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www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16084- Friday, February 21, 2014

Zain elects new board

SEE PAGE 2 Local FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

KUWAIT: Zain Group holds its ordinary general assembly at the company’s headquarters in Shuwaikh yesterday. Zain elects new board

KUWAIT: Zain Group held its ordinary gen- eral assembly at the company’s headquar- ters in Shuwaikh yesterday and elected a new board of directors with a three-year tenure. Asaad Ahmed Al-Banwan was named the new Zain Group Chairman of the Board and Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi was named Deputy Chairman. Other members of the board include Abdul Aziz Al-Nafisi, Abdul Mohsen Al-Faris, Jamal Al-Kandary, Shaikha Khaled Al-Bahar, Jamal Shaker Al- Kazemi and Waleed Abdullah Mishary Al- Roudan. In a statement issued to the press, Chairman Banwan reaffirmed Zain’s strength of vision and solid financial per- formance. “Across our entire footprint, although strong competition is the nature of our industry, I remain proud that we Shaikha Khaled Al-Bahar have been able to maintain and enhance our leadership position with respect to cus- “The success of Zain Kuwait’s nation- tomer numbers in many of the markets we wide 4G LTE network saw data revenues operate in, despite the heightened atten- grow 21 percent and contribute 29 percent tion from our competitors,” he said. of total revenues during the year,” said Zain reported total consolidated rev- Scott Gegenheimer, Zain Group CEO in a enues for the fiscal year ended December statement released to the press. 31, 2013 of KD 1.24 billion and net profits of “Ultimately, our goal is to transform from a KD 216 million (56 fils per share), while pure mobile consumer player to a fully earnings before interest, tax and deprecia- integrated converged consumer and enter- tion (EBITDA) came in at KD 538 million prise player,” he added. ($1.9 billion). The group’s customer base “Looking ahead, we are positive about rose to 46.1 million, up 8 percent year-on- our prospects for 2014, and will look to year, translating to a net increase of continue to build on the work we have approximately 9,500 customers per day. undertaken in 2013. We shall continue to Zain operates in eight countries and is invest in our infrastructure and innova- the market leader in six including Kuwait, tions, ensuring our customers receive the Iraq and South Sudan. In Kuwait, the cor- services they aspire for in a market-leading nerstone of Zain Group, the operation con- fashion,” said Banwan. “Mobile broadband tinued to perform well in 2013, with cus- will remain a key growth area for us, and tomer growth of 12 percent to reach 2.5 we shall continue to invest in this area to ensure we maximize the opportunities KUWAIT: The Kuwait City skyline is seen from the Souq Sharq marina. — Photo by million, reflecting a leading market share of Yasser Al-Zayyat 39 percent. which lie therein.” Local FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Local Spotlight National holidays’ craziness

vey of these disturbing acts against people waiting at ing innocents is not relevant. By Muna Al-Fuzai bus stops for example being sprayed with water and I have a tip for expats and anyone who doesn’t like foam by someone who thinks this is his way of cele- to be in this atmosphere and yet can’t leave Kuwait brating. during these days. Please stay up-to-date with the Some may wonder about the role of the police and if media and news coverage of local events but don’t [email protected] they can take complaints of such kind seriously. Well, if trust everything you hear on social media. This year such acts occur at any other time of the year, I think there is a need for personal security awareness, espe- you may call the police and they will come and control cially for families with kids. I don’t know how well local uwait’s National and Liberation Days fall on Feb the matter. But during the national holidays, things security measures are this year, but I think large crowds 25 and 26. Festive celebrations mean large usually go out of control. The Ministry of Interior will be roaming the streets means anyone can sneak in and crowds, mostly teenage boys and girls, running in K available all the time to offer emergency services. But out without being noticed. I fear that such poor surveil- the street showering themselves and others with foam spraying someone with foam and water is clearly not lance could encourage someone or extremist groups to and water! Some come along with their parents while an emergency situation. create chaos. Regional unrest and the heated situation others don’t. They create heavy traffic congestion all So should all those who are not in favor of being in Syria all create extra pressure over security, so all along the Gulf Road till Salmiya. These are called stuck on crowded roads leave for a short while to any should be careful when being part of a crowd. national celebrations and will last from Tuesday until neighboring countries? Well, I would say yes. But this is I always tell my friends who share my views to leave Saturday. my opinion. I believe in showing love and compassion town for a few days until this craziness is over. If they can’t, I’m writing this article because I for one don’t see the to your country all year long by work ethics, fighting they better stay home, avoid going out and stay alert. sense of nationalism in any of these acts. In fact I don’t corruption and discrimination and enforcing laws and see the connection between showering people, espe- regulations. This is what I call patriotism and national- cially pedestrians, and the joyous sentiments which ism. Running in the street with foam and water bother- one feels. I also doubt if anyone has conducted a sur-

Kuwait’s my business Jobs go to the skilled, expat or local

“focused.” Along with most other countries, Kuwait suffers from “instantitis.” A mother in Kuwait wanted her daughter to learn how to By John P Hayes play the piano. After her third lesson during as many weeks, the daughter couldn’t play the piano and the mother was frustrated. So she asked the piano teacher, “If I pay you more [email protected] money, can my daughter learn how to play the piano next month?” Skills require time. Time requires focus. Of course, in an age when we ourcing talent is a major challenge for communicate in 140 characters or less, and text SKuwait’s employers, and yet so many peo- while driving, focus doesn’t seem to be rele- ple nowadays in Kuwait are struggling to vant. Except to employers. find a job. Employers say they can’t find good people, and good people say they can’t find Who teaches people to think? jobs. What’s going on? Here’s how a major employer in Kuwait explained the dilemma: Employers seek employees who can “Employees have to be customer-oriented and “think.” Where are the creative thinking cours- focused. To hire people that are able to think es in Kuwait? One of my pet peeves is that we and operate this way from a limited talent pool don’t teach students the art of logic. It’s diffi- is a challenge. So we’re taking steps to hire tal- cult for many students to get from point A to ent and staff from other regions of the world.” point D without showing them points B and C. It’s as though someone has done the thinking In this case, expats are not the problem (as well as the homework) for many of the stu- None of that bodes well for Kuwait’s unem- dents. Employers expect employees to be able ployed. And just to quickly crush one popular to think and solve problems on their own, but knee-jerk response to this problem: No, the that’s not happening. Rote learning is popular answer is not to send the expats home. Send in Kuwait, and that’s one of the reasons why the expats home and the employment prob- many students can’t think and solve problems. lem gets worse because the people left behind Add to that a lack of focus and what do you still can’t meet the expectations of the coun- get? People without the skills that employers try’s employers. For those who are serious value. about solving this problem, the answer is in the Employers seek employees with skills (not dilemma as it was explained above. just certificates) and too often they can’t find Employers seek employees who are “cus- them in Kuwait. I say that’s the fault of the edu- tomer oriented.” In other words, they want to cational system as well as the people who hire people who put other people first. Drive don’t demand better education. The unem- up to almost any roundabout in Kuwait, or try ployment problem isn’t going to solve itself. to walk across a street, and you’ll discover that Young people make up the majority of the country isn’t customer oriented. Instead, Kuwait’s population and unless they acquire the orientation is one of entitlement. “Me first, skills more and more of them will remain me first!” In a country where so many think that they should be served, instead of serving oth- unemployed. ers, it’s difficult to find talent that’s customer Meanwhile - as long as there are customers oriented. We need to teach people to put other to serve - Kuwait’s employers will continue to people first so they can become customer ori- import talent and staff from other regions of ented. the world.

You can’t learn the piano in a month NOTE: Dr John P Hayes teaches marketing and Employers seek employees who are management at GUST. Local FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Giving them wings

Riding school for special needs children open to all

very experience for a child is an opportunity to learn. For there is therapeutic value in what we do,” explained Al-Sabah. with the animal. For instance, children will be taught how to children with special needs, however, few opportunities “Children benefit greatly from the interaction with the horse.” say stop when the horse stops and go when the horse goes. Efor learning and play are available in Kuwait. This is now As afterschool activities for special needs children in Over time, that process will be reversed and the children will slowing changing as new activities and programs for children Kuwait are limited, the Little Wing program presents a won- learn to command the horse to stop or go. Children learn oth- with special needs are becoming more popular. The Little derful opportunity for parents to provide a diverse experience er skills including riding bareback, turning in the saddle and Wings riding school at the Kuwait Riding Center is one such for kids. Parents must sign up for 10 lessons, given once a are also encouraged to help feed and groom the horse at the program. It offers recreational riding lessons for special needs week, at a total cost of KD 60. An initial assessment lesson will end of the lesson. children. The lessons are once a week, lasting between 15-30 be conducted to give parents a chance to see how their child Al-Sabah also cautions parents to understand that “acci- minutes and are available for children 3 to 12 years old who might respond and also to give the instructor an opportunity dents do happen. We’re dealing with live animals and horses suffer from cognitive disabilities. to assess the child’s ability to respond to verbal commands are naturally spooky,” she explained. “However we take every Riding instructor Fajer Al-Sabah invites parents to visit the and how they react to being around horses. precaution and there is no doubt that the children benefit riding center to get a feel for the place and to help prepare Al-Sabah, who works as a special needs teaching assistant from horseback riding.” the child ahead of time for the lesson. The club is open and and has more than 10 years of riding experience, cautions par- Parents interested in enrolling their children in the Little non members are welcome to come to meet the trainers and ents to prepare children ahead of time by showing them Wings program should call 2475-1551/2/3. horses. Lessons can be given in Arabic or English and are videos or photos of children riding horseback. One-on-one — Courtesy the Kuwait Moms Guide (www.kuwaitmoms- open to all nationalities. “Though we are strictly recreational, lessons focus on speech communication and engagement guide.com).

Available at The Sultan Centre & Carrefour Local FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

An artisan works on a bisht in a shop in Souq Mubarakiya yesterday. Vintage photos show customers at the Albaghli bisht shop in Souq Mubarakiya. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Lasting love for the bisht Craft continues to flourish in Kuwait

By Nawara Fattahova he sent his children to study abroad,” explained Fahad. “Today I’m The bisht is an expensive outfit. At Albaghli, the price ranges supervising the work of the shop with my father. It’s our family’s between KD 100 and KD 1,500. “The customers know the high qual- hat was once a must-wear garment has today been heritage,” he added. ity of our work, and the bisht will last long years if the customer replaced as a cloak for special occasions. The bisht is part preserves it,” said Fahad, explaining that a bisht has to be cleaned W It is all about the detail of Kuwaiti men’s national dress. Bisht-making - albeit a in a special way that only the shops producing bishts can do. “Even fading tradition - can still be found in some Kuwaiti families for The bisht is a common Arab dress, especially in the Arabian Gulf. the laundry may damage the bisht. The embroidery made with whom this handcraft was the main source of income. Al-Baghli, one “It’s a traditional dress that symbolizes nobility, dignity and social gold for instance needs to be knocked in certain way to make the of the oldest and most popular shops making and selling bishts, status. Before we used to say that the bisht is half the clothing. dirt fall, and then cleaned,” he said, adding that this is the reason was founded by Mohammed Al-Baghli, who opened his shop in Today men wear it for weddings and other occasions, and ministers why they provide cleaning services for their customers. “Some Souq Mubarakiya in the 1950s in the old part of the market. He and VIPs wear it for their daily visits. Old bishts used to have differ- kinds of bishts can shrink from humidity but we can restore their passed on the skills of bisht-making to his son who inherited this ent marks for sheikhs like horizontal lines of the motif, which only original size and shape,” he stressed. handcraft and is teaching his son as well. “My family has been work- sheikhs used to wear,” he added. ing in this industry for about 200 years,” explained Fahad Al-Baghli, The bisht is worn both in summer and in winter. The material of Times of change son of Mohammed Al-Baghli, the Founder of Albaghli Textile. “My the bisht differs according to the season. The summer bisht is made The bisht has undergone few changes in the present era. “The father has documents that go back to the 1800s, when he was from light materials, then there is the spring bisht that is between variety of colors of bishts is much wider now. Before only two or exporting our bishts to Saudi Arabia. Although there are sewing the two, and finally the more popular winter bisht. The latter is three colors were known, while today we have more than 10 colors. machines that can now do the decoration of the bisht, we are still made from different textiles and materials. Mostly, winter bishts are Also the styles of the embroidery (zari) on bishts became wider, as producing our bishts by hand,” explained Fahad. produced from a baby lama’s soft hair, which is a luxury fabric and now there are Rolex, Versace and other styles,” he stated. is very expensive. “The decoration is very expensive as it takes the Albaghli also produced the biggest bisht in the world and regis- Family heritage majority of time to embroider, and the threads are either gold or tered it with the Guinness Book of Records in 1995. “The picture of It takes between 80 to 100 hours of work to finish one bisht. silk and both are expensive,” explained Baghli. my uncle was used on a postal stamp in 1998. Our bisht was also “The work done by hand is never the same as the one done by Albaghli imports textiles from Iran, Iraq, Japan and the UK such used to cover Kishk Mubarak in 2011, which was launched by HH machine. It takes a month or two to finish one bisht, so people as the soft wool fabrics, woven and handspun ones. Other fabrics the Amir. Many sheikhs and presidents wear the Albaghli bisht,” should order in advance,” Fahad says. He learnt how to make bishts are prepared by them in the factory in Kuwait. The summer bisht is concluded Baghli proudly. at the age of 14. “Then I used to go to the shop with my father. He usually either made from wool from Iraq (Najafi) or from Iran Not only Kuwaitis buy bishts from Albaghli, as many Westerners taught me how to make a bisht step by step. Now my 13-year-old (Doregi). Some bishts made from cashmere imported from India. find the bisht to be a good souvenir or outfit. Albaghli exports son also comes to the shop and is talented in this craft,” said Fahad, “The colors of bishts differ, as the light colors are used during day- products to other Gulf countries, and frequently participate in local explaining that his son already knows the basic steps to make a time, while the dark-colored bisht is worn in evening,” he pointed and international exhibitions. In March 2014, they will be participat- bisht. “My father was keen to make us continue our high studies, so out. ing in an exhibition in Germany. Local FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

A day in the life of a stockman

By Ben Garcia and cheese, fresh eggs and cold beverages. Customers had a fight with one of them and ended up at the police are always particular with the dates and expiry of the station. I thought it was the end of my journey in Kuwait, e is the man who makes sure that the milk on the products and a little mistake may lead to a memo or but the person withdrew his complaint and we were Hshelf is not spoilt and sold after the expiration worse - termination. “We are very particular about the able to settle the problem amicably. There are chal- date. He is the man who arranges the shelves in products we sell here because the Municipality is really lenges every day,” he said. the supermarket to make them look neat and tidy. He is strict when it comes to the expiry of food items. We are the man who ensures the safety of food on the table of told that even one expired product could result in the Sales targets many families. closure of our store, so we are very particular and strict As a supervisor, Escosa and the supermarket team Meet Seth Escosa, 33, from San Jose Del Monte, with every food item and the expiration date.” have to set an achievable target for the month. “We have Bulacan, Philippines. He had worked as a storekeeper, Since Escosa handles food items, he said he main- to think and be part of the team in order to hit the sales merchandiser and was promoted to store supervisor. In tains cleanliness and orderliness of the section. He recalls target for the month. So we hold meetings and brain- March 2010, Escosa joined one of the large supermarkets one time when he received a complaint from a cus- storming sessions. We see the movement of other super- chains in Kuwait. “I have been stationed in almost all the tomer. “The customer wanted to replace his product. markets and we study the best promotion we can intro- major sections of this store,” he said, explaining that he When I told him that it was no longer available, he got duce to entice customers. So far, we are hitting the started as a merchandiser and later got transferred to the mad and complained about the store,” he said, explain- monthly sales targets, despite fierce competition,” he cold section as a stockman. “There, I had to monitor the ing that eventually everything was settled. “Imagine the said. temperature and stocks in the cold section such as hassle and the time wasted just because of a small com- Escosa left his wife and two children (10 and 5 years frozen chicken, fish, meat and even vegetables,” he stat- plaint, so it served us a lesson,” he added. old respectively) behind in search for greener pastures. ed. “I had to maintain the right temperature of the freez- Besides handling customers’ requests, complaints He found it in Kuwait, but only after a year, his wife ran ers and chillers. On my watch I had to monitor the expiry etc, Escosa has to handle coworkers who challenge his away with another man, leaving his kids behind with his of every item too. I had to report any pilferage and han- skills, especially when he got promoted as a supervisor. relatives. “She went with another man. I cannot blame dle customer requests, complaints and suggestions,” he He says that one of his every day challenges is to work her as I was here working hard for them. Probably she added. with the staff. Especially after his promotion, his col- got bored. It was painful, but life must go on. This is okay leagues’ behavior towards him changed. “When I was - as long as she’s happy and my kids are fine,” he said. “I Working in the cold section promoted to supervisor my colleagues did not object, am supporting my kids and I will do so as long as I live,” The cold section includes all types of dairy products but you could see it in their behavior every day. In fact, I he vowed. Saudi telco lifts curtain on new films

DUBAI: Hollywood has missed out since ma. Religious scholars, who believe Islam Saudi Arabia banned cinemas in the forbids any depiction of the human form, 1970s, but residents may soon get to see have opposed sporadic attempts over the movies at home on the same day as their past decade to weaken the ban. Intigral release elsewhere in the Gulf in a new was created in 2009 to provide the content service promised by Saudi Telecom Co and user interface, or programme engine, (STC). At present Saudis must wait six to for STC’s Internet-based TV services. nine months after films are released in cin- Kinealy hopes a redesigned interface will emas in the rest of Gulf to watch them on be launched within six months and help local pay-television, while for free-to-air boost consumer demand for STC products, viewers the delay is 12 to 18 months. But especially fibre-based broadband. STC subsidiary Intigral now aims to pro- Domestically STC competes with vide a permanent roster of first-day Mobily, a unit of the United Arab Emirates’ release films for television customers. Etisalat, and Zain Saudi , part-owned by Intigral has already signed agreements Kuwait’s Zain. “The way we will be meas- with a clutch of smaller distributors - Gulf ured is through the reduction of customer KUWAIT: Bedoon protesters hurl stones at security forces during a demonstration in Taima. Films, Front Row, Italia, Phoenicia, Falcon churn, ARPU (average revenue per user), and the Arabic language MA Films - and pull-through of new customers and most expects to conclude a similar deal with a importantly the improved consideration Bedoons staged demo certain major Hollywood studio within the of STC’s brand and core products,” said next few weeks. “When one of the majors Kinealy. “When someone picks up a phone comes in, then they will all start to flow in Saudi, we want them to be looking at despite MoI warning in,” said Ben Kinealy, chief executive of STC. How many people who bought an Intigral and prime mover behind the ini- iPhone have now bought an iPad and oth- Ministry to probe mosque collapse tiative. The lag on films appearing on tele- er Apple services? It starts with one really vision has led Saudi Arabia, whose young good product.” By Hanan Al-Saadoun Minister of Justice and Awqaf Naif Al-Ajmi tech-savvy population is the world’s top Kinealy sees Saudis’ prolific Internet yesterday said those responsible for the inci- user of YouTube per capita, to become a actitivities - as of March 2013 Riyadh was KUWAIT: Following up Wednesday’s bedoon dent would be held legally accountable after hotbed of piracy. the sixth most active city worldwide on demonstrations in Jahra, the interior ministry visiting the site. “If it’s a big title it will be stolen. If it’s a Twitter, according to analysts Semiocast - issued a statement explaining that despite repeat- smaller title it might not even be seen but as complementary to the new film service. ed warnings against assemblies and demonstra- • Security sources said that after intense inter- that’s still lost revenue,” said Kinealy, who “It could be seen as potentially meaning tions that threaten security and violate the law, a rogation, a citizen confessed to murdering his estimates Saudi’s lost box office earnings these people aren’t interested in paying small group of illegal residents (bedoons) staged a Filipina wife with blows from a squash rac- for film companies total about $1 billion for a premium experience, they’re inter- demonstration Wednesday evening in Taima and quet during a family dispute. The citizen had annually. Intigral aims to charge around ested in getting it for free by other Sulaibiya where they assaulted security forces and reported his wife’s death, and on examining $18 per film. “Studios look at this as a tick- means,” said Kinealy. “But that argument destroyed a number of patrol vehicles, injuring a the body, forensic medicine noticed marks of et and a half because people will see it would have stopped iTunes against number of security men. The ministry added that violence on it. with their families,” said Kinealy. Some Napster and who won there ?”. STC has demonstrators stoned the police, blocked streets • broadcasters in other regions have experi- affiliates in Kuwait and Bahrain, plus and burnt tyres. An Indian reported that someone robbed KD mented with one-off simultaneous cinema investments in operators in Turkey, South • 320 from him at gunpoint behind a popular and television launches for certain films, Africa and Asia, and plans to roll out its Eleven construction workers were seriously shopping mall. but faced fierce hostility from cinemas. revamped television services to these injured when the dome of an under-con- struction mosque in Omariya collapsed on • A citizen and his Arab girlfriend were arrested That will not be a concern in Saudi, firms, he said. “We would like to go them, said the fire department, noting that for kissing in public, said security sources, not- which outlawed public film screenings in beyond that - we’re in conversation with four of the injured workers were taken to ing that the lovers were caught kissing inside the 1970s when the powerful religious other telcos who are not in the family,” hospital for further treatment while the oth- a vehicle in the Avenues mall’s parking lot. A establishment took a position against cine- added Kinealy. — Reuters ers received on-site medical treatment. case was filed. Local9 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Batelco takes control of Qualitynet Shell sells Italian business to Kuwait Petroleum DUBAI: Bahrain Telecommunications ment to use it. Ooredoo. (Batelco) will take majority control of Qualitynet’s 2013 revenue was Separately, Anglo-Dutch oil and Kuwait’s Qualitynet after agreeing to KD 31.3 million ($83.0 million), gas major Shell said yesterday it double its stake in the Internet down 8.9 percent from 2012, has agreed to sell its Italian retail provider, Batelco said yesterday. which provided Batelco with a and aviation business to Kuwait Batelco will buy 46 percent of profit of KD 2.41 million, the latter’s Petroleum International. “The sale Qualitynet from Ali Al-Ghanim & Sons annual report shows. As of Sept is consistent with Shell’s strategy for an undisclosed fee, raising the 2012, Qualitynet claimed a 45 per- to concentrate Shell’s downstream Bahraini firm’s holding to 90 percent cent share of Kuwait’s fixed-line footprint on a smaller number of from 44 percent previously. The Internet market, which operates assets and markets where we can deal will likely be concluded in largely on a copper-based net- be most competitive,” the compa- March, a company statement said. work. The lack of widespread fibre ny said in a statement, without Kuwait’s Ministry of Commun- connectivity has led many Kuwaiti giving financial details. Shell’s ications ultimately owns and oper- residents to opt instead for mobile Italian retail network will be ates the country’s fixed-line infra- Internet provided by the country’s rebranded Q8 as part of the agree- structure, with about four major three mobile operators: Zain, Saudi ment, the company said. The Internet service providers includ- Telecom Co affiliate Viva and transaction is subject to regulatory ing Qualitynet paying the govern- Wataniya, a subsidiary of Qatar’s approval. —Agencies One of Q8’s gas stations in Europe. —KUNA

