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Local FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Local Kuwait’s my business Spotlight I met Kuwait’s future in New York City Satire sells

and public relations, their academic majors. Every busi- By John P Hayes ness needs operational capability, and the trio’s got it, By Muna Al-Fuzai including knowing something about how to replicate a business. After he successfully established Trolley at GUST, Alsenan opened multiple locations around Kuwait. [email protected] Additionally, Alkhamis is the founder of Entrepreneur [email protected] General Trading, and owns a restaurant. These are not merely students who are earning a college degree, or more than 25 years I’ve taught The A to Zs of which, frankly, doesn’t count for much today. These are Buying a Franchise at the International Franchise students who are acquiring life-changing skills, including l Bernameg’ is an Arabic satirical show Expo (IFE), which attracts visitors from across the F a college degree. That combination makes a huge differ- that monitors media coverage in Egypt world. At the end of my seminar in New York City, three ence. young men walked up to say hello. “We’re all from ‘Aright since the early days of the Egyptian GUST!” they announced. Isn’t it a small world? revolution from Jan 25, 2012. By now, the show Building private enterprise I knew of one student by reputation: Suhaib Alsenan, has risen to become one of the most popular The important point here is not buying a franchise an accounting major, had created Trolley, a convenience shows not only in Egypt but in the Arab world as (even though I hope the Kuwait Trio succeeds), but that store, at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) people in Kuwait recognize that some students are not well. It criticizes the misleading stances and flaws in Kuwait. Joining him were Hamed Alkhamis, a finance merely students. Some are not lazy, clueless or goal-less. of the Egyptian leadership. major, and Abdullah Al-Sheeha, a public relations major. Some sit in classrooms dreaming about a future that Until a year ago, I was not familiar with the Unfortunately I had not taught any of the three until my they intend to help shape. The Kuwait Trio values private seminar, but I was thrilled to meet them at the IFE. They name of Bassem Youssef. At least not until recently enterprise, and we need more students with their values. traveled to the expo to find a franchise that they could when a friend of mine told me about his weekly “We don’t want to work for the government or anyone develop in Kuwait, and once I understood their mission I show. At first I thought it was just one more satiri- else,” one of trio explained. “We want to build our own offered to visit their franchisor of choice and put in a cal program, like the many other Arabic comedy businesses and depend on ourselves.” good word for them. During their earlier chats with the Isn’t that what Kuwait wants to hear and see? Isn’t shows that desperately try to elicit some laughs. franchisor, it seemed to them that the franchisor wasn’t that what Kuwait needs to transform the country in the However, after watching a couple of episodes, I all that interested in talking to three students. Of course, next 25 years? These three students - perhaps “entrepre- knew I was wrong. In fact, these kind of shows not many franchisors want to speak to students because neur” defines them more accurately - are Kuwait’s future. students don’t buy franchises. help analyze the exact nature of some groups like There are more of them in Kuwait than most of us know, the Muslim Brotherhood and where they want to and they are searching for opportunities to change the Capabilities of Kuwait Trio drag us. world. To the franchisor’s credit, he already was working a The show is like playing a puzzle in which they Of course, no matter how successful they become, the lead from the Middle East, and while the students were world will remain small. It’s about to get even smaller depict for the benefit of the audiences parts of cer- interested in developing Kuwait initially and the Middle between America and Kuwait because during the week- tain speeches or acts that were made or done but East secondarily, the franchisor was hoping to find a end the Kuwait Trio heard from the franchisor. They got which simply are in contradiction to the ostensible licensee who would develop several countries simulta- an offer to develop multiple units in Kuwait. It’s too early neously. It’s an ambitious goal, and it usually doesn’t pan claims of the Muslim Brotherhood. This show to announce the brand, but wait a few months for an out, so just in case he needed a backup plan (and I was explains the contradiction bearing in mind that update about the trio’s success. Meanwhile, Kuwait, look certain that he would) I urged the franchisor to take a there are Muslims Brothers all over the world, not for ways to reward student entrepreneurs! close look at the capabilities of the Kuwait Trio. only in the Arab world. They are there even in the Most students do not have the capabilities required of Dr John P Hayes heads the Business Administration depart- Western world, except that they are sleeper cells. a franchisee, but the Kuwait Trio brings as much if not ment at GUST. Contact Dr Hayes at questions@hayesworld- Every week, this show comes up with some sur- more to the bargaining table than do many prospective wide.com, or via Twitter @drjohnhayes. prises and one of the biggest was when well- franchisees. Every business needs accounting, finance known US satire show host Jon Stewart featured as a guest star in Youssef’s show ‘Al Bernameg’, or simply, ‘The Program’. Jon Stewart is in the Middle East to direct his film “Rosewater” and it was the right time for him to stop by at the show hosted by his friend and Egyptian counterpart Youssef. Stewart used a few Arabic words that he knew. For Stewart, it was the perfect show since he is a star in the world of satire. He even said satire is a law in US. Youssef was also a guest on Stewart’s “The Daily Show” in April this year to discuss his arrest. He was arrested for allegedly insulting Islam and Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi on his pro- gram. I think having such shows in the Arab world is like a whiff of fresh air. I think Bassem Youssef is a great example of the kind of political satire which is not accepted or welcomed in many Arab countries. I think most countries would not welcome such shows because no regime likes to see its political figures being exposed to public criticism or becoming a butt of jokes. However, in this age of technology, no one can control such satire. The power of the media is huge and if anyone tries to do so, people would only feel more pressurized and we will only wit- ness more suppression. Youssef’s show is great fun since it shows the reality of the Muslim Brotherhood in political life. KUWAIT: Girls perform at an anti-drugs event to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday. — Photo By Joseph Shagra Local FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

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Local FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Calls for ICT Speaking for to reconnect in Kuwait imited uptake of new technology has had an the voiceless Limpact on economic development in Kuwait, according to a recent report. In its “Growth and Jobs in a Hyper-connected World”, released in April, the By Ben Garcia World Economic Forum (WEF) said that despite some advances, Kuwait is finding it difficult to fully utilise the olunteering work is not just a economic potential of information and communica- Vvocation but a gift from God that tions technology (ICT) and is not keeping pace with humanity is badly in need of in others in the region in the race to get connected. this age. There are groups of people, Kuwait is ranked 62 out of the 144 countries covered and often just individuals, who are by the WEF study, the same ranking as in 2012. “Stable doing their best to extend help and per- at 62nd place, Kuwait continues to lag behind in the form charitable and benevolent actions region in terms of leveraging ICTs, with low levels of for other people. One such person is both social (85th) and, especially, economic impacts Ghadeer Al-Saqabi, a lawyer and arbitra- (125th),” the report said. “Despite a very sharp rise in tor at Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice who ICT uptake in terms of Internet users (26th) and house- provides free lawyers and legal consul- holds with computers (38th), as well as internet access tancy to Asian embassies in an attempt (44th), the country still suffers from a shortage of skills to ensure that the most vulnerable sec- (71st). This shortage, coupled with a low capacity to tions of the society - domestic helpers - innovate (113th) and an environment that is less busi- receive justice. ness friendly (71st) than those of other GCC states, Her work is evident across a number result in the low economic impacts.” of Asian embassies, including those of According to Anas Merza, CEO of Kuwait’s National the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, India Technology Enterprises Company, a subsidiary of the and Sri Lanka. She has been recognized Kuwait Investment Authority, the inability to maximise and gratefully appreciated for her work. the economic benefits of ICT is, in part at least, the Saqabi has a proven track record in car- result of the low priority given to information technolo- rying out many voluntary initiatives gy in the workplace. “Businesses sometimes hesitate to ranging from environmental concerns to human rights. She has helped bring invest in ICT unless there is a sense of urgency. to a logical end many cases dealing with However, this is changing as vendors work to make issues of maltreatment, abuse, rape and buyers more aware of the benefits of next-generation more. solutions,” Merza said in a recent interview with OBG. Saqabi is particularly concerned Hasibat Information Technologies CEO Mazen Ishbib about vulnerable and exploited workers agrees, saying one of the biggest challenges facing in Kuwait, especially domestic helpers Kuwait’s high-tech industry is to sell the idea of ICT to from the Philippines. She deals with businesses, even before the product or service. “They empathy with Filipino Overseas Workers have no idea that there is a system out there that can make their lives easier,” Ishbib told OBG. “To implement a new system you must first understand the culture, second come with a convincing angle and third make them feel the urgency.” Ghadeer Al-Saqabi Nonetheless, both Merza and Ishbib noted that they expect the private sector to begin to embrace technol- selflessly and tirelessly ogy in the near future, with the greatest uptake likely works to ameliorate to occur in finance, health, energy (both conventional and renewable) and aviation. These and other sectors the suffering of abused will increasingly need next-generation ICT if they are to stay linked with their partners and keep pace with their domestic workers competitors. Meanwhile, in the public sector, vendors are facing some of the same challenges. In a 2012 report pub- lished by the London School of Economics, researchers Hendrik Kraetzschmar and El Mustapha Lahlali found (OFWs) and those from countries from that Kuwait’s e-government service development has which most household workers come been slowed by lack of cross-agency cooperation on e- from. In order to make sure that she is services delivery, and observed an overall reluctance by able to extend help appropriately to an Ghadeer Al-Saqabi civil servants to change the way ministries interact with even greater number of Filipinos, she the public. had asked for approval from former represented. Indeed, she has been a guishing because of false accusations. I These issues will be increasingly important as the Philippines’ Ambassador Shulan great help to the Filipinos and deserved am telling you that most of them turn GCC member states move to create an integrated e- Primavera to assist Filipinos, especially a salute from everyone for extending out to be invented cases. So I really want government platform to facilitate intra-regional trade, on the legal front. her professional advice without seeking to help as much as I can,” she said. in part through the efforts of the Ministerial Committee Even before seeking Primavera’s anything in return. Saqabi disclosed meeting higher jus- approval, she started her work at the “I cannot attend to individual cases, tice officials and Ministry of Interior offi- of GCC E-Government, of which Kuwait is a member. embassy by donating sanitary napkins, and in fact, I am not allowed to take up cers to ask for their support and help for The committee met in Bahrain in March 2013 to move food and even cash to housemaids in any cases privately since I work as an many cases. She also pays regular visits forward on its plan for multilateral e-government serv- order to help them buy plane tickets arbitrator at the Ministry of Justice. But to the hospital and takes down the ices, and Kuwait will host the next meeting, scheduled and for the hospitalization of sick run- in order to help and assist the Filipinos, I names of the Filipinos who are in need for March 2014. away housemaids. After receiving a hire lawyers to attend to individual cas- of assistance and provides a copy to the In the meantime, Kuwait can regain its competitive Special Power of Attorney (SPA) signed es. I do this for charity and I have never embassy. edge in ICT development by promoting its e-govern- by the then Head of the Assistance to collected any money. I pay the lawyers ment services as well as doing more to encourage high- Nationals Unit, she started her voluntary from my own pocket and from the mon- tech firms to set up shop locally. However, while the work at the legal desk. ey collected through donations by my government can promote greater understanding of the Saqabi and her team were permitted compatriots,” she told Kuwait Times. “I economic benefits of information technology solutions, to litigate the cases filed by the want innocent people to be spared the it may be up to service providers themselves to provide embassy, including permission to false accusations crafted against them the hard sell needed to restart Kuwait’s climb up the defend, plead and sign papers of differ- by their abusive employers. There are international rankings. — OBG ent types of cases of Filipinos that she many innocent domestic helpers lan- Local FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

10 arrested for smuggling subsidized diesel

By Hanan Al-Saadoun four Indians and two Kuwaitis - on that the group was under surveillance by gang had been smuggling diesel for a charges of smuggling subsidized diesel the Criminal Investigations Department, long time, and their crude methods of KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry and polluting the environment, as well as adding that the group stored the diesel collecting, storing and smuggling diesel announced yesterday the arrest of 10 entering and leaving the country illegal- in a chalet in Doha and smuggled it out led to the contamination of the sur- persons - two Iranians, two Egyptians, ly. The ministry said in a press statement onboard a ship. The ministry said that the rounding environment.

UN recognizes better Iraq-Kuwait relations

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council brought Iraq one step closer yesterday to ending United Nations sanctions imposed on Baghdad more than two decades ago after for- mer President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait In 1990. The 15-member council unanimously agreed that the issue of missing Kuwaiti people, property and archives should be dealt with under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter - which urges coun- tries to peacefully resolve any conflicts - instead of Chapter 7. Chapter 7 of the charter allows the Security Council to author- ize actions ranging from sanctions to military intervention if states do not abide by council demands. The move by the council is a significant political boost for Baghdad as it struggles to restore its international standing a DUBAI: Kuwaiti delegates are seen at the 9th International Forum on Drugs Issues. — KUNA decade after a US-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam in 2003. The Security Council resolution recognized ìthe impor- tance of Iraq achieving international standing equal to that which it held prior to (1990).’ US-led troops drove Iraq out of Kuwait hails joint effort Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War. The only issues linked to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait that remain under Chapter 7 are an arms embargo and Baghdad’s payment of $52 billion in compensa- against drug traffickers tion to Kuwait, diplomats say. Iraq still owes $11 billion and has said it expects to pay by 2015. ‘Giras’ success story highlighted at forum There are still a range of Chapter 7 issues imposed on Baghdad after Saddamís ouster in 2003, diplomats say, includ- DUBAI: World countries are showing Council, as well as the Anti-Narcotics region and those in other regions or ing the freeze and return of Saddam-era assets and trade ban determination to unite efforts in the Arab Bureau of the Council of Arab countries and those adopted by inter- on stolen Iraqi cultural property. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- fight against illegal drugs with all Ministers of Interior. Also taking part is national organizations in this regard. moon has recommended that the UN political mission in Iraq means possible, Head of Operations at the Criminal Information Centre to The participants in the sessions repre- should take responsibility for facilitating the search for miss- Kuwait Interior Ministry’s Drug Control Combat Drugs, also a GCC body. sented 23 countries, and the organiz- ing Kuwaitis, or their remains, property and the country’s Department Colonel Mohammad Al- Although the Gulf Cooperation ers held an exhibition on the sidelines national archives. — Reuters Hazeem told KUNA. The official was Council countries are key targets for with the aim of raising public aware- speaking on the sidelines of the 9th traffickers, their integrated effort and ness on the issue and on the role and International Forum on Drugs’ Issues, their cooperation with both Arab and services and functions of specialized which opened Wednesday under the international bodies enables them to bodies. A delegation representing slogan “International Smuggling and foil many attempts to smuggle nar- Kuwait’s regional success story - the Control Mechanisms”. The event is cotics into their boundaries, the offi- National Project Against Drug Abuse organized by Dubai Police under the cial said. (Giras) - was among key participants in aegis of Lt Gen and chief of the Dubai Also speaking to KUNA, Legal the exhibition. Police Force Dhahi Khalfan. The police Advisor at Kuwait’s Saad Al-Abdullah The International Day against Drug chief attended the launch of the event Academy for Security Sciences Tahani Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United on Wednesday, which coincided with Al-Obaidli said the forum discusses an Nations International Day against drug International Day against Drug Abuse important aspect of the drugs prob- abuse and the illegal drug trade. It has and Illicit Trafficking. lem. She said she contributed a work- been held annually since 1988 on June In his remarks to KUNA, Hazeem ing paper on breach of customs regu- 26. Marking this day, the UN’s website noted that the Kuwaiti Interior lations in drugs trafficking from a legal shows a message from UN Secretary Ministry is keen on taking part in all perspective with reference to the General Ban Ki-moon. “On this such events, stressing this forum is an GCC’s unified customs law. International Day against Drug Abuse KUWAIT: Acting National Guards Undersecretary Maj Gen important meeting place of a number The two-day forum discusses the and Illicit Trafficking, I call on govern- Eng Hashim Al-Rifae held a meeting with the support com- of international bodies leading the laws and regulations in place in the ments, the media, and civil society to mand of the American Army to set up a coordination fight against drugs. The participating Arab region and how effective they do everything possible to raise aware- mechanism for their next training season. The two sides bodies include the Regional Office of are in the battle against organized ness of the harm caused by illicit drugs also discussed the means to improve the level of joint the United Nations Office on Drugs drug trafficking. Attendants also make and to help prevent people profiting training and exercises. and Crime for the Gulf Cooperation comparisons between the laws in the from their use,” it reads. — KUNA Local FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Candidates register for polls

KUWAIT: Candidates began registering yesterday for Kuwait’s second parliamentary election in eight months amid a political crisis that has stalled development in the wealthy Gulf state and a boycott by the opposition. Hopefuls prayed that Kuwait’s sixth election since mid-2006 would bring political stability and put development back on the right track. On June 16, the nation’s top court dissolved parliament on the grounds that the last election was uncon- stitutional. However, it upheld controversial changes to the electoral law that sparked a standoff with the opposition. “We are passing through a very difficult political situation affected by high regional tension,” former MP Saleh Ashour said after filing papers. “The Kuwaiti people have the responsibility of safeguarding their country and achieving political stability.” Another former MP, Abdullah Al-Maayouf, expected a bigger turnout in the July 27 polls than in the December 1 election, when a widespread opposition boy- cott kept it to under 40 percent. Kuwait has 435,000 eligible voters who elect a 50-mem- ber parliament for a four-year term. None of the past six leg- islatures have completed their terms because they were dis- solved either by the emir or by court order. Leading opposi- tion figure Musallam Al-Barrak reiterated at a gathering late on Wednesday that the opposition will not participate in the KUWAIT: Interior Minister and acting PM Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah tours the election registration office election because the reasons for boycott still exist. “Today, yesterday. Candidates began registering for Kuwait’s second parliamentary election in eight months amid a politi- we are at a crucial crossroads... They (the regime) want to cal crisis that has stalled development in the state and a boycott by the opposition. build a sheikhdom state and we want a state based on insti- — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Fouad Al-Shaikh tutions and the constitution... The next election is a crime and a conspiracy against the constitution,” Barrak said. the December election. Kuwait, OPEC’s fourth largest pro- lating massive assets exceeding $400 billion from high oil But the main liberal opposition group, the National ducer pumping about 3.0 million barrels of oil per day, has prices, development projects have been stalled because of Democratic Alliance, and the country’s largest bedouin been rocked by a series of political crises over the past seven the political turmoil. Registration will continue for 10 days. tribe, the Awazem, said they are taking part after boycotting years between MPs and the government. Despite accumu- — AFP

Abdulhameed Dashti Salah Ashour Abdullah Al-Maayouf

Saadoun Hammad Faleh Al-Ajmi Reham Al-Jlewe

Rawdhan Al-Rawdhan Youssef Al-Zalzalah Faisal Al-Duwaisan FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Morsi stands Turkey PM Snowden free to ground to visit leave: Russia amid crisis Gaza soon: 11 Hamas12 14

AMMAN: US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at Al-Hummar Palace in Amman yesterday. —AP Kerry resumes tough Mideast peace drive US official to meet Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli leaders

AMMAN: US Secretary of State John Kerry’s demanded that settlement activity stop before from the West Bank unless tough security take hard decisions for peace. “It is urgent drive to revive Middle East peace talks hit famil- peace talks resume, despite US and Israeli calls arrangements are agreed. Kerry has revealed because time is the enemy of a peace process,” iar warning signals yesterday as Israel’s prime for negotiations without preconditions. few details of his strategy to bring the sides he said in Kuwait on Wednesday. minister stressed security needs and a “Settlement activity in and around occupied together. But he has said he wants to show In a possible trial balloon related to Kerry’s Palestinian negotiator denounced Israeli settle- East Jerusalem is one of the main reasons why progress before September, when the United mission, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper quoted an ment building. Kerry, on his fifth visit to the the two-state solution is disappearing, as with- Nations General Assembly, which has already unnamed minister from Netanyahu’s right-wing region, will hold separate talks with Jordan’s out East Jerusalem there will be no Palestinian granted de facto recognition to a Palestinian Likud party as saying the prime minister knew a King Abdullah and Palestinian President state,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. state, resumes its debate over the Middle East. peace deal would mean giving up most of the Mahmoud Abbas in Amman and Israeli Prime Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is concerned that the Palestinians, in West Bank. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem over professing his support for creation of a the absence of peace talks, could use the UN “Netanyahu understands that for a peace the next three days. Palestinian state, which he says must be demili- session as a springboard for further unilateral agreement, it will be necessary to withdraw Israeli settlement building on occupied land tarized, has quietly frozen housing starts in set- statehood moves. from more than 90 percent of the West Bank Palestinians seek for a state remains a main tlements in the occupied West Bank and East Israeli newspapers expressed skepticism that and evacuate more than a few settlements,” he stumbling block to the resumption of peace Jerusalem. But in a speech yesterday, he Kerry’s mission would achieve anything substan- said. “He knows this is one of the things that will talks that collapsed over the issue in 2010. appeared to put the United States on notice that tial. “Kerry is still not trying to twist the leaders’ be discussed.” Kerry’s arrival in Amman on Wednesday coincid- he would stick to his security demands even at arms to get them to sign a painful historic In an address to the US Congress in 2011, ed with news that Israel had approved 69 new the risk of failed peace efforts should they peace, but only to sit down together,” said an Netanyahu talked of a land-for-peace bargain, housing units in a Jewish settlement in East resume. Israelis, he said, “do not want a bi- editorial in Israel’s popular Maariv daily. but gave no percentages. The bulk of Israeli Jerusalem, while building continues elsewhere. national state” but they understand that security “The fact that the Americans have become West Bank settlers live in blocs that take up 5-6 “Obviously steps like this are unhelpful, but is a “fundamental condition for our existence”. bogged down in the attempts to resume the percent of the territory, so a pullout on the scale we remain hopeful that both parties will recog- Netanyahu has called for an Israeli military talks is telling, in and of itself, of American weak- envisaged by the minister could leave most of nize the opportunity and the necessity to go presence along the eastern border of a ness, and projects pessimism as to the process them in place. back to the table,” the State Department said. Palestinian state, a demand opposed by Abbas, itself, which has not yet begun,” it said. Kerry has A spokesman for Netanyahu said he had no Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has long and spoken of the danger of rocket fire at Israel again called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to comment on the Haaretz report.— Reuters International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Morsi stands ground amid crisis President’s friends and foes gear for showdown

CAIRO: Egypt faces a showdown in the Mubarak, has urged Egypt’s leaders to ins from Sunday. “Our demand was early on June 30,” said Badr, who told Reuters streets after President Mohamed Morsi pull together. Morsi described his oppo- presidential elections and since that was he had voted for Morsi in last year’s pres- failed, in an address to the nation, to sat- nents as “enemies” and “saboteurs” loyal not addressed anywhere in the speech idential run-off against Mubarak’s last isfy the demands of opponents who to the ousted dictator, whose “corrup- then our response will be on the streets prime minister. — Reuters want the Islamist to step down after a tion” had thwarted him and driven the year in office. economy into crisis, though he conced- Days of brawling between his sup- ed he had made some mistakes and porters and their rivals have already left promised reforms. He also offered talks several dead and scores injured and the on “national reconciliation” and constitu- camps now plan mass rallies, raising the tional change to end the polarization risk of bigger clashes that the army and paralysis that he said threatened warns could prompt it to take command democracy. Opponents dismissed that again. Today, Morsi’s Muslim as nothing new. Morsi and his allies com- Brotherhood and their allies will gather plain that their opponents, defeated by in Cairo, as will some opposition groups. the highly mobilized Islamist groups in a On Sunday, the opposition hopes mil- series of elections last year, are bad los- lions will heed their call, a year to the day ers who have repeatedly snubbed offers since Morsi became Egypt’s first freely to cooperate. elected leader. “I am more determined They in turn say Morsi makes such than ever to go out on June 30 to proposals in bad faith, accusing him of demand the removal of an absolutely usurping the revolution by entrenching irresponsible president,” Khaled Brotherhood control of the state and Dawoud, spokesman for a coalition of “Islamising” society to the detriment of liberal parties, said on Thursday after more secular Egyptians and religious Morsi’s marathon late-night address. minorities. “I feel ashamed that this man The army, which helped protesters has become a president of my state,” CAIRO: Egyptians shop for food at a popular market in Cairo yesterday. topple Hosni Mubarak in 2011, says it said Mahmoud Badr, the 28-year-old Opponents of the country’s Islamist President Mohammed Morsi are hoping will act if politicians cannot reach con- journalist behind a petition which he to bring out massive crowds Sunday, saying they have tapped into wide- sensus. The United States, which contin- says has garnered 15 million signatures spread discontent over economic woes, rising prices and unemployment, ues to fund the military as it did under calling on Morsi to quit or face mass sit- power cuts and lack of security. — AP

Rights groups: Islamists in UAE jails tortured

DUBAI: Islamists detained in the United Arab been “seriously ill-treated during months in deten- Emirates for allegedly plotting to overthrow the tion”. regime have been subjected to systematic mistreat- The groups called on the UAE authorities to ment including torture, three human rights groups “ensure prompt, independent, and impartial inves- said yesterday. Ninety-four Islamists who are mem- tigations into allegations of torture and other ill- bers or supporters of Al-Islah group linked to the treatment, enforced disappearances and other seri- Muslim Brotherhood are on trial in the UAE and ous human rights violations”. The detainees, arrest- expecting a verdict on July 2 from the Court of State ed between March and December 2012 and eight of Security. In a joint statement, Human Rights Watch, whom are being tried in absentia, are accused of Amnesty International and Alkarama said they being part of an “illegal secret group plotting to received 22 handwritten letters sent by some of the take power”. On June 19, the UAE authorities also detainees citing “systematic mistreatment and tor- announced they were charging a group of 30 DAMASCUS: Syrian detainees who took part in anti-government ture”. “The mistreatment described in the letters is Egyptian and Emiratis with setting up an illegal protests sit in a courtroom before their release, in Damascus. Syrian consistent with other allegations of torture at UAE branch of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. activists said yesterday a prominent rights lawyer believed to be in state security facilities, and indicates that torture is a The United Arab Emirates is one of the most sta- government custody for more than eight months is suffering from systematic practice at these facilities,” the groups ble countries in the Middle East and has so far not deteriorating health and called for his immediate release. —AP said. They said that on March 4, at their first trial seen any attacks by Al-Qaeda. It has also been Health of detained hearing, some defendants told the judge they had spared in the wave of Arab Spring uprisings. — AFP Syrian deteriorating BEIRUT: Syrian activists said yesterday a prominent rights lawyer believed Tensions high in Libya to be in government custody for more than eight months is suffering from deteriorating health and called for his immediate release. The lawyer, as capital hit by battle Khalil Maatouk, was abducted while driving to his Damascus office in October and hasn’t been heard from since. The 54-year-old is one of thou- TRIPOLI: Tension was palpable in the Libyan capi- mostly ex-rebels, have managed border controls, sands of Syrians who have disappeared since the uprising against tal yesterday, a day after deadly fighting broke out prisons, strategic facilities in the country and vital President Bashar Assad began more than two years ago, and many of between groups of ex-rebels, highlighting the institutions. them are believed to be held in government detention centers. country’s continuing insecurity nearly two years Coming from different parts of the country, rep- Amnesty International estimates that tens of thousands of Syrians are after dictator Moamer Kadhafi fell. resenting different tribes and with varying ideolo- being held incommunicado by the Assad regime but does not have exact Much of Libya’s recent unrest has centred on the gies, they have received salaries and perks from the figures. The Syrian government denies such cases exist, and says all arrests eastern city of Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 authorities, and some have even benefitted from are carried out legally. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human uprising against Gaddafi, where attacks blamed on smuggling and extortion. Deadly events on Rights said Maatouk, who is known to have lung disease, is being held in Islamists have targeted both the authorities and Tuesday and Wednesday epitomized the sense of an underground Syrian intelligence detention facility. The Observatory, Western interests. But it now seems to be spread- lawlessness that surrounds them. A group of armed which relies on a network of activists on the ground in Syria to gather ing to Tripoli, where brigades of ex-rebels remain men from the city of Zintan who had been guard- information, said Maatouk’s health is deteriorating and called on the entrenched despite government efforts to disarm ing oil facilities in the southern desert, attacked the United Nations high commissioner for Human rights to help secure his them and impose its authority. Tripoli headquarters of the petroleum industry release. —AP Since the fall of Gaddafi’s regime, militia groups, security force on Tuesday. — AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Tribal clashes kill 50 near gold mine in Darfur

