on May 1, 2014 at Huset, one of the sites hosting fans of the May 10 Eurovision song contest, in Copenhagen. — AFP photos

Conchita Wurst poses on the red carpet during an opening ceremony in Copenhagen. Bearded Eurovision drag queen draws controversy

ustria’s bearded drag queen accused of being “blatant propaganda of Eurovision: Five acts to watch Conchita Wurst has hogged the homosexuality and spiritual decay”. Alimelight ahead of Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest final, but things Cultural divide hile host country Denmark was widely which has seen its odds slashed since Tuesday. have gotten hairy for her among socially The outrage highlights a cultural divide tipped to take the Eurovision crown last year, “Understated” is hardly a word associated with conservative Europeans. “I created this between Eastern Europe and the countries the outcome looks more uncertain this time Eurovision, and faced by competition from Greece’s W bearded lady to show the world that you of the west. Wurst said her own song round. Here are some of the songs people in trampoline, Ukraine’s giant hamster wheel and two Copenhagen have been talking about this week: Russian twins on a seesaw, this number may fail to can do whatever you want,” said Wurst, the reflected the experience of growing up as leave an impression. However, if an outsider is going drag persona of 25-year-old Austrian singer an outsider in rural Austria. “It’s a story of Armenia: Aram MP3 - ‘Not Alone’ to win, this could be it. Tom Neuwirth, at a recent press conference going through bad times and struggling Long the bookmakers’ favorite, Aram MP3’s dubstep in Copenhagen. through difficult things, and growing out of ballad was abandoned by punters after Tuesday’s Britain: Molly - ‘Children of the Universe’ “If you’re not hurting anyone you can do it and hopefully becoming a better person,” semi-final in favor of Sweden’s Sanna Nielsen. The For many Brits, Eurovision is an excuse to get drunk whatever you like with your life and, it’s so she said. “For me of course it’s so close to emotional song may have been and drop mildly xenophobic jokes cheesy, but we’ve only got one (life),” she my life ... emotionally, growing up,” she hampered by a somewhat unemo- about other Europeans, after which it added. Wurst’s James Bond theme-like bal- added. Her creator, Tom Neuwirth, rose to tional performance by the stand-up is concluded that for political reasons, lad “Rise Like a Phoenix” is widely expected fame after finishing second on Austrian tal- comedian, whose name dates back nobody voted for them. But things to make it through today’s semi-final in the ent show Starmania in 2006, after which he to his previous career impersonat- could be about to change. After the Danish capital, but few pundits believe she joined a short-lived boyband. Conchita ing famous singers. name recognition of eighties power will take the Eurovision crown. Wurst first appeared in 2011, when she ballad icon Bonnie Tyler failed to deliv- However, comments by Armenian made it to the final of another reality show. Sweden: Sanna Nielsen - ‘Undo’ er last year, Britain is represented by Eurovision hopeful Aram MP3 — one of the The following year she came second in the The Swedish balladeer became the unknown singer-songwriter Molly bookies’ favorites this year-that Wurst’s TV program that selects the central bookies’ top choice by a narrow Smitten-Downes, who some British lifestyle was “not natural” have boosted her European country’s Eurovision entry. margin after delivering a stellar fans believe could hand them their profile, even though the stand-up comedi- Although much of the controversy over semi-final rendition of what could first victory since 1997’s “Love Shine a an later claimed his comments were a joke. her appearance has centered on Eastern well have been a Disney theme Light” by Katrina and the Waves. song. To be fair she has had time to “He apologized by saying his comments Europe, it hasn’t always been smooth sail- practise-this year was the blonde Austria: Conchita Wurst - ‘Rise Like a were a joke and badly translated,” Wurst ing in her home country. The leader of the singer’s seventh attempt at becom- Phoenix’ said. “I have to say that if it’s a joke it’s not right-wing FPOe party, Heinz-Christian ing Sweden’s Eurovision candidate, Although hardly a candidate for the funny ... but he apologized and that’s fine Strache, called her “ridiculous” and threw a tough task in a country that takes top spot, Austria’s bearded drag queen for me,” she added. There have also been his support behind another singer, Alf the event incredibly seriously. is likely to get a lot of attention for her petitions to have her removed from the Poier, who suggested she needed psychi- eye-catching appearance, which has competition in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, atric help. “If someone doesn’t know if The Netherlands: The Common prompted petitions in eastern Europe where a law banning “gay propaganda” they’re a man or a woman, they should go Linnets - ‘The Calm After the Molly representing the to have her removed from the compe- was signed by President Vladimir Putin last to a psychotherapist rather than to the Storm’ United Kingdom at the tition. The beard and the hair may be year. song contest,” Poier was quoted by Singers Ilse DeLange and Wayon Eurovision Song Contest fake, but Wurst is a real star whose St Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Milonov Austrian media as saying. A German-lan- travelled to Nashville, Tennessee to with her song ‘Children song would not sound out of place in reportedly asked his country’s Eurovision guage Facebook page protesting the deci- perfect this mellow country song, of the Universe’. —AFP the next James Bond movie. — AFP selection committee not to send any sion to send her to Copenhagen has gar- Russian musicians to the event, which he nered over 38,500 “likes”. — AFP 24 25 FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

uices are the perfect fast food for today’s eat-on-the-run lifestyle. They contain Fruits and vegetables provide all the goodness of the whole product in a condensed form. For example, a nutrients essential for growth and renewal Jpound of carrots can be a significant source of calcium and protein, but those Fruits and some vegetables contain substantial amounts of carbohydrates which ten carrots may be more supply most of the energy we CITRUS C-BREEZE than your willing to eat use to live and perform work. at a single meal. Juic- Fruits and vegetables contain ing concentrates that generous amounts of vitamins. one pound into a single Vitamins regulate metabolism glass of easy to drink and help in the conversion of juice. These nutrients are the fats and carbohydrates into quickly assimilated since energy. the body does not have to separate out of the Fruits and vegetables fiber. have a protective effect Don’t be afraid to ex- Fruits and vegetables can periment with different protect the body from such combinations of juices, just let your major diseases as cancer and heart dis- taste buds be your guide. Vegetable ease. Some are high in substances called juices that taste “strong” such as spin- anti-oxidants, such as beta carotene, Vi- ach and beet, are high in compounds tamins C and E and selenium, which are that should be consumed in small nutrients that protect cell membranes quantities. Dilute these with milder from the damage of free radicals. tasting juices such as carrot, celery, or apple juice. Fruits and vegetables have a Not only are fruit and vegetable medicinal effect juices your best convenience foods, Fruits and vegetables can be your CARROT JUICE BOOST they provide thousands of substanc- best non-prescription drugs. For es, some of which have well-known example, blueberries are an effective functions, and some whose roles in anti-diarrheal agent, and ginger is as ef- he Citrus C-Breeze is a refreshing juice to have on a hot summer afternoon. The the human body are not yet under- fective as well-promoted motion-sick- tanginess of the Ruby Red grapefruit, the sweetness of the oranges and Meyer stood or recognized. Current wisdom ness drug, and new studies show that Tlemon, and the sourness of the lime create a blend of citrus that will whisk you recognizes three roles that fruit and it also relieves nausea and stomach away. vegetables play in the human body: discomfort caused by pregnancy. Ingredients 3 oranges 1 Ruby Red grapefruit 1 Meyer lemon 1 lime

Directions f your family is new to juicing, 1. Wash and rinse all fruits he Carrot Juice Boost is an easy and delicious way Juice it for all its worth!start with a base juice of carrots 2. Cut fruits into halves to incorporate more carrots and vitamin-C into your Iand apples. Even if you go no 3. Juice oranges and grapefruit on citrus squeezer directly into glass Tdiet. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, beta-carotenes, further in your juicing adventures, 4. Hand squeeze lemon and lime directly into glass so no pulp is added and fiber and are known to ward off cancer, heart disease, a healthful drink will serve you well 5. Mix thoroughly and serve and even improve your vision! Add a small piece of ginger because it’s packed with such essen- for a little bit of added spice. RUBY RED tial nutrients as beta carotenes. Start with that basic, delicious juice. After Ingredients that, maybe add one other item, like 8 carrots GRAPEFRUIT REFRESHER a rib of celery, or something else very 2 oranges mild and great tasting. Then work up SWEET BEET 1 Meyer lemon to adding more things. Try a small 1 small piece ginger handful of parsley or a half-inch o need to add any sugar on top of your chunk of ginger. Step up to bolder Directions morning grapefruit anymore with this flavors, adding in small handfuls of BOLDNESS 1. Wash and rinse all fruits and vegetables freshly squeezed grapefruit juice recipe. N additional vegetables at first, until he sweetness of the apple, pear, and carrots complement the earthy and bold 2. Juice oranges with citrus squeezer directly into glass Squeeze in a blood orange to bring out more of your family’s palate adjusts. A beet flavor of the beets in the Sweet Beet Boldness. The cucumber, celery, and lemon 3. Squeeze Meyer lemon by hand directly into glass that ruby red color and to add a balance of sweet- is a wonderful thing to add. It makes add a refreshing element that cleanses the palette and ends with a smooth fin- 4. Juice carrots and ginger and pour into glass ness. The Ruby Red Grapefruit Refresher is sure the juice a beautiful color, it’s rich in T 5. Mix thoroughly and serve ish. Beets are rich in antioxidants and are known to ward off cancer. to complement any breakfast. iron, and the leaves are extremely rich in minerals. Ingredients Ingredients 1 red beet 4 Ruby Red 5 carrots grapefruits 3 celery stalks 1 blood orange 1 cucumber 1 pear Directions 1 Meyer lemon 1. Wash and cut grape- fruits and blood oranges into Directions halves 1. Wash and rinse all fruits and vegetables 2. Juice on citrus squeezer directly into glass 2. Cut off ends of carrots and celery and cut into halves 3. Mix thoroughly and serve 3. Cut off ends of cucumber and cut into quarters 4. Cut pear into quarters and remove core 5. Cut off ends of beet, peel, and cut into quarters 6. Juice in juicer 7. Squeeze lemon into juice and mix thoroughly before serving Movies FRIDAY, MAY 9 2014 26 Dude, what were they thinking? Most disappointing comic book movies of all-time

iven their potential to literally make billions of dollars at the box office – Gperhaps even more than any other type of movie in this modern cinematic age – it’s no wonder that the studios have turned their attention to comic book adaptations. Yes, the movie-going public have become obsessed with the likes of the comic book movie over the course of the last decade.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

iven its standing as a reboot of a franchise that probably didn’t need to rebooted so soon in the Gfirst place, there should have been a sense of “new and innovative” about The Amazing Spider-Man. Instead, we got yet another basic re-telling of the Peter Parker Iron Man 3 (2013) origin story, with not a whole lot to separate it from the original Sam Raimi version. Were the studio afraid to ron Man 3 is probably one of the most dividing comic book movies in take risks? Were the writers and director out of ideas? So cinema history; whereas many enjoyed its conceits as a buddy flick, although The Amazing Spider-Man was a good enough Icomplete with quipping dialogue, rapid-fire jokes, and a generally light- film, there’s no denying that it was a thoroughly disap- weight plot, others thought it blasphemous in its insincerity, bombastic pointing one, too. action scenes and the liberties it took with a certain famous villains. Let’s not beat about the bush: it was the Mandarin that caused such an uproar amongst fans and general movie-goers alike, who felt betrayed and disap- pointed with the way Marvel handled the character. Movies FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 27

Superman Returns (2006) ryan Singer jumped ship from the X-Men franchise to direct Superman X-Men:The Last Returns, but he might as well have stayed put – chances are we would’ve Bbeen gifted with a far better third X-Men movie (Brett Ratner be gone), and this bizarre mess of half reboot/half sequel might have been shelved. Almost Stand (2006) twenty years after the last Superman film, then, Warner Bros decided to revisit the character in a movie that would’ve been better off as a straightforward reboot, but hen Bryan Singer left the X-Men franchise after instead ended up being a confusing mass of half-realized ideas and concepts. Warner Bros offered him the chance to direct WSuperman Returns, 20th Century Fox were left trying to find a replacement director who would be able to replicate the success of the first two installments. After trying for Joss Whedon, among others, the job eventu- ally fell to Matthew Vaughn, who was forced to leave during pre-production due to scheduling issues. His replacement, and the man whose name now appears beneath the “Directed By” tag? Brett Ratner, best known for his Rush Hour movies.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Hulk (2003)

ndoubtedly, The Dark Knight Rises – the follow-up to the immensely popular cinematic milestone that was The Dark Knight – is one of hat a strange beast is Ang Lee’s admirable but ultimately yawn-in- the most curious comic book movies ever made. On one hand, it’s a ducing take on the Hulk, who is arguably the most difficult comic U book character to adapt to film. Lee, best known for films like technical and visual marvel, filled with great performances, admirable in its W mission to be the dark, final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Sense and Sensibility and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, isn’t a natural On the other hand, it’s a strange, bombastic mess – a movie that trips up on fit for the material… it’s clear from the get-go that his idea of a Hulk movie its own conceits time and time again, until the only sane reaction is that of isn’t just things getting smashed and broken, but one rich with existential utter bewilderment. It’s like a overambitious first novel. drama. This might’ve worked had the majority of the movie not felt so flat and tiresome, the action scenes dull and sort of bonkers. Celebrity FRIDAY, MAY 9 2014 28 Makeup –

One Kate Moss

Kate Moss is one of the world’s most photographed supermodels, but that doesn’t mean she is camera ready all the time. The beautiful Brit isn’t shy about person, showing off her naked face every now and then. 2 faces Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is a bombshell when she hits the red carpet, but without the help of hair and makeup artists she’s just an average girl.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross is just like us – she hits the grocery story without a stitch of makeup. Celebrity FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 29

Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson, the self-proclaimed “world’s first supermodel,” hits the streets with nearly nothing painted on her face.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan doesn’t always have time to put makeup on before she leaves the house (or rehab!)

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks looks beautiful – but drastically different – without her makeup.

Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes looks like your average girl-next-door without makeup.