Abu Ghaith lawyers Lawmaker proposes cash may question KSM fund for citizens at birth NEW YORK: A US judge on Wednesday briefly delayed the upcoming trial of a son in law of Osama bin Laden on terror- ism-related charges so his lawyers could submit written ques- MP calls for special debate on economy tions to accused Sept 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan By B Izzak with life burdens when they become continuing to rely on oil as the main postponed jury selection from Feb 24 to March 3 after agree- adults, like completing their university source of income for a long time. ing to a deal between the US government and lawyers for KUWAIT: MP Askar Al-Enezi yesterday pro- education outside or inside the country, The debate should focus if the state Suleiman Abu Ghaith to allow the submission of hundreds of posed a draft law calling on the govern- marriage or buying furniture. budget is capable of meeting spending questions to Mohammed. Mohammed is being held at the US ment to make a monthly deposit of KD 50 In previous assemblies, a number of requirements especially with regards to military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. for each Kuwaiti born and deposit the MPs had proposed that the government wages and if the government has any That delay was much shorter than the 45 days sought by amount into a special fund until the age of should distribute a percentage of the plans to diversify its sources of income to lawyers for Abu Ghaith, 48, who want to question Mohammed 18. Enezi, who has been making highly returns on foreign investments to citizens reduce dependence on oil, the lawmaker to determine if he would be a suitable witness. Before the generous populist proposals since the July every year to help them in their expenses. said. He added that the debate should agreement with prosecutors, Abu Ghaith’s lawyers had sought election, said the funds should be invested But that proposal was never debated in allow MPs to know if the government has to interview Mohammed in person, a request Kaplan suggest- in favour of the young boys and girls and Assembly panels or in the Assembly itself. taken into account the new important ed he wouldn’t have granted. “I am deeply skeptical that there the total amount along with profits should The government has warned MPs that it is developments on the shale crude produc- is any right of access to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on the be given to them when they turn 18. The not possible to sustain the rapid increase tion which could have negative conse- motion the defense made,” he said at a court hearing on draft law stipulates that 20 percent of the in spending, especially in expenditures on quences on oil revenues. About 95 per- Wednesday. profits will be deducted for the Reserve wages and subsidies which together cent of Kuwait’s public revenues come Abu Ghaith, a Kuwaiti and former Al-Qaeda spokesman and Fund for Future Generations which is account for a major part of the budget. from oil. Five MPs in the meantime sub- one of the highest-profile individuals to face charges, is being run by Kuwait Investment Authority In another development, MP Yacoub mitted a request to form a committee to accused of conspiring to kill Americans, providing material (KIA). The bill also calls for KIA to manage Al-Sane called yesterday for holding a spe- investigate the clean fuel project which support and resources to terrorists and conspiring to provide the new fund. cial session to debate the government’s was recently awarded to nine foreign such support. His lawyers have said Mohammed, who faces a If the draft law is passed in the National economic vision and strategy especially in companies at a cost of KD 3.4 billion. The US military trial at Guantanamo, is “likely to be the most Assembly and accepted by the govern- light of key global economic develop- request states that MPs should know the important witness” in Abu Ghaith’s case. Wednesday’s agree- ment, each citizen will receive at least KD ments. Sane said that the debate should details of the project and the awarding ment calls for questions and documents to be submitted to 10,800 when he/she turns 18 in addition discuss the government’s medium and process since it is one of the most impor- Mohammed to be subject to US government review but not to profits. Enezi said the main purpose of long-term economic strategies if such tant development projects in the country disclosed to prosecutors handling the case.—Reuters the proposal is to assist Kuwaitis to cope strategies are based on the assumption of and involves large funds.

KUWAIT: Under the auspices and in attendance of deputy PM and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, the Interior Ministry yesterday launched its museum in Bneid Al-Gar. The museum, that opened to coincide with the national celebrations, includes various equipments, weapons, vehicles and machinery that have been used by the min- istry since its inception. It also includes samples of various official documents that have been issued by the ministry departments. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Brooks takes Thai protesters Beauty queen stand in British target the latest hacking trial businesses victim in 14 lin16ked to PM Ve17nezuela unrest

KIEV: Protesters catch fire as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police yesterday. — AFP Ukraine death toll tops 50 President’s ‘truce’ in tatters

KIEV: Fresh fighting flared in central Kiev yesterday, length with Yanukovich and extending their stay to Angela Merkel called to urge Yanukovich to accept by protesters, showed both sides used firearms. shattering a truce declared by Ukrainian President talk to opposition leaders. They sent an interim report the offer of EU mediation in the crisis. “Berkut” riot policemen fired bursts from automatic Viktor Yanukovich, as the Russian-backed leader met to EU colleagues in Brussels, who were meeting to Raising pressure on Yanukovich to restore order if rifles on the run as they covered retreating col- European ministers demanding he compromise with decide on targeted sanctions against those deemed he wants the next desperately needed loan, Russian leagues fleeing past a nearby arts centre just off the pro-EU opponents. A Reuters photographer saw the responsible for the worst bloodshed in Ukraine since Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would plaza. An opposition militant in a helmet was filmed bodies of 21 dead civilians in Independence Square, a it left the crumbling Soviet Union 22 years ago. not hand over cash to a leadership that let opponents firing from behind a tree. Other protesters used few hundred meters from where the president met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told walk over it “like a doormat”. police riot shields for cover, while some fell wounded the EU delegation, after protesters who have occu- reporters in Brussels she had spoken twice to the visit- as the protest camp became a killing zone. A pied the area for almost three months hurled petrol ing trio and would convey their impressions to the EU Both sides used guns Ukrainian presidential statement said dozens of bombs and paving stones to drive riot police from the meeting. An EU source in Moscow said the ministers Ukraine is caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war police were wounded or killed during the opposition plaza. Acting Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharschenko saw a chance for a compromise between the authori- between Moscow - which sees it as a market and ally offensive hours, after Yanukovich and opposition said police had been issued with combat weapons ties and the opposition. A draft EU statement pre- and fears protests spreading to Russia - and the West, leaders had agreed on a truce. and would use them “in accordance with the law” to pared for the meeting called for “targeted measures” which says Ukrainians should be free to choose eco- Witnesses said they saw snipers firing during the defend themselves and others and to free hostages. against individuals, an arms embargo and a ban on nomic integration with the EU. clashes. The Health Ministry said two police were The ministry said protesters were holding 67 police- equipment for internal repression. Yesterday’s renewed fighting, which subsided among yesterday’s dead. That raised the total death men hostage. In a sign of dwindling support for Russia criticised the European and US actions, call- after about an hour, heightened concern voiced by toll since Tuesday to at least 51, including at least 12 Yanukovich, his hand-picked head of Kiev’s city ing them “blackmail” that would only make matters Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that Ukraine could police. Local media said more than 30 protesters were administration quit the ruling Party of the Regions in worse. Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending an descend into civil war or split between the pro- killed in yesterday’s flare-up. One opposition group protest at bloodshed in the streets. envoy to Kiev to try to mediate with the opposition at European west and Russian-speaking east. Video doubled that estimate. The protesters’ medical serv- The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Yanukovich’s request, the RIA news agency quoted a from yesterday morning’s clashes on the edge of the ice said it was too busy treating casualties to count Poland spent much of the day in Kiev, meeting at Kremlin spokesman as saying. German Chancellor Kiev square, known as the Maidan or “Euro-Maidan” the bodies. —Reuters

International FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Egypt puts three Al-Jazeera journalists on trial

CAIRO: Egypt put three Al-Jazeera journal- years in an Egyptian prison for doing their equipment and information to 16 cult thing for him is the mental challenge ists on trial yesterday on charges of aiding job,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East Egyptians. The foreigners were also of staying positive and focused and not members of a “terrorist organization”, in a director at Human Rights Watch. “The pros- accused of using unlicensed broadcasting allowing the conditions that he’s living case that human rights groups say shows ecution of these journalists for speaking equipment. under to become overwhelming and the authorities are trampling on freedom with Muslim Brotherhood members, com- The 16 Egyptians are to face trial for depressing.” of expression. The journalists, wearing ing after the prosecution of protesters and belonging to a “terrorist organization”, an The Gulf state of Qatar, which funds Al- white prison outfits, appeared in metal academics, shows how fast the space for apparent reference to the Muslim Jazeera, backs the Muslim Brotherhood. Its cages, a Reuters witness said. Six others dissent in Egypt is evaporating.” The court Brotherhood, which has been protesting ties with Egypt have been strained since identified as Al-Jazeera journalists are postponed the case, in which a total of 20 against the government since the army army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al- being tried in absentia. people are on trial, to March 5. toppled Islamist President Mohamed Morsi Sisi ousted Morsi last year after mass Three of the Qatar-based television net- “We believe we will be acquitted. The in July. “I have been subjected to torture,” protests against his troubled one-year rule. work’s journalists - Peter Greste, an lawyers are fully on board with us, they ful- said Suhaib Saed, who is accused of being Both state and private Egyptian media Australian, Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian- ly believe in our case, they fully believe that a member of a terrorist group. The govern- have whipped up anti-Brotherhood senti- Egyptian national, and Baher Mohamed, an we were just operating as journalists,” said ment has declared the Brotherhood a ter- ment, suggesting anyone associated with Egyptian - were detained in Cairo on Dec Heather Alan, head of news gathering at rorist group. The Brotherhood says it is a the group is a traitor and a threat to nation- 29 and remain in custody, Al-Jazeera said. Al-Jazeera English. “We don’t have an peaceful organization. al security. Egyptians often ask journalists All three deny the charges and Al-Jazeera agenda, we have nothing against Egypt, Andrew Greste said his award-winning in the streets whether they work for Al- has said the accusations are absurd. we certainly don’t lie or do biased report- brother Peter had only been in Cairo on a Jazeera. Saying yes could mean a beating. Egyptian officials have said the case is not ing. So we believe that we are innocent,” three-week assignment to replace a col- The crackdown on dissent has raised ques- linked to freedom of expression and that she said, speaking outside the court. league. “So it’s completely, from my point tions about Egypt’s democratic credentials the journalists raised suspicions by operat- Last month a prosecutor said Al-Jazeera of view, unbelievable to have those accu- three years after an uprising toppled auto- ing without proper accreditation. journalists had published lies harming the sations leveled against him,” he told crat Hosni Mubarak and raised hopes of “Journalists should not have to risk national interest and had supplied money, Reuters outside the court. “The most diffi- greater freedoms. — Reuters UAE lets passengers go Turkey’s Erdogan eyes after airline smoke probe DUBAI: Emirati security authorities have allowed all passen- powers for spy agency gers on an Etihad Airways flight that had suspicious lavatory fires to leave after several were temporarily detained for ques- tioning by police, the airline said yesterday. Passengers on board the Boeing 777-300ER flight from Melbourne, Australia, Obama urges policies ‘rooted in rule of law’ to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi said Tuesday’s fires sent smoke into the cabin and appeared to ANKARA: Battling a corruption scandal, law to reassure the financial markets, nur- blocked an inquiry into intelligence chief have been deliberately set. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is ture a predictable investment environment, Hakan Fidan that was his supporters saw as Smoke was detected in two toilets after takeoff from seeking broader powers for his intelligence strengthen bilateral ties, and benefit the a challenge to his authority from a Gulen- Melbourne on Monday, prompting a precautionary diversion agency, including more scope for eaves- future of Turkey,” a White House statement influenced judiciary, in what was a turning to Jakarta, Indonesia, and again in a toilet as the plane made its dropping and legal immunity for its top said. point in his relations with the cleric. way to its destination of Abu Dhabi, according to the govern- agent, according to a draft law seen by With the police and judiciary purged and ment-backed airline. None of the 254 passengers and crew was Reuters. The proposals submitted by Hunkering down the new laws on the Internet, courts and removed from the flight in Indonesia. Several passengers said Erdogan’s AK Party late on Wednesday are The graft scandal, which erupted in intelligence agency, Erdogan appears to be that decision was unnerving given the fears that the fires were the latest in what his opponents see as an December with the detention of business- gaining the upper hand - at the cost of fur- started by someone on board. authoritarian backlash against the graft men close to Erdogan and three ministers’ ther polarizing the nation. Twelve people were detained upon arrival in Abu Dhabi as inquiry, after parliament passed laws tight- sons, poses one of the greatest threats of his The judiciary bill, which is awaiting ening government control over the Internet 11-year rule. He has cast it as an attempt to approval from President Abdullah Gul, will authorities investigated the case. A young woman who had and the courts this month. unseat him by a U.S.-based cleric with influ- give the government more say in the nam- attracted the suspicions of some passengers was among those The bill gives the National Intelligence ence in the police and judiciary before local ing of judges and prosecutors, while the initially detained, witnesses said. “The real story is: Who was Organization (MIT) the authority to conduct elections in March and a presidential race, in Internet law will enable the authorities to the idiot woman trying to burn a plane down, and why,” pas- operations abroad and tap pay phones and which he has long been expected to run, block access to web pages within hours senger Mark Sinclair, 45, said by email. “She should be in jail for international calls. It also introduces jail five months later. without a prior court order. a very long time.”The 12 passengers held for additional ques- terms of up to 12 years for the publication of The feud with powerful preacher Social media and video sharing sites tioning were offered hotel accommodation but opted to stay leaked classified documents. It stipulates Fethullah Gulen, a former ally who has have been awash with alleged recordings of together and were kept in the airline’s first-class lounge, that only a top appeals court could try the denied orchestrating the corruption investi- ministers, including Erdogan, and business according to Etihad. It said consular officials from Australia, the head of the agency with the prime minister’s gation, is centred around a struggle for influ- allies, presented as proof of wrongdoing in United Kingdom and Ireland visited them. By yesterday morn- permission, and would require private com- ence over state institutions and has drawn in the graft scandal. Reuters has been unable ing, all had been allowed to continue on their journeys.”In the panies as well as state institutions to hand the MIT before. In February 2012, Erdogan to verify their authenticity. —Reuters absence of any conclusive incriminating evidence, no arrests over consumer data and technical equip- have been made at this time,” the airline said in an emailed ment when requested. “This bill will bring statement. Etihad described the investigation as ongoing, and the MIT in line with the necessities of the said it is cooperating with authorities. “We have a zero-toler- era, grant it the capabilities of other intelli- ance policy in respect to people who threaten the safety and gence agencies, and increase its methods security of passengers and crew or our aircraft,” the airline said. and capacity for individual and technical Officials at the Abu Dhabi police department, which is leading intelligence,” the draft document said. the probe, could not be reached for comment. Erdogan’s response to the corruption inquiry - purging thousands of officers from The UAE’s aviation regulator, the General Civil Aviation the police force and reassigning hundreds of Authority, said it is involved in the investigation and confirmed prosecutors and judges - has raised concern that no arrests have been made. Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety in Western capitals, including Brussels, Authority said yesterday that responsibility for any safety which fears the EU candidate nation is mov- investigation resides with the regulator in the UAE. Any securi- ing further away from European norms. ty issues would be investigated by national security agencies, It has also shaken investor confidence in CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said. a nation whose stability over the past CASA expects to be notified of the results of any safety decade, following a series of unstable coali- investigation because Etihad has approval to fly into Australia. tion governments in the 1990s, has been “If it involves any safety issues, we would expect to receive based on Erdogan’s firm rule, helping send some information from Etihad in due course,” Gibson said. the lira to record lows last month. US Etihad is the UAE’s national carrier and is based in Abu Dhabi. It President Barack Obama, speaking by tele- and Gulf competitors Emirates and Qatar Airways have been phone with Erdogan late on Wednesday for rapidly expanding their operations in recent years, turning the first time since the scandal erupted, dis- their desert bases into major intercontinental transit hubs. Its cussed a raft of regional issues but also Australian destinations are Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. It stressed the importance of Turkey’s domes- also has a minority stake in Virgin Australia. — AP tic stability. “The President noted the impor- QUDSAYA: Syrians wave national flags behind a portrait of Syrian President tance of sound policies rooted in the rule of Bashar Al-Assad during a rally yesterday. — AFP International FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 FGM on retreat in Somaliland Timetable set for HARGEYSA: It is a ritual supposed to keep women “pure”, but which says cutting has no health benefits and brands the prac- an increased understanding of the severe health risks of tice a violation of human rights. It says more than 125 million ambitious Iran extreme forms of female genital mutilation appears to be girls and women today have undergone the procedure, whose slowly rolling back its prevalence in Somalia’s northwest. In roots are a mix of cultural, social and supposedly religious fac- nuclear talks the self-declared Somali republic of Somaliland, most women tors. over 25 have undergone the most extreme form of FGM, The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to elimi- known as “pharaonic”. This entails removal of the clitoris and nate FGM in December 2012. At Sheikh Nuur primary school VIENNA: Iran and world powers agreed yesterday a timetable the labia minora, cutting out flesh from the vulva and sewing the girls sit on one side of the classroom in long beige skirts and framework for the ambitious and arduous process of ham- up the outer labia, leaving only a tiny orifice for the passage of topped off by a black hijab, the boys on the other in beige mering out a lasting nuclear accord by July 20 that satisfies all sides. Such a deal, if reached, should resolve the decade-old urine and menstrual flow. trousers and white shirts. “People are beginning to see how standoff over Iran’s nuclear drive, silence talk of war for good and The procedure is normally done with a razor blade when dangerous the extreme form is,” said 14-year-old Sagal help normalise Tehran’s strained international relations. After the girl is between 5 and 11 years old, and without any pain Abdulrahman, a slim, articulate and slightly solemn girl. chairing “very productive” days of talks in Vienna, EU foreign pol- killers. They remain sewn up until marriage, at which point “The first type involved stitches, and is the painful one, icy chief Catherine Ashton said experts would meet in early because there are many times when the woman gives birth they are either opened up during sex-causing pain and dis- March before political directors return to Vienna on March 17. tress to both partners-or cut open with scissors. “I cut girls for and has pain. And... when she has her period, it causes pain. “There is a lot to do, it won’t be easy but we have made a 15 years. My grandmother and mother taught me how and it The second type is not that painful,” said her classmate Asma good start,” Ashton told reporters, saying negotiators had “iden- was a source of income for me-but I stopped doing any cut- Ibrahim Jibril. “I’m very happy because my parents chose the tified all the issues we need to address”. Iranian Foreign Minister ting four years ago,” recounted Amran Mahmood. less severe one, and I was very OK with that. And I won’t face Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his Facebook page that the “I decided to stop because of the problems. The worst time the painful things that would come in the future,” she said. parties “also agreed to hold several meeting on a monthly basis was when I was cutting a girl and she started bleeding. I inject- until late May”. He told Iranian media that the atmosphere in the ed the muscle to stop the bleeding and I cleaned the area and Islamic jurisprudence Austrian capital was “very serious” and “even a little bit more she kept on bleeding.” As well as social status, being a so- For Charity Koronya, a UNICEF protection officer, all forms positive than anyone predicted,” but however there is a “difficult called “cutter” brought in good money. Cutting one girl takes of FGM must be stopped. “To me total abandonment is the way ahead of us”. A senior US administration official said the dis- 30 minutes and brings in between $30 and $50, a large sum of key because even if it is just a small cut it is still a violation,” cussions were “very workmanlike” and “substantive, covering all money for Somaliland. she said, explaining that she herself comes from a Kenyan the issues that need to be on the table... We are long past Amran’s own daughter was cut, but she swears her grand- tribe that practices the clitoridectomy form of FGM. She speeches of ideology”. “We have begun to see some areas of daughters will not undergo the full procedure. After attending escaped the practice because her father, who travelled out- agreement, as well as areas where we will have to work through awareness programs organized by Tostan, an anti-FGM NGO side their home district for his work, refused it. very difficult issues,” the official said, adding there was “extraor- financed by the UN children’s agency UNICEF, Amran has The issue of whether of whether Islamic law requires FGM is dinary” unity among the six powers. become an anti-cutting advocate. the subject of much discussion, with several clerics admitting Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and they themselves are confused. “Completely stopping FGM is Germany aim to transform a landmark but only interim deal ‘Things are changing’ not going to work in our country,” Abu Hureyra, a local reli- struck in Geneva in November into a long-term agreement. The medical consequences of the stitching-urine retention, gious leader taking part in a roundtable said, “but we are in Diplomats said they aimed to nail down the final accord by the blocking of menstrual flow, pain, bleeding, infection and child- favor of stopping the extreme type.” “There are doctors who time a six-month freeze of certain activities agreed in Geneva birth complications-have brought the practice into disrepute. say cutting is good for a woman’s health,” insisted Mohamed expires on July 20, although this period can be extended. In the urban setting of Hargeysa at least, the generation who Jama, an elder from Somaliland’s religious affairs ministry. The holy grail is for Iran to retain its civilian nuclear program, are adolescents today have largely abandoned it in favor of “If you cut a woman you are killing her,” countered a but likely on a reduced scale and with enhanced oversight to less extreme forms, which still involve the removal of the cli- younger leader Rahman Yusuf. Other clerics seemed puzzled, ensure a dash for nuclear weapons is all but impossible. This toris. Their mothers, mindful of the pain they themselves have saying they had consulted experts in Islamic law in Saudi could involve closing the underground Fordo facility, slashing endured, support the change. “Things are changing. There are Arabia and Qatar only to receive contradictory responses. For the number of uranium centrifuges, cutting fissile material stock- now men willing to marry uncut girls,” said village headman Koronya the mere fact that the practice is now being dis- piles, altering a new reactor being built at Arak and tougher UN Mohamed Said Mohamed, a Muslim like most in Somalia, cussed in public was a victory. “Initially it was difficult to dis- inspections. In exchange, all UN Security Council, US and EU sporting a greying beard and a traditional sarong. cuss FGM in public. Today religious leaders, women’s leaders sanctions on Iran-which are costing it billions of dollars every “I am totally against cutting. It is not accepted by our reli- talk about it and even talk about the link between FGM and week in lost oil revenues, wreaking havoc on its economy-would gion.” FGM is concentrated in some 29 countries in Africa and sexuality,” she said. “Having public discussions about FGM is a be lifted.—AFP the Middle East, according to the World Health Organization big step forward.” — AFP International FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Pope tells cardinals to tackle divisive issues

