protest criticism hits backat Turkey PM director ofnational intelligence.—AFP protections for the securityofAmericans,”said Clapper,the entirely legalprogram isreprehensibleandrisks important rized disclosureofinformation aboutthisimportantand foreign intelligenceinformation wecollect”.“Theunautho- the programwas“among mostimportantandvaluable top spychiefJamesClapperwarned thatdatagatheredunder sons,” aUSofficialsaid. semination ofincidentallyacquiredinformationaboutUSper- targeted, andthatminimizetheacquisition,retentiondis- court, toensurethatonlynon-USpersonsoutsidetheUSare involves extensiveprocedures,specificallyapprovedbythe not beingspiedon,butdiddenytheprogramexisted.“It Guardian newspaper,theWhiteHousesaidAmericanswere that theyonlydisclosewhatislegallydemanded. ment organizations.GoogleandMicrosoftwerealsoadamant huge socialnetworkdidnotprovideanyaccesstogovern- order.” Facebook’schiefsecurityofficerJoeSullivansaidthe ernment agencyrequestingcustomerdatamustgetacourt ment agencywithdirectaccesstoourservers,andanygov- spokesman SteveDowling.“Wedonotprovideanygovern- spy agencies.“WehaveneverheardofPRISM,”saidApple cer wasquotedassaying. quite literallycanwatchyourideasformasyoutype,”theoffi- ence ofthesesystemsandhorrorattheircapabilities”.“They came fromacareerintelligenceofficer“withfirsthandexperi- Skype andYouTube,thereportssaid.Thepapersaidleak Microsoft, Yahoo,Google,Facebook,Apple,PalTalk,AOL, caught upintheprogram,knownasPRISM,including officials said.SomeofthebiggestfirmsinSiliconValleywere gram isaimedonlyatnon-AmericanswhoarenotonUSsoil, audio, video,photographsandemails.Theanti-terrorpro- Internet firmservers,totrackanindividual’swebpresencevia reported lateThursdaythattheNSAhaddirectaccessto and aideswilllikelyfacesharpquestionsovertheaffair. to meetChinesePresidentXiJinpinglateryesterday,buthe attack andprotectingtheirprivacy.ObamawasinCalifornia right balancebetweenkeepingAmericanssafefromterrorist Valley. Heinsistedthatthesurveillanceprogramsstruck is about,”ObamatoldreportersonavisittoCalifornia’sSilicon listening toyourtelephonecalls.That’snotwhatthisprogram with broadsafeguardstoprotectagainstabuse.“Nobodyis surveillance programs,insistingthattheywereconducted phone records,alsobytheNSA. ligence agencies,afterleaksdetailedawiderangingsweepof the post-Sept11surveillanceinfrastructuresetupbyUSintel- Washington abuzz.Thereportsdeepenedcontroversyover Apple, Facebook,Microsoft,YouTubeandGoogle-set (NSA) weretappingserversofnineInternetgiants-including anti-terror agentsfromtheFBIandNationalSecurityAgency backlash fromanangrytopspychief.Newrevelationsthatthe the WhiteHouseondefensiveyesterdayandsparkeda Internet andphonedata,exposedbyleaksreports,put WASHINGTON:

As adamagecontroloperation gatheredpace,America’s In responsetothereports,alsocarriedbyBritain’s Internet giantshoweverdeniedopeningtheirdoorsforUS The WashingtonPost,citingacareerintelligenceofficer, President BarackObamayesterdaystaunchlydefendedthe SUBSCRIPTION 7 The emergingscopeofahugeUSdragnet 150 Fils AUDY UE8 03 RJB2,13 HNo:15833 1434 SATURDAY,AH RAJAB29, JUNE8,2013 Big Brother:Internetminingaddstophone-taprow US surveillance dragnet exposed America’s phonerecordsandUSInternetuse.—AP president defendedhisgovernment’ssecretsurveillance,sayingCongresshasrepeatedlyauthorizedthecollection of SAN JOSE,California:USPresidentBarackObamamakesastatementtoreportersattheFairmontHotelyesterday. The share proposed bytheBritishgroup’s dend of45.51pence perSevernTrent GMT. back totradeat2,105pence by 1402 after theannouncementbefore settling as much9percentto2,200 pence ny’s board.SharesinSevernTrent rose each SevernTrentsharetothe compa- ditional cashofferof2,200pencefor pension fundOMERS,submittedacon- Infrastructure, whichispartofCanadian Superannuation SchemeandBorealis Investment Office,Britain’sUniversities Partners comprisingtheKuwait as much9percent.LongRiver British waterutility’ssharepriceupby ($8.2 billion)yesterday,sendingthe offer forSevernTrentto£5.3billion pension companiesraiseditsproposed Kuwaiti sovereignwealthfundandtwo LONDON: The offerisinclusiveofthefinal divi- KIA sweetensSevernbid A consortiumledbya for SevernTrent shareholders,”thecon- represents certain andcompellingvalue posal of2,200pencepershare incash 1600 GMTonJune11.“LongRiver’s pro- deadline formakingaformal offerof tium beforethe‘putuporshut up’ the boardtoengagewith consor- board. Italsosaiditwasencouraging and therecommendationof utility’s checks ontheSevernTrentbusiness tional onsatisfactoryduediligence investor said. pounds seemsaveryfairout-turn,”the view theofferfavourably.“Abidat22 right andexpectsotherbiginvestorsto tional shareholdersaidthepricewas potential. Atop20SevernTrentinstitu- June 3asunreflectiveofitslong-term share whichSevernTrentrejectedon earlier approachof2,125penceper board on30May2013,andbeatsan LongRiver saiditsofferwascondi- listed entities.— Reuters Utilities andSevern Trenttheremaining investors, withPennonGroup, United panies arenowinthehandsof private ture. Seventhecountry’s10water com- flows andafavourableregulatory struc- gry investorsdrawnbytheirstable cash long attractedinterestfromyield-hun- Britain’s waterandseweragefirms have from theconsortium,LongRiversaid. Trent thatithadreceivedanapproach prior totheannouncementbySevern the sixmonthstoMay13,lastday closing priceofaSevernTrentsharefor a premiumof34percenttotheaverage no offerfromtheconsortium.” ers. Withoutengagementtherecanbe formal offertoSevernTrentsharehold- Trent boardtoenableusmakeour forward toengagingwiththeSevern sortium saidinastatement.“Welook The pre-conditionalofferrepresents Min Max 25º 43º LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

letters to Badriya

Equal before law Greetings Badrya, The officials at the Ministry of Interior have to think about what you wrote in the last para about “implementing laws in a decent way that suits our beautiful Islamic Sharia laws and the manners of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” I just want to add one small thing: During Salaah, everyone, whether poor or rich, Kuwaiti or expat stand in one line, shoulder to shoulder. When everyone is same in front of Allah, then why Constitution is not equally applicable to all? Send home illegal residents, but at the same time, punish those individuals who were responsible for trading visas. Yesterday, one of my best friends went on a vacation. I could not go to the airport to drop him, as there are reports that police was catching individuals saying that you are driving illegal taxis. Nowadays we cannot go out with a friend also. I would like to suggest that the MOI should issue another card, declaring that a person’s salary is KD400 or more (similar to family visa cap), so that these people can go out with their friends without fear. Long live Kuwait. Regards, Mohammed

The root cause Dear Madam, I read your article ‘Not worth the drama scene’. Thank you so much and so kind of you for your courageous voice and sensible concern towards unfortunate people. Kindly consider these solutions and raise them vociferously so that Kuwaiti authorities will address the root causes, instead of leaving the expat community horrified by creating ‘as if a war sit- uation.’ 1) A reasonable time period, a kind of grace period, should be immediately granted to all those found in violation of residency visas. All the countries’ embassies should be made as a facilita- Al-Rashidi to present new tion centers so that the visa breakers can get a chance to correct their visa status. And if they fail, they should leave the country gracefully. strategy to combat graft 2) Similarly a grace period should be declared for Driving License Holders, who want to cancel/surrender their driving licenses. ‘Fake workforce must be purged’ (After the grace period, Kuwaiti authorities can revoke the driving licenses with certain attributes. (eg There are so many KUWAIT: Social Affairs and Labor Minister not be allowed to contact any ministry employ- ministry on account of violating law No people who received the driving license in first attempt during a Thekra Al-Rashidi announced a new strategy to ees lest anyone could bring any influence to 135/2001. He said the National Labor Union driving test. This is a clear case of Wasta driving licenses. So as an deal with the labor sector and the corruption work on them. will send an official complaint to the initial step, revoking the visas of those who passed the driving that has come to afflict its various departments, About the presence of three million work- International Labor Organization in which it test in their first attempt will force the Wasta seekers to go adding that she will present it to the council of ers in the country, and the fact that the market will mention all these violations. through that channel twice.) ministers for approval. Al-Rashidi said in a is reeling under severe shortage of laborers The amount collected as nomination fee 3) Cancellation of sponsorship system: The root cause of statement to the press that the strategy includ- and having to pay higher salaries, Ajmi Al- from members of the annulled National Labour Law violations in Kuwait is because of the ‘Sponsorship ed setting up service centers to be run by the Mutalaqim said, “Most of the available labor Assembly was not used by the Interior Ministry, System’. Poor people who came to Kuwait by spending their life private sector in various governorates accord- force is fake and came here to live, not work .” and added that the annulled assembly’s mem- time’s savings and taking loans at high interest rates or seeking ing to rules and conditions set by the advisory He said most such laborers had their own busi- bers have a right to reclaim the fee based on debts from their home countries are falling prey to the sponsor- office. Bids will be floated for the purpose. ness. He said this labor force controls the fish, the ruling under which it was annulled, sources ship system in Kuwait and becoming trapped. They are left in a The minister said the centers will receive livestock, vegetable and discount markets. said. The sources said the number of incum- state of helplessness. They are living a pathetic life. employers and process their transactions with- He said this situation has led to problems bent members who are eligible to seek a It is high time to cancel the sponsorship system and come up in 20 minutes. The centers will send a copy of such as higher prices, commercial cheating and refund is eight, as only those who obtained at with new Labour/Visa laws as per human rights standards and the transactions to the concerned depart- sale of poor quality food. All this was happen- least 10 percent of the total valid votes could from a humanitarian angle. ments, while employers and businessmen will ing due to corruption within the social affairs seek refund. Instead of unleashing the state’s fury against the visa viola- tors, this is a solution to remove the root cause. 4) Corruption in authorities is another and the biggest root NBK Academy shares moments cause of many problems in Kuwait. Taking the e-governance route and adopting transparency measures will address so many with children at NBK Hospital problems. 5) Deporting expats for traffic violations happens only in KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait’s (NBK) incurable ailments. sibility program,” said Talal Al Turki, NBK Kuwait. Kuwait has entered history by doing this inhuman thing. family and trainees of NBK Academy paid “NBK staff have always devoted a consid- Public Relations Officer. Recording a traffic violation efficiently and imposing penal- a visit to NBK Hospital at Sabah Medical erable part of their time to comfort the chil- “Sharing the happy moments with chil- ties, making those pay more who repeat such violations, will district to share happy moments with dren and present them with felicitations and dren is our pleasure. We are proud that NBK streamline the situation. But here, deporting the traffic violator children suffering from permanent and gifts as part of NBK’s corporate social respon- devotes such attention to supporting Kuwait and his family (Kuwait authorities say ‘repeated violators’) is the society and providing compassion and sup- ground reality. port for those in need, including sick chil- 6) Kuwait has to note that horrifying the expat community will dren. NBK’s commitment to shoulder its cor- eventually bring negative publicity to Kuwait from all perspec- porate social responsibility was the basic tives. The expats including professionals might leave and rela- motive that led NBK to build its children hos- tions with other nations will deteriorate, while we will be labelled pital at Sabah Medical district many years with the epithet of being human rights. ago,” added Al Turki. The expat community is the backbone and a source of The visit to the hospital was emotional strength for Kuwait. and overwhelming for both the trainees and 7) Kuwait has a lot of intellectuals. If they think with little cre- NBK staff. NBK’s visits to hospitals and care ativity, there are hundreds of solutions available. They can be centers reflect the Bank’s high sense of duty very sensible and makes Kuwait a safe, civilized and disciplined and responsibility towards all those in need country of law abiding people. from different sectors of society. It is a well Thanks and regards, rooted tradition that has been carried out by Yoganand NBK each year in its efforts to continuously have an active role in the Kuwait society. LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

KUWAIT: A dust storm blanketed Kuwait giving motorists a tough time navigating through the country’s roads in poor visibility yesterday. — KUNA No letup in crackdown on expats: Maj Tarrah Embassies briefed on ‘security measures’

KUWAIT: Jahra security director, Major travention of the law. case they fail to legalize their statuses”, he General Ibrahim Al-Tarrah stated that the Major Al-Tarrah said that coordination was added. security inspection campaigns would contin- being made with all related governmental Further, Al-Tarrah urged both citizens and ue tracking down residency violators, mar- and private bodies to make sure that the expatriates to report illegal labor to avoid ginal labor force and people those who are arrested residency violators received their legal action. He also noted that 2,968 law vio- wanted for various criminal offences. due rights prior to their departure. lators had been arrested so far for violations Major Al-Tarrah also stated that upon the “Deportation of those wanted for criminal, such as wanted for criminal or civil offenses, directives from the First Deputy Prime administrative or financial claims pending in absconding, residency law violations, holding Minister and Minister of Interior, high-level courts will be halted until verdicts are issued no IDs, possessing wanted vehicles, traffic communications were in process with the in these cases”, he underlined urging all violations and accidents, involving in fights, concerned embassies to make sure that expatriates to respect Kuwait’s laws and real- possession of weapons, engaged in making they fully understand the significance of ize that they would be legally held account- long distance call, prostitution suspects, the security measures. He also noted that able if they or their sponsors violate these drugs and liquor trading, begging and street no exceptions would be tolerated in con- laws. “This may go as far as deportation in hawking and traffic flow blocking. Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Tarrah Major Al-Ali vows to Kuwait development plan redraw traffic map stuck in doldrums: Report ‘Poor govt performance holds up growth’

By Hanan Al-Sadoun a food delivery car was seriously injured when KUWAIT: Well-informed governmental Environmentally, the report placed he fell down. sources said that some very critical indica- Kuwait amongst the weakest countries KUWAIT: “I have orders from higher authori- Salmy and Nuwauseeb land border centers tors had been detected on the fourth year worldwide. It also showed that lack of cre- ties to organize the traffic and the law will be witnessed scenes of people overcrowding the of the government’s development plan ativity and business complications made implemented strictly, Assistant Interior counters as computers remained non-func- (2013-2014). The sources explained that Kuwait retreat in competitiveness levels. “A Ministry Under Secretary for Traffic Affairs tional for four hours. A security source said a the indicators showed a retreat in the per- huge drop was also noticed in the role Major General Abdelfattah Al-Ali said. three kilometer long queue of cars was seen formance of government bodies, in trans- played by the private sector”, added the “I will change the traffic map within six and movement in both directions came to a parency and integrity levels, low level of report noting that unemployment levels months and wipe out the word wasta from standstill. law abidance and sluggishness in the e- had risen from 4.7 to 5 per cent with a shift the traffic dictionary ,” he added. “I have strict Meanwhile Ahmadi security personnel government development process. in the type of unemployed people to orders from higher authorities to organize arrested a Kuwaiti for being in possession of “The only indicator with positive include more literate people. traffic and the law will be implemented very an envelope containing heroin. He was also progress is the independence of the judici- More elaborately, the report showed a strictly,” Major Ali said. found wanted in seven civil cases. An ary system”, stressed the sources. Further, six-point retreat in governance rates, six- Egyptian was also arrested on civil and felony the sources warned that favoritism in offi- point advance in patent rights, one point Campaigns charges. cials’ decision-making was the greatest advance in using public funds, 14-point A police lance corporal was arrested red- The suspect escaped from the patrol car dilemma as Kuwait had climbed down from retreat in the public trust in politicians, 38 handed while stealing from grocery stores in and had to be chased and caught. Seven cars position 61 worldwide in 2009 to position points retreat in favoritism in decision- the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area. being driven recklessly were impounded 99 in 2012. The reports also showed that making, 18-point retreat in governmental Meanwhile, security men arrested expats while 196 persons who were wanted in vari- welfare levels had retreated from position expenditure wastes, 22-point retreat in stealing international phone signals and con- ous cases were arrested and sent to the con- 31 to 38 in the same period; public trust in red-tape, two-point retreat in transparency, fiscated their equipment. All the suspects cerned authorities. The arrests and other politicians retreated from position 39 to 53 5-point retreat in police services efficiency were of Asian origin and some of them were actions were part of a security campaign led while waste in governmental expenditure and 5-point retreat in moralities and con- found residing in Kuwait illegally. Sources by operations and patrols director Lt Colonel retreated from position 82 to 100. duct in public establishments. — Al-Qabas said a 13-year-old boy, who had climbed atop Faleh Al-Huthai. LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Fire breaks out in Farwaniya apartment By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: A fire broke out on the third floor of an apartment building in Farwaniya Thursday late evening. In three minutes, fire fighters reached the site and evacuated people from the building. The fire was brought under control in matter of sec- onds. No casualties were reported. However, one fire man sustained minor injuries from heat and smoke and he was treated at the site. Six ambu- lances with 12 technicians stood by at the site. A car accident on King Fahd Road opposite Hadiya resulted in the head injuries of a 30-year-old unknown man and 23-year-old Saudi citizen. Both were taken to Al-Adan Hospital. The former was admitted to intensive care unit. Two Saudi boys sustained injuries in a car acci- dent near Salmi. A Saudi man also was wounded in KUWAIT: A police official gestures at a motorist during a traffic checking at Khaitan. — Photo by Yaseer Al-Zayyat the accident. Five ambulances were summoned and 10 technicians stood by at the site. Injured were taken to Al-Jahra Hospital. A 12-year-old Syrian boy was hit by a car as he Bedoon’s car yields guns crossed the street at Maidan Hawally opposite Kuwait Hayat Hotel. The boy sustained multiple wounds. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital. and bullets after accident A 42-year-old Egyptian expat was injured when he fell in a commercial play ground at Al-Shaab area. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital with head International call centers raided wounds. A fight broke at Jleeb Al-Shoyoukh near schools KUWAIT: A car accident on the Sixth Ring Road resulted was taken to Farwaniya Hospital for treatment. street resulting in injuries to a 38-year-old Nepalese in the discovery of firearms and bullets from the car The driver, a bedoon was kept under strict police surveil- expat who was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital and which turned topsy-turvy under the impact. The driver lance while the car was seized. Weapons found in the car admitted to intensive care unit. included an automatic gun, a pistol and a total of 79 bullets, 54 Another fight broke out on Maidan Hawally of them for the gun and 25 bullets for the pistol. Musa Abdul Razzaq Street yesterday leading to the Raids head injury of a 32-year-old Syrian expat. He was Farwaniya police raided many international call centers who taken to Mubarak Hospital. illegally connect international calls through computer. The cam- paign resulted in the closure of four international call centers. Five expats were arrested during the raid who were in violation of residency law for the past nine years. All equipments and computers used in making international calls were confiscated.

Liquor seizure Director of Northern Customs Waleed Al-Nasser said that customs authority has finished counting the liquors caught in Shuwaikh Port. Pointing out that the total quantity of liquor found hidden in the shipment amounted to 2,906 bottles. Al- Nasser said that he received instructions from General Director of Customs Ibrahim Al-Ghanim to store the liquor bottles in a safe place in order to hand them over to drugs fighting admin- istration who can investigate and arrest those involved in The recovered arms and ammunition bringing the shipment from abroad and send them to public prosecutor.

Killer worked for civil aviation dept

By Hanan Al-Saadoun when she was in her car but she sources said that by interrogating the refused. The enraged man smashed killer’s family, it was found out from KUWAIT: Police revealed that the the window and stabbed her three his brother that the assailant killed the man who killed a woman in Mubarak times fatally. woman in the hospital parking lot and Hospital’s parking lot was called BSM Though the man was sentenced to left Kuwait using his civil ID through (31) who worked for the Civil Aviation imprisonment for issuing dud Nowaseeb border point within min- Directorate. They said that telephone cheques, he escaped from jail. utes of committing the crime. calls between the suspect and the vic- Security sources said that detectives The security arrested the brother of tim have been traced. The man was traced the calls of the culprit before the woman killer and charged him also wanted to serve a jail sentence the crime and traced the number of with covering up brother’s crime and for issuing dud checks. the fugitive. However, he was not helping him escape the country. The woman was stabbed while she found in his house. His name was cir- The sources added that the offi- was in her car at the Mubarak culated to all border exit points to cials are currently working on prepar- Hospital’s parking lot who later suc- prevent his escape. ing a file for the case to send it to KUWAIT: Fire fighters at the site of a fire that broke cumbed to her injuries as the stab Yet, he managed to escape on Saudi authorities and Interpol seek- out on the third floor of an apartment building in wound was very deep. The murder Thursday evening after less than an ing their help in arresting and repatri- Farwaniya Thursday evening. suspect wanted to talk to the girl hour of committing the crime. The ating him. LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Upward trajectory for KSE Local investors, FDI inflow drive bourse’s momentum

Reform of the stock market in recent years - including the creation of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), which has been active since 2011 - may have played a part in attract- ing more foreign investors. Historically, trading on the KSE was dominated by local retail investors, which contributed to volatility in the run-up to the global financial crisis in 2008

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) had a positive start to shares since the global financial crisis, it also noted evidence of “harm- file. Another step that could further the evolution of the stock mar- 2013, with the index steadily moving up to reach multi-year highs in ful trading”. According to the report, the KSE’s 30 most liquid compa- ket would be its privatization. May. While local investors are driving much of the recent activity, for- nies accounted for about two-thirds of trading during the four-month eign capital is increasingly flowing into the Gulf’s third-largest bourse. period. While some of these were large listings - the group combined Privatization Plans to privatize the exchange could also boost the KSE’s internation- made up about half of total market capitalisation - trading was domi- In 2012 the CMA signed an agreement with HSBC Bank Middle East al profile. nated by smaller stocks. Indeed, 21 of these listings represented just to oversee the privatization of the KSE. Under the terms set out by the As of mid-May, the KSE’s main index was above 8000, having risen 3.3 percent of the market but captured nearly half of the trading value. government, 50 percent of the exchange was to be sold to listed com- more than 40 percent since the beginning of the year, data from Local investors buying and selling small-cap stocks may be behind panies, with the balance offered to Kuwaitis via an IPO. However, the Bloomberg show. According to international media reports, domestic some of the recent movements in the market, but an uptick in foreign process hit a hurdle later in the year when it was discovered that a interest in small-cap stocks has been largely responsible for the rally. capital inflows is also a factor, according to Mustafa Behbehani, an clause in legislation establishing the CMA prevented the agency from In an interview with state news agency KUNA, Kuwaiti economist economist interviewed by KUNA. “The market rises are driven by the conducting commercial activities. To avoid any conflict, parliament Salah Sultan expressed a similar opinion. “The market is taking an influx of liquidity, whether from Kuwaiti or foreign traders,” he said. would need to vote on an amendment to the act governing the CMA, upward trend, but most of the transactions are based on speculation. Other experts told KUNA that foreign investment is particularly com- a step that has yet to be taken. In a recent interview with OBG, Saleh Al The blue chips are moving slowly and these equities are the real indi- ing from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Falah, Chairman of the CMA, said privatisation is a project of the cators of the market recovery, contrary to current concentration on Reform of the stock market in recent years - including the creation “utmost importance”, pointing out that “it is well known that private small and medium cap equities,” he said. of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), which has been active since stock exchanges are better run than public exchanges.” While noting 2011 - may have played a part in attracting more foreign investors. that the process is “moving slower than planned”, he added that the Liquidity Historically, trading on the KSE was dominated by local retail investors, regulator is working to “make sure things are done properly.” A report released in mid-May by Al-Shall Economic Consultants which contributed to volatility in the run-up to the global financial cri- Privatisation could indeed make the exchange more competitive, agreed, attributing the sharp jump in liquidity in part to speculative sis in 2008. but Kuwait faces other challenges that may ultimately discourage for- activity. According to Al Shall’s analysis, the average daily trading value The influx of foreign traders is a promising development, one eign investors from taking a look at the KSE. These include a national for the first four months of 2013 rose by 62 percent over the average that suggests regulatory reform may be having the desired effect development plan that has been slow to roll out, as well as political for 2012. While the report cited other factors, such as low interest rates, and that the KSE is starting to make the challenging transition from tensions between parliament and the government. an increase in real estate prices and the relatively low price of Kuwaiti a “domestic and retail” to “foreign and institutional” investor pro- —Oxford Business Group

News in brief

KAC to get 2 new aircraft KUWAIT: The Kuwait Airways said the KAC will receive two Airbus 330 and 310 on July 15, as part of the ten air- craft for which it signed a deal, an official source said. He said the remaining planes will arrive later as part of the first stage of KAC’s privatization. He said the aircraft were being leased from the official manufacturer of Airbus aircrafts in Paris and the older aircraft will be used for to extract spare parts. —Al-Watan

Education The financial sector at the education ministry received lists of the names of those found eligible to merit out- standing work allowance given to teachers and adminis- trators for the scholastic year 2011/2012, reports Al- Qabas newspaper. Educational sources said the financial sector is reviewing the lists and verifying the names, and expected that the allowances would be deposited in their bank accounts within two months. The sources expected the education ministry to ask various educa- tion zones to prepare the list of employees found out- standing for 2012/2013 as soon as the new standards for payments are finalized. Education Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Duaij Al-Duaij said the sector sent the lists of those eligible for out- standing performance allowance to start working on payments. He said this will be done soon. —Al-Qabas KUWAIT: A stock trader watches the share monitors at the Kuwait Stock Exchange. LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 A case for solar power in Kuwait

KUWAIT: ASAR - Al-Ruwayeh and Partners “Kuwait is a leading exporter of oil given its wind plant which is scheduled to be a joint and diesel. The need to adopt a solar power (ASAR), Kuwait’s leading and most promi- significant oil reserves. Over 70 percent of its venture between the Kuwait Ministry of approach across the country’s viable compo- nent corporate law firm, and one of the electricity generation comes from oil fired Electricity and Water as well as the Kuwait nent of its increasing energy mix is a grow- region’s top tier firms contributed in the pro- technology. Year on year, Kuwait’s electricity Institute of Scientific Research,” added ing topic that will help pave the way for a duction of an environmental guide that consumption is increasing. Kuwait’s domes- Habbas. Habbas also noted that the busi- more sustainable performance of the petro- focuses on development of solar power tic consumption and reliance on oil and gas ness case for solar power in Kuwait remains leum sector. projects in the Middle East. The guide was for power consumption can significantly strong, with electricity demand growing rap- Given the experience of ASAR in the areas launched in an effort to update businesses decrease with the development of solar idly along with the volume of expensive oil of solar and renewable energy, ASAR is about key legal trends on environmental uniquely positioned to service its clients laws across Europe, the Middle East and who engage in such industry sectors. Asia, along with their environmental and Kuwait’s domestic Additionally, with dedicated offices in compliance obligations. consumption and reliance on Kuwait and Bahrain coupled with its associ- ASAR’s contribution highlighted the pri- ated offices and relationships, ASAR pro- mary drivers for local renewable energy, key oil for power can drop with vides clients across an extensive range of solar projects in the pipeline towards realiz- development of solar energy industry sectors with comprehensive legal ing solar power generation, conditions for advice and support for their business activi- setting up businesses by foreign entities, tar- ties in Kuwait, across the GCC and beyond. geted stakeholders as well as governing energy in the country, given its huge solar The firm has been consistently rated as laws involved in the solar power facilities potential. Adopting the benefits of solar the leading corporate and commercial law establishment. Due to the growing body of power and renewable energy as a whole firm in Kuwait by reputable legal guides legislation and increasing worldwide envi- and accelerating the growth of this niche ronmental concerns ranging from climate sector will lead to a sustainable momentum such as the Chambers Global Guide, change to sustainability, regulators are now that is dependable for future business oper- International Financial Law Review and the placing new and more stringent demands ations.” Legal 500. In 2012, ASAR was named as the upon businesses to meet advanced environ- “Kuwait does not currently have any “Best Law Firm in Kuwait 2012” by the mental standards. The guide provides practi- operational, utility-scale solar facilities. It is International Financial Law Review (IFLR), cal advice on key environmental issues on a expected that a tender will be issued soon the market-leading guide for financial law country-by-country basis across 33 jurisdic- for the construction of a 280 MW power sta- firms worldwide. The firm also won the “Best tions. tion, 60MW of which will be solar power. The Equity Deal in the Middle East” award by Sam Habbas, Senior Partner at ASAR said: country is also planning a 70MW solar and Sam Habbas, Senior Partner at ASAR IFLR during the same year. NBK’s historical TV documentary Speaker conveys Amir’s draws thousands on social media greetings to Bouteflika ALGIERS: Visiting Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Ali KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait’s casted on NBK’s YouTube Channel traditional and manual banking tools Al-Rashed said on Thursday he had asked Algerian (NBK) historical TV documentary enti- “NBKMedia”. to one of the largest and most prof- Premier Abdelmalek Sellal to convey greetings from His tled “Story of Watani” attracted thou- Followers of NBK’s official social itable banks in the region. NBK is Highness the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- sands of followers on Social Media. media channels shared their com- among the banks to establish a Jaber Al-Sabah to Algerian President Abdelaziz NBK has launched this documen- ments on this first-of-its-kind initia- strong social media presence, with Bouteflika, who has been in Paris for medical treatment tary in celebration of its 61st anniver- tive and expressed their gratitude for Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and from a stroke since April. sary. The documentary narrates NBK’s contributions in the develop- Google +, you tube pages devoted to Speaking to KUNA and Kuwait TV following his meet- NBK’s establishment in 1952 as the ment of the national economy. customer feedback and engage- ing with the Algerian prime minister, Al-Rashed said such first indigenous bank and “Story of Watani” is made up of a ment. For more information regard- meetings would certainly contribute to bringing closer Shareholders Company in the GCC series of interviews and historical ing banking transactions, events and both countries’ positions and views on regional and and presents NBK’s achievements, scenes that follows a remarkable sto- competitions check out National international issues. He said Kuwait has two types of accomplishments and its long tradi- ry of success; how NBK has been Bank of Kuwait official facebook diplomacy; the governmental diplomacy, which is repre- tion in supporting social and com- transformed from a small bank that page NBK - Official Page or follow sented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the popular munity-oriented activities in the occupies the area of three shops and NBK on Twitter @NBKPage, and on diplomacy, which is represented by the National country. The documentary is broad- a handful of employees relying on Instagram @NBKPage. Assembly. He added that he had stressed to the Algerian premier Algerian-Kuwaiti parliamentary relations as deep and firm, pointing to permanent cooperation and coordi- nation between both Algerian and Kuwaiti parliaments on diverse issues of mutual interest. Earlier in the day, the visiting Kuwaiti parliament speaker met several Algerian officials on bilateral political and parliamentary ties. — KUNA

Lukewarm response to municipal elections KUWAIT: Citizens running for the upcoming 11th Municipal Council elections, to be held in July, were totally reluctant yes- terday to submit their papers to the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate for Electoral Affairs. The directorate did not see on the fifth day of candidacy registration any citizen wishing to run for these elections. So far, there are 33 candidates in the Municipal Council race since the registration was opened on June third. The reg- istration will last till June 12th. In 2009, seven candidates from the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth, and tenth constituen- cies applied for the election race on the fourth day of registra- tion. The number was even greater in the 2005 election fourth day of registration when 11 candidates representing all 10 constituencies submitted their papers. — KUNA SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 UN in record $5.2bn Germany, Hungary N Korea to reopen aid appeal for Syria 9 rush to repel floods 10 hotline with South 13

ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his wife Emne and daughter Sumeye are greeted by supporters upon arrival at Ataturk International Airport yesterday. —AFP Erdogan hits back at criticism Thousands of supporters greet PM at airport

ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday his European Union’s Fule, speaking at the same conference as Erdogan, said the Islamic-rooted government was open to “democratic demands” and hit back EU was sticking by the country’s bid to join the bloc. “Let me... call on Turkey City bus inferno at EU criticism of his handling of a week of deadly unrest. Amid international not to give up on its values of freedom and fundamental rights. And let me condemnation over rights abuses in the unrest, European Union Enlargement assure you that we, on our side, have no intention to give up on Turkey’s EU Commissioner Stefan Fule told Erdogan that excessive police force “has no accession,” Fule told the premier in a televised gathering. kills 38 in China place” in a democracy and urged a “swift and transparent” probe into the In Istanbul, pockets of protesters, some singing and blowing whistles, con- BEIJING: At least 38 people died and more than 30 were abuses in Turkey, a longtime EU hopeful. tinued to pack Taksim Square. The atmosphere was calm and many voiced injured when a bus “burst into flames” in southeast China, state In response, Erdogan said he was against violence and accused European determination to press on with their action. “Nobody wants to go home. media reported, the country’s latest deadly road accident. allies of double standards. “In any European country, whenever there is a vio- Everybody wants freedom,” said 22-year-old student Sertac Selvi as he helped Images on China’s Internet news portals showed a heavily lent protest against a demolition project like this, believe me, those involved a new arrival pitch a tent in nearby Gezi Park. “People will go on coming.” burnt-out shell was all that remained of the bus, which caught face a harsher response,” the premier said at an Istanbul conference attended Supporters of Erdogan and his AKP party had stayed mainly silent as the fire in the city of Xiamen, in China’s southeast Fujian province at by the EU official. Turkey’s protests began when police cracked down heavily protests raged, but they cut loose yesterday, flocking to the airport in a sea of about 6:30 pm (10:30 GMT), Xinhua said, citing local officials. on a peaceful campaign to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park, spiralling into nationwide red and white Turkish flags to welcome him home. “We will die for you, Online pictures also showed survivors with blood-stained anti-government demos. “What we are against is terrorism, violence, vandal- Erdogan,” they chanted, threatening the liberal demonstrators with the refrain: clothes sitting stunned, and thick, black plumes of smoke rising ism and actions that threaten others for the sake of freedoms,” Erdogan said. “Let us go and crush them all.” from the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) vehicle as it burned on an ele- “I’m open-hearted to anyone with democratic demands.” Thousands of cheer- Flanked by his wife and top government ministers, the 59-year-old pre- vated road. ing supporters of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) welcomed mier praised the supporters for their restraint so far, but encouraged them to One passenger told Xinhua that she had smelled gasoline, the premier back from an overseas trip in the early hours, their first public “go home”. The nationwide unrest has left three people dead - two young before the fire spread quickly through the bus. A local official show of strength since the anti-government trouble erupted. In a rousing protesters and a policeman, according to officials and doctors. The national told the state-run news agency that the bus caught fire 500 m speech at the airport, Erdogan called for “an immediate end to the demonstra- doctors’ union says 4,785 people have been injured in clashes at the nation- away from the Jinshan bus stop, which appears to be in a resi- tions” and hinted that he would act against further defiance. Undeterred, pro- wide protests, 48 of them severely. Erdogan has been voted into office three dential area of the city. The accident was under investigation, testers waving banners and blowing whistles continued to pack Istanbul’s times in a row since 2002 at the head of the AKP, amid strong economic Xinhua added. Last August, at least 36 people died when a dou- Taksim Square, the epicentre of the protests, for an eighth day. growth but the protests represent the biggest challenge yet to his rule. His ble-decker sleeper bus slammed into the rear of a methanol Turkey’s key strategic ally the United States and other Western powers critics accuse him of forcing conservative Islamic values on Turkey, a mainly tanker and burst into flames, China’s worst traffic accident in have expressed concern about the police’s use of tear gas and water cannon Muslim but staunchly secular nation. The Istanbul stock market fell 1.2 per- more than a year. The accident, in China’s northern Shaanxi on the demonstrators, in clashes that have injured thousands and led to three cent at the start of trading Friday, after closing nearly five percent down province, was the deadliest since a fire on an overcrowded deaths. Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined calls for the Thursday. Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek lashed out at the foreign press, sleeper bus carrying flammable materials killed 41 passengers Turkish government to renounce violence, saying she was “counting on the accusing them in televised comments of giving a “bad image” of Turkey and in central China in July in 2011, according to the country’s work fact that these problems will be discussed with the youth of the country”. But its economy. He admitted however there was some “tension” on financial safety watchdog. —AFP in a reassuring sign for Turkey’s reputation on the international stage, the markets due to the unrest. —AFP International SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Iran cartoonists on tightrope before polls