Houses FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 30 You can walk on theceiling

of this house

n upside-down house is a new tourist attraction in Shanghai. Now you can know what it feels like to suspend gravity, or at least make it look like you are in photos. An upside-down house has been built in Fenjing Ancient Town, Jinshan District, which is south of Shanghai, and is now open to the public. The three-room house was designed by a Polish designer and took five months to complete, according to The Daily Telegraph. All the furniture is stuck to the ceiling — from the sofa to the dining room table and chairs — which emphasizes the in- verted look. The house even features a sloping floor, which made some of the guests feel dizzy and disoriented. But of course, there were plenty of photo ops. Similar houses have been built in Russia, Germany, and Poland. A —www.housebeautiful.com Leisure FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

79. A human limb. 80. An informal term for a father. CROSSWORD542 81. A great raja. 82. A light touch or stroke. DOWN 1. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska. 2. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology. 3. Full of germs or pathological microorganisms. 4. Located within the hull or nearest the midline of a vessel or aircraft. 5. Distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers. 6. A mouth or mouthlike opening. 7. An official at a baseball game. 8. Hang loosely or laxly. 9. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper. 10. A landlocked socialist republic in central Asia. 11. A short high tone produced as a signal or warning. 12. A festival featuring African-American culture. 13. Something that remunerates. 14. The sixth month of the civil year. 24. The language of the nomadic Lapp people in northern Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula. 26. Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion. 27. Clothes moths. 29. An appetizer consisting usually of a thin slice of bread or toast spread with caviar or cheese or other savory food. 32. A ballroom dance in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat. 34. (Old Testament) A son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel. 35. A historical region of southwestern India on the west coast. 37. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism. ACROSS 38. A momentary flash of light. 1. (New Testament) The sages who visited Jesus and Mary and Joseph shortly 43. Lake in northwestern Russia near the border with Finland. after Jesus was born. 46. A large fleet. 5. A unit of electrical charge equal to the amount of charge transferred by a cur- 47. A unit of information equal to one million (1,048,576) bytes. rent of 1 ampere in 1 second. 48. A member of an agricultural people of southern India. 12. A group of African language in the Niger-Congo group spoken from the 49. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. Ivory Coast east to Nigeria. 52. Hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases. 15. Chief port of Yemen. 55. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 16. Intravenous beta blocker (trade name Brevibloc) that acts for only a short 60. The basic unit of money in Yemen. time. 63. Plant with an elongated head of broad stalked leaves resembling celery. 17. (often followed by `of') A large number or amount or extent. 65. An informal term for a father. 18. A place where ships can take on or discharge cargo. 66. An endorsement. 19. Having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another. 67. A pilgrimage to Mecca. 20. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 68. The basic unit of money on Malta. 21. Projectiles to be fired from a gun. 69. A metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables. 22. A garment that covers the head and face. 71. A slight amount or degree of difference. 23. Swiss naturalist who was one of the founders of modern zoology (1516- 73. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 1565). 75. Someone who is morally reprehensible. 25. A sharply directional antenna. 77. Before noon. 28. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 78. A state in midwestern United States. 30. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiat- ed material. Yesterdayʼs Solution 31. Morally bad or wrong. 33. Made from residue of grapes or apples after pressing. 36. (Norse mythology) God of light and peace and noted for his beauty and sweet nature. Yesterday’s Solution 39. Black tropical American cuckoo. 40. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy. 41. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. 42. An ax used to slaughter cattle. 44. An organization of independent states to promote international peace and security. 45. Fallow deer. 50. South American armadillo with three bands of bony plates. 51. A special lineage. 53. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube. 54. Informal terms for a mother. 56. One thousand grams. 57. The great hall in ancient Persian palaces. 58. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits. 59. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice. 61. Tag the base runner to get him out. 62. An associate degree in nursing. 64. Panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest. 70. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 72. A Kwa language spoken in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 74. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia. 76. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Stars FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Aries (March 21-April 19) COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) Afghanistan 0093 Kuwait 00965 Things are coming to a difficult stalemate regarding the love in Albania 00355 Kyrgyzstan 00996 For you, Libra, love is like an adventure, crazy sport, or some Algeria 00213 Laos 00856 your life, Aries. Perhaps you've felt like everything was going fine sort of video arcade game. Lately, you may have been too Andorra 00376 Latvia 00371 and you had nothing to worry about. In reality, this notion of Angola 00244 Lebanon 00961 caught up in the fantasy aspect of it without taking into "fine" was just your self-denial hard at work making you think that Anguilla 001264 Liberia 00231 account the practical nature and nitty-gritty of what it takes to you could continue on your path without really considering how Antiga 001268 Libya 00218 keep a relationship afloat. You might need to take a more real- Argentina 0054 Lithuania 00370 your actions affected others. Be prepared for a reality check that istic view of it now. Be more sensitive to your emotions and Armenia 00374 Luxembourg 00352 you didn't see coming. Australia 0061 Macau 00853 honor them accordingly. Austria 0043 Macedonia 00389 Bahamas 001242 Madagascar 00261 Bahrain 00973 Majorca 0034 Bangladesh 00880 Malawi 00265 Barbados 001246 Malaysia 0060 Belarus 00375 Maldives 00960 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belgium 0032 Mali 00223 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belize 00501 Malta 00356 Benin 00229 Marshall Islands 00692 Bermuda 001441 Martinique 00596 Love is very real to you. You're apt to take it very seriously, Love and romance should be going well for you now, Scorpio. Bhutan 00975 Mauritania 00222 perhaps even too seriously, Taurus. This is one of those Bolivia 00591 Mauritius 00230 emotions that eventually takes over your brain and leaves However, today you could find that things get a bit uneasy Bosnia 00387 Mayotte 00269 no room for rational thoughts on the topic. The good news when either you or your partner suspects something isn't true Botswana 00267 Mexico 0052 is that matters regarding love and romance should be stabi- or is suspicious about the situation at hand. Someone may get Brazil 0055 Micronesia 00691 caught in a difficult predicament when the veil of deception is Brunei 00673 Moldova 00373 lizing at this time, giving you the opportunity to face this Bulgaria 00359 Monaco 00377 area of your life from a rational perspective. suddenly lifted and the truth revealed. There could be some Burkina 00226 Mongolia 00976 difficult explaining to do. Burundi 00257 Montserrat 001664 Cambodia 00855 Morocco 00212 Cameroon 00237 Mozambique 00258 Canada 001 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Cape Verde 00238 Namibia 00264 Cayman Islands 001345 Nepal 00977 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Central African Republic 00236 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Chad 00235 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Chile 0056 New Caledonia 00687 China 0086 New Zealand 0064 Matters of the heart are likely to get a bit sticky, Gemini. The notion of truth could get shot down today due to someone Colombia 0057 Nicaragua 00505 Perhaps you feel as if someone is shutting off from you and who knows you better than most, Sagittarius. It won't take a Comoros 00269 Nigar 00227 being very stubborn about it. Perhaps this person is giving you Congo 00242 Nigeria 00234 long, drawn-out conversation or deep explanation to reveal the Cook Islands 00682 Niue 00683 the cold shoulder and refusing to acknowledge you until you fact that there is a bit of deception that has been covering the Costa Rica 00506 Norfolk Island 00672 crawl back with an apology. The problem is that your pride is truth. Don't try to hide from loved ones who are only trying to Croatia 00385 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 stubborn, and your view on the matter is equally so, making do what's best for you. Be open and honest with those who Cuba 0053 North Korea 00850 any resolution difficult. really care. Cyprus 00357 Norway 0047 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Oman 00968 Czech Republic 00420 Pakistan 0092 Denmark 0045 Palau 00680 Diego Garcia 00246 Panama 00507 Djibouti 00253 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dominica 001767 Paraguay 00595 Cancer (June 21-July 22 Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Dominican Republic 001809 Peru 0051 ) Ecuador 00593 Philippines 0063 Egypt 0020 Poland 0048 El Salvador 00503 Portugal 00351 Your warm, loving, romantic nature is noticed whether you Do what you can to stabilize your emotions, Capricorn. England (UK) 0044 Puerto Rico 001787 realize it or not, Cancer. Perhaps you sometimes feel like there Romance should be on a slow, steady path as long as Equatorial Guinea 00240 Qatar 00974 Eritrea 00291 Romania 0040 isn't enough excitement in your life - especially your love life. you're honest with yourself and others about how you feel. Estonia 00372 Russian Federation 007 Don't think this means you need to change in order to please Perhaps you're so caught up in your fantasy world that you Ethiopia 00251 Rwanda 00250 others. Your stable, quiet nature is comforting to those who fail to see that things are actually moving in your favor. Falkland Islands 00500 Saint Helena 00290 understand and appreciate it. The last thing you want to do Conflict that arises today may be uncomfortable, but ulti- Faroe Islands 00298 Saint Kitts 001869 mately it will shed more light on the truth of the situation. Fiji 00679 Saint Lucia 001758 today is pretend to be someone you aren't. Finland 00358 Saint Pierre 00508 France 0033 Saint Vincent 001784 French Guiana 00594 Samoa US 00684 French Polynesia 00689 Samoa West 00685 Gabon 00241 San Marino 00378 Gambia 00220 Sao Tone 00239 Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Georgia 00995 Saudi Arabia 00966 Germany 0049 Scotland (UK) 0044 Ghana 00233 Senegal 00221 Gibraltar 00350 Seychelles 00284 When it comes to romance in your life, Leo, there may be a You need to slow down in matters of love and romance, Greece 0030 Sierra Leone 00232 great deal of talk but not enough action. Perhaps you're a ter- Aquarius. You're likely acting on the assumption that things are Greenland 00299 Singapore 0065 rific flirt who can keep things moving at a quick pace intellec- fine and you can continue moving at lightning speed even Grenada 001473 Slovakia 00421 though you long ago lost your road map. There's a degree of Guadeloupe 00590 Slovenia 00386 tually, but nothing really comes of it when you have to take Guam 001671 Solomon Islands 00677 concrete action and manifest those words in a romantic set- fantasy in your world. It doesn't take into account the fact that Guatemala 00502 Somalia 00252 ting. This is one day when this conflict of interests makes itself there are areas where you need to be more sensitive to your Guinea 00224 South Africa 0027 known more blatantly than usual. partner and perhaps take things more slowly and methodically. Guyana 00592 South Korea 0082 Haiti 00509 Spain 0034 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Sri Lanka 0094 Honduras 00504 Sudan 00249 Hong Kong 00852 Suriname 00597 Hungary 0036 Swaziland 00268 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sweden 0046 Iceland 00354 Switzerland 0041 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) India 0091 Syria 00963 Indian Ocean 00873 Taiwan 00886 Indonesia 0062 Tanzania 00255 Things are coming to a dramatic climax for you in matters of Issues of love and romance should be going well for you, Pisces, Iran 0098 Thailand 0066 and you'll find that regardless of where you are in your relation- Iraq 00964 Toga 00228 love and romance, Virgo. Perhaps you've been nurturing a rela- Ireland 00353 Tonga 00676 tionship. You've put a lot of passion and soul into building a ships, you're right where you need to be. There's an element of Italy 0039 Tokelau 00690 strong connection. This is a time of reckoning in which you take fantasy at work today that's making you much more susceptible to Ivory Coast 00225 Trinidad 001868 a step back and see what you've gained from it all. Do you have romantic dreams and ideas. The good news is that you have the Jamaica 001876 Tunisia 00216 a partner for life or someone who doesn't appreciate you as power to put these dreams into motion. Manifest your wildest fan- Japan 0081 Turkey 0090 tasies with a loved one tonight. Jordan 00962 Tuvalu 00688 much as you think they should? Kazakhstan 007 Uganda 00256 Kenya 00254 Ukraine 00380 Kiribati 00686 United Arab Emirates00976 TV listings FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