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis yesterday urged cardinals believe the ban should be lifted, or annulments made Addressing the gathering of cardinals, Francis called gathered to discuss family-related issues such as con- easier, to welcome such Catholics back into full partici- the family the “fundamental cell of society” and indi- traception, cohabitation, divorce and gay relationships pation in the 1.2 billion-member Church. In his address rectly re-stated the Catholic Church’s opposition to gay to be “intelligent, courageous and loving” in their to the cardinals, meeting in what is known as an “extra- marriage. “From the beginning the Creator blessed debate. He was opening two days of closed-door ses- ordinary consistory”, Francis said the Church leaders man and woman so that they might be fruitful and mul- sions with some 185 cardinals from around the world to should “seek to deepen the theology of the family and tiply,” he said, calling the family an image of “God in the prepare for an autumn synod of bishops that will dis- discern the pastoral practices which our present situa- world”. Francis has had a packed week of meetings cuss the issues at greater length. tion requires”. about reform with top Church officials in Rome before “We are called to make known God’s magnificent ceremonies on Saturday when he will elevate 19 plan for the family and to help spouses joyfully experi- Surveys show dissent prelates to the rank of cardinal. The first three days of ence this plan in their lives, as we accompany them In preparation for the autumn synod, the Vatican sessions focused on overhaul of the Vatican’s often amidst so many difficulties, even with a pastoral plan asked local churches to survey their faithful about troubled finances. that is intelligent, courageous and full of love,” Francis teachings on sexual morality related to the family. A select group of eight cardinals from around the told the cardinals. While there is no possibility that the Bishops in some countries, including Britain, opted not world advising the Pope gave him their proposals on Church will change its teachings against abortion and to publish their findings, but those published by Wednesday, with one suggesting a new central eco- gay marriage, many Catholics hope that the autumn German, Swiss and Japanese bishops showed that nomic ministry that would incorporate the Holy See’s synod could lead to modifications of its stance on other many people did not know Church teachings fully or scandal-plagued bank. The eight cardinals from Italy, family-related issues, notably divorce. rejected them as unrealistic and heartless. Chile, India, Germany, Democratic Republic of Congo, Catholics who have divorced and remarried without They showed that most Catholics in those countries the United States, Australia and Honduras are advising a Church annulment are now barred from receiving disputed bans on contraception, premarital or gay sex Francis on how to reform the Curia, the Vatican’s often communion. A growing number of Church officials and criticized the rules regarding divorced Catholics. dysfunctional central administration. — Reuters

Clean sweep for Brooks takes stand Orban billboards in British hacking trial in Hungary Acquitted over picture of Prince William in bikini LOREV: Six weeks out from a general election in Hungary, campaign billboards, perhaps surprisingly, are dominated LONDON: Rebekah Brooks, the former phones, paying an official for information question was, did Brooks “know about by faces of the three main challengers to right-wing Prime editor of the News of the World and the and two counts of conspiring to pervert and endorse a practice of phone hacking Minister Viktor Orban. But in Orban’s Hungary, things are Sun tabloids, gave evidence for the first the course of justice. at the News of the World during her edi- often not as they seem. A closer look reveals his centre- time in her phone-hacking trial yesterday torship from May 2000 to January 2003”. left challengers all guiltily holding ID cards in a police line- after being cleared of one charge of pay- ‘Keep an open mind’ And “did she know that a public official up, and that these are pro-government ads. This trio of ing for a photo of Prince William in a biki- In his opening statement, Brooks’ was the source for a story at the Sun” or shifty-looking usual suspects, Socialists leader Attila ni. The 45-year-old former chief executive defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw told the “did she instruct her husband Charlie and Mesterhazy and former prime ministers Ferenc Gyurcsany of News International, Rupert Murdoch’s jury that it was “entirely understandable” personal assistant Cheryl Carter to cover and Gordon Bajnai, “don’t deserve another chance”, the British newspaper division, still faces four if they had been confused by the evi- up evidence of phone hacking or paying posters proclaim. After sweeping to power with a two- other charges in the long-running trial, dence so far. He said Brooks was not on (a) public official?” he asked. thirds majority for his Fidesz party in 2010, polls indicate including for conspiring to hack phones. trial for being the editor of a tabloid news- Brooks is accused of conspiring to pay that Orban is on course to win another term on April 6. He After three and a half months of prosecu- paper, for working for Murdoch or for the the official for the Sun story and for trying- already appears to have won the battle of the billboards. tion arguments, which included some policies and corporate views of his com- with her husband, Carter and head of On a recent drive between Budapest and the town of sensational allegations about activities at pany, nor was she on trial for her political security Mark Hanna, who are also on trial- Lorev, 60 kilometres (40 miles) to the south, out of 81 bill- Murdoch’s tabloids, lawyers for the seven views or connections. “There are agendas to cover up evidence of her alleged boards only 14 were genuinely for the opposition, accord- defendants finally began their case. as you can all see, being pursued else- crimes. Also in the dock is Andy Coulson, ing to an AFP count. Wearing a blue dress and white cardi- where, so please just be careful and keep Brooks’ one-time lover who replaced her But critics say that this is because Orban, 50, who has gan, her red curly hair pinned back, an open mind and stay focused upon as editor of the News of the World in 2003. come under fire and home and abroad for a raft of sweeping Brooks was first in the witness box, where what matters,” Laidlaw said. Coulson, who later went to work as media and sometimes controversial legislation, has tweaked the she described her early career in journal- “It is for you to see Mrs Brooks as she chief for Prime Minister David Cameron, system in his favor. Whereas in previous elections, political ism and how she began working for the is-not as she has been described or spo- denies charges of phone hacking and pay- parties could plaster every tree and lamppost across the land News of the World. Shortly before she ken of elsewhere.” The lawyer said a key ing officials for information. — AFP with posters, this is now banned. Now they are only allowed began giving evidence, the judge on designated places, something which the opposition says declared that she had no case to answer gives Fidesz a massive and unfair advantage since many of in one charge against her, that of conspir- these are owned by people close to the party. Viktor ing to commit misconduct in public Szigetvari, co-chairman of Bajnai’s party, blames Orban’s office. domination of the billboards on “oligarchs” close to Fidesz. Brooks was accused of sanctioning a “They control 55 to 60 percent of advertising locations”, he payment of £4,000 ($6,700, 4,900 euros) told AFP. to a public official for a picture of Prince William dressed as a bikini-clad Bond girl COF up at a party at Sandhurst, the British army’s Moreover, Orban has been able to circumvent a rule limit- officer training school. The image was ing spending by parties by having a nominally independent never published but led to a story in The organization called Civil Unity Forum (COF), which in fact is Sun in September 2006 with the headline close to the government, do their posters, critics say. COF “Willy in a Bikini” together with a mocked- posters have been up for weeks, on floodlit billboards and up picture of the second-in-line to the advertising columns, hanging from buildings and offices and throne in a green swimsuit. on the sides of trams, even though the campaign officially Brooks edited the News of the World began only last Sunday. from 2000 to 2003, when she moved to Observers note, however, that the opposition has not edit its sister paper The Sun, until 2006. done much to help itself, with the three main left-wing par- Judge John Saunders ordered the jury to ties only agreeing an electoral pact last month and only this deliver a not guilty verdict on the charge, week launching its poster campaign. “Nobody is stopping saying: “I have decided that there is no the opposition from campaigning more vigorously via other case for Ms Brooks to answer on count channels,” argues Peter Kreko, an analyst with the Political four. That is the charge relating to a pic- Capital consultancy firm. He points out the opposition could ture of Prince William in a bikini.” Brooks still do more campaigning through letterboxes or on social smiled as she was acquitted, although she LONDON: Rebekah Brooks (right) former News International chief executive, and her media.—AFP still faces charges of conspiring to hack husband Charlie Brooks (left) arrive at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. — AP International FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 No release for three of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers NEW DELHI: India’s top court on Thursday stopped the the state was free to release the other four. The court asked any of the seven prisoners - six men and one woman - Tamil Nadu state government from releasing three of the the federal government to file a separate petition regard- before then. Tamil Nadu’s government ruled Wednesday seven prisoners serving life sentences for the 1991 assassi- ing the fate of the four prisoners not covered by Thursday’s that the seven should be released because they have nation of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a lawyer said. decision, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. served more than 20 years in prison. Jayaram Jayalalitha, The state ruled Wednesday that the seven should be Gandhi, 47, was killed by an ethnic Tamil suicide the state’s top elected official, said if the federal govern- released because they have served more than 20 years in bomber in Tamil Nadu in May 1991 as he campaigned for a ment failed to respond to the decision within three days, prison. Critics immediately slammed the decision, calling it return to the post of prime minister. Sixteen other people she would release all of them on her own. a transparent attempt to win over Tamil voters in this year’s were killed in the attack. The assassination was orchestrat- The issue triggered noisy scenes when the lower house national elections. ed by Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels to avenge Gandhi’s of India’s Parliament met Thursday, with lawmakers from The federal government petitioned the Supreme Court decision to send Indian troops to intervene in the country’s the ruling Congress Party strongly protesting the state’s on Thursday to stop the state from freeing the prisoners, civil war in the 1980s. decision. The speaker adjourned the session for an hour to with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the move Mohan Parasaran, the solicitor-general who argued the cool the tempers. Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, was “not legally tenable.” The court on Tuesday had com- federal government’s petition on Thursday against the Prime Minister Singh formally asked the state not to free muted the death sentences for three of the convicts, after release of the convicts, said he told the Supreme Court that the convicts. “We have informed the Tamil Nadu govern- their lawyers argued that executing them now, after they the state government had no authority to free the prison- ment that their proposed course of action to release the had already served long prison terms, would amount to an ers. “The appropriate government to consider the grant of killers of Rajiv Gandhi is not legally tenable and should not unconstitutional double punishment. remission to prisoners is the federal government,” he told be proceeded with,” Singh said in a statement to the Rakesh Dwivedi, a lawyer for Tamil Nadu’s government, reporters. media. He said Gandhi’s assassination was “an attack on said the court’s order Thursday applied only to the three The court scheduled further arguments in the case to the soul of India.”“No government or party should be soft prisoners whose sentences had been commuted, and that be heard on March 6, and the state is unlikely to release in our fight against terrorism,” the statement said.—AP

Afghan exit could Pakistan airstrikes on hamper US drone war against Al-Qaeda Taleban hideouts kill 15

WASHINGTON: The possible withdrawal of all US forces PM approves attack on militant hideouts from Afghanistan would hamper manhunts for Al-Qaeda mil- itants in neighboring Pakistan, forcing Washington to find MIRANSHAH: Pakistani jets launched of peace,” he told AFP. “Negotiations are peace talks. A third security official in alternative bases for its drone flights, officials and experts strikes on Taleban hideouts in the north- the only way. There is no other way.” Miranshah, the main town of North say. The CIA’s drone war against Al-Qaeda in Pakistan’s west yesterday, killing 15 people accord- Waziristan, said jet fighters began pound- northwest tribal belt relies heavily on intelligence gathered ing to security sources, in retaliation for Rising death toll ing targets around 12:30 am, with the by spies based in eastern Afghanistan and on the use of attacks by the militants which have A total of 93 people have been killed attack continuing for more than an hour. Jalabad and other air bases in the area. But without US derailed peace talks. The first raid con- since the reconciliation effort was Residents in the area, known as a hide- troops to guard CIA outposts and air fields, intelligence offi- firmed by security officials came early yes- launched at the end of January, including out for Taleban and Al-Qaeda members, terday when jets bombed several loca- the kidnapped soldiers, according to an said the compound caught fire after the cers would not be able to meet sources on the ground in tions including a compound in the town AFP tally. The Taleban say 60 of their attack and many local people were moving eastern Afghanistan, and Reaper aircraft would have to take of Mir Ali and surrounding parts of the members had died before yesterday’s to safer areas. The second strike in Khyber off from more distant locations, undermining the tracking North Waziristan tribal district. strikes. They have accused the army of also targeted militants and destroyed “pre- and targeting of terror suspects across the border in “There are confirmed reports of 15 mil- executing its members while in custody. pared explosives and IEDs (improvised Pakistan. itants including foreigners killed in these “Air strikes were carried out to target mili- explosive devices)”, said a security source With Afghan President Hamid Karzai refusing to sign a airstrikes,” a senior security official told tant hideouts with precision,” a security who did not give a death toll. bilateral security accord that would allow US troops to stay in AFP on condition of anonymity. A second official said about the first raids in North The TTP has been waging a bloody the country beyond 2014, officials are looking at the possibil- strike targeted militants hiding in the Waziristan. campaign against the Pakistani state since ity of flying drones out of Central Asian countries if American Khyber tribal district who are suspected of “A huge cache of arms and ammunition 2007, often hitting military targets. Some forces are forced to exit. “The government is just starting to bombing a cinema in Peshawar last week has also been destroyed.” Another security observers have raised doubts about the think about this and planning for it,” said a senior US defense and killing an army major on Tuesday, a official said the strikes were “in retaliation ability of the central Taleban command to official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. second security official said. The twin for recent Taleban attacks”. As well as the control all factions, including some “If you still want to put pressure on that region, you have strikes and spiraling violence cast further execution of the kidnapped soldiers and opposed to peace negotiations. The to look at alternatives,” the official told AFP, adding that doubt on a troubled peace process other killings, the insurgents claimed a car Taleban’s demands include the nationwide “none of the options are ideal.” President Barack Obama’s between the government and the insur- bomb attack on a police bus in Karachi on imposition of sharia law, an end to US administration has viewed the drone strikes as a crucial tactic gents just three weeks after talks began. February 13 in which 12 officers died. drone strikes and the withdrawal of the that has weakened the core leadership of Al-Qaeda in The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taleban (TTP) The government has demanded a army from northwestern tribal regions- Pakistan, despite intense criticism from human rights groups had offered a ceasefire on Wednesday on ceasefire as a condition to resume the conditions unlikely to be met. — AFP and some foreign governments. condition that government forces And Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has acknowledged stopped killing and arresting their mem- the administration is looking at gaining access to other bases bers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif if the security pact falls through with Kabul. “I don’t get into announced the start of talks on January the specifics of what our plans are on intelligence and drone 29 to “give peace another chance” follow- strikes,” Hagel told a news conference this month. But he ing a seven-year Taleban insurgency that said Washington was “constantly” weighing its options, has claimed nearly 7,000 lives. But a reviewing “where you posture those assets” and “where do source in his office said Sharif, under you have allies that are willing to work with you.” pressure to avenge the Taleban killing spree, “issued orders to launch the Competing with Russian influence airstrikes” after being briefed by military The United States once had secret access to an air base at advisers. Shamsi in Pakistan for drone flights, but Islamabad ended After several rounds of talks, govern- that arrangement in December 2011, after the US raid on ment mediators pulled out of scheduled Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad. Other possi- dialogue with their Taleban counterparts ble air bases involve former Soviet states in Central Asia, on Monday amid outrage over the claimed execution of 23 kidnapped sol- where Russia seeks to retain its influence and has pressed its diers. On Sunday a faction of the Islamist partners to reject Washington’s overtures. movement from Mohmand near the In Kyrgyzstan, US forces have used Manas air base as a Afghan border said they had killed the vital hub to ferry troops and equipment in and out of soldiers who were seized in the area in Afghanistan. But the deal expires in July, while Kyrgyzstan June 2010. Despite the new bloodshed, has agreed to host more Russian military aircraft at another Professor Ibrahim Khan, a Taleban peace base. The US military once had access to runways in negotiator, said yesterday there was still a Uzbekistan, but that arrangement collapsed in 2005 after chance of a settlement. “The bad effects Washington protested a violent crackdown on dissent.—AFP MULTAN: Relatives of Pakistani army Major Jahanzeib Adnan, who was killed by are very visible but even then we will con- militants, touch his casket, during his funeral procession yesterday. - AP tinue our struggle for the establishment International FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Thai protesters target businesses linked to PM Protest leader says ‘let them come’

BANGKOK: Protesters campaigning to oust Thai said a post on the “No Thaksin” Facebook page. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra turned to “I ask the people to stop using the tyrant Facebook and other social media to attack busi- Thaksin’s products. Stop using AIS... so we can nesses linked to her family yesterday and rallied teach Thaksin a lesson ... and so he can know that outside the offices of a property developer whose hell really exists,” a user posted in response. share price tumbled. Yingluck’s government Yingluck has headed a caretaker government with appears increasingly hemmed in by opponents limited spending powers since calling a snap elec- and the judicial system, lacking the fiscal powers tion in December. Voting on Feb. 2 was disrupted to fund key policies and warned by a court on by her opponents, and it could be months before a Wednesday that it cannot use a state of emer- new government can be installed. gency to disperse protesters. An anti-corruption agency this week filed MOUNT KUMGANG: Kim Song-Yun (left) of South Korea talks with her two sisters Kim Four protesters and a police officer were killed charges against her over a soured rice subsidy Seok-Ryo and a niece, of North Korea, during a reunion event for families divided by the on Tuesday, in the deadliest clashes since the scheme that has stoked middle-class anger and two countries yesterday. — AFP unrest began in November, when police attempt- left hundreds of thousands of farmers, her natural ed to reclaim sites near government buildings that backers, unpaid. More than 1,000 farmers, many Tearful Korean reunions begin have been occupied for weeks. The protesters are riding in farm trucks, were travelling in convoy seeking to unseat Yingluck and stamp out what towards Bangkok from the rice-growing central SEOUL: Their backs stooped, dozens of elderly others by video. None got a second chance to they see as the malign influence of her brother, plains and were due to reach the city overnight or North and South Koreans separated for six reunite, Seoul says. Thaksin Shinawatra, a self-exiled former premier on Friday. Chada Thaiseth, a former member of decades reunited yesterday, weeping and The reunions were arranged after impover- regarded by many as the real power behind the parliament, said he would lead farmers on Friday embracing in a rush of words and emotion. The ished North Korea began calling recently for bet- government. About 500 protesters gathered out- to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, blockaded for reunions come during a rare period of detente ter ties with South Korea, in what outside ana- side the Bangkok offices of SC Asset Corp, a prop- eight days by royalist, anti-Thaksin “yellow shirts” between the rival Koreas and are all the more lysts say is an attempt to win badly needed for- erty developer controlled by the Shinawatra fami- in 2008. “We are not sure where we will set up poignant because the participants will part again eign investment and aid. The North, however, ly, waving Thai flags and blowing whistles. camp, but we will not leave the capital until we are in a few days, likely forever. About 80 South sent mixed signals by threatening to scrap the “We will hamper all Shinawatra businesses,” paid for every grain of rice sold,” Chada told Koreans traveled through falling snow with their reunions to protest annual military drills protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told supporters Reuters. families to North Korea’s Diamond Mountain between Seoul and Washington set to start at a rally on Wednesday night. “If you love your resort to meet children, brothers, sisters, spouses Monday. country, stop using Shinawatra products and do “Let them come” and other relatives. Seoul had said about 180 Many in Seoul are also wary after last year’s everything you can so that their business fails.” Yingluck’s “red shirt” supporters plan a rally in North Koreans were expected. springtime threats from Pyongyang of nuclear Yingluck was executive chairwoman of the com- Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast of the capital, on South Korean TV showed old women in strikes against Seoul and Washington. North pany before being swept to power in a landslide Sunday, when they will decide what to do next. brightly-colored traditional hanbok dresses talk- Korea in recent years has conducted nuclear and election victory in 2011. “We are not saying that we want to come out and ing and hugging, families trading photographs missile tests, and is blamed for attacks in 2010 Shares in SC Asset fell 4.3 percent yetserday, fight, but it seems that Suthep is challenging us of relatives who couldn’t attend or had died. that killed 50 South Koreans. Last week, North following a similar fall the previous day. Shares in red shirts to come out and face off,” spokesman Two men in suits and ties wiped away tears, Korea decided to honor its earlier promise to M-Link Asia Corp , a mobile handset distributor Thanawut Wichaidit said. grasped each other by the necks and pressed allow the reunions after South Korea agreed to with links to the Shinawatras, have also lost almost “Let them come,” Suthep said in a midday their foreheads together as cameras flashed. Pyongyang’s proposal that the rivals stop insult- 10 percent over the past two days. Anusorn Iamsa- speech to protesters in Bangkok. “Do they dare?” One old man was wheeled in on a stretcher, his ing each other. In South Korea, there are still ard, deputy spokesman for Yingluck’s Puea Thai The protests are the biggest since deadly political head propped on a pillow, a blue blanket worries that the reunions might be disrupted Party, said the building the protesters targeted unrest in 2010, when Thaksin’s red shirt supporters wrapped tightly around him. because of the impending military drills. had nothing to do with her. paralysed Bangkok in an attempt to remove a gov- These meetings - the first in more than three The reunions are broken into two parts. “The prime minister has no shares in SC Asset,” ernment led by the Democrat Party, now the years because of high tensions - are a vivid Yesterday’s reunions end Saturday. A second he said. “The thing that will worry her is the impact opposition. More than 90 people were killed and reminder that despite 60 years of animosity, mis- group of about 360 South Koreans plans to visit of the protest today, and the fact employees of the 2,000 wounded when Suthep, at the time a deputy understanding, threats and occasional artillery the mountain resort Sunday to meet with 88 eld- office tower had to leave, on the Thai economy prime minister, sent in troops. The protests are the exchanges, the world’s most heavily armed bor- erly North Koreans. Those reunions end Tuesday. overall. But the campaign against Shinawatra busi- latest installment of an eight-year political battle der divides a single people. The reunion came Both governments ban their citizens from visit- nesses will not weaken her resolve to see Thailand broadly pitting the Bangkok middle class and roy- too late for 90-year-old Seo Jeong-suk, who died ing each other or even exchanging letters, through this crisis.” alist establishment against the mostly rural sup- in South Korea just 15 days ago. Her daughter phone calls and emails. Other stocks affected include telecoms group porters of Yingluck and Thaksin. Demonstrators Kim Yong-ja, 68, sobbed as she handed her long- In Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, many Shin Corp , founded by Thaksin before he entered accuse Thaksin of nepotism and corruption and lost sister a framed photograph of Seo. Kim Yong people had heard of the plan to hold the politics, and its mobile affiliate Advanced Info say that, prior to being toppled by the army in a Sil clasped the photo to her heart and said, “It’s reunions on the television news or other state Service Pcl (AIS) . Shin Corp said it no longer has 2006 coup, he used taxpayers’ money for populist mom’s photo.” media. “I desperately hope for reunification. We any connection with the Shinawatra family. “We subsidies and easy loans that bought him the loy- For some other families, aging and illness did are of the same blood and getting these families should change our service provider and stop using alty of millions in the country’s populous north not thwart the reunions but made them bitter- together will help national reunification,” said AIS ... it’s easy to change SIM cards these days,” and northeast.—Reuters sweet. “Sister, why can’t you hear me?” North 63-year old Jang Hye Sun. The two Koreas have Korean Ri Jong Sil, 84, asked 87-year-old Lee been in a near-constant standoff since an Young sil, who has difficulty recognizing people armistice ended the Korean War. It hasn’t been because of Alzheimer’s disease, according to replaced with a peace treaty, leaving the penin- South Korean media pool reports. Tears flowed sula still technically in a state of war. About down Ri’s deeply wrinkled face as Lee’s daughter 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea began sobbing, telling her mother: “Mom, it’s my to help deter aggression from North Korea. aunt. It’s my aunt. She’s your sister.” In 2000, South Korea created a computerized The difference in the sisters’ family name is a lottery system for South Koreans hoping for product of the Korean Peninsula’s division: It’s reunions, and since then nearly 130,000 people, basically the same family name but each country most in their 70s or older, have entered. Only uses different spelling rules in both Korean and about 70,000 are still alive. It’s not known how English. Ri Chol Ho, 77, from North Korea, used a North Korea selects people who attend reunions. piece of paper to communicate with his 81-year- South Korean media reported that the North old brother from South Korea, Lee Myeong-ho, usually chooses those loyal to its authoritarian who has a hearing problem. “Mother used to tell government. According to pool reports, it was me that you would return home and buy me a only through the application process that 93- pair of rubber shoes,” Ri wrote on the paper that year-old Kang Neung-hwan even realized that he passed to his brother, according to the pool he had left a son behind when he left North reports. Korea during the war. Kang Jong Kuk, now 64, These Koreans are the lucky few. Millions had been in his mother’s womb at the time, and have been separated from loved ones by the his father had not been aware that she was preg- tumult and bloodshed of the three-year war that nant. And when they finally met yesterday, the ended in 1953. During a previous period of inter- elder Kang could not resist a little gentle teasing. Korean rapprochement, about 22,000 Koreans “You look old,” he told his son. “Come give me a BANGKOK: An anti-government protester raises his clenched fist as he listens to a speech had brief reunions - 18,000 in person and the hug.” — AP by anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban. — AP International17 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Beauty queen the latest victim in Venezuela unrest Venezuelans rally in support of jailed leader