TEHRAN: Press cartoonists say they topic except clerics”. “Nowadays, Al-Assad in his efforts to crush a 26- are dodging “moving red lines” in there may be a problem with any month-old uprising. And, of course, the run-up to a June 14 presidential topic because the boundaries are there is the election itself, in which election in Iran, a country where a not clearly defined,” he added. The all eight candidates received the satirical image can get a newspa- bodies supervising the media approval of a conservative-led per banned or an editor jailed. “require us not to put a dark inter- regime vetting body to stand. After There have always been no-go pretation on the situation in the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re- areas, such as caricaturing the country, but what is a dark inter- elected to his second term in 2009, Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, pretation?” it was widely believed that his vic- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or the mili- Some things are obvious, and tory was due to electoral fraud. tary, but there has still been a cer- the culture ministry, which super- That sparked a public outcry and tain freedom of tone during the vises the media, warned the press massive street demonstrations that campaign. Two leading cartoonists, in July against publishing certain the regime crushed with deadly working at reformist newspapers, reports about the impact of force. Hadi Heidari, 33, who directs told AFP their job remains fraught Western sanctions that plunged art work at the oft-banned with difficulty drawing as the Iran into a deep crisis. The reformist daily Shargh, echoed his restrictions have not been clearly European Union and the United colleague. “Officially, we must work defined. States have both imposed unilater- within the framework of the rights Several others from across the al sanctions against Iran’s oil and outlined in the constitution, with TEHRAN; Iranian cartoonist Hadi Heidari shows one of his contro- political spectrum declined to be banking sectors to punish its the exception of the supreme versial drawings ‘Blindfolded’ at his office yesterday. — AFP interviewed by AFP about their refusal to suspend uranium enrich- leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and election coverage. Jamal Rahmati, ment and the resulting loss of hard the armed forces,” said Heidari. cites the seemingly innocuous mat- constitution from running for a 40, artistic director of reformist currency receipts has sent the val- “But there is an unwritten law ter of a hike in poultry prices, say- third consecutive term, has also newspaper Etemad, told AFP that, ue of the rial into a nosedive and which I interpret as moving red ing he would have never thought become a red line. Heidari said that “in general, before the elections we the inflation rate soaring. lines. For instance if an issue is in that drawing a chicken would be a while he was able to caricature get relative freedom, to a surprising Another sensitive issue is Iran’s the spotlight, this law says ‘do not red line. For reformist newspapers, Ahmadinejad in 2009, he can’t degree. We can touch on every support for Syrian President Bashar touch.’” As an example, Rahmati Ahmadinejad, who is barred by the now. — AFP Israeli power couple links politics, press Critics slam ‘incestuous relationship’

JERUSALEM: He’s a powerful Cabinet have to be careful. I don’t think their job high-profile politician-journalist cou- minister and a potential heir to Prime performance will be influenced, and if it ples. Prominent TV star Anne Sinclair Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She’s an is, we will know how to handle that, quit journalism when her then-hus- influential anchor for Israel’s state-run too.” Israel TV is supposed to be insulat- band, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, joined TV channel who led its recent election ed from government control, run by an the government in the 1990s. She left BAGHDAD: Iraqi men wearing labels in Arabic to identi- night coverage. Together they have independent board of directors. Other Strauss-Kahn, who later became head fy their different ethnic and religious affiliations, emerged as the country’s most high- main TV channels are privately owned of the International Monetary Fund, attend Friday prayers against confessional divisions at profile power couple, with every step of but licensed by the government. To be after he faced a string of sex-related the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani mosque yesterday. their budding romance chronicled by sure, Israel is not alone in coping with scandals in recent years. She has since Writing on shirts reads (from right) ‘Kurdish, Yazidi, paparazzi and gossip columnists. the potential conflict of interests that resumed journalism and is now chief Turkmen, Shiite, Sunni, Christian’. — AFP Beyond the headlines, though, newly- arise from such strange bedfellows. editor of the French Huffington Post. weds Gideon Saar and Geula Even have Maria Shriver decided to take leave French President Francois Hollande’s Iraq bomb kills also generated a debate over what from NBC News when her then-hus- partner is a well-known political jour- some critics say is already an incestuous band, Arnold Schwarzenegger, ran for nalist. Valerie Trierweiler has continued 10 Iran pilgrims relationship between politicians and governor of California; her NBC col- to work for the Paris Match magazine the press. league Andrea Mitchell stayed on the since his election last year, writing occa- BAQUBA, Iraq: A car bomb in a restive town north of Iraq’s Suspicions run deep in Israel, a small air throughout her spouse Alan sional literary columns and drawing capital killed 10 Iranian pilgrims yesterday, officials said, country with a long tradition of Greenspan’s tenure as chairman of the both criticism and praise for her choice the latest in a spike in violence that has sparked fears of all- reporters befriending those they cover Federal Reserve. James Rubin remained to keep writing. In her first postelection out sectarian war. Another 30 pilgrims were wounded in and a revolving door between the two in his position as State Department article, she wrote an essay in praise of the attack, which struck their bus as it was passing through professions. Media ownership is tightly spokesman in the Clinton White House Eleanor Roosevelt, who worked as a the town of Muqdadiyah en route from the Iranian border concentrated, with some outlets har- after marrying CNN reporter Christiane journalist while her husband was US to the Shiite holy city of Najaf. Najaf, which lies south of boring distinct political agendas. The Amanpour. France has seen several president. — AFP Baghdad, is home to a shrine to a revered figure in Shiite Saar-Even partnership is the most obvi- Islam. ous manifestation of these worlds inter- Shiites visiting holy shrines and religious sites form the secting. Both are recently divorced and backbone of Iraq’s tourism industry, with the vast majority have children from previous marriages, of pilgrims coming from Iran. When completing a tour of and the disclosure that Even is preg- Iraq’s key Shiite religious sites, pilgrims typically visit Najaf, nant has added to the intrigue. Their nearby Karbala, Baghdad, and Samarra, the latter of which wedding last month was a top news lies north of the capital. But Sunni militants, including story in Israel, immediately drawing those linked to Al-Qaeda, view Shiites as apostates and speculation over how Even could often target them for attacks. No group immediately objectively cover a political world in claimed responsibility for Friday’s bombing, however. which her husband is such a major Attacks in Iraq have risen sharply, with May the coun- player. try’s deadliest month since 2008, as persistent political dis- “In a perfect world, this kind of rela- putes have given fuel and room for militants to increase tionship is a problem. But this is a small their activities. There has been a heightened level of vio- community and we have to learn to live lence since the beginning of the year, coinciding with ris- with it,” said Hanoch Marmari, editor-in- ing discontent in the Sunni Arab minority that erupted into chief of the Seventh Eye, a media protests in late December. The UN envoy to Iraq has watchdog website. “At least it is out in TEL AVIV: In this photo made on May 16, 2013, Gideon Saar and Geula warned that the violence is “ready to explode”. — AFP the open and everyone knows they Even are seen during their wedding. — AP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Lebanon slams ‘plot’ to embroil country in war

BEIRUT: The Lebanese army warned yesterday ends”. It said it would “spare no effort to pre- that a plot was afoot to embroil the country in vent innocent people from paying the price the 26-month conflict in neighbouring Syria, for political designs aimed at destroying as deadly clashes between Damascus support- Lebanon”. ers and opponents inside Lebanon multiply. The statement was the strongest from the “The army command... calls on citizens to be Lebanese army since the uprising against wary of plots aimed at taking Lebanon back- Assad’s rule erupted in March 2011. It came a wards and dragging it into an absurd war,” a day after soldiers came under fire in the north- statement said, adding that it would give an ern city of Tripoli, as well as its flashpoint dis- “armed response to any armed action”. “The tricts of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tebbaneh. army command has been trying for several The two neighbourhoods have witnessed fre- months to work firmly, determinedly and quent clashes linked to the Syrian conflict, and patiently to prevent Lebanon being turned on each occasion the army has sought to into a battlefield for regional conflicts and to impose a ceasefire. On Wednesday night, two prevent any spillover of the events in Syria,” it armed men, one of them a Syrian, were killed in said. “But in recent days, some groups have a shootout with the army at the entrance of the seemed determined to stoke security ten- town of Arsal, near the border with Syria, the sions... against the backdrop of the political military said. Arsal, home to Sunnis who support divisions in Lebanon over military develop- the Syrian uprising, is a conduit for rebel fight- ments in Syria.” ers, their weapons and refugees across the bor- Although Lebanon has officially adopted a der with the war-torn country. On Thursday, one position of neutrality in Syria’s war, its people person was killed and several others wounded are sharply divided with Shiite Muslims back- in clashes in the heart of Tripoli, Lebanon’s sec- ing President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime and ond-biggest city. It came after the public inter- Sunnis the rebellion. The army urged “citizens vention of Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah move- to express their political views on events in ment alongside Assad’s troops in the battle for Lebanon and Syria by peaceful and democrat- the border town of Qusayr which culminated in ic means and not to be driven by groups want- its recapture on Wednesday and deepened TRIPOLI: Lebanese army soldiers patrol Syria street in Tripoli’s Sunni neighbourhood of ing to use violence as a means to achieve their political divisions. — AFP Bab Al-Tabbaneh to restore a tense calm yesterday.— AFP

Israel wary of UN in record $5.2bn Golan security

JERUSALEM: After new clashes between Syrian troops aid appeal for Syria and rebels in the Golan, and Austria’s announced with- drawal from a UN monitoring force, Israel is concerned about security along its ceasefire line with Syria. The Russia offers to replace Austrian peacekeepers army remained on high alert in the region on Friday, bringing up reinforcements of tanks and troops, and DAMASCUS: The United Nations readying an anti-tank missile unit, media said. That came launched a record $5.2-billion aid after Austria said it would withdraw peacekeepers from appeal for Syria yesterday as regime the UN force, citing deteriorating security, and the forces sought to capitalise on recent vic- Philippines said it was studying a similar move after one tories over the rebels, sending reinforce- of its soldiers was wounded in the fierce fighting on ments to battlefields Homs and Aleppo. Thursday. The world body, meanwhile, scrambled The Quneitra crossing between the Israeli and Syrian to find replacement troops for its peace- sides of the armistice line was briefly seized by rebels and keeping mission on the Golan Heights then recaptured by government troops following small- after heavy fighting between regime arms and artillery exchanges, a security source said. An forces and rebels near its headquarters AFP correspondent saw tanks of President Bashar al- on Thursday prompted Austria to Assad’s regime approaching the ceasefire line later in the announce it was pulling out. The sum day. Israeli army spokesman Captain Arye Shalicar told sought by the UN by far overshadows AFP on Thursday: “We’re watching very closely what’s the $2.2 billion that it appealed for in happening there, and we have to be ready for any devel- 2003 to help cope with the crisis opment. We hope there won’t be any spillover into Israel. sparked by the war in Iraq. It is very worrying because, on the one hand, you have But UN officials said the number of jihadists and Islamists who are fighting there (on the people in need inside Syria and in rebel side) and, on the other hand, you also have govern- neighbouring countries was set to spiral ment forces which are allied with (the Lebanese militant as the conflict drags on for a third year. group) Hezbollah”. “We certainly don’t want to have The world body said that a total of $3.8 Hezbollah on two fronts,” he said, referring to the pres- billion was needed to help Syrian ence of the group in southern Lebanon, next to the Israeli refugees who have spilled across the KAFR NABIL, Syria: Anti-Syrian regime protesters hold a placard with a carica- border. country’s borders to escape fighting in ture on it against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (top left), Iran’s Supreme Quneitra, the only crossing along the ceasefire line, is their homeland. The figure for opera- Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (top right) and US President Barack Obama used almost exclusively by Druze residents of the Israeli- tions inside Syria, meanwhile, was $1.4 (below) during a demonstration in this town in Idlib province yesterday. — AP occupied Golan Heights who are allowed to cross over to billion. More than 94,000 people have need of aid,” said Adrian Edwards, the outskirts of Dabaa village” north of study, work or get married. Several dozen Syrian civilians been killed and some 1.6 million Syrians spokesman for the UN’s refugee agency. Qusayr, said the Britain-based group, tried to enter Israel through Quneitra on Thursday but have fled the country since the civil war Syria’s pre-war population was 20.8 mil- adding forces of Lebanon’s Hezbollah were turned away by the Israeli army. The crossing began in March 2011 after a crackdown lion. Syrian government forces were try- were involved. remained closed yesterday. The Israeli army has repeat- on protests against President Bashar al- ing to mop up final pockets of rebel The Lebanese army warned of a edly warned farmers on the Syrian side against straying Assad’s regime. resistance north of Qusair, the border “plot” to embroil the country in the 26- too near the ceasefire line. The number of refugees is expected town which they retook on Wednesday month conflict, as deadly clashes Because of the fighting, the stability and makeup of to reach at least 3.45 million by the end bolstered by Lebanese Hezbollah fight- between supporters and opponents of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, of this year, according to the UN appeal. ers. The Syrian Observatory for Human the Assad regime multiply on its territo- which has monitored a ceasefire between Israel and Syria Within the country, a total of 6.8 million Rights said Assad’s forces were also ry. The Observatory said government since 1974, has come into question. Austria, which has people are forecast to need aid this year, sending reinforcements to Aleppo forces were also massing “in their thou- been a cornerstone of UNDOF, said on Thursday it would the majority of them people who have province in the north, where large sands” in Aleppo province, aiming pri- withdraw its 377 soldiers, who make up more than a third been forced to flee their homes because swathes of territory have been in rebel marily to take territory along the border of the force, because the threat to them had “reached an of the fighting. “By the end of the year, hands for months. “Clashes broke out at with Turkey. “They want to cut rebel unacceptable level”. — AFP half of the population of Syria will be in dawn between the army and rebels on supply lines from Turkey.” — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Unrest divides locals in Erdogan birthplace

ISTANBUL: At the pavement cafes of the man supposed to do when someone supporters had stayed mostly silent in As the disturbances lay bare the polar- Istanbul district where he grew up, folks throws stones and bricks against the the week of crisis until Thursday night, isation of Turkish society, however, some speak fondly of Turkey’s Prime Minister state?” says Uran. “He hits back, that’s when they rallied at the airport to wel- lay the blame at Erdogan’s door even Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But even here, what he’s supposed to do.” come him back from a trip. here. “He always does everything by him- doubts are creeping in about his han- The national doctors’ union says 4,785 Erdogan said at the start of the unrest self and that doesn’t work in a democra- dling of a violent crackdown on protests people have been injured, 43 of them that he could “mobilise a million support- cy,” said Sahin, another estate agent. against his rule. The unrest broke out a seriously, as police have tried to quell the ers” if he had to. He has dismissed the “You cannot say, ‘I am the sultan,’ just few hundred metres from the Kasimpasa protests with tear gas, pepper spray and protesters as “looters” and “extremists” because you have won the elections,” he neighbourhood, where as a young boy water cannon. Ali Dagdelen, a 43-year- and alleged that shadowy foreign agita- said. “There are the people to consider. Erdogan hawked lemonade and bread old construction employee, says he tors and “terrorists” are behind the trou- You have to respect each of them, even rings and attended the local Quranic always has and always will vote for ble. Dursun Bekci, 74, agrees that the real the small minorities.” school before growing up into a success- Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party culprits behind the unrest lurk outside Younger people in Kasimpasa, who ful businessman. The recent police (AKP) “because they have done good Turkey. “Under Erdogan, Turkey is com- were children when Erdogan first won response to the protests has drawn stern things for the country.” But in the past ing out of captivity. It is on its feet and has power in 2002, are throwing their weight nods of approval from some locals and week, he adds, “some of the police went started to give orders instead of taking behind the protests. Melek, a 22-year-old frowns from others. too far with their violence and have them,” Bekci said. “The exploiters don’t nurse in a headscarf, pounds along the “He is one of the bravest prime minis- harmed the country for nothing.” like that,” he added, referring to the West. pavement, impatient to reach Gezi Park. ters Turkey has known. This country is full In a conservative neighbourhood with “So they are fuelling the revolt.” “I think it is very important to protect this of love and respect for him,” says Mithat a big mosque and countless headscarf- Another local of Kasimpasa, Hayrullah green space because in a big city like Uran, an estate agent of 46, sitting at an wearing Muslim women on the pave- Yosma, 67, has no sympathy for the pro- Istanbul there is no more room for open-air cafe with a glass of tea in his ments, these locals are part of the one testers. “They are louts, manipulated by nature,” she said. “I think the demonstra- hand. For Uran, the police were just half of Turkey that supports the AKP - a certain interests - especially Israel - to tors are right,” added Melek, who did not doing their jobs when they violently dis- party grounded in conservative Islamic make the government fall,” said Yosma, a give her second name, criticising “the persed protesters demonstrating a week values. They have voted Erdogan into cafe owner in an Ottoman-style turban. very hard approach of the government”. ago against plans to bulldoze the trees in office in the three past elections amid “We won’t let the government fall at any “You’re very wrong to think that all Istanbul’s Gezi Park, next to the protest strong economic growth, handing him cost. We are by his side, behind him and women who wear the veil support the hotspot Taksim Square. “What’s a police- nearly 50 percent of the vote in 2011. His in front of him,” he said of Erdogan. AKP.” —AFP Burundi, a nation Germany, Hungary divided over land BUJUMBURA, Burundi: For the crowded and grossly impover- rush to repel floods ished country of Burundi, struggling to rebuild after decades of unrest and war, land is one of the most emotive issues of all. Now as refugees return home to swell the already overpopulat- Central Europe counts cost of deadly flooding ed central African country, the question of who owns property that changed hands during long years of war is raising tensions MUEHLBERG, Germany: Germany’s race to between the long time rival groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. shore up dams on swollen rivers shifted to the Both have a case to make, but some see the government’s north Friday while Hungary braced for a record National Commission for Land and Property (CNTB) as favour- flood surge as other central European regions ing one side over the other, said Pacifique Ninahazwe, a promi- began counting the cost of the deadly flood- nent civil society figure. ing. Volunteers, rescuers and soldiers in north- “The CNTB is increasingly deciding in favour of returnees ern German states feverishly piled up sandbags and ethnic Hutu more generally, rather than recognising that along the Elbe river which has already deluged both returnees and residents face problems,” Ninahazwe told vast stretches with seas of brown water from AFP. “If this continues it will lead to other potentially devastat- the Czech Republic to eastern Germany. ing conflicts.” In one recent case in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura, Hungarians reinforced dykes along the Danube riots broke out as police tried to evict a Tutsi family from their through the night ahead of an expected record house in order to give it back to a Hutu family, former residents flood in the capital, Budapest, in Europe’s worst 40 years ago. “We are here to oppose injustice, to oppose the river flooding in over a decade that has forced CNTB, which is undermining reconciliation in Burundi society,” mass evacuations and killed at least 12. shouted a member of the thousand or so youths who gathered While the Danube had already reached at the protest. In that case, the standoff lasted six hours, left record levels in western Hungary early yester- more than a dozen people hurt and resulted in the arrest of 20 day, Budapest was expected to bear the brunt youths. after the weekend amid predictions the river The land commission used to favour splitting disputed land would rise to more than double the level usual between the most recent owners and returning former propri- for the time of year. “It is now clear that we are etors who had lost their property in successive conflicts that facing the worst floods of all time,” said Prime STADT WEHLEN, Germany: People in a rubber boat make their way drove hundreds of thousands to flee, from both ethnic groups. Minister Viktor Orban in a statement after through the floods of the river Elbe submerging houses yesterday. —AFP However, the office of President Pierre Nkurunziza, a Hutu, took spending the night in a military barracks in the the commission under its wing at the end of 2010 and the head deluged western city of Gyor. After days of we have animals,” Silke Christen, 47, who owns Ä100 million, another offer of help came from of state appointed a new CNTB president, Serapion flooding in southern and eastern Germany, a horse-breeding business, told AFP. the region’s footballing heroes. Bayern Munich Bambonanire, in April 2011. Today, the commission increasing- more than 11,000 soldiers have been deployed Volunteers scrambled to fill sandbags as which recently scored its own place in history ly decides in favour of returnees, rather than owners. to help. the Elbe reached 9.9 m yesterday, just 10 cm by becoming the first German club to win the Bambonanire is unrepentant on this policy. Under his leader- German Chamber of Trade and Industry below the maximum the dykes are able to Bundesliga, German Cup and the Champions ship, the commission has even gone back and revised previous- head Eric Schweitzer said in yesterday’s resist. “As you can see, it’s urgent,” a soldier League in the same campaign, announced a ly settled cases. “How can one justify someone having to share Rheinische Post newspaper that in some commented, while a firefighter described the charity match in aid of flood victims. their land with someone who stole it from him?” he asked. regions the damage was expected to be situation as “tense”. Little respite was in sight Czechs hit by the flooding that has claimed Land arguments have roots in the most bitter of ethnic rival- greater than in the 2002 floods whose eco- for residents of another Saxony-Anhalt city, at least eight lives with five people still missing ries. In 1972, after several years of tensions that sometimes nomic cost had amounted to Ä11 billion ($15 Bitterfeld, visited Thursday by German returned to their homes with mixed emotions - degenerated into killings, a Hutu rebellion erupted in Burundi. billion). In the medieval city of Magdeburg in Chancellor Angela Merkel, where more resi- some in despair, others happy to have saved The uprising resulted in the massacre of Tutsis, a group that Saxony-Anhalt state, the Elbe surpassed record dents fled to safety as a lake threatened to what they could. Jiri Kozak, visibly moved, currently makes up 14 percent of the population. Reprisal levels from historic flooding in 2002 Friday with flood parts of the city. described how he managed to rescue his pri- killings degenerated into large-scale massacres of the educated worse still to come, according to officials. In the historic eastern cities of Dresden and vate zoo of 50 animal species including parrots, Hutu elite, leaving at least 100,000 people dead. Hundreds of Dozens of army and Red Cross jeeps and trucks Halle, where 30,000 people were evacuated snakes, turtles and kangaroos in the southern thousands of Hutus fled into exile. More refugees followed after were parked at the entry to Muehlberg, a town after recent days saw the highest water level in village of Putim before the flood wave came. “I renewed killings in 1988, and then a further wave of those flee- of 4,000 inhabitants in Brandenburg state, 150 400 years on a local tributary, as well as in was afraid many animals would die. I was telling ing a 1993-2006 civil war. The peace process that followed km south of the capital Berlin. “We are afraid. Bavaria in the south, the water level was slowly myself I should apologise to them for having resulted in the return of more than 500,000 refugees, most of But we must wait here for that to pass because falling. After Merkel pledged aid of at least them here,” he told public Czech TV. —AFP whom have got their land back. —AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Club of rich, powerful meet in secret

LONDON: It’s a busy weekend at the cians, thinkers and business leaders has elite at work in the secretive meeting. luxury Grove Hotel, favored haunt of been held annually at a series of seclud- ”When 130 of the leaders from all British football players and their glitz- ed venues in Europe and North America. across the West get together, and many loving spouses. More than 100 of the What happens at Bilderberg, stays at of these are billionaires, they are people world’s most powerful people are at the Bilderberg. There is no media access and who are immensely wealthy and former manor house near London for a the public is kept away by a large securi- immensely powerful,” said Michael secretive annual gathering that has ty operation. The group says that “there Meacher, a lawmaker from Britain’s attained legendary status in the eyes of is no detailed agenda, no resolutions are Labour Party. anti-capitalist protesters and conspiracy proposed, no votes are taken, and no “And when they all get together, it’s theorists. The guest list for the policy statements are issued.” not just to have a chat about the latest Bilderberg meeting includes Google But in a move toward slightly more problem, it is to concert plans for the executive chairman Eric Schmidt, openness, the group now has a website, future of capitalism in the West. That is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, International which lists attendees and key topics for on a very different scale.” Others go Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde discussion, including the economy, US even further, putting Bilderberg at the and former US Secretary of State Henry foreign policy, “cyber warfare and the heart of a global web of conspiracy. The Kissinger. British Prime Minister David proliferation of asymmetric threats” and protesters in Watford include US talk- Cameron is due to drop by yesterday. “major trends in medical research”. radio host and Sept 11 “truther” Alex The Bilderberg Group was set up in Invitees include British Treasury chief Jones, and former professional soccer 1954 to support military and economic George Osborne, Goldman Sachs chair- player David Icke, who believes the co-operation between Europe and man Peter Sutherland and Thomas world is run by a race of reptiles in WATFORD, England: In this photo North America during the Cold War. Enders, CEO of aerospace company human form. Demonstrators plan to taken Thursday, security person- Named for the site of its first meeting - EADS.Publication of these details has hold a “Bilderberg fringe” festival out- nel search people as they arrive at the Bilderberg Hotel in Oosterbeek, done little to ease the concerns of pro- side the hotel until the conference ends the Grove Hotel ahead of the Holland - the forum for prominent politi- testers, who sense a shadowy global Sunday. — AP Bilderberg Group meeting. — AP Putin divorce takes Prince Philip to undergo surgery Russia by surprise LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip was due to undergo exploratory surgery on his abdomen at a London hospital yesterday, raising fresh questions about Break-up may clear way for new marriage the 91-year-old’s health. The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the private London Clinic on Thursday MOSCOW: Russians reeled yesterday from the shock evening for what Buckingham Palace said was a planned announcement by President Vladimir Putin that his 30-year operation under general anaesthetic. It was business as marriage was over, a break-up that was long an open usual for the 87-year-old queen, however, who went ahead secret but few imagined would ever be made public. In a with a visit to the BBC’s new headquarters just a few highly choreographed joint interview with state television streets away from where her husband was being treated. It is the fourth time in two years that Philip has been after attending a ballet together, Putin’s wife Lyudmila said hospitalised and follows “an abdominal investigation that they were having a “civilised divorce” and revealed that the took place last week”, a palace spokeswoman said. The pair hardly ever saw each other. Lyudmila said she was duke, who has been married to the queen for 65 years, is grateful to Putin for supporting her, while Putin praised the expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks. The fact she had “stood guard” for the almost nine years he has spokeswoman insisted however that Philip was “in good served as president. “We are always going to be very close health”, saying he had walked into the clinic on Harley to each other. I am sure, forever,” said the Russian strong- Street “unaided” after being driven there. Although he man. missed a gala event on Monday, the duke had a full diary It was an extraordinarily frank statement for any Russian of engagements this week and appeared in good spirits as politician, whose private lives are generally out of bounds. MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his he attended a garden party just hours before going into But particularly for Putin, who lives in such secrecy that he wife Lyudmila walk before watching the ‘Esmeralda’ hospital. has never been officially photographed with his two adult ballet at the State Kremlin Palace on Thursday. — AFP He been due to join the queen on a visit to the BBC’s daughters. The announcement unleashed speculation refurbished headquarters at New Broadcasting House yes- The Moskovsky Korrespondent newspaper, owned by about whether Putin is seeing another woman, a subject terday morning. She made no public mention of his condi- tycoon Alexander Lebedev, reported in 2008 that Putin that has so far been taboo. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry tion as she formally opened the building during a live was about to marry Olympic gymnast turned legislator Peskov yesterday denied any rumours that the president radio broadcast, although BBC Director General Tony Hall Alina Kabayeva, 31 years his junior. The paper then denied has a relationship with another woman. “It’s not difficult to urged the duke to get well soon. “We are all only sorry that its own story and was closed by its owner. Peskov said take a look at Putin’s work schedule. And you will see that his royal highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been his life, perhaps unfortunately, is in no way tied to any fam- Putin’s packed schedule means “his life is not linked in any unable to come with you today and we wish him, all of us ily relationships, only to those responsibilities that he has way to any family relations.” wish him a speedy recovery,” Hall said. as the head of state,” he told the Echo of Moscow radio sta- The reason for the timing of the announcement is Palace officials gave no details about Philip’s surgery tion. An imminent second marriage is “rather closer to the unclear. The carefully choreographed revelation may be but it could involve either keyhole surgery or more serious category of rumours and gossip,” he added. aimed at improving Putin’s image as a man wedded to his open surgery designed to look for abnormalities. Just Observers however said that the public announcement job at a time of challenges from opposition protests and hours before his admittance to hospital, the duke was pic- ultimately serves little practical purpose, and that creating increased Internet scrutiny of his life. In May in a public tured smiling in top hat and tails and chatting animatedly an image of a man completely devoted to his country - phone-in, Putin said his work was his “whole life. I don’t to some of the 8,000 guests at a Buckingham Palace gar- along the lines of Joseph Stalin - would never work in know if that is enough for happiness.” den party. Guest John Peace, the lord-lieutenant of today’s Russia. “In the modern world it is impossible to Lyudmila, 55, a former flight attendant, revealed in their Nottinghamshire, said Philip had been “telling jokes” and recreate a Stalin-esque image... of a man who thinks only interview that she disliked flying and was averse to publici- accompanying the queen, adding: “It was wonderful to see about the motherland,” said independent analyst Dmitry ty, factors that had made the marriage impossible. the Duke of Edinburgh with her.” With the exception of Oreshkin. “If there is a new marriage, then it will be clear Kommersant business daily headlined its story “Civilised sporting-related injuries, the duke has enjoyed good why the (divorce announcement) was done.” “The news is divorce”, saying that the couple suffered from “incompati- health, but there are signs that age is finally catching up that Putin’s private life became a subject of public discus- bility of life rhythms”. His spokesman said the couple had with him as he approaches his 92nd birthday on Monday. sion for the first time,” said political analyst Maria Lipman not yet filed for divorce, asking for respect for their privacy. In August last year, he was admitted to hospital in Scotland of Carnegie Centre in Moscow. “Something has to follow,” Yesterday the story dominated the Internet, with many to be treated for a bladder infection. Two months earlier, a she said. “Putin wanted people to know, and the question praising Putin for speaking frankly. “This is all honest, with- similar complaint saw him hospitalised for five nights in is why he needs the divorce. To start a new marriage? It’s out falseness,” wrote Kremlin loyalist daily Komsomolskaya London, causing him to miss the last event of the queen’s possible that we will find out about another woman.” Pravda on its website. — AFP diamond jubilee celebrations. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Obama embracing Bush-era anti-terror policies

WASHINGTON: Five years into his some cases expanding, the countert- geted counterterrorism strategy. But threats,” Earnest added. Obama sup- presidency, Barack Obama presides errorism policies that caused Bush to even while calling for a national porters might be forgiven for think- over a national security apparatus run afoul of civil libertarians. Over the debate over the appropriate balance ing he would have had something that in many ways still resembles the past two days, news accounts have between security and freedom, that else in mind. one left behind by President George revealed that the government has speech, and the reports of phone and Before becoming president, W Bush. Drones are killing terrorism collected millions of Americans’ Internet surveillance by the National Obama unsuccessfully sought suspects, the US military prison at phone records in the name of nation- Security Agency, underscored that changes in the USA Patriot Act that Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, holds “ene- al security and has also conducted an Obama, like Bush before him, has an would have placed restrictions on the my combatants” and the government Internet surveillance program that overriding preoccupation about a ter- very provision that his administration secretly collects telephone records of tracks people’s movements and con- ror attack on US. soil. now uses to collect phone records. millions of Americans. This from a tacts that the Obama administration “The top priority of the president The changes, proposed in a 2005 bill president who in 2008 ran as the anti- says is aimed exclusively at non-citi- of the United States is the national that Obama as a senator co-spon- Bush candidate who would get the zens outside the US. Both programs security of the United States and pro- sored, would have required that “the US out of Iraq, put an end to torture rely on the Bush-era Patriot Act, tecting the homeland, and we have records sought pertained to a terror- and redefine US policies abroad. which Congress has since twice reau- to make sure we have the tools we ist or a spy or another agent of a for- But even as he has ended the war thorized with Obama’s support. need to confront the threat posed by eign power,” Gregory T Nojeim, a sen- in Iraq, changed interrogation stan- The disclosures come two weeks terrorists,” White House spokesman ior counsel at the Center for dards and sought to build foreign after Obama declared in a major Josh Earnest said Thursday in defend- Democracy & Technology, said alliances, the former constitutional speech that when it comes to the ing the collection of phone records. Thursday. “The surveillance that was law professor also has disappointed nation’s security “America is at a That program is a “critical tool in pro- revealed yesterday is of records that some allies by embracing, and in crossroads” and proposed a more tar- tecting the nation from terror pertain to everyone else.” — AP