08:40 Fast N’ Loud 19:00 Doomsday Preppers 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 Five-PG15 09:30 Border Security 20:00 Situation Critical 14:00 Zero Hour 15:00 Moonrise Kingdom-PG15 09:55 Baggage Battles 21:00 Doomsday Preppers 15:00 Almost Human 17:00 The Three Stooges-PG15 10:20 The Liquidator 22:00 Doomsday Preppers 16:00 Emmerdale 19:00 Celeste And Jesse Forever-PG15 10:45 How It’s Made 23:00 A Traveler’s Guide To The 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Cloud Atlas-18 00:45 Whale Wars 11:10 How Stuff’s Made Planets 18:00 Zero Hour 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 00:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 11:35 Sons Of Guns 19:00 Glee 02:25 Man, Cheetah, Wild 01:30 Emmerdale 12:25 Destroyed In Seconds 20:00 American Idol 03:15 Call Of The Wildman 02:25 Coronation Street 12:50 Destroyed In Seconds 21:00 The Client List 03:40 Call Of The Wildman 02:55 Come Dine With Me Ireland 13:15 Destroyed In Seconds 22:00 Survivor: Cagayan 04:05 Swimming With Monsters: Steve 03:25 Four Weddings UK 13:40 Destroyed In Seconds 23:00 Nip/Tuck 01:00 The Pirates! Band Of Misfits Backshall 04:20 The Hungry Sailors 14:05 Border Security 03:00 The Happets 04:55 Animal Cops Phoenix 05:15 May The Best House Win Abroad 14:30 Baggage Battles 04:30 Puppy In My Pocket: The Movie 05:45 ER Vets 06:10 The Jonathan Ross Show 00:20 World’s Deadliest Killers 14:55 The Liquidator 06:00 Free Birds 06:10 ER Vets 07:05 Come Dine With Me Ireland 01:10 Fish Warrior 15:20 Bush Pilots 08:00 Cinderella 06:35 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 07:30 Four Weddings UK 02:00 Built For The Kill 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 10:00 Curious George: Swings Into 07:00 Escape To Chimp Eden 08:25 The Hungry Sailors 02:50 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins 17:00 Ultimate Survival Spring 07:25 Animal Maternity Ward 09:20 May The Best House Win Abroad 03:45 Shane Untamed 17:50 Wheeler Dealers 11:30 Madagascar 08:15 Wild France 10:15 Doc Martin 04:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 00:00 Deep Rising 18:40 You Have Been Warned 13:00 The Pirates! Band Of Misfits 09:10 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 11:10 Emmerdale 05:35 Built For The Kill 02:00 Summer’s Blood 19:30 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell 14:30 Freddy Frogface 09:35 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 12:00 Coronation Street 06:30 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins 04:00 Heebie Jeebies 20:20 How It’s Made 16:00 Curious George 10:05 Man, Cheetah, Wild 12:30 The Jonathan Ross Show 07:25 Shane Untamed 06:00 Meteor Storm 20:45 How Stuff’s Made 18:00 Curious George: Swings Into 11:00 Animal Precinct 13:25 May The Best House Win Abroad 08:20 Ultimate Animal Countdown 08:00 Skyfall 21:10 Baggage Battles Spring 11:55 Escape To Chimp Eden 14:20 Doc Martin 09:15 Let Elephants Be Elephants 10:30 Hellboy: Sword Of Storms 21:35 The Liquidator 19:30 Ben 10: Race Against Time 12:20 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 15:10 Come Dine With Me Ireland 09:40 Wild Lab: The Shark Test 12:00 Legendary Amazons 22:00 Fast N’ Loud 21:30 Freddy Frogface 12:50 Animal Clinic 15:35 The Chase 10:10 World’s Wildest Encounters 14:00 Stealth 22:50 Wheeler Dealers 23:15 Curious George 13:45 Austin Stevens Adventures 16:00 Tom Daley Goes Global 11:05 America The Wild 16:00 Hellboy: Sword Of Storms 23:40 Extreme Car Hoarders 14:40 Man, Cheetah, Wild 17:15 Blandings 12:00 Hooked 18:00 Vantage Point 15:30 My Cat From Hell 17:55 Come Dine With Me Ireland 12:55 World’s Deadliest 20:00 Stealth 16:30 The Magic Of The Big Blue 18:20 Doc Martin 13:50 That Shouldn’t Fly 22:00 Summoned 17:25 Too Cute! 19:10 Coronation Street 14:45 Shane Untamed 18:20 Bad Dog 19:35 The Chase 15:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 20:30 Tom Daley Goes Global 16:35 Night Stalkers 00:00 Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 19:15 Tanked 02:00 Battlestar Galactica: Blood & 20:10 Treehouse Masters 21:25 Blandings 17:30 Wild Gabon 21:55 Come Dine With Me Ireland 18:25 Secret Life of Predators Chrome 21:05 Lion Man: One World African 00:00 Chelsea Lately 04:00 One Life Safari 00:30 The Dance Scene 22:20 Coronation Street 19:20 World’s Deadliest 22:50 Emmerdale 20:10 That Shouldn’t Fly 06:00 Pizza Man 21:35 Lion Man: One World African 00:55 The Dance Scene 00:00 The Veteran-18 23:45 Doc Martin 21:00 Shane Untamed 08:00 Zambezia Safari 01:25 Style Star 02:00 Virtuosity-PG15 21:50 Ultimate Animal Countdown 10:00 Batman: The Dark Knight 22:00 Tanked 01:50 Style Star 04:00 The Blood Bond-PG15 22:40 Night Stalkers Returns Part Two 22:55 Treehouse Masters 02:20 E!ES 06:00 The Speed Of Thought-PG15 23:30 Wild Gabon 12:00 Parental Guidance 23:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 08:00 Drop Zone-PG 14:00 Zambezia 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 10:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 04:10 E!ES 16:00 Rewind 12:00 Abandoned-PG15 05:05 E!ES 18:00 Cash 06:00 E!ES 14:00 Drop Zone-PG 20:00 Gangster Squad 07:50 Style Star 00:00 Inside 16:00 Armageddon-PG15 22:00 Friends With Kids 08:20 E! News 01:00 Dangerous Encounters 18:30 Abandoned-PG15 00:00 Doctors 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 02:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 20:00 Shaft-18 00:30 My Hero 10:15 THS 03:00 Pirate Patrol 22:00 Grave Encounters-18 01:00 The Cafe 12:05 E! News 04:00 Blowdown 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 01:25 Stolen Stewart 13:05 Fashion Police 05:00 Diggers 01:00 Trans World Sport 02:55 Incredible Journeys With Steve 01:00 The Colbert Report 13:35 The Fabulist 05:30 Diggers 02:00 Premier League Darts Leonard 01:30 Family Guy 14:05 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 06:00 Pirate Patrol 05:30 NRL Full Time 03:45 My Hero 02:00 Brickleberry 15:00 Keeping Up With The 07:00 Nat Geo Amazing! 06:00 European tour weekly 04:15 The Weakest Link 02:30 Weeds 00:00 Cherry-18 Kardashians 08:00 Inside 06:30 Inside The PGA Tour 05:00 Boogie Beebies 03:00 Last Man Standing 02:00 Grabbers-PG15 16:00 Keeping Up With The 09:00 Dangerous Encounters 07:00 Golfing World 05:15 Little Human Planet Kardashians 03:30 New Girl 04:00 The Money Pit-PG15 10:00 Brave New World 08:00 ICC Cricket 360 05:20 The Green Balloon Club 17:00 The Drama Queen 04:00 Seinfeld 06:00 Daddy Day Camp-FAM 11:00 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey 08:30 Trans World Sport 05:45 Poetry Pie 18:00 E! News 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 08:00 A Thousand Words-PG15 12:00 Stonehenge Decoded 09:30 Seven World Series 05:50 Gigglebiz 19:00 The Fabulist Jimmy Fallon 10:00 Problem Child-PG 14:00 Family Guns 10:00 Total Rugby 06:05 Boogie Beebies 19:30 Fashion Police 05:30 My Boys 12:00 The Money Pit-PG15 15:00 None of the Above 10:30 Live Super Rugby 06:20 Me Too! 20:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 06:00 Breaking In 14:00 Rookie Of The Year-PG 15:30 None of the Above 12:30 Live Super Rugby 06:40 The Green Balloon Club 20:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 06:30 Friends 16:00 Problem Child-PG 16:00 Animal Autopsy 14:30 International Rugby League 07:05 Gigglebiz 21:00 Giuliana & Bill 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 18:00 A Kiss For Jed Wood-PG15 17:00 Dangerous Encounters 16:30 Live Snooker World 07:20 The Weakest Link 22:00 Hello Ross 08:00 Seinfeld 20:00 Superbad-18 18:00 Street Monkeys Championship 08:05 My Hero 22:30 E! News 08:30 My Boys 22:00 Cherry-18 20:00 Trans World Sport 08:35 The Cafe 09:00 Last Man Standing 21:00 Live Snooker World 09:00 Eastenders 09:30 The Mindy Project Championship 09:30 Doctors 10:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 10:00 Incredible Journeys With Steve 10:30 Friends Leonard 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 10:50 The Weakest Link Jimmy Fallon 11:35 The Cafe 12:00 Breaking In 01:00 Old Stock 12:00 My Hero 12:30 Seinfeld 03:00 Comes A Bright Day 02:00 Live NHL 12:30 The World’s Toughest Driving 13:00 My Boys 05:00 Atlas Shrugged 05:00 WWE NXT Tests 13:30 Friends 07:00 Old Stock 06:00 Trans World Sport 13:20 Eastenders 14:00 New Girl 09:00 Kathmandu Lullaby 07:00 Sevens World Series Highlights 13:50 Doctors 14:30 The Mindy Project 10:45 Atlas Shrugged 07:30 Super League 14:20 The Weakest Link 15:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 12:30 Quiet Flows The Don 09:30 NRL Full Time 15:05 Incredible Journeys With Steve 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 15:30 Carnage 10:00 Live International Rugby League Leonard Stewart 17:00 Hyde Park On Hudson 12:00 Live Snooker World 15:55 My Hero 16:00 The Colbert Report 19:00 Straight A’s Championship World Championship 16:25 The Weakest Link 16:30 Breaking In 21:00 Nobody Walks 16:00 Super Rugby 17:10 Eastenders 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 23:00 Locked In 18:00 WWE NXT 17:40 Doctors 18:00 Last Man Standing 19:00 WWE Bottom Line 18:10 Casualty 18:30 New Girl 20:00 WWE Smackdown 19:00 Saxondale 19:00 Enlisted 22:00 Live PGA Tour 19:30 The Vicar Of Dibley 19:30 The Michael J. Fox Show 20:00 Incredible Journeys With Steve 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring Leonard Jimmy Fallon 20:50 Getting On 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 01:00 Bad Karma-18 21:20 Bedlam Stewart 03:00 Out Of Sight-PG15 22:00 Mad Dogs 21:30 The Colbert Report 05:00 Broken-PG15 22:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 22:00 It’s Always Sunny In 07:00 Teenage Paparazzo-PG15 00:00 IPL Highlights 23:35 Eastenders Philadelphia 09:00 Stardust-PG 01:00 IPL Highlights 22:30 The League 11:15 Mad Love-PG15 02:00 IPL Highlights 23:00 Weeds 13:00 The Music Never Stopped-PG15 03:00 ICC Cricket 360 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 15:00 Prosecuting Casey Anthony- 03:30 IPL Highlights PG15 04:30 IPL Highlights 17:00 Mad Love-PG15 05:30 IPL Highlights 19:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 06:30 ICC Cricket 360 00:30 Sons Of Guns 21:00 Six Degrees Of Separation-18 07:00 IPL Highlights 01:20 Amish Mafia 00:00 Almost Human 23:00 Best Laid Plans-18 08:00 IPL Highlights 02:10 Extreme Smuggling 01:00 Necessary Roughness 09:00 ICC Cricket 360 03:00 You Have Been Warned 02:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 09:30 IPL Highlights 03:50 Border Security 03:00 Nip/Tuck 10:30 IPL Highlights 04:15 Baggage Battles 04:00 American Idol 11:30 IPL Highlights 04:40 The Liquidator 06:00 Almost Human 01:00 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded-18 12:30 IPL Highlights 05:05 How It’s Made 07:00 Betrayal 03:00 The Double-PG15 13:30 ICC Cricket 360 05:30 How Stuff’s Made 08:00 Zero Hour 05:00 Class-PG15 14:00 IPL Highlights 06:00 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell 09:00 Necessary Roughness 07:00 Fastest-PG15 15:00 IPL Highlights 07:00 You Have Been Warned 10:00 American Idol 09:00 The Three Stooges-PG15 16:00 IPL Highlights 07:50 World’s Biggest Ship SKYFALL ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 12:00 Emmerdale 11:00 Beastly-PG15 17:00 ICC Cricket 360 FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (08/05/2014 TO 14/05/2014)

SHARQIA-1 THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 10:15 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 1:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 12:15 AM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 3:00 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 5:45 PM MARINA-1 SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 7:45 PM JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 1:30 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 9:45 PM JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 3:30 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 11:45 PM JOE (DIG) 5:30 PM TRACKS (DIG) 8:00 PM SHARQIA-2 JOE (DIG) 10:15 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 1:45 PM JOE (DIG) 12:45 AM JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 4:30 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG-3D) 6:30 PM MARINA-2 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 9:15 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 1:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 12:05 AM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 3:45 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 5:45 PM SHARQIA-3 THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 7:45 PM JOE (DIG) 1:00 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 9:45 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 3:30 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 12:05 AM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 5:30 PM JOE (DIG) 7:30 PM MARINA-3 JOE (DIG) 10:00 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 1:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 12:30 AM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 4:00 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG-3D) 6:45 PM MUHALAB-1 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 9:30 PM JOE (DIG) 1:30 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 12:15 AM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 4:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 6:15 PM AVENUES-1 JOE (DIG) 8:15 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 2:30 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 10:45 PM JOE (DIG) 12:45 AM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 5:30 PM NO FRI+SAT MUHALAB-2 Special Show “THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG)” 5:30 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 1:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 8:30 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 3:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 11:30 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 5:45 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 7:45 PM AVENUES-2 SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 10:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 1:15 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 12:05 AM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 3:30 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 5:45 PM MUHALAB-3 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 8:00 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 2:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 10:15 PM JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 5:00 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 12:30 AM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 7:00 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG-3D) 9:45 PM AVENUES-3 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 12:30 AM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 12:30 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 2:45 PM FANAR-1 SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 5:00 PM TRACKS (DIG) 1:15 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 7:15 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 3:30 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 9:45 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 5:45 PM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 12:05 AM SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED SALEM ABO OKHTO (DIG) (Arabic) 10:15 PM AVENUES-4 TRACKS (DIG) 12:30 AM JOE (DIG) 1:15 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 3:45 PM FANAR-2 JOE (DIG) 5:45 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 12:30 PM Special Show “TINKER BELL CHANGE OF NAME MATRIMONIAL TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 2:30 PM AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG)” 5:45 PM JOE (DIG) 4:30 PM JOE (DIG) 8:15 PM I, Sarfraz Hussain, holder of CSI parents working in JOE (DIG) 7:00 PM THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 10:45 PM Indian Passport No. F Kuwait invite proposals for JOE (DIG) 9:30 PM JOE (DIG) 12:45 AM 8709331 hereby change my their son 28/182, Mechanical JOE (DIG) 12:05 AM name to Sarfraz Hussain Engineer working for Kuwait 360 º- 1 Diwan as per Gazette of University, from parents of FANAR-3 JOE (DIG) 1:00 PM Gujarat State, India. (C 4718) God fearing girls from BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 PM JOE (DIG) 3:30 PM 9-5-2014 Kuwait. Email: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 2:15 PM JOE (DIG) 6:00 PM [email protected] TRACKS (DIG) 5:00 PM JOE (DIG) 8:30 PM I, Mohdmed Shabeer, Indian (C 4713) TRACKS (DIG) 7:15 PM JOE (DIG) 11:00 PM Passport No: J5340171, here- 7-5-2014 TRACKS (DIG) 9:30 PM by change my name to THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 11:45 PM 360 º- 2 Mohamed Shabeer. (C 4716) TRACKS (DIG) 1:45 PM 5-5-2014 FANAR-4 TRACKS (DIG) 4:15 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 1:45 PM TRACKS (DIG) 6:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 4:30 PM TRACKS (DIG) 9:15 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 7:15 PM TRACKS (DIG) 11:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 10:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED FOR SALE IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 12:45 AM 360 º- 3 Nissan Altima, 2008 model, FANAR-5 TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 2:00 PM silver color, full options, Prayer timings THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 2:00 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG-3D) 3:45 PM excellent condition. KD 1,900. TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) 5:45 PM Tel: 66729295. NO FRI+SAT (C 4714) Fajr: 03:32 JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 2:00 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG-3D) 8:00 PM Shorook 05:00 FRI+SAT THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 9:45 PM THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (DIG) 12:30 AM Toyota Prado, model 2006, Duhr: 11:44 JUNGLE SHUFFLE (DIG) 4:15 PM golden color, (4-clr) excellent THE LOVE PUNCH (DIG) 6:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED condition. KD 3,450. Mob: Asr: 15:20 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 8:15 PM 50994848. (C 4715) Maghrib: 18:29 4-5-2014 Isha: 19:54

Business

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Barclays bank lifts Dubai leads earnings growth in Gulf as profits soar jobs cull to 19,000 PAGE 39 PAGE 37

DUBAI: Emirates Airbus passenger planes parked at their grates on tarmac in Dubai airport in United Arab Emirates yesterday. — AP Emirates profit surges to $1.1 billion ME’s biggest airline enjoys dip in fuel costs, boost in capacity

DUBAI: The parent company of the Middle East’s biggest air- for further growth. “We are moving into the new financial year line, Emirates, posted an annual profit yesterday of $1.1 billion with confidence and a strong foundation for continued prof- as it enjoyed a dip in fuel costs and boosted capacity with the itability,” he said. addition of two dozen new planes. The growth comes at a time Revenue for the fiscal year, which ran through the end of of resurgence for the carrier’s home base of Dubai. The Mideast March, rose 13 percent to $23.9 billion. The company’s sales commercial hub has rebounded sharply from a financial crisis were helped by a surge in passenger numbers, which were up that came to a head in 2009 as its vital trade, travel and proper- 13 percent to 44.5 million. Emirates took delivery of 24 new ty sectors benefit from an improving global economy. wide-body planes during the fiscal year, including 16 of the Dubai International Airport, Emirates’ home, now rivals double-decker Airbus A380 aircraft and eight Boeing’s 777s. London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for internation- It operates more of both types of planes than any other air- al passengers. Emirates Group, which includes the airline and line, and has dozens more of each on order. Its fleet now boasts related businesses such as the Dnata ground and travel services 217 aircraft in total. provider, said the profit represented a 32 percent increase over While the additional planes resulted in higher overall fuel the previous year. costs, average prices per gallon of jet fuel dipped by 4 percent It was the Dubai government-owned company’s 26th during the year, the company said. Among the new destina- straight profitable year - a rare unbroken winning streak in the tions Emirates added over the past financial year were Boston, industry. Emirates is the largest of three government-backed Kabul, Stockholm and Kiev. The carrier last year began operat- Gulf airlines that are increasingly challenging Western and ing out of a new 20-gate concourse linked to its existing termi- Asian carriers for long-haul travelers. nal at Dubai International that purpose-built to accommodate It and rivals Qatar Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad the mammoth A380 aircraft. Airways have turned their desert hubs into major transconti- The airport ranked second behind Heathrow in terms of nental transit centers packed with duty-free shops and teeming international passengers carried in 2013, but topped the with passengers connecting to flights from around the globe. London hub in the first quarter of this year. Emirates’ expansion could be slowed this year, however, as the airport undertakes a Competition much-needed runway overhaul that began last week. The proj- Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates’ chairman ect, which runs into July, forced Emirates to cut flights to 41 DUBAI: Emirates Airlines chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al- and CEO, acknowledged growing competitive pressures and cities and switch flight times on others. Sheik Ahmed estimated Maktoum arrives for a press conference in Dubai yester- said a major runway overhaul in Dubai would prove challeng- the runway project will cost the company 1 billion dirhams, or day.— AFP ing in the months ahead. But he said the carrier remains poised $272 million, in lost revenue this year. — AP Business FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 UAE federal credit bureau to start in June: CEO