CARACAS: A local beauty queen died of a gunshot wound on Wednesday in the fifth fatality from Venezuela’s political unrest, as imprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez urged supporters to keep fighting for the departure of the socialist govern- ment. Tensions have risen in Venezuela since Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard-educat- ed economist, turned himself in to troops on Tuesday after spearheading three weeks of often rowdy protests against President Nicolas Maduro’s government. The latest included college student and model Genesis Carmona, 22, who was shot in the head at a protest on Tuesday in the central city of Valencia. She died later in a clinic. “How long are we going to live like this? How long do we have to tolerate this pressure, with them killing us?” a relative, CHICAGO: A runner runs along the lake shore in Chicago. —AFP who asked not to be named, told Reuters. “She only needed one more semester to graduate,” he added of Carmona, who had Sunny weather been studying tourism and had won the VALENCIA: A motorcyclist carries Venezuelan model Genesis Carmona, injured 2013 Miss Tourism competition in her during an anti-government protest. —AFP offers new state. short-lived ouster of Chavez for 36 hours by several hundred ‘Chavistas’, some of Three people were shot dead in in 2002, before military loyalists and sup- them striking the protesters and chanting headache Caracas after an opposition rally a week porters helped bring him back. Though “Leopoldo, off to Tocoron” in a reference ago, and a fourth person died after being tens of thousands joined Lopez on the to a notoriously overcrowded provincial CHICAGO: Blue skies and temperatures above freezing had run over by a car during a demonstration streets when he turned himself in on jail. In an intriguing twist to the drama, giddy Chicago residents basking in the rare sunshine after one in the coastal town of Carupano. There Tuesday, the protests have so far been Maduro said his powerful Congress head of the cruelest winters in recent memory. But there were signs have been scores of arrests and injuries. much smaller than the wave of demon- Diosdado Cabello, seen by many - melting snow, growing puddles - that Mother Nature was State TV channel VTV said the mother of strations a decade ago. Neither is there Venezuelans as a potential rival to the about to unleash a whole new miserable on the Midwest. one its employees died while being any evidence that the military, which was president, personally negotiated Lopez’s Flooding. Weeks of subfreezing weather are giving way, at rushed to hospital in Caracas. VTV said she the decisive factor in the 2002 overthrow, surrender via his parents. Cabello even least briefly, to temperatures in the 40s and 50s, putting many suffered a heart attack while the ambu- may turn on Maduro now. helped drive him to custody in his own car Midwestern cities on guard for flooding, roof collapses and lance carrying her was stuck in gridlock given the risks to Lopez’s life from extrem- clogged storm drains. Some areas expected a double wham- due to opposition supporters blocking ‘Free Leopoldo!’ ists, Maduro said. With local TV providing my: warm, spring-like air combined with heavy rains that roads. Lopez was being held on Wednesday minimal live coverage of the street unrest, could compound the problem and turn the big melt into a at the Ramo Verde jail in Caracas, and was Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have muddy, damaging mess. A whole new layer of snow and sleet ‘Let’s fight’ due at a first court hearing. Hundreds of become the go-to media for many was forecast to accumulate early Thursday, particularly across Lopez has urged his supporters to keep his supporters waved banners saying “Free Venezuelans desperate for information. Wisconsin, northern Illinois and parts of Indiana, before tem- fighting for the departure of Maduro’s Leopoldo!” in the city center on However, many social media users are peratures rise and change the precipitation to rain, according socialist administration. “Today more than Wednesday as a line of soldiers stood in indiscriminately tweeting images without to the National Weather Service. The warmer temperatures ever, our cause has to be the exit of this front with riot shields. “We’re prepared to confirming their origin, leading to manip- may be accompanied by fog and strong winds that could government,” he said, sitting by his wife in give our lives,” said pensioner Juan ulation and gaffes including footage of reach 50 miles per hour. a pre-recorded video that was to be Marquez, 68. unrest in Egypt and Chile being passed off Landscaping companies’ phones were ringing off the hook released in the event he was jailed. Police held back a rival demonstration as repression in Venezuela.— Reuters Wednesday with calls from homeowners seeking crews to “The exit from this disaster, the exit of scoop snow piles onto dump trucks and haul them away this group of people who have kidnapped before basements or streets flooded. “They’re calling me to the future of Venezuelans is in your hands. Investigators eye pilot say, ‘With this rain coming, where is that water and the snow Let’s fight. I will be doing so.” There was going to go when it melts?’” said Jodey Schmiedekamp of sporadic trouble across Venezuela again Countryside Industries in suburban Chicago. on Wednesday. Rival groups scuffled out- fatigue in UPS jet crash Warnings were issued Wednesday that ice and deep snow side the Caracas court where Lopez was could clog drainage systems. In Chicago, street crews were due, while student demonstrators also WASHINGTON: Pilot fatigue is among much of their flying at night, strongly racing to clear catch basins of debris and asking residents to blocked a highway in the capital, burning several issues being eyed by accident opposed the regulations. FAA officials do the same. Officials in Will County, south of Chicago, pre- trash. In western Tachira state, security investigators as possible factors in the estimated the regulations would cost pared to siphon warm water from a nuclear power plant’s forces and protesters fought in the streets fatal predawn crash of a UPS cargo jet $550 million over 12 years if applied cooling pond into the Kankakee River in hopes of melting ice for about two hours, with two students in Alabama last August. The National to cargo airlines; the Independent that can jam the channel and push floodwaters over the injured, various vehicles damaged or Transportation Safety Board sched- Pilots Association, which represents banks. At the same time, emergency management authorities destroyed, and local monuments charred, uled a hearing for Thursday on the UPS pilots, estimated the cost at $320 warned people in low-lying areas to be ready to move to witnesses said. accident, which killed both pilots. The million. higher ground, even going door-to-door to ensure families In southern Puerto Ordaz city, pro- and safety board has long expressed con- The work shift of the UPS pilots were aware of the danger. anti-government marchers fought in the cern about operator fatigue, saying killed in the crash began about 9 p.m. In Indiana, the weather service cautioned that melting street, witnesses said, with police firing the problem shows up repeatedly in the previous day in Rockford, Ill., and snow piled as high as 18 inches wouldn’t be able to flow nor- teargas to quell the trouble. Three govern- accidents across all modes of trans- took them to Peoria and then to mally into rivers and streams because those channels are ment supporters were injured in the portation - planes, trains, cars, trucks Louisville, Ky. They were finishing their frozen. Between the snowmelt and the rain, some flooding melee when shots were fired, and both and ships. Fatigue can erode judg- last scheduled leg when the plane would be unavoidable. “A lot of bad things could happen sides faced off with sticks and stones, the ment, slow response times and lead to slammed into a hillside just before 5 tomorrow,” Marc Dahmer, a weather service meteorologist in witnesses said. errors much as alcohol can. am during a landing attempt in Indianapolis, said Wednesday. The demonstrators are calling for Two years ago, the Federal Birmingham. Night shift workers fre- Parts of Michigan have gotten so much snow that authori- Maduro’s resignation over issues ranging Aviation Administration issued new quently suffer fatigue, especially ties fret about more roof collapses like the one that injured from inflation and violent crime to corrup- rules aimed at ensuring airline pilots between the hours of 2 am and 6 am two women Wednesday in the Grand Rapids area, which has tion and product shortages. Maduro, who have sufficient rest. FAA officials pro- when the human body’s circadian received 101 inches of snow this season. Other collapses have was narrowly elected last year to replace posed including cargo airlines in draft rhythms - physical and behavioral been reported around the state since January. If rain adds Hugo Chavez after his death from cancer, regulations, but exempted them changes that respond to light and weight to the snowpack, it “can exacerbate the situation that’s says Lopez and others in league with the when final regulations were released, darkness - are telling the brain to there,” said John Maples, a weather service meteorologist in US government are seeking a coup. citing cost. Cargo carriers, who do sleep, according to sleep experts.—AP Grand Rapids.—AP Street protests were the backdrop to a International18 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Roadside survey of Government cancels plan to impaired driving collect license plate data causes outcry NSA collecting data of millions of Americans B Orange cones and flashing police lights confronted WASHINGTON: The Homeland Security average citizen’s every movement. data is location data, and location data is Ricardo Nieves as he rounded a bend on the way to his Department abruptly reversed course Lawmakers around the country, mean- very revealing,” Lynch said. “It can tell mother’s house. Before he knew what was going on, Nieves Wednesday and dropped plans to allow while, have been wrestling with you a lot about a person’s life: where said, a man working for a government contractor stepped in a private company to give the govern- whether or how to control the collection they go, who they associate with, what front of his car and forced him to turn into a parking lot. ment access to a nationwide database and use of license plate data. kind of religion they practice, what doc- There, a woman repeatedly tried to question him about his of license plate tracking information. At least 14 states are considering tors they visit.” driving habits and asked for a mouth swab that would Secretary Jeh Johnson directed that a measures that would curb surveillance In 2012, the American Civil Liberties detect the presence of illegal or prescription drugs in his contract proposal issued last week be efforts, including the use of license plate Union criticized the collection of license system. Nieves refused. Then he sued, contending his rights canceled. The proposal said Immigration readers. License plate readers - essen- plate scanner data and warned that mil- were violated. His Dec 13 experience has been repeated and Customs Enforcement was planning tially cameras that snap rapid-fire pic- lions of records were being collected thousands of times in cities around the country as the feder- to use the license plate data in pursuit of tures of license plates and vehicles as with little or no safeguards for people’s al government tries to figure out how many of the nation’s criminal immigrants and others sought they pass - are in use in a host of loca- privacy. Catherine Crump, an ACLU motorists are driving while drunk or high. US transportation by authorities. tions, by private companies and law lawyer, said Wednesday she was pleased officials call the National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Gillian Christensen, an ICE spokes- enforcement. But it’s not just the license to hear that the department has can- Drugged Driving, which has been conducted five times woman, said the contract solicitation plate number that gets recorded. The celed the contract proposal but still wor- since 1973, a vital tool for monitoring the safety of was posted “without the awareness of readers - whether they are mounted to ried about that it might be brought back America’s roadways. But some motorists and civil liberties ICE leadership.” “While we continue to police cars, traffic lights or toll booths - to life at some point. “While we are advocates contend the government’s methods are intrusive support a range of technologies to help record the date, time and location of the heartened that it looks as though the meet our law enforcement mission, this vehicle when the picture was taken. plan is off the table for now; it is still and even unconstitutional. Some police departments have solicitation will be reviewed to ensure According to the contract proposal, unexplained why the proposal was put refused to partner on the survey or regretted their decision the path forward appropriately meets the government wanted “a close-up of forward and why it has been with- to do so in the wake of public outcry, while in Tennessee, our operational needs,” Christensen the plate and a zoomed out image of drawn,” Crump said. legislation that would ban law enforcement from helping said. The department said Johnson has the vehicle.” The Homeland Security The government’s contract proposal out on the survey unanimously cleared the state Senate last ordered a review of the proposal. Department also wanted instant and was published amid revelations of sur- month. The contract notice came amid grow- around-the-clock access to the records veillance programs run by the National In the southeastern Pennsylvania city of Reading, Nieves ing concerns about government surveil- and is asking for whoever wins the con- Security Agency. Privacy advocates have is angered over what he views as an abuse of power. “I lance of US citizens but didn’t address tract to make the information available argued that NSA phone data collection didn’t even have a choice to make a decision” to stop for potential privacy consequences. Before through a smartphone app. It is not programs and other surveillance pro- the survey or keep going, he said. “That choice was taken the notice was canceled, Christensen clear from the contract notice how long grams are gobbling up massive amounts away the moment he stepped into my right of way.” said the database “could only be individual records would be kept or of information about US citizens who Conducted in 60 cities around the nation, the survey yields accessed in conjunction with ongoing what other government agencies may have no ties to criminals or terrorists, the government’s best estimate of the prevalence of criminal investigations or to locate have access to the trove of records. which the government has said the pro- impaired driving. It works like this: Motorists are randomly wanted individuals.” Law enforcement Jennifer Lynch, a senior staff attorney grams are designed to target. Classified selected - either by a uniformed police officer or a private has been using license plate readers for with the San Francisco-based civil liber- NSA documents, leaked to news organi- contractor working for the National Highway Traffic Safety several years, but privacy advocates ties group Electronic Frontier zations, showed the NSA was collecting Administration - and waved into a parking lot, where they have raised concerns that the Foundation, said those unknowns repre- telephone records, emails and video are questioned about their drinking and driving habits, unchecked collection of such informa- sented serious privacy concerns. “The chats of millions of Americans who were asked to take a breath test, and offered money if they pro- tion could allow for the tracking of an base level concern is that license plate not suspected of a crime. —AP vide saliva and blood samples or agree to answer a more extensive written survey. Federal officials stress the survey is both voluntary - a large sign at each survey site says so and anonymous, with US warns airlines about shoe bombs local police enlisted to provide security and divert selected motorists from the flow of traffic. Any driver found to be WASHINGTON: The US Department of impaired is offered a ride home or put up in a hotel. The sur- Homeland Security has warned airlines that vey’s supporters include Mothers Against Drunk Driving and terrorists could try to hide explosives in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a group funded shoes. It’s the second time in less than three by auto insurers whose president, Adrian Lund, said it lets weeks that the government has issued a researchers and policymakers monitor how national alcohol warning about possible attempts to smug- policies are working. Though the rate of drunken driving gle explosives on a commercial jetliner. has plummeted over the past 40 years, impaired motorists Homeland Security said Wednesday it regu- kill thousands a year. Highway deaths involving drunken larly shares relevant information with drivers rose 4.6 percent in 2012 to 10,322, according to fed- domestic and international partners, but it eral statistics. declined to discuss specifics of a warning sent to airlines. Methodology “Our security apparatus includes a num- “This is a very minimal intrusion on privacy,” Lund said. ber of measures, both seen and unseen, “If you know that by participating in this survey, (it) means informed by the latest intelligence and as that we may develop policies that make it less likely you’re always DHS continues to adjust security killed by an alcohol-impaired driver, I think that’s well worth measures to fit an ever evolving threat envi- the price.”But the government’s own documents acknowl- ronment,” the department said in a state- edge concerns about the National Roadside Survey at least ment. A U.S. intelligence official told The as far back as 2007. The tactics used by the Maryland-based Associated Press that DHS released a notice to airlines reiterating that liquids, shoes and contractor, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, WASHINGTON: In this file photo, an airline passenger pulls off his shoes to be certain cosmetics were of concern, all of are “not routine by any means,” according to a survey scanned as he prepares to go through a security checkpoint at Seattle-Tacoma which are covered under existing methodology that describes how some police departments International Airport. —AP Transportation Security Administration had balked at participating in the 2007 version of the survey security policies. because they believed they were barred by law. then banned passengers from bringing any late 2001. Reid pleaded guilty to terrorism The latest warning was focused on And while federal officials contend the survey is volun- liquids in their carry-on luggage on nonstop charges and is serving a life sentence. flights headed to the United States from flights from the US to Russia. That warning The traveling public has grown increas- tary, that’s not entirely the case. Survey takers use a device, abroad. The official said “something caused called a passive alcohol sensor, to collect a breath sample became public just days before the opening ingly impatient with expanding security DHS concern, but it’s a very low threshold to ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. checks at airports. TSA in recent years has before the motorist’s “consent or refusal of the survey,” trigger a warning like this.” The official It is unclear if the latest warning, first changed some security procedures to allow according to the methodology. That lets researchers maxi- spoke on condition of anonymity because reported Wednesday by NBC News, is relat- young children and passengers 75 and older mize the amount of data they collect while helping them he was not authorized to discuss the issue ed to the earlier threats to Russia-bound to keep their shoes on. The security agency get impaired drivers off the road, the document said. Later publicly. Earlier this month, Homeland flights. Air passengers in the United States has also launched a fee-based program that on, motorists are asked to blow into another device that Security warned airlines with flights to have had to take off their shoes at airport allows willing flyers to submit to background measures blood-alcohol content more precisely. Kim Cope Russia to be on the lookout for explosive security checkpoints since shortly after checks and avoid having to remove their said there was nothing voluntary about her experience with devices possibly hidden inside toothpaste. Richard Reid tried to ignite explosives hid- shoes, jackets and small amounts of liquids the survey last November.—AP The Transportation Security Administration den in his shoes on a Miami-bound flight in packed in carry-on luggage. —AP Business FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Diamonds, deals as Danone IMF, Britain warn emerging economies ahead of G20 struggles for China bounce

PAGE 20 PAGE 22

MENLO PARK: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during a media event at Facebook’s headquarters office yesterday. — AFP Facebook buys WhatsApp for $19bn WhatsApp deal shows Facebook push to stay on top

NEW YORK: Facebook is buying mobile messaging audience. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the teenagers, interested. The company is developing a about this deal. People are going to look at this and service WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock, service “doesn’t get as much attention in the US as it “multi-app” strategy, creating its own applications say, ‘Uh, oh, did they pay way too much for this?” For by far the company’s largest acquisition and bigger deserves because its community started off growing that exist outside of Facebook and acquiring others. Facebook, WhatsApp’s huge user base, fast growth than any that Google, Microsoft or Apple have ever in Europe, India and Latin America. But WhatsApp is It released a news reader app called Paper earlier pace and popularity is worth the money. The app is done. The world’s biggest social networking compa- a very important and valuable worldwide communi- this month, and has its own messaging app called currently adding a million new users a day. At this ny said Wednesday that it is paying $12 billion in cation network. In fact, WhatsApp is the only widely Facebook Messenger. rate, said Zuckerberg, WhatsApp is on path to reach Facebook stock and $4 billion in cash for WhatsApp. used app we’ve ever seen that has more engage- “Facebook seems to be in acknowledgement a billion users. He called services that reach this mile- In addition, the app’s founders and employees 55 in ment and a higher percent of people using it daily that people are using a lot of different apps to com- stone “incredibly valuable.” It’s an elite group to be all - will be granted restricted stock worth $3 billion than Facebook itself.” municate,” said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho sure - one that includes Google (which owns that will vest over four years after the deal closes. WhatsApp, a messaging service for smartphones, Williamson. “In order to continue to reach audi- YouTube), Facebook itself and little else. The deal translates to roughly 11 percent of lets users chat with their phone contacts, both one- ences, younger in particular, it needs to have a “We want to provide the best tools to share Facebook’s market value. In comparison, Google’s on-one and in groups. The service allows people to broader strategy...not put all its eggs in one basket.” with different sized groups and in different con- biggest deal was its $12.5 billion purchase of send texts, photos, videos and voice recordings over Facebook said it is keeping WhatsApp as a separate texts and to develop more mobile experiences Motorola Mobility, while Microsoft’s largest was the Internet. It also lets users communicate with service, just as it did with Instagram, which it bought beyond just the main Facebook app, like Instagram Skype at $8.5 billion. Apple, meanwhile, has never people overseas without incurring charges for pricey for about $715.3 million nearly two years ago. and Messenger,” Zuckerberg said in a conference done a deal above $1 billion. international texts and phone calls. It’s free to use for WhatsApp has more than 450 million monthly call. “This is where we see a lot of new growth as The deal’s price tag stunned Gartner analyst the first year and costs $1 per year after that. It has active users. In comparison, Twitter had 241 million well as a great opportunity to better serve our Brian Blau. “I am not surprised they went after no ads. users at the end of 2013. At $19 billion, Facebook is whole community.” WhatsApp, but the amount is staggering,” he said. Blau said Facebook’s purchase is a bet on the paying $42 per WhatsApp user in the deal. The Forrester analyst Nate Elliot said in an emailed Facebook likely prizes WhatsApp for its audience of future. “They know they have to expand their busi- transaction is likely to raise worries that Facebook note that “it’ll be tempting to read this as a sign teenagers and young adults who are increasingly ness lines. WhatsApp is in the business of collecting and other technology companies are becoming Facebook is scared of losing teens... And yes, the using the service to engage in online conversations people’s conversations, so Facebook is going to get overzealous in their pursuit of promising products company does have to work hard to keep young outside of Facebook, which has evolved into a more some great data,” he noted. In that regard, the and services, said Anthony Michael Sabino, a St users engaged. But the reality is Facebook always mainstream hangout inhabited by their parents, acquisition makes sense for 10-year-old Facebook as John’s University business professor. works hard to keep all its users engaged, no matter grandparents and even their bosses at work. it looks to attract its next billion users while keeping “This could be seen as a microcosm of a bubble,” their age. Facebook is tireless in its efforts to keep Facebook’s new acquisition also has a broad global its existing 1.23 billion members, including Sabino said. “I expect there to be a lot of skepticism users coming back.” —AP Business FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 20