Media buyouts new Obama, Xi to meet tactic in Venezuela CARACAS: Back-to-back buyouts of major media proper- in key Calif summit ties in Venezuela over the past month appear to have ush- ered in a new phase in the leftist government’s long strug- gle to bring to heel an independent press, analysts say. Instead of the all-out confrontation that characterized rela- Leaders seek to build new ties tions with the media under the late Hugo Chavez, his suc- cessors have opted for a behind-the-scenes approach to RANCHO MIRAGE, California: managing press coverage, they say. A falling domino that Presidents Barack Obama and Xi caught many here by surprise was Cadena Capriles, pub- Jinping were to seclude themselves in lisher of the country’s largest circulation newspaper, which a desert oasis yesterday for an unusual- was sold earlier this week to unidentified buyers. ly relaxed US-China summit, called to Henrique Capriles, the opposition leader who is chal- forge some personal chemistry lenging the outcome of April 14 presidential election, is between the two men. Allegations of distantly related to the group’s owners but has no stake in Chinese cyber hacking and espionage, the company. The Cadena Capriles sale followed the buy- North Korea’s nuclear defiance and out earlier in May of the last television news channel constant trade niggles between the aligned with the opposition, Globovision, by a group of world’s two single largest economies investors reportedly connected to Chavistas. Analysts say and possible future superpower rivals the sales have left President Nicolas Maduro, who already will dominate the talks. But Obama sits astride an expanding state-run media empire, with also has a wider purpose - trying to greater leverage than ever to twist arms to gain favorable glean the strategic vision of the man coverage from Venezuela’s private media. who will likely guide rising China Maduro’s enhanced clout is “expressed not so much in through the rest of his own presidency, terms of sanctions against the media, but in close door and deep into the administration of meetings among the political powers to assure more whoever succeeds him. pleasing coverage,” said communications expert Andres Xi makes his first trip to the United Canizalez. Indeed, Maduro met last month with the owners States as president months after taking of media still in private hands, urging them to adopt a less INDIAN WELLS, California: Supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping control of the full machinery of the confrontational tone. A month earlier, after narrowly win- cheer as they watch the motorcade carrying Xi arrive on Thursday. — AP Chinese state, and US-based China ning a bitterly contested election to replace the late Hugo watchers see the talks as the most sig- would allow them to cover the broad- US military and commercial secrets. Chavez, he had warned them to take stock of their posi- nificant Sino-US summit in years. est possible agenda,” said a US official, China has signaled that it believes it tion. “It is the hour of definition,” he said in nationally Obama meanwhile will get a new crack speaking on condition of anonymity. too is a victim of cyber espionage and broadcast remarks. “I call on the communications media to at forging progress in a geopolitical But Obama also wanted to “forge a will challenge Washington on its own be sensible. To Venevision, Televen, all the media, define relationship likely to partly define his working relationship that we will be activities. who you are with: with the fatherland? ... Or are you going legacy, and which caused the White relying on very much in the years to In a bid to ensure the issue does not to go back to the side of fascism?” House frustration in stilted talks with come,” the official said. “The US-China overshadow this summit, the two sides Although buyouts and withdrawals of broadcast licens- ex-Chinese president Hu Jintao. The relationship is as important as any have already announced they will hold es have left the government well short of complete control two leaders had not been expected to bilateral relationship for shaping the working group level talks on cyber of the media, it is pushing its editorial lines in private talks, meet until the G20 summit in Russia in trajectory of the global economy and security in July. North Korea will also analysts say. “The government does not exclude any September -but both sides, sensing global security in the 21st century.” come up, with US officials encouraged means to achieve hegemony,” said communications uncertainty seeping into a complicated Obama and Xi were due to meet up at signs that China is becoming impa- expert Antonio Pasquali. “Some owners give in. When they and often difficult relationship, saw val- yesterday at 0000 GMT before formal tient with Pyongyang’s saber rattling. start losing clients and advertising it gets very bad for ue in an earlier encounter. talks and a working dinner. They will Xi will also be interested in hearing them.” The sale of Cadena Capriles, a 70-year-old media The presidents will ditch the formal- then meet again today morning. The Obama explain his signature diplomat- mainstay that editorially leans toward Chavez and his fol- ity and convention of normally minute- White House is predicting no break- ic and military pivot to Asia, which has lowers, has raised questions about its mysterious new ly planned US-China summits, and throughs, in part due to the swiftly irked China, where some observers owners and the direction they will take it. But Canizales meet at the sumptuous Annenberg organized program and in part have worried it is about containing said the new owners must be counting on the govern- retreat in a sun-scorched corner of because the issues confronting the two Beijing’s rise. Obama is under pressure ment’s blessings. “It’s not a comfortable position to buy a California. “Early in the term of both leaders are so acute. Blunt exchanges to tackle what US business leaders media outlet in Venezuela,” he added. The new owners of presidents, we felt that having this type are expected on cyber security, follow- complain are China’s predatory eco- Globovision have been shaking up the news network, of wide-ranging, informal setting for ing a string of reports that China-based nomic policies and the theft of US intel- which during Chavez’s 14 years in power gave extensive discussions between the two leaders operations have stolen huge troves of lectual property. — AFP coverage to the opposition and its issues. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Bra ban ahead of crucial Chinese exam

BEIJING: More than nine million students packed annual test on time can be extreme. Pictures post- parents in China’s business hub of Shanghai accommodation in Shanghai, after facilities close exam halls across China for the opening day of the ed online showed an amphibious fire engine booked taxis a week in advance for their children. to schools dubbing themselves “gaokao hotels” country’s university entrance exam yesterday - ploughing through water to deliver a boy dressed Alternatively, families rent rooms in nearby hotels sold out of rooms, the report said. Parents across with attempts to stop cheating even leading to in school uniform to the exam in a remote part of to avoid wasting valuable study time commuting the country visited temples to make offerings for bans on metal bra clasps. Students in the north- Inner Mongolia. The southern city of Guangzhou to exam halls, the website of the state-run their children’s success, the Global Times said, eastern province of Jilin were banned from wear- introduced dedicated lanes for vehicles taking People’s Daily reported. Some parents paid as while photos showed others waiting outside ing clothing with metal parts and education students to the gaokao, local media said, while much as 5,000 yuan ($815) a night for five-star exam rooms with food and drink specially pre- authorities installed metal detectors in exam cen- pared for their children. tres to clamp down on “wireless cheating devices”, There are more than seven million university the state-run Global Times reported. Authorities places available in China for the next academic have become increasingly concerned about the year, so that most of those who take the test will risk of examinees using devices such as smart- secure one, but where they will go is hugely phones - some of which have become smaller and dependent on their results. In Beijing, Chinese, easier to hide - as an illicit aid during tests. mathematics and English are compulsory sub- Around 9.12 million high school students jects, with one other paper in either arts or sci- were registered across China to sit the crucially ences, and the exam is scored out of a maximum important two-day exam, known as the gaokao, 750 points. China’s top educational institutions an education ministry spokeswoman said. such as Peking University or Tsinghua, also in the Officials aimed to crack down on “sales of high- capital, can demand scores of around 600 or tech gear for cheating, and gaokao-related more. The test has come under fierce criticism on fraud”, the Global Times said. But users of China’s China for putting enormous pressure on students, Twitter-like weibos were scornful. “Everyone is and as a symbol of educational inequality, with paying attention to the bras. What about glass- many low-income students whose parents have es?” said one. JILIN, China: An invigilator checks a student before the 2013 college migrated to cities barred from taking the exam in Some measures to ensure students reach the entrance exam starts in northeast China’s Jilin province yesterday. —AFP their new homes. —AFP

Cambodia outlaws denial of Khmer N Korea to reopen Rouge atrocities hotline with South PHNOM PENH: Cambodia yesterday banned the denial of atroci- ties committed by the Khmer Rouge regime with a new law, a move the opposition claims is a political attack weeks ahead of national polls. The law bans statements denying crimes by the Pyongyang offers early talks communist regime that ruled from 1975-79 killing an estimated two million people, and carries a sentence of up to two years in SEOUL: North Korea said yesterday it would benefactor, has been under pressure from the symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, was the jail. The law, similar to legislation covering Holocaust denial in restore a hotline with South Korea and proposed United States to restrain its neighbour, and both most high-profile casualty of the recent tensions. Germany and France, was proposed by strongman Prime holding weekend talks in a border town, as the Washington and Beijing welcomed the tentative Operations ground to a halt after the North Minister Hun Sen after a recording emerged of an opposition two rivals sought to tone down months of soaring talks agreement. Yoo Ho-Yeol, a North Korea pulled all its 53,000 workers out in early April. The leader apparently excusing the Khmer Rouge from responsibility military tensions. The two Koreas unexpectedly expert at Korea University in Seoul, said North South withdrew its managers and officials soon for running a notorious torture prison during their rule. reached a snap agreement Thursday on opening a Korea’s surprise shift signalled a desire to initiate a afterwards. The recording, posted on a government website last dialogue, with South Korea responding to a North wider dialogue in the future that “would eventu- Ok Sung-Seok, vice president of the associa- month, is of Kem Sokha, deputy head of the Cambodia initiative by offering a ministerial-level meeting in ally include the United States”. But US State tion representing the 123 South Korean firms National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying the Tuol Sleng prison was Seoul on June 12. A spokesman for Pyongyang’s Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki made established in Kaesong, welcomed the move run by Vietnamese soldiers who ousted the Khmer Rouge Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea it clear that North Korea would have to show away from confrontation towards dialogue. rather than the regime. Around 15,000 men, women and chil- (CPRK) welcomed the South’s quick response, and some commitment towards abandoning its “We’ve been living in despair over the past 60 dren were tortured and executed at the prison, also known as suggested initial lower-level talks Sunday in the nuclear weapons program before the US got days,” Ok told reporters. “The most important S-21, in central Phnom Penh. Kem Sokha has admitted it is his Kaesong joint industrial zone. The North shut involved. “There remain a number of steps that thing is how to secure a guarantee that such a dis- voice on the recording but alleges it was edited to say the con- down Kaesong, which lies just over its side of the the North Koreans need to take, including abid- ruption will not occur in the future.” South Korean tentious comments, a claim backed by the CNRP which alleges border, in April as the recent crisis on the divided ing by their international obligations... in order to President Park Geun-Hye had called weeks ago for the tape was aired “to cause political trouble” ahead of a gen- peninsula peaked. Reopening the joint complex have further discussion,” Psaki told reporters. talks on Kaesong, but the North had rejected the eral election in July. will top the agenda for the proposed dialogue. Pyongyang has repeatedly insisted that its offer. Park, who took office in February just days Lawmakers, mostly from the ruling party, unanimously “Working-level contact... is necessary prior to minis- nuclear deterrent is not up for negotiation. The after the North’s nuclear test, has pushed a “trust- approved the law - which has only five articles - after around an terial-level talks proposed by the South, in light of proposed agenda for the North-South talks building” policy with Pyongyang. In a meeting hour of debate yesterday. The law will prosecute anyone who the prevailing situation in which bilateral relations involves the re-opening of Kaesong, the resump- with top military commanders yesterday, Park “does not acknowledge, denies or diminishes... crimes commit- have stalemated for years and mistrust has reached tion of tours to the North’s Mount Kumgang said it was South Korea’s “firm security posture” ted under the Democratic Kampuchea”, the draft said, referring an extreme,” the CPRK spokesman said. South resort and renewed cross-border family reunions. during the recent crisis that had prompted the to the brutal regime’s official name. Lawmaker Cheam Yeap told Korea’s Unification Ministry said it was “studying” The Kaesong complex, established in 2004 as a North’s talks proposal. —AFP parliament that denial of the crimes committed by the Khmer the idea. The hotline, suspended by the North in Rouge was “a serious insult to the souls” of those who died March as military tensions flared, was to be restored under its rule. The CNRP said it was “very disappointed” that the from 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) yesterday, the CPRK ruling party and parliament had rushed through the legislation, spokesman said, but there was no immediate con- adding the law should also ban former Khmer Rouge leaders firmation that it was operational. The Red Cross link from senior office. runs through the border truce village of Hun Sen and several other top officials were Khmer Rouge Panmunjom and has long been a vital source of cadres. Critics also say the law may jeopardise painstaking efforts government-to-government communication in to heal the country. “You don’t need the law to protect the truth the absence of diplomatic relations. The last work- of what happened during the Khmer Rouge,” Youk Chhang, ing-level talks between the two countries were director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia which held in Feb 2011, and there have been no inter- researches Khmer Rouge atrocities, told AFP. Hun Sen has repeat- Korean talks at the ministerial level since 2007. edly warned that the country risks civil war and even a return to The agreement on resuming a dialogue, the ruthless regime if the opposition wins polls. “Chaos will surely came just ahead of yesterday’s US-China summit, happen if they really win.... I would like to send a message out at which the North’s nuclear programme will be that Pol Pot’s regime will return,” he said last month. high on the agenda. The North’s nuclear test in The CNRP has only a slim chance of gaining enough votes to February resulted in tightened UN sanctions and oust Hun Sen, who has ruled the country since 1985. Led by triggered the cycle of escalating tensions that “Brother Number One” Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer saw Pyongyang threaten pre-emptive nuclear Rouge from 1975-79 wiped out nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s strikes against the United States and South Korea. PYONGYANG: This photo taken on Thursday shows North Korean leader Kim population through starvation, overwork or execution in a bid to China, the North’s sole major ally and economic create an agrarian utopia. —AFP Jong-Un attending the 7th Congress of the Korean Children’s Union (KCU). —AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 2 get death in Pakistan case tainted by class

KARACHI: Two young men received death sen- anger. Activists in Karachi sprang into action over tences yesterday over a fatal shooting that Khan’s death, holding protests, using Twitter and exposed class divisions in Pakistan and led to an setting up a Facebook page, “In memory of unusual social media campaign demanding that Shahzeb Khan”, to get word out about the case. the country’s rich and powerful be held account- Some of the protests were organized by the party able. The suspects, Shahrukh Jatoi and Nawab Siraj of politician Imran Khan, a former cricket star. Talpur, come from two of the wealthiest families in Eventually, the Supreme Court demanded that Karachi, a violent metropolis of 18 million people police arrest the suspected killers in 24 hours, on Pakistan’s southern coast. They were convicted seize their property and freeze their bank of killing 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan one late night accounts. Police detained Jatoi, Talpur, his brother in December after the university student had an Sajjad Talpur and his servant Mustafa Lashari. argument with one of Talpur’s servants. Jatoi was nabbed in Dubai, where he had tried to Khan’s family would likely have had little escape. After the court announced its verdict and chance of getting justice in the past, though his sentence yesterday, Pakistani TV channels aired father is a mid-ranking police officer. Pakistan’s video showing Jatoi making a victory sign and police and judges are notoriously corrupt and are smiling as police pushed him toward a prison van. often swayed by pressure from the country’s elite. Defense lawyer Hummol Zubedi confirmed After Khan’s death, his father called his wife’s the court’s decision but said that the defendants brother-in-law, Nabeel Gabool, a member of the would appeal it. He added that the other two sus- National Assembly, who said he had difficulty get- pects were sentenced to life in prison. Although ting the police to register a case against the Pakistan has many people on death row, the sen- accused - an allegation denied by the police. tences are rarely carried out. Also, a life term usu- But powerful Pakistanis and their offspring are ally translates to around 14 years in prison. In a now faced with a growing cadre of citizens - often tearful interview broadcast on Pakistani TV chan- middle class or upper middle class - who are nels, Khan’s mother, Ambreen Aurangzeb, said increasingly fighting them with the help of the she was satisfied with the court ruling, but added, KARACHI: Shahrukh Jatoi (right) gestures while his accomplice Siraj Talpur looks on from a Internet, an activist Supreme Court and promi- “I miss my son day and night, and this court order court lockup before being convicted for murder in this Pakistani port city yesterday. — AFP nent political figures seeking to harness their cannot bring him back.”— AP Indian soldier Seven Georgia soldiers killed in Pak border firing killed in Afghanistan

SRINAGAR: Pakistani troops shot and killed an Indian army officer yesterday Georgia defense minister visits troops near the countries’ disputed border in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, Indian KABUL: Georgia’s defense minister visited his Americans and one German soldier were Afghanistan after that - a key unresolved troops in Afghanistan yesterday, a day after killed in a single day in three separate attacks. question about how to help stabilize the army officials said. “A junior command- seven Georgian soldiers were killed in a huge Georgia, which has aspirations of joining impoverished, insurgency-wracked nation in ing officer was shot dead by the truck bomb blast at their base in the deadliest NATO, has 1,545 troops serving in the years to come. NATO Secretary-General Pakistani troops near Poonch sector,” a single attack on international forces this year. Afghanistan. This week, countries in the NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen said this week only senior army official told AFP in New The bombing was the latest strike in an alliance met to lay out a new plan for ending that the total size of the noncombat mission Delhi. “Suddenly there was firing from intense insurgent campaign to hit both inter- their combat mission in about 18 months and force will be “significantly smaller” than the the other side and our officer was national and Afghan forces as foreign troops shifting into a training and assistance role for tens of thousands of US-led troops in killed,” the officer added, requesting prepare to end their mission next year after 12 the Afghan forces more than a decade after Afghanistan now, and that decisions about anonymity. The dead man, Bachan years of war. Foreign forces are increasingly the US-led invasion to oust the Taleban force numbers after 2014 will come later. Singh, was posted in the Poonch region, turning over most security responsibility to regime for sheltering Al-Qaeda’s leadership There are about 100,000 international troops 200 km southwest of Indian-adminis- the national police and army after training after the Islamic extremist group launched the in Afghanistan, including 66,000 from the tered Kashmir’s capital of Srinagar. them. Sept 11, 2011 terrorist attacks in the US. United States. The US troop total is scheduled Defense Minister Irakli Alasania cut short NATO did not agree, however, how many to drop to about 32,000 by early next year. Kashmir is mainly split between the an official visit to Brussels on Thursday to trav- noncombat troops it will maintain in Most of the pullout is set for the winter. — AP two nuclear-armed neighbours along a el to Afghanistan. A statement from the for- heavily militarised UN-monitored Line mer Soviet republic’s defense ministry said of Control (LoC), but both countries Alasania met with his Afghan counterpart, claim the region in full and have fought Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and visited two wars over it. Another senior army troops wounded in the bombing. Afghan offi- officer, Rajesh Kalia, stationed in cial Mohammad Omar Zwark said a suicide Kashmir, said the latest attack has “not attacker drove the truck into the entrance of been declared as a ceasefire violation” the camp in Helmand province Thursday in as a probe is under way. Anti-Indian mil- Now-e-Zad district and detonated it. “It was a itant groups who have been operating huge truck full of explosives,” Zwark said. “The blast was very strong.” in Kashmir for more than two decades The explosion at the outer wall caused a are also known to be active in the area. building inside to collapse, killing the Tensions spiked between New Delhi Georgians, NATO spokesman Col Thomas and Islamabad in January and February Collins said. All seven killed were members of as six soldiers were killed in exchanges the same Georgian unit, which had been along the de facto border in Kashmir. deployed in Afghanistan only since April, the Four of the soldiers killed were from country’s defense ministry said. Last month, Pakistan while two were from India. One three Georgian soldiers were killed in an of the Indians was beheaded, allegedly attack at another Helmand base in Musa Qala by Pakistanis. Relations between the district. Known as a Taleban stronghold, two countries have also been strained in Helmand has been the scene of some of this year’s fiercest fighting, with local police fre- recent months by both sides protesting quently coming under attack by insurgents the deaths of prisoners held by the oth- trying to grab back territory. er. The murder of an Indian prisoner in a Thursday’s bombing brought to 12 the Pakistani jail was followed by the tit-for- number of international military personnel tat killing of a Pakistani prisoner in an killed in Afghanistan this month, and the Indian jail last month. — AFP attack was the single deadliest incident this JALALABAD, Afghanistan: An Afghan firefighter sprays water at the scene of a propane year for the coalition. On May 5, seven gas explosion accident yesterday. — AFP Hollande: Abenomics is Grinding recession Ambani brothers ink Business‘good news’ for Europe 16 hurts Spanish kids 17 $2.1 bn telecoms deal 19 SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 US employers add 175,000 jobs in May 20

CALIFORNIA: This undated product image provided by Toyota shows the company’s new Corolla revealed in Santa Monica, Calif. The company hopes the new car will shed the old ver- sion’s low-cost image and attract new, younger buyers to its brand. — AP Toyota Corolla gets a radical new look Sporty new Corolla targets youths

DETROIT: The Toyota Corolla, an aging, sterling dependability, is still America’s top- release fuel economy numbers, other than to matic. CVTs don’t usually shift gears, instead stodgy but reliable economy car, is getting a selling compact. But dealers have had to cut say an eco version should get over 40 miles allowing the engine to operate efficiently at radical new look. The world’s largest its selling price and offer big discounts to per gallon on the highway. The current ver- most speeds. The new Corolla also is nearly automaker was rolling out a new version of compete against sleek new versions of the sion starts around $18,000 with an automatic four inches longer than the current version, the compact Thursday night at a splashy Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. transmission, and Fay said Toyota’s goal is to and that means more interior room in both event in Santa Monica, Calif, hoping to shed “They clearly here are saying ‘we’ve got to keep the new version close to that price. the front and rear seats so passengers are the old version’s low-cost image and attract give the Corolla more personality and more The new version will certainly get better more comfortable, Toyota says. new, younger buyers to its brand. The 2014 life,’ given the way the competition is,” said gas mileage than the current car, which fell With the more radical styling of the new version, which goes on sale in the fall, is Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at toward the back of the class with an estimat- car, Toyota runs the risk of turning off long- longer and sits lower than the old car, with a Northwestern University. ed 34 mpg on the highway due in part to an time buyers who are used to a more conserva- sculpted, athletic look that’s much closer to a “I certainly understand why they are push- outdated four-speed automatic transmission. tive look, Northwestern’s Calkins says. But sports car than the econobox it replaces. ing it here.” It’s the first update for the Corolla The Civic, Corolla’s closest competitor, gets an Tom Libby, lead North American analyst for It also gets a new transmission, suspension in five years, but even with updates, the car’s estimated 39 mpg on the highway with its the Polk automotive research firm, said tradi- and interior that Toyota says will make the car looks really haven’t changed much in the past five-speed transmission. With more gears, tional Toyota buyers are extremely loyal, and quieter and more luxurious, with better han- decade. And during that time, competitors engines generally don’t have to work as hard the risk of chasing buyers away is small. “The dling than the current version. It’s the 11th have been throwing money into their com- at freeway speeds. propensity of a Toyota owner to stay with the generation of a car that Toyota has been sell- pacts, giving them leather interiors, touch- Toyota is offering two engines in the latest Toyota brand is pretty high relative to other ing worldwide since 1966. “It’s a huge car for screen systems, new transmissions and pow- version, a 1.8-liter, 132 horsepower four-cylin- makes,” he said. us. It helped really identify the company and erful yet efficient engines. der that carries over from the current model, The Corolla is still America’s favorite com- the brand and what we’re all about,” said Bill All have taken a bite out of a segment that and the same engine with new valve technol- pact. Toyota sold 104,517 of them this year Fay, group vice president of the Toyota once was ignored by Detroit and dominated ogy that adds eight horsepower to reach 140. through April, beating the No 2 Civic by more Division in the US. “We should appeal to a lit- by Honda and Toyota. In the past, all it took The newer engine comes only on the Eco ver- than 5,800 cars. But Toyota has paid a price to tle younger buyer and broaden out the was a decent, reliable car to gain buyers, but sion. The base engine is less powerful than get those sales. The Corolla’s average selling appeal of the car to more than what it is industry analysts say every competitor is reli- the Corolla’s main competitors. The Civic has price of $18,464 is the lowest of the five top- today.” able and companies have to set themselves 140 horsepower, while the Focus has 160 and selling compacts, and it sells for almost $1,600 The car’s bold design is unusual for Toyota, apart with style, fuel economy or perform- the Elantra is rated at 148. less than a Civic, according to the which in the past changed its cars little with ance. Toyota is giving the new version a continu- TrueCar.com auto pricing site. And Toyota is updates. But the new version is badly needed Toyota wouldn’t say how much it will ously variable transmission that has seven second only to Ford’s Focus in discounts per by Toyota. The Corolla, with a reputation for charge for the new Corolla, nor would it “shift points” that mimic a conventional auto- car at $2,072. — AP BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Wal-Mart faces scrutiny as investors gather FAYETTEVILLE: Wal-Mart executives are Michael Jordan and pop singer Justin been roaring back after suffering a more than tary veterans in the next five years, spend $50 expected to make the case it is improving the Timberlake. two-year slump after the company fixed mis- billion to buy more American-made mer- way it does business overseas and outline Wal-Mart is considered an economic bell- takes in pricing and merchandising. It chandise in the next 10 years and help its new growth opportunities at the world’s wether because it accounts for nearly 10 per- restocked thousands of items after eliminat- part-time workers move into full-time posi- largest retailer’s annual shareholder meeting. cent of nonautomotive retail spending in the ing them as part of a campaign to declutter tions. Wal-Mart faces increasing scrutiny from US. The company’s first-quarter results, the stores. It also has returned to its everyday- As part of its program to buy more goods in investors over how it has handled allegations reported last month, showed that its low- low-price message, after straying from that the US, Wal-Mart is now selling American-made of bribery in its Mexican operations that sur- income shoppers remain under stress. While core philosophy by temporarily slashing towels in 600 of its 4,000 namesake stores as faced a year ago. It also faces pressure to the housing market is recovering and the prices on select items. part of its partnership with a company called increase its oversight of factory conditions stock market has rallied, low-income people Now, Wal-Mart is trying new ways to rev 1888 Mills. It plans to roll out distribution to abroad following a building collapse in April haven’t benefited much. They’re also facing up growth in its US business. It’s trying to tai- another 600 by September. Wal-Mart is also in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,100 new pressures like higher payroll taxes that lor merchandise to clusters of stores that working with other new and existing suppliers garment workers. The discounter, based in have affected spending. attract similar shoppers. At its Sam’s Club divi- to produce basics like T-shirts and mattress cov- Bentonville, Ark., is also under scrutiny for During the first quarter, Wal-Mart said its sion, which has seen its small-business mem- ers in the US Wal-Mart is also determined to how it treats its workers. profit edged up just slightly, but the company bers increasingly strapped, it’s lowering prices stand up to its critics that claim it doesn’t treat Those problems are happening as Wal- reported its first decline in a key revenue on key items. Overseas, it’s working to its workers well. It has launched a website Mart Stores Inc is wrestling with slower sales measure in its US namesake business in seven increase profitability and sales in such mar- called therealwalmart.com that it hopes will do growth. Wal-Mart’s annual meeting, at the quarters. US Wal-Mart stores account for 59 kets as China and Brazil. a better job in telling its side of the story about University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Bud percent of the company’s total sales, which Above all, Wal-Mart is trying to answer how the company is a place of opportunity for Walton Arena, attracts thousands of investors reached $466.1 billion for the year ended Jan. labor-backed critics by coming out with a workers. It’s expected to pound the message at and has historically had the air of a giant pep 31, excluding revenue from membership fees three-part plan the company says can help the annual meeting that nearly 75 percent of its rally. The company brings in A-list speakers from its Sam’s Club division. jumpstart the economy. In January, the com- workers in store management positions started and performers like basketball legend Wal-Mart’s US namesake business had pany said it will hire more than 100,000 mili- out in hourly positions. —AP

Great Wall of trouble for a Chinese farmer Hollande: Abenomics is CHINA: At the farthest end of the Great Wall, Yang Yongfu limps along the section he arduously restored, in effect “privatizing” it ‘good news’ for Europe and putting himself on a collision course with the authorities. The farmer spent five million yuan ($800,000) and years of back- breaking work renovating several hundred meters of the nation- Big spending aimed at boosting economy al symbol deep in northwestern China, turning it into a tourist site. “At the beginning people didn’t understand why I took on TOKYO: French President Francois towards growth rather than belt-tighten- was conscious of the security situation in this project. They called me crazy,” said the 52-year-old. Hollande said yesterday Japan’s big spend- ing, but faces opposition from German East Asia. “I cannot ignore the tensions in The Great Wall is not a single unbroken structure-nor is it visi- ing and ultra-loose monetary policies Chancellor Angela Merkel, who insists the the region and I am concerned about ble from space-but stretches for thousands of kilometers, from aimed at boosting its flagging economy continent must first get its fiscal house in them,” he said. “I hope they can be Shanhaiguan on the east coast to Jiayuguan in the windswept were “good news” for austerity-weary order. Hollande’s praise for Abe’s reforms resolved by dialogue and that countries sands on the edge of the Gobi desert. In places it is so dilapidat- Europe. On a visit to Tokyo, the Socialist came as Japan and France agreed to work can settle their differences in accordance ed that estimates of its total length vary from 9,000 to 21,000 leader also stressed his concern at regional on the joint development of military hard- with international law.” kilometers, depending on whether missing sectors are included. tensions as Japan and China square off ware, as tension simmers in East Asia amid However, Hollande risked undermining First begun in the third century BC, parts were still being built in over disputed islands-but slipped up ver- historic shifts that have seen China sup- his positive press coverage in Japan with a the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), among them Yang’s section. bally by confusing his hosts for the plant Japan as the world’s second-biggest slip of the tongue at an earlier news con- It was little more than a ruin when he started work in 2000, Chinese. economy. Tokyo is locked in a corrosive ference. Speaking in French, he referred to but now 790 meters of ochre wall run out from a small fort Amid a growing backlash in France squabble with Beijing over the ownership the Algerian hostage crisis in January dur- across a stony plain, snaking upwards over a bare hillside via over the German-led austerity drive for of a small group of uninhabited islands in ing which 10 Japanese nationals died, say- several watchtowers. Built of bricks and rendered with earth, his debt-laden Europe, Hollande called for the the East China Sea. ing he had “expressed the condolences of wall averages around 4.5 meters high and is topped with battle- same “priority on growth” being stridently Earlier this year, Japan voiced unease at the French people to the Chinese people”. ments. “People were skeptical, because they thought renovating promoted by Japanese Prime Minister the sale by a French firm of helicopter- The president made no attempt to correct the wall was the job of the government,” said Yang. “I was sur- Shinzo Abe. “The Japanese government landing equipment to China, saying it his mistake and while his female inter- prised at the success I had. But this could also be considered an has taken a number of measures since Mr might be used by Beijing to strengthen its preter changed the word to “Japanese” in act of patriotism.” Abe’s team came to power,” he told presence around the Senkaku/Diaoyu her simultaneous translation, French He set up an entrance area for tourists, complete with a car reporters. “It is not for me to judge them; islands. During an address to Japan’s par- speakers in the room picked up on the park and fishpond, and his wife Tao Huiping collects the 25 yuan they are a matter for Japan. liament, Hollande told lawmakers that he error. —AFP admittance fee at the ticket booth-a table in the open air. “Today “But the priority given to growth and about 30 people came,” she said, holding up the ticket stubs, the fight against deflation, along with the beaming proudly and praising her husband’s “phenomenal” emphasis on competitiveness for busi- work. “People call him Emperor Yang,” she said laughing. Their ness... is good news for Europe, because in opportunity came about in 1999, Yang said, when local authori- Europe we also have to give priority to ties called on residents to renovate the Wall themselves, and growth.” Abe was swept to power in officials gave him authorization to do so. The money came from December on a pledge to turn around savings and loans from relatives. years of economic weakness and growth- In recent decades the Wall has suffered the depredations of sapping deflation. He launched a huge fis- farmers stealing its stones for building, and construction crews cal stimulus program and press-ganged cutting through it with roads and railways. Some of the greatest the central bank into flooding the markets damage came during the turmoil of the 1966-1976 Cultural with money as it ramped up an already Revolution. But as China has become wealthier the government weighty bond-buying program. can better afford to take on the burden of restoration. At the The plan was to double the amount of same time the Communist Party uses nationalism to bolster its cash in circulation, forcing up prices and claim to a right to rule, and in recent years authorities have pressuring investors to put their money in become keener custodians of symbols of China, from historic riskier assets. The yen has plunged, driving monuments to giant pandas. the Tokyo stock market to five-year highs as investors eye swelling profit margins for TEARS OF DESPAIR Japan’s exporters. Even if the Nikkei has A 2006 law gave the government the exclusive right to man- suffered some steep declines in recent age national relics-making Yang’s project illegal. His business trading, the relative success of Japan’s dar- continues to operate but he and the local authorities have been ing experiment and the rocketing approval ratings it has brought to Abe are a far cry through several rounds of negotiations over transferring the TOKYO: French President Francois Hollande (second left) and his rights to the wall. They have so far failed to reach an agreement. from the growing discontent of France. “I never received any support from the government and they Since his election a year ago, Hollande partner Valerie Trierweiler (left) are greeted by Japanese Emperor accused me of constructing a fake wall. That’s what makes me has vowed to tip the main focus of Akihito (third left) and Empress Michiko, upon their arrival for a din- angry,” Yang said. —AFP Europe’s economic recovery efforts ner reception at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo yesterday. —AP business SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 UBS under probe over dodgy accounts

PARIS: French investigators have movements of capital between after allegations from a former UBS of the government’s agenda in the placed Swiss bank UBS under formal France and Switzerland. “The tri- employee turned whistleblower. An wake of a scandal surrounding the investigation on suspicion that it bunal’s decision widens the probe,” anonymous note seen by AFP that former budget minister Jerome tried to persuade rich French clients UBS said in a statement in French. was sent to the ACP, the Bank of Cahuzac who in April was himself to open undeclared accounts in “UBS will continue to cooperate with France’s regulatory arm, alerted the placed under investigation for tax Switzerland, a legal source said. The the French authorities.” “UBS will not body to the parallel accounts that ran fraud, forcing him to resign. move emerged less than a week after allow any move aimed at helping between 2002 and 2007. These listed After months denying the alle- the French branch of UBS was also clients to avoid their fiscal duties,” accounts were opened in gations, Cahuzac had admitted to placed under investigation-the clos- the statement added. A former head Switzerland by businesses but not opening an undeclared Swiss bank est equivalent in France to being of UBS France, Patrick de Fayet, a for- declared in France. The investigating account in 1992, and, after charged. The alleged offences date mer head of the bank’s office in the magistrates handling the UBS affair Switzerland pledged to cooperate back to the 2000s. northern French city of Lille and a have sent a list containing 353 names with foreign tax authorities in 2009, Investigators suspect UBS allowed UBS executive in the eastern city of of people suspected of having held a transferring some 600,000 euros its Swiss staff to illegally approach Strasbourg are already under investi- Swiss account and have requested ($770,000) to Singapore. His role as French clients, and to have set up a gation. details from the Swiss authorities. budget minister included tackling shadow accounting system to hide The French probe was launched The issue jumped back to the top tax evasion. — AFP