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ long-awaited federal credit bureau will start work in June, its chief executive said, provid- ing financial institutions with data on the population in the latest move to limit the risks of a new credit bubble. Until now, banks in the UAE have often been unable to access data on consumers at other financial institutions when making lending decisions. Borrowers could obtain money from many lenders and run up debts they sometimes could not repay. This has threatened the health of the whole economy - property prices in Dubai plunged more than 50 percent between 2008 and 2010 after a speculative bubble burst, pushing the emirate close to default. Marwan Lutfi told Reuters in an interview in Dubai that Al- Etihad Credit Bureau, which was first announced last year, has so far collected 22 to 24 months of data from around 70 credit data providers like financial institutions, telecommunication LINAYUNGANG: A man works on a dock at Lianyungang port in Lianyungang, east China’s Jiangsu province yesterday. China’s companies and various government bodies in the UAE. exports and imports rose marginally in April, official data showed, rebounding from sharp declines the month before amid a Once the credit bureau is launched, everyone with a UAE growth slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. — AFP ID card and who is part of the active credit population, which is estimated at almost half the UAE inhabitants of some 10 million people, will be part of this credit database. “I’m confi- dent that May will be a productive and successful month in Dubai leads growth in terms of uploading data. We are hopeful that banks will increase their efforts in submitting correct data formats and that comprehensive reports will be readily accessible around June,” said Lutfi, who was appointed as the bureau’s chief Gulf as profits soar executive in October last year. “Even though the bureau is ready to provide its services, true value will only be extracted when all banks’ historic data Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia post double-digit growth is uploaded in the database and the reports are comprehen- sive and include data from all financial institutions in the DUBAI: Dubai’s bourse has outpaced other Gulf markets by a wide similar margin, even if important sectors such as tourism and retail UAE.” margin in terms of companies’ first-quarter profit growth, data are largely absent from the bourse. “I am pretty sure business The bureau had previously set the end of the first quarter show, supporting its position as the top performer in the region. across sectors is doing very well, especially in areas such as hospi- of 2014 as the deadline for uploading all data but the plan The emirate’s benchmark soared 108 percent last year and is up tality, retail and transport,” Amer Khan, senior executive officer at was delayed due to inaccurate information or errors in the 57 percent this year, making it one of the world’s top-performing Shuaa Asset Management, said. “It all points to a significantly data being submitted because every bank has its own system stock markets over the past 17 months. Although some analysts improving economy, and that is trickling down into earnings.” and the output has to be matching the bureau’s data submis- believe the market is overbought, its fundamentals have improved Dubai’s economy is expected to grow by about 5 percent this sion criteria. “We are ready to start operation but it’s a delicate significantly. The combined net profit of Dubai-listed companies year, a similar pace to 2013. Selling prices for residential property balance that we are trying to achieve in collaboration with the that posted results by May 1 jumped 34.1 percent year on year, rose by about a third in the first three months of the year compared financial industry,” Lutfi said in an interview this week. as calculated by Reuters based on data compiled by Kuwait’s KIP- with the same period in 2013. “Whether (the current valuations) are “We believe that consumer banks will submit the corrected CO Asset Management Company. The figure does not include justified will depend on whether this growth continues,” Khan said. data formats during the month of May,” Lutfi said. The bureau the earnings of Emaar Properties because the Dubai bellwether has started capturing data on consumers with less than 15 has yet to publish its full financial report. If Emaar’s preliminary DOUBLE DIGITS million dirhams ($4.1 million) of credit. figures were included, it would lift Dubai’s profit increase to 38.3 Earnings in Abu Dhabi have risen 11.6 percent. This was large- The next step will focus on the commercial arena which percent. ly thanks to First Gulf Bank and telecoms operator Etisalat, which will include all companies in the UAE, especially small to medi- Banks and property companies dominate Dubai’s bourse and posted profit increases of 27.2 percent and 10.9 percent respec- um-sized enterprises, Lutfi explained. He said the business some analysts think that structure partly explains the jump. “Most tively, accounting for 54 percent of Abu Dhabi companies’ com- community in the UAE were eager for the service to start. “I of the stocks (in Dubai) are very cyclical, meaning that these com- bined quarterly profits. In Saudi Arabia, total reported profit from have not met a single CEO or senior executive in the UAE panies are benefiting from the macro improvement in Dubai, listed companies rose 10.9 percent. Excluding Saudi Basic financial industry who does not want to see the bureau which is why you have such a strong uptrend,” Sebastien Henin, Industries, which accounted for a quarter of total earnings and launched yesterday,” Lutfi said. — Reuters head of asset management at The National Investor in Abu Dhabi, which suffered a 1.8 percent profit fall, combined profits rose 15.8 said. Others say that profits in the wider economy have risen by a percent.—Reuters Egypt cabinet approves tax rise for wealthy

CAIRO: Egypt’s government approved a temporary Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. 5 percent tax on wealthy individuals to fund social However, the new president faces severe eco- programs, the cabinet said in a statement late on nomic challenges. Egypt’s economy has been ham- Wednesday, less than three weeks before the coun- mered for the past three years as turmoil following a try votes for a new president. The tax rise, which will mass uprising in 2011, calling for social justice and apply to those earning over one million Egyptian better distribution of wealth, drove foreign investors pounds ($142,200) a year, still needs to be passed by and tourists away. The country of 85 million has Interim President Adly Mansour before it can be been struggling to curb a budget deficit that swelled implemented and will only be applied for a tempo- to around 14 percent of GDP last year and is under rary period. pressure to cut subsidies that eat up around a fifth of “In pursuit of the principle of social justice, the its budget but risks triggering protests if it does so. cabinet has approved the suggested amendment Those subject to the temporary tax will be given from the finance ministry on the income tax law with some choice over which areas their funds can be regard to implementing an additional temporary spent in. “It will be allowed for the (tax payer) to use five percent tax on income more than one million the amount of the tax to finance one or more service pounds,” the statement said. After the army’s ouster projects from the public projects in the education, PARIS: A man enters a Dia discount supermarket yesterday in Paris. Spanish hard discount of freely elected Islamist president Mohammad health, agriculture, housing or infrastructure sectors supermarket group Dia announced it is selling its troubled French operations, which employ Morsi in 2013, a presidential election to be held this in the various provinces and cities across the coun- some 7,500 people in 900 stores. — AFP month is widely expected to be won by army chief try,” the statement said. — Reuters Business FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 China’s largest bank ICBC bars services for Bitcoin

SHANGHAI: China’s biggest bank ICBC has banned activities related to trading in Bitcoin, it said yesterday, joining at least 10 other Chinese banks participating in a government crack- down on virtual currencies. Bitcoin, invented in the wake of the global financial crisis by a mysterious computer guru, is a form of cryptography-based e-money that can be stored either virtually or on a user’s hard drive, and offers a largely anonymous payment system. Speculators drove China’s Bitcoin prices into the financial stratosphere last year, peaking at 7,588.88 yuan (now $1,224) in November, before they crashed following moves by exchanges, financial institutions and the government to rein in the virtual currency. “From this date, any institution or indi- vidual must not use accounts set up with our bank for the deposit and withdrawal... and transfer of funds for Bitcoin and Litecoin trading,” the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) said in a statement on its website. Litecoin is another virtual currency. The move aimed to “protect the property rights and interests of the public, pre- vent money laundering risks as well as to safeguard the status BEIJING: Chinese performers hold up cards showing the various apps available for online users for shopping and other of the renminbi as the legal currency”, ICBC said, referring to services at the launch of a mobile phone in Beijing. — AP China’s yuan currency. China tightly controls the yuan and enforces capital con- trols, which e-currencies threaten by their very nature. ICBC Mobile Internet shakes up threatened to suspend and close bank accounts if clients failed to comply with the new rules. Earlier this week, China’s main Bitcoin exchanges pledged to practice “self discipline” stodgy China industries including tracking suspicious trading and preventing money laundering. Five markets, including China’s largest BTC China, said they would halt risky activities such as margin trading Online shopping has become the buzzword and short-selling, and make regular reports to the govern- ment, according to a joint statement posted Tuesday. In its annual financial stability report released late last BEIJING: Alibaba, the e-commerce giant retailers and banks to offer a better serv- head competition with each other for month, China’s central bank labelled Bitcoin “a tool for specu- planning a blockbuster share sale in the ice,” said Ben Cavender, an analyst for the first time. “These three used to be lation” and warned against risks the e-money could pose to US, shook up China’s vast but sleepy China Market Research Group, a consult- like three mountains in the Chinese capital flows as well as its possible use in illegal activities retailing industry by popularizing online ing firm in Shanghai. Internet business. But now they have to including drug dealing and money laundering. Last month, shopping. Now it and China’s other The fiercest competition is among a get into a major war against each other,” the central People’s Bank of China instructed banks and third- Internet giants are mounting challenges trio of giants that dominate China’s said Bing-Sheng Teng, a specialist in cor- party payment providers to “completely cut off the capital in areas from banking to broadcasting. Internet: Alibaba Group in e-commerce, porate strategy at the Cheung Kong chain” for Bitcoin trading, the Southern Metropolis Daily The new wave of change was trig- Tencent Holdings in games and Baidu Graduate School of Business in Beijing. newspaper reported. gered by the abrupt shift of Chinese Inc in search. The three are little known outside China. The central bank has so far made no public statement to Internet users to surfing the Web via Since the start of last year, they have But that is likely to change. Alibaba filed confirm the action but at least 11 banks have ceased provid- smartphones or tablets. Some 81 per- spent more than $7 billion to create or Tuesday for a US initial public offering ing services related to Bitcoin, according to separate cent of China’s 618 million Internet users acquire e-commerce, social networking that analysts say might raise up to $20 announcements. They include China’s “Big Four”: ICBC, Bank now go online wirelessly. Companies and other mobile services. The flurry of billion and be among the biggest IPOs of China, China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of such as Alibaba that arose in the era of deals is also bringing them into head-to- ever. —AP China. The moves have hurt the value of Bitcoin in China. On the desktop computer-based Internet Thursday afternoon, Bitcoin was trading at 2,781.97 yuan each are scrambling to roll out mobile-friendly on BTC China, down 11 percent from April 25 when banks services. The services Web users flock to ECB keeps interest began announcing the bans. — AFP are usually privately owned, while they are leaving behind traditional state- owned companies that control many rates on hold industries. Video websites compete with state TV, online financial services draw BRUSSELS: The European Central Bank weak for some time. Low inflation makes deposits away from banks and instant has left its benchmark interest rate it harder for people and governments to messaging apps take revenue from gov- unchanged at a record low of 0.25 percent reduce debt. There have also been worries ernment-owned phone carriers. amid growing signs that the economic about deflation, an extended drop in “I try to buy everything online,” said recovery in the 18-country euro-zone is prices that can cripple growth by pushing Cao Ying, a 30-year-old software engi- gaining momentum. The bank’s 24-mem- consumers to delay purchases in hopes of neer in Shanghai. Like many young pro- ber rate-setting council made the decision bargains. Investors are waiting to hear ECB fessionals, Cao lives through her smart- yesterday at a meeting in Brussels. President Mario Draghi give his outlook at phone. Grocery shopping, paying bills, A rate cut could give growth a small a post-decision news conference. Draghi finding a taxi: whatever Cao needs is just boost in theory by lowering borrowing has emphasized that the bank is ready to an app away. “I’m one of those people costs for banks and companies. It could take action in case the economic outlook who are driving shopping centers out of also help lower the euro, which is near a 2 worsens. business,” she said. Some Chinese lead- 1/2-year high against the dollar at around A cut in the benchmark rate would ers welcome the competition as a tool to $1.395. A weaker euro would help lower the cost to banks of borrowing make the government-dominated econ- exporters and boost inflation, which at an money from the ECB and other banks, and omy more productive. In the 1990s, annual 0.7 percent is well under the in theory they could pass that lower rate Beijing encouraged desktop computer- bank’s 2 percent goal. on to businesses and consumers. But that based online commerce that shook up The euro was little changed after the might only have a small effect. Rates are PURWAKARTA: Indonesian government, Nissan and retailing. Today, China’s leaders are decision, trading at $1.3945 15 minutes already very low, and some banks are not Datsun high rank officials launch the Datsun Go+ and allowing a wave of disruption to flow after the announcement at 1145 GMT. passing on lower rates because they have inaugurate the New Nissan plant in Purwakarta, West Java from mobile Internet. Still, it is unclear Surveys of purchasing managers and oth- financial troubles of their own. Analysts think the ECB might take oth- province yesterday. According to Nissan, the inauguration how far the trend will be allowed to run er indicators have suggested that the euro-zone economy is picking up steam. er steps to boost inflation. One measure of its newest Nissan manufacturing facility dedicated to if politically favored companies are Unemployment has fallen slightly but that has been discussed is a negative the production of Datsun cars for Indonesia, will boost threatened. A commentator for state tel- remains high at 11.8 percent. The interest rate paid on money banks deposit their local production from 100,000 units per year to evision called online financial services European Commission, the EU’s executive at the ECB, which could push them to lend 250,000 as part of the expansion campaign by the “parasites.” The shift to mobile Internet is arm, predicts 1.2 percent growth this year, and help lower the euro further. Currently Japanese automotive giant to become a leading brand in though inflation is expected to remain the rate is zero. —AP the Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. — AFP “putting a lot of pressure on traditional Business FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

China’s AgBank plans $12.8bn preference share issue

HONG KONG: Agricultural Bank of China said it would Kong stock exchange yesterday. Following the The lender said it will issue an initial tranche of up to issue up to 80 billion yuan ($12.83 billion) of prefer- issuance, the bank’s tier 1 capital adequacy ratio would half the approved total within six months of permis- ence shares, the first of the country’s big four lenders be boosted by 0.83 percentage point to 10.08 percent, sion being granted. to unveil such plans to bolster their capital bases. As an it said. “We believe the issuance of preferred shares will era of record profit growth draws to an end for Chinese All four of China’s biggest banks are expected to allow for an alternative fundraising channel without banks, they are becoming increasingly thirsty for capi- issue preference shares of a magnitude similar to having a dilutive impact on existing shareholders, tal. New funds will help them sustain lending without AgBank’s proposed offering. Industrial and which should ease pressure on the bank sector’s valua- falling foul of tough new global rules on capital ade- Commercial Bank of China, AgBank and China tion,” said analysts for Daiwa Capital Markets in an quacy ratios, a measure of how much capital banks Construction Bank could issue 80 billion yuan, while April research note. hold in reserve against assets such as loans. Bank of China may issue up to 100 billion, according to Preference shares come with a greater claim on the The Agbank deal would take the form of a private Daiwa Capital Markets estimates. The AgBank offering company’s assets than common stock, but do not offer placement, the bank said in a filing with the Hong is pending approval by Chinese banking regulators. voting rights. — Reuters HK property moguls on trial in huge graft case