China manufacturing index hits 7-mth low

BEIJING: A key index of Chinese manufacturing fell further in February to hit its lowest level in seven months, HSBC said yesterday, in a sign of diminishing strength in the world’s sec- ond-largest economy. The British banking giant’s preliminary reading for its purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for China, which tracks manufacturing activity in factories and work- shops, fell to 48.3 this month. That marked a further tumble from the final reading of 49.5 in January, when the figure showed contraction for the first time in six months. The index is a closely-watched gauge of the health of the Asian economic powerhouse. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while anything below signals contraction. Qu Hongbin, HSBC economist in Hong Kong, blamed February’s worsening figure on decreasing new orders and production at Chinese factories, and called on the government to adjust pol- icy to support growth. “The building-up of disinflationary pressures implies that the underlying momentum for manufacturing growth could be weakening,” he said in a statement accompanying the data. “We believe Beijing policy makers should and can fine-tune SYDNEY: IMF chief Christine Lagarde (left) listens to a question during a public question and answer session program for policy to keep growth at a steady pace in the coming year.” ABC television yesterday. —AFP China’s inflation rate remained subdued at 2.5 percent year- on-year in January, official data showed, arousing economists’ concerns that the figure suggested weak domestic demand and murky growth prospects. IMF, Britain warn emerging Liquidity crunches economies ahead of G20 But Julian Evans-Pritchard, an analyst with research firm Capital Economics, argued that broader indicators showed the labor market remained healthy and that the weakness in German finance chief says Europe not over-represented manufacturing was an acceptable result for Beijing. “Looking ahead, there are no signs of a shift towards loosening policy,” SYDNEY: IMF chief Christine Lagarde answer session recorded for ABC televi- what he called “comprehensive and he wrote in a research note. Compared with the past, when and British finance minister George sion in Sydney, describing the issue as ambitious national reform agendas” to authorities were quick to throw cash to stimulate a slowing Osborne yesterday demanded emerg- “high on the agenda” this weekend. address fiscal policy, financial regulation economy, they have recently been taking a largely tight-fisted ing economies get their own houses in But she said a “mind the shop at and structural blockages. approach. order, after some attacked US monetary home” message also applied to the Two liquidity crunches last year occurred in part because of policy in the run-up to G20 talks this developing economies. “In other words, IMF ‘needs to be flexible’ official eagerness to impose tighter discipline over banks amid weekend. While Lagarde also cautioned emerging market economies, you need That program is backed by the IMF, burgeoning debt levels. Meanwhile, growth in fixed asset the US Federal Reserve to be “mindful” to look after your various equilibriums. but Lagarde said G20 central banks investment, a measure of government spending on infrastruc- of the impact of its stimulus exit on “You need to look at your fiscal policy, should also signal their intentions clear- ture, has been slowing steadily since August. major developing players, Osborne you need to look at your monetary poli- ly given the world’s economic interde- Some analysts expressed caution over this month’s prelimi- urged emerging markets to refrain from cy, you need to have the house in order pendence. “There has to be enough nary survey, as data was collected from February 12-18 and “finger-pointing and distractions” at the to resist the volatility that can be cooperation between central bankers so Sydney meeting of G20 finance minis- induced from the tapering of the US that they are mindful of what the conse- many Chinese companies did not reopen until the middle of ters and central bankers. Countries Fed, in particular, at the moment.” quences will be, not just at home where this month after the lengthy Lunar New Year holiday. China including Argentina, India, Russia, South Lagarde’s remarks were echoed by they do the tapering, but elsewhere in posted economic growth of 7.7 percent in 2013, the same as Africa and Turkey have suffered sharp Britain’s finance minister, who said it the world where we have seen some 2012 — which was the worst rate of growth since 1999 — losses to their currencies as a by-prod- was “neither accurate nor useful” to volatility,” she said. Lagarde supported although it exceeded the government’s target of 7.5 percent uct of the Fed’s “taper” the ending of a blame Western monetary policy for Australia’s call for bolder growth targets for the year. mammoth stimulus program that is see- shaky currencies or high deficits in than the 3.7 percent expected globally Analysts are expecting economic expansion to slow to 7.5 ing capital flows switch abruptly away emerging markets. “The underlying this year, saying “there is a potential for percent this year, as Chinese leaders have vowed to change from the developing world. causes are domestic fragility in those doing better and for doing more if only the country’s growth model so that consumers and other pri- Lagarde said “just a hint of tapering” countries, often built up over a long countries were to take some action.” vate actors play the leading role, rather than huge and often in May last year had sent ripples period of time-and that is why some Asked whether the IMF stood ready to wasteful state investment. Both exports and imports recorded through the markets and the emerging markets have been much assist in the event of a major emerging robust jumps last month, despite the Spring Festival holiday International Monetary Fund had asked more affected than others,” Osborne, economies crisis linked to the US Fed’s season. But analysts skeptical of the data, feared that the “the US authorities, particularly the Fed, who heads to Sydney today, said in a wind back, she said: “We would have the unusually strong performance might be a repetition of what be mindful of what’s happening else- speech to business leaders in Hong instruments. “And to the extent that happened around the middle of last year, when traders faked where when you do what you have Kong. “We all need to get our houses in more is needed, different approaches are reporting to channel money into the country to capitalize on announced”. “Don’t go too fast and order.” needed, we have to be flexible. We have the strengthening of the yuan. HSBC is scheduled to publish explain what you are doing,” the IMF Osborne backed the agenda laid out to adjust, we have to respond to the its final PMI reading for February on March 3. — AFP chief said in a public question-and- by the G20’s Australian presidency for membership(‘s) needs,” she said. —AFP Japan logs record $27bn trade deficit

TOKYO: Japan’s trade deficit swelled in January to anoth- owing to a policy blitz dubbed Abenomics, which meshes ing down Japan’s eye-watering national debt, said er monthly record, data showed yesterday, as once- government spending with massive central bank mone- London-based Capital Economics. “The most recent bumper surpluses disappear under the weight of soaring tary easing-a plan aimed at reviving the long-lumbering increase in imports can largely be attributed to strong post-Fukushima energy bills, an imbalance driven by pre- economy. domestic demand ahead of the upcoming sales tax hike, mier Shinzo Abe’s cheap-yen policies. The 2.79 trillion yen While the weaker currency boosts Japanese exporters’ and a narrowing in the shortfall seems likely after April,” it ($27.3 billion) shortfall also underscored a boost in pur- profitability, it also makes goods purchased from overseas added. chases of foreign goods ahead of an April sales tax rise, more expensive. The growing imbalance was stoked by a Despite upbeat exports to key markets in the US, China analysts said, as fears grow that the hike will derail a 25 percent jump in January imports to a record 8.04 tril- and Europe, Japan’s January deficit ballooned by 70.8 per- recovery in the world’s third-largest economy. lion yen on pricey bills for oil and gas purchases, after cent from a year earlier and was equal to about one-quar- Japan’s yawning deficit marked the latest worrying Japan shuttered its nuclear reactors in the wake of the ter the country’s trade deficit through all of 2013. Exports news after its sizzling GDP growth in the first half of last worst atomic crisis in a generation at Fukushima in 2011. rose 9.5 percent to 5.25 trillion yen, partly driven by a year slowed to a crawl in the fourth-quarter, and as it post- But the monthly volume of energy imports has been jump in shipments of vehicles, but the value of shipments ed a record trade deficit through 2013. The yen has lost slowing, with January’s rise also driven by stronger spend- overseas lagged the sharp drop in the yen, Nomura about a fifth of its value against the dollar since late 2012, ing ahead of the tax rise, which is seen as crucial to bring- Securities said.—AFP Business FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 UK’s Osborne promises budget of ‘hard truths’ Britain enjoys highest growth rate in 6 years

LONDON: British finance minister truths.” Osborne has to date been cau- week said that as yet the recovery was George Osborne promised yesterday to tious not to be seen cashing in on the neither balanced nor sustainable. Carney deal with “hard truths” about Britain’s political capital generated by a surpris- also said that weak overseas demand unbalanced economic recovery in his ingly strong economic rebound for fear was likely to make boosting exports a annual budget next month, emphasizing of stoking expectations that the govern- tough challenge. Osborne did not give a need for more manufacturing exports. ment can afford to ease up on spending further details of any measures to Speaking in Hong Kong en route to a cuts. Any expectations of a let-up in aus- encourage exports that would appear in NORTH ANDOVER: In this photo, price tags hang on merchan- G20 finance ministers’ meeting in terity could benefit the opposition cen- his budget. dise at TJ Maxx in North Andover, Mass. — AP Australia, Osborne’s speech is likely to be tre-left Labor party, leading in opinion The focus on a resurgence of British one of his last before he delivers his polls, which has set itself looser targets manufacturing is a familiar refrain for budget statement on March 19. The for fiscal consolidation. Osborne. He made similar calls in his 2011 ATMs raise Bitcoin budget will be his final chance to mean- Osborne will say that chief among budget which he said would help make ingfully alter fiscal policy before a May Britain’s problems is that the recovery Britain the most attractive destination in profile, concerns 2015 election. from a prolonged period of recession Europe for business and investment. Despite Britain enjoying its highest and stagnation is not yet secured, and However, a combination of the crisis in growth rate in six years, Osborne that the economy has too much empha- the euro zone and the government’s aus- WASHINGTON: Even if you aren’t sure what a Bitcoin is, you may stressed a need to keep pursuing an aus- sis on consumer spending. “We cannot terity push have left Britain still largely soon find them at a nearby machine. The first Bitcoin ATMs are terity agenda in order to reduce the rely on consumers alone for our eco- reliant on consumer spending. A sharp cropping up in North America, enabling consumers to swap cash country’s budget deficit and bring the nomic growth, as we did in previous fall in sterling over the past few years has for units of the crypto-currency, or cash in their Bitcoins. ATMs are national debt down to levels he views as decades,” he will say. “And we cannot proved of little help to exporters. Major coming in Europe and Asia as well. The machines could allow sustainable. “This is not a budget where put all our chips on the success of the multinational firms have also cited the risk Bitcoins, generated by a complex computer algorithm designed we can rest on our laurels and say ‘job City of London, as my predecessors did. that Britain could leave the European in 2009, to move out of the realm of geeks to the broader public. done’,” Osborne will say, according to Britain is not investing enough. Britain is Union, under Prime Minister David The US startup Robocoin, after unveiling its first ATM in speech extracts released by his office. “It not exporting enough.” Cameron’s plans for a referendum in Vancouver last year, announced plans to begin operating a is a budget where we must confront our His words echoed those of Bank of 2017, as causing uncertainty that deterred machine in Austin, Texas, on Thursday. It also plans to open one problems and deal with some hard England governor Mark Carney who last inward investment. — Reuters in Seattle, in Washington state, ahead of a wider global launch. “We have completely removed the barriers for people to buy and sell Bitcoins,” Robocoin chief executive Jordan Kelley told AFP. “You no longer have to wait days, you don’t have to provide Nigeria suspends central bank chief your bank account.” Kelley said Robocoin provides the only “bi- directional” Bitcoin ATMs, meaning that consumers can either ABUJA: Nigeria suspended the central bank governor yester- subsidy payments may be illegal while offering no benefits to buy or sell the digital currency. Robocoin provides the hardware, day for alleged financial recklessness after he accused the consumers. The NNPC has countered that the kerosene sub- made in the United States, to local operators, who must get certi- state oil company of misappropriating $20 billion (14.5 billion sidy removal was never approved by lawmakers so the com- fication from state and federal authorities and comply with anti- euros) of public funds. Lamido Sanusi, whose term was due to pany must continue to make the payments. It blamed unethi- money laundering rules. expire in June, became embroiled in controversy after he cal kerosene sellers for the fact that consumers continue to Operators around the world will also need certification in the charged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pay full price. countries where they operate, Kelley said. “We were built to be with gross mismanagement and corruption. A statement from Kayode Awotile of Lakeworth Investment and Securities, fully compliant (with finance regulations) globally,” he said. Kelley President Goodluck Jonathan’s office said probes into Sanusi’s who criticized yesterday move, said Sanusi has left Nigeria’s declined to provide the number of orders for the ATMs, saying performance revealed that his “tenure has been characterized “financial sector better than he met it”. “I do not think any rea- only, “We have a lot.” He said the company is awaiting certifica- by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct”. sonable government would want to penalise him” for tion for its shipments to locations in Europe and Asia. It announced his “immediate suspension” as the central bank boss. He is to be replaced by the bank’s most senior ‘Incredible idea’ deputy governor, Sarah Alade. Sanusi has alleged that Nigeria The Robocoin ATMs perform a biometric scan of each user’s lost out on $20 billion between January 2012 and July 2013 palm, as well as take a facial photo, which is matched to the partly related to suspicious kerosene subsidy payments by the user’s government-issued identity card. The system also runs a NNPC. NNPC, long regarded as being riddled with corruption, check to determine if the user is a wanted criminal or terror sus- was branded this week on the cover of the prominent News pect. “We provide a profile of the customer that gives our opera- magazine as “Nigeria’s Sleaze Machine.” tors full visibility and trackability,” Kelley said. The company has hit back at Sanusi, saying he does not The first operational ATM in the United States started up under the technicalities of the oil industry. Financial analysts, Tuesday in a New Mexico cigar shop, according to manufacturer both within Nigeria and abroad, have applauded Sanusi’s Lamassu Bitcoin Ventures. Lamassu has some 200 orders around tenure in Africa’s most populous country, top oil producer and the world, and has opened Bitcoin ATMs in two Australian cities second largest economy. He was credited with overhauling a as well as one each in Helsinki, Berlin, Bratislava and Vancouver. crumbling and deeply corrupt banking sector which teetered The New Mexico operator Enchanted Bitcoins is “paving the way on the brink of collapse following the outbreak of the global for mainstream Bitcoin accessibility in the United States,” says financial crisis in 2008. Zach Harvey, CEO of Lamassu, a company registered in the British He also earned praise for bold moves to protect the Virgin Islands. The operator is following guidelines from FinCEN, Nigerian naira, although the currency has fallen against the the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, to avoid running dollar in recent weeks. Sanusi opened himself to criticism over afoul of the law, and has registered as a money exchange service. the NNPC affair after he first alleged last year that oil-related Despite the growing popularity of Bitcoins, the digital currency revenues of $50 billion had not been paid into government has been linked to crime and drugs in exchanges such as the dark coffers, which amounts to nearly double Nigeria’s annual PARIS: Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi Web bazaar Silk Road. And many economists warn that the cur- budget. attends a session at the 10th International Economic Forum rency has no hard value. on Africa held at the French Economy ministry. — AFP Bitcoins have been exceptionally volatile, rising to more than Political pressure $1,200 last year, before falling to around $600 in recent weeks. In the face of enormous political pressure, Sanusi back- demanding answers from Nigeria’s widely criticized state oil And some Bitcoin exchanges have been shut down by regulators. tracked and said some of the missing money had been company. Nigeria has been attracting huge interest from for- Last month, US authorities filed criminal charges against two accounted for and that further investigations were needed. He eign investors as an emerging economy that may offer strong operators of a Bitcoin exchange, including the head of a compa- then revised the missing money figure down to $12 billion. returns in the coming years. In a February 19 report, London- ny with high-profile investment backers. But earlier this month, he insisted the figure was $20 billion. A based Capital Economics said Nigeria’s monetary discipline Some analysts see advantages in the move to Bitcoin-it has lit- Financial Times report, citing Sanusi’s private documentation, under Sanusi had positioned the country to outperform the tle or no transaction costs, is quickly and easily transmitted and alleged that the NNPC was continuing to pay subsidies to rest of Africa over the next decade. It was not immediately has verifiable and traceable transactions based on its software. kerosene vendors even though Nigerians still pay full market clear if the turmoil surrounding Sanusi’s last months on the “The deeper I dive, the more impressed I am with this as a tech- price for the product. job would tarnish this positive outlook, but Awotile said the nology solution, as an incredible idea for finance, as a stored val- Late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is believed to have priority for successor should be to “sustain his reformist ue for payments,” said Staci Warden, executive director of the scrapped the kerosene subsidy in 2009, meaning the NNPC nature.” — AFP Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute. —AFP 22 Business FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Diamonds, deals as Danone struggles for China bounce French dairy firm seeks to shake off 2013 troubles

SHANGHAI: In Danone SA’s China, dia- monds are free, milk powder is forever. The French dairy giant is handing out the jewels as prizes in promotions to win back consumers it lost last year in claims of high prices, accusations of bribery and food safety scares. On milk, it’s spending big. HERZOGENAURACH: Former Norwegian football player With investors restless over its inability to Bjoern Gulden, CEO of German sportswear giant Puma, grow in China, this month Danone paid poses with a mock football shoe ahead of his company’s $665 million to lift its small stake in the annual press conference yesterday. —AFP country’s number two milk maker, China Mengniu Dairy Co Ltd. Sealed at a hefty premium, the Puma hopes top Mengniu deal and Danone’s aggressive online campaign to promote its Dumex milk powder brand show the world’s deals will stop largest yoghurt maker is determined to convince shoppers and investors alike it sales slump in 2014 can make large profits in China after a string of failed tieups there. A break- HERZOGENAURACH: German sportswear company Puma SE is through remains some way off: Danone banking on high-profile signings to underline its sporting creden- has a 0.5 percent share of China’s dairy tials and stop sales falling this year, after revenue tumbled more market, according to Euromonitor, and for PARIS: French dairy food giant Danone Chairman Franck Riboud poses for than expected in the last three months of 2013. Puma ranks a dis- some customers, its brand remains tar- photographers before a press conference yesterday. — AFP tant third in the sports apparel industry by sales behind Nike Inc nished. The Paris-based company is just and Adidas AG and new CEO Bjoern Gulden is trying to return the one of a string of foreign firms facing Danone’s China sales of early life nutrition Brands Inc has struggled to win back con- company to its sporting roots under a turnaround plan that tighter scrutiny as China patrols pricing products such as infant milk formula were sumers over a year after a food scare at a breaks with former chief Jochen Zeitz’s focus on sports-inspired and product safety more closely, saying it virtually “zero” in December, the firm’s local chicken supplier. Chatter around fashion. needs to protect consumers in the world’s leadership said in an investor call yester- Danone’s “1000 Day Plan” promotion Gulden, a Norwegian former professional soccer player who second-biggest economy. day. Danone said the firm would overhaul drives on China’s popular social network took the helm last July, said the signing of deals with English soc- “I don’t really trust Dumex,” said Pei its offering for China in 2014, including Sina Weibo has risen to record levels. Yet cer club Arsenal, Italian footballer Mario Balotelli and the exten- Qianqian, 29, an office worker in Shanghai launching a revamped Dumex product Internet watchers warn that a campaign sion of its sponsorship of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt showed with a 17-month-old daughter to feed. “If and making more use of other brands like designed to highlight Dumex milk powder Puma was a “true sports brand.” However Puma shares were it’s just one problem then perhaps it’s just Aptamil and Cow & Gate. safety after health scares across the indus- down 3.4 percent at 201.00 euros by 1035 GMT, having fallen to a the side-effect of industry competition, “Don’t think we are going to rebuild try in China last year may instead have the near 2-1/2 year low of 199.2 euros, after the group said it expects but if there’s two and then three in a row, I the same animal, we are going to build a effect of keeping Dumex’s problems in flat net sales in 2014, with a rise in the second half to compensate think this milk powder really has prob- new one, a better one, especially in terms people’s minds. for a first-half fall. lems.” The home of brands like Evian min- of margins,” said Danone CEO Franck Mother Tang Jiahui, 27, said she was Puma, which last month ousted Nike as kit supplier to Arsenal eral water and Activia yoghurt reported Riboud on an investor call. Riboud said not swayed by Dumex’s online cam- from next season, is due later this year to launch a brand cam- earnings yesterday, saying growth will Danone could not go it alone in China, but paigns and free give-aways. “All I’m look- paign dubbed “Forever Faster”. Gulden said another deal with a accelerate this year after weakness in that he expected Mengniu to become the ing at when I choose which brand of milk big soccer club could come although there was nothing immi- Europe and Asia woes weighed on its per- leader among China milk producers. powder is quality; an online prize draw nent. English premiership champions Manchester United Plc are formance in 2013. won’t change my mind,” the Shanghai Record online noise talking to several firms about a new kit supply deal to replace one With much of its business rooted in resident said. Still, in January alone, users with Nike that expires next year. Puma, 84 percent owned by lower-growth Europe, Danone has long The shadow of a crisis in China can re-posted its Weibo campaign messages targeted emerging markets like China as French luxury group Kering SA , said sales fell 13.2 percent to loom large over international firms, espe- over four million times, in the hope of future growth streams. According to busi- 698.3 million euros ($960 million) in the last quarter, missing an cially in more sensitive sectors such as being chosen in a draw for prizes includ- ness consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, average forecast of 718 million as footwear sales shrank 21 per- nutrition and health. Amid fervent con- ing diamond-studded brooches or iPad China’s dairy market will nearly double to demnation from the country’s growing tablet computers, according to a Reuters cent. Kering shares slipped 0.5 percent. about $89 billion in 2017 from 2012. online community, KFC-parent Yum analysis. —Reuters “Not No. 1” Gulden started his presentation of Puma’s annual results by showing the latest medals table from the Winter Olympics - with British Gas customers leave in droves his home country Norway topping the list. “Puma numbers were not number one,” he lamented. “Obviously these numbers are LONDON: Householders left British Gas The affordability of heating British meters, were crucial to returning British not our end game and we are not happy with that... 2014 marks in their hundreds of thousands last year homes shot to the top of the political Gas growth. the start of the turnaround.” in a backlash against a 9-percent hike in agenda last autumn, and resulted in the Centrica also said it would keep The soccer World Cup and the Winter Olympics in Sochi already-high energy tariffs, owner government allowing suppliers to cut investing in its upstream exploration and should help sportswear sales to grow between 3.5 percent and 4 Centrica said yesterday when it reported bills by 53 pounds ($89). British Gas, production business to find new sources percent this year, the World Federation of the Sporting Goods a drop in 2013 group profits. Public out- which has roughly 40 percent of the UK of cheap gas. As Britain’s domestic oil Industry (WFSGI) predicted last month. Puma noted that a quar- rage at price rises has sparked a switch- gas supply market and 25 percent of and gas reserves are falling, exploration ter of all teams at the World Cup would be wearing its kit, includ- ing frenzy in the last few months and electricity - came under fire from Energy companies are increasingly looking ing Italy, Switzerland and four teams from Africa, seen as a big smaller energy providers, such as Ovo Secretary Ed Davey last week when he abroad to secure supplies. Finance direc- future growth market. Energy and Good Energy, have been suggested the company’s gas profit mar- tor Nick Luff told journalists he would not Unlike many other brands, which launched their World Cup major beneficiaries of the move away gins were excessive. rule out further changes to the compa- replica kits before Christmas, Puma shirts go on sale next month. from larger, integrated groups. Centrica said on yesterday its pre-tax ny’s upstream portfolio, adding that Gulden said his top priority is to fix the group’s footwear sales, Britain’s biggest energy supplier lost profit margins for gas supply were 8.9 Centrica was “constantly talking to all which account for almost half of sales and which fell a currency- 362,000 residential customers in 2013, up percent and 0.8 percent in electricity. The major gas suppliers in the world”. adjusted 8.6 percent in 2013, compared with a dip of 1.2 percent 60 percent from 2012, after hiking prices loss of customers coupled with high Last year, Centrica signed 14 billion for apparel and growth of 9.7 percent for accessories. just weeks after opposition Labour leader costs for wholesale gas and transmitting pounds worth of gas supply deals, one He highlighted the social media popularity of an ad for Puma’s Ed Miliband promised he would freeze energy led to a 2 percent drop in the with US energy group Cheniere to import new “evoPOWER” soccer boot, with which Balotelli scored a long- prices if elected, sparking a political group’s 2013 adjusted operating profit to US liquefied natural gas and an extension distance goal on Friday for Milan to give them a 1-0 win over storm. Forty percent of customers 2.7 billion pounds, in line with analysts’ to its supply agreement with Qatargas. Bologna. “Sometimes the product actually works,” Gulden said. switching electricity supplier in January expectations. Profits at British Gas fell 6 The company also said yesterday it As it warned in November, Puma booked 129 million euros of moved to an independent company, up percent to 1 billion pounds. Chief expected 2014 earnings per share to fall costs in the fourth quarter to close a development centre in from 26 percent in December and 20 per- Executive Sam Laidlaw said in a pre- partly due to the impact of damaged net- Vietnam and bring product staff from London to group head- cent in November, data from energy lob- recorded interview on Centrica’s website works and equipment during a cold spell quarters in the small German town of Herzogenaurach. —Reuters by group EnergyUK showed. that improved services, such as smart in North America. — Reuters

Travel FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Wondering where to get married? Here are some of the classiest resorts at the most stunning wedding locations

2. Las Vegas, Nevada espite what Hollywood would have us believe, most Las Vegas weddings are planned, well-thought out events as opposed to quickie ceremonies Dbetween people who’ve met mere hours before. Though more than 100,000 people choose Sin City for their weddings every year, Las Vegas is still the perfect destination for cutting-edge couples who rebuff tradition. Choose anything from an intimate ceremony on Bellagio’s Terraza Di Sogna with the waters of the world-famous fountains dancing in the background to The Graceland Chapel — site of many celebrity weddings and equipped with the capability to broadcast your wedding online for friends who can’t make the trip.