Spanish regions take steps German outlook brightens as to help the needy children economy gains speed FRANKFURT: The economic outlook for Grinding recession hurts kids Germany is brightening, its central bank said yesterday, as improved trade and rising MADRID: To help children plunged into industrial output suggested Europe’s poverty by Spain’s grinding recession, sev- biggest economy is slowly leaving recent eral regional governments have stepped weakness behind it. “The outlook for the up aid programs for needy students by German economy has become brighter boosting budgets for free breakfasts or again following the slowdown towards the keeping schools open over the summer so end of 2012,” the Bundesbank wrote in its children can eat in the canteen. Spain’s June monthly report. Despite continued ten- powerful regional governments are sions in the euro area, Germany could soon responsible for education and healthcare see a modest upturn as investment picks up and three of them-Andalucia, Catalonia again and exports-traditionally the main and the Canary Islands - have in recent engine of economic growth-gain momen- week announced new measures to help tum, the central bank wrote. children experiencing hunger that are “Although there has been no fundamen- centered on the public school system. tal change in the underlying conditions, “Poverty has increased a great deal among there has, above all, been no major deterio- children,” said Gabriel Gonzalez, head of ration either,” the report said. “Moreover, childhood policy at the Spanish branch of the world economy should pick up again in the United Nations Children’s Fund the course of this year. In the euro area, too, (UNICEF). the economy appears to be bottoming out.” Spain, the euro-zone’s fourth-largest Just a day before, the European Central Bank economy, is still struggling to overcome tweaked its growth forecasts for the euro- the aftermath of a property bubble that zone as a whole, predicting a contraction of imploded in 2008, destroying millions of 0.6 percent this year, but a return to growth VIGO: Picture shows unsold new Peugeot-Citroen cars at the harbor of Vigo, jobs and sending debt levels soaring. The of 1.1 percent next year. northwestern Spain. Fewer clothes, fewer cigarettes, fewer cars: paralyzed by the country’s unemployment rate shot to a For its part, the Bundesbank predicted 27.16 percent in the first quarter of 2013, recession and rising unemployment, consumers in Spain put a serious brake on spending. — AFP that German gross domestic product would the highest level since Spain returned to expand by 0.3 percent in 2013 and 1.5 per- democracy after the death of General cent in 2014 in a slight downward revision Francisco Franco in 1975. The situation for we speak of malnutrition,” she added. lous region, on Monday started providing from the previous forecasts in December. families has gotten worse year after year Barcelona’s social services, after a case by free breakfast of milk and fruit as well as German growth, which shuddered to a halt and children have been especially hard- case analysis, concluded that most of the an afternoon snack to around 11,000 hit, according UNICEF figures. 2,800 schoolchildren were already receiv- needy students. The program is part of a at the end of last year, picked up only slight- Nearly 2.3 million Spanish children, or ing some form of state benefits and new package of measures approved by the ly to a meagre 0.1 percent in the first three 27.2 percent, lived under the poverty line support was only granted to 703 children regional government of Andalucia, run by months of this year. The Bundesbank in 2011, said Gonzalez. “It is child poverty and their families on the list. the Socialist Party and the far-left United blamed that on “the especially persistent that has increased the most and we start- Barcelona city hall has already doubled Left, in April “to fight against social exclu- winter weather” and in the second quarter ed from a level that was already high,” he the amount allocated to canteen services sion”. The region already provides a free “the improved underlying trend should said. “What some regional governments to five million euros ($6.5 million) in the lunch to around 70,000 needy children. “If come to the fore”, it said. are beginning to address cases where chil- 2012-13 school year from 2.5 million euros we did not implement such measures, we Industrial capacity would be “well uti- dren go hungry at home, not just cases in the previous school year. Demand for would be leaving minors unprotected, and lized, the labor market would be buoyed by where they had an unbalanced diet,” he state aid has increased since 2008, when they are the most vulnerable,” said economic activity” and given current fiscal added. The regional government of Spain’s economic crisis began, the Magdalena Sanchez, the director of social policy, “the general government budget Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia Barcelona city hall spokeswoman said. In services for the regional government of would be balanced,” the Bundesbank said. It announced Thursday that it will draw up a Catalonia, 64,000 students receive aid in Andalucia. Andalucia has been especially warned however, that the risks to this fore- list of schoolchildren suffering from severe the canteen this school year, up from hard-hit by the economic downturn, with cast “are largely on the downside.” “Much food shortages to target them for aid. 56,900 at the beginning of Spain’s eco- a jobless rate of 36 percent. will depend on whether the economic situa- The program is inspired by one already nomic crisis in the 2008-09 school year, The regional government of the Canary tion stabilizes in the euro-area crisis coun- in place in Barcelona, the capital of according to figures from the Catalan Islands, which is struggling with a jobless tries and whether expansionary forces will Catalonia and Spain’s second-largest city, regional government, which is run by the rate of 33 percent, announced it would gain the upper hand there,” it said. The which has already identified 2,800 stu- conservative Convergence and Union keep 132 schools across the archipelago Bundesbank said that letting up on consoli- dents facing food shortages because of (CiU) party. open this summer so that around 8,000 dation and reform efforts would have a neg- the economic downturn. “They sometimes The government of the southwestern needy schoolchildren could eat in the can- ative effect on financial markets. — AFP skip a meal for example, but in no case can region of Andalucia, Spain’s most popu- teen. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Europe divided on shale gas

BUCHAREST: European countries are and Spain are the strongest advocates not a priority in their energy mix. awaiting the results of a government divided on the extraction of shale gas. of shale gas energy in Europe. They all investigation on the potential risks of This new source has sparked an energy delivered permits for exploratory COUNTRIES THAT SAID NO fracking. boom in the United States, but its drilling. Poland is far ahead with 44 France was the first country to ban Belgium is conducting scientific method of extraction, fracking, is con- exploratory wells though ExxonMobil fracking in 2011 because of the risks studies before issuing any permits. troversial because of the risks it poses pulled out because of disappointing for the environment, as did Bulgaria The Czech Republic is preparing a to the environment. Exploratory results. Last December, Britain decided and the Spanish region of Cantabria. moratorium freezing for any prospect- drilling has been allowed and started that exploratory fracking can resume. Italy has also said that it has no inten- ing for two years. in some European countries like In Romania, US oil giant Chevron tion to launch shale gas extraction. Austria has no exploratory drilling Poland, but extraction has not yet obtained permits to explore on under way, and permits can be issued begun. The exact quantity of shale gas Romanian Black Sea Coast and hopes COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE only after an environment impact reserves and their quality have not to do so in the Eastern region of Germany has so far refused to allow study. Slovakia, Finland and Latvia been established yet. Barlad. Lithuania recently passed a law exploratory drilling, and a move to have shown no interest in shale gas allowing Chevron to proceed with allow prospecting under tight controls extraction. COUNTRIES THAT exploration and extraction. While was postponed until after elections lat- In Portugal, exploratory drilling has GAVE GREEN LIGHT Sweden and Denmark have delivered er this year. The Netherlands has been abandoned because of a lack of Poland, Britain, Romania, Hungary permits for exploration, shale gas is issued permits but they are suspended commercial interest. — AFP

Euro shoo-in Latvia posts Europe’s top growth rate

RIGA: Euro-zone shoo-in Latvia topped the European Union’s growth chart for the first quarter yesterday as offi- cial data showed it posted a 3.6 percent hike in GDP out- put. The ex-Soviet Baltic state of two million won approval from the EU executive on Wednesday to become the euro- zone’s 18th member in 2014, though ordinary Latvians seem fearful of ditching their national currency as the euro area struggles in recession. On a quarterly comparison, Latvia’s gross domestic product rose by a seasonally-adjusted 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2013 on a quarterly basis, Statistics Latvia said. The largest gains were seen in the trade, manufactur- ing and transportation sectors, it said. The data means Latvia has retained its spot as the EU’s fastest-growing economy, having posted GDP growth of more than five percent year-on-year in both 2011 and 2012. Latvia expects formal approval of the European Council and European finance ministers on July 9 for euro-zone entry on January 1, 2014. No country recommended for membership of the single currency has ever been turned away at such a late stage. But public support for adoption of the debt-laden European single currency remains low with a survey by the Factum pollster conducted for the finance ministry and seen by AFP putting support at just 38 percent in May with 53 percent opposed. Seventy percent of Latvians believe prices will rise as a result of euro adoption, the survey says. Full details of the survey are due to be released on June 11.

ICELAND POSTS 4.6% GROWTH Meanwhile, the Icelandic economy grew 4.6 percent in the first three months of the year compared with the previ- FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Picture shows Euro banknotes projected on a screen during a press conference following the ous quarter, but consumption and investment figures were meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council in Frankfurt am Main. — AFP weak, Statistics Iceland said yesterday. A 4.7 percentage point contribution from inventories to the growth rate masked less flattering numbers for house- Mobile market heats up hold consumption, which added 0.7 percentage points, and for investment, which declined by 0.6 percentage points. However, due to the difficulties in correcting for Deutsche Telekom to open more shops seasonal variations, the statistics agency recommends looking at the results on an annual comparison. FRANKFURT: Deutsche Telekom is to about 800 shops and plans more. “Our The futuristic-looking shop offers cus- Measured against the same quarter the previous year, open more of its high street shops to goal is to add 100 shops in the next 18 tomers the chance to play games and growth slowed to 0.8 percent in January through March, fend off rising competition in Germany’s months, with or without partners,” participate in workshops and themed compared with a 1.4 percent increase in October through mobile market. German consumers are Deutsche Telekom’s head of sales in events as well as browse products and December of last year. catching up with the rest of the continent Germany Dirks Woessner said. buy. Although Deutsche Telekom has Iceland’s economy expanded by 1.6 percent in 2012 by switching to smartphones from basic Of its existing stores, 300 are operated expanded to foreign markets, its home mobiles, prompting Germany’s big four as franchises. Deutsche Telekom reduced market is still key. after posting 2.9 percent growth in 2011. Reykjavik’s previ- mobile firms to revamp their tariffs and shop numbers over the past three years Last year the former monopoly gener- ous leftist government earned international praise for sav- boost advertising spending. For and Woessner said the change of strate- ated almost 40 percent of total annual ing the North Atlantic island from bankruptcy after its three Deutsche Telekom and its rivals, their gy reflected their renewed relevance. revenues there. It needs to shore up main banks collapsed in 2008, but a voter revolt against shops are increasingly important market- “The shops are important to us as cus- mobile services as its fixed-line broad- austerity swept in a centre-right government in general ing opportunities. tomers want to test our products and band services come under increasing elections on April 27. Deutsche Telekom currently operates need personal advice,” Woessner said. pressure. Cable providers such as Kabel The new government, led by 38-year-old Sigmundur 1,100 shops in Germany under the pink Late on Thursday Telefonica Deutschland Deutschland and Liberty Global are eat- David Gunnlaugsson, has promised to boost domestic con- “T” logo, compared to Vodafone’s 1,600 opened a so-called concept store in ing into Deutsche Telekom’s business by sumption and investment by reducing the burden on shops and Telefonica Deutschland ‘s Berlin as part of its new approach to offering much faster internet connec- mortgage holders and through lowering taxes by simplify- 1,000 shops. KPN’s E-Plus/BASE brand has introduce new media to its customers. tions at lower prices. — Reuters ing the tax code. — Agencies BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Turkey tourism takes a hit Hotel reservations down, but visitors shrug off unrest

ISTANBUL: Hotel reservations may be down 4,000 have been reported injured across the branch of the Association of Turkish Travel after a week of violent mass protests in country. For the tourism industry, the timing Agencies (TURSAB), said there had been Turkey, but plucky tourists on the ground could scarcely be worse: June is the start of “some cancellations” but “we believe things Ambani brothers have taken the unrest in their stride. “There Turkey’s high season. Tourism is a key for- will return to normal soon”. In the new town was tear gas everywhere. It was quite an eign currency earner for the country bring- area of Istanbul, where the unrest began, ink $2.1 billion adventure,” said one visitor from Iceland. Eva ing in almost $30 billion last year, official fig- hotels have seen cancelations of 10 to 25 Carla Thorisdottir’s arrival in Istanbul in the ures show, when more than 31 million for- percent, according Kasim Zoto of TUROFED’s telecoms deal heat of clashes between anti-government eign holidaymakers flocked to Turkey to Istanbul branch. MUMBAI: India’s billionaire Ambani brothers protesters and police a few days ago was enjoy its golden beaches, historic ruins and One establishment, the Midtown Hotel “scary” but not off-putting, the 32-year-old vibrant cities. But widely broadcast images near Taksim Square, told AFP that 35 per- announced yesterday a $2.1-billion deal to share tele- Icelandic said, recalling how sympathetic of police using tear gas and water cannon cent of its bookings had been cancelled in com tower infrastructure, cementing a reconciliation recent days. But for some intrepid travelers, between the once-warring siblings. The agreement is the lively scene at the square and nearby the another tangible sign that the two are patching up Gezi Park, where a festival-like atmosphere relations since their bitter fight for control of Reliance has reigned since police withdrew at the erupted after their rags-to-riches father, Dhirubhai, weekend, has become its own must-see des- died in 2002 without leaving a will. tination. “Everybody seems quite relaxed,” Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom unit of Mukesh said Joan Kavanagh from Dublin as she took Ambani-led Reliance Industries, signed the agreement in the chanting, whistle-blowing demonstra- tors milling around Taksim, where a few with Reliance Communications, the flagship firm of the entrepreneurial vendors were hawking pro- Anil Ambani group, to share the latter’s telecom tower tective masks and goggles. equipment, a joint statement said. The move will help “It’s very interesting to take it all in. It Reliance Industries to accelerate the roll-out of its long- doesn’t look nearly as threatening as I awaited high-speed fourth generation (4G) telecom thought it would be.” She said it was her son services, the companies said. The aggregate value of Tristan who insisted they visit the square on the deal is more than 120 billion rupees ($2.1 billion) their first day on the Istanbul tourist trail. “I for the duration of the agreement, which was not speci- came to see this,” the 35-year-old Irishman fied, the statement added. said, adding that he had been following events on Twitter to keep up to date. Both “Under the terms of the agreement, Reliance Jio said they felt at ease among the demonstra- Infocomm will utilize up to 45,000 ground and rooftop- tors, noting that the protests reminded based towers across RCom’s nation-wide network for them of the Occupy movement that took accelerated roll-out of its state-of-the-art 4G services,” ISTANBUL: Demonstrators hold placards reading “Don’t touch my cine- over the streets of Dublin two years ago. the firms said. In April, the two firms signed a $220 mil- ma (L), don’t touch my stage (2nd-left), don’t touch my art (right), don’t But many other tourists, including lion deal to share their fibre-optic communications net- touch my life style (back-right) as they stand during a protest at Taksim Thorisdottir, have changed hotels to move works. The latest agreement also allows the two com- to Istanbul’s old town-home to top attrac- square in Istanbul yesterday. —AFP panies to jointly build more towers at new locations, tions such as the Hagia Sofia with its ornate they said. “The deal is positive for RCom, to help it bystanders helped clear makeshift road bar- on demonstrators who could be seen throw- dome and the ancient Blue Mosque, with riers to allow her taxi through. ing stones and tearing up pavements in the added benefit of being safely separated reduce its debt over a longer-term,” Ankita Somani, Turkey’s largest city, where East meets cities, including Istanbul and the capital from the restive new town by the Golden analyst at Mumbai’s Angel Broking, told AFP. RCom has West, is famed for its ancient mosques, exot- Ankara, have rattled nerves. Horn body of water. Snapping pictures in been staggering under a debt of more than $6 billion. ic markets and bustling nightlife, luring nine Hotels on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, the rose garden of the imposing Topkapi Reliance rose 0.55 percent to 796.65 rupees while million international visitors last year. But it’s a favored destination for families on pack- Palace, the former home of Ottoman sultans, RCom was down 1.1 percent at 116.75 rupees, after a also where a tough police response to a age holidays, have not yet been affected Thorisdottir said you would never guess sharp recent rally yesterday. The brothers have been small campaign against plans to raze a park though “there has been a stagnation in new there was any trouble across the river. And increasing their corporate collaboration since they pub- near the city’s Taksim Square sparked reservations”, according to Osman Ayik, the thanks to her adventurous introduction to licly signaled the end of their dispute with a joint nationwide protests against Prime Minister head of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation the city, she said she now has a good story appearance in December 2011 to dedicate a memorial Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, seen (TUROFED), suggesting that some travelers to tell her friends back home. “But it’s also a to their late father in his home town of Chorwad, in as increasingly authoritarian. The unrest has are waiting to see how Turkey’s crisis plays beautiful city, I will tell them that too,” she left three people dead so far, while over out. Ercan Durmus, head of the Ankara added. —AFP western Gujarat state. Their mother declared at that time: “There is love between the brothers”, after their feud to control the Reliance group, then India’s most valuable listed company, ended with them splitting the Partnership Assurance joins empire. Even after they broke up Reliance, the brothers kept the London listings revival battling, fuelled by differences over a 2005 family-bro- kered deal to share resources from India’s largest gas LONDON: Private equity-backed life insurer Partnership The stock enjoyed a strong debut, opening 17 percent field. But after a Supreme Court ruling in Mukesh Assurance Group made a robust London stock market debut above the listing price at 450.5 pence. By 1152 GMT it was Ambani’s favour, the brothers dropped their legal cases yesterday, in the strongest year for British company listings on trading at 455 pence, having earlier hit a high of 480 pence. against each other. When they announced the truce, their home patch since the financial crisis. British firms, includ- Partnership sells annuities which pay out more to customers they also scrapped an agreement not to compete in ing insurer ensure and estate agent Countrywide, have raised with medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease each others’ sectors-which analysts say has given them a total of $3.4 billion from initial public offerings (IPOs) on the who might otherwise find it hard to get cover, as well as insur- far greater operational and financial flexibility. The London Stock Exchange’s main market so far this year, the ance to fund long-term residential care. It claims a 26 percent announcement of the tie-up comes a day after Mukesh highest year-to-date volume since 2007, Thomson Reuters share of the 4.5 billion pound non-standard annuities market Ambani’s Reliance Industries announced plans to invest data showed. in Britain and last month reported an operating profit of 112 $26 billion in its businesses over the next three years. Improving stock markets have encouraged companies to million pounds in 2012, a 42 percent increase on the year. Mukesh Anani, India’s wealthiest man, has expanded test the water for listings again after many held off following The listing price values Partnership, which expects to be from oil and gas into the fast-growing broadband and the 2008 financial crisis, with a backlog of private-equity- eligible to join the FTSE250 index, at around 11.7 times fore- retail segments in recent years. Ambani was confident owned businesses helping boost the number of home-grown cast 2014 earnings. That compares with 11.5 times and 13 over the expansion of broadband services through London IPOs. Total IPO volumes on London’s main market, times respectively for competitors Legal & General and group subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm, which plans to including overseas companies, hit a post-crisis peak of $13.9 Prudential. Shore capital analyst Eamonn Flanagan said roll out its high-speed fourth-generation (4G) telecom billion in 2011. Partnership said yesterday it had sold its shares Partnership’s use of reinsurance companies to take on the risk services later this year. Reliance Jio, which acquired the at 385 pence each, in the upper half of its 325-400 pence that someone lives longer than it expects, reduces the 4G airwaves almost three years ago, is the lone Indian range and valuing the company at 1.54 billion pounds ($2.4 amount of capital it needs to hold, boosting its return on company with a pan-India permit for 4G services. —AFP billion). equity. —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

US hiring points to resilience in economy Jobless rate up as workers re-enter labor force

WASHINGTON: US employers stepped economic growth, which is not expect- ter given Washington’s austerity drive. is right around the average for the pri- up hiring a bit in May in a show of eco- ed to pick up until late in the year when or 12 months. Over that period, the nomic resilience that suggests the the sting from government spending LASTING DAMAGE jobless rate fell about half a percent- Federal Reserve could begin to scale cuts begins to fade. Budget cuts have About 4.4 million Americans have age point and the ranks of the long- back its monetary stimulus later this led to hiring freezes at many govern- been unemployed for more than six term unemployed declined by about 1 year. The United States added 175,000 ment agencies, and attrition could be months, roughly 3 million more than million people. jobs last month after adding only slowly reducing payrolls. Government pre-recession levels. The longer work- “From a worker point of view, of 149,000 in April, the Labor Department payrolls declined by 3,000 in May. After ers are out of a job, the greater the risk course, you’d like to see a more robust said yesterday. The May job growth fig- expanding at a 2.4 percent annual rate they become essentially unemploy- recovery,” said Rick Meckler, President ure was just above the median forecast in the first three months of the year, able. That could deal lasting damage of LibertyView Capital Management in in a Reuters poll of economists. many analysts expect the economy to to the economy and has lent urgency Jersey City, New Jersey. Even the The unemployment rate ticked a throttle back to a growth pace of just to the Fed’s efforts to stimulate increase in the unemployment rate tenth of a percentage point higher to around 1.5 percent in the second quar- growth. Still, May’s pace of job growth had a bright side. The share of the pop- 7.6 percent, but the rise was driven by ulation in the labor force - which more workers entering the labor force, includes people who are either a relatively hopeful sign. “The accelera- employed or looking for work - rose to tion in jobs growth points to further 63.4 percent. That was driven by improvement in domestic growth 420,000 workers entering the work momentum,” said Millan Mulraine, force. That is good news because some director of US research and strategy at of the recent drop in the jobless rate TD Securities in New York. has been due to workers leaving the Some economists said the data sup- labor force, either because they retired, ported the view the Fed might be able went back to school or gave up look- to trim its bond purchases as soon as ing for a job. September; others think the Fed might The poll of households from which not make a move until next year. Still, it the jobless rate is derived showed was the third straight month that pay- even stronger growth than the payroll rolls outside the farm sector increased survey of employers, and total hours by less than 200,000. “It’s not great, but worked in the economy ticked higher. it’s good. It leaves the tapering talk still At the same time, US factories are feel- on the table,” said Steve Blitz, chief ing the pinch from Europe’s debt crisis, economist at ITG in New York. US stock which has sent a chill over the global markets opened higher on the report, economy. Manufacturing employment while the dollar firmed. Yields on US declined by 8,000 jobs last month. The government bonds rose modestly on biggest job gains were in professional the view the Fed, which next meets on and business services, with temporary June 18-19, could begin dialing back ILLINOIS: Job seeker Craig Cline of Lincolnwood (right) meets with jobs up 26,000 in a potential sign bond buys this year. Jeremy Skeeters (left) and Lindy Hammel of Aflac Insurance Co dur- employers could expand their full-time Officials at the US central bank have ing a career fair in Rolling Meadows, Ill. The government issued the staffs. The leisure and hospitality intimated they could be close to reduc- May jobs report yesterday. —AP industry also showed strength, as did ing bond purchases despite modest the retail sector. —Reuters

Gold heading for Dollar and shares shaky 3rd weekly gains ahead of US jobs data LONDON: Gold held above $1,400 an ounce yesterday, on track for their third straight weekly gain, as investors awaited US jobs data for clues on when the Federal Reserve would start tapering MSCI share index on course for third week of losses off its stimulus program. Monthly US nonfarm payrolls, due at 1230 GMT, will be scrutinized by investors for clues on when the LONDON: The dollar sank to a two-month JAPAN FEARS no additional ECB measures if the euro-zone’s Fed will begin possible tapering off its $85 billion monthly bond low against a resurgent yen yesterday and The dollar dropped 1.5 percent against the economy picked up as expected. The euro purchases. “I would not expect any big positioning ahead of the world shares headed for a third week of losses stronger yen to hit a low of 95.28 yen, a day was last at $1.3242 as it edged back from the non-farm payrolls as most investors are just in wait-and-see as markets experienced an uneasy run-up to after posting its biggest fall against the previous session’s high of $1.3306, while mode,” Deutsche Bank precious metals trader Michael Blumenroth US jobs data later in the session. The non-farm Japanese currency in three years. As well as against the stronger yen it was down at said. “But there is room for disappointment if the numbers are not payrolls report due at 1230 GMT is expected uncertainty over the Fed’s next moves, the $1.3242, having hit its lowest level since mid- as high as the market expects (market consensus is around to show a 170,000 rise in jobs for May, sug- dollar’s fall has been linked to worries over April. The Bundesbank trimmed its German 170,000) and for that I think in the short term gold prices are more gesting the economy is still in a rut and not Japan’s commitment to boosting its economy growth forecasts yesterday but there were likely to test higher levels towards $1,425.” Spot gold was down 0.2 ready for the Federal Reserve to cut back and signs of slower growth in China, which signs that Europe’s largest economy is regain- percent at $1,410.75 an ounce by 1136 GMT. US gold futures for monetary support. have encouraged demand for the yen. That in ing some momentum after its exports rose in August delivery fell 0.4 percent at $1,410.50 an ounce. A strong number would fuel fears of an turn sparked another selloff yesterday in April and imports surged even more. US economic data has been in the spotlight since Federal early tapering of the Fed’s extensive quantita- Japanese stocks, which plunged to a two- Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last month the central tive easing (QE) program bond, with implica- month lows and recorded their worst week in COMMODITIES STEADY bank’s decision to taper off monetary stimulus would be taken “in tions for all riskier assets. “The markets are two years. The sharp fall in the dollar lent support to the next few meetings” depending on whether the US housing quite nervous about it ... They need reassur- In the debt market, safe-haven German the prices of a wide range of commodities as it and job markets showed continued strengthening. But a top US ance about QE to be stable, so a strong num- debt edged higher but trade was expected to makes them cheaper for holders of other cur- central bank official said on Thursday investors may have over ber would cause a disruption,” said Hans be choppy leading into the US data. European rencies. “If the jobs data comes in weaker than reacted recently to the possibility of the Fed winding down its Peterson, global head of investment strategy Central Bank President Mario Draghi tem- expected, it may mean the Fed postpones monetary easing. “The housing and labour markets are not very at SEB Private Banking. pered expectations for imminent euro zone tapering of its quantitative easing which strong yet. The Fed has to keep in mind the impact on stock mar- World share markets have begun to price rate cuts on Thursday, which boosted should weigh on the dollar and support met- kets as well,” GoldSilver managing director Central Brian Lan said. in expectations of a tapering in Fed spending, demand for Bunds as they headed for their als,” said economist Alexandra Knight of The dollar hovered near a 3-1/2 month low against a basket of hovering near six-week lows yesterday with first weekly rise in three weeks. His message National Australia Bank in Melbourne. Copper currencies, while European shares steadied around six-week lows US stock futures pointing to further weakness on Thursday triggered the biggest daily drops traded on the London Metal Exchange stead- hit in the previous session ahead of the US data. Gold is heading on Wall Street ahead. Also reflecting declining in Italian and Spanish bonds and pushed the ied at $7,331.50 a ton, while gold slipped 0.2 for a weekly gain of around 1.7 percent, after recovering from a hopes for rate cuts from the European Central euro to its highest level against the dollar percent to $1,409 an ounce, with both metals loss early in the week on fears of slowing demand in India. The Bank, European shares lost 0.2 percent to since February. All hovered near those levels on course for weekly gains. Brent crude edged Reserve Bank of India extended restrictions on loans against secu- 1,176.16 points at 1200 GMT, staying near the in mid-morning. above $104 a barrel due to the weaker dollar, rity of gold coins per customer to all co-operative banks. —Reuters six-week lows they touched in a selloff on Austria’s ECB policymaker Ewald Nowotny putting it on track for a weekly gain of 3.4 per- Thursday. told reporters it was possible there would be cent, its best since late April. —Reuters SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 www.kuwaittimes.net Skopje. —AP Fashion Showin Macedonia’scapital plastic bagsandstrawsduring Trash A modelpresentsacreationmade of Williams dies Williams dies movie star movie star champion, champion, Swimming Swimming support toParisJackson Marilyn Mansonoffers Esther Esther PAGE 22 PAGE 29 SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

he ‘Tainted Love’ hitmaker was saddened by reports that Paris, 15 - the daugh- ter of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson - had attempted suicide earlier this Tweek and invited her to one of his shows when she is feeling better. He told TMZ: “I hope you feel better. You will be on my guest list anytime you want.” It has been speculated Paris harmed herself after being denied permission to attend 44- year-old Marilyn’s concert at the Gibson Amphitheater. The alleged suicide attempt came shortly after Paris posted a series of dark messages on Twitter, including: “I wonder why tears are salty?” She later added: “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they’re here to stay. (sic)” Meanwhile, Paris’ grandmother Katherine Jackson insists her granddaughter is “physically fine” fol- lowing the incident. She said in a statement: “Paris is physically fine and getting appropriate medical attention.”Being a sensitive 15 year old is difficult no matter who you are. It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you. “Please respect her privacy and the family’s privacy.”

he actress - who gave birth to her first child, a daugh- ter named Everly, with ‘Magic Mike’ star Channing TTatum last week - has revealed she plans to be a working mum after landing a role in new US TV show ‘Witches of East End’. She said: “I got the TV show and found out I was pregnant at the same time. It’s overwhelm- ing, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. “I’ll learn manage love, work and a baby all at once. It’s a crash course. I think, ‘How am I going to do all this?’ I have no idea what I’m up against. But I’m as mentally prepared as I can be. It’s an adventure!” The 32-year-old beauty further revealed that her hunky husband was incredibly supportive during her pregnancy and despite their work respective commit- ments, they always put their relationship first. She explained to Britain’s Glamour magazine: “Most actors are consumed by career and getting ahead. Channing and I are ambitious, but our relationship comes first. We take it all day by day saying, ‘OK, how can we make this work togeth- er?’ “Channing’s been great. He just takes the route of no confrontation, just support, saying things like, ‘What do you want to eat? I’m going to leave it up to you?’”

he 42-year-old musician - whose real name is Robert James Ritchie - says fame will eventually take its toll on he Bling Ring’ star compares herself to the fairytale Tthe 19-year-old singer and he will embrace the darker character - who gets transformed from a parlour girl side of celebrity. He told America’s GQ magazine: “It’s just a ‘Tinto a princess for one night only - because she only matter of time before someone puts a huge line of cocaine in gets leant the outfits she wears to parties and film premieres. front of Bieber and he’s going to be like, ‘Yes! This is wesome!’ “ She told the Daily Mail newspaper: “I probably own about The rocker also spoke out about Britney Spears, admitting he eight pairs of shoes, max. “I get lent all of these beautiful felt sorry for the ‘Toxic’ hitmaker. He said: “Poor girl. Turned clothes, but a bit like Cinderella they all go back at midnight into a space cadet. That dead stare, like someone stole her and I just go home and put my jeans on. I haven’t got soul... “ Kid isn’t the only star who is worried about Justin, wardrobes full of gowns.” The 23-year-old star - who turned Channing Tatum recently revealed he thinks the ‘Baby’ hitmak- down the opportunity to play Cinderella in a Disney version er - who was discovered at the age of 14 - found fame too of the tale, which is currently in production - added going out young and hopes he doesn’t go off the rails like many child in normal clothes helps her to stay incognito. She added: “I stars do. He said: “I do believe that whatever age you become don’t carry a designer handbag. I think people recognise me famous, you end up staying that age. “I worry about Bieber, less when I don’t wear make-up. I just try to be as low-key as I man. That kid’s wildly talented. I hope he doesn’t fall down into can possibly manage when I’m not working. “If you go out in the usual ways of young kids because it’ so hard for someone glamorous clothes, people will just naturally pay more atten- to be responsible when they’re not asked to be. “We’re not tion to you. If that’s what you’re trying to avoid, then that’s asked to do things ourselves. You have someone there with a what you’ve got to figure out.” coffee. ‘You want food? I’ll get you food.’” — Bangshowbiz SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

lthough the ‘New Girl’ actress split from she was insecure growing up but has now come to Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard be happy with herself and wants to help others. Ain 2011 before divorcing a year later, she She added: “People really teased me. It was bad. insists it hasn’t put her off the idea of finding last- Nothing could be as hard as middle school. There ing love. She told Cosmopolitan Australia: were insecurities that I think I would’ve worked “Absolutely! I truly believe in it. I’m not saying it’s through a lot faster if I’d had certain tools and not ephemeral...I’m saying true love may be out of could have connected with certain people earlier. the box. My parents have been married for 40 “We started up [the website] Hello Giggles for fun. years and my grandparents were hitched for 70 But now I feel as though I’m on a mission to make years. I come from a long line of true loves. I’d be it a thing that helps other women. If there had likely to go for somebody who is like me. I do like been a place like that for me when I was 13, I creative people, so whatever that means. Yeah, would have felt so much less alone.” authentic and creative.” Zooey, 33, - who is now dating screenwriter Jamie Linden - also admitted

he couple - who have been married for 22 years and have children Kylie, 15, and TKendall, 17, together - bought a second home in California, where Bruce likes to spend much of his time. Kris’ daughter Khloe Kardashian told ‘The Tonight Show’ host Jay Leno: “Well, they’re not having problems but they still like to live apart, which is definitely different. “In my house, there is a man room for my husband Lamar [Odom]. A room, not a different house. I think they took my idea and ran with it and they got another house. Bruce stays there sometimes. “It’s in the same state, a different city. I’m not for that, but you know, to each their own. I don’t compare relation- ships. I just think a little too much time apart maybe isn’t the best thing.” While Khloe does- n’t approve of their unusual living arrange- ment, she says Kris and Bruce are happy with their arrangement. She added: “They’re like, ‘Don’t judge us. We’ve been married [22] years’. I’m like, ‘I know people that have been married longer that still live together.’”