HONG KONG: A blockbuster corruption trial involving Hong Kong property tycoons Thomas and Raymond Kwok got under way Thursday, with all five defendants pleading not guilty to bribery charges. The billionaire Kwok brothers, who jointly chair develop- ment giant Sun Hung Kai Properties, were arrested along with Hong Kong’s former chief secretary Rafael Hui in a major swoop by the city’s anti-graft watchdog in March 2012. The Kwoks, aged 62 and 60, were accused of bribing Hui, who once held the second-highest position in the southern Chinese territory’s government. The trio are among five people charged with offences related to payments and unsecured loans amounting to HK$34 million ($4.38 million). The Kwoks are ranked fourth on the Forbes Hong Kong 2014 rich list, with an estimated family wealth of $17.5 billion. Dressed in dark suits, the brothers smiled as they arrived at court in a storm of camera flashes, while more than 100 reporters waited inside. Hui, 66, declined to discuss the case as he waited outside the LONDON: Pedestrians pass a branch of Barclays Bank in the rain in London yesterday. British bank Barclays says it will cut courtroom, but told reporters he was “not feeling relaxed”. All the around 14,000 jobs this year as it looks to streamline its operations and reduce the size of its investment banking arm. — AP defendants, who have previously proclaimed their innocence, con- firmed their not guilty pleas as the hearing got under way, with Thomas Kwok seen listening to a translation of proceedings through headphones. Barclays bank lifts Tight reporting restrictions were in place, with judge Andrew Macrae warning media to confine their coverage to the basic facts of the trial, following defense lawyers’ criticism of earlier reporting. Hui is accused of misconduct in being “favorably disposed to Sun jobs cull to 19,000 Hung Kai Properties... and Thomas Kwok and Raymond Kwok” while in office in return for payments, according to a Department of Justice indictment. The charges against Hui, who was the city’s chief Investment bank to shrink further secretary from 2005 to 2007, also relate to rent-free use of luxury apartments and acceptance of unsecured loans, the document said. LONDON: Scandal-hit Barclays said yesterday it will shrink its group, the statement said. “Barclays will look to exit or run down The other defendants are another Sun Hung Kai director, Thomas investment bank unit as part of plans to axe 19,000 jobs across these assets over time,” it added. The majority of these so-called Chan, and Francis Kwan, the former non-executive director of the entire group over the next two years. The British lender will risk-weighted assets (RWAs), or about £90-billion worth, are cur- investment company New Environmental Energy Holdings. After he this year cut 14,000 positions, or one-tenth of its global work- rently under the control of the investment bank unit. was charged in July 2012, Raymond Kwok said: “I believe I have not force, more than an initial plan to remove a maximum of 12,000 Barclays will rid itself also of £16 billion worth of Europe retail done anything wrong and that the Hong Kong judiciary system is jobs in 2014. A total of 7,000 investment bank staff will lose their RWAs and £9.0 billion of other risk-weighted assets. The bank fair. I will fight the accusations and I hope it will prove my inno- jobs by 2016 — more than a quarter of the division’s employees. expects to incur costs on top of the £2.7-billion restructuring cence.” —AFP Barclays also said in a statement it will also create a “bad” bank amount it had announced 15 months ago. housing assets with a combined value of £115 billion ($195 bil- Barclays’ share price jumped 4.69 percent to 254.70 pence in lion, 140 billion euros) that would be sold or simply allowed to midday trading on London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index, which run down. As part of the group’s overhaul, Barclays will incur £800 was showing a gain of 0.46 percent. The lender earlier this week million of extra costs, exit its European retail banking business said pre-tax profits almost halved at its investment banking arm and place a large focus on its Africa-wide and credit card busi- during the first quarter. They dived 49 percent to £668 million in nesses. the three months to the end of March compared with a year earli- Chief executive Antony Jenkins has been on a mission to er, hit by sliding revenues. Barclays is still seeking to fix a reputa- reduce the influence played by Barclays’ investment bank unit tion badly damaged by its role in the Libor scandal, while it has over the entire group since replacing Bob Diamond-the much- also been probed along with other banks over possible manipula- maligned former CEO who was forced to resigned following the tion of foreign exchange trade. Despite poor earnings, Barclays 2012 Libor rate-fixing scandal. increased the money available for staff bonuses by almost 10 per- “This is a bold simplification of Barclays,” Jenkins said in yester- cent earlier this year, angering some politicians and union bosses. day’s statement. “We will be a focused international bank, operat- The Libor scandal erupted two years ago when Barclays was fined ing only in areas where we have capability, scale and competitive £290 million by British and US regulators for attempted manipula- advantage.” Jenkins, the former retail head of Barclays, said the tion of Libor and Euribor interbank rates between 2005 and 2009. bank would become “leaner, stronger, much better balanced and Euribor is the euro-zone equivalent of Libor. well positioned to deliver lower volatility, higher returns, and In addition, Barclays was last year forced into a huge £5.8-bil- growth”. Barclays employs about 139,000 staff worldwide, while lion shares sale, or rights issue, to meet regulatory demands to the investment bank unit has roughly 26,000 employees. strengthen its capital buffers. Diamond, who headed the invest- ment unit before becoming chief executive, was one of the Barclays creates ‘bad’ bank world’s highest paid bankers before and after the global financial HONG KONG: Thomas Kwok (center), one of the chairmen of The bank will meanwhile create Barclays Non-Core-a unit crisis and helped to turn Barclays into a leading player in invest- development giant Sun Hung Kai Properties arrives at the grouping “assets which do not fit the strategic objectives” of the ment banking. — AFP high court in Hong Kong yesterday. — AFP Business FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 End of oil boom threatens Norway’s welfare model

Oil investments falling, high costs deter growth elsewhere

OSLO: Norway’s energy boom is tailing off years ahead of despite years of heavy spending. Energy companies are cut- NO going back expectations, exposing an economy unprepared for life after ting some of their most innovative projects, a big worry as the Handelsbanken economist Knut Anton Mork said Norway oil and threatening the long-term viability of the world’s most sector has relied on cutting edge innovation to offset its high must act if it is to avoid decline. “The oil boom has ended,” generous welfare model. High spending within the sector has costs. The government puts the best face on this, but admits Mork said. “Norway needs to rebalance to a more sustainable pushed up wages and other costs to unsustainable levels, not times are changing. “The boom is probably over. But we’re not level, which can be done either through a nominal deprecia- just for the oil and gas industry but for all sectors, and that is looking at a steep decline in investment or production,” says tion or through an internal devaluation of wages. “Absent nec- now acting as a drag on further energy investment. oil minister Tord Lien. “The costs are rising too high and too essary adjustments, Norway after oil may face a structural crisis Norwegian firms outside oil have struggled to pick up the fast. The Norwegian costs have risen a little bit more than else- similar to that in Finland after Nokia.” Industry-leading mobile slack in what has been, for at least a decade, almost a single- where.” handset maker used to account for nearly a fifth of Finland’s track economy. How Norway handles this “curse of oil” - huge Shell has called off a multi-billion dollar gas project that exports and a quarter of its corporation tax before its rapid wealth that bring unhealthy dependency in its train - may was seen as a step towards platform-free offshore production decline as rivals cornered the market in smartphones. hold lessons across the North Sea in Scotland, which votes on after costs on the pilot project hit seven times the initial esti- Neighbor Sweden, meanwhile, cut sickness and unemploy- independence from the United Kingdom later this year, rely- ing at least in part on what it sees as its oil revenues. Norway had the foresight to put aside a massive $860 bil- lion rainy-day cash pile, or $170,000 per man, woman and child. It also has huge budget surpluses, a top-notch AAA credit rating and low unemployment, so tangible decline is not imminent. But costs have soared, non-oil exporters are struggling, the government is spending $20 billion more oil money this year than in 2007 and the generous welfare model, which depends on a steady flow of oil tax revenue may not be preparing Norwegians for tougher times. “In Norway, job security seems to be taken for granted, almost like it’s a human right to have a job,” says Hans Petter Havdal, CEO of car-parts maker Kongsberg Automotive. Kongsberg Automotive has only 5 percent of its workers left in Norway, having moved jobs to places like Mexico, China and the United States, and keeping only high-tech, automated functions at home. It says it is struggling with high labor costs and even problems such as excessive sick leave. “It’s a bit discouraging that the sick leave in Norway is twice the level of other plants,” Havdal said. “That is to me an indica- tion that something is not as it should be.” With per capita GDP around $100,000, the Norwegian lifestyle has become such that the work week averages less than 33 hours, one of the lowest in the world, and while unemployment is low, there is large underemployment, made possible by benefits. In 2012, a new word entered the Norwegian lexicon - to “nave”, or live off benefits from welfare agency NAV. “Approximately 600,000 Norwegians ... who should be part of the labor force are outside the labor force, because of welfare, pension issues,” says Siv Jensen, the finance minister. Company executives and some government officials say Norway needs to limit wage increases to productivity, limit oil cost growth, cut taxes like neighbors have done and spend less of the oil money. Some say it should even depreciate its currency. The Scottish National Party’s argument in favor of inde- pendence has centered on the promise that Scotland can replicate the success of Norway’s oil economy, creating a sov- Norway has resisted the temptation to splurge all the windfall since striking oil in the North Sea in 1969. — AFP file photo ereign wealth fund for future generations, while public coffers would be only half as dependent on oil and gas. mate. It would have placed all equipment on the seabed, ment benefits and lowered income, wealth and corporate tax- Unfortunately for Scotland, the glory days of British hydro- including compression, and would have powered it from the es. Its tax burden has fallen by four percentage points of gross carbon production are already in the past, with North Sea out- shore, a huge technological step. Statoil, the state-owned domestic product, now making it lower than France. put down around two thirds since its peak. A net oil and gas national champion, has slashed spending, eliminating But such wage adjustment in Norway is unlikely in the near exporter until the turn of the century, Britain will import advanced projects like an Arctic rig that would have been able term, and unions dispute that the country has a competitive- almost half of its hydrocarbon needs this year, mostly from to operate in two-metre thick ice. ness problem. Industrial workers nearly went on strike in April Norway, rising to two-thirds by 2026, the government has “Cutting back on capital spending is hurting innovation,” until last-minute concessions. “We haven’t been in a situation said. says government oil regulator chief Bente Nyland. “When since the second world war that we had any cutbacks on rights you’re cutting back, you’re focusing on your production (and) we have negotiated,” said Stein-Ragnar Noreng, CEO for con- Turn for big oil your income ... This will have a long-term impact because you sultancy KPMG’s Norwegian unit. The fortunes of the oil industry, which accounts for a fifth have to make decisions on projects now.” “There is no sign of willingness from unions or the govern- of Norway’s economy, have shifted abruptly as the global oil Norway is the world’s seventh biggest oil exporter, and it ment to go into any kind of discussion. This could be very dan- sector slammed on the brakes. Costs are spiking and capital supplies a fifth of the European Union’s gas, a critical position gerous because investments will go down.” spending has been so high that energy firms are selling assets as tensions with Moscow over Ukraine raise concerns about Knut Sunde, director of employer interest group Area Trade to pay dividends. With oil prices seen falling this year and Russian supplies. and Industrial Policy, also sees little chance of much next, appetite for capital expenditure is low. It also boasts the world’s highest GDP per hour worked, change:“It’s a high-cost country and will always be, so there’s Investments, which tripled over the past decade, are now according to the OECD, but labour productivity has declined no dreaming about ever coming back to the good old days seen declining in the years ahead, confounding earlier expec- since 2007, and since 2000 its unit labour cost has risen when Sweden was expensive and Norway was cheap. We’ll tations for a steady increase, while oil production remains flat, around six times faster than in Germany. never go back.” — Reuters Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 NFL draft prospects consider life in big time

NEW YORK: Wearing diamond studs and pressing a I’ll keep doing. That’s something my high school coach In the NFL, “You’ve got to push yourself. The game is cellphone to his ear, Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy told me and I never forgot it,” he said. quicker, faster. Some of these guys have families, kids and saunters into a gift suite, compliments of Diddy, and Fellow draft prospect Sammy Watkins, a wide receiv- just want to do the job. I’m ready for that,” he said. closes his eyes as he slides into a barber chair for a trim. er from Clemson, picked up a Hawaiian shirt and a Ealy’s already a little bit Hollywood in long leather He’s looking serious and busy like the pro he may soon leather bracelet, his Beats headphones on his head as pockets on his sweats and a matching leather zip shirt. be when the NFL draft is over. Ealy, the swag swirling he prepared for another jump outside his comfort zone. But, like Watkins, his dreams haven’t changed that much around him, from luggage to Ciroc, is among dozens of The Floridian gave up offers from three schools there to since he played ball in high school. He wants to help his prospects on the verge of the big time, leaving old lives head for college in South Carolina, so unlike Ealy, he dad make ends meet back in the St. Louis area. behind and heading to the circus of media, money and already knows what it feels like to live far from family Growing up playing both basketball and football, he a shot at stardom. The NFL’s annual draft begins late and old friends. Watkins’ head was spinning. This is his can feel his big moment: “Being able to provide for my yesterday at Radio City Music Hall. first trip to New York City. He had just stepped off the family, you know what I’m sayin’? That was the dream Ealy is projected to go late in the first round. Does he plane and went straight into a few days of crazy, tour- then and that’s it now.” Morgan Moses, an offensive tack- worry about where he’ll land, considering he never left ing the 9/11 Memorial Site, handling phone calls and le at Virginia, may also go late in the first round. He, too, his home state for college? waiting on his family to arrive. had never been to New York and has never lived away “Don’t matter, ‘cause now it’s a business. You have “I’m gonna have some fun,” he laughed. “I’m gonna from his home state. He had one foot in the Sean John to treat it like a business,” the straight-faced Ealy said go out a little bit with the fam. We’re gonna party it up.” green room, scooping up a few gift bags, and another Tuesday between his visit to the Old Spice grooming And the first thing he’ll buy if a big contract comes his back on campus. “You know, it’s crazy. I’m finishing up station and a round of interviews at Diddy’s Sean John way? “I gotta get my mom whatever she wants,” he with school and I’m here, but I’m working on my last 20- headquarters, just a few blocks from where the draft said. “Whatever she needs.” Watkins has a good idea page paper,” he smiled. will be held and one of his many stops during a crazy how his life would change, on and off the field, if he Moses, at 6-6 and more than 300 pounds, plans to rely week of appearances. Ealy wasn’t much interested in makes the pros. At college, he said, there was always a on his years at Fork Union Military Academy back home in the gift tables, and he shrugged off the pressure. “I’m party: “We lived it up. I’ll miss the team the most. My Virginia to navigate the pros. It’s where he straightened handling it like I’ve been there before and that’s what brothers.” himself out after a rough patch in high school.—AP American wrestlers win Times Square event

NEW YORK: High above the temporary wrestling Atsamaz Sanakoev by fall at 74 kilograms. “I had to mat in Times Square, the news scrolled across a put on a show,” Burroughs said of the rare chance video screen about Russian troops pulling back to compete in front of family and friends. from the Ukrainian border. Russian wrestling great Gatsalov, a five-time world champion, defeated Khadjimurat Gatsalov felt none of that tension American teen Kyle Snyder 6-3 at 97 kilograms. Wednesday when he took on an up-and-coming Gatsalov, now 30, won an Olympic gold medal a American. He later thanked the fans for their decade ago in Athens. Snyder, a dozen years warmth toward the Russians who represented the younger, is the 2013 junior world champion. A international team in the outdoor competition. Ukrainian wrestler, Alina Makhinya, also took part. “Politics doesn’t affect the sport,” Gatsalov said The 2013 women’s world champion lost 11-5 at 69 through a translator. “Anything going on,” he kilograms to Randi Miller, the 2008 Olympic bronze added, “it’s not going to ever affect the sport.” The medalist. In the other matches, David Taylor beat US team won eight of the 11 matches in the third Yabrail Hasanov of Azerbaijan 6-0 at 74 kilograms. wrestling competition held in Times Square to ben- Jordan Oliver defeated Boris Novachkov of Bulgaria efit nonprofit Beat the Streets. Last year’s event 4-1 at 65 kilograms. took place at Grand Central Terminal, when top Brent Metcalf beat Magomed Kurbanaliev of American, Russian and Iranian wrestlers competed Russia 11-9 at 65 kilograms. Ed Ruth defeated in a show of unity to try to keep the sport in the Taymuraz Friev of Spain at 86 kilograms with a 10-0 Olympics. Four months later, the IOC voted in favor tech. Jimmy Kennedy edged Alexander Bogomoev of wrestling. The tweaked rules encouraging more of Russia 2-1 at 61 kilograms. Helen Maroulis beat scoring, which were part of the sport’s bid to stay in Venezuela’s Marcia Andrades at 55 kilograms. the games, were on display Wednesday. Haislan Garcia of Canada topped Logan Stieber 6-2 Reigning Olympic gold medalist Jordan at 65 kilograms. Georgi Vangelov of Bulgaria beat Burroughs, a New Jersey native, beat Russia’s Nahshon Garrett 5-4 at 57 kilograms. — AP NEW YORK: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71), of Russia, celebrates a goal as Chris Kunitz and New York Rangers’ Brian Boyle (right) skate near during the first period of a second-round NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff series. — AP Penguins down Rangers to take control of series