1. Amalfi Coast, Italy magine a wedding in a centuries-old church followed by an intimate dinner party in a tucked-away family-owned Italian restaurant, glasses clinking Iwhile wine and laughter flows. There is perhaps no place in the world more romantic than Italy and perhaps no region there more picturesque than the Amalfi coast. Perched high above the coastline, Ravello is an ancient town with spectacular vistas well-suited for sophisticates. For a more casual seaside affair, choose the tiny and stunningly beautiful town of Positano.

3. Maui, Hawaii 4. Mauritius here are more than a few reasons Maui It’s been called “the island that inspired is one of the world’s top honeymoon heaven,” so what better place to begin a Tdestinations, among them top-notch life of heavenly wedded bliss? It’s relatively resorts, world-renowned surf, activities remote location - 500 miles east of aplenty and sandy beaches ranging from Madagascar - has helped to preserve its white to black to red. These same traits are pristine white-sand beaches, lush green what make Maui such an idyllic wedding mountains and cobalt-blue waters, but locale. Romantic moments are around nearly that’s not to say there’s any shortage of every bend in Maui, whether watching the accommodations for you and your wed- sunrise atop Haleakala or simply strolling ding guests. Luxury hotels like the Four barefoot on the beach. An added bonus of Seasons Mauritius at Anahita are well- tying the knot in Maui? You and your honey staffed with professionals able to assist can just stay put for the honeymoon. with plans for a wedding on Mauritius from far away.

5. Megeve, France or couples who prefer snow to sand, a winter wedding in the FFrench Alps is a natural choice. With its cobblestone streets, upscale shops and world-class restaurants, Megeve is everything one would expect from a tony Alpine ski resort. Despite the plethora of high-end tourists it attracts, moderately priced hotels and family-run bed- and-breakfasts are available in addi- tion to the luxury hotels. Cozy up underneath a blanket in the back of a horse-drawn carriage or bundle up and wander the narrow streets hand-in-hand, either way, be pre- pared to succumb to romance. Travel FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

6. Nevis, British West Indies hen a bride imagines taking her vows on Caribbean - beautiful volcanic ash beaches, full- a beach at sunset, it’s likely the service resorts and easy to get to - while still man- WCaribbean she’s picturing. If it’s solitude aging to feel like a well-kept secret. Nevis’s leg- you seek, make a beeline to Nevis, part of the two- endary sunsets are the perfect backdrop for a island nation of St Kitts and Nevis. The islands, Caribbean beach wedding and the stuff wedding though a short ferry ride from one another, have photographer’s dreams are made of. entirely distinct personalities, with Nevis being the quiet, untouched sister island to St, Kitt’s hus- tle and bustle. Nevis is all that’s right with the

8. Orlando, Florida

rincess dreams die hard, which ter suited to carrying out a princess fan- makes Walt Disney World Resort in tasy than Swan Boat Landing with POrlando the ideal place for regular Cinderella Castle as the backdrop. ladies who’ve managed to find their own Complete the dream by choosing Prince Charming to begin their happily Cinderella’s Coach, complete with six ever after. With locales ranging from Welsh ponies and two footmen in full exotic gardens to waterfront pavilions, costume, as your transportation. there’s likely a place for nearly every taste. There’s no location, however, bet-

7. New York, New York ew York City has been the inspi- hotel ballroom or stark loft for your ration of countless songs, been reception, and afterwards, continue the Nthe setting to blockbuster celebration into the morning hours by movies aplenty and is home to some of taking part in New York City’s unrivaled the world’s most iconic sites. What bet- nightlife scene. There’s nothing cookie- ter place to provide the backdrop for cutter about this city, and no shortage the most important day of your life? of ways to have a one-of-a-kind wed- Forgo the traditional limo and use a taxi ding. for transportation, choose an ornate

10. San Diego, California

eather is always at the top of on-the-beach ceremony, while the the list of worries for brides to bustling Gaslamp Quarter is a perfect Wbe. Though there are no guar- choice for couples who want a cosmo- antees, the odds of a sunny day are politan locale in which to say “I do.” much higher when the wedding location — www.reuters.com is San Diego, California, home to some of the world’s loveliest weather. 70 miles of white sand means plenty of options for laid-back lovers looking for a barefoot-

9. Riviera Nayarit, Mexico ven couples who’ve traveled to megaresorts to tiny boutique hotels and Mexico many times have likely not everything in between. Depending on Ebeen to Riviera Nayarit, a short preference, a couple might choose to drive north but seemingly a world away begin their lives in the laid-back surfer from the bustle of popular Puerto enclave of Sayulita or at one of Punta Vallarta. Stretching 100 miles along the Mita’s ultra-luxe beachfront resorts, like Pacific Coast from Nuevo Vallarta in the the St. Regis Punta Mita. south to San Blas in the north, the region is the home of all-inclusive Opinion FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 UK wants you to postpone using kettles By John Kemp

ripplingly high power costs are forcing some of Britain’s heavy “Cmanufacturers to shut down their entire operation at peak times, with furnaces cooling and workers shivering in cold, darkened offices,” according to an article in Wednesday’s Financial Times. “It costs us 27 pounds (about $45) to boil the kettle. We end up telling our workers to sit in the mess room together to keep warm, because we can’t afford to keep going,” Tony Pedder, chairman of Sheffield Forgemasters, a heavy engineering firm, complained. Energy-intensive British businesses are curtailing their operations for as many as 20 or 30 days each winter between 4 pm and 6 pm to cut their power bills, part of an energy system which steelmakers describe as “third world”. In fact, the market is working exactly as intended. High prices are rationing scarce capacity on the transmission network by encouraging the heaviest users to shift as much consumption as possible away from peak hours. And in future, smaller businesses and residential users are also likely to face some form of time-dependent pricing. It is all part of an effort to keep bills down by making more efficient use of the network. Steelmaker SSI complained to the Financial Times that cutting power use at peak times “is not only a disruption to our operations but also a significant cost to the business”. The Facebook and WhatsApp app icons are displayed on an iPhone on Thursday in San Francisco. — AFP But without those power reductions, Britain would need to build lots of additional power stations and transmission lines, which would only be used on a few hours each year. The cost would have to be recovered either from energy intensive users, in which case it would be astronomically high, or Facebook pushes smeared across all bills, in which case residential customers would end up subsidising steelmakers’ peak-time electricity use. Energy-intensive users may not like the current pricing system, but it is a rational reflection of the costs they impose on the transmission and generation system, and there is to stay at the top no reason to change it. 120 Hours a Year By Rob Lever com charges for messaging, is “so widely loved In contrast to the United States, where peak electricity demand is general- overseas and so underappreciated at home”. ly driven by air conditioning and occurs on summer afternoons, Britain’s elec- ith a big, bold deal for hot messaging serv- He said WhatsApp has grown faster than any tricity network is most stretched on early evenings in the winter between Wice WhatsApp, Facebook is demonstrating similar company to 450 million users and has just 32 November and February. Demand is heaviest between 5 pm and 6 pm, or it wants youth, a wider footprint in more engineers. The business model is simple - no adver- more broadly between 4 pm and 7 pm. Schools, shops, offices and factories markets and new kinds of services to stay fresh. tising, and users are charged $1 per year after the are still open, the street lightning has come on, and at least some people Analysts say the staggering price tag of up to $19 first year, which is free. This has resonated with have returned home, switched on the heating and started to prepare the billion in stock and cash highlights Facebook’s drive users around the world, in places ranging from evening meal. The entire generation and transmission system is planned to be more mobile, global and to remain innovative. Botswana to China. The mega-deal announced on around meeting demand on these few hours (just 120 hours out of a total of “It shows the continued determination of Facebook Wednesday bolsters the world’s biggest social net- 8,760 in a year). It is a fundamental principle of pricing power, as well as most to be the ‘next’ Facebook,” says Benedict Evans, a work - which has more than 1.2 billion members - other goods and services, that the price each customer pays should be relat- partner in the venture capital firm Andreessen with WhatsApp, which will be operated independ- ed to the marginal cost of supplying them. In the case of electricity, the mar- Horowitz. Evans said Facebook is responding in part ently with its own board. ginal cost largely depends on the amount of power used on those 120 hours. to the explosion of mobile social apps and wants to Triad Avoidance assert itself as the dominant platform. “Any smart- Worth the money phone app is just two taps away,” Evans says in a Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg National Grid, Britain’s transmission operator, uses a formula to calculate blog post. “So It’s quite possible mobile social will said that WhatsApp was worth the money because the marginal cost for large consumers. It identifies the three half-hour peri- ods between November and February on which total demand was highest, have lots of services indefinitely. This creates oppor- its blistering growth around the world has it on a separated from each other by at least 10 days. Each energy user is then tunities, but also a pretty basic challenge to clear path to hit a billion users. “Services with a bil- charged based on how much power it consumed in those periods, known as Facebook.” lion people using them are all incredibly valuable,” “triads”. Triad dates are calculated retrospectively, once the winter is over, Still, the news left many observers stunned that Zuckerberg said while discussing the purchase price which leads some firms to try to game the system by guessing which days Facebook would pay such a steep price at a time during a conference call with analysts. The purchase are likely to be declared triads and reducing their consumption to secure a when the world’s biggest social network seemed to includes $12 billion in Facebook shares and $4 bil- lower bill. be riding high. “The size of this deal is really massive lion cash. It calls for an additional $3 billion in If a day is forecast to be unusually cold and comes at least 10 days since and it will get people talking about a bubble,” Greg restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp the last really cold day, there is a good chance a triad will be declared. Cost- Sterling at Opus Research told AFP. Sterling said the founders and employees that will vest over four conscious businesses might order staff not to boil the kettle during this time deal is a risk for Facebook because “in social media years. or even shut down their operations altogether to save power. The cost and you have a flavor of the month, and next year we Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies said inconvenience is more than offset by savings from lower charges throughout might have another app with extremely rapid WhatsApp has become one of the most popular the rest of the year. Of course, if the next day turns out to be even colder, the growth”. “I think (the high price tag) comes from the mobile applications and “reminds me a little of likely triad date will shift, and the need for conservation will be repeated. This frustration of not being able to buy (the messaging Skype”. Kay said the deal makes sense on one level is why some companies complain they have to keep shutting down on so service) Snapchat, and then there is the youth fac- because of Facebook’s record stock run-up. “When many winter evenings and complain their tariffs are based on the amount of tor,” Sterling added. “Facebook really needs to have you have a stock like that which has run up quickly energy they use on arbitrary dates. vehicles to attract younger users, and Instagram is and created a lot of paper value, it’s good to trade Rational Pricing not going to do that by itself.” With this strategy, that for other value,” he told AFP. Forrester Research Sterling said Facebook “is becoming a kind of hold- analyst Nate Elliott said Facebook gets a fresh infu- At first glance, the triad system makes no sense, but a more careful analy- ing company for different social media properties sion of youth but much more with the deal. “It’ll be sis shows that it is in fact highly rational. First, the system applies only to the heaviest energy consumers - those whose electricity use is metered and that appeal to different groups.” tempting to read this as a sign Facebook is scared of charged on a half-hourly basis - who put the most pressure on the grid at Jim Goetz at the venture firm Sequoia Capital, an losing teens,” Elliott said. “But the reality is, peak times. If these users continued to run their furnaces and operations as early WhatsApp investor which is getting a huge Facebook always works hard to keep all its users normal through the worst of the winter cold, the country would risk running return, said the price makes sense because engaged, no matter their age. Facebook is tireless in out of power. If energy-intensive customers did not save power, the grid “WhatsApp has completely transformed personal its efforts to keep users coming back. That’s why might have to ration supplies to offices, schools, shops and homes. As a last communications, which was previously dominated their 1.2 billion monthly users keep visiting the site resort, the grid would have to order regional distributors to forcibly discon- by the world’s largest wireless carriers”. Goetz noted more and more frequently, rather than drifting nect some small customers. For the furnaces to stay on, lights might have to that WhatsApp, which allows users to bypass tele- away.” — AFP go off. — AP FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 FEBRUARY FRIDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

A stork stands in its nest near Sandershausen, western Germany on February 19, 2014. The "Meister Adebar" has returned unusually early back from his winter home. — AFP Careers FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 What’s the keyword?

How to make them respond when you apply for a job online By Susan Adams

se your personal network to find a Ucontact inside the company where you are applying. Last week I got a note from a reader, asking me for advice about how to elicit a response to her online job applications. “With the technology age upon us, I have been actively applying to employment opportunities on numerous websites,” she wrote. “My problem is that I am not getting any type of feedback.” She estimated she had pursued 100 openings in the last year, and received only two responses. Neither had led to a new job. This job seeker wanted my advice about sprucing up her online applications and in particular, how she could get employers to reply to her queries. I talked to three of my regular career coach sources, Robert Hellmann and Anita Attridge in New York, and David Couper in Los Angeles, and all of them say that two responses to 100 online applications is in fact a strong showing, given the competi- tion. Couper is the most blunt. “I tell my clients that they’re wasting their time applying online,” he says. “To me you’ve left it too late,” he says. “Once it’s online, millions of other people have seen it.” Often, he says, online job postings are just a way for hiring managers to claim they’ve looked at lots of applicants when, in fact, they have already decided in advance on an internal hire. Other times, a job is posted and then a budget cut ensues and the posi- tion is eliminated before it’s been filled. Hellmann and Attridge are slightly less not fill it in. Write, “to be discussed.” Or if keywords, former employers, and schools and contacted him directly with another pessimistic than Couper, and both say they you’re out of work, you can also say, “to be attended. An example from the Journal sto- cover letter and resume. He followed up have had clients who landed jobs by apply- discussed.” In addition, Hellmann says it’s ry: PNC Financial Services Group filters out with a phone call three days later, and now ing online. Attridge says the more specific inappropriate for an application to request bank-teller applicants whose resumes don’t he’s one of the top two candidates for the your skill set is and the more closely it’s that you list references. In that slot, he says show they have had at least two years of job. matched to the online ad, the greater you should write, “available upon strong cash-handling experience. The bottom line, as I’ve written before: chance you have of success. Within the last mutual interest.” Says Hellmann, “only give Spend a minimum of your time applying to six months, a client of Attridge’s, a technical your references when you’re close to an Cover letters go a long way online listings. Despite the explosion of director in information technology, offer.” Hellmann says it’s always a good idea to online job boards and websites promising a answered an ad that listed the precise skills Most applications ask for your current include a concise, specific cover letter with quicker path to employment, most people that he had under his belt. After an initial position and then request a description of your application. Write a letter, he recom- still find jobs through people they know. phone screening, he went for an interview your job. Hellmann recommends simply mends, “that makes it really hard to screen and wound up getting hired. If you’re not a writing, “please see resume.” Though you out.” Address the job requirements Speaking of precise bullets, here’s a strong match for the listing, Attrdige says, it Hellmann cautions that writing out a directly and list accomplishments that recap of how to get a response to an online may not be worth your time to apply. description of your work could introduce speak to them, preferably as bullets. job application. Hellmann agrees with Couper and spelling and grammar mistakes, you could All that said, the most effective thing 1. Prioritize listings that match your skill Attridge that most online applications are also consider cutting and pasting from your you can do is to find a personal connection set directly more trouble than they’re worth, but he rÈsumÈ or LinkedIn profile, directly onto to the hiring manager at the company 2. Fill out forms quickly, leaving selected has come up with some tips for filling them the form. that’s made the posting. That means net- questions unanswered. out efficiently. “Think about the application Then there is the issue of keywords. working, which can be made easier by tools 3. When asked for your salary, write “$1,” as a bureaucratic formality,” he advises. “It’s Hellmann says you should make sure your like Facebook and LinkedIn. But don’t for- “$10,” or “$100,” so you fill in the blank but a one-size-fits-all form that has every possi- resume “is filled with keywords that come get your face-to-face network. If you’re don’t scotch a compensation negotiation in ble thing on it,” he says. You don’t need to from the job you’re targeting.” If the online interested in a job posting, do ask everyone advance. write detailed answers to every question. job listing asks for an applicant who is you know, including family, friends and col- 4. On other queries, like a request for ref- “experienced in portfolio analysis,” make leagues, if they know anyone who works at erences, or your current position, especially Don’t put all your cards on the table sure you have the words “portfolio analysis” the company posting the job. if you’re unemployed, write “to be dis- In fact, there are a number of queries on your resume. Likewise, if the listing says, Hellmann tells a story that illustrates the cussed.” you should not answer. One is about salary. “social media marketing expertise,” do have importance of having a direct contact. A 5. Do tailor your resume to the listing; Many forms won’t let you complete them if “social media marketing” somewhere on client of his recently responded to an make sure it includes keywords. you leave spaces blank. Hellmann advises your resume. online job listing for a lawyer with interna- 6. Write a concise cover letter that putting in $1, $10 or $100, “anything to An excellent Wall Street Journal story tional tax expertise. The client followed specifically addresses the job’s require- show you’re not listing your real salary.” today underlines how important keywords Hellmann’s guidance about including a ments. Hellmann insists it’s not fair to discuss com- can be, especially if you’re applying to a keyword-filled resume and bulleted cover 7. Most important: Search your virtual pensation before you’ve had a real job large company like Starbucks or Procter & letter. He did get a response, a form letter and face-to-face network for a connection interview. Likewise, if there is a question Gamble, both of which use automated rejection. But then he did some research, to the job you want. about the name of your current boss, do tracking systems that screen resumes for figured out who the hiring manager was Food FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Go green These salads, with colors that span the rainbow, pack in loads of antioxidants, fiber-rich vegetables and flavorful ripe fruit. Crisp and cool, salads are ideal summer fare. Lean protein, such as chicken transforms easy sides into satisfying main courses. And these healthy side salad recipes just take minutes to prepare.

ITALIAN LEAFY GREEN SALAD TANGY CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO SALAD CAESAR SALAD SUPREME

Ingredients 2 medium cucumbers, cubed 2 avocados, cubed 4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons minced green onions (optional) 1/4 teaspoon salt black pepper to taste 1/4 large lemon 1 lime

Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, avocados, and cilantro. Stir in garlic, onions, salt, and pepper. Squeeze lemon and lime over the top, and toss. Cover, and refriger- Ingredients ate at least 30 minutes. 6 cloves garlic, peeled Ingredients 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 cups romaine lettuce - torn, washed and dried 5 anchovy fillets, minced 1 cup torn escarole 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1 cup torn radicchio 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup torn red leaf lettuce 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into rings Salt to taste 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced in rings Ground black pepper to taste 1/4 cup olive oil 12 cherry tomatoes 4 cups day-old bread, cubed 1/4 cup grapeseed oil 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar Directions 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1. Mince 3 cloves of garlic, and combine in a small bowl with Salt and pepper to taste mayonnaise, anchovies, 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and lemon juice. Directions Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until 1. In a large bowl, combine the romaine, escarole, radic- ready to use. chio, red-leaf, scallions, red pepper, green pepper and 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cut the remain- ing 3 cloves of garlic into quarters, and add to hot oil. Cook cherry tomatoes. and stir until brown, and then remove garlic from pan. Add 2. Whisk together the grapeseed oil, basil, vinegar, lemon bread cubes to the hot oil. Cook, turning frequently, until juice and salt and pepper. Pour over salad, toss and serve lightly browned. Remove bread cubes from oil, and season immediately. with salt and pepper.