KHARTOUM: Fighting between two Arab members of the Bani Hussein had been government, which they accuse of discrimi- more than 68 villages, a pro-government tribes vying for control of a gold mine has killed and 24 wounded when Rizeigat nating against them. Sudanese lawmaker said in February. Gold killed around 50 people in Sudan’s troubled tribesmen attacked them while they were Violence is down from its peak in 2004- has become Sudan’s top export and earner Darfur region, a tribal leader and a UN grazing cattle in two villages outside El 05, but has picked up again this year as Arab of foreign currency. Half a million people source said yesterday. Sireaf. tribes, many of which were armed by gov- dig for gold in mostly unlicensed mines and The clashes erupted on Wednesday, pit- A spokeswoman for the international ernment early in the conflict, are now fight- sell it to traders and the central bank. The ting the Bani Hussein against the Rizeigat, peacekeeping force UNAMID said both ing among themselves over resources and International Criminal Court has issued tribal groups which began fighting in tribes had suffered casualties, without giv- land. Around 300,000 people have been arrest warrants for Sudanese President Omar January over the use of the gold mine near ing figures. The Rizeigat and the army could forced to leave their homes in Darfur this Hassan Al-Bashir and some aides on charges El Sireaf in North Darfur, Masar Al-Duma not be reached for comment. year due to fighting between the army, of masterminding war crimes in Darfur. They Atim, a Bani Hussein leader, told Reuters. Years of international peace efforts have rebels and rival tribes, according to the deny the charges and refuse to recognize “Between 40 and 50 people were killed in failed to end conflict in the westerly region United Nations. the court. Events in Darfur are hard to verify El Sireaf on Wednesday,” he said. “They of Darfur, where mainly African tribes took The initial fighting over the gold mine in as Sudan restricts travel by journalists, aid attacked us at 9 am.” A UN source said 54 up arms in 2003 against Sudan’s Arab-led January killed 500 people and destroyed workers and diplomats. — Reuters Nuke solution ‘easy,’ says Iran top leader

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader said a solution to the nuclear impasse with the West would be “easy” if the United States and its allies are serious about seeking a deal, Iranian media reported yesterday. The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are his first on the nuclear issue since the presidential election earlier this month of Hasan Rouhani, who supports direct talks with Washington. It suggests Khamenei also could endorse bolder diplomacy by Tehran if talks resume with world powers. Several newspapers, including the hard-line Jomhouri Eslami, quoted Khamenei as saying “the solution to Iran’s nuclear case is an easy and smooth job” if Western powers want to strike a deal. “The opposition front against Iran does not want the nuclear issue to be solved,” Khamenei told a group of judiciary officials ANKARA: Swedish chemical weapons expert Ake Sellstrom (second right), who is leading the investigation team on Wednesday. Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, sin- Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons poses next to Turkey’s Foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu prior to a meeting, gled out the US for what he called “new excuses” to block possi- yesterday in Ankara. UN-appointed inspectors, blocked from entering Syria, are in Turkey to gather information about ble headway on negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. possible use of chemical weapons in the civil war. — AFP No other details were given in the press reports, but Rouhani has suggested greater openness on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. The West suspects Iran seeks a nuclear weapon. Tehran denies the charge, saying its nuclear Turkey PM to visit activities aim at peaceful purposes such as power generation and medical isotopes. Khamenei also urged all governmental bodies to support Rouhani, a former nuclear negotiator who has the backing of reformist leaders. He formally takes over from outgo- ing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in August. Gaza soon: Hamas “Managing the country is a difficult job, indeed,” Khamenei said. “All individuals and bodies must help the president-elect.” Also Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran Edrogan’s office denies July 5 date supports direct flights to the US as a way to serve the large Iranian community in Southern California and elsewhere. There GAZA CITY: Turkish Prime Minister between Israel and Turkey which was regional allies went nowhere until have been no direct air routes between the two countries since Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Gaza personally brokered by President Barack March when US intervention brought the US broke ties after the storming of the American Embassy in next week, a senior official in the ruling Obama in March. “Two Turkish delega- about an Israeli apology which paved Tehran in 1979 in the wake of the Islamic Revolution. Hamas movement told a newspaper tions, one governmental and one press, the way for a reconciliation. However, Previously, Iran’s national carrier Iran Air operated the longest yesterday, although Ankara insisted a arrived in Gaza two days ago and met bilateral talks over Israeli compensation nonstop flight at the time between Tehran and New York.—AP date has not yet been set. “The visit of with prime minister (Ismail) Haniya and for the families of the victims-a key ele- Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is to deputy foreign minister Ghazi Hamad to ment of the reconciliation-ran aground, take place on July 5,” Abdelsalam look into the details of the visit,” Siyyam a source close to the Turkish delegation Siyyam, secretary general of the Hamas told the paper. told AFP yesterday. government said in an interview with “They informed us about the timing Last month, on a trip to Washington, Falestin, a daily considered very close to of the visit.” Last week, Haniya and Erdogan said he would also be visiting the Islamist movement. But the Turkish exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal met the West Bank in a step he linked to leader’s press secretary denied the trip with Erdogan in Ankara to discuss the peace moves. “It will not be a visit only had been planned for July 5, saying the planned visit. to Gaza. I will also go to the West Bank,” date was still undecided. The Turkish leader has previously Erdogan said. “I place a lot of signifi- “The announced date is not correct. said his visit to Gaza would be aimed at cance on this visit in terms of peace in The prime minister has other scheduled pushing for an end to Israel’s blockade the Middle East. I’m hoping that that vis- programs in Turkey around those on the tiny coastal territory which has it will contribute to unity in Palestine.” dates,” the aide said. “The visit will take been in place since 2006. The planned visit will take place as place, but its date has not yet been In May 2010, a six-ship flotilla of pro- US Secretary of State John Kerry pushes decided.” Palestinian activists, many of them ahead with a five-month campaign to The Turkish leader has long pledged Turkish, tried to reach Gaza by sea in draw Israel and the Palestinians back to to push ahead with plans to visit the defiance of the blockade. Israeli com- the negotiating table after a hiatus of TEHRAN: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts Hamas-run Gaza Strip, despite opposi- mandos tried to stop them, sparking a nearly three years. It also comes as his ballot in the presidential election without publicly tion from the United States which says it bloody showdown which left nine Erdogan faces the biggest challenge to endorsing a candidate, in Tehran. Iran’s supreme leader would be a “distraction” from efforts to Turkish nationals dead and the Jewish his decade-plus rule in the form of mass says a solution to the nuclear impasse with the West is revive the peace process. state’s once-close ties with Ankara in tat- anti-government demonstrations which “easy” if the country’s foes are serious about reaching a Washington also fears such a visit ters. Repeated attempts to bridge the have prompted a brutal police crack- deal. —AP could damage the rapprochement divide between Washington’s two key down. — AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Mandela ‘still there’: Daughter Makaziwe raps media vultures, hints at racism PRETORIA: Former South African “There’s sort of a racist element with with the coverage of the death in April Margaret Thatcher was sick in hospital, I President Nelson Mandela is still clinging many of the foreign media, where they of former British prime minister didn’t see this kind of media frenzy to life, his eldest daughter Makaziwe just cross boundaries,” she said, after Margaret Thatcher. around Margaret Thatcher,” she said. “It said yesterday, but she blasted foreign running the gauntlet of the pack of cam- “We don’t mind the interest but I just is only God who knows when the time to media “vultures” for violating his privacy era crews and reporters gathered out- feel it has gone overboard. When go is.” —Reuters as he lay critically ill in hospital. side the hospital. “It’s truly like vultures Makaziwe’s outburst came after the gov- waiting when the lion has devoured the ernment reported another downturn in buffalo, waiting there for the last of the the condition of the 94-year-old anti- carcass. That’s the image we have as a apartheid hero, who is admired across family,” Makaziwe added. the world as a symbol of resistance Her criticism followed several sharp against injustice and of reconciliation. rebukes from Zuma’s spokesman against A deterioration in Mandela’s status some foreign media reports that have after 20 days of treatment for a lung given alarming details of Mandela’s infection forced South African President deteriorating condition. Jacob Zuma to cancel his participation in Spokesman Mac Maharaj declined to a regional summit in neighboring comment on the latest report by a major Mozambique yesterday. “I won’t lie, it US. TV news network that South Africa’s doesn’t look good. But as I say, if we first black president was on life support. speak to him, he responds and tries to He said this was part of Mandela’s confi- open his eyes. He’s still there. He might dential relationship with his doctors. be waning off, but he’s still there,” Daughter Makaziwe said: “If people Makaziwe told state broadcaster SABC say they really care about Nelson after visiting her father at the hospital in Mandela, then they should respect that. Pretoria where he is being treated. They should respect that there is a part Accompanied by a group of grand- of him that has to be respected.” children, she angrily criticized the “bad She compared the massive media PRETORIA: Children pray in front of the Medi Clinic Heart hospital in Pretoria taste” of foreign media she said were attention on Mandela, who has been in yesterday. South African President Jacob Zuma said that the condition of ailing intruding on the privacy of Mandela and and out of hospital in the last few anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela had improved overnight and was now crit- his family at this difficult time. months with a recurring lung infection, ical but stable. — AFP Bulgaria parliament resumes business

SOFIA: Bulgarian lawmakers succeeded in class they see as too dependent on shadowy opening parliament for the first time this oligarchs-have taken to the streets every week yesterday, defying vegetable-throwing night since June 14, just four months after protesters posted outside. As many as 300 anti-poverty and corruption rallies ousted the angry Bulgarians besieged the legislature in previous conservative cabinet. central Sofia in pouring rain to try to prevent Public outrage this time was sparked by lawmakers from entering and to press for the Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski’s appoint- government’s resignation, hoping for a ment-which has since been withdrawn-of a repeat of the protest that forced the cancella- controversial media magnate as head of the tion of Wednesday’s session. country’s top security agency. In office for less Tomatoes and cucumbers were thrown than 30 days, Oresharski, known as a stern at the building as protesters shouted technocrat, has so far refused to resign. “Mafia!” “Red Garbage!” and “Resign!”, but But Wednesday’s blockade showed his cab- police fences barred the crowd’s access to inet’s dependence on the unpredictable ultra- DAKAR: US President Barack Obama, center, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, lawmakers. nationalist party Ataka, when its deputies’ center left, greets Senegalese dignitaries as he arrives at the airport in Dakar, Senegal. —AP During the session, parliament approved refusal to brave the crowd forced the cancella- the appointments of two new vice premiers, tion of the parliamentary session. Yesterday, No wheeling dealing Daniela Bobeva to oversee the economy and Ataka’s flamboyant leader Volen Siderov Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev as vice pre- urged the interior ministry to take harder mier for interior and security affairs. action, including arrests, against what he on Snowden: Obama Thousands of Bulgarians-sick of a political called “a crowd of raging hooligans.” — AFP

DAKAR: President Barack Obama said yester- Almost four centuries after Africans started day he had not spoken to Chinese President being shipped to North America as slaves, the Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin first US president of African ancestry will on about the US request to extradite former Thursday visit an infamous embarkation point American spy agency contractor Edward for those destined for lives in chains. In his Snowden because he “shouldn’t have to”. first - and, many Africans say, long-overdue - Speaking at a press conference in Senegal, extended tour of the continent, President where Obama started a three-country tour of Barack Obama will focus on political and eco- Africa, the US president said normal legal nomic issues, but is also paying homage to a channels should be sufficient to handle painful chapter in American history. Washington’s request that Snowden, who left On the first leg of his eight-day visit he is Hong Kong for Russia, be returned. “I have taking his family to the House of Slaves, a fort not called President Xi personally or President built in the late 18th century on Goree Island, Putin personally and the reason is...number off the coast of Senegal, as a transit point for one, I shouldn’t have to,” Obama said. the human traffic and now a museum. “Number two, we’ve got a whole lot of The visit will be a sombre reminder of a business that we do with China and Russia, shameful period in US and world history and and I’m not going to have one case of a sus- provide a powerful contrast between pect who we’re trying to extradite suddenly Obama’s stature as leader of the world’s most being elevated to the point where I’ve got to powerful nation and the historical status of start doing wheeling and dealing and trading Africans, once treated as property in the SOFIA: Protesters pelt lawmakers with tomatoes on Wednesday in a sign of mounting frus- on a whole host of other issues,” Obama said. country he governs. — Reuters tration over the government’s refusal to quit over a security scandal. —Reuters International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Snowden free to leave: Russia Confusion reigns over documents MOSCOW: Russia said fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden was free to leave the Moscow airport where he has been holed up for the last five days but confusion reigned Thursday over whether he had the appropriate documents allowing him to travel. Snowden, who is wanted by the US authorities for leaking sensational details of US surveillance to the media, is said by the Kremlin to have been at the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport since arriving on a flight from Hong Kong Sunday. But in a mystery that has captivated the world, there has not been a single sighting of Snowden at the airport and his onward travel plans remain MOSCOW: The Airbus A330 aircraft being used Aeroflot flight SU150 from LONDON: Sarah Harrison, assistant to WikiLeaks an enigma after he failed to board a Moscow to Havana, is prepared at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow yes- founder Julian Assange, thanks supporters outside flight on which he was booked to terday. A dozen of Russian and foreign journalists continued to occupy the Ecuador’s embassy in west London.—Reuters Havana on Monday.Citroen “He has not violated Russian law, transit zone of the Sheremetyevo airport as yet another Havana-bound he has not crossed the border, he is in flight left Moscow with no sight of National Security Agency leaker Edward WikiLeaks advisor the transit zone of the airport and can Snowden who is believed to remain at the transit zone. —AP fly anywhere that he wants,” Russian Sarah ‘helping Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. travel document after his US passport uled at 1005 GMT Thursday but there Echoing comments by President was cancelled. “He doesn’t have a have been no reports that he has a Vladimir Putin indicating that document supplied by Ecuador like a booking. The next direct connection Snowden flee’ Moscow is keen to see the back of its passport or a refugee card as has is then on Saturday. But the confu- unexpected visitor, Lavrov added: been mentioned,” Galarza said. sion over his travel documents and LONDON: Holed up with a fugitive computer expert and “The sooner this (he flies onwards) Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Snowden’s failure to leave the transit negotiating a legal minefield to avoid the US authorities- happens, the better”. Ricardo Patino warned earlier during zone has raised the prospect that he WikiLeaks staffer Sarah Harrison has been here before. As one The United States has told Russia a visit to Malaysia that it could take could be in limbo for weeks or even of Julian Assange’s closest aides, the blonde, willowy Briton is that it has a clear legal basis to expel weeks to decide whether to grant months while a solution is found. uniquely qualified to help US intelligence leaker Edward asylum to Snowden. But he later WikiLeaks has confirmed that he is Snowden avoid extradition to the United States for exposing a Snowden but Putin has flatly rejected backpedalled, writing on Twitter that being “escorted at all times” by British massive surveillance program. the idea, saying Moscow has no extra- Snowden and Harrison have been stuck together in the dition treaty with Washington. reporters had misinterpreted him and WikiLeaks staffer Sarah Harrison, a transit zone of a Moscow airport since the weekend, after she But according to the White House, that it could take “one day, one week blonde who is one of Assange’s clos- accompanied him on a flight from Hong Kong as part of the two sides are in contact over the or, like it happened for Assange, it est aides. efforts by anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks to help the former National Security Agency could take two months.” Meanwhile Putin has also denied suggestions American. Harrison has been closely involved in Assange’s (NSA) technician. “We are having con- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that Russia could be holding up own battle to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations versations with Russian government said that Venezuela would “almost Snowden deliberately to allow an of sexual assault, which he fears will lead to transfer to the officials. I’m not at liberty to get into certainly” grant political asylum to extensive debriefing at the hands of United States and possible prosecution over his whistleblow- the details of those conversations, Snowden if the fugitive US intelli- Russian special services. ing activities. but we’re having the conversations,” gence leaker applied for it. He arrived in Moscow on Sunday She virtually lived with the Australian WikiLeaks founder said White House spokesman Jay Maduro, who like Ecuador on an Aeroflot flight from Hong Kong, when he was under house arrest in the English countryside, Carney. President Rafael Correa is a leftist a special administrative region under and there have been reports that they were in a relationship. Ecuador, whose embassy in anti-American populist, is by coinci- Chinese rule, prompting anger from Harrison now acts as a kind of gatekeeper at the Ecuadorian London is already giving refuge to dence expected in Moscow next week Washington over how the local embassy in London where Assange sought asylum last year-a WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as for an energy summit. Snowden had authorities there allowed Snowden to move which personally cost her £3,500 ($5,300, 4,100 euros) he faces extradition to Sweden on been expected to leave Moscow on travel. she had put up for his bail. Friends said the researcher, sexual assault charges, has said it is an Aeroflot flight on Monday to Snowden abandoned his high-pay- believed to be in her late 20s, was an obvious choice to help considering an asylum request from Havana, from where he could have ing intelligence contractor job in Snowden. Snowden. But senior Ecuadorean for- caught a connection to Quito. He Hawaii-which he himself described as “She’s completely trusted,” said Vaughan Smith, a video eign ministry official Galo Galarza missed another flight on Tuesday and “living in paradise, making a ton of journalist who owns the house in Norfolk in eastern England denied claims by the anti-secrecy there was no service on Wednesday. money”-and went to Hong Kong on where Assange lived under strict bail conditions between website that Quito gave Snowden a A Moscow-Havana flight is sched- May 20. —AFP December 2010 and June 2012. Harrison had her own room and was at the house most of the time, but Smith rejected suggestions she was simply Assange’s adoring lackey. “I don’t think I ever saw her washing socks,” Smith told AFP, Gibraltar protests to Cameron referring to one newspaper report from the time. “She’s a key part of the team, she’s one of the people who makes every- GIBRALTAR: The tiny British-held territory sions into British territorial waters at protested the “illegal incursion” to his thing happen. “She was very committed to the idea of greater of Gibraltar, known as The Rock, has Gibraltar “constitute a serious challenge to Spanish counterpart during a European government openness, very hard-working-and put up with protested to British Prime Minister David Gibraltar’s jurisdiction and British sover- Union meeting in Luxembourg on conditions of a very difficult job under great pressure.” Cameron of repeated Spanish incursions eignty”. Tuesday. And the British embassy’s num- Smith refused to comment on rumors that Harrison was Assange’s girlfriend. “I know everything about it, but I’m not into its waters as a diplomatic row grows Picardo said Spanish military-linked ber two man in Madrid, Daniel Pruce, has prepared to talk about that,” he said. Both are fiercely commit- over allegations that Spanish police fired Guardia Civil police shot at the jet ski demanded from the Spanish foreign min- ted to their cause and Harrison appeared to complement shots at a jet ski. Spain’s government has inside British territorial waters, an incident istry a “full explanation”. But a spokesman Assange during a recent visit to the embassy by AFP, seeming flatly denied accusations that its police he described as “dangerous and wholly for Spain’s foreign ministry told AFP there organized and efficient where he is dreamy and remote, and fired shots while chasing a jet ski on unacceptable”. “Diplomatic action to date was no shooting and expressed disquiet helping him to find documents he has misplaced. Harrison Sunday in waters off Gibraltar and it has appears to have had no material effect that Britain was repeating an “unverified has worked for WikiLeaks since late 2010 as a researcher, criticized Britain for giving credence to and I fear that Spain will not be deterred and unfounded rumor”. In Gibraltar, the media organizer and occasional spokeswoman, and is now rumors. by yet another verbal protest no matter man reportedly at the centre of the inci- Snowden’s constant companion as he seeks refuge from US As the dispute mounted, Gibraltar how robust,” he said. dent, 32-year-old David Villa, told online law. A former WikiLeaks intern who asked not to be named Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sent a letter “It is important that Spain feels the true news site Olive Press that he had been described her as “formidable”. “Miss Harrison has courageous- to Cameron, according to a statement late weight of British reaction to continuing testing his new jet ski with family and ly assisted Mr Snowden with his lawful departure from Hong Kong and is accompanying Mr Snowden in his passage to Wednesday by the territory’s government. violations of our sovereignty.” Britain’s friends on Sunday when the Spanish safety,” WikiLeaks said of her role. — AFP In it, he complained that Spanish incur- Minister for Europe David Lidington police gave chase.—AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 India steps up grim search for bodies Mass cremations after devastating floods DEHRADUN: Rescue workers stepped and firemen has been deployed to the Raman told the Press Trust of India news up the search for bodies yesterday in worst-hit Hindu temple area of agency. “But given the scale and nature India’s flood-ravaged north and mass Kedarnath Valley to recover bodies of the tragedy, there is a likelihood that cremations took place as fears grew there, the officer said from the state cap- many bodies could still be lying in open over outbreaks of disease, officials and ital Dehradun. spots, where rescue personnel have not reports said. All survivors in that area have already been able to find or reach them,” he ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former President and military More than 100,000 mainly pilgrims been picked up. “They are carrying said. DNA samples from the bodies are ruler Pervez Musharraf arrives at an anti-terrorism court and tourists have been evacuated from saws, plate-cutters and also saline water being taken before cremation and are in Islamabad, Pakistan. —AP the disaster zone while some 4,000 which is needed to preserve body being preserved by the authorities, offi- remain in relief camps after the flash parts,” the officer said. cials said. Pakistan names floods and landslides that hit the state The team includes mountaineers to The search for bodies and the crema- of Uttarakhand on June 15. retrieve bodies found in the jungle, val- tions came as villagers accused authori- investigators in Rivers swollen by monsoon rains leys and gorges, and help carry them ties of ignoring the needs of local resi- Musharraf treason case have swept away houses, buildings and out on foot, as well as photographers dents and instead focusing rescue and entire villages in the Himalayan state, who will send pictures to the police to relief efforts on visiting pilgrims and ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yesterday moved a step closer to put- which was packed with tourists and pil- speed up the identification process. tourists. “There were 67 houses in our ting former military leader Pervez Musharraf on trial for trea- grims travelling to Hindu shrines. Mass cremations of victims were under Chandrapuri village out of which 63 son, appointing a committee to investigate him for subverting Around 1,000 people have died, the way in the Kedarnath area, to prevent were washed away by the Mandikini riv- the constitution. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told parlia- state government has told AFP, outbreaks of disease, said Ravikanth er,” Birendra Singh, a former army offi- ment that a four-member committee had been set up to although officials have warned the Raman, a rescue operations officer in cer, told AFP at a relief camp in probe charges that Musharraf committed treason under arti- death toll could rise as more victims are Guptkashi, a village near Kedarnath. Dehradun. “Not a single official has visit- cle six of the constitution while in office from 1999-2008. found. Persistent bad weather is ham- “We are now quickly cremating the ed our village as yet. We have nothing to “It is a four-member committee or commission. This com- pering evacuations from the relief bodies which have been recovered,” go back to,” he said. — AFP mittee shall keep the interior ministry posted about the camps, officials said, and their focus is progress of the inquiry on a weekly basis and should submit increasingly on recovering bodies to its findings within a short space of time,” Nisar said. The com- prevent the spread of disease. “The mittee will be made up of officers from the Federal remaining people will be evacuated as Investigation Agency, he said. and when the weather clears,” a senior The retired general, who returned from four years of self- officer overseeing rescue operations imposed exile in March, has been under house arrest at his vil- told AFP. la on the edge of Islamabad since April 19. “The bigger worry is finding the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who made an astonishing scores of dead bodies that may be still comeback in May by winning elections 13 years after being buried under debris,” said the officer, deposed by Musharraf, said Monday that the ex-leader should who did not want to be named as he is be tried for treason. The offence carries the death penalty or not authorized to speak to the media. life imprisonment. Musharraf faces a slew of other cases relat- Health officials have warned locals ing to his 1999-2008 rule, including conspiracy to murder for- against drinking river water on concerns mer prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who died in a gun and sui- of contamination from rotting bodies. cide attack in 2007. Six bodies were found floating in the The government yesterday informed the Supreme Court of Ganges in Allahabad on Wednesday, its intention to investigate Musharraf for treason. Pakistan’s some 650 kilometers (404 miles) down- highest court has been hearing a petition from lawyers stream from Kedarnath, according to demanding that Musharraf be tried for subverting the constitu- reports, highlighting the difficulty of tion by imposing emergency rule and sacking judges in 2007. locating all those who perished. Musharraf’s lawyer Ibrahim Satti urged the Supreme Court to Rescue workers are clearing away give his client a fair trial, accusing the media and Sharif of being large amounts of debris and scouring biased against him. “In this background the answering respon- remote areas for victims. More than dent is expecting and having full hope that this bench will safe- 1,000 bridges have been damaged guard and protect the interest and civil right of him regarding along with roads, cutting off villages PANDUKESHWAR: Members of Indo Tibetan Border Police revive a stranded fair trial,” said Satti, speaking in English. —AFP and towns. A team of police, doctors person at Pandukeshwar in Uttarakhand. —AFP Bangladeshi jailed for US sees more Taleban Facebook threat on PM attacks despite talks NEW DELHI: DHAKA: A Bangladeshi university lecturer employer, the Bangladesh University of The United States said yesterday peace process, which has caused concern in was sentenced to jail in absentia yesterday Engineering and Technology (BUET). that it expected the Taleban to continue to New Delhi. “They clearly had anxieties, anxi- for threatening to kill Prime Minister Sheikh “First I will shoot you (Hasina) in the mount attacks in Afghanistan even as the eties that we all have. Hasina and defaming her on Facebook, a head and in the stomach,” the prosecutor rebels hold peace talks from their new office Nobody knows how this is going to prosecutor said. quoted the post as saying. “Then will put in Qatar. Taleban gunmen and bombers using progress,” Dobbins said. India, which has fake NATO identification attacked an entrance spent more than $2.0 billion of aid in A court sentenced Hafizur Rahman (your) head on display in front of the BUET to the Afghan presidential palace and a near- Afghanistan, fears any return of the influence Rana, a lecturer at a prestigious university, to ward off other hyenas,” the post said. by building known to house a CIA base on of the Taleban, hardline Islamists that are to seven years in jail for posting the com- Bangladesh authorities launched a Tuesday, leaving three security guards dead. aligned with Pakistan. India and Pakistan are ments last April during a protest on cam- series of prosecutions last year over materi- “Frankly I anticipate that Taleban will con- locked in a fight for influence in Afghanistan, pus, prosecutor Tapash Kumar Pal said. al on Facebook pages mocking or threaten- tinue to try to negotiate from a position of but Dobbins saw the prospect of improved Rana, 28, who has gone into hiding in ing Hasina, and her father, the country’s strength,” US special envoy to Afghanistan relations between the neighbors which have recent months, is the second Bangladeshi founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. and Pakistan, James Dobbins, told reporters fought three wars since independence. In for- to receive a prison sentence for making In January last year, a 29-year-old in New Delhi. “The Taleban will want to con- eign policy matters, Pakistan’s new Prime threatening comments on Facebook Bangladeshi man, a lecturer at another tinue to put pressure on, to make it look like Minister Nawaz Sharif has made improving rela- against the premier, the prosecutor said. public university, was sentenced in absen- the United States is leaving as a result of that tions with India his “top priority,” said Dobbins On the social network site, Rana likened tia to six months in jail after posting a pressure rather than a result of its success,” he after his talks in Islamabad on Tuesday. “Any Hasina to a hyena who had also destroyed Facebook message that appeared to wish added. Dobbins, who is on the last stop of a improvement in India-Pakistan ties will almost the country and was trying to destroy his for Hasina to die in a car accident. — AFP tour through South Asia, said he had briefed automatically improve Afghanistan’s situation,” his Indian counterparts about the uncertain he added. —AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Rudd sworn in as Australian PM Gillard overthrown as voters welcome change