he supermodel - who has a six-year-old son Augustin James following a short fling with bil- Tlionaire Francois-Henri Pinault - and the Hard Rock businessman have reportedly called time on their relationship because they couldn’t agree on where to live. According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Linda he 23-year-old actor shot into the limelight in 2001 for wants to remain in New York while Peter would prefer playing the title character in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series to spend the majority of his time at his Malibu home. and following his acting success, was a renowned multi- Linda, 48, started dating Peter - who is 19 years her sen- T millionaire by the age of 19, but the British star claims he was ior - in 2006 while she was pregnant with Augustin. He never overwhelmed by stardom and credits his parents for stood by her during her child-custody battle with Mr keeping him level headed. Speaking in an interview with Pinault - who is now married to Salma Hayek - which Time Out magazine, he said: “I had really good parents. And I was settled in May 2012. The couple previously split in got lucky and I love it. I’m always amused at the way some 2010 with friends blaming their contrasting opinions on actor’s behaviour is truly disgusting. That’s one thing that will where to live and the disapproval of his family on the never happen on one of my sets, if I ever direct. Life’s too break-up. A source said at the time: “Peter is very settled short to work with jerks. And I’ve been lucky enough not to in Malibu and loves Los Angeles, while Linda liked to have to.” Daniel - who is currently starring in ‘Kill Your spend time in Canada and with her friends in New York. Darlings’ - insists he adores acting to the point where he isn’t “Some members of Peter’s family were not too fond of bothered about the money and he’s so committed to his trade her, and were dismayed when she appeared around last that he hasn’t taken a holiday for a long time. He explained: “I Thanksgiving with a large diamond ring on her finger. love my job and I want to earn the right to do it every day.”“I But the marriage never happened.” don’t know when the last time was I had a holiday. I am now actively trying to develop other interests.” SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

he has led Moscow’s renowned Pushkin Museum for over half a century, helped SRussians discover the art of her friend Marc Chagall and battled to bring late impres- sionist art out of the vaults and into public view. And at the age of 91, the doyenne of Russia’s museum directors Irina Antonova shows no sign of letting up. Her extraordinary career has seen her work under Kremlin chiefs from Joseph Stalin to Vladimir Putin and cross paths with some of the greatest names in 20th-century art. Now Antonova has set herself the challenge of righting what she sees as a wrong wreaked by Stalin in 1948 when he ordered the dissolu- tion of one of the world’s finest museums of impressionist and early modern Western art. “No one else is going to do this. I was in this museum, I was present when it was dissolved,” Antonova, who has led the Pushkin Museum since being appointed under Nikita Khrushchev in 1961, told AFP in an interview. Antonova sent a shockwave through Russia’s usually staid museum world when she bluntly told Putin during his annual nationwide ques- tion-and-answer session that the museum should be recreated just as it was before Stalin’s intervention. All very well, but refounding the museum would mean taking away some of the most prized exhibits of the venerable Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg which was given an allocation of the collection when the Museum of New Western Art (GMNZI) was broken up. And the Hermitage-whose rivalry with the Pushkin Museum dates well back to the Soviet era-has made it clear in no uncertain terms that its paintings are not going anywhere. “We are not going to lie down on Palace Square (in front of the Hermitage) as a sign of protest,” said Antonova. “It’s their own business,” she added icily. But in a swipe at her Saint Petersburg col- Visitors look at creations by French architect Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, 1887 — 1965) during a press preview of “LeCorbusier: leagues, she added: “Those who are against (re- An Atlas of Modern Landscapes” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York, June 5, 2013. — AFP photos establishing the museum) are adhering to a decree of Stalin.”—AFP

early half a century after his death, New York’s Museum of Le Corbusier’s relationship with the United States and MoMA in par- Modern Art will pay homage to celebrated French architect and ticular was marked for years by misunderstanding and “much acrimony Ndesigner Le Corbusier in a major exhibit that opens next week. on Le Corbusier’s behalf,” Cohen noted. “He wanted to control every- The extensive show will focus on the way Le Corbusier viewed and thing,” Cohen said as he recalled how a plan to showcase his work in a observed different landscapes throughout his career, featuring his early major exhibition at MoMA in the early 1950s was abandoned after three watercolors and models of his large-scale projects. years of negotiations. This show includes MoMA’s own collection, as In total, around 320 paintings, drawings, models, photographs, plans well as loans from the Paris-based Le Corbusier Foundation. “Le and sketches will go on display at the prestigious midtown Manhattan Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes” will be on view at MoMA institution. Jean-Louis Cohen, a professor of architecture at New York from June 15 to September 23 before moving on to Barcelona and University who is one of two curators, said the show-which cost close to Madrid next year. — AFP a million dollars to put together-would provide rarely-seen insight into Le Corbusier’s view of landscapes. “This is work that deserves to be rediscovered for its poetic and artis- tic qualities,” Cohen told AFP. Arranged chronologically, the exhibit takes into account the global influences on Le Corbusier, who was born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris on October 6, 1887. It references time he spent in Paris, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, Istanbul, Algeria, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and India. The works on view include four interiors built specifically for the This file photo shows Moscow’s Pushkin Fine show, such as Le Corbusier’s cabin in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in the Art State Museum Director Irina Antonova south of France and a room from the “Maison Blanche” (“White House”) speaking during an interview with the AFP in he built for his parents in his hometown of La Chaux-de-Fonds in Moscow. — AFP Switzerland. These reconstructions enable visitors to grasp the evolu- tion-but also the persistence-of the “greatest architect of the 20th centu- ry,” Cohen said. But some of his 400 projects-several models of which will go on view- never saw the light of day, frustrating Le Corbusier. In total, Le Corbusier built some 75 constructions in a dozen countries before passing away on August 27, 1965. He became a naturalized French citizen in 1930. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

A video installation “Tag’out” of Algerian artist Ammar Bouras at the temporary exhibition “Le noir et le bleu” yesterday at the Museum of Civilisations from Europe and the Mediterranean, (MUCEM), in Marseille, southern France, during it’s opening. — AFP

s pets go, they are low maintenance. No muss, no fuss, most of the farmhands are women. “It is labor intensive and nice and quiet, and even a bit furry. So, how about snug- very specialized, and I prefer women because the creatures are Agling up with a giant, non-biting tarantula? A farm in fragile, and if they break a leg or are dropped they can die,” Chile exports the palm-sized critters to Asia, Europe and the Orellana says. United States for sale as exotic household companions. They go The breeding process is rather involved and requires a deli- for $25 each plus shipping, and need to be fed just once a week, cate touch. It takes two and a half to three years to raise one up preferably live cockroaches or worms. And they live a long time- to saleable size. Gonzalez, an adviser to Orellana, said the taran- up to 25 years in the case of females. tulas must be separated from each other. “It’s in their genes, “Not everyone can keep a dog or cat. Tarantulas are cheaper they cannot live alongside even a mate. They start fighting and do not need as much attention. What’s more, the world has when they are young, and you have to separate them to avoid changed and what with technology and cable television, peo- cannibalism,” Gonzalez said. ple are learning about this kind of exotic animal and want one The United States is the farm’s main client, and a volume-ori- for their home,” said Juan Gonzalez, a vet at the farm. ented wholesale one, while European buyers seek fewer taran- It is owned by one Juan Pablo Orellana, an agronomist who tulas but a wider variety of species, Gonzalez added. In recent gathers and raises these Chilean rose hair tarantula months the farm has also delivered critters to the University of (Grammostola rosea). Orellana’s farm exports about 30,000 of Antofagasta in northern Chile, which is researching the cancer- them a year. They travel in boxes with holes in them and a cer- fighting features of Chilean spider and scorpion venom. tificate that could be seen as a pedigree. At the farm, there is a hospital-like quality: women in white “For me the best part is going out to find new spiders,” robes with rubber gloves and face masks separate hundreds of Orellana told AFP. He gathers arachnids in hills outside the newborn spiders into small plastic containers with breathing Chilean capital Santiago, and also raises and breeds species that holes. The women are working all out to fill an order for 3,000 Wojciech Amaro, owner and chef of the restaurant “Atelier are hardest to find. In Chile only 11 species of tarantulas have spiders that will go to Germany. But there is one specimen that Amaro”, prepares a dish in his restaurant in Warsaw. — AFP been formally classified scientifically, but he himself possesses is not for sale: a coffee-colored tarantula named Rufina, a partic- fter years of communist-era shortages, then a craze for 20 different kinds. ularly big creature that Orellana gave to his now wife when they Western fast food, Polish cuisine is undergoing a revival His farm boasts a rainbow of tarantulas: some have red first started dating. — AFP Athanks to quality local ingredients and a modern twist on tra- abdomens, others have copper-colored skin, and they have ditional fare. Leading the renaissance is Atelier Amaro, a Warsaw varying degrees of hairiness. After filling his house with pet spi- eatery that won Poland’s first Michelin star in March for using “local ders, Orellana founded his company, called Andespiders, produce to create innovative cuisine and original combinations”. employing several family members. At the breeding facility, Tucked away in a wooded area by the capital’s modern art centre, the 32-seater began serving up modern takes on Polish specialities in September 2011. With no fixed menu, the dishes change with the season and fea- ture such inspired ingredients as bison grass, burnt oak oil, wild rose petals, and nettle-a stinging plant common to Poland. Sample recipes include “pearmain in nettle syrup, cotton candy with ginger and cinnamon, nettle sorbet” and “chilled mirabelle plum soup with vanilla, hazelnut emulsion, lemon verbena leaves”. The emphasis according to owner-chef Wojciech Modest Amaro is on natural ingredients, preferably Polish. The 41-year-old elec- tronics expert and political scientist learnt to cook while living in England. He then honed his skills at elBulli, Spain’s now shuttered Michelin three-star restaurant, before opening up his own place. “We want to put Poland on the culinary map of the world ... serving Polish cuisine updated and improved by my husband,” his wife Agnieszka Amaro said. Polish cuisine was once rich with Italian, German, Jewish, even Armenian influences, but communism stripped it of its variety, leav- ing it with a reputation of being simple and bland. “For 50 years, really only around a dozen staple ingredients were available,” Amaro told AFP, referring to the chronic shortages under commu- nism, when even toilet paper and bread were scarce. —AFP A child watches a spider for sale at an exotic animals shop. A man shows his son a spider for sale at an exotic animals shop in Batuco, some 30 km north of Santiago. — AFP photos SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

(From left to right) Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw perform during the 2013 Miranda Lambert performs during the 2013 CMA Music Festival on June 6, 2013 in CMA Music Festival. — AFP Photos Nashville, Tennessee.

Review

f you recall your youthful diaries or journals as being on the the sickening waste of today, that I shall not be easy with myself shallow side, you’ll really cringe when comparing them to the and compromise my tomorrows.” Hovering omnisciently to one Iambitious eloquence to be found in essayist Susan Sontag’s side, in a large black-and-white projection, is Angelos’ pre-record- published journals. Sontag, who died in 2004, is considered one ed impersonation of a 60-something Sontag puffing on ciga- of the most influential writers of her time, with works like rettes while wryly commenting on the entries. In response to ichael Jackson’s jailed doctor Conrad Murray has “Against Interpretation,” “Illness as Metaphor” and the 1992 nov- young Susan writing, “It is useless for me to record only the satis- sent a consoling message to the late pop icon’s el, “The Volcano Lover.” The latest iteration of an insightful one- fying parts of my existence...”, older Sontag quips, “There are too woman homage to her, titled “Sontag: Reborn,” that opened few of them anyway!” A second projection directly above daughter Paris after she tried to commit suicide, M Thursday night downtown at the New York Theater Workshop, is Angelos gives a birds-eye view of her large writing table. On the saying he loved her like a “precious father.” “You are not an invigorating, visually compelling sampling of her early person- screen, journals and writing are animated, which is pleasing to alone,” the medic-convicted of involuntary manslaughter al journals and notebooks. watch while Angelos’ two Sontags bring the words vividly to life. in 2011 over Jackson’s death-says in the nearly four-minute Marianne Weems of The Builders Association, which first cre- Austin Switser’s video design enriches the production, in comple- message posted by celebrity news website TMZ, citing the ated the work in 2010, directs with simplicity and sophistication. ment with the entire design team. title one of Jackson’s songs. Moe Angelos, who helped adapt this production using the sec- Among the funnier entries is one in which Sontag, having “This is a letter to you. I don’t know what you’re going ond volume of Sontag’s journals, published in 2012, performs read something negative about herself in a lover’s diary, reflects through, but I’m sure that whatever it is, it must be diffi- quite impressively as two Sontags from different times in her life. accurately, “One main (social) function of a journal or diary is pre- cult,” he said. The 15-year-old, whose father died in 2009, Onstage, Angelos creates a lively, youthful Susan, as she scribbles cisely to be read furtively by other people.” Fortunately, we don’t was rushed to hospital early Wednesday after trying to cut entries and reads aloud journal selections that were written from have to be furtive, as this inspiring production gives a tantalizing one of her wrists, a family source told AFP. TMZ said she Sontag’s teens through her mid-30s. Fellow diarists take heart; glimpse into one writer’s journey from precocious genius to had also taken 20 Motrin (ibuprofen) pills. there’s some silly stuff, too. accomplished professional acclaim. — AP She remained in hospital near her family’s home in Sontag’s penchant for quirky or maniacally detailed lists is Calabasas, northwest of Los Angeles, reportedly under a presented, along with negative comments on marriage and 72-hour psychiatric hold. “I can tell you’re not doing well, motherhood and impatient early vows, such as, “Let me note all and I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to solve your pain, or help you with your problem. But I wanted you to know that I am here for you,” said Murray, serving four years behind bars. “I always will be available to listen to you, answer your questions or to share with you a plethora of beautiful and favored untold stories of your father, as well as his venera- ble thoughts of you that he shared with me.” And Murray, found guilty of giving Jackson an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol to help him sleep, added: When you feel all alone or when your heart feels heavy... just know that you’re not alone. “Your daddy loved you beyond any explanation,” he told the teenager, adding: “Paris, I too love you as a pre- cious father loves his own child, and I always will.” Paris Jackson has suffered from depression before and is under- stood to have been treated at least once previously after saying she felt like killing herself. The family source played down media reports that she was angry because she could not go to a concert by goth rocker Marilyn Manson in Los Angeles on Thursday-although admitted that may have been a factor. “It wasn’t because of that. It was just because of her depression. Probably the last straw she was told that she couldn’t go... It’s like a teenager, ‘I want what I want, I want to do what I want,’” she said. — AFP This undated theater photo shows Moe Angelos in “Sontag: Reborn”, currently performing off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in New York. — AP SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

he Fosters” is a study in unlikely bedfel- end of the day it’s really just a family.” lows. The new ABC Family drama pairs A total of 10 episodes will air, and Paige and “Tmainstream star Jennifer Lopez and Bredeweg hope for many more to come. Lopez’s Peter Paige, who played bubbly Emmett in the cult involvement was key to getting the show green- favorite series “Queer as Folk,” as executive produc- lighted and, they hope, keeping it alive. “You want ers. It brings to television a rare depiction of a les- to get a relationship drama made, you attach a bian couple as heads of a household. And “The superstar,” Paige observed - and she and her Fosters,” airing its second episode 9 p.m. EDT Nuyorican Productions continue as active partners. Monday, combines a focus on the generally “They weigh in on story and casting. ... She’s not ignored lives of foster children with the challenges just hands-off over in the corner, being gorgeous of an ethnically diverse home - a big reach for an and glamorous,” Paige said. “Casting is her pas- hourlong series aimed at teenagers and young sion,” Bredeweg added: Lopez is keen on finding adults. new talent, and it was her call that the twins be “I think in every time we have to kind of push Latino. Will she be involved in the show as an that envelope and really be a reflection of what’s actress or through her music? “Music for sure. We’re going on in society and ... this show does that and looking for the right moment. There’s something in in a smart, edgy, funny, heartfelt way,” said Lopez, the works now we’re not at liberty to discuss. On who’s producing it with co-creators Paige and camera, you never know,” said Paige, who has Bradley Bredeweg. The 43-year-old actress-singer- pushed his own acting career aside in favor of writ- dancer candidly cites her life as an example of the ing and producing TV shows and films with changing nature of family. Bredeweg. “You can’t keep spoon-feeding the idea of what the perfect family is. It just doesn’t exist,” she said. “Even myself, I have two kids, their dad (Marc Anthony) doesn’t live at home with us. I’m divorced. They have four stepbrothers and sisters from two other moms. It’s not traditional.” “We all wish we had that fairy tale thing in our heads,” Lopez said. But when it doesn’t come true for chil- here’s a lot of noise surrounding Khloe career, I’m not going to let anyone use this dren they shouldn’t have to think, ‘Oh, I don’t have Kardashian Odom. She’s frequently with against him.’ But, yes, it will hopefully come the mom and the dad, the perfect three kids and a members of her family, and they’re not a back sooner (rather) than later. Lamar loves T dog. There’s something wrong with me,’” she quiet bunch. The family stars on the popular E! doing the show. added. reality show “Keeping up With the Kardashians,” “The Fosters” stars Teri Polo (“Meet the Parents”) now in its eighth season. (Her sister Kim recently AP: It’s interesting that you and your sis- and Sherri Saum as Stef Foster and Lena Adams, revealed on the show that she and rapper Kanye ters Kourtney and Kim have such a big family the couple whose family includes Stef’s biological West are expecting a daughter sometime this but you’re all married to or in a relationship son (David Lambert) from a former marriage, summer.) Khloe, Kim, sister Kourtney and their with only children. From what we see on the adopted twins (Cierra Ramirez, Jake T Austin) and a mom, Kris Jenner, are subject to 24/7 tabloid, show, Kourtney’s boyfriend, Scott Disick, newly arrived foster teenager (Maia Mitchell) Internet and paparazzi attention. But Kardashian sometimes needs his space. Lamar seems to whose difficult past has left her wary. Oh, and Stef is Odom makes a point of tuning out the media embrace it more. What’s Kanye West like? attention because she believes “it’s really toxic.” Kardashian Odom: How weird that we all a police officer who works with her ex-husband. “I don’t get Google alerts,” she said. “I don’t are with only children. (Laughs.) We’ve known It makes for a tangled web that’s rich in story- need to be alerted to what I’m doing. That’s just Kanye for years, so he’s known what our family telling possibilities, not just messages, its creators my personality.” She added: “Once you start liv- is like. He definitely does his own thing. Scott said.”Draw a line between any two of these charac- ing in (that fame world), you can start believing works with us. Lamar is away a lot (with basket- ters and there’s a relationship that hasn’t been it, and it’s just so bad for you. That’s not the real ball), and Kanye has his own career. But, Kanye’s explored before,” Paige said. “What’s it like to be world. All of this one day will go away no matter there for holidays and all the stuff that matters. the adopted brother whose best friend is the bio- who you are, and I need to be OK with who I am logical brother? What’s it like to be a foster child Jennifer Lopez as myself and this doesn’t make or break me. AP: Speaking of your husband, you’ll be who’s come in the house and finds herself drawn to This is wonderful and I love this ride but I’m also married four years in September. Some peo- one of the boys? “What’s it like to have your ex-hus- Lopez strikes a more cautious note about insert- so blessed without it as well.” ple said it wouldn’t last! band, your son’s biological father who you work ing herself into the drama unless it’s done in what In a recent interview, Kardashian Odom also Kardashian Odom: I think everyone said it with, around, and does he have a role with your she deems an “organic” way that’s not distracting. talked about fame and whether TV viewers will wouldn’t last. (Laughs.) But I totally understand other kids?” “I feel like sometimes when you have somebody see the return of the spinoff reality show “Khloe why. We knew each other for like 30 days and Quipped Bredeweg: “My God, I created the like me who’s in the public eye and you produce & Lamar” with her husband, Los Angeles then we got married. show and I’m so lost right now.”An expert on the something, they always want to put you on and it Clippers forward Lamar Odom. foster system consults with the show to help with feels ‘stunt-y’ to me sometimes. ... I believe this AP: You’re like the example of when accuracy. But Paige said liberties are being taken to show stands on its own,” said Lopez, the former AP: Do you look forward to the day when someone meets another person and says serve the stories. Most foster children, for example, “American Idol” judge whose company’s other TV all the fame and attention are gone? they “just knew” it was right to be together. get their own bedroom; that’s dispensed with in projects include music show “Q’Viva!: The Chosen.” Kardashian Odom: You always want what Do you agree? “The Fosters” to up the drama ante. “We are not But she’s eager to publicize “The Fosters” and, you don’t have, and you have to be really careful Kardashian Odom: Lamar and I say, ‘We pretending to, nor would we be interested in, to that end, sat patiently for a daylong succession what you wish for. I genuinely love what we do. don’t know what came over us. We can’t even doing a docu-series about the foster system. We’re of interviews well before the show’s premiere. She When that day comes, it will give me more time explain it.’ Because we can’t explain it. I never after a family story where some people are chosen, took part in a live Twitter chat during last week’s to do other stuff but I’m not begging for that understood when someone said ‘I just knew.’ where everybody has come in through a different premiere (Among her tweets: “What does family day to come. I’m content either way. And with every fiber of my being you couldn’t door and finds themselves in the same room,” he mean to you? Tell me in three words .. GO!”) “I will have told me ‘No.’ ... I just felt it - and same with said. bring as much attention to it as I can so people AP: Will there be another season of “Khloe Lamar. Thank God it worked. It very well ABC Family is used to taking chances with such know it’s out there,” she said. As Lopez sees it, “The & Lamar”? could’ve gone the other way. shows as “Switched at Birth,” which features deaf Fosters” stands for what she’s learned “are the Kardashian Odom: Yes. It’s not finished. I’m characters and subtitles. But how does it determine important things in life, which are family equals really protective. I’m like a mama bear. And AP: And you didn’t just say, ‘Let’s drive to that its young audience is ready for “The Fosters,” love. It’s a place where you go for unconditional when my husband and I filmed season one, Las Vegas and get hitched.’ You had a big including its lesbian couple and the challenges love, to be accepted, to feel safe. And at the end of Lamar won Sixth Man of the Year, was the first wedding! they face? the day, that there’s no real ‘normal.’ That there’s (Los Angeles) Laker to do so, he won a gold Kardashian Odom: My mom could really do “It’s really a gut check,” said Kate Juergens, exec- no set thing of what a family is at this moment in medal, and he also won a championship ring for anything. In nine days she planned a wedding. utive vice president in charge of programming and time in our lives.” —AP the Lakers. But the year he got traded, people Looking back, I’m so grateful. — AP development for the channel. “The millennial gen- wanted to say, ‘Oh, it’s because of the show.’ So, eration is so much more colorblind than the gener- I was really irritated. This is my husband’s career, ation before them. And gay is so not an issue for and I just didn’t like that someone would use them. ... They’re so much more used to people this tool in a negative way, so I was like, ‘You being out.” Cast member Lambert, who’s 19, know what? For the better of my husband’s agrees: “Even if it’s an unconventional family, at the SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

ong Kong film star Jackie Chan became The honor is considered even more exclusive the first Chinese actor Thursday to have his than that of being given a star on the Hollywood Hhands and feet cast in wet cement at Walk of Fame, the stretch of sidewalk along Hollywood’s famed Chinese Theatre, alongside Hollywood Boulevard lined with star-shaped generations of Tinseltown icons. He was joined by plaques to entertainment greats. Chinese tourist American actor Chris Tucker, his co-star from the Haoyahh Wei, looking on, said: “He always makes “Rush Hour” movies, in the ceremony in the court- the greatest movies in the world, and always has yard of the TCL Chinese Theatre, as hundreds of creative ideas to put in his new movies .. always fans screamed from across Hollywood Boulevard. has something fun to give to his fans. Chan, who has starred in over 100 films and “We all love him. He is a very kind person, he directed 20, recalled first coming to the then always helps others,” he added. LA resident Ivette Grauman’s Chinese Theatre-it changed its name DeLatorres added: “He’s one of the very few this year for sponsor Chinese company TCL-two actors that actually does his own stunts. I mean decades ago, invited by film action hero Sylvester he’s willing to get on set, break his leg, get a cast Stallone. on and the very next day show up on set and “Twenty years, ago, 1993 ... I was not on the keep on going. “That’s amazing,” she added. red carpet, (I was) on the side, and I saw there are Tucker recalled when he did the first “Rush Hour” so many stars doing interviews. I had nothing to film with Chan in 1998. “We traveled around the do. I was standing there looking around to see world... from Asia to Australia to Europe and the handprints. “I thought to myself, when will I immediately he helped me get known interna- have my own things? During all those years my tionally.—AFP dream (grew),” he said, before thanking his co- stars, TCL, and-to cheers from the crowd-”the fans Actor Jackie Chan, imprints his face during a hand and footprint ceremony in front of the around the world, you make my dream come TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California yesterday. — AFP true.”

he great comedian WC Fields is credited with the line, “Never ACTOR-PLAY ACTOR-MUSICAL work with children or animals.” He would have had trouble on Will win: Tom Hanks. Should win: Tracy Letts. Will win: Bertie Carvel. Should win: Billy Porter. TBroadway this season. There were kids at every turn - Everybody loves Tom Hanks. He is just so darn lovable. In “Lucky Both men are deserving of the honor and, believe us, both “Motown: The Musical,” “Kinky Boots,” “Annie,” “Matilda the Guy,” he gets to be funny and poignant and noble while dying. actors look sensational in skirts, but Billy Porter in “Kinky Boots” Musical,” “A Christmas Story, the Musical” and “Pippin.” And ani- What kind of monster are you if you don’t like Tom Hanks? But, bares his heart a little more and pushes his poor body a little more mals? Dogs in “Annie,” “Pippin” and “A Christmas Story, the speaking of monsters, Tracy Letts showed a hint of one in the than his rival in “Matilda the Musical.” Bertie Carvel won the Oliver Musical,” a cat in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” a dead crow in “Macbeth” seemingly weak-willed history professor George in Edward Albee’s Award - Britain’s equivalent of the Tony - in the role of Miss and even a live vulture in “The Testament of Mary.” But now that it’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” “He was savage and sad, allowing Trunchbull and brought his terrifying skill to Broadway without Tony Awards time, it’s the moment for the adults to shine. No kids years of pain and frustration to seep out of a semi-broken man.” being cartoonish, but Porter can make tears fall down your cheeks. or pets made it through the nomination process, so only grown- Hanks, David Hyde Pierce and Nathan Lane turned in fine perform- ups will emerge victorious Sunday night. ances, but nothing touched Letts, an actor at the top of his game. ACTRESS-MUSICAL Will win: Patina Miller. Should win: Patina Miller. BEST MUSICAL ACTRESS-PLAY While Laura Osnes from “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” Will win: “Kinky Boots.” Should win: “Matilda the Musical.” Will win: Cicely Tyson. Should win: Laurie Metcalf. is perfectly cast as a princess-to-be and sings beautifully, Patina Though it’s been a horse race between “Kinky Boots” and the Cicely Tyson’s return to Broadway for the first time in 30 years to Miller is a muscular creature with a hat and cane, a grimace plas- import “Matilda the Musical” - both coincidentally having actors be in Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful” has been met by tered to her face, who dances tough Bob Fosse steps and does adopting British accents and both featuring men in dresses - the deserved high praise. But Laurie Metcalf was simply astonishing as tricks on a trapeze while singing in Diane Paulus’ retelling of consistently high marks for all aspects of “Matilda” should sweep it she went from a snippy, bossy scientist to a broken, confused “Pippin.” Miller is fierce and that always beats cute. — AP to victory, but won’t. “Kinky” is unabashedly sentimental with a intruder wolfing down Chinese food on the floor in “The Other classic message of acceptance, while “Matilda” is rebellious and Place.” The other three women in this category - Amy Morton, edgy, a place Tony voters don’t naturally feel comfortable. Kristine Nielsen and Holland Taylor - also are admirable, but Metcalf was soul-stirring. BEST PLAY Will win: “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” Should win: “The Assembled Parties.” Christopher Durang’s comical “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which takes char- acters and themes from Anton Chekhov and sets them in present- day Pennsylvania, is sly and funny and lovely. But Richard Greenberg’s “The Assembled Parties,” a meditation on time and family, leaves a lasting impression.

REVIVAL-PLAY Will win: “The Trip to Bountiful.” Should win: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” The Cicely Tyson-led revival of Horton Foote’s play is lovely and well done. You walk out hopeful and sunny - the opposite of what the revival of Edward Albee’s play felt like. Superbly acted and directed, it was a cage-match with intellectuals. But Tony voters like sunny and inspirational.

REVIVAL-MUSICAL This theater Will win: “Pippin.” Should win: “Pippin.” image released “Annie” is pretty good, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” was rol- by The O+M licking, “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is sweet and smart, Company but “Pippin” is thoroughly thrilling, rebuilt with a circus inside. shows Billy Diane Paulus rides the Big Top theme - fire jugglers, teeterboards, Porter during a knife throwing and contortionists - but she also teases out the wan- performance of dering nature of the mysterious players and zooms up the physical- “Kinky Boots.” ity of the story. Magic. — AP SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

This May 1950 file publicity photo originally released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shows Former movie star Esther Williams poses for photographers poolside at the Chateau Esther Williams on location for the film “Pagan Love Song. — AP Marmont Hotel in this May 11, 1995 file photo with two women dressed as mermaids. — AFP

sther Williams, the swimming champion turned actress films, “The Unguarded Moment” and “Raw Wind in Eden.” A public pool was not far from the modest home where who starred in glittering and aquatic Technicolor musi- Neither was successful. In 1961 Lamas directed her last film, Williams was raised, and it was there that an older sister Ecals of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 91. “The Magic Fountain,” in Spain. It was never released in taught her to swim. They saved the 10-cent admission price by Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her America. When she published her autobiography in 1999, she counting 100 towels. When she was in her teens, the Los longtime publicist Harlan Boll. Following in the footsteps of titled it “The Million Dollar Mermaid.” Esther Jane Williams Angeles Athletic Club offered to train her four hours a day, Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, grew up destined for a career in athletics. She was born Aug 8, aiming for the 1940 Olympic Games at Helsinki. In 1939, she Williams became one of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers, 1921, in Inglewood, a suburb southwest of Los Angeles, one of won the Women’s Outdoor Nationals title in the 100-meter appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized five children. freestyle, set a record in the 100-meter breaststroke and was a on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure. Such films as part of several winning relay teams. But the outbreak of war in “Easy to Wed,” “Neptune’s Daughter” and “Dangerous When Europe that year canceled the 1940 Olympics, and Esther Wet” followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of dropped out of competition to earn a living. comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther She was selling clothes in a Wilshire Boulevard department into the water. store when showman Billy Rose tapped her for a bathing The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via televi- beauty job at the World’s Fair in San Francisco. While there, sion and the compilation films “That’s Entertainment.” she was spotted by an MGM producer and an agent. She Williams’ co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, laughed at the suggestion she do films that would popularize including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo swimming, as Henie had done with ice skating. Montalban and Howard Keel. When hard times signaled the “Frankly I didn’t get it,” she recalled. “If they had asked me end of big studios and costly musicals in the mid-’50s, Williams to do some swimming scenes for a star, that would have made tried non-swimming roles with little success. After her 1962 sense to me. But to ask me to act was sheer insanity.” She final- marriage to Fernando Lamas, her co-star in “Dangerous When ly agreed to visit MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, and recalled that Wet,” she retired from public life. she took the job after her mother told her: “No one can avoid a She explained in a 1984 interview: “A really terrific guy challenge in life without breeding regret, and regret is the comes along and says, ‘I wish you’d stay home and be my arsenic of life.” wife,’ and that’s the most logical thing in the world for a Latin. Lamas was Williams’ third husband. Before her fame she And I loved being a Latin wife - you get treated very well. was married briefly to a medical student. In 1945 she wed Ben There’s a lot of attention in return for that sacrifice.” She came Gage, a radio announcer, and they had three children, to films after winning 100-meter freestyle and other races at Benjamin, Kimball and Susan. They divorced in 1958. After the 1939 national championships and appearing at the San Lamas’ death in 1982, Williams regained the spotlight. Having Francisco World’s Fair’s swimming exhibition. As with Judy popularized synchronized swimming with her movies, she was Garland, Donna Reed and other stars, Williams was introduced co-host of the event on television at the 1984 Olympic Games in one of Mickey Rooney’s Andy Hardy films, “Andy Hardy’s in Los Angeles. She issued a video teaching children how to Double Life” (1942). swim and sponsored her own line of swimsuits. She also played a small role in “A Guy Named Joe” before “I’ve been a lucky lady,” she said in a 1984 interview with “Bathing Beauty” in 1944 began the string of immensely popu- The Associated Press. “I’ve had three exciting careers. Before lar musical spectaculars. Among them: “Thrill of a Romance,” films I had the experience of competitive swimming, with the “Fiesta,” “This Time for Keeps,” “On an Island with You,” “Take incredible fun of winning.... I had a movie career with all the Me out to the Ballgame,” “Duchess of Idaho,” “Pagan Love glamor that goes with it. That was ego-fulfilling, but it was like Song,” “Texas Carnival,” “Skirts Ahoy,” “Million Dollar Mermaid” the meringue on the pie. My marriage with Fernando - that (as Annette Kellerman, an earlier swimming champion turned was the filling, that was the apple in the pie.” — AP entertainer), “Dangerous When Wet,” “Easy to Love” and “Jupiter’s Darling.” Williams in a bathing suit became a favorite pinup of GI’s in World War II, and her popularity continued afterward. She was a refreshing presence among MGM’s stellar gallery - warm, breezy, with a frankness and self-deprecating humor that delighted interviewers. She laughed as much as anyone over American movie star Esther Williams poses with a board as an assessment by Fanny Brice, the original “Funny Girl”: she is ready to compete the “Ironing board derby” between “Esther Williams? Wet, she’s a star. Dry, she ain’t.” Catalina island and the Californian coast in this August After leaving MGM, she starred in two Universal dramatic 25,1947 file photo.— AFP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Google chief says Glass privacy fears will fade SAN FRANCISCO: Google chief Larry Page assured investors Thursday that privacy fears about the company’s coming Internet glasses will fade as people incorporate the eyewear into their lives. “People worry about all sorts of things that actually, when we use the product, it is not that big a con- cern,” Page said while fielding questions at an annual share- holders meeting at the company headquarters in Silicon Valley. “You don’t collapse in terror that someone might be using Glass in the bathroom just the same as you don’t col- lapse in terror when someone comes in with a smartphone that might take a picture.” Page’s remarks came in response to a shareholder’s expressed worry that Google camera-enabled, Internet- linked eyewear is “a voyeur’s dream come true.” “Obviously, there are cameras everywhere,” Page said, after taking a quick poll to find that nearly everyone at the gathering had smartphones capable of taking photos. “I love using Google Glass,” he continued, noting that the company had “gone through some pains” to safeguard peo- ple’s privacy. Google last week put out word that it won’t allow facial recognition capabilities in applications being tai- lored for Glass at its release expected later this year. “We won’t add facial recognition features to our products without having strong privacy protections in place,” Google said in an online message aimed at software developers creating appli- cations for Glass. TAIPEI: A staff displays TCB International Corp’s new products, the “Health Bracelet” and its APP “Blood “With that in mind, we won’t be approving any facial Management Your (BMY)”, during the 2013 Computex. —AFP recognition Glassware at this time,” the message continued, revealing how the company intends to refer to software designed for the devices. In May, a group of US lawmakers Taiwan electronics fair tees asked Google to answer questions on the privacy implica- tions and possible “misuse of information” of its Glass proj- ect. up ‘smart watch’ for golfers Some small establishments in the United States have vowed to ban Glass due to worries about how being able to Rumours of Apple ‘iWatch’ abound at tech fair discreetly take pictures or video might be seen as invasive by patrons. Facebook, Twitter and major news organizations have already tailored applications for Glass, which has only TAIPEI: It may not be able to carry the playing” in the wearable computing and Australia where golfing is popular,” been made available to developers and a limited selection of clubs like a caddie but a new “smart sector, with the frenzy sparked after said Sonostar spokeswoman Marie Liu. “explorers” who paid $1,500 each for the eyewear. watch” can help a golfer find his range Google announced the development of The company, which already sells Envisioned uses range from practical tasks such as shop- on the course, and its makers are taking its high-tech eyewear. handheld GPS devices for golfers, said ping or delivering local weather reports to sharing real time a swing at the global market as part of The five-day tech extravaganza in the watch is set to hit the market in the video streams or playing augmented reality games in which a new trend in wearable computing. the Taiwanese capital has provided an third quarter with a price tag of $179. the world is the board. Glass lets wearers take pictures, The smart watch, on display at the opportunity for lesser-known brands to “This is a new technology. I want to record video, send messages or perform other tasks with Computex trade fair in Taipei, comes get in on the act, and like the Glass, the wear a smart phone on my wrist. I don’t touch controls or by speaking commands. Glass connects to amid rumours of an Apple “iWatch” wrist-worn caddie can be wirelessly want this notebook,” said Stephen the Internet using Wi-Fi hot spots or, more typically, by being device to be worn on the wrist, and tethered to a mobile phone. Linked to Hurford, who works for a London- wirelessly tethered to mobile phones. Pictures or video can amid ongoing hype around Google’s an Android or Apple device over based cloud computing firm, as he vis- be shared through the Google+ social network. —AFP pioneering Glass. Bluetooth, the smart watch allows ited what is Asia’s biggest IT fair. But Developed by Taiwanese company users to read emails, browse social some analysts are less optimistic about Sonostar Inc, it can access the layouts media sites, and read ebooks. All of this wearable technology. “If I had to make of 30,000 golf courses around the is done using a 1.73-inch e-ink paper a prediction I’d say Google Glass is a world and can also be used by people touchscreen, which like the Kindle dis- Segway for the face,” tech author when they jog or cycle to record dis- play is easy to view in the sunshine. Edward Tenner told AFP earlier this tance travelled and calories burned. “We are optimistic about the demand week, referring to a personal transport Apple chief Tim Cook has forecast that of this new smart watch, particularly in device that flopped after great initial there will soon be “tons of companies markets like Japan, the United States hype. —AFP Hollywood meets Silicon Valley