BLACK BEAN AND COUSCOUS SALAD COLESLAW SALAD

Ingredients 1 cup uncooked couscous 1 1/4 cups chicken broth 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 8 green onions, chopped 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 1. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a 2 quart Ingredients Directions or larger sauce pan and stir in the couscous. 1 (16 ounce) package coleslaw mix 1. Combine the coleslaw and onion in a Cover the pot and remove from heat. Let 2 tablespoons minced onion large bowl. stand for 5 minutes. 1/3 cup white sugar 2. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive 1/2 teaspoon salt salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, oil, lime juice, vinegar and cumin. Add 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper vinegar and lemon juice; mix until smooth. green onions, red pepper, cilantro, corn 1/4 cup milk Pour mixture over the coleslaw and onion; and beans and toss to coat. bles and mix well. Season with salt and 1/2 cup mayonnaise stir well and chill for 1 hour. 3. Fluff the couscous well, breaking up any pepper to taste and serve at once or refrig- 1/4 cup buttermilk chunks. Add to the bowl with the vegeta- erate until ready to serve. 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar — www.allrecipes.com 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice Health FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Define your delts 5 must-do shoulder exercises

mprove the appearance and strength of your delts with these door, drop the weight, use a full range of motion, and reap the planted into the ground for support. You can roll up a towel and science-based exercise tips that will put you head, and shoul- rewards of working smarter and harder with the following steps: place it under your forehead for comfort. Grasp the dumbbells Iders, above the rest. With your feet shoulder-width apart, take a dumbbell in each with your arms angled out and a slight bend in your elbows. The shoulders play a key role in nearly every upper body exer- hand. Raise the dumbbells to eye level with your elbows bent to Retract your shoulder blades as you bring the weight up, squeeze, cise. Because of their critical function, extreme range of motion, about 90 degrees. Brace your core and drive the dumbbells up and then lower the weight under control. Repeat. Maintain con- and potential to bulge under your shirt like two stolen cannon- and together, extending the elbows to 180 degrees. Pause, and stant control and tension throughout each rep. balls, strong shoulders are essential for maximum performance slowly return the weight to the starting position. and a well-rounded, fit physique. This article will help you maxi- 3 Bent-Over Reverse Fly 21s mize your shoulder development with a science-based exercise 2 Prone Reverse Flye This tri-set targets the rear delts while hitting the medial and attack. Skip the machines. A recent study showed that the EMG activi- front heads as well. It’s a great variation to throw into the end of ty for the posterior deltoid and infraspinaturs was greatest when your routine. Remember to keep the weight light in order to Shoulder Structure and Function performing a reverse flye with a neutral hand position (palms fac- maintain proper form and keep the mind-muscle connection you Before you train, it’s important to understand the muscles ing each other) compared to a pronated grip (palms down). While need to maximize every rep. you’re targeting. Your shoulders are composed of the larger del- you might be tempted to hop onto the seated reverse flye toid muscles-anterior, medial, posterior-and smaller rotator cuff machine, you’re better off using free weights and a bench to per- Execution muscles that support the ball and socket joint. The rotator cuff is form the prone reverse dumbbell flye. Not only do free weights Start in a bent-over position with your core tight and knees made up of four muscles-the teres minor, infraspinatus, allow you to get in the optimal hand position, the movement also slightly bent. Perform the first seven reps with a neutral grip supraspinatus, and subscapularis-which aid in all overhead and better isolates the rear delts and recruits more stabilizers than the (palms facing each other). Retract the scapula, squeeze, and slow- rotational movements at the shoulder. machines. ly resist the negative. Perform the next seven reps with a prone The deltoid muscles are the prime mover of arm abduction- grip (palms facing down). Lead with the pinkies out as you moving the arm away from the body-along the frontal plane. The Execution squeeze the rear delts during each rep. For the last seven reps, front (anterior) muscles are involved in shoulder abduction when Lie face down on a flat bench with the balls of your feet firmly turn the palms back to a neutral grip and perform a forward raise. the shoulder is externally rotated-think lateral raises with your Keep the shoulders down as your raise the dumbbells and slowly thumbs turned up. The anterior deltoid also works with the sub- lower them with control. scapularis, pectorals, and lats to internally rotate the humerus bone, effectively turning your thumbs in and towards the center 4 Lateral Raises with Kettlebells of the body so your palms face back. Take your standard dumbbell lateral raises to a new level. The rear (posterior) fibers are strongly involved in transverse Using kettlebells will add an extra challenge for your forearms extension, as in cable back rows. The lateral fibers perform basic and shoulder stabilizers since you really need to control each shoulder abduction when the shoulder is internally rotated, like in rep’s weight, which isn’t directly in your palms. It is important to lateral raises. They also perform shoulder transverse abduction, as focus on squeezing the deltoids instead of allowing momentum in a reverse flye, when the shoulder is externally rotated. An to take over the movement. important function of the deltoid muscles is also to support the humeral head to prevent dislocation when carrying heavy loads, Execution as in a heavy farmer’s carry. Grab a pair of kettlebells and hold them at your sides. With your elbows slightly bent and your wrists locked, lift each kettlebell up 1 Standing Dumbbell Press and out to the side until your arms are parallel to the ground. Turn Sitting is overrated. While it might cause you to have a lower your thumbs down at the peak contraction to better target your one-rep max, a standing dumbbell press better stimulates shoul- side delts. Pause for a second and slowly lower back to starting der growth than a seated press. Though you’ll be lifting less position. Advanced Variation: Perform this with the weight hang- weight, the standing shoulder press requires more stability, so ing directly underneath the handle and go heavier. you’ll be actively strengthening your core and adding balance to your physique while you smoke your shoulders. 5 Neutral-Grip Sternum Chin-Up There’s no doubt that the standing dumbbell press performed If you’ve never performed this version of a chin-up, you’re with a full range of motion is the best exercise you can do for missing out. Give it a shot. Not only does it hit your lats and rear maximum deltoid recruitment. A study from the University of delts harder than a traditional chin-up, it also blasts your core. Padova found that using the widest range of motion when per- forming the military shoulder press-elbows fully extended at 180 Execution degrees-resulted in a significant increase in electromyogram Start with a neutral grip on the chin-up bars. Pull your shoul- (EMG) activation of the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, medial der blades together and drive yourself up until your chest reaches deltoid, posterior deltoid, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, long the bar. Keep your chest and shoulders open as you pull yourself head of triceps, and teres minor. up. Focus on the rear delt squeeze at the peak contraction. At the top of the move, your body should be at a 45 degree angle from Execution the ground. Brace your entire body as you slowly lower yourself If you haven’t been fully extending your elbows during your back to the starting position with your torso upright. shoulder presses, you’re in for a surprise. Check your ego at the — www.bodybuilding.com Health FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 The best exercise for strengthening your

shoulders What ressing a barbell overhead has some- arms overhead without a shrug. Swimmers, is the how acquired the reputation as a volleyball players, and the racquet sports normal daily Pdangerous exercise for the shoul- report most of the shoulder impingement role of a rotator ders. Doctors and physical therapists rou- injuries. They’d be far better off if they tinely advise against the exercise trained the press as a part of their sports cuff weightlifters refer to as simply The Press preparation. muscle? on the false assumption that an injury known as “shoulder impingement” is the 2.Why the press is the inevitable result. Not only is the press per- best exercise for shoulder fectly safe for the shoulders-as evidenced strength: Since a cor- by the fact that shoulder injuries are the rect press is least-common injuries for Olympic done in weightlifters who use the barbell over- a stand- head-but the correctly performed press is ing muscles may be wrong: Physical therapists the best exercise for keeping shoulders like to isolate the function of a muscle strong. Here’s why: to rehab it when it’s injured. The iso- posi- lated function of the muscles that 1. Shoulder impingement is misunder- tion, the exercise lie on the shoulder blade is “external So, if you start pressing stood: Shoulder impingement occurs when works all the mus- rotation” of the upper arm. the rotator cuff tendons get “pinched” cles in the body. This motion occurs when with a light weight and between the head of the humerus and the Everything you lay your arms AC joint, formed by the end of the collar- between the bar in down against grow stronger by bone and the bony knobs at the end of the the hands and the your ribs, bend shoulder blade. Impingement means an feet balancing your elbows adding a little weight entrapment of soft tissue between two against the floor par- and rotate bones in the area of a joint. You can safely ticipates in the exer- your forearms each time you train, all experience this entrapment feeling for your- cise. Legs, abs, and out so that self: sit or stand up straight and raise your back muscles, as your the muscles you use in arms from your sides to a position parallel well as the obvi- to the floor, with the palms of your hands ous shoulder and palms the press get stronger. facing the floor and your elbows bent at 90 arm muscles, all face forward. degrees. Now, raise them just a little more. work together in a Your humerus The pressure you feel in your shoulders is correctly per- rotates “externally” the impingement of your cuff tendons formed press. along its axis when you against the AC. Sixty years ago, do this, and the rotator cuff Now, rotate your hands up so your palms the press was the muscles make this happen in iso- face forward, elbows still at 90 degrees, and primary weight lation. raise your hands up over your head. Then room exercise for The question is: what is the normal daily shrug your shoulders up at the top, like the upper body. For role of a rotator cuff muscle? Does it make you’re trying to reach the ceiling with your men who your shoulder externally rotate, and that’s hands and shoulders. Pressure’s gone, right? trained with all? Or does it primarily function as a muscle This is the lockout position of the press, and weights, a group that stabilizes the head of the notice that at no time in this process did body- humerus in its socket, the “glenoid fossa”? your shoulders feel impinged. This is weight- Think about it another way: who named it because the shrugging of the shoulders at on-the- “external rotator”? Or physical therapists? the top pulls the AC knobs away from the bar press Maybe a better name for it would be the head of the humerus, so that impingement was considered a good starting point. keeps-the-arm-in-the-shoulder-ator, and it is anatomically impossible in the correct And back then, shoulder injuries were also just happens to externally rotate the press lockout position. The press simply essentially unheard of because the press arm. When you’re not in physical therapy, cannot impinge your shoulders. made the shoulders strong-the whole the rotator cuff muscles are just another much better to strengthen the cuff muscles In fact, shoulder impingement injuries shoulder, not just the front of the shoulder muscle group that helps hold the shoulder while their shoulder-muscle friends help are common only in athletes that use their like the bench press does. The takeover of together. lock out a press, than when they are made upper-body training by the bench press was to work all alone, all by their skinny little an unfortunate development. The bench 4. There is no single muscle group in the selves in the PT office. allows the use of heavier weights, but at the entire human body that works in isolation So, if you start pressing with a light expense of the involvement of more of the as its normal function: Not even your weight and grow stronger by adding a little body, and more balanced shoulder tongue. It therefore makes no sense to train weight each time you train, all the muscles strength, front-to-back. As a general rule, muscles in a way in which they do not func- you use in the press get stronger. From your more muscle mass working at the same tion. Physical therapists may be able to iso- hands to your feet, and even your rotator time all over the body is much better for late your rotator cuff muscles, but you may cuff muscles, your whole body benefits strength training than isolation exercises. have noticed that this motion is not a nor- from this perfectly safe and very important The coordinated use of all the muscles while mal part of your day. exercise. Once you’re able to handle heavy standing on the floor with a barbell in your If the cuff muscles work during a press weights correctly overhead, you’ll know hands produces the most useful strength (they do), and if they are aided in their func- that strong shoulders are healthy shoulders, adaptation-one that actually applies to all tion by all the other muscles in the shoulder and the best way to make them strong is to natural human movements. (they are), then as the progressively heavier use them correctly, by pressing the barbell press makes the shoulder stronger, it makes overhead. 3. What you know about rotator cuff the rotator cuff muscles stronger too. It is — www.huffingtonpost.com Books FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 The Snowden Files a gripping read

here are two big mysteries at the heart of the Edward vast amounts of human communications, indiscriminately, blindly, frighteners. In America, journalists and editors were alternately TSnowden story. First, why did he do it? That is, why did he do idiotically. It was a monster, and it was taking over the world. brow-beaten and threatened by various high-up officials. In Britain, it: here was a relatively nondescript, unassuming twenty- In a way, Snowden’s own experiences confirmed that he was in the most bizarre episode of all, two heavies from GCHQ super- something, with no apparent political backing, popping up out of right. The monster was so big and so unwieldy that it didn’t notice vised the destruction of the Guardian’s hard-drives that were nowhere to take on the world’s most powerful security organiza- what was going on. It was as if it had no time for old-fashioned thought to contain the illicit files. Greenwald’s partner was tion. By incurring the wrath of the US government Snowden knew security checks in the brave new world of big data. One of the most detained and searched under anti-terrorism laws by British police he was risking a lifetime in jail. Even the journalists who worked astonishing revelations in Harding’s book is that Snowden had officers at Heathrow, who were on the hunt for more Snowden closely with him were confounded by his bravado, or naivety, or already blotted his copybook at the CIA, where a row with a superi- material. The Americans persuaded the French to bar the plane of perhaps both. or had him marked down as unreliable. But when he transferred to Bolivian president Evo Morales from their airspace, on the suspicion Second, how did he do it? Snowden wanted the world to know the NSA, no one thought to pass on the personnel file, so they that he had smuggled Snowden himself aboard (Snowden was by about the newfound and mindboggling capacity of the NSA and its employed him without checking his backstory (perhaps they sim- now holed up in a Moscow airport). international partners to hoover up private information, allowing ply looked at “TheTrueHOOHAA” posts and decided, mistakenly, None of it worked. The material, once it had escaped into the them to snoop on almost anything or anyone. Snowden nick- that he was one of them). At Booz, Snowden was able to scrape public domain, could hardly be put back in the bottle: no amount named this surveillance operation the “Panopticon”, after Jeremy vast amounts of data off the NSA computers, using what now of smashed up machinery can stop the spread of information (the Bentham’s all-knowing, all-seeing prison system. Yet that same appears to have been relatively old-fashioned technology, without NSA people, who devote much of their time to breaking encryption organization failed to notice when Snowden, a mid-level contrac- anyone detecting what he was up to. codes, might be expected to know that). Snowden was eventually tor, made off with its own darkest secrets, seemingly blind to the granted temporary asylum in Russia, the very last thing the most glaring security threats in its midst. What was going on? ‘The Mission Never Sleeps’ Americans wanted. Still, the spooks must be allowed to play their Luke Harding’s breathless page-turner, which reads more like a Among his trawl was a series of internal PowerPoint presenta- silly games. Harding writes that in the immediate aftermath of spy thriller than a piece of dry political analysis, does its best to tions in which the NSA outlined its new capabilities and its eager Snowden’s revelations, construction crews appeared during the answer these questions. Harding gives us Snowden’s backstory, readiness to use them. There are two ways to read these. One is night outside the offices of the Guardian and the homes of its which is not as straightforward as it might appear. Yes, he was a that they are evidence of an organization that now has terrifying reporters, “taxi drivers” got mysteriously lost, “window cleaners” pretty regular guy, good with computers, interested in girls, a bit began loitering outside meeting rooms. Those trying to report the story found their lives inconvenienced - and occasionally they got a little scared - but it hardly put them off what they were doing. You could call it the Chris Christie rule of politics: it’s easier to start traffic We live in a new world, and a jams than it is to prevent them, but that doesn’t help anyone. Turning the clock back scary one: this is a riveting read Harding slightly overdoes the plucky journalists versus the over- weening state: his is an insider’s account that suffers from the vice that unravels the mysteries of all such accounts in bigging up the experience of the people who were actually in the room. You had to be there. What they were doing was extremely important, but some of the excitement behind the Snowden revelations of being at the heart of world events reads overegged on the page. Also, for a writer telling a story whose details depend on under- standing how tech works, he sometimes seems hazy on the basics: flaky perhaps and something of a drifter, but no more than the Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the web, is described more than average. Trawling the extensive record of Snowden’s online activi- once as “the inventor of the internet”, which is bit like calling Henry ties, where he posted for more than a decade on every subject Ford the man who invented roads (the web is a system of docu- under the sun as “TheTrueHOOHAA”, Harding suggests he might ments accessed via the internet). Still, this is a riveting read and it have been a bit of a Walter Mitty. But isn’t that the point of the unravels the mystery better than anything that’s been published so internet age, that it makes Walter Mittys of all of us? What’s striking far. is not so much the range of Snowden’s fantasies as the depth of his political commitment. He emerges as a committed Republican, a libertarian, a huge fan of Ron Paul, a gun lover and believer in national security with a tendency to suggest that anyone who REVIEW thinks otherwise deserves to be shot.

‘TheTrueHOOHAA’ This produces some startling moments. Writing in 2009 after the Yet by following the conventions of the political thriller - with its New York Times has leaked secret information about covert US heroes and villains, its nods to John le CarrÈ and All the President’s action against Iran’s nuclear program, “TheTrueHOOHAA” rages Men - Harding perhaps does his tale a disservice. What is so aston- against whistleblowers, WikiLeaks and anyone who would betray ishing about the secrets that Snowden revealed is how much in the their country for the sake of airy-fairy liberal principles. But the real dark everyone turns out to be. No one really understands what it all clue to his motivation comes later in the same exchange, when he means. The pace of technological change and its extraordinary wails: “Obama just appointed a POLITICIAN to run the CIA.” (The reach mean that a lot of this stuff is entirely new: this isn’t Nixon’s politician in question was Leon Panetta, who had once been Bill world any longer but it’s not Deep Throat’s either. Snowden is a Clinton’s chief of staff.) As a libertarian, what really gets Snowden’s quirky figure - a distinctive product of the American right, in ways goat is the thought of government getting its tentacles into every- that some of his European champions on the left ought to find thing. He has no problem with spying and secrecy in their place (in uncomfortable - but he is also a thoughtful one. He is correct in Iran, for instance). What terrifies him is the idea that no one is set- thinking that something has fundamentally changed in our rela- ting limits to it all. Like many supporters of Ron Paul, Snowden tionship to power. He would like to turn the clock back to the late would like to go back to the gold standard, because he thinks let- technological reach, able to cross all borders and access any infor- 18th century when the American constitution said what it meant ting politicians print money is a recipe for inflation and ultimate mation it chooses, often co-opting the tech industry along the way and meant what it said - the “originalist” dream. That’s not going to global ruin. He sees the politicization of surveillance as part of the (Google, Facebook and other titans of Silicon Valley found them- happen. It’s not even clear that we can turn the clock back to the same pattern: evidence of a system spinning crazily out of control. selves implicated in what was going on, to their horror). The other late 20th century. This is a new world and a scary one. Despite dropping out of college and a failed interlude in the is that, like many PowerPoint presentations, they contain a fair In Britain the political debate about how we are going to regu- army (he broke both legs in a training accident), Snowden’s tech amount of boastful corporate bullshit. “The Mission Never Sleeps” is late this new world has barely got going. In the US (and even more skills eventually got him good defense jobs, first at the CIA, then at the ironic heading of one of the files that Snowden stole. Snowden in so Germany) Snowden’s revelations have kickstarted an angry the NSA, and finally at a private firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, which is probably right that what’s really scary is the thought of so much discussion about how to tame the monster. Though it’s unlikely to serviced the NSA’s computer systems. At some point he went from power being in the hands of people with so little idea of what it be enough to satisfy Snowden, some members of the US Congress loyalist to whistleblower - Obama’s election seems to have tipped means. When it turned out that the NSA had been bugging Angela have begun to bare their teeth. But here in the UK we still have him over the edge. While Democrats were complaining about gov- Merkel’s phone, with disastrous political consequences, no one politicians such as Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a standard-order product of ernment overreach during the Bush years, Snowden was able to could say what the point had been. As John McCain told Der the late 20th-century British establishment, assuring us that his par- hope that regime change in the White House would signal a return Spiegel, the only plausible explanation is that “they did it because liamentary intelligence committee has got GCHQ under wraps. It to proper oversight. But when Obama morphed from a critic of the they could”. doesn’t. Rifkind has instinctively closed ranks with people whose security state in opposition to its number one enabler in govern- Once Snowden broke cover in Hong Kong the surveillance state capacity to abuse their powers he can barely comprehend. This ment, Snowden concluded that any safeguards were gone. In his lumbered into action. The authorities hadn’t been much good at week Ed Miliband included the need to take on the security servic- eyes the entire US government was now operating outside its con- detecting what he was up to, but now they were determined to es as part of his agenda to confront “unaccountable power”. It will stitutional remit. What alarmed him about the NSA’s activities was limit the damage. They weren’t much good at that either. The sec- be a long haul. that no one was in charge: this had become a system that was, as ond half of Harding’s book describes, in sometimes hilarious detail, he put it to journalist Glenn Greenwald, “automatically ingesting” the cack-handed attempts of various security services to put on the — www.theguardian.com Lifestyle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Lawyer files lawsuit over ‘Wolf of Wall Street’

lawyer and investment banker who says he was defamed by a portrayal in “The Wolf of Wall Street” is Aasking for more than $25 million in damages and the film removed from theaters. Andrew Greene says in a com- plaint filed Tuesday in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York against the filmmakers and Paramount Pictures that the toupee-wearing character Nicky “Rugrat” Koskoff was modeled after Greene, whose real-life nickname is “Wigwam” because he often wears a hairpiece. The hedonistic Oscar-nominated film starring Leonardo DiCaprio is based on the 2007 memoir by notorious Stratton Oakmont brokerage firm founder Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio. Greene, who says he never gave the filmmakers per- mission to use his likeness, served as the firm’s head of corpo- rate finance in the 1990s. The lawsuit says the filmmakers made Greene look like a depraved criminal, drug user and degenerate. In the film, the character “Rugrat,” who’s played by actor PJ Byrne, uses cocaine, engages in sexual relations with a prostitute and shaves a woman’s head, among other risque activities. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is up for five Academy Awards at next month’s ceremony, including best picture and best director for Martin Scorcese. Paramount had no comment on the lawsuit.—AP

Mouna Ayoub, the world’s biggest haute couture collector and billionaire divorcee, answers the Associated Press in Gennevilliers, outside Paris, Wednesday.—AP photos Cinderella to couture queen: Meet Mouna Ayoub he emerges Venus-like out of a mist of hairspray with tou- essentials: a Jean Paul Gaultier gown to look chic for rescue, and a sled hair, a shimmering 50,000-euro Chanel jacket and a Louis Vuitton bag with $9.6 million of jewels inside. When the S1,000-watt smile. “Hello daarling,” says Mouna Ayoub huski- captain throttled up suddenly, the lifeboat capsized - and she was ly with the warm familiarity of old friends (even though we’ve thrown into the chilly waters. Fortunately, she saw her jewel-filled met only once before) - walking around a decor of gigantic silver bag floating meters (feet) away. oyster shells and blue glass buoys to kiss me. The billionaire “I would have gone diving for it at the bottom of the ocean if it divorcee’s claim to fame: owning the world’s largest collection of had sank, but luckily the bag was made from a new patent leather This photo released by Paramount Pictures shows from haute couture - a 1,600-piece wardrobe in which each gown costs that floated,” she said. (“I took off my gown and swam naked to left, front, Jonah Hill, Kenneth Choi, Leonardo DiCaprio, between 50,000 and 290,000 euros ($70,000-$400,000). She never the bag,” she revealed in a post-interview SMS. “I have a feeling I Henry Zebrowski , PJ Bryne as, and Ethan Suplee in the wears the same dress twice, and sometimes never at all. am confessing to a priest.”) film, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,” from Paramount Pictures The couture diva may hide it well, but she’s stressed today. For a sense of her fabulous wealth, instead of taking a bank and Red Granite Pictures.—AP She’s working hard to prepare an auction of the sparkling sea- loan to do up the Phocea, she raised the money by selling off a themed contents of her old yacht, the Phocea, and has ditched diamond she’d bought, “The Mouna,” which just happens to be her nicotine patches and gone back to Marlboro Lights. The the largest yellow diamond ever graded. Ayoub first met her fairy- Elton, Kanye Lebanese socialite is perhaps the best-known member of an uber- tale prince when she was a 20-year-old working in a late-night elite group of superrich women who keep alive haute couture, Lebanese restaurant who, in her own words, “had no money at to perform the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making astronomically- all.” He was Nasser Al-Rashid, a multi-billionaire businessman 20 priced, made-to-measure gowns. She’s also perhaps its most years her senior and close adviser at the time to Saudi Arabia’s eccentric. Her wardrobe alone may be enough to bankroll a small late King Fahd. Soon after the fateful encounter, she swapped the at Bonnaroo country. But she still prefers to take a 60-cent coffee from the apron for a satin gown and cleaning scrubs for the diamond-stud- machine in the auction warehouse in Gennevilliers, near Paris, ded slippers she’s been wearing ever since. lton John and Kanye West will be among the acts during instead of ordering in. this summer’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Passion for haute couture ETennessee, organizers announced on Wednesday. The Glamour mixed with down-to-earth Fast forward four decades. Each couture house, from Chanel to Bonnaroo festival will be held June 12-15 on a 700-acre farm It’s glamour mixed with down-to-earth. She doesn’t even have Jean Paul Gaultier via Christian Dior, has their very own Mouna in Manchester, about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Nashville, time for a proper lunch, and offers me one of the egg sandwiches mannequin that they can tailor the clothes to when she is not where about 80,000 “Roonies” descend annually to enjoy 150 that she produces from a bag with her well-manicured hand available for a fitting. (“It’s a must,” she said.) “I just love haute musical acts, dozens of comedians, arts and film. sporting fingerless gloves and a huge rose-shaped diamond ring. couture. It’s my only passion. I wear haute couture every time I go The 2014 concert lineup announced on Wednesday also Lying around her (and the egg sandwiches) in the warehouse out- out in public,” she said, explaining that she never wears the same includes Ice Cube, the Avett Brothers and Lionel Richie. side Paris are trinkets resembling the cavern of a billionaire Little dress twice as she’s frequently photographed. Bonnaroo is among the top live music gatherings of the year, Mermaid that lined the inside of what was, until 2004, the largest Couture has always been a secretive club - in which buyers shy much like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in sailing yacht in the world that she refurbished for $17 million. The away from lifting the lid on how many millions they spend on California and the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary 56-year-old has friends in high places. Her good friend King Carlos dressing. Not Ayoub. She’s become an unofficial couture ambas- Performing Arts in Britain. Tickets for the festival go on sale of Spain was a frequent sleepover visitor on her yacht and fashion sador in recent years, and is dismissive of the buyers who fear the Saturday on Bonnaroo.com.—Reuters designer pal Karl Lagerfeld once stripped her naked for a photo- tax repercussions of talking about their wanton spending. —AP shoot. She’s also a couture philanthropist. She has just donated what’s been described as the most expensive dress ever made to Paris’ Musee de la Mode - a gold Chanel traffic-stopper that cost over 300,000 euros ($412,000).