CANBERRA: Kevin Rudd was sworn in immigration.“Our tolerance factor with sworn in as Treasurer and Transport pick up the slack as the mining bonan- as Australian prime minister for the sec- instability in the leadership of Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn za fades. “While some bounce in the ond time yesterday, a day after top- Australia’s government is at breaking in as deputy leader yesterday. Financial polls and possibly confidence is expect- pling Julia Gillard and three months point, matched only by a swathe of markets see few implications for the ed, the political games will be largely a ahead of elections in which opinion anti-business policies which have $1.5 trillion economy, which is strug- sideshow to deeper issues in the polls show the ruling Labor Party faces brought business frustration to boiling gling to cope with the end of a historic Australian economy,” Nomura interest a devastating defeat. Rudd’s return as point,” said Peter Anderson, chief exec- mining boom as commodity prices fall rate strategist Martin Whetton said of prime minister follows three years of utive of the Australian Chamber of and a record pipeline in resource Rudd’s re-appointment. squabbling within the Labor leadership Commerce and Industry. “The econom- investment starts to falter. Illustrating the challenges, almost and as the world’s 12th largest econo- ic challenges facing Australia, especial- Manufacturing has been hurt by a 1,000 jobs were cut from Australian my faces challenges stemming from a ly our declining competitiveness, high strong Australian dollar and other sec- coal mines this week alone. slowdown in top trade partner China. cost structure and low confidence, are tors of the economy are struggling to Voters welcomed back Rudd, always Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former serious.” The favourite to win the com- among the most popular of politicians. diplomat, has highlighted the difficul- ing elections, opposition leader Tony “I am glad that we’ve now been given ties associated with “the end of China’s Abbott, has promised to scrap a carbon the opportunity to have the prime min- resource boom” and said he would tax and a 30 percent tax on iron ore ister we voted in several years ago,” work to rebuild the government’s and coal mine profits if he wins power. said Peter Mayson, who works in the strained relations with the business He has also promised tighter control of building industry in Sydney. community. He left open the option of public spending, a speedier return to Rudd, who was prime minister from changing the September 14 election surplus budgets and stronger econom- late 2007 until 2010, said thoughts of date, telling parliament that prime min- ic growth. the good of the nation had spurred isters had the right to choose the date. Rudd’s first task will be a major cabi- him to abandon a promise this year “There is not going to be a huge varia- net reshuffle after a string of senior never to run for office again, following tion one way or the other,” he said. ministers loyal to Gillard resigned, a failed bid to unseat Gillard. Opinion CANBERRA: Australian Prime Australian business was scathing of the including former deputy prime minis- polls had shown Gillard’s minority gov- Minister Kevin Rudd speaks during political instability and urged Rudd to ter and treasurer Wayne Swan, Trade ernment could lose up to 35 seats, giv- question time at Parliament for what abandon laws that strengthen trade Minister Craig Emerson and Climate ing the conservative opposition a mas- is likely to be its last day before elec- union access to the workplace and Change Minister Greg Combet. Former sive majority in the 150-member parlia- tions in Canberra yesterday. AP tighten rules for temporary skilled Immigration Minister Chris Bowen was — ment. — Reuters

China, South push for Police block site of deadly North Korea talks China Xinjiang riot BEIJING: China’s president welcomed his his comment came amid the highest ten- TURPAN: South Korean counterpart yesterday as an sion on the peninsula in years, with daily Armed police in China’s ethnical- “old friend of China” and agreed to make a threats from Pyongyang to attack South ly divided Xinjiang blocked the road yester- push for new talks with North Korea yester- Korea and the United States. Xinhua, day to the site of riots that left 27 people day as two of Asia’s newest leaders met for China’s state news agency, appeared to dead a day earlier, in the restive region’s the first time. Park Geun-hye, one of Asia’s criticize Pyongyang ahead of the visit, say- deadliest violence in years. Officers sta- few women leaders, took office in Seoul in ing that “hard-earned trust among con- tioned 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside February amid war threats by North Korea, cerned parties has been evaporating fol- Turpan city’s Lukqun township checked car while China’s Xi Jinping was appointed in lowing unfortunate incidents one after passengers’ IDs and barred journalists from November and has sought to rein in the another” since 2009. In 2009, the North entering, citing safety concerns. A visitor in Turpan-which lies about 250 North’s nuclear weapons program, backing walked out of denuclearization talks bro- kilometers from the regional capital tougher economic sanctions against kered by China, carried out its second Urumqi-said he saw another roadblock with Beijing’s traditional ally. “The two leaders nuclear test and in 2010 was accused of armed officers and about 20 police vehicles. shared a common view on denuclearizing sinking a South Korean naval vessel and The Xinhua state news agency said North Korea, maintaining peace and stabili- shelling a South Korean island. — Reuters XINJIANG: Chinese security forces Wednesday that “knife-wielding mobs” ty on the Korean peninsula and resolving demonstrate how they stop protests attacked police stations and other locations, issues through dialogue and negotiations,” in Urumqi, China’s farwest Xinjiang and nine police or security guards and eight Park’s office said in a statement after they region. AFP civilians were killed before police opened — met. fire. A resident surnamed Chai said a heli- described it as an “insurgent attack”. China backed North Korea in the 1950- copter arrived on the scene along with According to official figures, 46 percent of 53 Korean War with late leader Mao many police and soldiers. Xinjiang’s population are Uighur, while Zedong’s eldest son dying in the conflict Xinjiang is home to around 10 million another 39 percent are Han Chinese, after with the South. The 60th anniversary of the members of the mostly Muslim Uighur eth- millions from the majority group moved end of the war is July 27. Beijing is the main nic minority. Many complain of religious there in recent decades to find work. economic and diplomatic lifeline for the and cultural repression by Chinese authori- The Han settlement drive has caused fric- impoverished and isolated state, whose ties. Authorities deny that and have pushed tion with the existing community. Similar three nuclear weapons tests since 2006 investment in the resource-rich region in an tensions have arisen in Tibet, which neigh- have threatened Asia’s security. China has attempt to boost development and growth. bors Xinjiang to the south. Both are home boosted sanctions on its ally, which this A handful of residents in Turpan inter- to sizeable ethnic minority populations and year conducted a nuclear test in defiance of viewed yesterday said they had heard are officially “autonomous regions” despite international criticism. It has also closed about the incident but declined to elabo- close oversight by Beijing. access for North Korean banks in China. rate. Life went on as normal as residents Xinjiang saw its worst ethnic violence in Xi was appointed Communist Party napped on the side of the road near mud- years in July 2009 when riots involving chairman, China’s most powerful position, brick homes and grape fields. Uighurs and Han settlers in Urumqi left last November and named president in The reason for Wednesday’s violence around 200 people dead. Chinese authori- March. In April, he told an international was not immediately clear. A verified ties closely restrict information about unrest forum in southern China that no country SEONGNAM: South Korean President Twitter account by state-run broadcaster in Xinjiang, blocking access across the “should be allowed to throw a region and Park Geun-hye waves before leaving for CCTV called the incident a “riot”, saying it region for several months after the violence even the whole world into chaos for selfish China at the Seoul Military Airport in was correcting an earlier message which in 2009. —AFP gain”. While Xi did not name North Korea, Seongnam, South Korea yesterday. —AP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 7 aboard US schooner missing in South Pacific Phone calls, texts ended June 4 WELLINGTON: A New Zealand meteor- ologist took the last known calls from the seven people aboard an American schooner, “The weather’s turned nasty, how do we get away from it?” The phone calls and texts ended June 4. More than three weeks later, searchers HUNTSVILLE: Donna Aldred (left) and her daughter Leslie said yesterday they have grave concerns Lambert (right), listen during a news conference after the for the crew on the classic 85-year-old execution of Kimberly McCarthy at the Texas Department wooden vessel that went missing while of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit, where the death cham- sailing from New Zealand to Australia. ber is located on Wednesday in Huntsville, Texas. —AP Attempts to contact the crew by radio and an aerial search this week have Texas carries out 500th proved fruitless. execution since 1982 Authorities say the skipper of the 70- foot (21-meter) vessel Nina is American HUNTSVILLE, Texas: Texas marked a solemn moment in criminal David Dyche. They say there are two justice, executing its 500th inmate since it resumed carrying out other American men and three capital punishment in 1982. Kimberly McCarthy, who was put to American women aboard, aged death Wednesday evening for the murder of her 71-year old between 17 and 73. Also aboard is a British man, aged 35. Messages posted neighbor, was also the first woman executed in the US in nearly The yacht Nina is tied at dock at a unidentified location. Searchers said yesterday three years. McCarthy, 52, was executed for the 1997 robbery, online by friends indicate the boat origi- nally left from Panama City, Florida. they have grave concerns for seven people aboard the American schooner that beating and fatal stabbing of retired psychology professor has been missing for three weeks between New Zealand and Australia. — AP Dorothy Booth. Booth had agreed to give McCarthy a cup of sug- Meteorologist Bob McDavitt said he ar before she was attacked with a butcher knife and candelabra took a satellite phone call from the boat Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, arrive in Australia mid-June but that, at her home, south of Dallas. Authorities say McCarthy cut off June 3. A woman named Evi asked how said rescuers weren’t worried at first given the conditions, he considered a Booth’s finger to remove her wedding ring. to get away from the weather. He said to because there had been no distress call realistic arrival date to be about June 25. It was among three slayings linked to McCarthy, a former nurs- call back in 30 minutes after he’d stud- from the boat and its emergency locator He said Dyche is a qualified captain and ing home therapist who became addicted to crack cocaine. She ied a forecast. She did. beacon had not been activated. He said the crew has varying degrees of experi- was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. local time, 20 minutes after “She was quite controlled in her rescuers on June 14 initiated a commu- ence. Texas prison officials began administering a single lethal dose of voice, it sounded like everything was nications search, in which they tried “We’re very concerned for their safety pentobarbital. In her final statement, McCarthy did not mention under control,” McDavitt said, adding contacting the boat over various radio and wellbeing,” he said. Authorities say her status as the 500th inmate to be executed or acknowledge that the call itself indicated she was con- frequencies as well as contacting other the storm three weeks ago saw winds Booth or her family. “This is not a loss. This is a win. You know cerned about the conditions. vessels in the area to see if they’d spot- gusting up to 110 kilometers (68 miles) where I’m going. I’m going home to be with Jesus. Keep the McDavitt said he spoke only briefly to ted the Nina. per hour and waves of up to 8 meters faith. I love you all,” she said, while looking toward her witnesses - Evi, advising her to head south and to This week, he said, rescuers escalated (26 feet). Banaghan said the Nina is a her attorney, her spiritual adviser and her ex-husband, New Black brace for a storm with strong winds and their efforts. An Air Force plane on “lovely old craft” which won races when Panther Party founder Aaron Michaels. high seas. The next day he got a text, Tuesday searched the area where the it was new and had been maintained in As the drug started to take effect, McCarthy said, “God is the last known communication from the boat went missing. A second search by excellent condition. He added that it great,” before closing her eyes. She took hard, raspy, loud boat: “ANY UPDATE 4 NINA? ... EVI” the plane on Wednesday went as far as had a new engine installed in recent breaths for several seconds before becoming quiet. Then, her McDavitt said he advised the crew to the Australian coast but again turned up months which had apparently created chest moved up and down for another minute before she stay put and ride out the storm another nothing. Banaghan said searchers are some initial leaking problems. stopped breathing. day. He continued sending messages considering their next options. The boat He said there are several possible Friends and family of Booth told reporters after the execution the next few days but didn’t hear back. left the Bay of Islands in northern New scenarios, including the boat losing that they were not aware that Texas had carried out its 500th exe- Friends of the crew got in touch with Zealand on May 29 bound for the port communications, drifting off course, or cution since 1982. They said their only focus was on Booth’s bru- McDavitt soon after that, and then alert- of Newcastle, near Sydney. The last com- the crew taking to lifeboats. He said tal murder. Five-hundred is “just a number. It doesn’t really mean ed authorities June 14. munication was from 370 nautical miles there’s also a possibility the boat suf- very much,” said Randall Browning, Kevin Banaghan, who is spearhead- west of New Zealand. fered a catastrophic failure and sank who was Booth’s godson. “‘We’re just thinking about the jus- ing search efforts by Maritime New Banaghan said the crew hoped to before anybody had time to react. —AP tice that was promised to us by the state of Texas.” Donna Aldred, Booth’s daughter, reading a statement to reporters, said that her mother “was an incredible person who was taken before her Ecuador waives US trade time.” Texas has carried out nearly 40 percent of the more than 1,300 executions in the US since the Supreme Court allowed capi- tal punishment to resume in 1976. The state’s standing stems rights over Snowden case from its size as the second-most populous state as well as its tra- dition of tough justice for killers. QUITO: Ecuador said yesterday it was Bristling at suggestions Quito was Texas prison officials said that for them, it was just another waiving preferential rights under a US weighing the pros and cons of execution. “We simply carried out the court’s order,” said Texas trade agreement to demonstrate its Snowden’s case in terms of its own Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark. With principled approach to the asylum interests, officials also said Ecuador increased debate in recent years over wrongful convictions, some request of former American spy agency would not base its decision on its desire states have halted the practice entirely. However, 32 states have contractor Edward Snowden. Officials in to renew the Andean Trade Preferences the death penalty on the books. Though Texas still carries out Quito added that the US fugitive’s case Act with Washington. “Ecuador gives up, executions, lawmakers have provided more sentencing options had still not been processed because he unilaterally and irrevocably, the said for juries and courts have narrowed the cases for which death can had not reached any of its diplomatic customs benefits,” said another official, be sought. In a statement, Maurie Levin, McCarthy’s attorney, said premises. Fernando Alvarado. “500 is 500 too many. I look forward to the day when we recog- In a deliberately cheeky touch from “What’s more, Ecuador offers the nize that this pointless and barbaric practice, imposed almost the leftist government of President United States economic aid of $23 mil- exclusively on those who are poor and disproportionately on Rafael Correa, Ecuador also offered a lion annually, similar to what we people of color, has no place in a civilized society.” Outside the multimillion donation for human rights received with the trade benefits, with prison, about 40 protesters gathered, carrying signs saying training in the United States. Snowden, the intention of providing education “Death Penalty: Racist and Anti-Poor,” “Stop All Executions Now” and “Stop Killing to Stop Killings.” As the hour for the execution 30, is believed to be at Moscow’s inter- about human rights,” Alvarado added. QUITO: Fernando Alvarado, Ecuador’s approached, protesters began chanting and sang the old Negro national airport. “The petitioner is not in “Ecuador does not accept pressure or communications minister, arrives to spiritual “Wade in the Water.” In recent years, Texas executions Ecuadorean territory as the law threats from anyone, nor does it trade announce that Ecuador is renouncing have generally drawn fewer than 10 protesters. A handful of requires,” government official Betty Tola with principles or submit them to mer- trade preferences that are up for US counter-demonstrators who support the death penalty gathered said at an early morning news confer- cantile interests, however important congressional renewal during a news in another area outside the prison Wednesday.—AP ence in Ecuador. those may be.”— Reuters conference in Quito yesterday.—AP International FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Gay couples cheer high court moves Wedding bells may be weeks away

SAN FRANCISCO: Backed by rainbow the city’s Castro neighborhood, with marriage was legal in California. “I want flags and confetti, thousands celebrat- rainbow flags and confetti filling the to cry,” Banfield said. “It’s been a long ed in California’s streets after US air. James Reynolds, 45, was among the journey. I’m grateful I’m alive to see it.” Supreme Court rulings brought major revelers, saying he had been married to It remained unclear, however, when advances for gay marriage proponents his partner of 23 years several times, California’s gay marriages might start MANILA: US destroyer USS Fitzgerald arrives at the for- in the state and across the country. including once in California. again. Backers of the ban known as mer US naval base in Subic Bay, Olongapo City, north Though wedding bells may be weeks “It’s been taken away from us,” Proposition 8 have 25 days to ask the of Manila yesterday to join the Cooperation Afloat away, same-sex couples and their sup- Reynolds said as he stood in a cross- Supreme Court to reconsider. The 9th Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises close to a porters filled city blocks of San walk near the barrier blocking off the US Circuit Court of Appeals also must flashpoint area of the South China Sea. — AFP Francisco and West Hollywood on street for the celebration. “But we’ll be lift a hold it placed on the lower court Wednesday night to savor the long- married again.” In Southern California, order before the state can be free to awaited decisions as thumping music an all-day celebration in West issue marriage licenses to same-sex Body of NYC storm victim resounded. Hollywood grew to hundreds by night, couples. lay undetected for months “Today the words emblazoned including many gay couples dressed in Still, state officials moved quickly. across the Supreme Court ring true: red, white and blue and one sign that Gov. Jerry Brown said he had directed NEW YORK: In the chaotic days after Superstorm Sandy, equal justice under law,” said Paul read “Today we are American.” the California Department of Public an army of aid workers streamed onto the flood-ravaged Katami, one of the plaintiffs who chal- Brendan Banfield, 46, stood on the very Health to start issuing licenses as soon Rockaway Peninsula looking for anyone who needed help. lenged California’s gay marriage ban, spot under a tree in West Hollywood as the hold is lifted, and state Attorney Health workers and National Guard troops went door to as he celebrated in West Hollywood. In Park where in 2008 he married his part- General Kamala Harris went even fur- door. City inspectors checked thousands of dwellings for one of two 5-4 rulings, the high court ner, Charles, becoming one of an esti- ther, publicly urging the appellate damage. Seaside neighborhoods teemed with utility cleared the way for gay marriages to mated 18,000 couples that got married court to act ahead of the final word crews, Red Cross trucks and crews clearing debris. resume in California, holding that the during the 41/2 four months when gay from the Supreme Court. —AP Yet, even as the months dragged by, nobody thought coalition of religious conservative to look inside the tiny construction trailer rusting away in a groups that qualified a voter-approved junk-filled lot at the corner of Beach 40th Street and ban for the ballot did not have the Rockaway Beach Boulevard. If they had, they would have authority to defend it after state offi- found the body of Keith Lancaster, a quiet handyman who cials refused. The justices thus let stand appeared to have been using the trailer as a home the a San Francisco trial court’s ruling in night Sandy sent 5 feet of water churning through the August 2010 that overturned the ban. neighborhood. In the other, the court wiped away part It took until April 5 before an acquaintance finally went of a federal anti-gay marriage law, the to check on the 62-year-old’s whereabouts and found his Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, partially skeletonized remains. His body lay near a calendar putting legally married gay couples on that hadn’t been turned since October and prescription pill equal federal footing with all other bottles last refilled in the fall. married Americans, allowing them to New York City’s medical examiner announced this week receive the same tax, health and pen- that Lancaster had drowned, making him the 44th person sion benefits. ruled to have died in New York City because of the storm. The court sidestepped the larger Neighborhood residents described Lancaster as a loner question of whether banning gay mar- and something of a drifter, and police said he had never riage is unconstitutional, and states been reported missing. No one stepped forward to claim other than California and the 12 others his body from the city morgue, either, after he was finally where gay couples already have the discovered this spring. He was buried in a potter’s field on right to wed were left to hash out the OREGON: Kara Mineehan, 27 (left) and Kim Walsh, 28, celebrate the an island in Long Island Sound, the medical examiner’s issue within their borders. As the sun Supreme Court’s decision to rule the same-sex marriage ban as unconstitu- office said. A police missing-person squad is still trying to set on San Francisco, a crowd surged tional. The event was hosted by Oregon United for Marriage with several identify any relatives. —AP from hundreds to several thousand in guest speakers. — AP Alabama senator leads Canada charges ex-Qaeda immigration opposition WASHINGTON: Day after day, Sen Jeff Sessions argues unit leader Belmokhtar against an immigration overhaul bill that GOP party leaders, and a sizable share of his Republican colleagues, say is criti- OTTAWA: Canada lodged charges against Mohktar snatching the Canadians in Niger in 2008, said RCMP cal to any chance of a national comeback for the party out of Belmohktar, former head of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic spokesman Laurence Trottier. power in Washington. Maghreb (AQIM), for his role in the kidnapping of two While the hostages were abducted in Niger they were The legislation headed for passage in the Senate would diplomats five years ago, a spokesman said. AQIM is released in northern Mali close to the border. Both Mali cost the nation jobs and depress wages, Sessions says in the known for May suicide bombings in Niger that killed at and Niger have been plagued by Tuareg uprisings in the Judiciary Committee, on the Senate floor, in hallway inter- least 20, as well as the dramatic January seizing of a region making military control of the zone more difficult. views and to just about anyone who asks. It’s not paid for, he desert gas plant in neighboring Algeria in a siege that left The Sahel, with vast stretches of inhospitable desert, is argues. Nor, Sessions adds, would it guarantee better border 38 hostages dead, also in retaliation for intervention in notoriously difficult to control. Rebel movements and enforcement. Lawmakers don’t really know what the bill does, Mali. Back in December 2008 AQIM, snatched Canadian other armed groups roam largely unhindered over bor- seeing that it consumes 1,100 pages, according to Alabama’s Robert Fowler, UN special envoy to Niger, and his assis- ders between the countries. Al-Qaeda of the Islamic junior senator. The 66-year-old former prosecutor used a simi- tant Louis Guay west of Niamey. Maghreb has said it intended to unify armed Islamist lar approach to help defeat an immigration overhaul in 2006 AQIM claimed responsibility in February 2009 for the groups in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, as well as emerg- and 2007, when a president of his own party, George W Bush, kidnapping of the Canadian diplomats, and of four ing groups in countries bordering the Sahara like Niger declared it a priority. Now that Democrat Barack Obama has European tourists snatched in January 2010. After more and Mali. It has also claimed a series of deadly suicide it atop his domestic agenda, Sessions is again the face of than four months in detention at the hands of the group, bombings in Algeria, other attacks in the region and sev- Republican opposition to a path to citizenship for millions of the Canadians were finally released after a Malian media- eral kidnappings. people living in the US illegally. The playing field has changed tor spoke with Belmohktar. Federal police (RCMP) filed Born in the Algerian Sahara in 1972, Belmokhtar led since then, but the path toward a bill actually becoming law is charges of kidnapping with the intent to raise money for the AQIM for years before leaving to lead a splinter group no clearer than it was six years ago now that a sizable tea par- terror against Belmohktar and Omar Ould Hamahathe for in late 2012. — AFP ty faction holds sway in the House. —AP Business FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

India’s current account Ireland in recession as bailout exit approaches data boosts rupee PAGE 21 PAGE 20

LONDON: A child poses for photographs on a Clydesdale Prancing Pony during a photocall at Hamleys toy shop in London yesterday. Hamleys unveiled the ‘must have’ toys for Christmas 2013@ at the company’s flagship Regent Street store in London. — AFP EU agrees on new bank rescue rules Deal to shift burden from taxpayers

BRUSSELS: European finance ministers for manoeuvre governments can have step toward a “banking union”, the new yesterday agreed a deal on new rules to decide on a rescue strategy after the overall European Union regulatory to shift the burden for future bank res- widely differing experiences seen in framework meant to restore the bank- Dubai Duty Free cues from taxpayers to the financial Europe in recent years. ing sector to health and so prevent any sector in a bid to quell public anger Under the proposed rules, public repeat of the bloc’s debt crisis. Up to repricing over massive bailouts in recent years. funds to rescue banks would only be now, the taxpayer has paid for most of The measures, which still have to be allowed exceptionally after a minimum the state and bank bailouts-a massive $1.75bn loan adopted by the European Parliament, level of losses equal to eight percent of sum put at 4.5 trillion euros for the Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is set to will force bank owners and bond hold- the total liabilities. “This establishes 2008-11 period which has stoked grow- LONDON: ers firstly and then depositors with ‘bail-ins’ as the new rule,” Noonan said, ing popular disquiet and added to debt reprice a $1.75 billion, six-year syndicated loan that signed more than 100,000 euros ($130,000) to referring to a term for forced losses put levels. in July 2012, banking sources close to the deal said. The bear the losses. on the bank instead of “bailouts” which To address this problem, the EU, the original loan was split between a dirham-denominated “Our aim is to have a common use public funds. The Irish presidency European Central Bank and the tranche and a US dollar denominated facility, which were approach throughout Europe so our said it hoped the new rules would be International Monetary Fund in March both priced at 325 bps (basis points) over LIBOR. As part of taxpayers no longer have to shoulder finalized by early next year at the latest agreed a Cyprus rescue which ‘bailed- the repricing exercise, margins will be reduced by 100 bps the burden,” said Irish Finance Minister and the plan is that they would then in’ larger depositors in its two biggest on the dirham-denominated tranche and by 75 bps on the Michael Noonan, who chaired the talks come into effect from 2018. “This is banks to pay for their restructuring. as current holder of the EU presidency. very important for financial stability in Further steps towards banking US dollar tranche, the sources said. Noonan said governments would no the European Union,” French Finance union and greater integration between “Pricing in the loan market in the UAE is now coming longer have to save banks that were Minister Pierre Moscovici told reporters euro members are not expected any in,” said one of the banking sources. “This is just a mark to “too big to fail” as the deal would end as he came out of the talks. time soon however as most analysts market exercise.” The repricing for the world’s largest sin- the “vicious link” that forced countries His Dutch counterpart Jeroen are expecting a pause for Germany’s gle airport retailer is expected to close next week. The to step in and rescue lenders in order Dijsselbloem, who is also head of the general election in September. An EU original senior unsecured financing was led by coordina- to prevent wholesale collapse. Eurogroup, said: “If a bank gets in trou- diplomat speaking on condition of tors, mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners Citibank, The agreement on a key stumbling ble we will now throughout Europe anonymity said that the easing of the block for European integration came have one set of rules on who pays the euro-zone debt crisis meant there was Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD and HSBC Bank Middle just ahead of the start of a summit of bill.” no longer the same sense of urgency East. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank pre-committed to the EU leaders that will aim to tackle anoth- “The financial sector itself will now for reforms. “The project seems to be facilities as a mandated lead arranger and bookrunner. er aspect of the crisis fallout-the sharp to a very, very large extent become moving forward but much slower. DDF was established in 1983 as the sole duty free oper- rise in youth unemployment. The crux responsible for dealing with its own There is a realization that they have to ator at the departure and arrival areas of all terminals at of the issue was who should foot the problems,” he said. go ahead with integration but it’s not DIA. DDF could not be reached for comment. — Reuters bill when a bank fails, and what room The resolution mechanism is a key happening at breakneck speed.” — AFP Business FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 India’s current account data boosts ailing rupee Chidambaram warns deficit may widen