CHENGDU: Guo Ping, current CEO of Huawei Technologies “It’s like your beloved pet, you can’t leave it. This is how Co Ltd, the world’s fifth-largest smartphone maker, reck- we think about Huawei’s consumer brand. It needs to be ons the Chinese firm’s phones are unbeatable in terms of between Hollywood and Silicon Valley,” he said on the hardware, and pours water on market distinctions sidelines of a business conference in Chengdu in south- between high- and low-end models. Huawei, probably bet- western China. The consumer device push comes at a criti- ter known as a leading telecoms gear maker under fire cal time for Huawei’s telecommunication equipment busi- from U.S. politicians over its potential links to the Chinese ness, which ranks behind Sweden’s Ericsson in terms of state, is looking to drive sales of its consumer devices, but market share and faces greater scrutiny from governments is hobbled by not having effective consumer retail chan- worldwide. Just as Huawei tries to convince the West it’s a nels. Traditionally, it co-brands its devices with carriers. safe company to do business with, a British parliamentary In an interview on Friday, Guo told Reuters he sees this committee report on Thursday slammed the way in which changing as Huawei shifts from focusing on the technolo- ministers were not fully informed about a multi-billion gy in its devices to better understanding consumers’ tastes pound deal for Huawei to supply equipment to BT Group and perceptions. “In some ways, (designing) a smartphone Plc in 2005. Huawei, founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, a is in the middle of Silicon Valley and Hollywood,” he said. former People’s Liberation Army officer, has repeatedly TOKYO: French President Francois Hollande (center) and “Silicon Valley represents technology - and smartphones denied it has links with the Chinese government or military his partner Valerie Trierweiler (second right) look at a need strong technology - and the Hollywood aspect is and has said it receives no financial support from the gov- robot during a visit to an exhibition held by French infor- about experience and perception.” ernment. —Reuters mation technology (IT) companies yesterday. —AFP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Apple battles Snapchat could be Amazon in e-book case LA’s startup star NEW YORK: Apple attorneys in the US antitrust case on e- Snapchat sees 50 million images shared daily books went on the offensive Thursday, attacking the credi- bility of government witnesses and seeking to debunk key LOS ANGELES: There’s never a shortage of what a photo is,” said Murphy, the company’s Privacy Information Center, with the Federal elements of the government’s case. Apple attorneys grilled things to gawk at in Venice Beach: oiled-up chief technology officer. “People get trapped in Trade Commission. a trio of witnesses from Apple rival Amazon and undertook bodybuilders, a two-headed turtle, over-the- this notion of what a photo should be.” The finding prompted a blog post by a bruising cross-examination of a Google executive. Apple top street performers. Lately, passers-by on the The allure of vanishing photos has caught Snapchat, which detailed its deletion proce- attorney Howard Heiss peppered Amazon executives dur- main stretch of the boardwalk have also been on quickly among Snapchat’s users, most of dures. It also offered a caveat: “If you’ve ever ing a series of contentious exchanges with skeptical ques- ogling an eggshell-blue house, steps from the them in the coveted 13-to-25-year-old range. A tried to recover lost data after accidentally tions on Amazon statements about its business profile and sand, unremarkable except for a giant yellow few months ago, “everyone at school starting deleting a drive or maybe watched an episode pointed out inconsistencies between Amazon testimony sign out front featuring a cheery cartoon ghost. talking about Snapchat,” said Tyler Bowman, of CSI, you might know that with the right and documentary evidence. The ghost is the logo of Snapchat, which 15, who was hanging out on the Venice board- forensic tools, it’s sometimes possible to Amazon is very “metrics-focused,” Heiss said to Amazon’s has burst onto the tech scene with its mobile walk near Snapchat’s headquarters on a recent retrieve data after it has been deleted.” Despite vice president for Kindle Russell Grandinetti during a cross application that enables users to send their Thursday. Now, his friend Jonathon Marquez those road bumps, Snapchat continues to examination. Grandinetti had previously testified that he did friends photos that self-destruct seconds after said, “everyone who has a smartphone uses it.” surge ahead, even as other once-promising LA- not know Amazon’s market share of the e-books market. they’re viewed. With more than 150 million The high school sophomores said Snapchat area startups, such as Viddy and Beachmint, “We were a very large seller of e-books,” Grandinetti said, photos shared through the app every day, has become one of their top three apps. They have struggled. while denying he could estimate Amazon’s market share. Snapchat has garnered enormous popularity each send 100 snaps a day, mostly of what they Spiegel and Murphy, who met through Heiss then presented a news article quoting another and publicity: Mark Zuckerberg has used the described as “dumb stuff.” “It’s just fun to mess their fraternity at Stanford, said they briefly Amazon executive estimating the company’s market share app. Al Gore name-dropped it at the South by around. Texting gets old after awhile,” considered taking the company to San at 70-80 percent. Southwest festival. Stephen Colbert had co- Bowman said. Snapchat hasn’t been without Francisco but decided to move it to LA because Amazon is a key witness in the government’s case, which founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy on its share of controversy. Its must-have status they liked the region’s creative spirit, laid-back maintains that Apple conspired with publishers to orches- “The Colbert Report.” among teens and its now-you-see-it-now-you- culture and entertainment ties. They initially trate a transformation of the e-book market in early 2010 What has gotten less attention, though, is don’t underpinning have made some suspi- worked out of Spiegel’s father’s house before that cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. In where the 2-year-old company is located. cious that the photo-messaging app is being moving in January to Venice, where they’re set entering the market, Apple signed a series of “agency” mod- Spiegel, 22, and Murphy, 24, made a deliberate used for sexting, in which people text racy up between a bike rental shop and street ven- el contracts with publishers, in which publishers set the choice to take Snapchat to Los Angeles shortly price and guaranteed Apple a 30 percent commission. after coming up with the idea for the app while Prior to Apple’s entry, the e-book industry was dominat- students at Stanford University. The move ed by Amazon and run on a “wholesale” model where retail- away from Silicon Valley was bold, given that ers set the prices. Amazon charged $9.99 for bestsellers prior region’s reputation for growing promising to Apple’s entry into the market. Part of the government’s young tech startups and its ties to crucial ven- case is that Apple and publishers forced Amazon to switch ture capital funding. to the agency model, resulting in higher prices. Apple attor- LA, on the other hand, has gained traction neys sought to show that Amazon faced an increasingly dif- as a tech community but has yet to produce a ficult market in late 2009 and early 2010 in which publishers blockbuster startup on the level of Facebook, were already planning hardball tactics-even before Apple’s Twitter or Instagram. Despite the debut of hun- entry. Amazon’s pricing model was unpopular not only with dreds of startups in the region in recent years, publishers, but also with agents and authors who worried tech entrepreneurs and investors have stressed about the erosion of intellectual property. Grandinetti con- the need for Los Angeles to have a breakout firmed that by the end of 2009 four of the “Big Six” publish- hit. Some are saying Snapchat could finally be ers announced plans to “window” bestselling books, mean- it, and are hoping that the company built on ing they would delay release of the Amazon e-book for a ephemerality won’t itself disappear like so period of months until after the release of the physical book. many other startups. As five of the major publishers signed agency models Snapchat has an “addictive quality,” said with Apple, they contacted Amazon to renegotiate terms. Mitch Lasky, general partner at Benchmark The first negotiation was with MacMillan Chief Executive Capital, which led a $13.5 million round of John Sargent, who presented Amazon with the choice of funding for Snapchat announced in February. shifting to an agency model or accepting a wholesale model Lasky, a member of Snapchat’s board, said the with windowing for seven months. app’s user engagement is “something the likes VENICE: Bobby Murphy, 24 (left) and Evan Spiegel, 22, co-creators of “We expressed quite strongly how unpalatable the of which I haven’t seen outside of email or SMS Snapchat, are seen through a window of the company’s offices on choice was,” Grandinetti said of his encounter with Sargent. or that kind of stuff. It’s extraordinary.” Ocean Front Walk in Venice, California. —MCT “The meeting was very tense.” Amazon initially tried to pun- Case in point: Users post about 40 million ish MacMillan by removing the “buy” button from pictures every day on Instagram. Snapchat sees images of themselves. dors selling floppy hats. MacMillan titles. about four times that number move through Just 1.2 percent of images transmitted via With 14 employees and an ambitious hiring But Amazon ultimately capitulated after three days and its app daily - explosive growth, considering the app are screen-captured, Murphy said. “By plan, Snapchat is already outgrowing the quickly negotiated the agency model with MacMillan. Soon only 50 million images were shared daily just setting the default to impermanence, people beachfront space and probably will need to after that, Amazon negotiated similar contracts with the six months ago. Snapchat’s premise is simple. understand and respect that.” Still, when relocate again in a matter of months. When other four publishers. Apple attorneys sought to show that Users take a photo or video and set an expira- Snapchat was mentioned to teens on the that happens, the company said, it will stay in Amazon’s shift to the agency model was its own decision tion time of 1 to 10 seconds. Recipients are boardwalk, several snickered and exchanged the LA area instead of moving back to Silicon and not orchestrated by Apple. notified when they’ve received a “snap” and knowing glances with their friends. “It happens Valley. “It’s nice being outside of that world - But Amazon officials testified that the publishers were must maintain physical contact with their a lot,” conceded Bardiya Khodabakhshi, 18, of having access to it but not being drowned by forcing the change at Apple’s behest. Laura Porco, who was smartphone screen as they’re viewing it. A Los Angeles. Snapchat has also recently found it,” Murphy said. “For us, being an hour away by director of Amazon’s Kindle Books at the time, told the court countdown timer shows how much time itself embroiled in a Facebook-Winklevoss-like plane is enough to keep our heads down and in a written declaration that the publishers informed remains before the image self-destructs. The battle over its origins. focus on what we’re doing and not get caught Amazon that they were switching to agency “because that’s company’s founders say the app has caught on In February, Frank Reginald Brown IV filed a up in the hype of the startup world up there.” what Apple made them do.” because it celebrates spontaneous, fleeting lawsuit against Snapchat and its co-founders, Like many young mobile startups, Porco told the court Thursday she was “alarmed” when moments - a refreshing break from the perfect- alleging he came up with the idea and did Snapchat has yet to make any money, relying the publishers demanded agency from Amazon. “I felt like ly poised shots that are carefully selected for work on the app but was shut out by his for- instead on venture capital funding. Spiegel said we were being pushed into something that was really terri- Facebook and other social media networks. mer college buddies after a falling out. The the company is looking for ways to monetize ble for consumers,” Porco said. Following Porco’s testimony, Indeed, many users said they turned to the app company declined to comment on the lawsuit. the business down the line, which will almost Apple attorney Orin Snyder aggressively questioned to send photos of themselves making funny or And there have been doubts about snaps certainly come in the form of mobile advertis- Thomas Turvey, an executive in Google’s book selling divi- ugly faces or otherwise looking less than pic- being deleted permanently from phones and ing. Already, brands are testing the app as a sion. Turvey said in a written deposition that publishers told ture-perfect. from the company’s servers after they’re potential advertising vehicle. Taco Bell last Snaps have also introduced the concept of viewed. Last month, a Utah data retrieval firm month announced it was bringing back the him that they could not accept wholesale terms with photo chatting, a way to communicate quickly said it had found a way to restore Snapchat Beefy Crunch Burrito by using Snapchat to Google because of their terms with Apple. During the testi- without words. For instance, users will send a images sent to Android smartphones even send its followers a snap of the menu item. The mony, Turvey was unable however to name a single pub- snap of a shopping center instead of texting, after they had supposedly disappeared. That move earned the fast-food chain street cred lishing executive who said this. —AFP “I’m at the mall.” “It’s changing the definition of led to a complaint, filed by the Electronic among the social media-savvy set. —MCT TV listings SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

16:00 Smallville 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 07:55 That’s So Raven 00:45 A Kind Of Magic 11:35 Tyler’s Ultimate 18:00 C.S.I. Stewart 08:20 Gravity Falls 01:05 A Kind Of Magic 12:00 Staten Island Cakes 19:00 Body Of Proof 16:00 The Colbert Report 08:45 Good Luck Charlie 01:30 Emperor’s New School 12:50 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 20:00 Criminal Minds 16:30 All Of Us 09:05 Good Luck Charlie 01:50 Emperor’s New School Basics 14:10 Jesse James Outlaw Garage 21:00 White Collar 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 09:30 Jessie 02:15 Replacements 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 15:05 Jesse James Outlaw Garage 22:00 Top Gear (UK) 18:00 Wilfred 09:55 Austin And Ally 02:35 Replacements Basics 16:00 Jesse James Outlaw Garage 23:00 Greek 18:30 Happy Endings 10:15 A.N.T. Farm 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 16:55 Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up 00:00 Kyle XY 19:00 The Neighbors 10:40 Code: 9 Basics 17:50 Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up 02:00 Criminal Minds 19:30 The Office 11:05 Bolt 14:05 Unique Sweets 18:45 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay 12:35 Code: 9 14:30 Unique Sweets 19:40 Alaska: The Last Frontier Leno 13:00 Shake It Up 14:55 Unique Sweets 20:35 Sons Of Guns 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 13:25 Jessie 14:05 Ice Loves Coco 14:30 Ice Loves Coco 15:20 Unique Sweets 21:30 Storage Hunters Stewart 13:45 A.N.T. Farm 15:45 Chopped 21:55 Storage Hunters 21:30 The Colbert Report 14:10 Good Luck Charlie 15:00 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 03:00 Wilfred 16:35 Barefoot Contessa 22:25 Storage Hunters 22:00 Veep 14:35 Good Luck Charlie 16:00 Keeping Up With The 03:30 Friends 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 22:50 Storage Hunters 22:30 Veep 15:00 Austin And Ally Kardashians 04:00 Seinfeld 17:25 Barefoot Contessa 23:20 Storage Hunters 23:00 Legit 15:25 Gravity Falls 17:00 Married To Jonas 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay 17:30 Married To Jonas 17:50 Barefoot Contessa 23:45 Inside The Gangsters’ Code Leno 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 15:50 Shake It Up 00:40 I Escaped: Real Prison Breaks 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 16:10 Jessie 18:00 E! News 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:30 Hope & Faith 19:00 E!es 18:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:10 I Escaped: Real Prison Breaks 06:00 All Of Us Stewart 16:35 A.N.T Farm 01:35 Outlaw Empires 01:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Monsters Inc. 20:00 Keeping Up With The 19:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 06:30 Brothers Kardashians 19:30 Chopped 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 01:30 Veep 18:30 That’s So Raven 21:00 Chasing The Saturdays 20:20 Chopped 08:00 Seinfeld 02:00 Veep 18:55 Gravity Falls 21:30 Fashion Police 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 08:30 Hope & Faith 02:30 Legit 19:20 Good Luck Charlie 22:30 E! News 22:00 Food Wars 09:00 Wilfred 19:40 Good Luck Charlie 20:05 Shake It Up 23:30 Chelsea Lately 22:25 Food Wars 14:50 Surviving Extreme Weather 09:30 Go On 00:00 Dirty Soap 10:00 Cougar Town 20:30 Austin And Ally 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:45 Combat Countdown 20:50 A.N.T. Farm 00:55 Style Star 23:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 16:40 Fire In The Sky: A Daily Planet 10:30 Brothers 01:25 E! Investigates 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay 21:15 That’s So Raven 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 21:40 Good Luck Charlie 00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:35 Last Flight Of The Space Shuttle Leno 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 12:00 All Of Us 22:00 Shake It Up 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:25 Treasures Decoded 06:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 00:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:20 American Car Prospector 12:30 Seinfeld 06:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 22:50 Austin And Ally 01:20 Unwrapped 20:10 Daredevils 13:00 Hope & Faith 06:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 01:45 Food Wars 21:05 Reign Of The Dinosaurs 13:30 Til Death 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 14:00 Friends 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 03:05 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 22:00 Combat Countdown 07:10 A.N.T Farm 00:00 Stitch 03:30 Food Poker 22:55 American Car Prospector 14:30 Cougar Town 07:35 Jessie 15:00 Go On 00:20 Stitch 04:15 Bargain Hunt 23:50 Treasures Decoded 05:00 House Swap 00:45 Zero Hour 05:45 Cash In The Attic 01:35 Zero Hour 06:30 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 04:30 Lady And The Tramp-FAM 07:00 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 06:15 War Horse-PG15 07:55 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 09:00 Waiting For Forever-PG15 08:50 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 11:00 Lady And The Tramp II: Scamp’s 09:45 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent Adventure-FAM 12:30 StreetDance 2-PG15 14:20 Food Factory 10:40 Cash In The Attic 14:00 Take Shelter-PG15 14:45 Food Factory 11:25 Come Dine With Me 16:00 Waiting For Forever-PG15 15:10 X-Machines 12:15 Perfect Day 18:00 Jack And Jill-PG15 16:00 Unchained Reaction 12:40 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 20:00 Comes A Bright Day-PG15 16:55 Stephen Hawking’s Grand 13:05 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 22:00 The Lincoln Lawyer-PG15 Design 13:30 Food Poker 00:00 Cleanskin-18 17:45 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 14:15 The Roux Legacy 02:00 Waiting For Forever-PG15 18:10 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 14:50 Food & Drink 18:35 The Gadget Show 15:15 Bargain Hunt 19:00 The Tech Show 16:00 Antiques Roadshow 19:30 Storm Chasers 17:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 20:20 X-Machines Edition Specials 07:00 Underground: The Julian 21:10 Kitchen Chemistry 18:20 Extreme Makeover: Home Assange Story-PG15 21:35 Kitchen Chemistry Edition 09:00 L.A I Hate You-PG15 22:00 Storm Chasers 19:00 Celebrity MasterChef 11:00 Larry Crowne-PG15 22:50 Dark Matters 19:55 Celebrity MasterChef 13:00 Call Of The Wild-PG15 23:40 Kitchen Chemistry 20:20 Come Dine With Me 15:00 Hidden Crimes-PG15 00:05 Kitchen Chemistry 21:15 Antiques Roadshow 17:00 I’ve Loved You So Long-PG15 00:30 How Do They Do It? 22:10 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 19:00 The Vow-PG15 01:00 Scrapheap Challenge 21:00 After Life-18 01:50 Scrapheap Challenge 23:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 23:00 The Sitter-18 23:45 Ty Pennington’s Homes For The 01:00 I’ve Loved You So Long-PG15 Brave 00:30 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 01:20 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 14:00 Storage Wars 02:10 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 14:30 Storage Wars 04:00 Kong Return To The Jungle-FAM 15:00 Pawn Stars 06:00 Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes- 15:30 Pawn Stars PG15 16:00 Pawn Stars 08:00 George Harrison: Living In The 16:30 Pawn Stars Material World-PG15 17:00 American Restoration 12:00 Johnny English Reborn-PG15 17:30 American Restoration 03:00 Food Wars 13:45 Mission: Impossible III-PG15 18:00 American Restoration 03:25 Food Wars 16:00 The Conspirator-PG15 18:30 American Restoration 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:00 The Big Year-PG 19:00 Storage Wars 04:15 Unique Eats 20:00 21 Jump Street-18 19:30 Storage Wars 04:40 Chopped 22:00 Gone-PG15 20:00 Pawn Stars 05:30 Iron Chef America 00:00 George Harrison: Living In The Material World-PG15 20:30 Pawn Stars 06:10 Food Network Challenge 21:00 American Pickers 07:00 Healthy Appetite With Ellie 22:00 Storage Wars Krieger 22:30 Storage Wars 07:25 Healthy Appetite With Ellie 23:00 Pawn Stars Krieger 23:30 Pawn Stars 07:50 Healthy Appetite With Ellie 04:00 Carjacked-PG15 00:00 Counting Cars Krieger 06:00 Ice Quake-PG15 00:30 Counting Cars 08:15 Healthy Appetite With Ellie 08:00 Twister-PG15 01:00 Storage Wars Krieger 10:00 Meteor Storm-PG15 01:30 Storage Wars 08:40 Cooking For Real 12:00 Arctic Blast-PG15 02:00 Storage Wars 09:05 Cooking For Real 14:00 Twister-PG15 16:00 Romancing The Stone-PG15 09:30 Cooking For Real 18:00 Arctic Blast-PG15 09:55 Cooking For Real 20:00 The Crazies-18 10:20 Tyler’s Ultimate 22:00 Bunraku-18 10:45 Tyler’s Ultimate 14:00 C.S.I. 00:15 The Killing Room-18 15:00 Kyle XY WAITING FOR FOREVER ON OSN MOVIES HD 11:10 Tyler’s Ultimate 02:00 The Crazies-18 TV listings SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

08:00 The Tooth Fairy 2-PG 10:00 While You Were Sleeping-PG15 12:00 Ernest Scared Stupid-PG15 14:00 Bushwhacked-PG 16:00 While You Were Sleeping-PG15 18:00 Mr. Destiny-PG 20:00 Tucker And Dale vs Evil-18 22:00 The Angel’s Share-PG15 00:00 Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy-PG15 02:00 Tucker And Dale vs Evil-18

09:15 Moneyball-PG15 11:30 An Inconvenient Truth-PG 13:15 School Ties-PG15 15:00 Moneyball-PG15 17:15 Terms Of Endearment-PG15 19:30 Toast-PG15 21:15 Catch And Release-PG15 23:15 The Flowers Of War-PG15 01:30 Wuthering Heights-18 Psychotic celebrants prepare to attack the Sandin family in “The Purge.” — MCT

01:00 ICC Cricket 360 01:30 PGA European Tour 06:00 European Senior Tour Highlights 07:00 Live AFL Premiership f you’re a movie studio with money to burn, sum- payday if the film performs well. On the film’s set, or VOD if executives wish. That can save millions in 10:00 Futbol Mundial mer is bonfire time. Almost every week there’s a there were no cushy trailers for stars to cool their marketing expenses if the studio isn’t convinced the 10:30 Trans World Sport Inew $200-million-plus production - Warner Bros.’ heels in - empty bedrooms doubled for dressing and film will do well at the box office. Because Universal 11:30 ICC Cricket 360 “Man of Steel” and Paramount’s “World War Z” are the makeup rooms - and no entourages or perks. “Your has guaranteed video and television distribution deals 12:00 Live British & Irish Lions next budget-busters — and it costs almost $100 mil- trailer looks like mine, and I don’t get one,” Blum tells around the world, the studio can basically break even 15:00 Trans World Sport lion more to market such films. All of which makes the creative talent when they sign up. if the movie never makes it to the multiplex. 16:00 Live International Rugby Union Universal Pictures’ “The Purge,” a dystopian thriller “Everybody above the line basically works for free,” Langley said that one collaboration between the 18:00 Live International Rugby Union costing a little more than $3 million - with an ad cam- said Blum, referring to the actors and top filmmaking studio and Blum, Joe Johnston’s thriller “Not Safe for 20:00 Live PGA Tour 21:30 Inside The PGA Tour paign just above $20 million - look like Jonah among talent. “And when you work for free, you get total cre- Work” with Max Minghella, will in fact bypass theaters 22:00 Live International Rugby Union so many whales. ative control.” Universal had some input in casting and instead debut on video-on-demand platforms at Art-house studios typically sprinkle the season and created the film’s marketing materials, but Blum some unspecified date. “Some of my movies work, with low-budget titles that debut in a handful of cities, and DeMonaco weren’t subjected to endless script and some of them don’t,” Blum said. “I want to be able yet rarely does a major studio throw such a modest notes and executives didn’t scrutinize the film’s daily to say to the studio, ‘We missed, let’s go to VOD.’” movie into wide release smack dab in the year’s most footage, the way most studio productions are super- To improve his odds, the 44-year-old Blum doesn’t 01:00 WWE Smackdown competitive months. Next week’s raunchy comedy vised. In a way, Blum said, that loose oversight creates hire first-time directors; DeMonaco, 43, helmed the 03:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter “This Is the End,” for example, cost $32.5 million - far a more collegial atmosphere because you’re not crime drama “Staten Island,” which also starred 05:00 Super Rugby 07:00 Live Champions Tour less than the Superman reboot, for sure, but 10 times afraid of the studio, or of losing control of the produc- Hawke, four years ago. DeMonaco was then teamed 09:00 European Senior Tour the price tag of “The Purge.” tion. with experienced producers Andrew Form and Brad 10:00 European Tour Weekly But Universal and “Purge” producer Jason Blum When “The Purge” was completed, Blum Fuller (2010’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street”), a cine- 10:30 Live International Rugby Union believe there’s a financial and creative model for pro- screened it for test audiences before he showed it to matographer (Jacques Jouffret, a camera operator on 12:30 NRL Premiership ductions as inexpensive as theirs, and they hope the the studio. The previews suggested that Hawke’s the “Transformer” movies) and an editor (Peter 14:30 Futbol Mundial movie could become one of the season’s more character wasn’t quite likable enough, so DeMonaco Gvozdas, an assistant editor on “Pain & Gain”) from 15:00 Live UK Open Datrs notable surprises. Social media traffic and audience cut a few lines of dialogue about how some victims Michael Bay’s production company, Platinum Dunes, 19:00 British and Irish Lions Tour tracking surveys suggest the film, opening late of violence deserved their fate. He also decided he which shares screen credit with Blum’s Blumhouse 22:00 Live PGA Tour Thursday, could gross as much as $25 million in its needed to add back a scene he’d scrapped for budg- Productions. debut weekend. et reasons showing Hawke more forcefully defend- Despite the promise of creative autonomy, not “We probably cost less than the catering budgets ing his family. everyone is initially thrilled working for wages a few on every movie surrounding us. Seriously,” said the Universal executives liked the finished film so steps up from pulling lattes at Starbucks. Yet because 00:00 European Senior Tour Highlights film’s writer and director, James DeMonaco, who has much they decided to schedule “The Purge” opposite Blum operates independent of Universal, talent 01:00 Super Rugby screenplay credits on “Assault on Precinct 13” and Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson’s comedy “The agents can’t call Langley and ask for more money for 03:00 Total Rugby 03:30 AFL Premiership “The Negotiator.” “I don’t know what to feel - some of Internship,” a 20th Century Fox film that cost about their actors or other clients. DeMonaco said that he 06:00 Trans World Sport the time it’s totally terrifying. But it’s kind of cool that $58 million. Donna Langley, Universal’s co-chairman, originally thought he needed about $10 million to 07:00 Super Rugby we’re being released in the middle of the summer.” said the deal with Blum was launched because the film “The Purge” and was hoping he might get as 09:00 Total Rugby “The Purge” is an R-rated tale set in the near future; studio wanted to get back in the genre business, and much as $15 million. 09:30 ICC Cricket 360 society has managed to eliminate crime 364 days per at a low cost. While the studio was behind classic hor- Told that his budget with Blum would be about $3 10:00 NRL Full Time year by allowing the public one night of prosecution- ror titles such as “Frankenstein” and “Dracula,” its million, the director hesitated. 10:30 Live NRL Premiership free blood lust. Ethan Hawke stars as a suburban more contemporary efforts within the realm were “I thought I needed a lot more money,” said the 12:30 Trans World Sport father whose security systems are designed to protect mostly unsuccessful, including flops with “The director, who had developed a serial killer script with 13:30 ICC Cricket 360 his family and neighbors from the government-sanc- Wolfman” in 2010 and “The Thing” in 2011. Blum years ago that was never made. “I didn’t know if 14:00 Inside The PGA Tour 14:30 PGA European Tour Weekly tioned lawlessness, where everything - up to and “We were looking for someone with a strong it was possible” to make the film at that price, he said. 15:00 Live PGA European Tour including murder - is encouraged. expertise in the thriller and horror genre,” Langley “But it forces you to get very creative and say, ‘What 18:00 AFL Premiership When his young son decides to shelter a homeless said. She said the studio is so attentive to maintaining do I really need’ - you can’t waste any time.” Counting 20:30 Total Rugby man being chased by some locals, his pursuers lay its franchises (“Fast & Furious 6”), comedies (“Ted 2” is all credits, “The Purge” isn’t even 90 minutes long. 21:00 Live UK Open Darts siege to the home, quickly proving the fortifications in development), animated movies (“Despicable Me Because the movies are intended to appeal to a somewhat less than reliable. The family must hold off 2” arrives July 3) and new big-budget endeavors (at definable audience and have so-called “sticky” mar- the intruders until dawn, when the mayhem moratori- year’s end, “47 Ronin”) that the studio doesn’t have keting hooks - concepts that can be described in just a um is reinstated. “The Purge” is the first collaboration the “bandwidth” to focus on low-budget fright flicks. few words that are easily remembered - advertising 01:30 NHL between Universal and Blum, who also was a produc- Some of Blum’s most recent films have recorded budgets are a fraction of what they would be for other 03:30 Mobil 1 The Grid er on “Paranormal Activity,” “Insidious” and “Sinister.” huge returns on investment. Made for about $15,000, wide-release movies. To support “The Purge,” Blum 04:00 WWE Bottom Line Under a three-year deal announced in 2011, Blum has the first “Paranormal Activity” in 2009 grossed more screened the movie to a dozen college campuses over 05:00 NHL wide creative leeway to deliver genre movies costing than $193 million worldwide; 2011’s “Insidious,” pro- two weeks in early May, and at a certain point the 07:00 UK Open Darts $4 million or less. duced for about $1.5 million, grossed $97 million online buzz started feeding on itself, with Facebook 11:00 WWE Vintage Collection Shot in 20 quick days in Los Angeles (with a couple globally; and last year’s “Sinister,” budgeted at $3 mil- likes and Twitter mentions surging in recent days. 12:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 12:30 Live AFL Premiership of extra days for reshoots) last year, “The Purge” was lion, grossed more than $77 million (sequels to all Universal is also promoting the film through tradition- 15:30 WWE Smackdown made for a fraction of the typical Hollywood budget three films are in the works). al means such as billboards, television spots and print 17:30 Mobil 1 The Grid largely because almost everybody was paid the mini- Part of Blum’s pitch to Universal is that because the ads. “The concept is very arresting,” said Blum. 18:00 Live Nations Cup mum amount allowed by Hollywood’s unions. In movies are so cheap, the studio isn’t obligated to “People want to talk about it. The film gets under their 22:00 UIM Powerboat Champs return for working on the cheap, they will get a bigger release them theatrically - they can go straight to DVD skin.” —MCT WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Bishop Moore Career guidance seminar College alumni for ICSK Amman students ishop Moore College established in 1964 situated in Kallumala, Mavelikara, Kerala is reactivating the alumni career guidance seminar was Bin Kuwait. Since we are reactivating the alumni in conducted for the students of the Kuwait. Those who studied in Bishop Moore College may AIndian Community School, please contact at 97542985. Amman Branch, on 14 May, 2013. Dr Jaganath R Chodankar, Urologist at the Jaber Al-Ahmed Armed Forces Hospital, was invited to conduct the program for the students of Class IX and X. The semi- nar was conducted at the initiative of the staff and student welfare committee of the ICSK Board of Trustees. The ses- sion began with an introductory speech by Sherly Dennis, Vice-Principal of ICSK IMAX film program Amman. Saturday: Dr Jaganath gave a speech on pros ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups and cons while pursuing a career in the Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 1:30pm, 8:30pm medical and para-medical field. He Tornado Alley 3D11:30am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, encouraged the students to pursue their 9:30pm studies in the branch of medical science, available in the medical field. all questions put forth to him during the To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 6:30pm if this field interested them, and asked The seminar was truly inspirational interactive session with the students. Born to be Wild 3D 3:30pm them to pursue it with dedication, pas- and life-changing and helped the stu- The session concluded with a vote of Journey to Mecca 4:30pm sion and hard work. He also informed dents to choose the correct path for thanks by Sumitra Nandakumar, them about the various opportunities their career. Dr Jaganath also answered Academic Supervisor. Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request. “Fires of Kuwait” is in English. Arabic headsets are available upon request. Film schedule is subject to changes without notice.