NEW YORK: Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Left winger Carl Hagelin and center Mats Fleury had his shutout streak snapped but the Zuccarello scored for New York, who lost back- Penguins still ended up victorious, beating the to-back games at home and three straight over- New York Rangers 4-2 on Wednesday to take a all. The Rangers never led in the game and spent 3-1 lead in the second round series. most of the night chasing the play. They gave Fleury, who had held the Rangers scoreless the puck away 25 times and won only 18 of 49 in the previous two wins, only faced 15 shots as faceoffs. Pittsburgh grabbed a commanding best-of-sev- “We didn’t pick a good night to manage the en advantage to move one win from a second puck the way we did tonight,” said Rangers straight Eastern Conference final appearance. coach Alain Vigneault. “I don’t want to take any The Penguins lost to the Boston Bruins in last credit away from Pittsburgh. They forced the year’s conference final. Against New York, play and they played a real solid game without Pittsburgh used stout defense and forced the the puck that obviously forced us into a lot of action. “We went after them (New York) and did- those turnovers.” n’t sit back,” Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby New York continued to struggle on their told reporters, after finishing with two assists. power-play and did not convert either of their “We didn’t allow them to have much time and two chances. The Rangers have gone scoreless NEW YORK: Russia’s Khadjimurat Gatsalov (left) attempts a takedown on Kyle Snyder, of space.” Brandon Sutter put the Penguins ahead in their last 36 power-play chances. The the United States, during an exhibition wrestling match in Times Square. Wrestlers com- 2-1 in the second period, while Jussi Jokinen Rangers now head to Pittsburgh for Game Five peting in the exhibition included past and potential future Olympic athletes from the and Chris Kunitz added scores in the third to on Friday when they will try to stave off elimi- USA, Russia, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Spain and Canada. — AP clinch the win. nation. — Reuters Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Tigers and Rockies triumph

DETROIT: Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run league series. his ninth save in 10 chances. Ryan Cook homer and the Detroit Tigers won their David Ortiz and Mike Napoli also (0-1) took the loss. eighth straight game, beating the drove in runs for the World Series cham- Houston Astros 3-2 Wednesday night. pion Red Sox, who reached .500 for the YANKEES 9, ANGELS 2 The Astros lost its fifth in a row. first time since the fourth game of the Derek Jeter ended a home run Cabrera connected in the first inning. season. drought of 161 at-bats in his final regu- A day earlier, he homered in a four-hit, Craig Breslow (2-0), who also got the lar-season game against the Angels, and four-RBI performance. Victor Martinez win in Tuesday’s game, pitched one hit- the Yankees kept Hector Santiago win- homered, extending his hitting streak to less inning. Koji Uehara struck out the less. 10 games for the three-time defending final three batters for his eighth save. JJ Vidal Nuno (1-0) allowed a run and AL Central champions. Rick Porcello (5- Hoover (1-4) took the loss. four hits in 6 1-3 innings, struck out 1) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 three and retired 14 of his last 15 bat- 2-3 innings. Joe Nathan pitched the BLUE JAYS 10, PHILLIES 0 ters. The left-hander’s only other victory ninth for his seventh save in nine Mark Buehrle became the first six- in seven big league starts was May 13 of chances, striking out Matt Dominguez game winner in the majors, Edwin last season, when he pitched five score- with a runner on third to end it. Brad Encarnacion hit a three-run homer and less innings of three-hit ball at Cleveland ATLANTA: St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday (7) fol- Peacock (0-3) allowed three runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Philadelphia in a 7-0 decision. lows through on a single to left center scoring four hits in 6 2-3 innings. for the seventh straight time. Unless both clubs meet in the play- Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright and Matt Carpenter as Erik Kratz and Juan Francisco both hit offs, this was Jeter’s swan song against Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (right) is shown in ROCKIES 9, RANGERS 2 two-run homers for the Blue Jays, who the Angels, who dropped two of three in the fourth inning. — AP Nolan Arenado had three hits to blew open a pitcher’s duel between the Bronx 1 1-2 weeks ago. Jered extend his hitting streak to 27 games, Buehrle and Cliff Lee (3-3) with a nine- Weaver, Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Cardinals thrash Braves matching Colorado’s team record, and run, 12-batter seventh inning. Toronto Howie Kendrick carried a 12-foot-long the Rockies had their third lopsided vic- ATLANTA: Adam Wainwright pitched eight strong innings, Matt tory over Texas in as many nights. Holliday drove in three runs and Peter Bourjos homered to lead Arenado’s two-run double in the first the St. Louis Cardinals past the Atlanta Braves 7-1 on Wednesday. inning put the Rockies ahead to stay and Wainwright (6-2) helped himself, leading off the third with a equaled teammate Michael Cuddyer’s double and coming around to score. Holliday broke it open with record streak from last season. a two-out, two-run single in the fourth. Carlos Gonzalez homered for Wainwright bounced back from his worst start of the season, Colorado, which has outscored Texas having surrendered 10 hits and six runs to the Cubs. He allowed 29-5 in three games this week. The six hits, struck out six and was lifted after throwing 103 pitches Rockies won 8-2 and 12-1 at home with on Wednesday. Bourjos hit his first homer of the season in the second off a combined 34 hits before the teams Mike Minor (0-2). Minor lasted just 4 1-3 innings, roughed up for shifted to Texas for two games. Every 11 hits and six runs. One night after breaking a seven-game los- starter had a hit for the Rockies, who fin- ing streak, their longest in nearly two years, the Braves fell again. ished with 16 and got 12 of them in 3 2- 3 innings off Colby Lewis (2-2). Jorge De MARLINS 1, METS 0 La Rosa (4-3) struck out four and walked Marcell Ozuna hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the ninth three. The lefty gave up two runs over inning as the Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep of six innings. the New York Mets. Miami’s Tom Koehler gave up two hits in eight innings. Steve ORIOLES 4, RAYS 3 Cishek (3-1) pitched a perfect ninth. The Marlins went 8-1 on Adam Jones hit a pair of solo homers their homestand, a franchise record for a nine-game stay. The and Jonathan Schoop launched a Mets have lost six of seven. Giancarlo Staton singled — only the tiebreaking, two-run shot that sent the third hit for Miami — to start the ninth against Carlos Torres (2-1). Baltimore Orioles over the Tampa Bay Casey McGehee walked on a 3-2 pitch, and Stanton took third on Rays. a flyout. Kyle Farnsworth relieved and Ozuna, who had struck out Schoop’s drive in the seventh inning in his previous three at-bats, hit a fly to center fielder Juan off Brandon Gomes (2-2) put the Orioles Lagares. His throw home was slightly off-line, and the ball ahead 4-2. Jones hit leadoff homers in skipped away from catcher Anthony Recker as a sliding Stanton both the second and fourth off Cesar tagged the plate with his left hand. Ramos. It was his fourth multihomer ARLINGTON: Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado (28) follows through on a dou- PIRATES 4, GIANTS 3 game. David DeJesus homered for the Rays, ble to left off of Texas Rangers relief pitcher Scott Baker in the fourth inning of Gerrit Cole won for the first time in nearly a month as the a baseball game. — AP Pittsburgh Pirates beat San Francisco. Cole (3-2) outpitched Tim who are 0-4 against the Orioles this sea- Lincecum (2-2) for the second time in his 11-month major league son. Ryan Webb (1-0) went 1 1-3 score- won its season-high fourth straight. pinstriped paddleboard with Jeter’s No. career, allowing three runs and seven hits in eight innings with less innings for the win. Tommy Hunter Buehrle (6-1) allowed three hits in seven 2 and the Yankee logo to the middle of seven strikeouts and a walk. Fill-in closer Mark Melancon worked struggled for the second straight game, innings to lower his ERA to 1.91. the diamond and presented it to him a perfect ninth for his second save in three chances. Ike Davis had pitching the ninth for his 10th save. following a milestone-studded video three hits for the Pirates. Brandon Belt hit his ninth homer and ATHLETICS 2, MARINERS 0 tribute as the sellout crowd of 44,083 drove in all three runs for San Francisco. INDIANS 4, TWINS 3 Fill-in starter Drew Pomeranz pitched roared its approval. Mike Aviles’ two-out single in the five scoreless innings for his second win NATIONALS 3, DODGERS 2 ninth inning lifted the Cleveland Indians in his past 20 starts and the Oakland WHITE SOX 8, CUBS 3 Stephen Strasburg recovered from another rough first inning over the Minnesota Twins. Asdrubal Athletics salvaged a split of a double- Gordon Beckham homered for the to pitch into the eighth and Wilson Ramos produced a go-ahead second straight night and Paul Konerko sacrifice fly in his first game since opening day as the Washington Cabrera led off the inning with a double header by beating Seattle. Nationals edged the Los Angeles Dodgers. against Casey Fien (3-1). In the opener, the Mariners overcame had a big three-run double, leading the After waiting through a rain delay of more than 1½ hours to After Lonnie Chisenhall’s sacrifice a shaky start from ace Felix Hernandez White Sox to a victory over the sliding throw his first pitch, Strasburg (3-2) did what he’s done all sea- bunt, Yan Gomes grounded out. Aviles to win on Justin Smoak’s two-out single Cubs. son: struggled to get the first three outs, then been fairly domi- hit a hard grounder into center field for in the 10th inning. Yoenis Cespedes Jose Abreu collected three more hits nant. This time, he gave up four consecutive singles, including Cleveland’s first walk-off win of the sea- homered as the A’s snap a six-game as the White Sox roughed up Travis run-scoring hits by Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig, during a 28- son — the Indians had 11 walk-off wins home losing streak. Pomeranz (2-1) was Wood on their way to their fourth pitch first as Los Angeles went ahead 2-0. last season. John Axford (1-3), who had sharp in his first major league start since straight win, extending their season- allowed game-winning home runs in his last July, allowing two hits and no walks. best streak. The rookie slugger doubled DIAMONDBACKS 3, BREWERS 2 previous two outings, survived a shaky Jim Johnson got his second save and twice to run his major league-best total Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer for the second straight ninth. first since losing the closer’s job a month to 24 extra-base hits. game to back Bronson Arroyo and lead the Arizona ago. The White Sox also got a nice game Diamondbacks over the Milwaukee Brewers. RED SOX 4, REDS 3 Erasmo Ramirez (1-4) was called up from shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who sin- Goldschmidt hit his seventh homer after Martin Prado led off Will Middlebrooks hit an RBI single from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day gled in a run in the first and made a ter- the third with a single. Goldschmidt went 7 for 15 in a three- game-series. Arizona took two of three from the team that began with the bases loaded, capping a two- to make the start. In the first game, rific over-the-shoulder catch to rob the day an NL-best 22-12. Arroyo (3-2) allowed an unearned run run rally in the eighth inning that sent Yoervis Medina (2-1) stranded two run- Welington Castillo of a hit in the ninth. and five hits in 7 1-3 innings. —AP the Boston Red Sox over Cincinnati Reds ners in the ninth for the win, and Ramirez then threw to first to double off for a sweep of the two-game inter- Fernando Rodney pitched the 10th for Starlin Castro for the second out. –AP Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 43 Thunder level series

OKLAHOMA CITY: Newly crowned MVP Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Russell Westbrook recorded a triple- double as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-101 on Wednesday to level their second round playoff series. A day after he was named the NBA’s top player, Durant came up with a per- formance that included 12 rebounds and nine assists. Westbrook backed him up with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the home Thunder tied the best-of-seven series 1-1. Durant lifted his new trophy in front of the Oklahoma City crowd pri- or to the game, but quickly had to focus on lifting his team. “I didn’t want to take that moment for granted. It was surreal. I wanted to enjoy it, but focus on the game at the same time,” Durant told reporters. “I liked our intensity and focus to start the game.” Having been blown out in a Game One home loss Monday, Oklahoma City responded with a second-half surge and OKLAHOMA CITY: Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives past led by 20 in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) in the third quarter of Game Chris Paul tallied 17 points and 11 2 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series. —AP assists for the Clippers after a career shooting performance that included of us combined,” Paul said. “He was all City supporting cast including Serge eight three-pointers in the previous over the place. We have to play better.” Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha, who tallied game. Los Angeles trailed by five at halftime 14 points apiece. Paul spent much of the game chas- but the Thunder broke the game open Los Angeles All Star forward Blake ing Westbrook, who notched his third in the third quarter where they Griffin had a quiet night with 15 points triple-double in the last five games. “I outscored the Clippers 33-21. and six rebounds. Game Three is today think (Westbrook) played harder than all It was a good night for the Oklahoma in Los Angeles.—Reuters Hibbert fires Pacers past Wizards

INDIANAPOLIS: Roy Hibbert emerged in the rematch. “We knew he was going tant thing is to make sure he’s not going from a deep playoff slump to help res- to get touches, no one expected him to to come back the next game with the cue the Indiana Pacers as they edged score 28,” Gortat said. “The most impor- same effort.” —Reuters Washington 86-82 on Wednesday to avoid falling behind by two games in the Eastern Conference semi-final. Hibbert, coming off a Game One per- SPAIN: Na Li from China serves the ball during a Madrid formance in which he failed to record a Open tennis tournament match against Sloane Stephens point or rebound, broke through with from the US in Madrid, Spain. —AP 28 points and nine rebounds that allowed Indiana to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1. Indiana’s seven-footer had Li, Serena in been under fire for his poor play throughout the post-season and he Madrid q-finals credited his team for helping him regain form. “Paul (George) took me out on his boat yesterday and we sat there and MADRID: Australian Open champion Li Na advanced to the fished - we didn’t even talk about bas- Madrid Open quarterfinals coming back from a set down, ketball,” Hibbert told reporters. while two-time defending champion Serena Williams won “My team mates really believed in more routinely yesterday. me. I’m thankful for such great team After a poor opening set, the second-ranked Li overcame a mates.” Things were not as harmonious slew of unforced errors and a bothersome toe problem to for the whole game for the top-seeded beat Sloane Stephens of the United States 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 on the Pacers, who trailed 77-74 with five min- clay at the Magic Box tennis center. “After the first set I was utes to go before answering with a 10-2 like, ‘calm down,’” said Li, who needed two hours to pull out run that clinched the contest. the win. “I say, ‘OK, I cannot only think about what happened Lance Stephenson hit a 3-pointer for the game, you have to look forward otherwise you cannot with 21.4 seconds left, giving the Pacers make it.’” a five-point lead. Stephenson finished Williams earned her 650th career victory with a 6-2, 6-3 win with 12 points, and guard George Hill over Carla Suarez Navarro, who couldn’t carry over the success scored 14. of winning her first career title in Portugal on Saturday to the Marcin Gortat tallied 21 points and Spanish capital. 11 rebounds to lead the Wizards. Williams, in pursuit of her 60th title, hit 27 winners to her Bradley Beal added 17 points and seven Spanish opponent’s five, while securing seven break points in assists while point guard John Wall had the sun. a second difficult shooting night, mak- “She made me work for every point and it wasn’t an easy ing just 2-for-13 from the field. The win,” the top-ranked American said. “She just won last week, Wizards now head home to Washington so she is definitely not an easy player to play.” for Game Three today.Washington sur- INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (right) lies on the court as Williams goes on to play 2011 champion Petra Kvitova after prised Indiana by jumping on them ear- Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal flips over while they go for a loose the fifth-seeded Czech beat countrywoman Lucie Safarova 6- ly in Game One, but it was the turn of ball during the first half of game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal NBA 4, 6-3.—AP the Wizards to be blindsided by Hibbert basketball playoff series. —AP 44 Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Impressive line-up at Diamond League in Doha