MUMBAI: India’s current account deficit non-gold imports declined. India’s grew at a decade-low of five percent last narrowed to 3.6 percent in the first quar- deficit stems mainly from large oil and year, ahead of elections due next year. ter of 2013, data showed yesterday, gold imports and weaker exports amid For the full fiscal year ended March, the helping to reverse a dramatic slide in the global economic downturn, which current account gap was $87.8 billion, or the rupee to historic lows. has raised inflation concerns. Foreign 4.8 percent of GDP, compared with $78.2 The better-than-expected figures investors have been pulling out money billion a year earlier. “The data was well AFGHANISTAN: An Afghan farmer harvests wheat on the out- eased pressure on the currency, which from India-besides other emerging mar- above our expectations, as the services skirts of Mazar-i-Sharif yesterday. Only about 15 percent of lost nearly 2.0 percent on Wednesday kets-in June, to safer havens such as US sector performed better than expected in Afghanistan’s land, mostly in scattered valleys, is suitable for when it touched a record 60 to the dol- Treasury bills. The deficit figures come as the March-end quarter,” said Siddhartha farming with about 6 percent of the land actually cultivated lar. The current account data came a day India’s Congress-led government strug- Sanyal, chief India economist with with wheat being the most important crop. — AFP earlier than expected and dealers specu- gles to stimulate the economy, which Barclays Capital. — AFP lated its release might have been moved forward by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to boost sentiment. Abu Dhabi’s Sorouh The rupee, which hit a lifetime low of 60.72 to the dollar on Wednesday, up; most stocks rise strengthened to 60.33 after the data was MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS released. It was trading at 60.53 by at 0630 GMT. The deficit for the three UBAI: Abu Dhabi’s Sorouh Real Estate rose yesterday in its last months to March was $18.1 billion, com- trading session before being delisted as part of its state- pared with a record $32.6 billion, or 6.7 backed merger with Aldar Properties, while all regional mar- percent of gross domestic product, for kets gained ahead of the weekend. the previous quarter, the RBI said in a The tie-up, aimed at reviving the emirate’s battered real statement. estate sector, creates the second-largest listed property firm The imbalance in the current in the United Arab Emirates and one of the biggest in the account, which measures the gap Middle East with assets of about $13 billion. between inflows of foreign currency and “The merged company is attractive at this stage; the back- outflows and is the broadest gauge of log of Abu Dhabi projects is strong,” said Ali Adou, portfolio trade, is the biggest risk to the economy, manager at The National Investor. “I’m bullish on the contract- according to the bank. After the data, ing, construction and cement sectors in the UAE so it’s a good play to be in over the next two years.” Sorouh shares rose 4.6 India’s Finance Minister P Chidambaram percent to 2.72 dirhams ($0.74), while Aldar gained 2.9 per- yesterday warned that the deficit “may cent to 2.14 dirhams per share. widen” in the current quarter because of Under the merger proposal, Sorouh shareholders will get recent money outflows. 1.288 Aldar shares for every share they own. Sorouh will be “The data has calmed the (forex) mar- dissolved and delisted from the local bourse. The merged ket somewhat,” said Shubhada Rao, NEW DELHI: A commuter walks near a shop dealing in foreign currency entity’s shares will open on Sunday at 2.14 dirhams with a chief economist with private Yes Bank. exchange in New Delhi yesterday. The rupee touched an all-time low of 60.72 total paid-up capital of 7.86 billion dirhams. Abu Dhabi’s She said the deficit numbers for the against the dollar Wednesday, but rose 0.3 percent to 60.5350 per dollar yes- benchmark climbed 1 percent, heading into a sideways trend March quarter improved as non-oil and terday morning. —AP since hitting a 56-month peak on June 13. Dubai’s index added 0.4 percent, its second rise in the last six sessions, to take year-to-date gains to 37 percent. Investors began booking profits on sharp early-year gains Qatar lifts GDP growth forecast to 5.3% late last week, tracking the move on global markets after the US Federal Reserve said it would end its stimulus program. In DUBAI: Qatar’s government yesterday raised its Kuwait, the measure ticked up 0.2 percent, but has lost 4.7 forecast for real gross domestic product growth in percent this month in a bout of profit-taking after sharp early- 2013 to 5.3 percent from 4.8 percent, citing UAE’s ADNOC plans year gains. The market is up 33.3 percent in 2013. The Kuwaiti changes to its expected output of oil and gas. government on Wednesday set a fresh date of July 27 for a The General Secretariat for Development new Das crude blend parliamentary election, delaying by two days the sixth assem- Planning predicted growth of 4.5 percent next year. bly contest in seven years in the politically volatile Gulf coun- In 2012, GDP rose 6.2 percent. Pipeline gas produc- SINGAPORE/DUBAI: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is planning try. “Many retail investors aren’t here - transactions and trad- tion will rise this year and unscheduled shutdowns, to blend its Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif oils into a new export ing value have shrunk,” said Fouad Darwish, head of broker- which limited energy output in 2012, are unlikely to crude called Das from early 2014, oil market trade sources said yes- age at Global Investment House, pointing to selling ahead of be repeated, the secretariat said in a report. terday. summer vacations and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, “In 2014, upstream oil and gas is expected to “From April, Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif will be combined into due to start around July 9, as well as due to political uncertain- contract as output from maturing oil fields tapers one grade. The API will be about 39 and the grade will be called ty. Qatar’s bourse added 0.4 percent, extending gains since off and gas production hits installed-capacity lim- Das,” a trade source familiar with the plan said. “It makes sense to the smooth transfer of power to the new ruler, Amir Sheikh its,” it said. The government’s fiscal surplus in Qatar, consolidate as they are of relatively small volumes and of similar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas, is quality.” A source at state-run ADNOC said the plan was still being In Egypt, local investors bought blue-chips that have been expected to drop to 4.7 percent of GDP in 2014 finalized but said that “everyone will benefit” from blending the hammered in recent weeks but trading volumes were thin from an upwardly revised 8.1 percent this year, the two similar crude streams which are already exported from the due to near-term political uncertainty. secretariat said. In its previous report last same terminal on Das Island. The opposition has planned protests against President December, it had forecast a 2013 surplus of 5.4 per- Oil output from Lower Zakum, which has an API gravity of 40.5 Mohamed Morsi on June 30 - the one-year anniversary of him cent. “The overall surplus is expected to narrow in degrees and a sulfur content of 1.04 percent, is around 350,000 bar- taking office. Two people were killed and 90 wounded in 2014 in the wake of the substantial increases in rels per day (bpd), while around 280,000 bpd of Umm Shaif crude street clashes on Wednesday between Morsi’s supporters and capital spending needed to keep Qatar’s capital has a similar weight of 36.9 degrees and 1.44 percent sulfur. opponents. Investors are largely staying away from trading projects on track,” it said. A buyer of ADNOC crude said there has been a lot of market talk because of renewed political tensions and foreign investors Qatar plans to spend some $140 billion on infra- about the two United Arab Emirates crudes being blended, but that that were net buyers in this month’s sell-off have changed structure in the next decade, partly in preparation ADNOC had not informed traders of the plans. their stance and are reducing risk as Egypt’s outlook worsens. to host the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. “We haven’t received anything officially from ADNOC. They also Orascom Construction Industries rose 0.8 percent, extending Inflation is expected to be 3.6 percent in both 2013 haven’t shared any plans about merging the grades so far with us,” gains after a buyout offer from Dutch-listed parent OCI NV and 2014, up from 1.8 percent last year, the secre- the north Asian buyer said. received regulatory approval. tariat predicted. “This forecast is consistent with It is not clear how the Das Island blend crude would be priced. OCI shares closed at 240 pounds ($34.21), presenting fur- somewhat higher inflation in the second half of The UAE typically sells Lower Zakum at a premium to Umm Shaif, ther upside due to the tender offer price being 255 pounds- 2013, but also anticipates that the accelerating while the benchmark Murban crude is usually sold at a premium to per-share. Cairo’s index rose 1 percent, its third straight gain inflationary trend seen since the second quarter of both. — Reuters since Monday’s one-year trough. — Reuters 2012 will peter out by end-2013,” it said. — Reuters Business FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Spain loses influence in IAG as Bankia sells stake

MADRID: Spain has lost its direct influ- (Spanish) government should be able to 224 million shares to a wide range of February and March but halted industri- ence in International Airlines Group in have a say in its only national airline, investors. al action after IAG reduced the number the midst of its controversial restructur- which has a major role in the economy,” Bankia and IAG said in statements of lay-offs at the Spanish flag carrier to ing, after nationalized lender Bankia said Jose Maria Marin, a professor at the only that the shares had been placed 3,141. Bankia’s stake in IAG was sold at sold its stake in the airline company for state-run National University of Distance with “institutional investors”. Last year 256 pence per share, Bankia said, a 3 675 million euros ($877 million). Education (UNED). IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh said percent discount to Wednesday’s clos- Bankia, bailed out to the tune of 24 As a result of the stake sale, the there was no strategic value in having ing price, and bringing in a 167 million billion euros by the state last year, sold Spanish government - through Bankia - Bankia as a shareholder and that the euro capital gain for the lender. the 12 percent stake on Thursday as part will lose a seat on IAG’s board. However, group was open to another airline tak- “There was a bit of fear about the of a recovery plan agreed with the gov- certain safeguards for Iberia’s business ing Bankia’s stake, though analysts sale because 12 percent of the compa- ernment and the European Union. that were put in place at the time of the doubted a rival would step in. ny’s capital is quite a lot ... but the dis- International Airlines Group (IAG) merger - such as the routes it can fly - There had been speculation Qatar count was pretty small,” said Renta 4 was formed in 2011 by the merger of remain in place until 2016. Airways may be interested in the stake analyst San Felix. IAG’s shares were British Airways and Spain’s Iberia. Losses “Spain’s influence in IAG is reducing,” but both Walsh and Qatar Air CEO Akbar down 1 percent to 261.4 pence by 1303 at the Spanish airline, however, have led said Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Robin Al Bakar dismissed the possibility. GMT, versus a 0.1 percent decline for IAG to launch a restructuring at Iberia Byde. “Iberia now accounts for around Iberia has become unprofitable in all European travel stocks. which includes thousands of lay-offs 26 percent of IAG’s capacity ... maybe markets, including long haul, and its Bankia’s recovery plan following its and sparked strike action earlier this those who said the merger was more of problems are critical, IAG said last week. state rescue last year targets 8 billion year in a country where over a quarter a BA takeover were right.” The buyers of The Spanish airline reported an operat- euros from the sale of stakes in listed of the workforce are jobless. Bankia’s stake are unknown, though ing loss of 202 million euros in the first companies, which also include a 5.1 per- “A forced sale like this one tends to financial sources told Reuters that quarter. cent stake in utility Iberdrola and 20 per- have dangerous implications. The bookrunner Merrill Lynch had sold the Staff staged two five-day walkouts in cent of tech firm Indra. — Reuters Ireland in recession as bailout exit approaches Revised data shows 3 quarters of shrinkage

DUBLIN: Ireland’s economy slid into those in other indebted states such as her second name. “It’s heartbreaking. recession late last year and continued to Greece and Spain, many have endured Here it’s completely different. I can’t find contract sharply in early 2013, new and salary cuts of up to a fifth and big tax ris- properties to rent for people who are revised figures showed yesterday, just es. Unemployment has more than relocating.” Thursday’s data showed the months before it is due to exit its EU/IMF tripled, to 14 percent. economy grew by just 0.2 percent last BERLIN: A man looking at ads for job vacancies at the bailout program. The second euro-zone country to be year, rather than the 0.9 percent initially employment centre “Agentur fuer Arbeit” yesterday in Gross domestic product shrank 0.6 rescued, in November 2010, it is due to thought, and an export-led recovery Berlin. German unemployment registered a surprising fall percent in the first quarter of this year complete its bailout later this year and stalled in the second half of 2012, largely to 6.8 percent this month when the labor market in from the previous three months, con- has made a limited return to bond mar- because of the slowdown in the rest of Europe’s biggest economy proved robust, official data founding analysts’ expectations of 0.3 kets, although yields on its debt have the euro-zone. showed yesterday.—AFP percent growth - a shock reading that recently started to rise again. Analysts The Irish government is targeting shows the euro member is recovering say the country has enough cash to cov- growth to bounce back this year to 1.3 Merkel open to future from financial crisis much more slowly er most of its funding needs through percent and return towards the level than previously thought. next year, however, and should exit the seen in 2011, when the economy EU ‘solidarity fund’ Revised data also showed a quarterly aid deal on schedule, providing the expanded by 2.2 percent - a figure that contraction of 0.2 percent in the fourth European Union with a badly-needed was revised upwards yesterday. But that BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday said she quarter of 2012, meaning Ireland’s econ- success story for austerity. now looks unrealistic after personal con- would be open to a future euro-zone “solidarity fund” for cri- omy has shrunk for three successive The poor economic data rounds off a sumption fell 3.0 percent in the first sis-hit nations, once the zone has agreed a unified financial quarters and is in its first recession since bad week for Ireland, where public quarter, its sharpest drop in four years. and economic policy. 2009. “It clearly shows that we’re not anger is growing over leaked tapes of Exports of goods and services had an But she did not define how such a body would look, and immune to what’s going on globally. bankers laughing about a government even steeper decline of 3.2 percent, the stressed that Europe did not needs another fund but structur- Given these numbers you’d be hard rescue of the financial system that led to most since Ireland’s economic crisis al reform. In particular the European Union needed to invest pushed to have growth for the year as a the bailout and years of austerity. Three began. in education and research to stay globally competitive. whole,” said Alan McQuaid, economist years on, a split in society is becoming The prospect of easing up a little on The first priority was for euro-zone countries to agree on at Merrion Stockbrokers. clearer - property is selling fast in austerity, which the government has “the content and substance” of joint financial and economic Ireland has been one of the few euro upmarket areas of Dublin, while shells of been considering given leeway offered governance, which would have to be settled and then zone countries to have eked out mild unfinished houses litter ghost estates by a deal which eased the terms of debt approved by national parliaments. growth as the currency bloc’s debt crisis and suburbs around the country. repayment, now looks trickier. “Given such a context, I could imagine a solidarity mecha- has unfolded, despite harsh spending Overall, house prices have fallen by half. “It’s very fragile and it probably nism, tightly linked to conditions, for example in the form of a cuts and tax hikes imposed to help bring “Dublin is booming, but I go to my means we have to be very careful about fund for the euro-zone,” Merkel told the German parliament. down one of Europe’s highest budget home town and most of the shops are the scale of adjustment in budget 2014,” However Merkel, who faces elections in September, was deficits. Though Irish people have not closed down,” said human resources said KBC Ireland economist Austin quick to stress that Europe’s biggest economy does not want protested against austerity as angrily as worker Lynn, who did not want to give Hughes. — Reuters to dole out money but make sure the entire bloc is economi- cally competitive. “I will say quite clearly: whenever Europe speaks of a solidarity mechanism, it is immediately increased Russia scales back privatization drive and broadened, and in the end no-one speaks about the parameters for competitiveness anymore, but only about a MOSCOW: Russia unveiled yesterday a economic underperformance, with many ate of President Vladimir Putin. Prime new source of funding-and this is something Germany won’t scaled-down state assets privatization fearing that the country may slip into Minister Dmitry Medvedev appeared to stand for.” drive that is now valued at $50 billion (38 recession by the end of the year. But top take an open swipe at Sechin for manag- She said Berlin “insists that the problems in Europe and the billion euros) and keeps the Rosneft oil ministers and other officials have been ing to save his company from going most- euro-zone are tackled at the root and solved step by step so giant under firm government control. loath to part with industries over which ly private. “We should say this out in the that the monetary union will finally become a stability union. The new three-year plan through 2016 they exercise control. One of the most open,” news agencies quoted Medvedev “For that, in Europe, we need a solid financial policy, to boost emerged after the energy-export-driven notable revisions of the medium-term pro- as saying. The failure of past privatization growth through structural reforms, and more investment in country’s top economic officials went gram was the decision not to see the gov- programs “can be traced to the pro-ener- education and research.” through a list of all the big enterprises that ernment’s control of the Rosneft behe- gy lobbying of specific government agen- Speaking hours before the start of an EU summit in still remain in state hands. moth-Russia’s biggest oil company and cies and individual officials,” said Brussels, she also struck a hopeful note: “I am more convinced, Economists said the scale of the project the largest listed energy firm in the world- Medvedev. “These people are ready to kill more than ever, that if Europe learns from its mistakes and is about half the size of the original plan. fall to less than 50 percent. The firm is themselves before they allow something sticks to the path it has chosen, we will achieve our goals, a Privatization is emerging as a vital source headed by Igor Sechin-one of Russia’s to be sold off, seeing them lose control of strong Europe ... stability and growth”. — AFP of income for Russia because of its recent biggest powerbrokers and a close associ- the corresponding property.”— AFP Business FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 US consumer spending rises, jobless claims fall Income jumps 0.5%, saving rate up

WASHINGTON: US consumer spend- ing rebounded in May and new appli- cations for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the econo- my remained on a moderate growth path. The Commerce Department said yesterday consumer spending increased 0.3 percent last month after a revised 0.3 percent drop in April. Consumer spending in April was pre- viously reported to have declined 0.2 percent. Last month’s spending increase was in line with economists’ expectations. When adjusted for infla- tion, consumer spending rose 0.2 per- cent last month after dipping 0.1 per- cent in April. LISBON: Two men wait at Santa Apolonia station dur- In a separate report, the Labor ing the general strike in Lisbon yesterday. Public trans- Department said initial claims for port crawled to a standstill in Portugal as unions MONTPELIER: A shopper looks over the clothes at the Vermont Trading unemployment benefits fell 9,000 to a Company in Montpelier, Vermont. Consumers spent more in May as their staged their fourth general strike in two years against seasonally adjusted 346,000. The four- government austerity measures adopted in return for income increased, encouraging signs after a slow start to the year, accord- week moving average for new claims, ing to data released by the Commerce Department yesterday. —AP an international bailout. — AFP which irons out week-to-week volatili- ty, fell 2,750 to 345,750. US stock stumbling early in the second quarter. spending has slowed from the 2.6 per- Anti-austerity strike hits index futures slightly added to earlier That is broadly supportive of the view cent annual rate notched in the first Portuguese transport gains after the data. US Treasuries the Federal Reserve expressed last three months of the year, consumers prices extended price gains and yields week that the downside risks to the will likely continue to drive growth in LISBON: Portuguese unions halted public transport yester- fell to session lows, while the dollar economy’s outlook have waned. Fed the second quarter. The firming day in a peaceful one-day strike against austerity measures pared gains against the yen. Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. growth theme held as other details of which have led to the worst economic slump since the Recent data, including housing, central bank could start scaling back the Commerce Department report 1970s and sent unemployment to record levels. Trains, regional factory activity, business on the pace of its monthly bond pur- showed income grew 0.5 percent last metro services and many public offices shut down. But spending plans and consumer confi- chases this year. Consumer spending month, the largest gain since restaurants and shops opened as hard-up Portuguese who dence, have pointed to an economy accounts for 70 percent of US eco- February, after nudging up 0.1 per- could not afford to miss a day at work opted to go by car, that is regaining some speed after nomic activity. Though the pace of cent in April. —Reuters clogging many entry points to Lisbon with traffic jams. Strikes and protests over the tough terms of a 78-bil- lion-euro bailout by the European Union and IMF in 2011 have been mostly peaceful in Potugal, unlike the unrest in Britain’s double dip recession fears ease countries such as Greece, or more recently Brazil and Turkey. The Portuguese are fed up with austerity and the LONDON: Britain did not suffer a double-dip recession ear- However, other figures from the ONS were almost sharpest tax rises in living memory this year but they are ly last year as previously thought, but household living unremittingly grim. Britons’ real disposable income fell by more fearful of losing their jobs with unemployment at standards suffered their biggest drop in a generation at the 1.7 percent in the first three months of 2013, the biggest record levels near 18 percent and three years of recession. start of 2013. quarterly drop since 1987, driven down by an outright fall “It’s simple - if I don’t work, I don’t eat. The government The Office for National Statistics said yesterday that fol- in wages and rising prices, causing households to reduce disgusts me, the austerity is stifling us, but protesting lowing a major annual revision of historic economic data, their savings to the lowest share of income since early 2009. won’t feed my family,” said Augusto Nery, a 53-year-old figures now showed that output flat-lined in the first three Britain’s current account deficit with the rest of the world electrician. months of 2012 rather than contracting. This meant Britain unexpectedly widened to 3.6 percent of gross domestic Unions hope the fourth general strike in two years will did not suffer the two consecutive quarters of contraction product and business investment slumped by 16.5 percent force the government to boost economic growth and ease which commonly define a recession - fillip for finance min- on the year, casting doubt on government hopes for an the belt-tightening. The government won an easing of tough ister George Osborne, whose spending cuts since 2010 are economic recovery driven by exports and capital spending. budget deficit goals from creditors in March and has said it blamed by political opponents for causing unnecessarily “Overall it does look as if UK economic history has been could request further flexibility if the economic outlook wors- slow economic growth. revised in a negative direction,” said Victoria Clarke, an ens. “What we have is an exceptionally large strike,” said economist at Investec. Armenio Carlos, head of the CGTP union. — Reuters “It certainly looks as if the UK is a step further away now from ‘escape velocity’. We suspect that this, coupled with some inflation projections in August, will be enough to tilt British monarchy costs the balance for the (Bank of England) to sanction more QE,” she said, referring to asset-buying quantitative easing. taxpayer £1m more Further historic revisions now also show that the recession between the second quarter of 2008 and the second quar- LONDON: The public cost of the British monarchy rose ter of 2009 inclusive was deeper than thought, leading to a by just under £1 million last year to £33.3 million ($51 7.2 percent fall in output, compared with previous estimates million, 39 million euros) but fell in real terms, palace of a 6.3 percent fall. accounts revealed yesterday. Diamond jubilee celebra- Britain’s slowest economic recovery on record since then tions marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the means that output is still 3.9 percent below its pre-reces- throne made the 2012/13 financial year “challenging”, sion peak - compared with an earlier estimate of 2.6 per- Buckingham Palace said. But it added that the British cent below. taxpayer was paying £3 million less for the monarchy The one figure that was not revised was the estimate of than five years ago once the figures were adjusted for 0.3 percent quarterly growth in the first three months of inflation, due to falling travel costs and a rise in royal 2013, a figure that surprised many economists who had incomes. The 87-year-old monarch has been scaling been fearing a ‘triple-dip’ recession before it first came out back the gruelling travel schedule that has kept her jet- in April. Other recent data and surveys have also pointed to setting for six decades, and is increasingly handing over DAK LAK: A group of hilltribe ethnic Ede farmers a strengthening of growth in the second quarter, with the duties to younger royals. The queen’s official expendi- preparing land to grow cassava in the Central Bank of England forecasting a 0.5 percent expansion. ture rose by £900,000 in 2012/13, when the grant was Highlands’ province of Dak Lak. All land in the commu- However, the economy remains fragile and many econo- set at £31 million including an extra million pounds to nist nation is owned by the state and usage rights are mists expect the central bank to restart its quantitative eas- pay for the diamond jubilee. An additional £2.3 million frequently opaque, allowing corrupt local officials and ing asset purchases of provide other stimulus soon after was drawn from reserves. —AFP well-connected businessmen to seize land with impuni- former Canadian central bank chief takes Mark Carney takes ty, according to activists. —AFP over from governor Mervyn King on July 1. —Reuters FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 THEY ARE THE 99!