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Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: [email protected] Fax: 24835619 / 20 WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Embassy Information

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.aus- [email protected] (VFS) [email protected] (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, PART holds painting exhibition Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more informa- creative painting exhibition and tion. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas an open canvas painting by on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. APART became a grand success. The exhibition conducted at United ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Indian School, Abbasiya on Friday, was EMBASSY OF CANADA inaugurated by ace Indian film director The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does Joshy Mathew. About 15 artists of not have a visa or immigration depart- PART showcased their creative art ment. All processing of visa and immi- works unveiling the mysterious human gration matters including enquiries is conduct- mind. Hundreds of viewers interacted with the artists. The exhibition became ed by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, more colorful and interesting when UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, artists splotch their colorful bristles on studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada the massive canvas. An auspicious visit should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu of Kerala Minister of Home Affairs Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.going- Thiruvanjoor Radhakrishnan added tocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im- hues to the art event. [email protected]. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is ‘Venalthanima 2013’ kicks off open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ EMBASSY OF US Parents of Kuwaiti citizen children may drop off their sons’ and daughters’ visa applications - completely free of an inter- view or a trip inside the Embassy. The chil- dren must be under 14 years of age, and addition- al requirements do apply, but the service means parents will no longer have to schedule individual appointments for their children, nor come inside the Embassy (unless they are applying for them- selves). The service is only available for children holding Kuwaiti passports. To take advantage, enalthanima 2013’, a three-day pur- Adv.John Thomas, Suresh Krishnan, Saji The participants, parents, dignitaries and the parents must drop off the following documents: pose driven personality develop- Janardhanan, Raju Zacharia, Saji Thomas, organizers lined up on the stage and Joshy Child Visa Drop-off cover sheet, available on the ment & leadership training work- Somu Mathew, Litty Jacob and Diana Savio Mathew, Mohd Afzal, Madhu Ravindran and Embassy website ‘V (http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.htm) - shop organized by Thanima, the socio- representatives of camp partici- cultural group active in Kuwait for a pants - Royce and Priyanka - lit the Child’s passport; The Child’s previous passport, if it decade, kicked off on 6 June morning traditional lamp. Johney Kunnil contains a valid US visa; 5x5cm photo of child with at United Indian Central School, presented a memento to Joshy eyes open (if uploaded into DS-160, photos must Abbassiya with a prayer song by Mathew as a token of appreciation be a .jpg between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, Reshma Mariam John. for his achievements and service less than 240kb, and cannot be digitally altered); Internationally acclaimed film direc- to the society. Usha Dileep and A completed DS-160 form; Visa Fee Receipt from tor Joshy Mathew inaugurated the Mary John coordinated the pro- Burgan Bank; A copy of the valid visa of at least workshop who himself is associated grams. one parent. If one parent will not travel, provide a with children’s group for the past many This was followed by different visa copy for the traveling parent, and a passport decades and emphasized the need for training sessions on various topics copy from the non-traveling parent with a letter such workshops to identify our cultural by Joshy Mathew, Babuji Bathery, stating no objection to the child’s travel. - For chil- values for the success in life. He further Uday, Santhosh Varghese, dren of students (F2): a copy of the child’s I-20. congratulated Thanima for the venture Johnarts, Adv John Thomas and Children born in the US (with very few excep- and encouraged children to make use Manojkumar. tions) are US citizens and would not be eligible for of the same. Babuji Bathery, camp This is the 9th consecutive year a visa. Parents may drop off the application packet director, elaborated on the camp Thanima conducts ‘Venalthanima’. at Window 2 at the Embassy from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, theme (views + values = victory) highlighting spoke on the occasion. Alex Varghese (general Though the maximum number in each group Monday to Wednesday, excluding holidays. More the need for a retreat from today’s fast convener) presided over the function. is limited to 50 each (junior and senior), this information is available on the U.S. Embassy web- phased life that miss right views and human Community leaders and representatives of year 110 students are participating in the site: kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.html values. Indian organizations attended the function. workshop, which will conclude today. HEALTH SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Meet your distant cousin: Tiny hyperactive primate Earliest primates ‘very frenetic creatures, anxious’

WASHINGTON: New fossil evidence of on the family tree it offers the best clues primates are set apart from other mam- the earliest complete skeleton of an yet of what our earliest direct relatives mals because of our grasping five fin- ancient primate suggests it was a would have been like at that time, gers and toes, nails, and forward-facing hyperactive, wide-eyed creature so according to a study published eyes. And this new species called small you could hold a couple of them Wednesday in the journal Nature. “It’s a Archicebus achilles fits right in, Beard in your hand - if only they would stay close cousin in fact,” said study author said. Among primates there are three still long enough. The 55-million-year- Christopher Beard, curator at the suborders: anthropoids, which include old fossil dug up in central China is one Carnegie Museum of Natural History in apes, monkeys and us; and two other CARSON CITY: In this file photo, wild horses run of our first primate relatives and it gives Pittsburgh. He said it is “the closest suborders that include lemurs and the around in a fenced field at the Stewart Conservation scientists a better understanding of the thing we have to an ancestor of lesser known tarsiers. This new species Camp in Carson City, Nev. —AP complex evolution that eventually led humans” so long ago. is in the same grouping as tarsiers, but to us. This tiny monkey-like creature Primate is the order of life that close to the offshoot branch in the fami- Fertility drugs and weighed an ounce or less and wasn’t a includes humans along with apes, mon- ly tree where humans come from. The direct ancestor. Because it’s so far back keys, and lemurs. Humans and other fossil includes anthropoid-like features. nature better than “It’s a cute little thing; it’s ridiculously little,” Beard said. “That’s one of the horse roundups more important scientific aspects of the whole story.” With a trunk only 2.8 inch- RENO: A scathing independent scientific review of wild horse es long, the furry creature was about as roundups in the West concludes the US government would be small as you can get and still be a mam- better off investing in widespread fertility control of the mus- mal, Beard said. Just like elephants and tangs and let nature cull any excess herds instead of spending horses, the farther back in time you get millions to house them in overflowing holding pens. A 14-mem- for some of today’s bigger mammals, ber panel assembled by the National Science Academy’s the smaller they get, Beard said. National Research Because it was so small and warm- Council, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management, blooded, it had to eat bugs and move concluded BLM’s removal of nearly 100,000 horses from the constantly to keep from losing internal Western range over the past decade is probably having the heat, Beard said. opposite effect of its intention to ease ecological damage and That means, Beard said, our earliest reduce overpopulated herds. By stepping in prematurely when primate relatives were “very frenetic food and water supplies remain adequate, and with most natu- creatures, anxious, highly caffeinated ral predators long gone, the land management agency is pro- animals running around looking for ducing artificial conditions that ultimately serve to perpetuate their next meal.” They lived in a tree- population growth, the committee said Wednesday in a 451- lined area near a Chinese lake, swinging page report recommending more emphasis on the use of con- around trees in a hotter climate, Beard traceptives and other methods of fertility control. said. Outside experts praised the study The research panel sympathized with BLM’s struggle to find as significant, confirming what some middle ground between horse advocates and ranchers who see thought about our primate ancestors. the animals as unwelcome competitors for forage. It noted Rick Potts, director of the human origins there’s “little if any public support” for allowing harm to come to program at the Smithsonian Institution, either the horses or the rangeland itself. The report says the cur- said this fossil’s mix of different features rent method may work in the short term, but results in continu- illustrate the fascinating and crucial ally high population growth, exacerbating the long-term prob- changes that occur around major evolu- lem. tionary branch points in our family tree. The American Wild Horse Preservation Fund, a national coali- The study also bolstered another theory tion of more than 50 advocacy groups, said the report makes a that early primates first developed in strong case for an immediate halt to the roundups. “This is a Asia, even though humans evolved turning point for the decades-long fight to protect America’s This image shows a reconstruction of Archicebus achilles in its natural nearly 50 million years later in Africa, mustangs,” said Neda DeMayo, president of the coalition’s habitat of trees. —AP Beard said. —AP Return to Freedom. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is among the live- stock groups that have voiced support in the past for aggressive, increased use of fertility control but remain adamantly opposed to curtailing roundups. Horse advocates themselves are not Marathon runner’s pain is united behind the idea of stepping up use of contraception on the range. “We are grateful that the National Academy of Science recommends stopping cruel roundups, but we chal- no pulled muscle; it’s a baby lenge their decision to control alleged overpopulation like a domestic herd with humans deciding who survives and breeds,” DULUTH: An aspiring half-marathon boys, ages 17, 19 and 20. Staine said called an ambulance. “I felt like I was said Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs in San runner in Minnesota attributed her she ran for about two hours Sunday in dying. I didn’t know what was going Francisco. The conflict has raged for decades but has intensified in unbearable back pain to a two-hour preparation for the Garry Bjorklund on,” she said. During the emergency recent years for cash-strapped federal land managers with sky- training session. A day later, she was half-marathon on June 22. room examination, Staine and her rocketing bills for food and corrals and no room for incoming cradling a newborn. Trish Staine, 33, “I had a sore back Sunday evening. I husband were stunned to learn med- animals. “The business as usual practices are not going to be says she had no idea she was preg- had taken a hot shower and was deal- ical staff had detected a fetal heart- effective without additional resources,” said Guy Palmer, a nant before Monday’s surprise birth. ing with it,” Staine said. “Monday beat. She was whisked to the delivery pathologist from Washington State University who chaired the The Duluth mother of three said she morning, I woke up and had more room and in what she said seemed research committee. hadn’t gained any weight or felt fetal back pain, and as the day went on it like 5 minutes later, her daughter was Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said the report should serve as a movement in the months before. got worse. I thought I should go to the born at 3:25 pm. Monday. She wakeup call to bring changes he and others in Congress have And besides, her husband had a ER. I thought I ruptured a disc or weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and was urged for years. “These unsustainable practices are a waste of vasectomy. pulled a muscle.” But she soldiered on, 18.9 inches long. Staine said her hus- taxpayer money and jeopardize the health and safety of wild “I said ‘no, no, that’s impossible,’ “ watching her husband play basketball band has a good sense of humor. horses across the West,” he said. Staine said Wednesday from her at noon and going to her daughter’s “He’s still in shock. Everybody is teas- BLM officials said they welcomed the recommendations to Duluth hospital room. “I definitely short play. When Staine got home, she ing him,” she said. Born about 5 weeks help in their effort to make the program more cost-effective. thought I was done having kids,” she thought a bath might help her pain. early, the Staines expect they will be Spokesman Tom Gorey said the agency “needs and wants to do joked. Staine and her husband, John, As she talked to her husband on able to take their baby home in about a better job” managing horses, but said those advocating an have a daughter, 7, and a son, 11. the phone, Staine said her pain was a week, a girl they have named Mira - end to all roundups are misguided. “It appears that our critics She’s also stepmother to John’s three becoming unbearable. Her husband short for Miracle. —AP want to use the report as a propaganda tool to stop gathers,” which the BLM is required to do by law, Gorey said. —AP HEALTH SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

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Arrival Flights on Saturday 8/6/2013 KAC 176 GENEVA 17:45 IRC 6589 SHAHRE 10:00 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 104 LONDON 18:45 ETD 302 ABU DHABI 10:15 BBC 43 DHAKA 00:05 KAC 790 MEDINAH 13:55 KAC 101 LONDON 10:25 QTR 148 DOHA 00:05 KAC 774 RIYADH 19:25 IRM 1187 IMAM KHOMEINI 10:30 SAI 441 LAHORE 01:30 KAC 618 DOHA 19:10 JZR 356 MASHHAD 11:00 JZR 267 BEIRUT 00:20 KAC 562 AMMAN 19:55 KAC 501 BEIRUT 11:10 JZR 539 CAIRO 00:40 KAC 538 SOHAG 15:40 GFA 214 BAHRAIN 11:25 THY 764 SABIHA 01:40 KAC 672 DUBAI 13:40 KAC 541 CAIRO 11:30 ETH 620 ADDIS ABABA 01:45 KAC 542 CAIRO 18:15 IRA 3406 MASHHAD 11:35 GFA 211 BAHRAIN 01:55 KAC 502 BEIRUT 18:50 KAC 165 ROME 11:45 PIA 239 ISLAMABAD 02:05 JZR 125 BAHRAIN 16:25 IAW 158 AL NAJAF 12:00 UAE 853 DUBAI 02:25 JZR 777 JEDDAH 17:50 JZR 776 JEDDAH 12:25 ETD 305 ABU DHABI 02:30 JZR 269 BEIRUT 19:15 MSC 406 SOHAG 13:00 FDB 67 DUBAI 03:10 JZR 535 CAIRO 16:10 IRM 1189 MASHHAD 13:10 RJA 648 AMMAN 03:10 JZR 177 DUBAI 17:30 JZR 176 DUBAI 13:20 RBG 555 ALEXANDRIA 03:15 JZR 257 BEIRUT 14:30 JZR 124 BAHRAIN 13:30 MSR 612 CAIRO 03:15 JZR 357 MASHAD 16:50 JZR 268 BEIRUT 13:35 OMA 643 MUSCAT 03:20 MEA 402 BEIRUT 20:15 MSR 611 CAIRO 14:00 QTR 138 DOHA 03:30 MSR 618 ALEXANDRIA 20:30 THY 767 ISTANBUL 14:10 THY 770 ISTANBUL 04:35 KNE 462 MEDINAH 20:35 KNE 481 TAIF 14:10 DHX 170 BAHRAIN 05:10 AXB 489 COCHIN 20:35 UAE 872 DUBAI 14:15 FDB 69 DUBAI 05:50 KLM 415 AMSTERDAM 21:05 FDB 58 DUBAI 14:30 BAW 157 LONDON 06:30 ALK 229 COLOMBO 21:10 KAC 561 AMMAN 14:40 KAC 412 MANILA 06:15 UAE 859 DUBAI 21:15 QTR 141 DOHA 14:55 KAC 206 ISLAMABAD 07:25 ETD 307 ABU DHABI 21:30 IRC 6693 MASHHAD 15:00 KAC 416 JAKARTA 06:35 QTR 136 DOHA 21:35 MSR 576 SHARM EL SHEIKH 15:00 JZR 1541 CAIRO 06:25 GFA 217 BAHRAIN 21:45 KAC 673 DUBAI 15:05 JZR 555 ALEXANDRIA 06:20 JAI 576 COCHIN 21:55 KNE 473 JEDDAH 15:30 JZR 529 ASSIUT 06:40 QTR 146 DOHA 22:00 KAC 617 DOHA 15:45 FDB 53 DUBAI 07:45 FDB 59 DUBAI 22:20 SYR 342 DAMASCUS 15:55 UAE 855 DUBAI 08:25 AIC 975 CHENNAI 22:25 SVA 505 JEDDAH 16:00 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UAE 854 DUBAI 03:45 KAC 331 TRIVANDRUM 20:50 SYR 341 DAMASCUS 14:55 FDB 68 DUBAI 03:50 OMA 648 MUSCAT 20:55 KNE 470 JEDDAH 15:05 RBG 556 ALEXANDRIA 03:55 KAC 351 KOCHI 21:05 RJA 640 AMMAN 15:55 MSR 613 CAIRO 04:15 IRA 604 ISFAHAN 21:10 QTR 134 DOHA 16:15 OMA 644 MUSCAT 04:20 MEA 403 BEIRUT 21:15 ETD 303 ABU DHABI 16:35 ETD 306 ABU DHABI 04:20 MSR 607 LUXOR 21:30 UAE 857 DUBAI 16:55 QTR 139 DOHA 04:25 KAC 543 CAIRO 21:30 ABY 127 SHARJAH 17:10 QTR 149 DOHA 05:15 KNE 475 JEDDAH 21:45 UAL 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 17:15 FDB 70 DUBAI 06:30 DHX 171 BAHRAIN 21:50 GFA 215 BAHRAIN 17:20 RJA 649 AMMAN 06:35 KLM 415 DAMMAM 22:05 SVA 510 RIYADH 17:20 GFA 212 BAHRAIN 07:00 FDB 8058 DUBAI 22:05 NIA 251 ALEXANDRIA 18:00 THY 771 ISTANBUL 07:10 ETD 308 ABU DHABI 22:15 IZG 4167 MASHAD 18:05 JZR 240 AMMAN 07:10 ALK 230 COLOMBO 22:20 QTR 144 DOHA 18:25 JZR 164 DUBAI 07:25 UAE 860 DUBAI 22:25 FDB 63 DUBAI 18:55 KAC 537 SOHAG 07:45 KAC 381 DELHI 22:30 GFA 219 BAHRAIN 19:05 BAW 156 LONDON 08:25 QTR 137 DOHA 22:35 MSC 405 SOHAG 19:30 FDB 54 DUBAI 08:25 KAC 301 MUMBAI 22:40 JAI 572 MUMBAI 19:35 JZR 256 BEIRUT 08:50 GFA 218 BAHRAIN 22:45 RBG 553 ALEXANDRIA 19:40 JZR 324 AL NAJAF 09:10 FDB 60 DUBAI 23:00 FDB 61 DUBAI 20:00 JZR 534 CAIRO 09:10 KAC 205 ISLAMABAD 23:00 OMA 647 MUSCAT 20:00 KAC 789 MADINAH 09:15 JAI 575 ABU DHABI 23:05 ABY 129 SHARJAH 20:05 KAC 671 DUBAI 09:25 QTR 147 DOHA 23:05 IRA 607 MASHAD 20:10 ABY 126 SHARJAH 09:30 JZR 554 ALEXANDRIA 23:20 FDB 8053 DUBAI 18:20 KAC 787 JEDDAH 09:35 JZR 1540 CAIRO 23:25 KAC 118 NEW YORK 16:00 UAE 856 DUBAI 09:50 KNE 471 JEDDAH 23:25 KAC 674 DUBAI 19:25 FDB 56 DUBAI 09:55 KAC 411 BANGKOK 23:40 KAC 788 JEDDAH 15:00 QTR 133 DOHA 10:00 JZR 528 ASSIUT 23:55

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Word Search DOWN 1. Squash bugs. CROSSWORD214 2. The divine word of God. 3. Showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience. 4. A soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element. 5. The 2nd largest of the Great Lakes. 6. A genus of tropical Asian and Malaysian palm trees. 7. English poet and painter who was a leader of the Pre-Raphaelites (1828-1882). 8. The bureau of the Treasury Department responsible for tax collections. 9. A cylindrical drawstring bag used by sailors to hold their clothing and other gear. 10. Relating to or characteristic of Hungary. 11. Used of a single unit or thing. 12. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 13. Tropical starchy tuberous root. 14. Made of fir or pine. 22. Chief deity of Zoroastrianism. 24. (in Scotland or Ireland) A mountain or tall hill. 27. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material. 31. The event of dying or departure from life. 32. Based on or arising from the possession of money or wealth. 33. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the capital in 1998. 35. A family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in southeastern Asia. 37. The table in Christian churches where communion is given. 39. Serving as or forming a base. 43. (Akkadian) God of wisdom. 44. Lower in esteem. 45. The rate of moving (especially walking or running). 48. A member of the Nahuatl people who established an empire in Mexico that was overthrown by Cortes in 1519. ACROSS 49. Plants having flowers in umbels. 1. Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns 51. A pale rose-colored variety of the ruby spinel. of the spinal cord. 53. Brazilian tree with handsomely marked wood. 4. A personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others. 57. An electronic pulse counter used to count pulses that occur too rapidly to be 12. A master's degree in education. recorded individually. 15. The month following October and preceding December. 58. The town was taken from the Turks by the Russians in 1877 after a siege of 143 16. Characteristic of the dawn. days. 17. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice. 59. Make lighter or brighter. 18. How long something has existed. 64. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds. 19. Maneuvers of a horse in response to body signals by the rider. 66. United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874- 20. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health- 1954). related products. 68. Weight to be borne or conveyed. 21. The northernmost islands are part of Papua New Guinea. 70. An outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down. 23. Minor or subordinate. 71. The capital and chief port of Qatar. 25. Constrict or bind or draw together. 72. Fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm. 26. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 74. A doctor's degree in dental medicine. 28. Any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism. 75. Of a light yellowish-brown color n 1. 29. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series). 30. The mother of your father or mother. 34. A state in northwestern North America. Yesterdayʼs Solution 36. A benevolent aspect of Devi. 38. A metallic element of the rare earth group. 40. (Greek mythology) The winged goddess of the dawn in ancient mythology. 41. Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk. Yesterdayʼs Solution 42. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy. 46. A public promotion of some product or service. 47. A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn. 50. Any of various plants of the genus Sabbatia having usually pink cymose flowers. 52. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots. 54. Strike suddenly and with force. 55. A city in western Germany near the Dutch and Belgian borders. 56. An airfield without normal airport facilities. 60. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. 61. (informal) Of the highest quality. 62. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite. 63. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 65. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechan- ics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984). 67. Any small compartment. 69. A large number or amount. 73. Morally bad or wrong. 76. A slender double-reed instrument. 77. The compass point that is one point east of northeast. 78. The capital of Bahrain. 79. A Loloish language. 80. A male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917). 81. Quieten or silence (a sound) or make (an image) less visible. 82. An official language of the Republic of South Africa.

Daily Sudoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

AL capsules NL capsules Ortiz lifts Red Sox to 6-3 victory Phillies down BOSTON: David Ortiz hit a game-ending three-run hit in its victory over Chicago. Rosales’ fourth homer of homer, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the season came off White Sox reliever Matt Thornton Brewers 5-1 the Texas Rangers on Thursday night after trailing by (0-2), a 1-1 pitch that was just fair to left field. Yoenis three runs. Jacoby Ellsbury scored the tying run on a Cespedes hit two home runs for the second time in MILWAUKEE: Delmon Young homered, Tyler Cloyd fielder’s choice in the seventh inning of his first game three games. Josh Reddick also connected. All four allowed four hits over 6 2-3 scoreless innings, and after sitting out five straight because of a groin injury. homers were solo shots. A’s reliever Jerry Blevins got the Philadelphia Phillies moved above .500 for the Jonny Gomes led off the ninth with a double to center the win (5-0) while Grant Balfour earned his 14th save in first time this season with a 5-1 victory over the off Michael Kirkman (0-2) and Dustin Pedroia was as many attempts. The A’s have won six of seven and 17 Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. Coming off a walked intentionally to set up a potential double play of 20. Oakland is 12-2 during a 17-day stretch without a three-game sweep of Miami that pulled the Phillies with Ortiz coming to the plate. Ortiz then drove the first day off. The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 even for the first time since they were 6-6 on April pitch he saw from Kirkman for hit his 11th career game- games. 14, the season-high fifth consecutive win improved ending home run into an empty Texas bullpen. Ortiz their record to 31-30. Cloyd (2-2) limited Milwaukee watched his homer for a few moments before trotting ORIOLES 3, ASTROS 1 to singles by Jean Segura, Ryan Braun and Aramis his way toward home where he was met by a swarm of JJ Hardy got a season-high four hits and Adam Jones Ramirez through 6 2-3 innings. When Norichika Aoki celebrating teammates. Andrew Bailey (2-0) pitched a added an RBI double, leading Miguel Gonzalez and singled with two out in the seventh, Phillies manag- scoreless ninth for Boston, which took two of three Baltimore past Houston. Gonzalez (3-2) yielded five hits er Charlie Manuel brought in Justin De Fratus who from Texas. Ellsbury had a pair of doubles and two sin- and a run in six innings, and matched his season-best retired Segura on a grounder to second. gles. Gomes also had four hits and Pedroia hit a two-run with seven strikeouts. He slowed the Astros a day after Philadelphia scored in four of five innings against double in the third. they hit six home runs in an 11-7 win. The Orioles won Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta (4-7). their third straight series by taking two of three from TIGERS 5, RAYS 2 Houston. Bud Norris (5-5) allowed nine hits while strik- CARDINALS 12, DIAMONDBACKS 8 Max Scherzer struck out nine in seven innings to ing out seven in seven innings. — AP Shelby Miller hit his first career home run and remain unbeaten and Victor Martinez homered and also pitched six sharp innings, leading the Cardinals drove in three runs to lift Detroit over the Tampa Bay. over Arizona. Matt Adams and Daniel Descalso Scherzer (8-0) allowed a run and four hits, walking two. homered in an eight-run fourth inning off Ian He is the first Detroit pitcher to start the season 8-0 Kennedy. Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter also since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007. Joaquin Benoit connected for the Cardinals. Miller (7-3) allowed two allowed a run in the eighth, and Jose Valverde pitched a runs and six hits. He struck out nine and walked perfect ninth for his seventh save in nine chances. none. Kennedy (3-4) was tagged for 10 runs and 13 Martinez went deep in the fourth for his fourth home hits in four innings. Arizona scored three times in run of the year, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead. Miguel the ninth, and Edward Mujica got two outs for his Cabrera drove in a run the following inning with a sin- 18th save in 18 chances. gle - his major league-leading 66th RBI. Roberto Hernandez (3-6) allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings. DODGERS 5, BRAVES 0 Rookie Yasiel Puig hit his first career grand slam, ROYALS 7, TWINS 3 Zack Greinke pitched four-hit ball over seven Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run homer during a four-run innings, and the Dodgers snapped the Braves’ five- eighth inning and Kansas City rallied to win back-to- game winning streak. Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the back games for the first time since May 4-5 thanks to an Dodgers loaded the bases in the eighth after Cory offense that produced as many runs in the eighth as it Gearrin gave up one-out singles to Skip Schumaker had in any of its last 14 games. The Royals’ seven runs and Luis Cruz, and then walked pinch-hitter Hanley were their most since beating the Astros by the same Ramirez. Puig homered on the first pitch into the score on May 21. Wade Davis allowed three unearned right field pavilion, extending the Dodgers’ lead to runs before the Royals bullpen took control. Luke 5-0. Greinke (3-1) put his recent struggles behind Hochevar, Tim Collins (2-1) and Greg Holland combined him, striking out a season-high seven and walking for four scoreless innings to wrap up the win. All the three to earn his first victory since May 15 against runs in the eighth came off Jared Burton (0-3), who Washington. Tim Hudson (4-5) dueled Greinke allowed Eric Hosmer’s go-ahead single and an RBI dou- through seven innings, allowing one run and four ble by Billy Butler before serving up Cain’s homer to left hits. He struck out five and walked none in his first field. start against the Dodgers since 2011.

YANKEES 6, MARINERS 1 PADRES 6, ROCKIES 5, 12 INNINGS Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and Mark Pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal drove in the go- Teixeira followed with a solo shot as part of New York’s ahead run with a fielder’s choice in the 12th inning six-run third inning, and Phil Hughes took a shutout to lift the Padres to a win over Colorado, snapping a into the eighth against Seattle. Cano and Teixeira were six-game skid against the Rockies. With the bases the catalysts for New York’s big third inning that proved loaded and one out, Grandal sent a chopper to third to be the Yankees’ only offense as they started a 10- that Nolan Arenado fielded, quickly stepping on the game West Coast trip with a win. New York matched its bag and throwing low to first. Grandal was ruled season high for runs scored in an inning, tagging safe, though replays appeared to show he may have Seattle starter Aaron Harang (2-6) for eight hits in the been out by a step. Rockies manager Walt Weiss ran third before being shut down the rest of the night. out to argue with first base umpire Ed Hickox before Hughes (3-4) won for the first time in nearly a month. returning to the dugout. Luke Gregerson (4-2) He struck out seven before leaving after facing one bat- pitched two shutout innings and Brad Boxberger ter in the eighth inning. worked the 12th for his first save of the season. CHICAGO: Oakland Athletics second baseman Jed Manuel Corpas (0-1) gave up a one-out single to ATHLETICS 5, WHITE SOX 4, 10 INNINGS Lowrie (8), watches his throw to first base in the Chase Headley and a double to Kyle Blanks in the Adam Rosales hit a two-out homer in the 10th first inning of an MLB baseball game in Chicago on 12th. He intentionally walked Jedd Gyorko to set the inning, one of a season-high four home runs Oakland Thursday, June 6, 2013. — AP stage for Grandal. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 McIlroy hunts for answers

ARDMORE: Rory McIlroy has shown grit, worked on his putting and given himself chances to win. Now the world number two hopes to put everything together and win his second US Open in three years. McIlroy, who took his first major title two years ago at the US Open at Congressional, goes into next week’s 113th US Open at Merion trying to find consistency after a season that has tested his determi- nation and perseverance. “It has been a little bit of a frus- trating year,” McIlroy said. “It seems like every time that I’ve got a bit of momentum, I take two steps forward and then take one step back. But I’m getting there. It’s very close.” McIlroy struggled at the start of the season, adjusting to new clubs from Nike, but seemed to find his form with a runner-up effort at the Texas Open only to settle for 25th the following week at the Masters. The 24-year-old from Northern Ireland followed with top-10 efforts at Quail Hollow and the Players Championship, only to settle for a share of 57th last week at the Memorial. “I feel good going into the second major of the year and there’s still a lot of golf to be played this year,” McIlroy said. Tiger Woods “It’s one of these years where I’m waiting for one week where it all clicks together and then I can get on a run. I’ve had a couple of chances to win this year and I haven’t tak- Tiger leads world’s best to en them. I’ve had a few indifferent performances as well. “When this all clicks into place one week, I should be off and running.” Still, his putting was worrisome enough that he consulted with Coach Dave Stockton last week. “Dave tricky Merion for US Open Stockton was at Memorial for a couple of days, trying to get me to hole some more putts,” McIlroy said. “The ball strik- ARDMORE: World number one Tiger Woods tries to end a five- the seventh through 13th to be vulnerable. “You’re going to say, ing has not really been an issue this year. I’ve actually hit year major title drought in next week’s 113th US Open at Merion, ‘How can I make myself be ready to abuse those holes?’ because the ball pretty well from tee to green, and I’ve given myself where a mix of formidable long and short holes will test golf’s you need to play them well,” Nicklaus said. a lot of opportunities, but didn’t take as many as I should best. Woods has won four titles this season, pulling him four wins Most players see the final five holes on Sunday producing a have. shy of matching Sam Snead’s all-time record of 82 PGA titles. But champion that withstands a grueling test. “The last five are going “If I keep hitting the ball the way I know I can and hole he has not taken a major since the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, to be some of maybe the hardest that we have ever had in the US putts, I’ll hopefully be in the winner’s circle.” McIlroy, who where he won a playoff on a broken leg. Open,” said defending champion Webb Simpson, who won last won last year’s PGA Championship and two events in the US A major sex scandal, repeated leg injuries and a swing change year at Olympic Club in San Francisco. Phil Mickelson, the US left- PGA playoffs that followed, recalled how he missed the cut to ease the pressure on his 37-year-old body followed and at times hander who has won three Masters and a PGA Championship, has last year at the Players and Memorial and US Open and Woods has found the form that brought him 14 major titles-sec- settled for second in five US Opens, most recently in 2009. wondered how much worse things could get before collect- ond only to the 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. “My game is coming He won his 41st career crown at Phoenix in February but ing his second major title at Kiawah Island. “I’m definitely around, and to have won seven times the last couple years is hungers for a US Open and likes his chances at Merion, where the not too far away, where last year at this point, I feel like I something I’m proud of,” Woods said. “What I’ve done from last final round is on his 43rd birthday. “Finishing second five times didn’t know if I would ever play good again,” McIlroy said. year and this year, being healthy, it’s certainly pretty positive.” and not ever winning it would be a huge disappointment,” “It’s just the way golf is. There are so many highs and Woods has won at Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill and the Players Mickelson said. “Merion is going to be a good opportunity for me lows and you’ve just got to try to keep the lows as high as Championship this year and shared fourth at the Masters for the because it’s not necessary to hit drivers off a lot of holes. I’ll be hit- possible and just try to keep it on an even keel. I’m feeling third time in the past four years, but crashed to a share of 65th at ting a lot of 3-woods, hybrids, and long irons in. The strength of pretty good about my game.” McIlroy plays down his rival- last week’s Memorial. “I didn’t putt very well,” Woods said. “I my game is short, mid-irons into the green. I think that will give ry with world number one Tiger Woods, who also struggled thought the greens didn’t look that fast, but they were putting me a good chance.” at Memorial but who has won four times this year and will fast. I could never get the speed of them. It was just one of those World number two Rory McIlroy, who shared 25th at the try to end a five-year major win drought at Merion. “I don’t weeks. It happens.” But it was a poor time to struggle on the Masters and 57th at Memorial last week, won his first major at the think Tiger was ever gone,” McIlroy said. “He had a few greens, knowing that the US Golf Association figures to have 2011 US Open at Congressional and says he only needs to fashion struggles or whatever but he won four times this year. I’ve Merion’s putting surfaces as fast as lightning on a 6,996-yard, par- a solid 72 holes when it matters most. “I’m playing pretty well. I played with him quite a bit over the past 12 months and his 70 layout where accuracy will be at a premium. need it all to click into place and once I do that, I’ll be off and run- game is there. He’s playing very well. “I have a nice understanding of where my sight lines are going ning,” McIlroy said. “All parts of my game are there. I just need to “He’s got 14 majors and I’ve got two. I need to start win- to be and where I need to land the ball,” Woods said. “You want sort of put them all together for one week.” ning a lot and regularly and win a few more majors if I want everything clicking on all cylinders, especially at the US Open, American Matt Kuchar won the Memorial to bolster his confi- to even try and call whatever this is a rivalry.” McIlroy is the because everything is tested in the US Open.” Some critics say the dence heading into the year’s second major. “Winning tourna- oddsmakers’ favorite among the Europeans hoping to course is too small to be a formidable major tournament host, but ments breeds more winning tournaments,” Kuchar said. “Heading make a run at a major title at Merion. Reigning Masters Nicklaus is among those who believe the historic course with the into Merion, I’ll have a lot of confidence. I feel like I’ve been really champion Adam Scott of Australia and Memorial winner wicker basket-topped flagsticks will provide plenty of heartaches driving the ball well. I’m looking forward to my chances there at Matt Kuchar are also favored. World number five Justin for golfers. “Merion will do just fine,” Nicklaus said. “Merion has got Merion.” Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, has not fin- Rose of England, his seventh-ranked countryman Luke six or seven holes that you can abuse. They have got six or seven ished better than 30th in nine prior US Opens but looks forward to Donald and eighth-ranked Graeme McDowell, McIlroy’s holes that will abuse you. It will be a really exciting Open because the ultimate challenge it brings. “I’m excited,” Johnson said. “You countryman who ended a 40-year European win drought at of the nature of the golf course.” Shifting tee positions will alter know it’s going to be hard and brutal and it’s going to be a test of the US Open in 2010, are also in the hunt.— AFP the complexion of holes in various rounds but Nicklaus expects everything. I just have to be patient and be ready.”— AFP Japan’s rising golf star aims high at US Open

TOKYO: Japan’s rising golf star Hideki Matsuyama, who has played in two majors-the US Masters in 2011 and 2012. ular, has also finished runner-up twice so far this year on the won two of the domestic tour’s five events so far this year, “Honestly speaking, I don’t have much confidence,” he said. “I domestic tour. believes he has a good chance to finish high at next week’s US want to learn a lot because it will be the first time for me out He has qualified for the 2013 US Open by topping the 36- Open. “I have this image that the US Open is quite tough,” the there.” hole qualifying session in Japan in late May. But Ishikawa failed 21-year-old Japan Tour leader, who turned professional only in He won the Asian amateur championship in 2011 to gain to qualify in one of the sectional qualifying sessions in the April, told reporters before leaving Tokyo for the major tourna- entry to the Masters as the first non-professional from Japan to United States. “My condition is not quite right,” said ment to be held in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. play the prestigious tournament, just weeks after a massive Matsuyama, who had limited time to rest up after winning the But he recalled that fellow Japanese Koki Idoki, 51, became earthquake and tsunami ravaged his city of Sendai. But he fin- Diamond Cup last Sunday for his third ever Japan Tour victory. the first Asian to win a senior major tournament when he tri- ished tied 27th, winning the Silver Cup as the lowest scoring He also won the prestigious Taiheiyo Masters in 2011 as an umphed at the Senior PGA Championship on May 26 in his amateur. In 2012, he successfully defended his Asian amateur amateur. “But I think I’ll be alright with the time difference. I first trip to the United States.”I think I have such a possibility title, winning a spot at the Masters, where he finished 54th. don’t have any problem with food,” he said. “I imagine the too. I set my target to make the cut, first of all, and then aim for Matsuyama, who plans to follow the example of Japanese star course is set tough. I think it will be important to keep the ball a high spot,” said the fourth-year university student, who has and fellow 21-year-old Ryo Ishikawa to become a US PGA reg- on the fairways.”— AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8 , 2013

Royals face IPL suspension amid cricket betting row

NEW DELHI: Former Indian Premier League champions competition, according to police. He has since been es. Dalmiya said the Chennai team’s case would be decid- Rajasthan Royals faced suspension from the cash-rich tour- ordered to hand over his passport. According to an agree- ed only after a probe panel set up last month by the BCCI nament yesterday after its co-owner admitted to betting ment between the BCCI and IPL sides, if any franchise submits its report. Three Royals players and numerous on the Twenty20 matches. The Board of Control for Cricket group or owner acts in a way which has a “material bookmakers are among those arrested over allegations of in India (BCCI) has called an emergency meeting of its adverse effect” on the reputation of the BCCI or the league spot-fixing and betting during the recently-completed edi- working committee in New Delhi on Monday to discuss then their agreement will be terminated. tion of the IPL. Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth the fate of the team which is captained by Rahul Dravid. Rajasthan Royals, who won the inaugural IPL edition in and two of his teammates have been accused of deliber- “We have taken cognizance of the Raj Kundra issue. We are 2008 under Australian spin legend Shane Warne, have ately bowling badly in specific IPL matches in exchange for going to discuss it in our meeting on June 10 and if neces- already been thrown out of the IPL before because of own- tens of thousands of dollars after striking deals with book- sary, stringent measures will be taken,” BCCI interim head ership issues. But the 2010 decision was reversed when ies. A court this week denied them bail after police said Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters late Thursday. Indian courts overturned the expulsion. Another IPL side, they now had evidence, including telephone intercepts, Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Royals alongside his Chennai Super Kings, is also facing heat after its executive linking international organized crime syndicates to the Bollywood actress and former Big Brother contestant wife Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI chief N scandal. The betting and fixing scandal has shaken confi- Shilpa Shetty, has admitted to illegal gambling on the Srinivasan, was arrested for alleged betting on IPL match- dence in the game and enraged fans across India.— AFP