DOHA: Jamaican sprinting starlet Shelly-Ann because I believe I need to work hard and train will aim to convert one of the most memorable son, fitness notwithstanding. Fraser-Pryce will headline an impressive line- consistently to perform well. But I rested.” indoor campaigns in recent memory to out- Another outstanding female athlete on up at the opening Diamond League meet in She added: “So as always I just wanted to doors. In a span of just five days in February, show will be New Zealand’s Valerie Adams, the Doha today, with unstoppable Ethiopian execute and see where I was and what needed the 23-year-old Ethiopian shattered two world dominant figure in women’s athletics and shot Genzebe Dibaba also going in the women’s to be worked on. “The 200m came and I com- indoor records, first over 1500m in Karlsruhe, put. The double Olympic champion also has 3,000m. pleted it in 22.53sec with quality athletes in Germany, and then at 3000m in Stockholm. four outdoor and three indoor world titles, and Fraser-Pryce, the reigning two-time the field. My number one priority after any Her 3:55.17 run in the 1500m knocked more will arrive in Doha with a winning streak of 46 Olympic sprint champion who also claimed race is to finish healthy and I did. than three seconds from the previous mark finals, having not lost a competition since world 100m gold in Moscow last year, will “It was assessment time in my head first while her 8:16.60 performance in the August 2010. arrive in the Qatari capital brimming with con- and then to hear from my coach. Overall it was Stockholm 3000m smashed the old record by In the absence of Usain Bolt, Jamaican fidence after her podium-topping outing in a good outing and I was pleased. “I now look more than seven seconds. It was the fastest teammate Warren Weir will be the star attrac- the world indoor 60m in Poland in March. forward to competing in my first 100m in Doha performance the world has witnessed since tion in the men’s 200m, compatriots Nickel After skipping a couple of meets, including and you know it will be exciting.” Fraser-Pryce 1993 indoors or outdoors; only three women Ashmeade and Rasheed Dwyer also in the line- the Penn Relays, on medical advice, Fraser- will be one of 10 Olympic champions and a fur- have ever run faster, all outdoors. up. Missing the opening meet of the elite track Pryce bounced back to win the 200m at the ther 25 Olympic medallists poised to compete Dibaba then capped her indoor campaign and field, however, is 800m Olympic champion Kingston Invitational last week. in the opening meet of the 14-leg Diamond with a world 3000m title in Sopot to further and world record holder David Rudisha, out “My outdoor season has begun,” she said League that travels to the United States, Asia move out of much-decorated sister with a calf muscle injury. “I’m very disappoint- on her Facebook page. “As an elite athlete I and Europe. Tirunesh’s shadow, and looks set to be a ed not to be able to race in Doha,” the Kenyan didn’t take kindly to resting for two weeks, Elsewhere on the track, Genzebe Dibaba daunting challenge for all-comers this sea- said. —AFP Cook grateful for England support

ABERDEEN: Alastair Cook said yesterday the backing of his col- leagues and team management had persuaded him to continue as England captain after he questioned his own position follow- ing a wretched Ashes series. Cook found himself under the spotlight after England’s recent 5-0 thrashing in Australia, a campaign where the opening bats- man managed just 277 runs at an average of under 28. Team director Andy Flower resigned and one-day coach Ashley Giles was axed following England’s embarrassing defeat by the Netherlands at the subsequent World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. “Disconnected” star batsman Kevin Pietersen was sent into international exile but the England and Wales Cricket Board hier- archy remained strong in their support of Cook. “I was asked about (my future) after Sydney and after a long, gruelling winter, I gave it consideration,” Cook, speaking in Aberdeen, where England play Scotland in a one-day internation- al on Friday, told reporters. “I think it would be wrong if I didn’t,” he added. “We’d lost a lot of games and we hadn’t played to the stan- MONTMELO: Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (right) talks with Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany dur- dard that side was capable of, and the stuff we were doing was ing a news conference at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo yesterday. —AP not making a difference. “If you don’t question your position as leader then, you never will.” But with backing from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara, a longstanding colleague of Cook at Essex as well as with England, the left-hander decided to carry Alonso eyes F1 Ferrari on as skipper. “It was nice that the guys I spoke to, other members of the side, were very supportive and that’s good to hear,” Cook said. “I resurrection in Spain spoke to Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara and they said ‘no, you must carry on’. BARCELONA: Fernando Alonso returns domination with Hamilton reeling off straights, but the Red Bull is very, very ‘GREAT HONOUR’ to race on home soil this weekend hop- three straight wins following Rosberg’s quick though the high-speed (corners), “The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), since Paul ing for an unlikely resurrection of the opening triumph in Australia, but also a which tells me they maybe have a little Downton’s come in, they’ve backed me and we’ve got to justify form and pace that delivered his and solid consistency from Alonso in the bit more down-force than us. that confidence. Ferrari’s last victory. chasing Ferrari. It has also witnessed Red “Last year there was a massive gap. “It’s a great honor to captain England, when we walk out at That came a year ago in the 2013 Bull sliding out of contention for victo- We’ve definitely closed that up, but I the venues and they announce the England (team) led by me it’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de ries, a scenario that may change this think we can do a better job, so we’re a great feeling. But you’ve got to be winning games of cricket.” Catalunya where the two-time world weekend as the Milton Keynes outfit, going to keep pushing.” England launch their new era against a Scotland side who will champion won ahead of Kimi along with the rest, will introduce a raft Rosberg said: “It’s taken four and a be among their pool opponents at next year’s World Cup in Raikkonen, then of Lotus, and Felipe of car and engine updates for what is half years, but we really have a strong Australia and New Zealand.—AFP Massa in the second Ferrari. A repeat of often a dull and predictable spectacle. team now. Starting with Toto (Wolff) that result would delight not only local Aware of this threat to their suprema- and Paddy (Lowe) at the top, I think we Spanish fans, but also deliver a Ferrari cy-they lead the title race with 154 have a good structure all the way. one-two as Raikkonen joined the Italian points to Red Bull’s 57 while their drivers “This year’s development race will be ‘scuderia’ this season for a second time. also head the drivers’ standings with much more extreme than we’ve seen in It would also please Williams fans, Rosberg on 79 and Hamilton on 75 — recent years, because the regulations too, as the much-improved British team Mercedes have also focused on improv- are so new.” Talking about their in-team is now home for the likeable Massa. A ing performance. duel, Hamilton added: “Nico is driving year ago, the race may have been won The Spanish race comes three weeks really well, he’s pushing me very hard by Alonso, but qualifying was dominat- after the Chinese Grand Prix and that and keeping me on my toes. ed by the fast Mercedes pairing of Nico gap has allowed everyone to work on “We’re going to see from race to race, Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, who took developing their machines. there are going to be times when he’s the front row. Rosberg led for 10 laps, Mercedes have struggled to compete going to be quicker and I’m going to be before he fell away and finished sixth in the ‘development race’ since return- quicker, as we saw last year. behind the two Red Bulls-a scenario that ing to F1 in 2010, but both Hamilton “What I’m really trying to focus on is is less likely this season since Mercedes and Rosberg believe they have what is those circuits where I am maybe weaker, have won all four of the opening ‘fly- needed to stay on top. or not as close to him. I want to close away’ races ahead of this opening round “We’re not sitting comfortably-we that gap. (It’s) damage limitation (for of the European part of the season. know we’ve got more work to do,” said me) on those races and I think Bahrain Alastair Cook This year has seen not only Mercedes Hamilton. “We are quicker on the was one of those races.”—AFP 45 Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

PSG title celebrations dampened by Rennes defeat

PARIS: Paris St Germain celebrated their second as the players’ children played football on the the 77th minute, only for Fatih Atik to level five on three minutes after being set up by Edinson consecutive Ligue 1 title with two games to pitch. “I am proud of the players. We brought minutes from time. Cavani. Kadir beat Sirigu with a low cross shot in spare despite suffering their first home league the title, it rewards the good work of all the staff The result triggered scenes of celebration at the 23rd minute and Ntep’s free kick sailed past defeat of the season in a 2-1 loss to Stade and our ability to quickly apprehend the squad,” the Parc des Princes a few minutes before the the Italian keeper. The crowd’s discontent Rennes on Wednesday. Laurent Blanc’s team Blanc, who took charge after Carlo Ancelotti left kickoff of the PSG v Rennes game. Guingamp, changed to pure joy as striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured the championship shortly before kickoff at the end of last season, told Canal Plus. who beat Rennes in the French Cup final last made his comeback from a five-week injury lay- after second-placed Monaco were held to a 1-1 “I did not want to watch the Monaco game Saturday, are 16th in the standings, two points off when he came on for Lavezzi in the 56th draw by En Avant Guingamp. but there is always someone to tell you the above safety. PSG, knocked out in the minute. The Swede forced Benoit Costil into a The result left PSG, on 83 points, with an result. My pre-game chat lasted 10 seconds,” he Champions League quarter-finals as they were spectacular save with a 40-metre strike but he unassailable seven-point lead at the top of the told a news conference, Blanc refused to official- last year, claimed the Ligue 1 lead in October failed to add to his 30 league goals this season. standings. “It was important to confirm what we ly confirm whether he had extended his contract after thrashing Bastia 4-0 and never surrendered PSG defender Alex had the best chance to did last season,” midfielder Blaise Matuidi told until 2016. “You will know soon,” he said. it. Monaco will finish second while Lille and St equalise in stoppage-time but his header reporters. PSG, who also won the League Cup this sea- Etienne will battle it out for third place in the last crashed against the bar. The result meant that “It’s the result of our hard work. It’s sad we son, needed Guingamp to snatch at least a point two round of matches. There were a few boos at Rennes, now 13th with a six-point lead over did not win today but all dreams are not per- at Louis II to be crowned champions without halftime at the Parc des Princes after goals by 18th-placed Sochaux, have secured their place fect,” said goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. kicking a ball. Foued Kadir and Paul-Georges Ntep gave in the top flight as bottom clubs Evian Thonon “The first 10 months were good but the last Dimitar Berbatov headed home from point- Rennes a 2-1 lead. Gaillard and Sochaux, 17th and 18th respective- month was not good,” captain Thiago Silva said blank range to open the scoring for Monaco in Ezequiel Lavezzi opened the scoring for PSG ly, must still play each other.—Reuters

Forgotten front man Park seals World Cup place

SEOUL: With a club career in freefall and his name all but for- gotten by South Korean fans and media, Park Chu-young’s chances of being on a plane to Brazil for the World Cup finals this summer looked slim at best, as he faded behind the scenes at Arsenal. Few would have bet that going on loan to Watford in the English second tier in January would have sparked a change in fortunes, but yesterday the willowy striker was named in South Korea’s 23-man squad for Brazil to cap a remarkable return. Park has no shortage of critics, many who say his loss of club form and inability to stay fit makes him too big a risk to take to Brazil. But with World Cup and Olympic experience under his belt, coach Hong Myung-bo said Park’s contribution could be crucial in Brazil. “At this World Cup we will have to battle some of the world’s best players, and it was hard to exclude Park given his experience,” Hong told a news conference at the National Football Centre (NFC) in Paju, north of Seoul. “In addition to that, we don’t have anyone who can replace him, and he gets on well with the rest of the squad, those are the reasons that we selected him.” With 62 caps and 24 goals, the 28-year-old is one of the most experienced players in Hong’s young squad. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s players (from left) Lucas Digne, Argentinian Javier Pastore, Italian goal keeper Italian London Games, when Hong was coach of the Olympic team, Salvatore Sirigu, Christophe Jallet and Uruguayan Edinson Cavani celebrate their League One title. —AP and at the World Cup in South Africa two years earlier found the net against Nigeria in a 2-2 draw that saw the Koreans advance to the last 16. He also scored an own goal against Europe still a step too Argentina in group play. CLUB STRUGGLES far for dominant PSG Park made just seven first team appearances for Arsenal after arriving from Monaco in August 2011. After spending a PARIS: Paris St Germain are not even mid- “We had a great season apart from the striker disappointed in the Champions season on loan at Celta Viga, he toiled again at Arsenal before way through their five-year-plan to win last month. Next year we have to be back League last eight but showed his worth at being sent on loan to Watford to get first team football. the Champions League but their second to win the Champions League,” captain the Stade de France. Hong said at the time he was relieved that Park had the consecutive French Ligue 1 title feels like Thiago Silva told Canal Plus on PSG reached new heights domestically, opportunity to make a “fresh start” and called the forward up little more than a consolation. Wednesday. arguably becoming one of the best ever to the squad for a friendly against Greece in March.—Reuters Having splashed over 200 million euros PSG were knocked out by Barca in the French league teams, even if they failed to ($278.5 million) on transfers since com- Champions League last season without match Nantes’s achievement in the 1994- pleting their takeover in 2012, Qatari losing a game, held to a 2-2 draw at the 95 season when the Canaries lost only one investors QSI expect PSG to be a force to Parc des Princes before drawing 1-1 at the game. Yet, they look set to break Lyon’s be reckoned with on the European stage. Camp Nou in the return leg. record of 84 points (2005-06), as well as Under Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc, This season, it seemed they would passing the record for most victories (25) however, the French champions were reach the next level after beating Chelsea set by Nantes (1966 and 1980), Stade eliminated in the quarter-finals of Europe’s 3-1 at home, but they paid the price for Reims (1960) and Monaco (1961). premium club competition in 2013 and Blanc’s tactical limitations and the team’s Stade Reims’s 1960 record goal differ- 2014, both times on away goals by lack of experience in a 2-0 defeat in ence of plus 63, though, seems out of Barcelona and Chelsea respectively. London without the injured Zlatan reach despite Ibrahimovic’s performances. “We’ve had a very nice season, which Ibrahimovic. Meanwhile, the capital side The Sweden striker has scored 25 goals we sealed with this title,” Blanc said after have been crushing the opposition in from 31 league appearances, leading PSG won the League Cup last month. France, winning the French title with two Cavani (16 goals in 30 games) in the scor- “But to have an outstanding season, we games to spare. ing charts. will need to shine on the European stage,” PSG’s blessing could be Monaco’s rise he added.”The club, the media, the fans CAVANI DOUBLE to the top level after Russian billionaire and the staff are obsessed by this objec- They added the League Cup, beating Dmitry Rybolovlev invested massively in tive. Yes, we will have to be ready because Olympique Lyon 2-1 in the final thanks to the principality club during the close sea- Park Chu-young everybody is obsessed.” a double by Edinson Cavani. The Uruguay son.—Reuters Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Champions League spots add drama to Bundesliga finale