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www.the99.org The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2013, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Media Group, Inc. Teshkeel The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2013, Opinion FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Emir to change style, Any Afghan keep father’s policy deal will do? By Ben Sheppard By Taieb Mahjoub Islamists” who came to power in Arab Spring countries such as Tunisia and Egypt. he United States, the government in Kabul and atar’s young new emir is likely to stay the course on For Ibrahim Sharqieh, deputy director of the Brookings Taleban insurgents are all scrambling for advan- most of his father’s policies while opting for a less Doha Center, “Sheikh Tamim deliberately avoided men- Ttage as the clock ticks down in the search for an assertive approach on pressing diplomatic matters, tioning difficult matters, including the Syrian conflict, how- unlikely peace deal before foreign military interven- Q tion ends in Afghanistan. US troop numbers will halve including the Syrian war, analysts said. In his first address ever, he reiterated Qatar’s fixed policies Arab-wise, includ- to the nation late on Wednesday, Sheikh Tamim bin ing its support for the Palestinian question.” “It’s normal to 34,000 within eight months. The British operate just Hamad al-Thani focused on what he called his govern- that he has focused on internal political matters during his 13 bases in the hotbed province of Helmand, down from a peak of 137. Other NATO allies have already ment’s “top priority” of promoting development in the Gulf first address to Qataris, who had just pledged allegiance to withdrawn. But the Dec 2014 deadline to leave state. He made no mention of the Syria conflict which has him,” said Sharqieh. “The line drawn by Sheikh Hamad bin increasingly looks like a hostage to fortune as the killed more than 100,000 people and which was a core pol- Khalifa’s policy will be maintained, but in a different style Taleban ramp up attacks in Kabul and pose as the icy of the past few years under the rule of his father, Sheikh government-in-exile at their new office in Qatar. Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. “The Americans need this negotiation, not the The outgoing emir had strongly backed rebels fighting Taleban,” said Waheed Mujda, an analyst who worked the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and his as a foreign ministry official in the 1996-2001 Taleban prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani took the government. “Without a peaceful settlement, the situ- lead among Arab states in the Libyan and Syrian uprisings. ation will worsen. The Taleban will intensify attacks, “Qatar will not change its policy. But it’s normal for a new more rural areas will fall under their control, and the team to choose a new style in the exercising of power,” highways and main roads will become insecure. “They said Emirati analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdulla. “In the short think that this way they will have the upper hand in term, domestic political imperatives will overwhelm for- any peace talks. As they often say ‘the Americans have eign diplomacy, as Sheikh Tamim’s government will be lis- the watch, but we have the time’.” tening to the people in its quest for popularity,” said US President Barack Obama was accused earlier in Abdulla. his presidency of being slow to seek a political solu- As a result, he added, the important role played by tion to end the 12-year conflict, but concerns are ris- Qatar in Arab Spring countries, among them Syria, would ing that a deal must now be bought at any cost. When “diminish in the absence of the two main pivots of Qatari A Dec 24, 2012, file photo shows then Qatari Crown the Taleban opened their office in Qatar last week, diplomacy: the former emir and his prime minister,” the Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani smiling as he raising their flag and using the name of the Islamic driving force behind Qatar’s rise to global prominence. arrives in the Bahraini capital of Manama to attend the Emirate of Afghanistan, a furious President Hamid “Qatar’s experience will not be repeated elsewhere in the annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. — AFP Karzai broke off security talks with the Americans and Gulf,” said Abdulla, pointing out that Sheikh Hamad’s abdi- threatened to boycott any peace process altogether. cation on Tuesday was “not politically convincing” as it after the departure of Hamad bin Jassem,” he said. Khaled Bruce Riedel, director of the Brookings Intelligence took place at a time when the gas-rich state was rocketing Al-Attiyah, who was promoted to foreign minister in the Project, said that the US failure to orchestrate a towards the peak of its glory. new government from minister of state for the same port- smooth opening of the office reinforced suspicions At the age of 33, Sheikh Tamim became the youngest folio, “ran the major issues in the region for years”. “It will about Obama’s bottom-line. “The perception in the Gulf monarch. In his moderate 15-minute speech on be the same policy, but with less aggression,” said region is that Washington is so desperate for a politi- Wednesday, he said that “the change in the person of the Sharqieh. “However, we will miss Hamad bin Jassem’s cal process that it’s willing to sacrifice the interests of emir, does not mean that the challenges and responsibili- frank, direct and sometimes inflammatory remarks,” he its Afghan partner,” he said. “That’s a very dangerous ties have changed”. Qatar “has sided with the Arab people said, speculating that the former premier would “one day perception now sitting out there.”It’s got to become a in their desire for freedom and dignity, and against corrup- emerge as a major player on the international arena, like process in which Afghans talk to Afghans. And Karzai tion and tyranny,” and it will remain “the Kaaba of the Algeria’s Lakhdar Brahimi,” the international peace envoy has said he’s not going to talk. He wants negotiations oppressed”, he said in reference to Islam’s holiest site to Syria. But in the meantime, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem, with a Taleban that reinvents itself as a political party.” towards which Muslims across the world pray. who heads the Qatar Investment Authority at a time Pakistani author Ahmed Rashid, who has written “The emir will continue (with his father’s policy) but in a when Qatar’s gas and oil wealth is generating billions of extensively about Afghanistan and the Taleban, said different style,” according to London-based analyst dollars that are being invested in energy and infrastruc- Karzai’s intransigence partly reflected wider Afghan Abdelwahab Badrkhan. “The lack of reference to Syria in ture projects, will continue to oversee the country’s anger but accused him of being part of the problem. the sovereign’s speech does not mean a change in policy, investments and assets abroad, according to several “He has always envisaged a kind of Taleban surrender although the emir may reconsider Qatar’s support to sources in Doha. — AFP to him or a Pashtun meeting of tribes in which the Taleban would acknowledge Mr Karzai as their leader and tie the traditional turban around his head,” Rashid Rudd boomerang opens up polls wrote this week in The Financial Times. “Clearly, none of this is going to happen. Why would the Taleban By Barry Parker end. The Liberal-National Party coali- Rudd. Abbott demanded yesterday in surrender when they had beaten the US military to a tion lost five percent to 50.5 percent. parliament that the Sept 14 election standstill or bow before the Afghan they most he stunning return to power of “If a federal election were held today be brought forward to the earliest pos- despise? Yet Mr Karzai refused to accept anything Kevin Rudd has thrown open the result would be too close to call,” sible date to let the people decide. less.”Only hours after the Qatar office opened, a Tupcoming Australian elections Morgan predicted after months in “When will they get the chance to Taleban rocket attack killed four Americans on the the conservative opposition was so which Labor feared an electoral wipe- decide who is the prime minister of largest military base in Afghanistan. Just days later, a long tipped to win at a canter. With out. this country?” he asked. The ousted suicide squad targeted the presidential palace and a the resurrection of the 2007 general “Suddenly Abbott faces an oppo- Gillard, gracious in defeat, urged the CIA office, in the most audacious assault in Kabul in election victor, the Labor Party hopes nent far more popular than himself,” Labor Party not to “lack the guts” to years. “The insurgents’ primary mode of political to have given itself a fighting chance said the Sydney Morning Herald, refer- win the election. “I know that it can be expression in the near future will remain fighting, not for 2013, if the pundits are to be ring to opposition leader Tony Abbott. done ... That will best be done by us party politics,” said a paper released on Wednesday by believed. Polls had consistently tipped “The opposition leader’s assured run putting the divisions of the past the International Crisis Group think tank. Rudd to increase Labor’s vote by up to to election victory has been radically behind us and uniting as a political Amrullah Aman, a former Afghan general turned a third or more if he returned to the disrupted,” added the daily’s Peter party,” she said. popular TV pundit, said that as 2014 gets closer, the leadership. And the first post-return Hartcher. Rudd spoke directly to voters Politics professor John Wanna told Taleban are convinced that “their success is directly survey duly reported an immediate declaring that he had to come back, AFP Labor badly wanted Rudd’s elec- proportional to American withdrawal”. “Their political swing to the Labor Party. despite firm vows never to challenge tioneering talents and populism to office in Qatar has emboldened them to do more Research firm Morgan Poll ques- for the leadership again, to halt stave off crushing defeat. “His message operations to put pressure on the government to give tioned 2,530 Australians by SMS on Abbott’s “destructive” intent. “What lit- is much better than Gillard’s, that’s in to their demands,” he told AFP. Wednesday night after Rudd defeated erally thousands of Australians have been very clear,” said the Australian But others do not believe the Taleban hold all the Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a caucus said to me over the last year or so is National University academic. “He is a aces, despite the fast-approaching US exit and a weak ballot for the party leadership. The that they are genuinely fearful of what populist. “He is much better at cam- Afghan government that faces a tricky presidential result gave Labor 49.5 percent - up five Mr Abbott could do to them if he’s paigning. They are the skills they election in April. —AFP percent on Morgan polling last week- elected with a massive majority,” said (Labor) are looking for. — AFP FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Wednesday, June 26,2013.—AP for touristsinSeoul, SouthKorea, breaks awoodenplateduring anevent A SouthKoreanTaekwondoperformer www.kuwaittimes.net Food FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

cold drink on a hot day is one of summer’s pleasures. Kitchen” (Clarkson Potter, $35) recommends combining 1 AMultiply your refreshment with some new drink ideas. pound ripe peaches, peeled and pitted, with 1\2 cup lime A soda is just a beverage, but a homemade soda is car- juice (three limes), 1 teaspoon sugar and } teaspoon salt. Puree toon character reaction good. One sip and your eyes will pop the ingredients in a blender. For each drink, pour 6 ounces (} out of their sockets and your mouth will get “WOW” big. That’s cup) seltzer water over ice into a highball glass. Stir in 3 table- how good it is. Ripe cherries in the back yard inspired this ver- spoons peach puree and garnish with a peach slice. sion, but a soda made with blackberry, peach or strawberry A squirt of lemon in water is just the starting point for syrup will have you dreaming of putting summer’s fruits to refreshing the palate and quenching your thirst. Steeped and good use. Fix and stash a batch or two in the freezer. The sug- infused water, with or without tea, offers even more choices. ar content keeps the syrup from freezing hard, so it’s always The tamarind water is a wake-up call to go outside your com- ready to mix with seltzer. fort zone in reaching for a cold one. It’s tart and sweet and - If cooking syrup seems like a tad too much work, then turn most important - refreshing. Tamarind in pliable bricks can be it into a chiller by combining 1 cup seltzer with 3 tablespoons found in Asian markets. fruit puree. For peach puree, “The Lee Bros. Charleston Herbs add another element when slaking your thirst. Steep rosemary, lemon verbena, basil, lavender or chamomile and chill and drink, or freeze in trays and add to drinks as ice cubes. And don’t forget spices. Cinnamon sticks, a pinch of saffron and sweet fennel are more flavor options. Finally, there’s no better way to end an evening than with an ice cold egg cream. This soda, consisting of chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer, probably dates to the 19th century, according to “New York Sweets: A Sugarhound’s Guide to the Best Bakeries, Ice Cream Parlors, Candy Shops, and Other Emporia of Delicious Delights,” by Susan Pear Meisel (Rizzoli International, $29.95). “The modern versions contain neither egg nor cream, although earlier versions did include eggs in the ingredients,” according to the book. Whatever its origins, it sure hits the spot.

SOUR CHERRY SYRUP Makes 2 cups Ingredients: 2 quarts fresh sour cherries, pitted Food FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

2 cups sugar pour the chocolate syrup into the glass, then stir again, taking Juice of 1 lemon care to stir mostly at the bottom of the glass to incorporate. Instructions: Garnish with a straight pretzel rod. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the This recipe is from “New York Sweets: A Sugarhound’s cherries, sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Simmer for Guide to the Best Bakeries, Ice Cream Parlors, Candy Shops, 30 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer and and Other Emporia of Delicious Delights,” by Susan Pear discard the fruit solids. Store the syrup in an airtight container Meisel (Rizzoli International, $29.95). in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Pour over ice cream or stir into milk. INFUSED AND FLAVORED WATERS Cherry soda: Fill tall glass with ice. Add 3 tablespoons syrup Cool cucumber, pungent rosemary and tart tamarind. and add a few dashes citric acid solution or acid phosphate. Ingredients/instructions: Top with seltzer and mix gently. Cucumber water: 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded; juice of Cherry cream soda: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add in 3 table- 1 lime; 5 cups water; sugar, to taste; 1 lime, sliced, for garnish spoons syrup, pour in seltzer until the glass is almost full. Stir. In the jar of a blender, blend the cucumber and lime juice Top with 3 tablespoons milk and serve. and then strain through a fine-mesh sieve for an hour. Add the Cherry lassi: Add 3 tablespoons yogurt to a pint glass. Stir juice to the water, along with a little sugar to taste. Serve gar- until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons cherry syrup and stir until nished with a lime slice. syrup and yogurt are incorporated. Fill three-quarters full with Rosemary lemon iced tea: 1 bunch rosemary, well washed; water, stir and top with ice. zest of 2 lemons; juice of 2 lemons; 1 cup sugar; 5cups water Bourbon and cherry chocolate: Add 1} ounces Maker’s Mark Put the rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar in a bourbon, 1 tablespoon cherry syrup and dash of chocolate heatproof container. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a bitters to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake and strain boil and then pour it over the rosemary. Stir and let infuse for over fresh ice cubes or into a rocks glass, or serve neat in a two hours. Strain and serve cold. martini glass. Tamarind tea: 5 cups water; 1 cup tamarind paste; 1 cup Cherry ice cream soda: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 3 table- sugar spoons syrup. Add enough seltzer until the glass is two-thirds In a small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer over full, stirring briskly. Add 1 scoop vanilla ice cream, then top medium heat. Add the tamarind and sugar and stir for about with more seltzer, taking care that it doesn’t run over. five minutes, then let soak for two hours. Strain through a fine- The syrup recipe and most of the serving suggestions are mesh sieve and serve cold. from “Make Your Own Soda: Syrup Recipes for All-Natural This recipe is from “Mediterranean Cooking,” by The Pops, Floats, Cocktails and More,” by Anton Nocito (Clarkson Culinary Institute of America and by Lynne Gigliotti Potter, $14.99). (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $34.99).

TRADITIONAL CHOCOLATE EGG CREAM LEMON AND MINT INFUSION Serves 1 Serves 1 Ingredients: Ingredients: 1 cup (3 ounces) whole milk 2 slices lemon and 2 sprigs fresh mint About 1 cup (6 ounces) very cold seltzer Instructions: 3 tablespoons (1 ounce) chocolate syrup For a refreshing start to the day, place the lemon and mint Straight pretzel rod for garnish into a heatproof glass and cover with boiling water. Allow to Instructions: steep for two minutes before drinking. This recipe is from Pour the milk into a 12-ounce glass and add the seltzer. “Share: The Cookbook That Celebrates Our Common Using a long spoon, stir vigorously for a few seconds. Gently Humanity” — MCT Travel FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Euro trippin’: Top 10 destinations in Europe

0 selected towns competed for the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2013. Istanbul 2Istanbul is elected the Best European Destination 2013 and won the title ahead of 19 big European cities. Lisbon (with only 439 votes behind the winner), Vienna, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Madrid, Valletta, Nice, Milan and Stockholm are the next best destinations for a holiday or city-trip in 2013.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY The only city in the world to straddle two continents, Turkey’s fabled city of Istanbul is the historic crossroads between East and West, a city of minarets and palaces and the perfect choice for a refreshing city break. 2013 will be a land- mark year to visit Istanbul, marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic by Ataturk, with celebra- tions including the opening of the Marmaray tunnel under the Bosphorus linking Europe and Asia and the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Taksim.

LISBON, PORTUGAL Vienna The good weather and long days are an irresistible invita- tion to discover and experience the city with a relaxed and leisurely walk of its seven hills, taking breaks at the various sightseeing spots along the way. The viewpoints of GraÁa, Senhora do Monte, Santa Luzia, Sao Jorge Castle or Sao Pedro de Alcantara are just some of the scenic spots of Lisboa, where you can admire the most beautiful panoramic views of the Portuguese capital, also known as “Cidade da Luz Branca” (City of White Light).

VIENNA, AUSTRIA Vienna invites you to participate in comprehensive enjoy- ment in 2013: the coffee house, Viennese cuisine stands for the enjoyment culture of the city on the Danube. Vienna is also globally known as a metropolis of art and culture. No few- er than three new cultural institutions are set to enrich the city in 2013: the Chamber of Art and Wonders in the Kunsthistorisches Museum shines with a new splendor, the MuTh - the new concert hall of the Vienna Boys’ Choir in the Augarten invites visitors to regular performances, and the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein offers art of the Biedermeier and Classicism periods. Travel FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Lisbon

BARCELONA, SPAIN In Barcelona, you don’t have to choose between going shopping or sightseeing. Wherever you go, you’ll see that shops are part of city life. And while you discover unforget- table sights, you’ll be welcomed by the window displays of leading international brands, modern designer shops and tra- ditional shops that have been there since time immemorial.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS It’s likely you’ve seen a picture of Amsterdam’s winding waterways. Perhaps you’ve heard it’s home to almost as many bikes as residents. Or maybe you’re aware of its tolerant and laid-back atmosphere. But there’s more to Amsterdam than meets the eye.

Milan

NICE, FRANCE A seaside city in the centre of Europe, Nice has been enjoy- ing, in recent years, a genuine economic, cultural, artistic and architectural revolution. Creative, dynamic, cosmopolitan, young, Nice is bubbling with innovative realizations worthy of Europe’s greatest capitals. Innovation is everywhere. Nice is on the move, constantly growing and evolving, always excelling.

MILAN, ITALY Milan is the hub of Italian culture and media. While you visit, let the atmosphere of Italy’s most modern and advanced city seep in. You will be captured by the elegance and style; by the energy and the international flair. An incredible shop- ping experience for all tastes and pockets, in a place where design and fashion have made their home.

Madrid STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Stockholm is a ground breaking, welcoming and innova- tive trendsetter. Fashion, technology, music, film, design and the game industry thrive here like never before. It is a place where creativity grows, and where dreams and new ideas are realized. But most of all - A city open for everyone!

— www.europeanbestdestinations.org

Barcelona MADRID, SPAIN Madrid is one of the world’s liveliest, most entertaining and vibrant cities during the day, but even more so at night. The Spanish capital does not only offer art, shopping, nightlife and excellent gastronomy but it also presents both visitors and locals with all imaginable options for leisure. The Spanish cap- ital makes everyone feel right at home while providing them with some of the world’s most interesting tourist attractions.

VALLETTA, MALTA Europe’s smallest capital it may be, but Valletta has the vibrancy and diversity - not to mention the rich cultural and historical offering-of a city many times its diminutive size. Valletta’s most compelling charms come to you slowly, in snippets: during a lazy walk through its tangled sun-bleached streets, where you’ll catch a glimpse of the harbors through silhouettes of 16th-century homes. 32 Health FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Kick it up with cardio exercise

efore you jump on that Stairmaster or Austin, and that’s your zone. “If your heart your recovery time, such as bicep curls or Kimbrough recommends the elliptical Bstart pounding the pavement, make rate halfway through your workout is over tricep toners, to reap the benefits of both machine as a good second choice. sure you have a cardio exercise plan that 70% mark take it down a level, and if cardio exercise and weight training, and In case running isn’t your game, Kravitz that will give you the most bang for your under, pick up the pace.” along with interval training, add dedicated takes another track. “I really feel the most muscle burn. Not a math wiz? There are easier ways to weight sessions to your regimen to burn fat important message is to chose a cardio Whether it’s pounding the pavement, figure it out. and sculpt muscle at the same time. modality or modalities that you like,” says logging miles on the bike, or climbing those “Another great way to find out your zone “Do cardio four days a week for 30 min- Kravitz. “Because in the final outcome, if a stairs that seem to go nowhere, it’s all about is to get a pulse monitor, which takes the utes, and add a weight-training workout at person enjoys a mode of exercise, that is cardio exercise. But other than a sweaty t- math out of it,” says Austin. “Or very simply, least two times a week at 20-minute ses- what all research shows they will choose.” shirt, what do you have to show for your take the talk test: while you are doing aero- sions,” says Austin. “Cardio will burn the fat, workout? A slimmer stomach? Killer quads? bics, talk a sentence. If you are too winded and it’s the weight training that gives you Splitting it up Are you exercising for the right amount of to finish the sentence, you are overdoing it, the toned sculpted look that will have you While it may not be the fastest way to a time to reap the full health benefits of car- or if it’s too easy to say, kick it up a notch!” bikini ready.” body built for the beach, splitting up your diovascular fitness, or often enough? cardio exercise still has its benefits. “In order Exercise experts, including fitness maven Getting cut with cardio Cardio’s best fat burner to achieve the best results, and also in order Denise Austin, answer cardio questions for WebMD, so you can make the most of your muscle burn.

Cardio exercise: The heart of the matter “Cardiovascular exercise is any type of exercise that increases the work of the heart and lungs,” says Tommy Boone, PhD, a founding member of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. “Walking, jogging, and running are common forms of cardio- vascular, or aerobic, exercise.” From running and walking, to swimming, elliptical cross-training, biking, Stairmaster, and rowing-to name a few-the physical benefits of cardio exercise abound, explains says Len Kravitz, PhD, senior exercise physi- ologist for IDEA Health and Fitness Association. They include: Reduced risk of heart disease Improved blood cholesterol and triglyc- eride levels Improved heart function Reduced risk of osteoporosis Improved muscle mass “The American College of Sports Medicine and the CDC recommend, for health, that adults should accumulate 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week,” says Kravitz, who is also a coordinator of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. “And to improve cardiovascular endurance, they recommend 20 to 60 minutes on three to five days per week.” Now that you know the benefits of car- dio exercise, where should your heart- pumping fitness plan begin?

Getting into the zone To help you make the most of your car- dio exercise workout-help your heart, increase muscle, and lose fat-Denise Austin, fitness expert, author of seven books, including Shrink Your Female Fat Zones, and star of 50 fitness videos, gives WebMD some tips. If you’re looking for ripped abs and So you want the bottom line: Which car- to maintain a healthy heart, it is best to not “To reap all the benefits of a cardio work- toned arms, interval training will help get dio exercise will fat-bust the best? split up your cardio workouts,” says Austin. out, you should sustain your workout for 20 you there-especially if you throw in some “Running is the best option for calorie “You need the consistency of 20 minutes or minutes or more-I do 30 minutes myself-on weights. burning, in my opinion,” says Niki more of an elevated pulse to ensure great a schedule of about three to four times per “I love interval training because it consis- Kimbrough, personal fitness expert with results. However, something is better than week,” says Austin. Not only that, but you tently jump-starts your metabolism,” says Bally Total Fitness. “Whether it’s outside or nothing.? If all the time you have is 10 min- need to get in the zone, which calculates Austin. “Let’s say you are walking-you could on a treadmill, it’s the best exercise because utes or even five minutes, it is better than into burning calories and fat. “The best way power-walk really fast for three minutes to you’re burning calories and you’re strength- sitting still; you will still be garnished bene- to find out if you are burning fat is to take get the burst of calorie burn, and then walk ening your legs and heart-it’ll get you nice fits and lose weight.” your pulse halfway into your cardio workout calmly and slowly for one minute, which and lean.” — www.webmd.com for six seconds, then add a zero to that offers recovery? By switching back and Beginners should start with 20 minutes, number,” Austin tells WebMD. This number forth, you push the muscle and let it relax explains Kimbrough, and work their way up. is your heart rate per minute. over and over and this gives you maximum “It takes about 20 minutes for your body to Next, calculate your zone results.” You can do interval training on any get going, and then your body starts to kick “Take the number 220, then minus your type of cardio exercise machine-alternating it to another level,” says Kimbrough. age, then calculate 70 percent of that num- a high intensity with a more moderate level. “Ideally, you want to run for about 30 or 45 ber for your target beats per minute,” says Austin suggests doing weights during minutes.” For those with bad knees, Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

elevision talk show queen Oprah Winfrey was named the most powerful celebrity in the world on TWednesday as Forbes.com released its annual list of the top movers and shakers in the entertainment indus- try. Winfrey, 59, who was ranked in the top spot despite her signature daytime television show Oprah ending its 25-year run in 2011, headed a 100-strong list which fea- tured six women in the top 10. Forbes.com uses a complex methodology to come up with its list, taking into account various factors including earnings, the number of mentions each celebrity gets in print and television and their Internet presence before deciding the rankings. The website also gives each celebrity a marketability score out of 100 developed by a California-based market research form. Winfrey made an estimated $77 million between June 2012 and June 2013, significantly less than other rivals on the list but came out on top after scoring well in areas such as press mentions and social networking power, Forbes.com said. In second place was eccentric pop star Lady Gaga, who earned $80 million in the same period, while Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg was third. The legendary director and producer earned a cool $100 million in the past year. The next three spots were occupied by women from the music world, with Beyonce Knowles in fourth ($53 mil- An employee of the Kunstverein Hannover art association poses next to the work ‘Into the Groove Vol II’ by German artist lion), Madonna in fifth ($125 million) and Taylor Swift ($55 Oliver Blomeier yesterday during a preview of the show ‘Vom Hier und Jetzt’ (About Here and Now) in Hanover, central million). Germany. From June 29 to August 25, 2013, the exhibition will be presenting works from more than 40 regional artists.—AFP Rock band Bon Jovi took seventh with $79 million while Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer was the only athlete to make the list as he came in eighth. Federer, sensation- ally dumped out of Wimbledon in the second round on Wednesday, pocketed $71 million. Rounding out the top Singapore gripped by Hello Kitty frenzy 10 were singer Justin Bieber ($58 million) and television empers flared and police had to be called yes- comedienne Ellen DeGeneres ($56 million). — AFP terday as anxious Singaporeans rushed to TMcDonald’s outlets to buy Hello Kitty plush toys being sold by the fastfood chain as a promotion. Hundreds had begun queueing from Wednesday night to get their hands on a kitten in a skeleton out- fit, depicting a character from the German fairy tale “The Singing Bone”. It was the last of a series of six limited-edition Hello Kitty characters dressed in dif- ferent outfits from popular fairy tales which were being sold by McDonald’s this month. In some outlets, chaos broke out amid rampant queue jumping as supplies of the toys ran out soon after the stores opened for business yesterday. One video uploaded on YouTube showed police officers mediating between two customers in front of a McDonald’s counter. Another showed an irate man asking an agitated crowd “Is he Singaporean? Is he educated?”, apparently in reference to someone who This photograph made available by The Straits Times newspaper yes- had gotten a queue ticket ahead of others.—AFP terday shows people waiting in a queue to purchase a Hello Kitty toy in a skeleton outfit at a Mcdonalds restaurant in Singapore. — AFP

irector Joe Carnahan continues to assem- ed to cameo as themselves, according to an which holds the Guinness World Record for ble an impressive ensemble for his individual familiar with the project. most watched television series in history. He’s Daction-comedy “Stretch,” adding Ray Ed Helms and James Badge Dale co-star currently in pre-production on the indie comedy Liotta, David Hasselhoff and Shaun Toub. Patrick alongside Brooklyn Decker. Blumhouse’s Jason “Killing Haselhoff,” which he’ll produce and star Wilson stars in the Universal Pictures and Blum will produce with Tracy Falco and in. He’s repped by manager Eric Gardner of Blumhouse Productions film as a down-on-his- Carnahan, while Leon Corcos and Nila Najand Panacea Entertainment. Toub co-starred in “The luck limo driver named Stretch who discovered will co-produce. Charles Layton will executive Last Airbender” as well as “Iron Man” and “Iron he only has one shift left to pay off a big debt to produce. Universal will release the low-budget Man 3.” He’s currently in production on the a bookie. When the chauffeur picks up a reclu- movie in North America on March 21, 2014. Ernest Hemingway movie “Papa,” which reunites sive billionaire (Chris Pine) with some deviant Production begins June 30 in Los Angeles. Liotta him with his “Crash” producer Bob Yari. Toub is appetites, Stretch vows to fulfill his every recently starred in “The Place Beyond the Pines” repped by Abrams Artists Agency. request, no matter how weird, to score the big and has several movies on the horizon including tip that could settle his score. the Disney sequel “Muppets Most Wanted” and As the night grows stranger and Stretch is “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” in 2014. He’s pushed into some dangerous encounters, he repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and worries that the freak in his back seat might just attorneys Stewart Brookman and Craig be his final fare. Toub will play the no-nonsense Jacobson. owner of the limo company that employs Hasselhoff is best known for his heroic por- Stretch, while Liotta and Hasselhoff are expect- trayal of Mitch Buchannon on “Baywatch,” Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