Dawson to S Africa woes deepen his defend as Morkel ruled out title against CARDIFF: Beleaguered South Africa suffered a major blow KO artist yesterday when fast bowler Morne Morkel was ruled out of the rest of the Champions Trophy with a leg injury. Morkel MONTREAL: Chad Dawson returns to his limped off while bowling his seventh over during Thursday’s comfort zone today when he puts his 26-run loss to India, and MRI scans confirmed a grade one World Boxing Council light heavyweight injury on the left quadricep, with recovery expected to take title on the line against knockout artist three weeks. Adonis Stevenson. Dawson’s last foray in “There is a tear in the layer covering the muscle, which the ring saw him stopped in the 10th means the recovery time will be longer than we thought,” round by Andre Ward on September 8, in team manager Mohammed Moosajee said. Morkel will be a fight for Ward’s super middleweight replaced by Chris Morris, a 26-year-old seamer who has world titles. Dawson was pummeled by played two Twenty20 matches for South Africa, but has yet Ward, who knocked him down in the to appear in an one-day international, the International third and fourth round before his final Cricket Council announced. barrage ended it in the 10th. AB de Villiers’ men must defeat Pakistan in Birmingham Dawson fell to 31-2 with 17 wins on Monday to keep their hopes alive of taking one of the inside the distance. Now, however, two semi-final spots from group B, which also features the Dawson is back up at light heavyweight, West Indies. The Proteas, already without veterans Graeme where he feels he ought to be. “I’m back Smith and Jacques Kallis for the eight-nation tournament, at my natural weight,” he told ESPN. “In are sweating over premier fast bowler Dale Steyn’s side the Ward fight, it took a lot out of me and strain which forced him to sit out on Thursday. Steyn is not a I got to see how physically strong I was certain starter against Pakistan, who already enjoy a psycho- at 175 (pounds) as opposed to being at logical edge following their six-wicket win over the Proteas 168 (pounds). “It was kind of a blessing in in the warm-up game. disguise to show me I shouldn’t have tak- “Dale is a work in a progress as far as recovery is con- en the fight at that weight, but I did. It cerned,” Moosajee said. “We can only get him to start bowl- was my error and Andre Ward took ing once he is symptom free. The physiotherapist is working advantage of it. Now I’m back at light hard on him and taking it day by day.” India took advantage heavyweight and I’m looking forward to of the depleted attack to rattle up 331-7 after being sent in continuing to be the best in the world.” to bat, with left-hander Shikhar Dhawan smashing 114 off 94 Dawson brings a record of 31-2 with balls after an opening stand of 127 with Rohit Sharma (65). 17 knockouts to the bout. In April of last India slipped from 210-1 to 260-5, but an unbeaten 47 from year he claimed the WBC light-heavy- 29 balls by Ravindra Jadeja steered the World Cup holders weight crown with a 12-round majority past the 300-run mark. decision over 47-year-old veteran The South Africans made a brave chase of the daunting Bernard Hopkins. Canada’s Stevenson, target and replied with 305 following a defiant century meanwhile, is moving up in weight to stand between skipper AB de Villiers and pinch-hitter Robin take on Dawson. He boasts a record of 20-1 with 17 knockouts. He avenged his Peterson for the third wicket. De Villiers hit 70 off 71 balls, only defeat-a 2010 loss to Darnell Boone, his sixth half-century in the last eight one-dayers and the with a sixth-round knockout of Boone in fourth in succession. Peterson made a career-best 68. Ryan March. — AFP McLaren gave India a fright towards the end with an unbeat- en 71 off 61 balls, adding 48 for the last wicket with the hob- South Africa’s Morne Morkel bling Morkel, but the effort was not enough to snatch a dra- matic win. Boxing - Huck ready to ‘destroy’ Afolabi De Villiers said his team made crucial errors, including the run-outs of Peterson and David Miller, but hoped his team BERLIN: Germany’s Marco Huck is hoping to punish Ola Afolabi for challenger. Afolabi, 33, has given his fair share in the verbal joust will bounce back despite the depleted attack. “We now have all his verbal provocations when he defends his WBO cruiserweight between the pair during the week leading up to the fight. a very important game against Pakistan,” he said. “We are title against the British fighter in Berlin today. “He’s starting to get on “What is your favorite color, pink? Well I am going to buy you a going there to win and we have to keep the aggressive my nerves, this time I am going to destroy him,” said Huck ahead of pink wheelchair after the fight,” said the London-born fighter, whose mind-set that we had in Cardiff. “It is basically a do or die. what will be the third confrontation between the two. record reads 19-2-4. “He needs a blood test to check that he is not The 28-year-old German of Serbian origin won his first fight related to Father Christmas with all the gifts he has been given,” We’d like to win at least two out of the three games. When against Afolabi by a unanimous decision in December 2009 before Afolabi added of Huck. Afolabi, nicknamed Kryptonite, has not fought you win just one out of three, net run-rate come into play. their second meeting ended in a draw in May last year. Huck has won since his second bout against Huck in Erfurt in May last year. The hold- We would not like to have that. “Each game we play here we 35 and lost just two of his 38 fights to date. “He says he is an actor er of the WBO belt since August 2009, Huck’s only defeat since came have to try to win it. It’s a short tournament. There is no and wears makeup. He is going to need it after the fight. I will even when he attempted the step up to heavyweight, only to lose on room for errors. We’ll try to repair that in the next game and give him money to buy some,” the defending champion said of his points to WBA champion Alexander Povetkin of Russia.— AFP go for a big one.”— AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Mexico’s young stars Lebanon to end doomed WCup eye Confed Cup glory campaign ‘clean’

BEIRUT: As Theo Buecker prepares an almost entirely ‘Chicharito’ gets chance to shine new team for the last match of Lebanon’s World Cup qualifying campaign, he struggles with memories of a MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s young stars led former squad that had given him reason to believe by Manchester United forward Javier that they’d all create history. “If our boys had not sold Hernandez hope to land a second the two matches against Qatar, we’d reach Brazil,” Confederations Cup in Brazil, despite an Buecker said. “We’d go to the World Cup next year.” unusually rocky road to qualify for the That’s not going to happen this time. The discovery in World Cup. Mexico made it to five of February that 24 players - including six involved in the previous eight tournaments thanks World Cup qualifying matches - had been implicated in to its dominance of the CONCACAF a match-fixing scandal has shocked Lebanon. Gold Cup and it triumphed in 1999 by Under German Buecker’s leadership Lebanon, with defeating arch-rivals Brazil 4-3. They a population of 4 million, had managed to beat begin their campaign in Rio de Janeiro stronger, much better-resourced teams including on June 16 against Euro championship Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in the past year. runners-up Italy before taking on hosts And that followed wins over even stronger Asian pow- Brazil on June 19 in the northeastern ers like South Korea and Iran in the previous qualifying city of Fortaleza and closing the group round for the 2014 World Cup. The national team was stage against Japan on June 22. helping to unite a population slowly trying to heal divi- Mexico’s new crop of players include sions after 15 years of sectarian war that left the place midfielder Giovani dos Santos and in ruins when it ended in 1990. winger Andres Guardado, both of Then it all went wrong in the two qualifying match- whom ply their trade in Spain and were es against Qatar. Lebanon lost the home and away part of the squad that won the Olympic games with their opponents scoring one goal in each gold medal-against Brazil again-in BRASILIA: Photo shows an overview of the national stadium of Brasilia, match, angering their fans and frustrating Buecker. “If London last year. But a big name miss- where the first match of the FIFA Confederations Cup between Brazil and you see how we lost, it’s just ridiculous,” Buecker told ing from the line-up is Carlos Vela, the Japan will take place on June 15. The Confederations Cup will be played The Associated Press in an interview. “One player, how former Arsenal forward, who is now over 16 days in six Brazilian cities, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, many times he was trying to be successful with the shining at Spain’s Real Sociedad but has Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador by national teams from Brazil, Spain, Italy, right pass to the opponents’ center forward, to put him had tense relations with his home fed- Uruguay, Mexico, Japan, Tahiti and Nigeria . — AFP in a position where it was easy for him to score. eration since 2011. Mexico manager Unbelievable!” tomorrow or even alive.” The first three umph in the regional tournament coin- Jose Manuel de la Torre met Vela in Buecker said he had no idea at the time that players CONCACAF teams directly qualify for cided with his brilliant debut with Spain but decided to keep him off the - all of whom were close with the coach - had been the World Cup while the fourth-placed Manchester United in the 2010-2011 list, explaining that the 24-year-old was playing to fix the matches, not win them. A few weeks “not committed to being in the national team heads to a play-off against the season, when he netted 20 goals to before Buecker’s side lost to Qatar 1-0 in Doha in team at this moment”. Vela’s presence winner of Oceania. Mexico will have help the Red Devils win the Premier November, Lebanon’s Football Association launched could have helped a team that has been buoyed by this week’s 1-0 World League and make him a household an investigation into allegations of match-fixing in struggled to score goals in its World Cup qualifying win against the “Reggae name in Europe. In his second season, international and continental games. A three-member Cup qualifying campaign, despite hav- Boyz” of Jamaica in Kingston-their first Manchester United only lifted the committee investigated players, officials and referees ing Hernandez up front and his tally of win after three draws. Mexico has two Community Shield and his goal tally and the outcome was startling: some players took 32 goals in 47 games for the national more qualifiers this month, facing dropped to 12 as his time on the pitch money from gambling syndicates and intentionally side. Mexico will also be without for- Panama on Friday and Costa Rica on began to take a hit with the emergence lost games. ward Oribe Peralta, another of the June 11, before the last four games in of Danny Welbeck. His playing time The LFA banned international players Ramez country’s Olympic heroes, owing to September and October, including a took even more of a knock last season injury. crucial matchup against the United with the arrival of former Arsenal striker Dayoub and Mahmoud al-Ali and club official Fadi De la Torre, known as “El Chepo,” has States. Robin van Persie at Old Trafford, who Fneish for life. The investigation was led by the general made it clear that making it to the helped Manchester United reclaim the secretary of the West Asian Football Federation, Fadi World Cup-which Mexico has qualified ‘CHICHARITO’ HERNANDEZ Premier League title. Zreiqat. Another 22 players were also sanctioned for for 14 times before-was a priority over Meanwhile, Mexico’s popular for- The 25-year-old forward voiced frus- their part in match-fixing in games involving Lebanese the Confederations Cup.”What is clear is ward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez tration at the end of the season, with clubs in Asian League matches. Midfielder Dayoub has that we need to score more goals,” de gets a new chance to shine for his British media quoting him as saying “all played for Selangor in Malaysia, and striker al-Ali has la Torre said recently. “Every game is a country at the Confederations Cup after the players in the world want to start played for Persiba Balikpapan in Indonesia. Fneish is an new episode in which we will try to losing playing time with his club every single game,” but he insisted that official with Beirut-based Al Ahed club who also served win,” he said. “We are moving step by Manchester United. The country’s star he was happy at the club. Despite los- as a translator for Lebanon’s national team. step.” Although he was cautiously opti- striker was instrumental in getting his ing his place in the pecking order under When Beucker returned to Beirut from the Qatari mistic that Mexico would move within nation into the FIFA tournament in Alex Ferguson, who retired after the capital after one match, his wife told him that the fans, qualifying range in June match-ups, he Brazil, which takes place between June season, Chicharito (“Little Pea”) scored who had rallied behind the national team in a rare added: “I never guarantee anything 15-30, after scoring seven goals to win 18 goals in all competitions for show of unity, were angry because they were con- because I don’t even know if I’ll be here the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His tri- Manchester United. —Agencies vinced Dayoub sold the match. “We had a fight and I said it was not true,” he said. “But I did watch the match again, and you can see clearly, Ramiz is really focused, intently looking, looking, looking for the play- er of the other side and then passing the ball to him,” Nigeria make nine changes Buecker said. He said there were some on the team who had their LAGOS: Nigeria made nine changes to their squad for the Captain Joseph Yobo, dropped during the African suspicions at the time, but “nobody in the right mind Confederations Cup from the one that won the African Nations Cup, is left out as his international career looks to assumed it was deliberate bad behavior,” Buecker said. Nations Cup in February as Coach Stephen Keshi continued be at an end, while the likes of Peter Odemwingie and “Ramiz played a couple of passes into our defense, to his policy of promoting inexperienced youngsters yester- Obafemi Martins were again overlooked. our opponents, and we thought, is the guy blind? day. The list, released by the Nigerian Football Federation, Keshi was pilloried by local media before the Nations What is he doing?” the coach recalled. He then includes four uncapped players plus five more who made a Cup for choosing inexperienced, home-based players but reviewed other matches, including Lebanon’s home first international appearance just over a week ago in a since winning the continental championship has silenced match against Qatar last June. “We were the dominat- friendly against Mexico. Keshi has a settled look about his the critics. Nigeria are in Group B along with Tahiti, ing team, we were controlling the match, we had good defense but has made a host of changes in other depart- Uruguay and Spain for the Confederations Cup, which runs possession of the ball but in a very funny way, in front ments with Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike, who from June 15 to 30. Before heading to Brazil, they travel to of the goal we look like we’ve all broken our legs,” played key parts in the surprise Nations Cup Success in Namibia for a World Cup qualifier in Windhoek on Buecker said. “I just could not believe it.” — AFP South Africa, unavailable. Wednesday. — Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Early goal will prevent Photo of the day Jordan’s ‘timewasting’ Australia sorry after detaining Jordan coach

MELBOURNE: Australia need to score early in a win would encourage a more enterprising their World Cup qualifier against Jordan next approach, because that would play into the week, to both prize the Middle Eastern team Socceroos’ hands. “I hope they do come out and away from their defensive game and prevent play open and not try, like we said, park the bus in them from engaging in timewasting tactics, front of the goal,” he said. “As a team, we play according to midfielder Mark Bresciano. Australia better when it’s an open game, where we have take on Jordan at Melbourne’s Docklands stadi- teams that come to us and try and play their foot- um on Tuesday with both teams locked on seven ball and obviously try to attack.” points in Asian qualifying Group B and needing wins in their final two matches to be assured of AUSTRALIA ‘SORRY’ securing the second automatic berth to next Foreign Minister Bob Carr apologized yester- year’s finals. day after Jordan’s national football coach Adnan Japan have already booked their ticket to Hamad was detained at Melbourne airport when Brazil by sealing the first automatic spot with a 1- he flew in for a crunch World Cup qualifier against 1 home draw against Australia on Tuesday. Australia. The Jordan Football Association Jordan upset Japan 2-1 at home in March to expressed outrage after Hamad, an Iraqi, was held boost their hopes of a maiden World Cup appear- in a small room for four hours on his arrival ance but drew yellow cards for time-wasting as Wednesday along with other members of the del- they closed out the match with players griping at egation. the referee and rolling on the turf to feign serious “Jordan Football Association strongly rejects injuries. Bresciano said he expected little respite the Australian authority’s actions in Melbourne from the gamesmanship if Jordan took the upper airport on Wednesday regarding Adnan Hamad,” hand in their match. a statement said. JFA general secretary Khalil Al “I’m not expecting any better on Tuesday Salem demanded an official explanation from night because I’m thinking if they have the result Australia, which is due to host the 2015 Asian they want, they’re going to do the same thing, Cup, and said he would contact FIFA about the that’s part of their tactics,” the former Serie A matter. He claimed all visas and entry procedures playmaker told reporters in Melbourne yesterday. had been followed and there was no reason why “We’ve just got to hope that it’s never going to Hamad should have been held. The Jordanian get in that situation. We’re hoping from the whis- embassy in Australia intervened and the coach tle that we can hurt them.” Australia suffered a was eventually allowed into the country. shock 2-1 defeat to Jordan last September in their Carr, conscious that football is hugely popular previous fixture and have been riled by Middle in Jordan and Hamad is a well-known figure, Eastern sides in the final phase of qualifying. sought to calm the situation. “Obviously, Hamad Socceroos coach Holger Osieck fumed from being delayed caused an inconvenience and the sideline as his team were held to a 2-2 draw at embarrassment,” Carr’s spokesman told AFP, home to Oman in March, and midfielder Tim adding that he was not aware of why he was Cahill complained that the visitors called for the detained. “As a matter of courtesy, the minister stretcher seven times through the rang the Jordanian ambassador and said sorry for match.Bresciano said he hoped Jordan’s need for the inconvenience.” —Agencies

Napoli president says One of the competitors heading for a dunk at the Red Bull King of the Rock Kuwait. www.redbullcontentpool.com Chelsea want Cavani ROME: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis Arsenal ready to spend big says Chelsea have made enquiries about sign- ing striker Edinson Cavani. “Chelsea are inter- LONDON: Chief executive Ivan Gazidis coming on board and all of these things ested in Cavani and they will call me soon,” De has raised the prospect of some high-pro- mean we can do some things which Laurentiis told Napoli’s official radio station file arrivals at Arsenal by declaring that would excite you, (but) what excites Radio Marte from Los Angeles yesterday. “I’m manager Arsene Wenger will not be Arsene isn’t necessarily what excites you very happy that his brother has said that he encumbered by financial constraints in (the press).” will stay, but if he did decide to go to Chelsea the transfer market. The north London A report by financial analysts Deloitte we would take time out to think and replace club are reported to be actively seeking published earlier this week showed that him with people worthy of replacing him.” new recruits as they bid to end an eight- Arsenal generated £235 million of rev- Uruguayan Cavani was top scorer in Serie A year trophy drought, and Gazidis says enue in the 2011-12 season, trailing only last term, netting 29 goals in 34 appearances they will be targeting the world’s leading United and Chelsea. Arsenal’s 60,000- as they challenged for the title and finished players. “It is going to be the players that capacity Emirates Stadium generates second behind Juventus. Arsene believes in,” Gazidis said, in com- around £3.3 million per game, while He is also Napoli’s third highest goalscorer ments reported by several British media recently agreed commercial deals are with 104 goals in three seasons, 11 behind outlets on Friday. reported to be worth in the region of £70 Diego Maradona, who scored 115 in seven “He is pretty blind to price tags. He million. seasons. Film mogul De Laurentiis also looks at what he sees with his eyes and Wenger has traditionally been reluc- revealed in the interview that he has offered makes judgments based on that, and not tant to authorize big-money player acqui- 40 million euros ($52.8 million) for AS Roma on reputations and prices.” Arsenal have sitions, but Gazidis believes the club’s Edinson Cavani pair Erik Lamela and Marquinhos. “I contacted been linked with Manchester United strik- financial footing means they should even- Unicredit (Italian bank which part-owns Roma) der if they were really worth that amount of er Wayne Rooney, who has asked to leave tually be able to operate on a par with directly for Lamela and Marquinhos. I offered money.” Napoli are looking to strengthen their the Premier League champions. Asked if teams like European champions Bayern them 40 million,” he said. “They wanted to sell squad for next season, hoping to build on an Arsenal could afford a player who com- Munich. “We should be able to compete me the services of (Pablo) Osvaldo at all costs, impressive campaign that saw them qualify for manded a £20 million ($31.2 million, 23.5 at a level like a club such as Bayern but, seeing that for now we have Edinson the Champions League. Former Chelsea boss million euros) transfer fee and a £200,000- Munich,” he added. “I am not saying we Cavani we don’t need him. Rafael Benitez has replaced Walter Mazzarri as per-week salary, Gazidis replied: “Of are there by any means. We have a way to “This all happened before Benitez signed manager after the latter moved to Inter Milan course we could do that. We could do go before we can put ourselves on that and I thought I’d done good business for two and will need a bigger squad if they want to more than that. We have a certain amount level, but this whole journey over the past young players. Then however I began to won- compete domestically and in Europe. — Reuters which we have held in reserve. 10 years really has been with that goal in “We also have new revenue streams mind.”— AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Spurs turn down the Heat Spurs stun Heat in Game 1 of NBA Finals

MIAMI: The San Antonio Spurs returned to the NBA Finals just the way they left - with a victory over LeBron James. Tim Duncan overcame a slow start to finish with 20 points and 14 rebounds, Tony Parker banked in a desperation jumper on a broken play with 5.2 seconds left and the Spurs with- stood James’ triple-double to beat the Miami Heat 92-88 on Thursday night in a thrilling Game 1. Parker ended up with 21 points after ref- erees reviewed his shot to make sure it just beat the shot clock, giving San Antonio a four-point edge in a game that was close the whole way. “Tony’s shot is one of those things that happens sometimes,” Manu Ginobili said. “We got lucky today.” James had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in his second straight NBA Finals triple-double, but he shot only 7 of 16 against some good defense by Kawhi Leonard, and Miami’s offense stalled in the fourth quarter. Playing for the championship for the first time since sweeping James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, the Spurs improved to 5- for-5 in Game 1s, hanging around for three quarters and then blowing by the defending champions midway through the fourth. Ginobili, the third member of San Antonio’s Big Three that has combined for 99 postsea- son victories together, finished with 13 points, and Danny Green had 12. “It doesn’t matter how we’re categorized - old, veter- ans, whatever you call us, we’re in the mix,” Duncan said. Game 2 is tomorrow’s night. James became a champion on this floor last year in Game 5 against Oklahoma City, but he hasn’t forgotten his first taste of the finals. The Spurs overwhelmed his Cavaliers and James spoke Wednesday like someone who had payback in mind. He was 22 then, a fourth-year player headed for greatness but with holes in his game that San Antonio exploited. Revenge won’t come easily - if it comes at all. Dwyane Wade scored 17 points for the Heat but was shut out in the fourth quarter. Chris Bosh had only two of his 13 in the final period. FLORIDA: Tony Parker (center) of the San Antonio Spurs takes a tumble before Joel Anthony (center-top) and Shane Battier of James shot an airball on a 3-pointer on the Miami Heat in the first half during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 6, 2013 at American Airlines Arena in Miami. — AFP his first shot attempt, then was soon back to the step-in-front- of-him-at-your-own-risk James’ turnover into a spinning layup and fans of the Celtics, Lakers, or Michael Western Conference finals, and even force that has made him the game’s best an 81-78 lead exactly halfway through the Jordan’s Bulls. It came with the promise of Popovich said he didn’t know what to player. But San Antonio handled that and fourth. The lead grew to seven, but Miami beautiful basketball between two fluid expect. San Antonio turned it over on its everything else Miami did, even while only was back within two and appearing ready to offenses who were built differently but first possession, leading to Wade’s fast- shooting 42 percent from the field. Forced get the ball back when Parker lost control of share common beliefs and a healthy break dunk. Then the Spurs ran off nine to seven grueling games by the rugged the ball and his balance as the clock was set respect. The Spurs value system over star- straight points, showing the rest helped Indiana Pacers in the East finals, the Heat to expire. He gathered the ball and his foot- dom, never asking for attention - and too more than any rust hurt. Only Duncan, who clearly enjoyed the more wide-open flow of ing, turning and tossing it in as the light often not getting it. has remained among the NBA’s best at 37, this game, making 18 of their first 30 shots. above the basket turned red. Green’s 3- The Heat have been never been out of looked out of sync. He missed all five shots But the Spurs’ defense got better as the pointer right after James missed one the spotlight from the moment James and in the first quarter before going to the game went along, and San Antonio held the pushed the Spurs’ lead to seven at 88-81 Bosh showed up to join Wade, James vow- bench late in the period with his second Heat to seven points in the first 8 1/2 min- with 2:12 to go, before a drive by James and ing multiple titles as lights flashed and foul. The Heat had a 38-29 lead by the time utes of the final quarter. three free throws by Ray Allen pulled Miami music boomed, showing they were going to he returned, and he quickly got on the “I thought we were a little fatigued hon- back within two, setting up Parker’s basket be loud and impossible to ignore. Little board with an inside basket en route to a estly in the fourth quarter,” Wade said. that put it away. beyond their Big Three back then and 12-point second quarter. It was a disap- “Looking around, we looked like a team that It was an entertaining start to a matchup unable to win a title in their first year, the pointing return to the finals for the Heat, came off a seven-game series.” Miami out- that seemed years in the making between Heat have a assembled a deep supporting where they celebrated last year after closing shot and outrebounded San Antonio in the perennial contenders, the Spurs making cast loaded with 3-point shooters that out Oklahoma City in five games behind first half, yet led only 52-49. The Heat stayed their fifth appearance and the Heat their turned them into a 66-win powerhouse this James’ 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 ahead until Parker’s free throws gave San fourth. Commissioner David Stern called it season, sending the Spurs to the finals in assists. Fans arrived to white shirts reading Antonio a 77-76 edge with 7:47 remaining. “probably the most anticipated finals in the unfamiliar role of underdog. “Witness Miami” draped over their seats. James set up Bosh for a jumper on the next who knows, 30 years,” likely more a bit of They handled it just fine. The Spurs The Miami fans didn’t like what they wit- possession for his 10th assist, but Leonard hyperbole in his final state of the league hadn’t played since May 27, when they fin- nessed, many leaving as referees reviewed made a follow shot and Parker turned address than a comment meant to slight ished off a sweep of Memphis in the Parker’s shot. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 Pay-back time for Serena at French Open

PARIS: Serena Williams will be out to end 11 years of frustration today when she takes on Hong Kong defending champion Maria Sharapova in a French Open final featuring the two top seeds ‘priority’ city for the first time in 18 years. The American’s first, and to date only title win at Roland for new league Garros, came in 2002 when she defeated sister Venus in a final she says she remembers noth- HONG KONG: Hong Kong will likely host one of ing about. the teams in an elite new tennis league featuring Since then Williams has etched her name in many of the world’s top players, the man behind the history books of tennis, taking her haul of the competition has said, according to a report. Grand Slam singles titles to 15, just three shy of The International Premier Tennis League, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who are inspired by the television-friendly format of crick- tied for fourth on the all-time list. Five et’s IPL in India, will see teams of six to 10 players Australian Open titles, five at Wimbledon and compete for six franchises dotted across Asia. It is the brainchild of India’s 12-time Grand four at the US Open, yet the French Open title Slam doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi, and count has remained stubbornly stuck at one. has been branded by world number one Novak On top of that, the Roland Garros claycourts Djokovic as potentially “revolutionary”. “Hong and the French public have seldom been kind Kong is a priority for us. We want to base a fran- to the American, preferring the easy charm of chise in this city which has a tennis culture and Kim Clijsters, the pure talent of Justine Henin which used to be an ATP Tour destination,” and the glamour of Sharapova to her per- Bhupathi told the South China Morning Post. ceived brash American character and style of “We are talking to people in Hong Kong and I’m play. confident we can have a team based there.” Much of that appears to have changed this year Tennis authorities are keen to push the popu- with Williams gaining warm applause for speaking larity of the sport in Asia, but are yet to see the French in her post-match, on-court interviews and expected knock-on effect after China’s Li Na going on about how much she loves Europe and became the first Asian women’s singles champi- France in particular. On the face of it, Sharapova, at ons with her momentous French Open title win 26, five years younger than Williams, has every rea- in 2011. Other cities reportedly under considera- son to be worried over the outcome of today’s tion for the new league include Tokyo, showdown. Since beating the American in the Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Kolkata and WTA Championships as a 17-year-old teenager at Bangalore. Bhupathi said Hong Kong’s “tennis the end of 2004, she has lost to her 12 straight culture” made it an ideal franchise city for the times, taking just three sets in the process. She has league, in which fixtures will consist of five one- set matches, with no advantage scoring, over a never beaten Williams on clay. three hour period. Asked if that long run of defeats weighed The franchises will bid for players at an auc- heavily on her mind as she prepared to com- tion set for just prior to the Australian Open in pete in the eighth Grand Slam final of her January, with the league to take place over career, Sharapova agreed that it did rankle. “I about three weeks in November and December don’t think that it would be a pretty competi- 2014. The maximum budget per franchise will tive statement if I said it didn’t,” she said. “I be $10 million. Stars such as Rafael Nadal, Andy would love to change that around. I’d be lying Murray, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova if I say it doesn’t bother me, obviously. are among those to have voiced support for the “Obviously whatever I did in the past hasn’t PARIS: USA's Serena Williams returns a shot to Italy's Sara Errani after win- new league. But it will also feature stars of the worked, so I’ll have to try to do something dif- ning French tennis Open semi final match at the Roland Garros stadium in past, such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter. —AFP ferent and hopefully it will work. “I’m proud of Paris. —AFP the way that I came through this tournament. I have given myself a chance to face the favorite.” If there is a glimmer of hope to be taken by Sharapova, it perhaps comes from the per- No looking back formance of fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had Williams on the rack in the quarter-finals. Leading by a set and at break point for a 3-0 lead in the second, the 2009 French Open winner had victory in her for Sharapova sights only for Williams to dig her way out of a deep hole with some powerful hitting. That has been the only chink to be seen in the PARIS: The past is irrelevant for Maria twice, both in 2004, in the Wimbledon final got to play until the last point, and believe Williams’ armoury since the start of the tourna- Sharapova as she prepares to face up to the and at season-ending WTA Championships in yourself.” The one set she did take off the ment, but it does show that, despite being on a steamroller that is Serena Williams in when she was just 17. Since then she has American in Miami was something that career-best 30-match winning streak, she is still today’s French Open final. The 26-year-old managed to win just three sets, the last of Sharapova has dwelled on and it was just a prone to the occasional off day, something she Russian has the odds stacked against her those coming in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 defeat in the case of trying to pinpoint what she did right readily admits to. despite being the defending champion, the Miami final in March. The last match in that and then re-producing it in today’s “That (having an off-day) can happen on second seed and boasting a 12-match between the two saw Williams win easily 6- final. The Russian’s form so far in the tourna- any day. That can happen to anyone on any unbeaten run at Roland Garros. 1, 6-4 in the final at Madrid last month. ment has been mainly impressive, starting day. That’s why I really just every day try to do On the other side of the net will be a Asked is she was able to bury those with four straight sets wins. the best I can,” she said. “And when I’m not, I player who is on a career best 30-match depressing statistics deep in the back of her But she then lost the first set 0-6 against just try to fight through it, because my fore- winning streak and currently playing some mind, Sharapova replied: “Well, you certain- Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals before of the finest tennis the women’s game has ly try to. “I mean, if I was thinking about it, gathering herself and she then served up a hand, my backhand, my serve, anything could seen in years. The 31-year-old American’s 6- that wouldn’t be a great mindset to go into messy 11 double faults in her semi-final win happen.” Whatever happens today, the final 0, 6-1, 46-minute demolition of Sara Errani that match like that. “But, despite that over Victoria Azarenka. A repeat of that in will be compelling viewing, opposing the two in the semi-finals was frightening in its record and despite me being unsuccessful the final against Williams would be fatal, she biggest names and biggest earners in intensity and French Open organizers will against her, I believe that I’m happy to be knows, “Against her, you have to be able to women’s sport. The hope would be that they be hoping that this result is not re-produced setting up chances to be going out and fac- do keep up your level for a long period of can stretch it out to three sets, which would be in a championship match broadcast around ing her someone that’s been playing and time,” she said. “That set and a half (in the first time that had happened in a French the world. dominating tennis for almost a year now. Miami) wasn’t enough. “You know, a let- Open women’s final since Jennifer Capriati The record books do not provide comfort You know, her success has been incredible. down here or there is enough to get her defeated Kim Clijsters 12-10 in the deciding set reading for Sharapova. In 15 previous “But going into a French Open final, that back in the match, and that’s what she did in 2001.—AFP encounters with Williams, she has won just doesn’t matter. It all starts from zero. You’ve there.” —AFP Pay-back time for Serena at French Open 47 SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 SATURDAY, SportsSports

PARIS: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves to Spain’s Rafael Nadal during their French tennis Open semi-final match at the Roland Garros sta- dium in Paris. (Inset) Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. — AP Unstoppable Nadal edges Djokovic Defending champion moves closer to 8 French Open title PARIS: Defending champion Rafael Nadal moved closer to an court to argue his case that he had been wronged by umpire semis without losing a set so they must be playing fantastic.” historic eighth French Open title yesterday when he defeated Pascal Maria and continued to rage as he prepared to serve at Nadal took the first set in 51 minutes with the opener turn- world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 7-8. Nadal pounced, moving to three match points and ing on the sixth game when Djokovic appeared to tweak the in a titanic semi-final. Nadal, the third seed, took his Paris clinched victory when Djokovic, who ended with an ugly 75 back of his thigh as he chased down a drive from the Spaniard. record to a staggering 58 wins from 59 matches after recover- unforced errors, hit wild and long. “It’s a very special win for The top seed was broken in the next game when he hit long. ing from 4-2 down in the deciding set to clinch victory after 4 me and congratulations to Novak-he’s a great champion and Nadal confirmed the break with a hold to love before taking hours and 37 minutes. The 27-year-old Spaniard, bidding to he is going to win here at Garros one day,” said Nadal, who the set when the Serb went wide on a forehand return. A become the first man to win the same major for the eighth had lost the pair’s only other five-setter, the record-setting clearly unsettled Djokovic was struggling with his timing and time, moved into his 17th Grand Slam final where he’ll face 2012 Australian Open final. footwork and a telegraphed dropshot allowed Nadal to thun- either home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Spanish compatriot “When I was serving for the match it was against the wind der another passing shot for a break and a 3-2 lead in the sec- David Ferrer. so I knew that it would be a tough game. “It was a similar ond set. Yesterday’s win was Nadal’s 20th in 35 career clashes-and match to the one in Australia in 2012 and he won. This time it But the world number one dug deep and finally carved out 13th from 16 on clay-against Djokovic who still needs a French is me that won and that is what makes sport so big.” his first break points in the next game to level at 3-3, a sweet Open title to become only eighth man to complete a career Tomorrow, Nadal will be appearing in his ninth final since drop volley setting up the opportunity and backing it up for a Grand Slam. In a dramatic and controversial final set, Djokovic returning from a seven-month injury lay-off. “During these 4-3 lead with an ace. Suddenly, it was Nadal’s turn to feel the broke for 1-0 before Nadal leveled in the eighth game after the seven months out of the game there were some low heat as Djokovic broke again for 5-3 courtesy of a huge fore- Serb had been handed a time violation and then lost a point moments, but everybody supported me and there was a lot of hand after pinning the Spaniard at the back of the court. when he collided with the net as he put away a smash. positive energy,” added the Spaniard, who has already Djokovic leveled the semi-final when Nadal could only bury a Djokovic even summoned the tournament referee onto the claimed six titles in 2013. “David and Jo both reached the backhand in the Roland Garros dust. — AFP