BERLIN: Four teams are fighting for the chance to play Werder Bremen that is also the only scenario for in the Champions League next season as the Schalke to miss out on the third spot. Bundesliga finale on Saturday promises a nail-biting climax and a battle for Hamburg SV to avoid their first CHASING BAYER ever relegation. Third-placed Schalke 04, three points With the fourth place leading to the Champions ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, have the best chances to League qualifying rounds, Leverkusen will have to keep their place with a win over 17th-placed keep an eye on the rear view mirror with VfL Nuremberg and grab the last automatic Champions Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in with a League group stage spot. chance to finish fourth. Schalke, who competed in Europe’s premier club In-form Wolfsburg, in fifth place a point behind competition this season as well, could successfully Leverkusen, take on Gladbach in a crunch match with complete a roller-coaster season with a strong finish. Borussia two further points behind in sixth. They could be boosted by the presence of captain At the other end of the table Hamburg’s stadium Benedikt Hoewedes, back from injury as the defender clock counting the total years, months, days and hours races to be fit this week. the team has been in the Bundesliga would have to be “I really want to help the team reach its goal,” said turned back to zero if they fail to equal or better the Hoewedes after returning to team training this week results of Nuremberg and last-placed Eintracht following more than a month out with a muscle injury. Braunschweig. “I feel 100 percent and I have full confidence that I Former European champions Hamburg, a point can play from the start. But at the end this is not about ahead of Nuremberg and two above Braunschweig, Lionel Messi me but about the club.” “We only need a point but we are the only team to have played every season in the will play to win with our attacking game.” Schalke will Bundesliga since the league’s creation in 1963, right- Spanish title fight down also have winger Jefferson Farfan back but will be fully earning the nickname ‘dinosaur’. without suspended top striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. When they travel to European hopefuls Mainz 05 to Atletico, Barcelona Their opponents are desperate for a win that could on Saturday their thoughts will only be on holding on possibly see them snatch the relegation-playoff spot to the Bundesliga lifeline as they cannot catch up from Hamburg SV, who are a point ahead in 16th. 15th-placed VfB Stuttgart any more to secure an auto- MADRID: The Spanish league title race finished the game and we’ll see. I don’t Combined with a Leverkusen win against visiting matic Bundesliga spot for next season. — Reuters now looks like a two-way fight, with think Di Maria is a big worry.” Atletico Madrid and Barcelona heading for a championship showdown in the SLEEPING LIKE A BABY last round if they both win this weekend. Atletico coach Diego Simeone is not Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Real losing any sleep over his team’s title Valladolid on Wednesday improved challenge. Atletico returns to its Vicente Atletico’s chances of winning its first Calderon Stadium for the final time this league title since 1996, although it will season, hopeful it can clinch the champi- probably have to hold off Barcelona at onship on home turf against Malaga. Camp Nou in the last round. However, Atletico has to recover from a demor- Atletico could be crowned champion alizing 2-0 loss at Levante, which came with a victory against Malaga on Sunday days after its rousing victory over if Barcelona fails to win at Elche. Chelsea to reach the Champions League Madrid’s untimely draw gifted final. Unlike Madrid, Atletico doesn’t Barcelona the chance to win its fifth title have the option of resting players with in six seasons despite the defending the Lisbon final in mind, knowing every champions recent stumbles through the point can be decisive. closing stages of a turbulent season. The Argentine coach is enjoying the With two matches remaining, unexpected position Atletico finds itself Atletico has 88 points, Barcelona 85, and in. “I sleep well because this is my pas- Madrid 84. Barcelona hosts Atletico on sion and I’m in the place where I want to the final match day, and would defend be, coaching the team I want to,” its title if it wins the last two games. Simeone said. “I can’t complain.” Here are five things to know about the 37th round of matches: CELTA’S PRIZED COACH Celta Vigo doesn’t expect to be losing TURIN: Juventus players lift their coach Antonio Conte as they celebrate in this file photo at the end of a Italian IN THE HUNT coach Luis Enrique just yet. Enrique met League soccer match against Atalanta. — AP Barcelona has been the big winner in with Barcelona sporting director Andoni Atletico and Real’s recent slip-ups, hav- Zubizarreta earlier this week, fueling ing written off its title defense two weeks speculation the former Barcelona player Chaos reigns before ago. But now there is suddenly renewed would be replacing Gerardo Martino hope that the team can avoid a first sea- next season. son without a major trophy since 2007. Despite the very public interest, Celta Juventus, Roma clash “I never thought these results would will not let the former Roma coach go happen,” Barcelona forward Pedro without a fight. “That meeting doesn’t ROME: Juventus’s clash with AS Roma was set to be number of offences carried out by fans on Saturday Rodriguez said. “The league has given us really seem too bad to us,” Celta vice Sunday night’s Serie A showcase but neither club knows evening, including a pitch invasion, throwing of flares and a second chance. We’ve got to go for it.” president Ricardo Barrios said. “There’s what time the match will start as the fallout from smoke bombs and booing the national anthem. no plan B, our plan A is Luis Enrique will Saturday’s Italian Cup final chaos continues. Antonio The match kicked off 45 minutes late as false rumours INJURY WOES be our coach because he still has one Conte’s Juventus travel to the Italian capital flush with of the death of a Napoli fan circulated and the sight of the Madrid must decide whether it will more year to go on his contract.” the success from their third straight league title, which organisers holding discussions with “ultra” leaders has continue fighting for the league title was handed to them before Monday night’s 1-0 win sparked soul-searching around the violence that continues despite slim chances of winning, or focus RELEGATION IN SIGHT against Atalanta after Roma collapsed 4-1 at Catania on to blight the game in Italy. “It’s not possible that a sporting on getting the squad healthy for the With last-place Real Betis already rele- Sunday. event becomes an almost event of war,” said Interior Champions League final on May 24. gated, two more teams are facing the The match was due to kick off at 1845 GMT but is now Minister Angelino Alfano. “We decided with (Prime Forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and drop. Six teams are within five points of set to be moved forward following the outbreak of vio- Minister Matteo) Renzi to intervene at the end of the sea- Angel Di Maria and defender Pepe all each other, with Osasuna and Getafe lence before the Italian Cup final, in which three Napoli son when we will choose the new measures to come into came away with injury problems from currently in those final two drop spots. fans were shot at following clashes in the Tor Di Quinto force for the new season.” Striker Mattia Destro returns for the draw at Valladolid, while Gareth Bale Valladolid looks to follow up its area of the city.The Ministry of the Interior is worried about Roma after serving a three-match ban for hitting Cagliari missed the match completely along with Madrid result at Betis, while Almeria the prospect of revenge attacks on Roma fans from Napoli defender Davide Astori last month. With Giuseppe Rossi defenders Dani Carvajal and Raphaele and Granada’s game could leave one supporters, who will be returning south from their dead scoring in his first league game since January in Varane. “We’ll know soon. I don’t think of the clubs in trouble as they flirt with rubber match with Sampdoria. Fiorentina’s 4-3 defeat to relegation-threatened Sassuolo Cristiano Ronaldo has a major problem,” the drop. Games with title or relega- Napoli, who sealed third place and a Champions on Tuesday, Destro will be keen to use the final two games Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said ahead tion implications will all kick off on League playoff spot with a 3-0 win over Cagliari on of the season to impress Italy coach Cesare Prandelli ahead of Sunday’s game at Celta Vigo. “Pepe Sunday. — AP Tuesday, will play two matches behind closed doors for a of the World Cup in Brazil.—Reuters Sports FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 47

FA to limit foreigners in English Premier League

LONDON: The English Football Association said health of the English game. The work permit pro- A BBC study published in October found that League is falling. “This decline is a problem in yesterday it wants to limit the number of non- posals include a blanket ban on non-European English footballers accounted for just 32% of the countries right across Europe, but it is a signifi- European Union players in Premier League teams Union players for clubs outside the top flight, minutes played in the Premier League, compared cantly bigger problem in England than anywhere in a bid to bolster home grown talent. bringing England in line with other European to 59% for home-grown players in Spain and else and if the trend continues, we fear for the Football Association chairman Greg Dyke also countries. There are currently 66 English players 50% for home-grown players in Germany’s top future of the English team,” Dyke said. “If this can- announced an overhaul of the work permit sys- eligible to represent England playing regularly in league. The report was produced by a commis- not be reversed, a future England manager will tem and the creation of a new division for the 20 Premier League teams and Dyke has set a sion set up by Dyke in October to investigate why have fewer and fewer top-level English players Premier League ‘B teams’ in a bid to improve the target of increasing that number to 90 by 2022. the number of English players in the Premier from which to choose.”—AFP Celtic held in 3-3 thriller

GLASGOW: Two goals in two minutes helped St Johnstone come from behind to claim a 3-3 draw with Scottish champions Celtic in a thrilling match at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday. St Johnstone had already hit the post with an early chance before Tim Clancy stabbed home the opener in the eighth minute. The hosts came close through Stevie May with a swerv- ing shot before the striker saw his 43rd minute penalty saved by stand-in keeper Lukasz Zaluska. St Johnstone’s missed chances came back to haunt them in the 53rd minute when substitute Kris Commons levelled matters from the penalty. Teemu Pukki put Celtic in front in the 73rd minute before Virgil van Dijk made it 3-1 four minutes later to seemingly put the Hoops on course for victory. However, a late rally saw St Johnstone’s Scott Brown pull one back in the 84th minute before Michael O’Halloran headed home a little over a minute later to seal a point. Elsewhere, Partick Thistle secured their Premiership survival with a 4-2 win over Hearts while Hibernian slipped into the relegation play-off posi- tion after Kilmarnock leapfrogged them with a 1-0 win over St Mirren. “We looked a little bit disjointed and it might have been due to the amount of changes I made but I expect us to have bet- ter quality,” said a disappointed Celtic manager Neil Lennon. “Our first half performance was flat and lacked real impetus. In the second half we were excellent going forward and I’m really disappointed with the goals we’ve conceded near the end.” St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was full of praise for his LONDON: Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal against Aston players. “I felt we had really good opportunities before Celtic got Villa in this file photo. —AP back in the game,” Wright said. “We knew Celtic would change it at half-time and we were under pressure a little bit but I think overall we certainly deserved City confident of a point out of the game. To come back says a lot about them in terms of their character.” FRINGE PLAYERS making their point At McDiarmid Park, Lennon handed a host of his first team regulars a rest as fringe players such as keeper Zaluska, Derk Boerrigter, Amido Balde and Pukki were handed a rare chance to LONDON: Manager Manuel Pellegrini Park in the league and routing the Hull City 3-1 in their last home match of impress. However, it was the St Johnstone players, eager to catch expects Manchester City to be crowned Londoners 9-0 on aggregate in the the season, travel to Southampton in Wright’s eye before the Scottish Cup final next weekend, who got English champions for the second time Capital One (League) Cup semi-finals, so what is almost certain to be interim off to a flying start. in three seasons with his side needing an upset looks unlikely. The only other manager Ryan Giggs’s last game in The home side came close early on when O’Halloran’s low only a point from their final home game outstanding issues to be decided are charge with Louis van Gaal expected to shot came back off the post before Clancy put St Johnstone against West Ham United on Sunday. whether Tottenham Hotspur or be named as the manager following last ahead in the eighth minute. Steven Anderson knocked down a City will win the Premier League Manchester United take the final Europa month’s departure of David Moyes. Only corner into the path of Clancy who stabbed the ball past stand-in unless Sam Allardyce’s West Ham pull League place and the final confirmation if United won and Spurs lost would keeper Zaluska. May was inches away from doubling St off a major upset at the Etihad Stadium of Norwich City’s relegation. Norwich, United take sixth place thanks to a supe- Johnstone’s advantage just before the break when he used his and Liverpool beat Newcastle United at who battled to a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on rior goal difference. If United fail to do strength to make room for a shot 20 yards out that swerved just Anfield. Sunday, have 33 points, three behind that their 24-year run of European foot- round the wrong side of the post. City, who beat Aston Villa 4-0 on West Bromwich Albion but with a huge- ball since English clubs were allowed to The striker then blew a golden chance to make it 2-0 in the Wednesday, head into the final match of ly inferior goal difference they look sure compete again after the end of the ban 43rd minute when his poor penalty, earned following Beram the season with 83 points, two ahead of to go down. imposed following the Heysel Stadium Kayal’s clumsy challenge on O’Halloran, was saved by Zaluksa. Liverpool whose collapse at Crystal Outgoing champions Manchester disaster, will come to an end. There was still time before the break for St Johnstone to Palace on Monday when they blew a 3-0 United and big-spending Tottenham The last time United failed to qualify threaten again but after tearing the Celtic defence apart lead to draw 3-3, left their title hopes in Hotspur have had to lower their ambi- for Europe before the ban was imposed O’Halloran blazed his final effort over the bar. Celtic brought on tatters. “Of course, I expect to win the tions after disappointing seasons. in 1985 was in 1981 when they finished Brown and Commons at the break and the pair helped fire Celtic title now because we are top of the eighth in the league. level in the 53rd minute. table,” Pellegrini said. “Winning the next DUBIOUS CONSOLATION There is little to play for apart from The Hoops skipper was felled in the box by Gary McDonald game means we can win the title... Both teams would have been confi- pride and prize money in the other and Commons showed May how to do it from the penalty spot as “We are not thinking of drawing. We dent of challenging for Champions games. Chelsea travel to bottom club he fired his effort high into the net past Mannus. are thinking of trying to play. As we did League places, but they changed man- Cardiff who are returning to the The Hoops then found themselves in front for the first time in so far during the whole season here at agers during the campaign and are now Championship after their first season in the match in the 73rd minute went Pukki got on the end of the Etihad.” eyeing the dubious consolation of a the top flight since 1962 found them Charlie Mulgrew’s low cross into the box to steer it home. The only way Liverpool can end their Europa League spot. Tottenham, in short of class. Celtic extended their lead after van Dijk fired home superbly 24-year-wait for the title now is if City sixth, go into their final match against Fulham, also doomed after 13 years from the edge of the area after Commons’ initial shot was lose to West Ham and Liverpool win. If Aston Villa at White Hart Lane knowing a in the top flight, host the season’s most blocked. Brown started the fight back for St Johnstone when his City draw and Liverpool win, City would point would ensure they take the improved team Crystal Palace, who were deflected shot flew past Zaluska from outside the box before win the title on goal difference. Europa League spot in what could well deep in relegation trouble when coach O’Halloran stooped to head David Wootherspoon’s header into City have beaten West Ham three be Tim Sherwood’s last match in charge. Tony Pulis arrived in November but have the net a minute later.—AFP times this season, winning 3-1 at Upton United, who beat FA Cup finalists now climbed to 11th.—Reuters in Spain resurrection F1 Ferrari Alonso eyes in Spain resurrection F1 Ferrari Alonso eyes Barcelona to Atletico, fight down Spanish title Barcelona to Atletico, fight down Spanish title FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Page 44 Page 46 Li, Serena Li, Serena in in www.kuwaittimes.net M M a a d d ri ri d d

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