hanning Tatum has been enjoying a stellar rise to movie stardom over the last few years, and even if “White CHouse Down” isn’t the explosive hit he’s hoping for, his career is showing no signs of flaming out any time toon. While “White House,” Roland Emmerich’s $150 million exercise in the art of CGI destruction, is only on track to rake in around $30 million at the domestic box office this weekend, Tatum has at least three other potential moneymakers in some level of production. The biggest of the three, at least in size and scope, is “Jupiter Ascending,” the next sci-fi spectacular from “Matrix” directors Lana and Andy Wachowski. Tatum stars opposite Mila Kunis in Warner Bros.’ summer 2014 release, which fol- lows a destitute woman (Kunis) targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe because her very existence threat- ens to end the Queen’s reign over the cosmos. Tatum will expand his action star power as a genetically engineered ex- military hunter who arrives on Earth to track Kunis down. Although Tatum’s showbiz success has been steadily increasing since he made young women swoon as a troubled breakdancing janitor in 2006’s “Step Up,” the 33 year old This publicity image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from ‘World War Z.’ — AP proved his comedic chops in last year’s breakout comedy hit, “21 Jump Street,” which he also executive produced. Following a hilarious cameo in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s “This Is the End,” Tatum hopes comedy fans will once again flock to see him go undercover alongside Jonah Hill in “22 Jump Street” - another project that should assure Tatum has a strong summer showing next year. And just as Tatum proved his worth as a funny person, “Foxcatcher” - a wrestling drama based on a tragic true story - o this was the deal: For $50, you got to see Brad Pitt’s hotly How realistic were those projections? As for the Lucas esti- should elevate his thespian status in the eyes of the most seri- anticipated zombie thriller “World War Z” before all your mates, there’s no way prices could reach that high, says Tom ous filmmakers. Tatum stars in “Moneyball” director Bennet Sfriends. You also got 3D glasses to keep, popcorn and sodas, Adams, analyst and director of US media for IHS Electronics & Miller’s next film as Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark a poster, the DVD when it comes out, and an intimate dinner with Media. “I just don’t see what we could add to the experience to Schultz, whose brother, Olympic Champion Dave Schultz Brad. Just kidding! No dinner with Brad. But hundreds of fans did make it worth that much,” he says. (Mark Ruffalo), is killed by paranoid schizophrenic John pay $50 for the other stuff last week in a small-scale marketing But differentiated pricing is much more realistic, he says. duPont (Steve Carell). Columbia Pictures is releasing the experiment in five theaters - and the studio, Paramount Pictures, “When you think of it, it’s strange to have an industry where every Annapurna Pictures production on Oct. 15. says it worked well. With all the recent talk about future movie product costs the same, no matter how good or popular,” he says. Tatum is also busy building his producing credits, which ticket prices climbing into the stratosphere, is it a harbinger of “I think consumers are smart - they can figure out that ‘Avatar’ began with the 2010 documentary “Earth Made of Glass,” fol- things to come? costs a lot more to make than a romantic comedy. And we see lowed by the 2011 ensemble high school reunion flick, “10 Before you scoff, it’s worth noting that premium pricing hap- with 3D movies that price flexibility is possible, for a different Years.” Tatum’s company, 33andOut Productions, is develop- pens all the time: in Broadway theaters, where you could get sec- viewing experience.” ing Peter Pan origin adventure, “Neverland,” which Gavin ond-row seats for Tom Hanks in “Lucky Guy” this week if you paid At Paramount, Colligan points out that her studio’s $50 experi- O’Connor (“Warrior”) will direct for for Sony Pictures. $300 a pop, or at concerts, where you could pay well over $1,000 ment is not really about Lucas’ dire price projections, but about Most recently, Tatum has set his ambitions toward making for, say, a Rolling Stones VIP package. At Yankee Stadium, a top- the need to find new, creative ways to market the movie experi- it on the small screen, too. He is attached to executive pro- tier Legends seat can also top $1,000 per game, but season hold- ence, both in theaters and at home. “This is all part of wanting to duce a television pilot written by actor Nick Zano. Still unti- ers can get perks like a free trip to spring training. take risks, to develop new strategies of how we do business,” she tled, the project is in very early stages of development at Still, the idea of $50 for a movie strikes a lot of fans the wrong says. “There’s going to be more experimenting to come. You can’t Warner Bros. Television. The half-hour, multi-camera comedy way. “That’s my dinner,” noted a Philadelphia moviegoer, do what you did 10 years ago and have the same results.” is based on Zano’s own experience being raised in a multi- Cheyanne Farmer, 15. “That’s my allowance,” added Rahyaan Hall, The advantages of a “mega-ticket”-like scheme, if people go generational house of seven women in New Jersey. her friend. “For a month.” In New York though, one fan did some for it, are clear for the studio (Paramount partnered with Regal Still want more Tatum? Cross your fingers 20th Century Fox quick calculating and saw a reasonable value. “With the DVD and Entertainment Group, the large movie-theater circuit). First, you can close a deal with him to appear alongside Joseph Gordon- all those other things you mention, it probably comes to more get customers buying the DVD at the same time they see the Levitt in the theatrical adaptation of classic musical, “Guys and than $50,” said Alex Leighton, 24, who’d just bought tickets to movie, rather than buying it later and only if they really loved the Dolls.” So with a bevy of projects on the heels of release, “World War Z.” “So you’re getting more than the movie.” That’s film. Perhaps even more important, you help generate early buzz, entering production, or graduating from development, the the point that Paramount wants to make. with moviegoers spreading the news on social networks two days “Magic Mike” star’s future appears to be brighter than a strobe “This ended up being a headline that didn’t really represent before opening. It’s like having theaters full of critics ready to post light flashing in a Florida strip club. — Reuters what the offer was,” says Megan Colligan, the studio’s president their reviews - but here, the critics are fans, predisposed to loving of domestic distribution and marketing. “These people stepped the film. up and made their commitment to us, and we gave them a great The upside for fans? They get to see the film early - not a small experience.” That experience, which involved just one show each thing, depending on the fan and the movie. It may work even at five theaters across the country, included not merely seeing the better for installments of huge franchises, mused Leighton, the film two days early and the free stuff; the “mega-ticket” buyers New York movie fan, and his friend, Florian Baier, 22. “I wouldn’t also got to bring friends along at regular price and they got a par- have done it for this movie, but maybe for the next ‘Star Wars’ ty atmosphere, including a DJ and photo booths. film or maybe ‘Lord of the Rings,’” Leighton said. “I’d also be Colligan says that four of the theaters sold out - they averaged checking the online reviews - I’d have to know the movie was 250 seats each - and one was 80 percent full. She wouldn’t get good.” Added Baier: “I wouldn’t do it for the DVD. That is not a more specific in terms of revenue, but said: “It was a fun, positive draw.” Leighton agreed: “There are easier ways to watch online. If experience for everyone.” I even have the time.” Note to studios: Maybe you should think The offer might have gone largely unnoticed, had it not been about offering that dinner with Brad, after all. — AP for its timing: The special showings came just a few days after Hollywood heavyweights Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, speaking at the University of Southern California, issued dire pre- dictions about the future of movie prices, with Lucas estimating tickets could end up at “$50, maybe $100, maybe $150,” and Spielberg predicting differentiated pricing according to a film’s budget - with the next “Iron Man” costing $25 perhaps, but the Actor Channing Tatum attends the ‘White House Down’ next “Lincoln” costing $7. premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Tuesday. — AP Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

n exhausted Michael Jackson warned that tour in the sitting room. I heard screaming upstairs. I saw promoters AEG Live were going to “kill” him as Dr Conrad, (personal chef) Kai (Chase) looked nerv- Ahe rehearsed for a marathon concert tour ous and said ‘Dr shortly before his death, his son Prince testified Wednesday. The 16-year-old also recounted the har- Murray wants you upstairs.’ rowing scenes on the day Jackson died in 2009, “I ran upstairs and I saw Dr Murray doing CPR on recalling how his younger sister Paris was “scream- my dad. Dr Murray was screaming while doing CPR. ing” as doctor Conrad Murray was trying to revive her Then my sister came upstairs. She was screaming all father. “He just wished he had more time for the time saying she wants her dad,” he added. rehearsals,” he told the wrongful death trial, in which Appearing to fight back tears, he recalled how the the Jackson family accuses AEG Live of negligently children followed the ambulance which took Jackson hiring Murray to care for the star for his doomed “This to hospital, in a separate car. “My dad always told us Is It” shows. that angels were looking after him. At the hospital, Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaugh- “Dr Murray said ‘Sorry kids, dad is dead. We just ter in 2011 for having given Jackson an overdose of cried,” he told the jury. the anesthetic propofol, to help him cope with Jackson’s lawyers have called a series of AEG exec- chronic insomnia as he rehearsed for the series of 50 utives-including Phillips-and experts as witnesses planned London shows. Previous testimony at the over the last two months, and are expected to hand manslaughter trial, and at the current civil case, has over to the AEG defense in the near future. His son’s heard details of how the self-styled King of Pop’s powerful testimony was likely an attempt to make a state of health deteriorated rapidly in the months personal appeal to the 12-person jury before main before his death. On Wednesday-a day after the Jackson family lawyer Brian Panish closes their side of fourth anniversary of Jackson’s death-his son Prince the case. During the testimony Wednesday, Panish said the singer was upset on the phone “a lot of showed a lot of pictures of the children, including a time,” most of the time with AEG Live chief Randy video shot at Christmas in which they are asked what Phillips. they want to do when they are grown up. “He would cry sometimes. He said: ‘They’re gonna In one clip Blanket-now 11 years old-says “I don’t kill me, they’re gonna kill me.’” Asked who he was know,” and Paris talks about gymnastics and “helping talking about, he said: “People in AEG, Randy the poor.” Prince told the court he wants to study called. But it is now thought unlikely she will testify, File photo shows from left, Phillips.” The teenager was dressed in a dark suit and film and business or mechanical science and business after she was hospitalized earlier this month follow- Prince Jackson, Prince tie, with long hair brushed behind his ears. He at the University of Southern California (USC). Of his ing a suicide attempt. Her elder brother was asked Michael II ‘Blanket’ Jackson appeared reasonably relaxed, smiling as some videos father, he said: “He wanted to know what we were about his sister at Wednesday’s hearing. “She was my and Paris Jackson arrive on and photos of the family were shown in court. The learning, how we were doing at school and how we dad’s princess,” he recalled. — AFP stage at the Michael 16-year-old, the highest-profile witness to testify would use that to better the world. He always said Forever the Tribute since the civil trial started in late April, recalled June you have to be creative and think with the right side Concert, at the Millennium 25, 2009, the day his father died at his rented Holmby of your brain.” Jackson’s 15-year-old daughter Paris Stadium in Cardiff, Hills mansion outside Los Angeles. “I was downstairs was also originally listed among witnesses due to be Wales.—AFP

ionsgate will bring exclusive video of “The Hunger trailer and never-before-seen footage from “I, Games: Catching Fire” and “I, Frankenstein” to Frankenstein,” which stars Aaron Eckhart in an adapta- LComic-Con, the studio announced on Wednesday. tion of Kevin Gevioux’s graphic novel. Lionsgate is the first film studio to reveal its plans for the Yet it remains unclear whether “Hunger Games” star fan confab in July; its panel will take place Saturday July Jennifer Lawrence will be in attendance, as 20. Wednesday’s announcement merely said “talent from Lionsgate’s decision to bring “The Hunger Games” is a both films will be in attendance.” A spokesperson for no-brainer. The first film was one of the most successful Lionsgate had no comment when TheWrap inquired, films in recent years, catering to the often underserved and Lawrence’s publicist said it had yet to be deter- but equally rabid female fans who swarm the San Diego mined as she is currently filming the latest X-Men Convention Center every summer. Fans crave new movie, “Days of Future Past.”— Reuters footage and stars at each panel, and they’ll get the new footage. Lionsgate said it would provide an exclusive

Festival goers look out from a viewing tower on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts near Glastonbury, southwest England yesterday. The festival attracts 170,000 party- goers to the dairy farm in Somerset, and this year’s tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale. The Rolling Stones will perform at the festival for the first time, headlining tomorrow night. — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

elgian designer Raf Simons on Wednesday Bgot Paris fashion week off to an unconven- tional start, bussing hundreds of people out to the distinctly less than fashionable Paris suburb of Le Bourget. But the designer, who as well as his having his own label is also artistic director at Christian Dior, made up for the hour-long trek on the Paris ring road and A1 motorway with a highly experimental collection with some pieces creating the impression the models were wearing minidresses. In one look, a bare legged male model sported what appeared to the uninitiated to be a short- sleeved button-up black minidress teamed with black shoes and calf length socks. Fashion website fashion.com, however, praised the outfit as “unquestionably the drop crotch short-short onesie of the season”. Other ensembles had a similarly feminine feel including black shorts that looked like a miniskirt worn with a black and white striped belt and long-sleeved pink shirt. Motifs were embroidered with sequins and tunic tops came in pink and purple stripes. Unusually, the event was held outside Paris at US art mogul Larry Gagosian’s cavernous art venue, northeast of the city. Opened in 2012, it is the first major gallery to be set up inside airport grounds, aiming to showcase works too big to be accommo- dated by inner city Paris or London locations. Simons’ label said the Gagosian Gallery was chosen so the collection could be unveiled alongside the work of artists he “intensely relates to”, adding that it would continue his “ongoing exploration of a young man in the city”. Earlier, on the first of five days of menswear col- Models present creations lections, young designers Julien David and by Raf Simons during the Guillaume Henry gave the fashion world a taste of men’s spring/summer 2014 what’s in store for spring/summer 2014, from socks ready-to-wear fashion with sandals to bow ties with boiler suits. Tokyo- show. — AP/AFP photos based Frenchman David presented a reggae- inspired mix of casual and formal. Long “stadium” and military-style jackets were worn over shorts, again creating a skirt-like look, while flamboyant neckwear was teamed with one-piece suits. Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Elsewhere shirts and t-shirts were emblazoned with tropi- Then, on Monday, the highlight of the season — Christian cal motifs or the words “madness”, “peace” and “war” and Lacroix’s return to Paris fashion for the first time in four years- combined with low rise, jacquard or chino trousers. At Carven, will mark the start of four days of autumn/winter 2013/2014 creative director Henry, who like David is in his mid-thirties, haute couture. The darling of 1990s fashion editors will pres- opted for short cut jackets and cropped trousers in dusty ent 18 pieces paying tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli, the Italian green, mustard, orange or grey, with models sporting floppy designer who died in 1973 and who was famed for her collab- hats and an androgynous look. It was the French designer’s orations with Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau. footwear, however, that stood out-strappy blue and beige The label, which closed in 1954 after failing to adapt to leather sandals worn with socks. One Twitter user comment- post-war austerity, was officially reopened in July 2012 having ed: “Anyone else feeling conflicted about the sandals and been purchased in 2006 by Diego Della Valle, head of the socks styling?” Italian leather goods company Tod’s. Lacroix lost his fashion The men’s collections wind up on Sunday with Saint house in December 2009 when a Paris bankruptcy court Laurent designer and champion of the pencil-thin skinny suit approved a plan to end production of the classic label’s haute Hedi Slimane’s second menswear collection for the label fol- couture and ready-to-wear lines. The house had run up losses lowing a grunge dominated debut. The intense interest in the of 10 million euros (about 15 million dollars) in 2008 after French designer’s work comes as men’s collections become being hit by the sharp downturn of the luxury market. — AFP ever more important commercially. Indeed, until last year, menswear at London fashion week was restricted to a single day at the end. It has now been allocated four.

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SHARQIA-1 TATTAH (DIG) 3:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 10:30 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 11:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 1:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 5:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 12:30 AM NO SUN+ TUE+WED MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 4:00 PM TATTAH (DIG) 7:45 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 7:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:00 PM AVENUES-2 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 9:30 PM MARINA-1 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 2:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 12:05 AM MUHALAB-3 THE PURGE (DIG) 12:45 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 5:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 2:30 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 8:15 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM TATTAH (DIG) 4:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 11:15 PM SHARQIA-2 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 6:45 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 12:30 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 7:15 PM TATTAH (DIG) 8:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 3:00 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 9:45 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 11:00 PM AVENUES-3 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 12:45 AM TATTAH (DIG) 12:30 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 7:30 PM FANAR-1 NO SUN+ TUE+WED TATTAH (DIG) 3:00 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 10:00 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 12:45 PM TATTAH (DIG) 5:30 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 12:45 AM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 3:00 PM MARINA-2 TATTAH (DIG) 8:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 5:30 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 1:30 PM TATTAH (DIG) 10:30 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 8:00 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 4:15 PM TATTAH (DIG) 1:00 AM SHARQIA-3 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:15 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 7:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED THE PURGE (DIG) 12:45 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 12:45 AM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 9:30 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 2:30 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:05 AM 360º- 1 TATTAH (DIG) 4:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED THE PURGE (DIG) 1:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 6:30 PM FANAR-2 THE PURGE (DIG) 3:00 PM TATTAH (DIG) 8:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 1:15 PM MARINA-3 THE PURGE (DIG) 5:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 11:00 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 3:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 7:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 1:00 AM THE PURGE (DIG) 5:45 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 9:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 7:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 11:00 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 9:45 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 7:15 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 1:00 AM MUHALAB-1 THE PURGE (DIG) 11:30 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 9:45 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 1:15 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 1:15 AM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 12:30 AM THE PURGE (DIG) 4:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED NO SUN+ TUE+WED 360º- 2 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 5:45 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 12:45 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 8:30 PM FANAR-3 AVENUES-1 WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 3:30 PM THE PURGE (DIG) 10:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 12:30 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 2:30 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 6:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 3:15 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 4:45 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 9:00 PM MUHALAB-2 LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 6:00 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 7:00 PM WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) 11:45 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:45 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 7:45 PM DARK TIDE (DIG) 9:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED Pets FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 ‘Donkey farm’ helps adults mentor young offenders boy at the Compass Center proudly Ashowed a Summit County, Ohio, judge the eggplants he was tending in the center’s garden. He was learning how to grow the vegetables - even though he didn’t know what to do with them, said Juvenile Judge Linda Teodosio, who had sentenced the boy to an Ohio Department of Youth Services detention center. “He didn’t know much about eggplant, so I made the boys a tray of eggplant parmigiana. I think the ability to connect with caring adults is always a benefit for youth,” Teodosio said of the faith-based center more commonly known as the “don- key farm.” The farm, where young felons learn to trust those in authority by working with live ani- mals, is the centerpiece of the True North Ministries program. The nonprofit ministry offers young felons from all of Ohio’s 88 coun- ties an opportunity to learn new skills through outreach programs, vocational training and mentoring. The donkeys, bees and chickens the boys and young men care for are merely conduits for learning how to trust, True North Executive Director Becky Retzer said. Some of the ministry’s 45 mentors, through their faith in God, are teaching youths to do jobs required on a working farm - skills they can use in the future, she said, but the lessons go much deeper. “It’s more than about saving them. It’s more about building relationships,” Retzer said. “I want the kids to find their faith and to find God, but I also want them - whether they get to that point or not - to look at themselves Donkeys roam in a pasture at True North Ministries in Green, Ohio. — MCT photos as to who they can be and not what they’ve done.” It’s one of the reasons volunteers use behavior. In Summit County, Teodosio then earned. Retzer, who formerly worked with es finance the program. On a recent day, a only first names when addressing the boys decides which young felons would benefit youth offenders at the Summit County young man from Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile and don’t ask about the crimes they have from signing on to work at the farm. Juvenile Detention Center, established the Correctional Facility in Warrensville Heights committed. “Most of the kids that participate in the ministry in 2002 and leased the property for collected five freshly laid eggs from the farm’s For a young felon to be eligible for the pro- program have done well at the Department of the Compass Center on Boettler Road in chicken coop - a daunting task for someone gram, a detention center official must deem Youth Services and are able to attend as a Green in 2007. who had never before been close to a live him ready for off-ground privileges, which is positive incentive,” said Teodosio, who said The program has 200 volunteers who work chicken. achieved by exhibiting a certain level of good she views the program as a privilege to be with incarcerated young people throughout After gathering the eggs in a basket, he the state and makes updated the figure - the number of eggs col- more than 2,500 lected from the farm’s eight hens in a year’s contacts each year time - on a chalkboard hanging on the coop through mentoring, to 890. Nine miniature jennies (female don- outreach programs keys) were roaming in the pasture unaware and the donkey that Rusty, the only jack in the pack, was in a farm. Youths can separate pen recuperating from surgery that participate in the would prevent him from making any more lit- program one to tle donkeys. three days a week Rusty has earned a reputation of sorts. For up to three months, the past seven years, each young man that Retzer said. shovels manure or grooms or feeds the small The ages of par- burros leaves with a T-shirt that reads: “I sur- ticipants range from vived a day with Rusty.” Property manager about 17 to 21 Dave Duffey is in charge of maintenance at years, said Shayne the 15-acre farm, handing out assignments Rowlands, parole and teaching the young men how to do the supervisor with the work. He said the youths aren’t the only peo- Ohio Department of ple benefitting from the program. Youth Services. “The “Not only does it help the kids, it helps me. volunteers at the I’ve learned that God can give you strength farm work on self- and help you learn to be more patient. It esteem and career enables me to understand and help them,” he readiness. They said as he worked alongside his charges last have employed month. Antonio Boalden, a general activity three of our kids as therapist from Warrensville Heights who landscapers who accompanied five youths, some from as far are on parole. They away as Cincinnati and Columbus, said the are able, besides experience teaches the boys there are people paying them, to also who care about them. “The program has a mentor them as very positive effect on these kids. Most of well,” he said. them think people don’t care. But they learn Grants from through mentoring and faith in God that peo- foundations and ple they never before met in their lives really donations from do care,” Boalden said. — MCT A Project Achieve participant (left) feeds Joanie, a 22-year-old miniature donkey, a carrot. local businesses and more than 60 church- Stars FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Aries (March 21-April 19) COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) You take an attitude of gratitude today as you Afghanistan 0093 Kuwait 00965 move forward with your career plans--loved ones support your ideas. You are a very feeling person and can sense the drift of a Albania 00355 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Your system of values may deepen, providing you with a better sense of situation without a lot of study or wasted time. This immediate hands-on Algeria 00213 Laos 00856 discrimination and good taste. You will begin to make good choices in approach might be contrasted with one that is more deliberate. You Andorra 00376 Latvia 00371 the area of investments now. There is a lot of mental energy to complete could be left with a bit of an inferiority complex when it comes to matters Angola 00244 Lebanon 00961 your plans but there must be a balance maintained so you are not too of education, philosophy and conceptual ability. In a word, you revere Anguilla 001264 Liberia 00231 stressed. At home you get down to the business of cleaning up your act, this kind of stuff, not because it is natural to you, but rather because it Antiga 001268 Libya 00218 Argentina 0054 Lithuania 00370 taking care of loose ends and attending to any details you may have may not come easily. You have to work for it--but then--you are to be Armenia 00374 Luxembourg 00352 neglected up to now. Health, food and physical condition come under congratulated for aiming high and continuing to stretch and learn. Do not be afraid to promote your own abilities. Feel good about yourself. Australia 0061 Macau 00853 scrutiny and you work to care for these matters. Perhaps you will Austria 0043 Macedonia 00389 encourage loved ones to join you in some new and fun daily exercise This evening is a great time to continue in your self-improvement activi- ties, which may mean new clothes or reading a book. 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 There could be some restrictions on your activities at work Benin 00229 Marshall Islands 00692 today--you may find yourself pacing the floor much of the morning. Try not to worry so much--your abilities are much more Bermuda 001441 Martinique 00596 Inactivity can be just as stressful as too much activity. Repairing machin- accurate than you realize. Your general sense of concern for everything Bhutan 00975 Mauritania 00222 ery or perhaps taking inventory would be beneficial. Perhaps you could makes you valuable when anything needs doing but, if left unoccupied, Bolivia 00591 Mauritius 00230 Bosnia 00387 Mayotte 00269 find ways in which you can be of help to someone. This will speed things you have been known to worry needlessly. Given only a few facts, you Botswana 00267 Mexico 0052 along and then you will find a busy afternoon. Your ambitions are are able to take in a situation and come up with a real picture of what is happening. Today your checklist is much too long and it may take the Brazil 0055 Micronesia 00691 admirable but sometimes one has to take small steps before a leap for- Brunei 00673 Moldova 00373 ward can be beneficial. Things are beginning to look better in the finan- help of two or three other people to knock the list down. With permis- sion, a group of you will be able to accomplish quite a lot and the higher- Bulgaria 00359 Monaco 00377 cial realm and this would be a good time to seek financial advice on Burkina 00226 Mongolia 00976 investments. Honest, frank and to the point, you hate routines and love ups are quite pleased. This could mean a display needed to be moved or a project initiated. So, be realistic and use your worry energy productive- Burundi 00257 Montserrat 001664 the outdoors, travel and sports. It is time to consider a vacation. Cambodia 00855 Morocco 00212 ly. Take a walk this evening and enjoy the out-of-doors. 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 Your outward seriousness and no-nonsense approach to Chile 0056 New Caledonia 00687 You have an instinctive urge to save, salvage and conserve. China 0086 New Zealand 0064 things are obvious to all. This deliberate sense of responsibility comes You could and probably will teach others the secret of your success-- Colombia 0057 Nicaragua 00505 across and is central to your personality and the way you relate to other whatever that might be. You always want to help, to be of service, and to Comoros 00269 Nigar 00227 people. Everything is run through your checkpoint to see if it holds up be fully useful. You hate waste and are very thorough and precise. For Congo 00242 Nigeria 00234 and can pass the test. You can be a stickler with details today. Today, cir- the most part, you are accepting. There is a need to be the center of Cook Islands 00682 Niue 00683 cumstances occur that create the urge for you to be more driven than attention this afternoon when you discover an investment you made was Costa Rica 00506 Norfolk Island 00672 usual and it may be a time element. You gather your strength and move a good choice. Careful--you could defeat your purpose. Emotionally, you Croatia 00385 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 forward and others pile in beside you to help you complete whatever are also hot stuff, rushing into areas and handling subject matters that Cuba 0053 North Korea 00850 task is before you. After work there is time for each of you to receive a lit- others would never come near. Vulnerable issues, sensitive areas of the Cyprus 00357 Norway 0047 tle pat on the back from each other. A dinner to take home would be self and psychology are the first places you head. This amounts to a pas- Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Oman 00968 best this evening. Perhaps a nice long shower as well. sion with you. You have ideas that will help others. 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 When it comes to your work or home, your conservative The support you need is within your reach. This is a good El Salvador 00503 Portugal 00351 values clash with whatever is unconventional and different. You may not time to solve problems and make important decisions. You will find a England (UK) 0044 Puerto Rico 001787 care for the furniture or appliance someone has chosen. You do not value way around almost any obstacle and are in control and able to guide Equatorial Guinea 00240 Qatar 00974 novelty and do your best to ignore changes. Ignoring the changes may yourself with ease. Your sense of inner direction is good and should lead Eritrea 00291 Romania 0040 be best for now and within your own space you might be able to create a to many opportunities. You model the type of employee that you want Estonia 00372 Russian Federation 007 color splash with a few flowers from your own garden. Perhaps a child's to be and that you want to work with. You may find that soon you will be Ethiopia 00251 Rwanda 00250 drawing or a fun calendar would help. There are regular infusions of in charge of many employees. The higher-ups trust you to join them in Falkland Islands 00500 Saint Helena 00290 change, which you may find disturbing. Occasionally, you surprise others leading others in extraordinary ways. This may take a while or it will hap- Faroe Islands 00298 Saint Kitts 001869 with your positive response. You may find yourself pursuing very differ- pen quickly; just keep being the best you can be and you will go far in Fiji 00679 Saint Lucia 001758 ent methods of responding to others. There are breakthroughs in rela- your business. Everything brings out your unique and unusual qualities. Finland 00358 Saint Pierre 00508 tionships and the social life in general. A new book or music can be enjoyed this evening. 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 You will tend to enjoy socializing at work today. You can Ghana 00233 Senegal 00221 Others may find you especially witty and eccentric at this Gibraltar 00350 Seychelles 00284 time. Much of your personal life hinges on pursuing your own growth always put your ideas into words and describe or analyze situations for yourself and others. Your theories may be fine, but you may lack the Greece 0030 Sierra Leone 00232 and success. Your sense of favoritism and the ability to recognize a shift is Greenland 00299 Singapore 0065 a crucial element in your personality. Today you may find yourself in patience to let things ripen. Write down your ideas and present them to an administrator instead of talking about them to co-workers. You will Grenada 001473 Slovakia 00421 charge of people that you like very much and you do not care to be Guadeloupe 00590 Slovenia 00386 get credit for your own ideas and the people in control of business pro- aggressive with them. Therefore, this talent to sense a shift will save you Guam 001671 Solomon Islands 00677 many upsets. This can be a creative time as you observe others and see duction will appreciate your input. Work on patience; new opportunities Guatemala 00502 Somalia 00252 where requests are important to write down and report back to the are present. Careful attention to finances will help you to see where you Guinea 00224 South Africa 0027 supervisors or department head. Tonight you can enjoy a relaxed do not need to spend money just now. This will ease soon. You have Guyana 00592 South Korea 0082 evening and if you are dating, perhaps a romantic time. If you have a made some discoveries today that warrant attention. You are the center Haiti 00509 Spain 0034 mate, you may find that he or she is contemplating your wishes. of attention tonight. 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 You are a cheer leader for whoever needs support, always There may be confusion today over a professional or career Indonesia 0062 Tanzania 00255 moving into the important facts of importance. It is amazing that you can decision. You do not like making career decisions any more than the rest Iran 0098 Thailand 0066 draw the best out of people of all ages. Your energies run effectively of us--this time you might consider some professional advice. Otherwise, Iraq 00964 Toga 00228 toward making yourself felt in the world of matter. An artistic presenta- the question at hand could become somewhat more complex. Making Ireland 00353 Tonga 00676 tion or mathematical work sheet is something with which you have your mark on the world has special significance for you. Achievement, Italy 0039 Tokelau 00690 spent much time. You can be an action person if you want to be. You ambition and authority take on a greater importance. Organizing and Ivory Coast 00225 Trinidad 001868 gain attention and will encourage others to become motivated in posi- administering people and projects will become central to your lifestyle. Jamaica 001876 Tunisia 00216 tive ways. Some circumstances of your life suggest extroversion. You may This may mean a more prestigious or powerful job or it could mean you Japan 0081 Turkey 0090 find it more convenient to neglect your mental, conceptual and organi- now have your own business. The cycle that begins for you now will be Jordan 00962 Tuvalu 00688 zational abilities as social opportunities arise. People value your ideas and marked by a more intense focus on mental and communicative activity Kazakhstan 007 Uganda 00256 guidance. You are a good mentor. than you may ever have experienced before. Kenya 00254 Ukraine 00380 Kiribati 00686 United Arab Emirates00976 Stars FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Word Search 83. A small cake leavened with yeast. CROSSWORD234 DOWN 1. Port city that is the capital and largest city of Latvia. 2. The sixth month of the civil year. 3. An insane person. 4. Harsh or corrosive in tone. 5. A woman of refinement. 6. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite. 7. An imaginary line on the surface of the earth following (approximately) the 180th meridian. 8. Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829). 9. Artists or writers whose ideas are ahead of their time. 10. The slender spear of the Bantu-speaking people of Africa. 11. An inhabitant of ancient Thebes. 12. A genus of Ploceidae. 13. Bearded reddish sheep of southern Asia. 14. A genus of Lamnidae. 19. A city of southeastern Mexico. 25. By bad luck. 28. A wrongful dispossession. 30. Growing old. 31. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 35. Lower in esteem. 38. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells. 39. A city in northern India. 40. An official language of the Republic of South Africa. 43. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC). 44. The branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication. 49. Small and round and shiny like a shiny bead or button. ACROSS 52. A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especial- ly by women). 1. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to per- 53. A farewell remark. form necessary tasks while the computer is on. 55. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 4. Red Asian weaverbirds often kept as cage birds. 57. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 12. 100 puls equal 1 afghani. 58. Functioning correctly and ready for action. 15. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank. 61. Owing or owed feudal allegiance and service. 16. Round gourd of the calabash tree. 62. The syllable naming the fourth (subdominant) note of the diatonic scale in 17. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma. solmization. 18. A soft-finned fish of the family Gadidae. 63. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth 20. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension. (born in 1934). 21. Lacking in light. 65. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World. 66. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 22. A large fleet. 67. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 23. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object). 69. A set of tags and rules (conforming to SGML) for using them in developing 24. A port city in southwestern Iran. hypertext documents. 26. An edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle. 70. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 27. A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch. 73. One of the five major classes of immunoglobulins. 29. The capital and largest city of Yemen. 74. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 32. Large herbivorous tropical American arboreal lizards with a spiny crest along the 79. A gray lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group. back. 80. A Russian river. 33. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal. 34. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light. Yesterdayʼs Solution 36. A complete metric system of units of measurement for scientists. 37. Petty quarrel. 41. A state of northeastern India. 42. (informal) Very tired. Yesterdayʼs Solution 45. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 46. A radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium. 47. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollu- tion and protecting the environment. 48. (Greek mythology) The goddess of youth and spring. 50. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts. 51. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 54. Sudden mass fear and anxiety over anticipated events. 56. A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experi- ence that is taken as true by many people. 59. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 60. Trade name for an alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets. 64. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh. 68. The periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon. 71. Advanced in years. 72. Made over usually with changes. 75. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall. 76. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 77. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins. 78. Large South African oryx with a broad black band along its flanks. 81. A wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface. 82. Tranquilizer (trade name Dalmane) used to treat insomnia.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Cruz, Beltre lead Rangers to 8-5 win over Yankees

NEW YORK: Nelson Cruz homered and the choice to bring home pinch-runner Mike Aviles in more than a month, and Josh Donaldson hit a ing a batter. Koji Uehara worked a perfect Texas Rangers got consecutive two-run doubles and chase Johnson. Vinnie Pestano worked the three-run homer for Oakland. Griffin (6-6) struck ninth for his second save. Roy Oswalt (0-2), from Adrian Beltre and AJ Pierzynski in an 8-5 ninth for his fifth save. out seven and walked two in a 108-pitch gem making his second start since being recalled victory over the New York Yankees on for his first career complete game, helping the from Double-A, allowed five runs and nine hits Wednesday night. Rangers rookie Justin Grimm ANGELS 7, TIGERS 4 A’s sweep the two-game series. The shaggy- in six innings for the Rockies. pitched just well enough to beat Andy Pettitte, Mike Trout homered and drove in three runs, haired right-hander had been 0-3 in five starts and the AL West leaders won for the seventh and Erick Aybar’s two-run shot gave Los since winning at Houston on May 25. He didn’t ROYALS 4, BRAVES 3 time in nine games following a six-game slide - Angeles the lead for good in its eighth consecu- allow a hit until Devin Mesoraco’s one-out sin- Alex Gordon drove in David Lough in the their longest of the season. Texas improved to tive win over the Tigers. The Angels have gle in the fifth, and Xavier Paul added a two out 10th inning, giving the Royals a split of their 6-12 against the Yankees since the start of 2011. outscored the Tigers 55-21 during the streak. double in the seventh for Cincinnati. Reds two-game series against the Braves. Lough Lyle Overbay and Ichiro Suzuki homered for Miguel Cabrera and former Angels outfielder starter Homer Bailey (4-6) allowed four runs and had entered the game the previous inning as a New York on a hectic day at Yankee Stadium, Torii Hunter homered for Detroit. Los Angeles six hits in six innings. He also struck out seven pinch hitter, but was still up because Elliot where baseball’s most storied franchise emergency starter Billy Buckner gave up three and walked two. Johnson was picked off first base to end the announced that first baseman Mark Teixeira runs and three hits in three-plus innings. He ninth. Lough singled off Alex Wood (0-2) to needs season-ending surgery on his right wrist. replaced Tommy Hanson, who was scratched PIRATES 4, MARINERS 2 start the 10th and then reached second when Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman after feeling tightness in his right forearm while Jordy Mercer hit a go-ahead single with two Miguel Tejada laid down a perfect sacrifice also discussed the latest Alex Rodriguez drama, warming up in the bullpen before the game. outs in the ninth inning, leading Pittsburgh to bunt. That set the stage for Gordon, who hit a and the team said all parties involved are on the Dane De La Rosa (2-1) pitched two innings for the victory. The Pirates (48-30) moved 18 solo home run earlier in the game. He dropped same page about posting injury updates on the win and Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his games over .500 for the first time since 1992, a base hit into shallow left field, allowing Twitter after A-Rod called Cashman for a clarifi- 18th save. Detroit starter Jose Alvarez (1-1) their last winning season. Neil Walker hit a Lough to score easily as the Royals spilled from cation chat. Grimm (7-5) allowed three runs in allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 two-run homer off Felix Hernandez to put their dugout. Aaron Crow (4-3) worked the five-plus innings. Joe Nathan got three quick innings. Pittsburgh ahead in the fourth. Seattle tied it 10th inning for the Royals, who had lost five of outs for his 26th save in 27 tries. Pettitte (5-6) in the sixth on Raul Ibanez’s team-leading 18th six. settled in after a rocky third but dropped his BLUE JAYS 3, RAYS 0 home run. Mercer put the Pirates in front with third start in a row since earning his 250th win. R A Dickey pitched a two-hitter for his first his clutch hit off Yoervis Medina, and Travis METS 3, WHITE SOX 0 complete game of the year, helping Toronto to Snider scored on a wild pitch. Vin Mazzaro (4- Shaun Marcum pitched eight crisp innings INDIANS 4, ORIOLES 3 its 12th win in 14 games. Dickey (7-8) retired his 2) picked up the victory with two innings of for his first win of the season, and Eric Young Jr Scott Kazmir took a no-hitter into the sev- first 13 batters before James Loney grounded a scoreless relief. Mark Melancon earned his sec- had three hits and drove in a run for the Mets. enth as the Indians scored two ninth-inning single between shortstop and third base with ond save. Charlie Furbush (1-4) got the loss. Marcum (1-9) won for the first time since Oct 1, runs off Baltimore closer Jim Johnson to pull one out in the fifth. Yunel Escobar had a one-out 2012, while pitching for Milwaukee. He avoid- out the victory. A leadoff double in the seventh single in the sixth, and then was erased when RED SOX 5, ROCKIES 3 ed becoming the first to start a season 0-10 by Manny Machado was the only hit allowed by Matt Joyce hit a double-play grounder. Adam John Lackey struck out a season-high 12 since St Louis’ Anthony Reyes did it in 2007. Kazmir, who gave up one unearned run in sev- Lind and Edwin Encarnacion homered for the over seven strong innings and Daniel Nava Marcum had lost his previous four starts and en innings. He came out to the mound for the Blue Jays, who had lost two in a row after tying drove in two runs, powering Boston to a posted a 9.58 ERA in his last two outings. The eighth but left with an apparent injury before their team record of 11 straight wins. Jose Reyes sweep of the two-game series against veteran right-hander faced just three batters throwing a pitch. Baltimore promptly scored went 0 for 4 in his return from a two-month lay- Colorado. Shane Victorino had three hits and over the minimum. He scattered four hits and twice against Joe Smith (4-0) to take a 3-2 lead, off due to a severely sprained left ankle. Tampa Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 for the Red Sox. pitched around two walks. Bobby Parnell but the Indians rallied against Johnson (2-6) in Bay’s Roberto Hernandez (4-9) gave up three Colorado got two solo homers from Michael pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save. the ninth. After Michael Brantley drew a leadoff runs and six hits in eight-plus innings. Cuddyer, who extended his hitting streak to 23 Chicago’s John Danks (1-5) allowed three runs walk, Jason Giambi hit his 400th career double. games -matching Dante Bichette’s club record - one earned - and seven hits. He struck out An intentional walk loaded the bases for Lonnie INTERLEAGUE set in 1995. The Rockies finished a road trip in seven and didn’t walk anyone in 7 1-3 innings. Chisenhall, who hit into a run-scoring fielder’s ATHLETICS 5, REDS 0 which they lost seven of nine. Lackey (5-5) Alexei Ramirez had two of Chicago’s four choice. Drew Stubbs also hit into a fielder’s AJ Griffin pitched a two-hitter for his first win gave up two runs and eight hits without walk- hits.—AP Dodgers overpower Giants

LOS ANGELES: Clayton Kershaw outpitched the Cubs held on to beat the Brewers. Tim Lincecum in the seventh regular-season Feldman (7-6) gave up just three runs and six matchup between the former Cy Young hits while striking out three and walking none Award winners, rookie Yasiel Puig as the Los for his first victory this season against an NL Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the San Central Division opponent. He retired 11 of Francisco Giants 4-2 on Wednesday night for the last 14 batters he faced. Kevin Gregg got a three-game sweep of the defending World the last three outs for his 12th save in 12 Series champions. Kershaw (6-5) allowed two chances. Starlin Castro returned to the Cubs’ runs and four hits in eight-plus innings and lineup with two hits and a run after sitting out had seven strikeouts. Lincecum (4-8) gave up Tuesday’s game which snapped his 269 con- four runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings and secutive games played streak. Yovani struck out four. The Giants have lost four in a Gallardo (6-7) struggled with his command row and nine of 12, putting them a season- early and often, giving up five runs - three worst two games under .500. earned - and eight hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out five. NATIONALS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2 Jordan Zimmermann dominated after a PHILLIES 7, PADRES 5, 13 INNINGS shaky start and rookie Anthony Rendon had Second baseman Logan Forsythe bobbled his third three-hit performance as the Ben Revere’s grounder in the 13th inning and Nationals defeated the Diamondbacks. The then threw home wildly, leading to two NL West-leading Diamondbacks have lost unearned runs in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 7-5 three straight. Zimmermann (11-3) surren- win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday dered two runs in the first inning, but held night. Chase Utley, who was hit by a pitch, the Diamondbacks scoreless with one hit over and Domonic Brown, who walked against his final six innings. He allowed three hits Tommy Layne (0-2) scored the decisive runs. overall, retired the final 10 batters he faced Forsythe bounced a throw as he tried to pre- and improved to 13-0 at home dating back to vent Utley from scoring. The ball bounced May 17, 2012. Wade Miley (4-7) allowed three away from catcher Nick Hundley, allowing runs, including an unearned run in the fifth. Brown to score also. Joe Savory (1-0) worked Denard Span scored on Ryan Zimmerman’s one inning and Jonathan Papelbon got the double play after Tyler Moore’s solo homer in final three outs for his 15th save in 19 the fourth tied the game. chances. The Phillies, who trailed 5-2 after six innings, rallied to tie it with an unearned run CUBS 5, BREWERS 4 in the seventh and two runs in the eighth on LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Dodgers’ AJ Ellis (right) is forced out at second as San Francisco Scott Feldman pitched six solid innings, a two-run home run by Delmon Young off Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro throws out Juan Uribe at first during the eighth Anthony Rizzo had a key two-run single and Luke Gregerson.— AP inning of their baseball game in Los Angeles. — AP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 All Blacks eye World Cup sevens title Super15 Preview MOSCOW: New Zealand will be aiming to translate their world- Twenty-four teams will contest the men’s title, with Australia beating form on the IRB sevens circuit into a title tilt at the June 28- seeking to defend their title in a 16-strong women’s competition. 30 Rugby World Cup Sevens, with one eye on the Rio de Janeiro With the wider spaces available to players, all eyes will be on Carlin Waikato Chiefs set to Olympics in 2016. The abbreviated sport of rugby sevens has Isles when the United States run out on to the paddock to play received a massive boost after its inclusion as one of the new sports Georgia on Friday. Isles became an internet sensation after scoring reclaim Super 15 lead at the Rio Games, with newly-tapped Olympic funding increasing a raft of tries that showboated the speed that saw him ranked in funding and player interest. One of the reasons behind its inclusion the top 40 US 100-metres sprinters with a personal best time of JOHANNESBURG: Waikato Chiefs will reclaim top is the unpredictability of the sport, with much closer competition 10.13 seconds. “I stay humble and don’t let it get to me,” Isles said. place in the Super 15 standings today by winning a between teams than in the 15-a-side game, albeit that the All “I try to keep it more about the team.” New Zealand derby against visiting Wellington Blacks have won 11 of the 14 IRB World Sevens Series titles. The Ohio native only switched to rugby last summer with an Hurricanes. Title-holders Chiefs trail Australian side ACT Wales are the unlikely world sevens champions, winning the last eye on the Olympics, and the IRB can only rub their hands at the Brumbies by three points in the southern hemisphere Cup in Dubai in 2009 at startling odds of 80-1 after the four likes of the might of sporting powerhouses the United States and provincial championship, but have played two match- favorites fell by the wayside in four dramatic, breath-taking quarter- Russia fixing their sights on sevens glory at the Rio Games. Not only es less. Third-place Northern Bulls can also go above finals. “It’s in the back of our minds,” admitted Wales coach Paul are the USA and the hosts playing alongside the traditional rugby the inactive Canberra outfit if they collect a bonus- John, who has just playmaker Lee Williams remaining from his powers, but there are the likes of Tunisia and the Philippines in the point victory on Saturday at home to struggling fellow squad four years ago. “We’re trying to treat this as just another men’s competition and Brazil and the Netherlands in the women’s. tournament, but the title defence is an added incentive that the Brazil’s women’s captain Julia Albino Sarda said she and her South Africans Southern Kings. boys are aware of, and as a World Cup it’s a special occasion any- teammates had a rare opportunity to promote a sport in a coun- Otago Highlanders host record seven-time champi- way.” Inspirational captain DJ Forbes will be back for the All Blacks, try where football rules. “The game of rugby in Brazil is growing ons Canterbury Crusaders in another New Zealand as one of three players in Gordon Tietjens’ squad that also really well,” she said. “Now young girls often see rugby on televi- showdown and Western Stormers have home advan- appeared in Dubai, alongside veteran Fiji-born Tomasi Cama and sion and two years ago that would never have been the case. “For tage against Central Cheetahs in a second all-South Lote Raikabula. “We really want to do well as we haven’t won the us our focus is to grow and grow for 2016. A lot of our players will African affair. The lone fixture with an international Cup since 2001,” said Tietjens. “This is also the last World Cup be able to get better funding after the World Cup to build flavour pits the South African Coastal Sharks, who part- before the Olympics so Moscow is also going to be very valuable in towards that and that is important to us because we need to be ed ways with coach John Plumtree this week after a terms of our planning to ensure we are in the best possible shape together more and train more like the teams we are up against in poor season, against the Auckland Blues from New for Rio in 2016.” this World Cup.”— AFP Zealand in Durban. None of the five Australian franchises are involved this weekend or next because of Test matches against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne and Sydney. Chiefs, who overwhelmed travel-weary Sharks in the previous final, have made three changes to the side that conquered Crusaders 28-19 last month ahead of the three-week Test window. Right-wing Lelia Masaga, outside centre Tim Nanai-Williams and tight-head prop Ben Afeaki are drafted in as Chiefs seek a double over the ‘Canes’ after a five-point win last month. “Hurricanes are still in the competition mathemati- cally and have everything to play for. It will be pretty physical-two positive teams on the field having a real arm wrestle,” said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie. The ‘Canes’ are seven points behind sixth-place Crusaders, who occupy the last play-offs place, and skipper and outside centre Conrad Smith is among seven returning All Blacks in the starting line-up. Coach Mark Hammett ducked questions about snatching an improbable place in the knock-out stage, saying his aim was simply to defeat Chiefs, Otago Highlanders (home) and Crusaders (away). Highlanders have had a rotten season, lying bottom with only two wins from 13 outings, but a 38-28 early June success over the Blues proved they are capable of much better than the place on the standings suggests. While the men from Dunedin play for pride, a MELBOURNE: British and Irish Lions rugby union player Tom Youngs (second left) goes through his stretching exercises during Crusaders team stacked with All Blacks back from a 3-0 training as the team prepares to take on the Australian Wallabies, in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP series whitewash over France cannot afford any slips as they seek to consolidate a top-six place. “It is a huge game for us,” admitted veteran scrum-half Andy Ellis, “as the next three are must-win matches. Highlanders Lions sniff rare series really stood up against the Blues and played some stunning rugby.” Although the Blues lie eighth, they are best placed of the teams outside the top six to squeeze into the victory in Melbourne play-offs, provided they can overcome the Sharks and Cheetahs on a two-match South African tour. “We are MELBOURNE: Mindful of a wounded Australia backlash but intoxi- re-assembling another backline dripping with glittering talent. still in the hunt,” stressed veteran Blues hooker Keven cated by the whiff of a rare series victory, the British and Irish Lions Robbie Deans may well be coaching for his job at Docklands Mealamu. “Our aim is to go over there (South Africa) will aim to ramp up the intensity in tomorrow’s crunch second test Stadium, and again at Sydney should the Wallabies survive, but and make sure we push the team a bit further in this in Melbourne even as both sides recover from the bruising opener. remains as unfazed as ever, having long stared down the axe. “I competition.” Sharks and 2012 semi-finalists Stormers The Lions stumbled over the line at a heaving Lang Park for tomor- thought the boys did incredibly well under the circumstances (last have flopped this season-losing seven of 13 games row’s heart-stopping 23-21 win, aided by the wayward boot of week), particularly as it was a domino effect that went from there to each-and the Cape Town-based side will lack unfit cen- Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale, that exacted a huge physical toll on the extent where we had to play a forward in the backline,” he told tre and skipper Jean de Villiers for the visit of fifth- both sides. Now another 80 minutes of gut-busting punishment reporters. “Clearly this week we’ve had the benefit of some more place Cheetahs. looms under the closed roof of Docklands Stadium where coach preparation and hopefully we’ll have a lit bit more fluency in our The revelation of this season, the Cheetahs will look Warren Gatland has demanded the tourists finish the job and win game.” Australia head into game two with history as inspiration, to stars like hooker Adriaan Strauss, centre Robert their first series since 1997. “This is a do-or-die match for Australia. having come back from a match down to overhaul the Lions in 2001 Ebersohn and right-wing Willie le Roux to secure a win It’s going to be a real battle out there,” the New Zealander told and 1989. that would greatly boost hopes of a first top-six finish. reporters. They will be mindful that the John Eales-captained side dropped A bicep injury has sidelined Bulls No. 8 and skipper “We can win this series by winning tomorrow, that’s what our the opener in Brisbane but leveled the 2001 series at the same ven- Pierre Spies for the rest of the season and Springboks whole focus needs to be. The last thing we want to do is think about ue before closing it out in Sydney. Their preparations have not been JJ Engelbrecht (centre), Morne Steyn (fly-half) and going and being 1-1 and having to go and play another game in ideal, however, with off-field distractions caused by three of other Juandre Kruger (lock) start on the bench against the Sydney.” Australia’s backline was torn asunder in the Brisbane their backs. Winger Digby Ioane was ruled out of the series with a Kings.— AFP thriller, with three taken from the ground by stretcher, but the hosts shoulder injury on Monday but not before news broke that a war- showed enormous grit to claw their way back. A business-as-usual rant had been issued for his arrest for missing a court appearance attitude has pervaded the Wallabies camp, with the coaching staff related to an assault charge.—Reuters Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Wolves face ‘massive Photo of the day month’: Waterhouse

LONDON: Trent Waterhouse and his Warrington improve on but that’s a good sign. “Two big Wolves teammates made a huge statement with games in Super League and then the Challenge their win over Wigan on Monday but the former Cup game with Huddersfield Giants where we Australian international insists it is the next want to defend our title, this is a crucial month for month that will define their season. Table toppers us. “But these are the sort of games I came over Wigan came to the Halliwell Jones stadium on here for, this is a great club and we want to be Monday on the back of a 13-game winning run playing in the big games come the end of the sea- that had seen them open up a five-point lead at son.” the top of the Super League table. But they ran First up for the Wolves is a trip to Odsal to take into an inspired Wolves side and in the most on Bradford and Bulls full-back Brett Kearney has entertaining game of the season so far it was the called on his teammates to up their game or risk Wire who emerged 22-12 winners after two late missing out on the play-offs. “We expect to be in tries. It does not get any easier for Waterhouse the top eight and we are not at the moment,” said and company however as in the next month they the former Cronulla Shark. “Every team has a flat face a trip to Bradford, welcome defending cham- spot in a season and we are having ours in the pions Leeds and have a Challenge Cup quarter- middle but we want to finish the season strongly final against Huddersfield to contend with. But like we started it to get that top-eight spot that having closed the gap at the top of the league we feel we deserve.” table with their win against Wigan, Waterhouse And St Helens head coach Nathan Brown insists he and his teammates still have another insists he is planning for the future after announc- gear to go to when the going gets tough. “The ing the signing of Penrith Panthers prop Mose next month is massive for us so to have kicked off Masoe. Masoe will join up with Saints next season such an important set of games with the win over alongside teammate Luke Walsh who is also leav- Wigan is fantastic,” he said. ing the Panthers and Brown cannot wait for their “But we are not going to get carried away with addition to the squad. “Mose is a big forward who that result, it was a fantastic game and the fans will add a lot of size to our pack next year,” said were great. There was a real intensity in training the former St George Illawarra Dragons head so to come out and get the result was important. coach. “He is young, still developing and will com- Tom Schaar does a 900 on the Mega Ramp at “I still feel that there is another level for us to go plement the squad we are putting together for Woodward West in Tehachapi, Ca., USA to as a team, there are a few areas we can still 2014.”— AFP Webber to leave F1 for Porsche Le Mans Home hopes SILVERSTONE: Mark Webber will leave thought long and hard before making Austrian-owned team’s favourite and champions Red Bull and Formula One what has no doubt been a very difficult that position will only be enhanced for on Hamilton at the end of the season to join decision,” said principal Christian the remaining 12 races now that he has Porsche’s new Le Mans sportscar pro- Horner, who co-owns a GP3 team with decided to leave. The Australian had gram, the Australian driver announced Webber and is close to the Australian. hoped to become his country’s first at Silverstone yesterday. “I’m very much looking for- “His achievements in Formula One are champion since Alan Jones in 1980 but SILVERSTONE: ward to this new challenge after my extensive and I am sure he will continue the closest he came was 2010 when he Lewis Hamilton carries the hopes of time in Formula One. I can hardly wait to push hard and build on that record went into the final race in Abu Dhabi home fans and several leading championship con- to pilot one of the fastest sports cars in until the end of the season,” added the second overall and eight points behind tenders when he bids to halt Sebastian Vettel’s seem- the world,” he said on his website Briton. “We support Mark’s decision, he Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. ingly-irresistable surge towards a fourth drivers world (www.markwebber.com). Porsche said has been an excellent addition to the Vettel, who had been a further seven title at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The 28-year- he had signed a multi-year contract. team since joining us in 2007 and we points adrift of Webber and had not led old Englishman, who won the race for McLaren on the Red Bull said a decision on his replace- wish him all the best in the next stages the championship all year, won that way to his championship triumph in 2008, is the only ment would not be made until later in of his career.” Webber has renewed his race and snatched his first title as the British winner on home soil in 12 years since Scot David the season. The oldest driver on the Red Bull contract on a year-by-year strategy unravelled in nightmare fash- Coulthard succeeded twice in succession for the same starting grid, who will be 38 next year ion for the Australian and Alonso. team. That experience, and the potential competitive and is in his 12th season, Webber has Webber ended up third overall, repeat- performance of his much-improved Mercedes car-he yet to win a race in 2013 but has a good ing the feat in 2011. At Minardi, Jaguar has qualified on the front row of the grid four times in chance to rectify that at this weekend’s and Williams he did his best in largely the last five races-suggest he is the best hope of home British Grand Prix. The straight-talking uncompetitive cars, beating a string of success again. Australian - who drives a Porsche for team mates including Nico Rosberg - In the wake of last week’s controversial ‘secret tyre private use - has won two of the last now a winner with Mercedes. Webber testing’ tribunal hearing, Hamilton and his Mercedes three races at Silverstone, including last has twice raced at Le Mans, with not team-mate and friend, Monaco winner Nico Rosberg of year’s, and has finished on the podium entirely fond memories. With Mercedes Germany, will be crowd favorites as they seek to stop at what amounts to a home race every in 1999 his car flipped into the air twice the Vettel express. But Vettel, the defending triple year since 2009. in practice and the warm-up before the world champion, has won three of this year’s seven He has won nine grands prix, all for team withdrew for safety reasons. races in his Red Bull machine - built in nearby Milton Red Bull, since his debut with Minardi in “I’m very pleased to have secured Keynes-and not been outside the top four this season 2002 but has been eclipsed in the Mark Webber of Australia Mark Webber for our LMP1 (Le Mans as he has built up a formidable 36-points lead ahead of championship by German team mate prototype) project as one of the best Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel who is chasing a fourth basis for some time and his decision to and most successful Formula One pilots Alonso, like everyone else, knows that another successive title. Lotus driver Kimi call it a day came as no surprise. of our time,” Porsche board member for Vettel demonstration of supremacy at the exhilarating Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion Speculation that this would be his last research and development Wolfgang high-speed Silverstone track could give him a truly sig- with Ferrari, has been strongly tipped season moved up a notch or two after Hatz said in a statement. “Mark is with- nificant advantage even before the 19-race season to take Webber’s place. That move the Malaysian Grand Prix, when Vettel out doubt one of the world’s best race reaches the halfway mark. Alonso, like Vettel’s Red Bull would replace one of the sport’s most disregarded ‘team orders’ to stay drivers, he has experience at the Le team-mate Mark Webber, has won twice at the famous outspoken drivers with the most taci- behind Webber and finish in one-two Mans 24 hour race and on top of that old former war-time airstrip, which was an original part turn and, at 33, second oldest after formation. That ‘betrayal’ led to an even he’s been a Porsche enthusiast for of the inaugural 1950 world championship, in recent Webber. In a separate statement, Red frostier relationship - or lack of one - many years.” Webber will compete in years and will be seeking to complete a personal hat- Bull thanked Webber for his extensive between the two Red Bull drivers who the world endurance championship trick. But he knows that it is almost more important to contribution in his seven years with the have kept matters strictly professional with Switzerland’s Neel Jani, Timo end Vettel’s run, and so restrict his chances of increasing team and their three successive con- for some time. Webber has long com- Bernhard and Romain Dumas also con- his lead, than to grab more personal glory. —AFP structors’ crowns. “I am sure Mark plained that Vettel, still only 25, is the firmed in the Porsche lineup.— Reuters Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 Franklin, Lochte shine at World Champ trials

INDIANAPOLIS: Olympic stars Missy Franklin and Ryan Lochte shared the spotlight Wednesday night, both claim- ing a pair of titles at the US swimming championships and World Championships trials. Franklin’s night began with a win in the women’s 200-meter freestyle at the Indiana University Natatorium. Ahead by a body length at the halfway mark, she touched the wall in one minute 55.56 seconds followed by Katie Ledecky in 1:57.63, Shannon Vreeland in 1:58.13 and Jordan Mattern in 1:58.27. The win qualified Franklin-the winner of four gold medals and one bronze at the 2012 London Olympics-for the 200 free at the World Championships in Barcelona, July 28-August 4. She also made the American 4x200 freestyle relay team, along with Ledecky the winner of Tuesday’s 800 free event-Vreeland and Mattern. Less than 90 minutes later, the recent high school grad- uate won the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:05.68, the world’s fastest time this year and an American open record as the best-ever performance in the US. Franklin main- tained a lead throughout to finish ahead of Elizabeth Pelton, whose 2:06.29 clocking was the world’s second- CORSICA ISLAND: Spain’s Alberto Contador (second position left) rides with his Saxo-Tinkoff teammates during a fastest of 2013. “That last fifty hurt so much,” she said. “I’m training near Porto Vecchio, southern Corsica island, France yesterday. — AP ecstatic with the 2:05. But I’m definitely hurting now.” With three days to go at nationals, Franklin is eligible for five events at Worlds. Her first-place finish in Tuesday’s 100 Contador promises more free earned her a berth in that event as well as a spot the American 4x100 relay squad. Lochte, the winner of five Olympic medals in London (two gold, two silver, one exciting Tour de France bronze), won the men’s 200-meter free and came back an hour-and-a-half later to finish first in the 200 backstroke. Swimming in lane two in the 200 free, Lochte led at the PORTO VECCHIO: Alberto Contador operating. “I think Sky are more tion, we will be more aggressive or first turn and was never headed. has promised a more exciting Tour de advanced in training, in sports science - more conservative. However, there will He finished in 1:45.97 ahead of Conor Dwyer, Matt France this year after Bradley Wiggins’s they know exactly what’s required from be more movement than the previous McLean and Charlie Houchin. The quartet will comprise Team Sky dominated all the way to the domestiques to do the job properly in year. “This year’s race gives opportuni- the US men’s 4x100m relay team at Worlds. In Lochte’s sec- Champs-Elysees in the 2012 edition. the last week, they know so much more ties to attack far from the finish.” ond event of the night, he outdueled 2012 Olympic cham- Double champion Contador of Spain, about the internals of the sport, in my The odds are that Contador, one of pion Tyler Clary in the 200 backstroke. Lochte won in back in the race after a one-year hiatus opinion, than any other team,” he told five men with titles in all three grand 1:55.16 with Clary the runnerup in 1:55.58. “I knew just because of a doping suspension, is reporters. “I think Alberto uses his emo- Tours, will be behind Froome after the from the lack of training this year that I had to go out fast,” unlikely to settle for second against tions in the races, whereas I think Chris 11th stage, an individual time trial to said Lochte. “I knew I was going to die either way, so I Team Sky leader Chris Froome, the is very calculated and Brad was very Mont St Michel. Froome has beaten might as well just go out fast and hope for the best. I don’t overwhelming favorite. calculated last year. (At Team Sky) you Contador in all their confrontations in want to go through that pain again. That double was “We are not the only two actors in know what you’re capable of and you stage races this season, but the hard.” this film,” Contador, who won the Tour don’t go outside of that.” Spaniard is not concerned. “At the Tuesday night, Lochte made the US 4x100 relay team in 2007 and 2009, told a packed news (Criterium du) Dauphine (this month), I with a fourth-place finish in the men’s 200 free. He’s now conference at his team hotel on ATTACKING OPPORTUNITIES was at 75 percent,” he said. “Now I’m eligible for four events (200 free, 200 back, 4x100 and Thursday. “There will be more action Contador, instead, is a hot-blooded around 90 percent, which was my goal 4x200 freestyle relays) in Barcelona. Kevin Cordes brought than last year.” Last year, Wiggins’s racer who is able to turn around des- a few days before the start of the Tour.” the crowd to its feet in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke. rivals seemed to quickly abandon hope perate situations. In last year’s Vuelta, Contador will have a much better Cordes, 19, was on world-record pace at the halfway mark. of winning the Tour as the Briton domi- he launched a devastating surprise team than in 2011, with Rogers, Czech He finished short of the world mark (2:07.01 by Japan’s nated the time trials and relied on attack in the 17th stage to snatch the Roman Kreuziger and Irishman Nicolas Akihiro Yamaguchi in 2012), but settled for the year’s top Team Sky’s conservative tactics in the overall lead from fellow Spaniard Roche. “Michael has a lot of experience, performance with a time of 2:08.34. mountains. Wiggins is out of the race, Joaquim Rodriguez. In the 2011 Tour, he will be our road captain,” he Breeja Larson stroked into the lead in the women’s 200 which starts on Saturday, for health although he did not win the race, explained. “He knows how Sky work so breaststroke on the final turn and won in 2:23.44. In major reasons but Team Sky directors are like- Contador attacked 92 kilometres from it will be helpful. “Having a stronger surprise, Allison Schmitt failed to qualify for the women’s ly to use the same methods to help the finish at l’Alpe d’Huez as he tried to team gives me tranquility because I 200 freestyle final. Schmitt, the American record holder in Froome to reach Paris with the yellow make up for lost time against know I have the riders to put me in a the event, was the 2012 Olympic champion. She also swam jersey. Australian Cadel Evans. He is ready to good position in the mountains.” The on the gold medal-winning US 4x200 freestyle relay team Australian Michael Rogers, who was use the same approach this time if Tour starts from Porto Vecchio in in London. The 50-meter butterfly was contested for the Team Sky’s road captain last year but needed. “We will think about tactics Corsica, an island that could give first time at the national meet. Christine Magnuson won has switched to Contador’s Team Saxo- after the second time trial. It will Contador a few attacking opportuni- the women’s title in 26.08 while the men’s race went to Tinkoff this season, knows a thing or depend on the overall standings,” ties. “Anything is possible,” he Eugene Godsoe in 23.29. — AFP two about the British outfit’s way of Contador said. “Depending on my posi- warned.—Reuters Cycling prepares for 100th Tour de France

PARIS: Cycling’s greatest race, the Tour de Last year’s runner-up behind Britain’s runner-up in the Giro d’Italia in May, and Tour wins between 1999 and 2005. Race France, begins tomorrow, hoping to cast off Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, is favorite to Australian outsider Cadel Evans, the 2011 win- organizers have refused to nominate a winner the recent cloud of suspicion and scandal of win the race after successes in Oman, the ner, who could become the Tour’s oldest vic- in his place, as cycling was plunged into a doping with a celebration of its historic 100th Criterium International, Tour of Romandie and tor at 36. This year’s race is the first to be held period of deep introspection about the extent edition. A total of 198 riders from 22 teams the Criterium du Dauphine. But the 28-year- after the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, of drug use in the peloton in the 1990s and will line up for the 212-kilometre first stage old Team Sky rider is likely to face stiff compe- which sent shockwaves through cycling and 2000s. The spectre still looms large over the from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia on the tition from 2007 and 2009 Tour winner the world of sport. The US rider, who was Tour, after the 1997 winner and three-time Mediterranean island of Corsica. Three weeks, Alberto Contador of Spain, despite his lack of unmasked as a serial drug cheat in a devastat- runner-up Jan Ullrich of Germany admitted 3,403.5 kilometers and 20 stages later, only victories this season. Challenging both men ing US Anti-Doping Agency report last year, doping last weekend-and said it was wide- the very best-and most fortunate-will finish. include Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez, who was was subsequently stripped of his record seven spread. —AFP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Blanc tasked with taking PSG to Europe’s elite

PARIS: Laurent Blanc was officially Madrid said that outgoing PSG boss French national team following their Michel Platini praised Blanc’s hiring, confirmed as Paris Saint-Germain’s Carlo Ancelotti would take over from disappointing quarter-final exit at saying: “It’s a good challenge for him new manager on Tuesday, an Jose Mourinho at the Santiago Euro 2012, had been linked with the and it’s good that PSG have a French appointment that came with the Bernabeu. vacant managerial post at Roma coach. “He has some good players, so mandate of steering the ambitious Ironically, Ancelotti won’t have to before the Serie A side opted for ex- he has a good chance to win,” added French champions towards Europe’s wait long before renewing acquain- Lille boss Rudi Garcia. Platini. However, key to Blanc’s suc- elite. Former French star Blanc, 47, tances with his former employers A decorated player for both club cess will be the future of Zlatan was handed a two-year deal by the with the clubs scheduled to play a and country, with whom he won the Ibrahimovic. Qatari-owned club, four days after friendly in Sweden on July 27. 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, The Swedish striker plundered BeInSport, a television channel However, Blanc’s managerial CV pales Blanc’s only other professional coach- opposing defenses for a league-best belonging to the club’s owners, let in comparison to that of Ancelotti, ing experience came at Bordeaux, 30 goals last term, but there remains slip news of an “agreement” between whose highlights include two where he was in charge from 2007 to a question mark over his status at the the two parties. European titles with AC Milan and a 2010 and led the club to a French club after he said in May that he “The Board of Paris Saint-Germain Premier League crown with Chelsea championship and league cup title in would consider leaving if Ancelotti has given Laurent Blanc the mission as well as a French championship, 2009. He also led them to the quarter- departed Paris. Ibrahimovic, who has to build on last season and to contin- with the Frenchman evidently not ini- finals of the 2009/10 Champions two years left on his contract, said last ue the club’s ascendancy towards the tially a leading candidate for the post. League, matching PSG’s progress the month: “When they ask me what my summits of the European game,” read PSG were caught off guard by season just finished when they future will be if Carlo leaves, I know a statement on psg.fr. Blanc is set to Ancelotti’s plea to leave the club in bowed out on away goals despite a nothing, it’s not (an) easy (situation).” be presented to the media at a news May and subsequently saw a host of valiant two-legged display against He also said that if Ancelotti were to conference yesterday and will official- potential successors such as Jose Barcelona, but the man nicknamed leave that PSG would “need a coach ly take charge of the squad on July 1 Mourinho, Rafael Benitez, Fabio “Le President” will be expected to who’s not only going to manage a for the start of pre-season training. Capello and Andre Villas-Boas land take the capital club, bolstered by French team but an international one The French Ligue 1 winners’ elsewhere or elect to stay put. Blanc their considerable financial might, to with world-class players. It’s not easy announcement of his appointment himself, who had been out of a job the next level. for a manager and only a big one can came just moments before Real since leaving his role as coach of the UEFA president and French great come in (to take over)”. —AFP Tevez joins Juventus, Real, Isco ink deal MADRID: Real Madrid secured the transfer of midfielder Francisco “Isco” Alarcon from Malaga yesterday, adding takes Del Piero’s shirt one of Europe’s most prized young players to its already star-studded squad. Madrid announced on its website that the 21-year-old Isco had agreed to a five-year contract. He MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez sealed his move to Juventus on will be presented on Wednesday after a medical exam. Isco Wednesday after four controversy-filled years at Manchester helped Malaga reach the Champions League quarterfinals City and was handed the unenviable task of trying to emu- last season and guided Spain to the European Under-21 late club hero Alessandro Del Piero. Italian champions Juve title this summer. announced his arrival with a picture of the Argentine striker Malaga said in a statement that it wanted “to thank Isco holding up Del Piero’s old number 10 jersey alongside club and his family for their commitment, implication and president Andrea Agnelli. A statement said he had reached a impeccable behavior while being a Malaga player.” Neither deal to sign a three-year-contract. There was no word on the club released the financial details of the transfer. transfer fee but media reports have put it at 12 million euros Manchester City was reportedly also interested in drawing ($15.60 million). Isco away from Malaga, especially after hiring his former “The Argentine is used to winning. He has done so wher- coach Manuel Pellegrini. But Madrid club president ever he has been,” Juve’s website (www.juventus.com) Florentino Perez could hardly let another desired player added. Del Piero spent almost 20 years at Juve, helping them slip away after losing the bidding war for Brazil star win the 1996 Champions League and sticking by the club Neymar to Barcelona. when they spent one season in Serie B in 2006/07 after being After Malaga lured him away from Valencia in 2011, Isco demoted for match-fixing. He left for Australia’s Sydney FC quickly blossomed into a well-rounded attacking threat last year having broken almost every Juve record in the TURIN: Argentina’s striker Carlos Tevez poses with his with his incisive passing, skilled dribbling and goal-scoring. book. Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio also famously wore new Juventus’ jersey, during his official presentation He netted 12 goals in all competitions for the Costa del Sol Juve’s number 10 shirt. Handing Tevez the ex-Italy striker’s yesterday. — AP side last season. Isco will now have to compete for playing former shirt is a mark of intent from Juve, who have won the time with a group of attacking players that features Serie A twice in a row without a big name forward but are trations were owned by third parties - a contravention of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, and Luka Modric, while now targeting renewed European glory. Premier League rules. West Ham were fined for their role in media reports also point to the possible arrival of Uruguay the transfer deals, but Tevez had worked his magic and was Coach Antonio Conte has rotated between any two of forward Luis Suarez from Liverpool. promptly on his way to Manchester United. At Old Trafford, Sebastian Giovinco, Alessandro Matri, Mirko Vucinic and Isco had said this summer that he would have to think Fabio Quagliarella, who have shared the goals evenly Tevez helped the side to two league titles, the 2008 Champions League and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. But his long and hard about joining Madrid, where he could get between them. Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente stuck on the bench alongside former world player of the joins Juve next month. Matri could now be sacrificed to suit- relationship with manager Alex Ferguson soured and he sealed a controversial move to United’s arch-rivals year Kaka and thereby join a list of young Spanish players ors AC Milan, who had been tracking Tevez. Earlier Tevez was who failed to earn a spot in Madrid’s rotation like Sergio whisked to Turin after hundreds of fans greeted him amid Manchester City in July 2009. Following his arrival, an infa- mous billboard stating ‘Welcome to Manchester’ with a pic- Canales and Pedro Leon. Madrid hired Carlo Ancelotti as chaotic scenes at Milan’s Malpensa airport. Television pic- manager on Wednesday to replace Jose Mourinho after he tures showed Tevez being mobbed by fans before being tak- ture of Tevez in a City shirt made his former employers at United boil. Tevez’s first two seasons at City were highly pro- returned to Chelsea following a season without a major en back into the terminal by Juventus staff and put into a car trophy. via a side entrance. During his seven years in England the ductive and he wore the captain’s armband during the 2011 FA Cup victory against Stoke City, which broke a barren run The former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and AC Milan spotlight, whether positive or negative, was never far from of 35 years without a major trophy for the club. Having previ- coach said at his presentation that Isco was a talented the 29-year-old. Tevez, along with fellow Argentine Javier ously handed in a transfer request to leave City, Tevez had a player. “He is very good,” said Ancelotti. “Spain’s under-21 Mascherano, arrived at Premier League side West Ham public falling out with manager Roberto Mancini in side has fantastic players, (but) he has the most quality of United in 2006 from Brazilian club Corinthians and had an September 2011 when he refused to warm up as a substitute all of them. Isco can play for any club.” Isco is Madrid’s sec- immediate impact. West Ham, struggling to remain in the during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. ond signing this offseason after it paid Bayer Leverkusen to top flight, were rescued from relegation by Tevez who Fined two week’s wages, Tevez returned to Argentina for recover right back Daniel Carvajal. Isco is the last in a grow- scored the only goal in a win against Manchester United on almost four months where he was often pictured playing ing line of players which includes Santi Cazorla and Nacho the final day of the 2006-07 season. golf. It looked likely he would be sold in the January transfer Monreal that Malaga have sold over the past year since its window, but the talisman returned to England in February Qatari owners drastically changed course after a spending CONTROVERSIAL MOVE 2012 and contributed to Manchester City’s first Premier spree to build a team that qualified for the Champions Despite the success of Tevez and Mascherano, their regis- League title in 44 years. — Reuters League for the first time in club history. — AP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Ageless Kimiko turns back time at Wimbledon

LONDON: Kimiko Date-Krumm set up a potential brush aside French qualifier Caroline Garcia and beat a top-10 opponent and the second oldest to Wimbledon showdown with defending champion give Date-Krumm a first career meeting with the win a WTA Tour title when she triumphed in Seoul Serena Williams as the Japanese veteran defeated five-time Wimbledon champion. Cadantu is ranked aged 38. Romania’s Alexandra Cadantu 6-4, 7-5 in the second just three places below world number 84 Date- Date-Krumm took just 44 minutes to rout round yesterday. At 42, Date-Krumm is the oldest Krumm and had shocked Austrian 28th seed Tamira German teenager Carina Witthoeft in the first round player competing in the main draw at the All Paszek in the first round. But the 23-year-old was and made the perfect start with a break in the open- England Club, but age hasn’t eroded her talent as appearing in the second round of a Grand Slam for ing game against Cadantu. Cadantu looked to have she enjoyed her second consecutive straight sets the first time. control of the set when she broke twice for a 4-2 win. She is back in the last 32 at Wimbledon for the In contrast, Date-Krumm was playing in her lead. But Date-Krumm’s wealth of experience paid first time since her run to the semi-finals 17 years 104th Grand Slam match and competing at off as she clawed her way back into the match with ago. Wimbledon for the 12th time. Date-Krumm enjoyed a pair of quick-fire breaks, clinching the first set by And the reward for Date-Krumm, who also a fairytale run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1996 winning four successive games. Date-Krumm was reached the third round at the Australian Open in before suddenly announcing her retirement. She broken at 5-4 when she served for the second set, January, is a likely clash with world number one returned to the tour 12 years later and enjoyed two but she recovered to take the next two games and Serena. Barring a major upset, Williams should notable landmarks, becoming the oldest player to seal the win. — AFP

Murray challenges Serena to Vegas showdown

LONDON: US Open champion Andy Murray has challenged women’s world number one Serena Williams to a showdown in Las Vegas that would evoke memories of the famous ‘battle of the sex- es’ 40 years ago. Murray threw down the gauntlet to Serena after responding to a Twitter follower who claimed the American could beat her male counterpart. The world number two’s proposal, however light-hearted he intended it to be, sparked thoughts of the time when 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a tennis superstar of the 1930s and 1940s, took on female greats Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. Those matches in 1973 drew huge worldwide attention, with Riggs easily beating Court in the first clash. That prompted King to challenge Riggs to a match in Houston and this time it was the woman who won an his- toric meeting which is now regarded as a defining moment in the rise in popularity of the feminist movement. In 1992, Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova in Las Vegas. And the idea of a similar clash in America’s self-styled ‘Sin City’ seems to appeal to Murray. “I have been challenged by someone on Twitter to taking on Serena Williams. I’d be up for it, why not?” Murray wrote in his column on the BBC’s website. “I’ve never hit with her but she’s obvi- ously an incredible player and I think people would be interested to see the men play against the women to see how the styles match up. “It’s happened in the past with Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. How about Las Vegas as a venue?”— AFP LONDON: Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm celebrates beating Romania’s Alexandra Cadantu during their second round women’s singles match on day four of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Club in Wimbledon, Federer faces down southwest yesterday. Date-Krumm won 6-4, 7-5. — AFP lessons of the Date-Krumm: Oldest woman Wimbledon history to reach Wimbledon last 32 LONDON: Roger Federer was confronting the collapse of his LONDON: Kimiko Date-Krumm set up a showdown with defending shots,” Serena said. tennis world yesterday, desperate to avoid the Wimbledon champion Serena Williams as the Japanese veteran defeated “It doesn’t matter how hard you hit it, she sees the ball and gets it fate suffered by his hero Pete Sampras, whose All England Romania’s Alexandra Cadantu 6-4, 7-5 yesterday to become the old- back. “She has great hands, has a wonderful great volley, comes to the Club career ended in a punch-drunk haze. Federer’s bid to est woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon in the Open Era. At net a lot, which on grass can be tricky. She plays really flat, so the ball become the first man to win the title eight times was ended 42, Date-Krumm’s presence in the last 32 means she has surpassed stays really low. “I definitely will have to be ready. It’s for sure not by Russian literature fan Sergiy Stakhovsky, the world num- Britain’s Virginia Wade, who reached the same stage aged 39 years going to be easy, but I’ll be ready.” While Serena has never faced Date- ber 116, whose 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) second- round win has possibly ended one of the sport’s greatest sto- 362 days in 1985. The Japanese player is back in the last 32 at Krumm before, she will seek advice from her sister Venus, who is ries. His earliest exit from a major since a second-round loss Wimbledon for the first time since her run to the semi-finals 17 years absent from this year’s tournament due to injury but won an epic at the 2003 French Open and his worst defeat at the All ago. And the reward for Date-Krumm, who also reached the third three-set battle against the veteran at Wimbledon in 2011. England Club in 11 years came on the 10th anniversary of his round at the Australian Open in January, is a clash with world number “I did see that match. I think I lost four years of my life watching first Wimbledon title. The defeat also ended his astonishing one Williams, who brushed aside French qualifier Caroline Garcia to that match,” Serena added. “So I will definitely be talking to Venus and run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances, give the Japanese player a first career meeting with the five-time figuring out what I can do to do the best that I can in my next match.” a streak stretching back nine years. Wimbledon champion. Williams admitted she has tremendous Cadantu is ranked just three places below world number 84 Date- Federer, the winner of a record 17 majors, is adamant that respect for Date-Krumm’s longevity, even if the 31-year-old insists Krumm and had shocked Austrian 28th seed Tamira Paszek in the first he will be back next year when he will be six weeks short of there is no chance she will still be playing at the same age as the round. But the 23-year-old was appearing in the second round of a his 33rd birthday. However, his failure to defend his title Japanese star. Grand Slam for the first time. In contrast, Date-Krumm was playing in already means he will fall to number five in the world rank- “I’ve never played her but I have so much respect for her,” Serena her 104th Grand Slam match and competing at Wimbledon for the ings after the tournament-his lowest place since June 2003. If said. “She’s so inspiring to be playing such high level tennis at her age. 12th time. Date-Krumm enjoyed a fairytale run to the Wimbledon he were to win a record eighth Wimbledon in 2014, he And she’s a real danger on the grass court, I know that. “I didn’t see semi-finals in 1996 before suddenly announcing her retirement. She would become the oldest man to clinch the title, surpassing myself playing at 31, so I definitely do not see myself playing at 42.” As returned to the tour 12 years later and enjoyed two notable land- Arthur Ashe who was six days away from his 32nd birthday well as admiring Date-Krumm’s passion for the game, Serena also has marks, becoming the oldest player to beat a top-10 opponent and the when he triumphed in 1975.—AFP a healthy awareness of the potential threat she poses to her title bid. second oldest to win a WTA Tour title when she triumphed in Seoul “Kimiko has great hand eye coordination. She returns unbelievable aged 38. — AFP Tevez joins Juventus, takes Del Piero’s shirt

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