From waitress to a princess Ayoub’s is a living rags-to-riches fairytale. It goes like this: beautiful but impoverished waitress in Paris spotted by a billion- aire prince charming who falls in love and sweeps her feet to a life of luxury and glamour. Ayoub now wears couture every time she has a public engagement before stashing the gown away in a sleepy French village to be preserved forever. But even this Lebanese Cinderella has moments when reality bites. Take when File photo shows Kanye West performs at the BET Awards her yacht scraped a rock along Corsica’s coast in 2002, and she in Los Angeles.—AP nearly drowned. In a panic, she boarded a lifeboat with the bare Lifestyle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Arctic Monkeys say rock-and-roll is the winner at top UK music awards

ndie quartet Arctic Monkeys picked up the cov- Ieted best album award and triumphed over boy band One Direction to be named best group, prompting their lead singer to claim a victory for rock-and-roll at British pop’s show of the year. “That rock-and-roll it just won’t go away. That rock- and-roll, it seems like it’s fading away sometimes, but it will never die,” Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner said as he received the band’s second gong of the night for the Mastercard British album of the year. The best group prize at London’s BRIT Awards on Wednesday was the only head-to-head Ellie Goulding reacts on stage upon between Sheffield-born Arctic Monkeys and One receiving the award for British Direction, the five-piece band formed in 2010 on Female Solo Artist of the Year. the TV singing contest The X Factor. “There’s that

Kate Moss is seen on stage accepting the award for British Male Solo Artist on behalf of winner David Bowie from Noel Gallagher at the BRIT Awards 2014 at the O2 Arena in London. —AP photos

eight years. In the past, the band had responded Star count frostily to their BRIT wins. This year, they were Excitement was what the organizers of the odds-on favorites to win both the awards they event were targeting, after last year’s ceremony were up for, and their BRITs silverware count is failed to impress. Labeled by critics as sensible, now seven. One Direction, a band targeted at a sober and dull, even Christian Tattersfield, current young audience and whose fans are mainly chairman of the BRIT Awards committee, admitted teenage girls, did not walk away empty handed, in a British newspaper recently that the 2013 event however. The group picked up the BRITs global “lacked superstars”. He was counting on an atten- success award, being joined late on stage by a tion-grabbing performance by Katy Perry, arriving panting Harry Styles, one of its five members. He in a chariot on stage and clad in a neon Cleopatra said he was late because he had been off “having a outfit, and Bruno Mars’s energetic routine, which British band Bastille members Dan Smith, Kyle J Simmons, Chris ‘Woody’ Wood and wee” when the prize was announced. included dancing saxophonists, to breathe new William Farquarson accept the British Breakthrough award. To particularly noisy screams and cheering at life into the show. their every appearance, One Direction also walked Wearing a sparkling green floor-length gown, fifteen quid we put on One Direction to win down away with the best British video award which was pop queen Beyonce, also sung her track “XO”. Her the drain,” Turner joked as Arctic Monkeys picked decided by twitter votes cast during the evening. appearance was not confirmed ahead of the show up the BRIT for best group. With 17.8 million followers, dubbed “Directioners”, but was widely leaked to the press. The best British Opening the event with their track “R U Mine”, the band’s win never looked in doubt. “It’s the male solo artist award category was won by David in the shadow of giant versions of the letters “AM”, BRITS and it’s exciting,” Styles said, before the Bowie, 67, thirty years after he last held the title. flaming and suspended in mid-air, Arctic Monkeys group got their hands on their two mohawk- He beat up and coming names such as Jake Bugg, were performing at the BRITs for the first time inspired black and white gongs, designed by 19, and Tom Odell, who is 23. despite their multiple successes there over the last milliner-to-the-stars Philip Treacy. Absent from the ceremony, veteran artist Bowie nominated British supermodel Kate Moss to accept the prize on his behalf. Reading from a script writ- ten by Bowie, she finished with the words: “Scotland stay with us”. Bowie’s plea was the evening’s only nod to politics. Scotland will vote on Sept. 18 on whether to become an independ- ent country, ending a 307-year union with England and splitting from the rest of the UK. Ellie Goulding, who three years ago performed at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding reception, won the best British female solo artist award, before wowing the audience with an elec- tric performance in a gold bra and white hot pants. The best British single award went to drum and bass dance collective Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre for “Waiting All Night”, while pop act Bastille took home the British breakthrough act prize. For the first time, the BRITs also had a global audience with YouTube streaming the show live worldwide in addition to the usual broadcast on Britain’s commercial channel ITV. The BRITs har- Band members of English electronic nessing of social media reflects the growing digi- music quartet Rudimental accept the tal revenues powering the British music industry. British Single award. Figures released earlier on Wednesday show that revenues in the UK recorded music sector rose One Direction band members, from left Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall 1.9 percent 730.4 million pounds ($1.22 billion) Horan and Zayn Malik accept the Best Video Award. in 2013. — Reuters Lifestyle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Bruno Mars, winner of the award for International Male Solo Artist, performs on stage. Nile Rodgers, left, and Pharrell Williams perform on stage.

Winners at the Brit Awards awards

British Male Solo Artist David Bowie British Female Solo Artist Ellie Goulding British Breakthrough Act Bastille British Group Arctic Monkeys British Single Rudimental ft Ella Eyre-”Waiting All Night” British band Arctic Monkeys accept the Best Album of the Year award. British video One Direction-”Best Song Ever” British Album of the Year Arctic Monkeys-”AM”

Nile Rodgers accepts the International Male Solo Artist: award for International Bruno Mars Group on behalf of Daft British singer-songwriter International Female Solo Artist Punk. Lorde Ellie Goulding. International Group Daft Punk Critics’ Choice Sam Smith British producer Flood and Alan Moulder. —AFP Bruno Mars seen on stage after winning the award for International Male Solo Artist.

Australian singer and actress Kylie Minogue poses with her actress and singer sister Dannii Minogue. US singer Katy Perry performs on stage. Beyonce performs on stage. Lifestyle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Fendi deploys catwalk drones in fashion first talian luxury brand Fendi deployed Ithree drones to film its catwalk show at Milan Fashion Week yesterday-a first for the fashion world that divided spectators. The drones whirred ominously overhead in the closed showroom as Karl Lagerfeld’s collection flowed along the runway, with the models seemingly unfazed by the new technology. The drones “allow us to be pioneers once again and project ourselves into the future”, said Pietro Beccari, chair- man of Fendi, which is owned by French luxury giant LVMH. Beccari said the drone footage, which was streamed live on Fendi’s website and on social media, would “give our fans a chance to see the show like it has never been seen”. The military technology of drones seemed oddly appropriate for a collection that looked back to the wartime 1940s-with a green-and-brown colour palette, fur shoulder wraps and ankle- length trench coats. Yurata, a fashion edi- tor from InStyle magazine in Moscow, said she liked the drones. “It’s very futuristic. Nobody does this!” she gushed, saying the show was “spectac- British model Cara Delevingne presents a cre- ular”. But Kai Margrander, fashion director ation for fashion house Fendi as part of the at Glamour magazine in Germany, said he Milan fashion week autumn/winter 2014 col- had been “irritated” by the flying contrap- lections yesterday. — AP/AFP tions. “I’m from Germany. We’re very suspi- cious of things like that from our past with the Nazis and the Stasi in the East,” he said. “All this filming and listening, I don’t like it at all and I didn’t like it at the show.” — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Swinging ’60s Gucci opens hopeful Milan fashion week

ucci opened Milan Fashion Week on boots paraded down the catwalk in what ion began at a young age when she dreamt GWednesday with a homage to the ‘60s Gucci creative director Frida Giannini called of importing Italian shoes to Britain. “I’ve as the new chief executive of Italy’s “glamour at its purest”. Gucci said the always had a shoe fetish!” she laughed. The fashion chamber told AFP the sector had designs were a tribute to “inspirational ‘60s catwalks continued with a show by Frankie finally “turned the corner”. Models in pastel- style icons”, with embroidered cocktail dress- Morello-a chaste collection featuring models colored mini dresses, soft furs and python es, thigh-length trenchcoats and plenty of in chains with crosses and an array of youth- leather. ful blue and pink pastel dresses. “I am trying more and more to get away Alberta Ferretti, who will be a judge on from a sexy style to emphasize a romantic the first Italian edition of the hit reality TV sensuality. Women have to like themselves show “Project Runway” starting this month, above all,” Giannini said after the show. The went for a more naturalistic look. The collec- collection kicks off six days of ready-to-wear tion was something between earthy and designs in Italy’s business hub, where hopes ethereal, featuring peacock feather colors, are high for a recovery this year in a sector dragonfly motifs and rough brown dresses that has been hit by recession. “We’ve turned that looked like tree trunks. the corner,” Jane Reeve, the British chief executive of the National Chamber of Italian ‘Tip of fashion iceberg’ Fashion, who took up the post in January, At a party hosted by Vogue Italia on told AFP in an interview. Wednesday night, big names like Donatella “The fashion system has every right to Versace rubbed shoulders with up-and-com- think they will be in the forefront of recov- ing designers showing off and selling their ery.” Reeve said the Chamber was forecast- work. Franca Sozzani, the editor of Vogue ing a 5.4-percent rise in turnover for the Italia, which organized the event, said one of fashion sector as a whole this year after the distinguishing characteristics of Milan drops of 5.4 percent in 2012 and 1.8 percent fashion week was that it was giving more in 2013. She said she was planning to inject and more room for young designers to flour- “energy, entertainment and a bit more glam- ish. “Milan has the highest concentration of our” in future fashion weeks to reflect the brands in the world and gives a lot of space resurgent economic vibrancy of the sector. to young people,” she told AFP as she toured “The style that Italians have is very hard to displays of young designers’ work with match,” said Reeve, a former top advertising famed and feared Vogue US editor Anna executive who has lived in Italy for 26 years. Wintour — AFP As she lunched with a risotto in a hotel restaurant in central Milan before the Gucci show, Reeve said her interest in Italian fash- FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/02/2014 TO 26/02/2014)

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hat can we say, sometimes a selfie is photo quality. “You’d be surprised at the differ- kind of necessary! We asked fashion ence in clarity with and without a cover,” Wexperts, photogs, hairstylists and reg- divulges Julia Jacobson, Founder of fashion ular Instagrammers alike to spill their top tips marketplace NMRKT. “Although there’s a hole for looking super hot in a selfie. And boy, did in the cover for your camera lens, it catches the we learn some good, good stuff! camera focus in the periphery, causing the image to be slightly less clear. It’s like night and 1. Pump up the volume day when I take my cover off and just shoot Who knew big hair could be so crucial? with the phone itself,” she says. “Oftentimes, because images are flat, what works in real life requires a little tweaking for 5. Do as the models do the camera,” explains celebrity hairstylist and Kojenwa Moitt, CEO at Zebra Public Creative Director at Assembly Salon in LA, Relations, suggests simply following the lead Jacqueline Bush. “Your hair needs more vol- of models: “Hold your phone high above your ume both up top and around the sides, as pho- head and away from you at a 45 degree angle tos tend to shrink it.” For blondies, updos work so that you look slim and trim in your selfie.” great, highlighting the texture in your mane. Brunettes, on the other hand, should focus on 6. Let there be light achieving shiny, sleek strands, she advises. Want your selfie to seriously shine? Then step outside! “Early morning or late afternoon 2. Download the Camera+ App is the ideal time for lighting,” reveals seasoned According to Dr Arleen K. Lamba, Medical Instagrammer and Social Media Account Director of Blush Med Institute, the art of snap- Manager at /excelamktg, Dara Minchew. Also, ping an awesome selfie really involves know- don’t reverse the camera on your phone so ing your good side. But in case you’re clueless, that you can see yourself, she warns. “It lowers one way to capture your best Kodak moment is the quality of your photo.” to first download the Camera+ app. “For only 99 cents, it allows you to brighten and clarify 7. Get your angles right your skin, and make that hot pink pout shine First things first, experiment in front of the even brighter.” mirror to determine which angles are most pleasing for your face, advises photog to the 3. Use a filter for goodness sake stars Matthew Rolston. “The majority of people tried, and I’ve yet to look like them,” pro- something else in the shot.” If you’re looking like you’re about to keel look best when their face is tilted at a slight claims5W PR girl Elise Levyn. “The gaze and over and die or haven’t slept in weeks, New angle to the camera, as opposed to straight puckered lip thing is really hard to achieve.” 10. Have fun York-based PR pro Stephen Wright highly rec- on,” he adds. “If your nose curves to the left, But hey, we guess practice makes perfect, Let’s be real, you’ll never find another mod- ommends selecting an extreme filter, such as favor the left side of your face, otherwise, the right? el who will have as much patience with their Inkwell or Willow, in Instagram to wash out curve of your nose may be greatly exaggerat- photographer as you when you snap a self those lines and dark circles from your complex- ed. If emotional engagement is what you’re 9. Slow and steady captures the selfie portrait, says author of SnApp Shots Adam ion. Voila, beautiful! seeking, the best eye line is directly to the Style Expert Lindsi Lane urges ama- Bronkhorst. “So take your time, explore all the lens.” teurs to go slow and concentrate on posi- possibilities within the photo and be as cre- 4. Take your phone cover off tioning. “Continually pushing the capture ative as you can.” After all, selfies are supposed Turns out, doing this can have a major 8. Don’t copy a Kardashian face button only results in blurry photos and to be fun! impact (in a positive way, of course) on your Unless you’re actually a Kardashian. “I’ve can cause you to accidently autofocus on www.thefashionspot.com Think after you click, too hile it’s important to “think before ships.” The study, called Tagger’s Delight, scantily-clad model. you click” or be wary before you said those who posted selfies frequently Last year, 26-year-old firefighter Clare Wpost anything on social media, you exhibited a decrease in intimacy with their Deloughrey was fired after posting topless should also “think after you click” your cam- loved ones. Jess Weiner, Global Self-Esteem photos of herself in the shower. era. Many people just snap away, not think- Ambassador for Dove and a social messag- ing carefully if the photos they post will have ing strategist, said selfies can affect one’s But if you must insist repercussions on their personal and profes- self-esteem. “The pressure to be camera- Despite the backlash, it seems the habit sional life. According to an article on the Daily ready can elevate self-esteem issues, with of posting selfies will be around for some News, posting too many selfies can damage the pressure of commenting on posts and time. The key is learning how to post pru- one’s personal relationships. with the rise of social media. It has a more dently. Do not overwhelm your Facebook Citing a study by lead researcher Dr David competitive aspect, and that can really put friends or Twitter followers with too many Houghton, the Daily News said, “That selfie the pressure on.” photos of yourself. How do you feel when habit of yours could be damaging your clos- An article on Business News Daily said you see others posting selfies? They might est relationships. People who post a lot of posting inappropriate photos can ruin one’s feel the same way when you post your pic- photos on Facebook and other social net- career. Chris Dessi, founder and CEO of social tures. For those who want to look good in works run the risk of alienating friends, fami- media marketing firm Silverback Social, gave their selfies, professional photographer Riz ly members and colleagues, leading to less a practical tip on determining if the photo Pulumbarit, who’s been in the business for supportive bonds, a team of UK researchers you posted is inappropriate or not: Think of 25 years, said, “In having your photos taken, found.” your parents. even for selfies, you first have to prepare An article on CNet says posting too many “If you are not comfortable with your yourself by checking yourself in the mirror- photos of yourself on Facebook implies that mom or dad seeing it, get rid of it,” he sug- look for unwieldy hair strands, beads of you’re a “weird person.” Citing a study con- gested. Posting photos that may be deemed sweat, uneven make-up, creased shirt, etc.” ducted by three British universities-the as “too sexy” may cost a person his job. In the “You can even rehearse your smile and pose University of Birmingham, University West of US, New York guidance counsellor Tiffani in front of the mirror,” he added. For group England, and the University of Edinburgh- Webb, who also hosts an internet program photos with family and friends, Riz suggest- the report said frequent Facebook photo- called “Girl Talk NYC” was fired from her job ed, “have a formal photo first. You can smile posters “risk damaging real-life relation- in 2012 after posting photos of herself as a but avoid funny gestures.” Stars FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Aries (March 21-April 19) COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) Afghanistan 0093 Kuwait 00965 The day may be temporarily plagued by scandal of some sort, Albania 00355 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Your internal fire may be feeling a bit smothered by a fierce Algeria 00213 Laos 00856 Aries. Some of your entourage, particularly women, may gather in reality check today, Libra. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Andorra 00376 Latvia 00371 conspiratorial gossip. Your curiosity will definitely be aroused, but Angola 00244 Lebanon 00961 They are more perceptive than you may think. In fact, it may don't be tempted to join them. There is more to the situation than Anguilla 001264 Liberia 00231 behoove you to get some honest feedback today from some meets the eye, and you'll want to know all the facts before jump Antiga 001268 Libya 00218 - people you trust. It could be difficult for you to sort out the Argentina 0054 Lithuania 00370 ing to conclusions. Concentrate on your own interests and worry truth in your present situation, since you’re the one caught in Armenia 00374 Luxembourg 00352 about the scandal later! Australia 0061 Macau 00853 the middle of the maelstrom. Consider the perspective of Austria 0043 Macedonia 00389 another. Bahamas 001242 Madagascar 00261 Bahrain 00973 Majorca 0034 Bangladesh 00880 Malawi 00265 Barbados 001246 Malaysia 0060 Belarus 00375 Maldives 00960 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belgium 0032 Mali 00223 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belize 00501 Malta 00356 Benin 00229 Marshall Islands 00692 Bermuda 001441 Martinique 00596 You’re intuitive by nature, Taurus, but today you’re likely to Emotional issues rooted in the past could leave you feeling Bhutan 00975 Mauritania 00222 have a rush of psychic premonitions. Insights into your own Bolivia 00591 Mauritius 00230 character could bring old traumas to the surface so you can inhibited today, Scorpio. You might also be a bit more touchy Bosnia 00387 Mayotte 00269 release them. Your dreams could be especially vivid and than usual and see insult where none is intended. Curb the Botswana 00267 Mexico 0052 rather disconcerting, although not in a negative way. Write impulse to take offense. Try to confront and release the old Brazil 0055 Micronesia 00691 issues or at least promise yourself you'll deal with them later. Brunei 00673 Moldova 00373 them down. Your aesthetic sense is also very high. Don't be Bulgaria 00359 Monaco 00377 surprised if you discover that you're rather partial to Then be very sweet to your entourage. You should be feeling Burkina 00226 Mongolia 00976 Impressionist art! more positive by day's end. Burundi 00257 Montserrat 001664 Cambodia 00855 Morocco 00212 Cameroon 00237 Mozambique 00258 Canada 001 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Cape Verde 00238 Namibia 00264 Cayman Islands 001345 Nepal 00977 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Central African Republic 00236 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Chad 00235 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Chile 0056 New Caledonia 00687 China 0086 New Zealand 0064 Sex and romance are very much on your mind today, Gemini. Friction or other trouble on the job could cause you to want to Colombia 0057 Nicaragua 00505 You’re feeling especially passionate, and your emotions are rich quit, Sagittarius, but worries about money might keep you Comoros 00269 Nigar 00227 and deep. At times like this you’re likely to want to concentrate Congo 00242 Nigeria 00234 from doing it. You definitely need to reassess your situation. Cook Islands 00682 Niue 00683 on your own pleasure, yet it’s important to be sensitive to your Perhaps a change of position is just what you need now. You Costa Rica 00506 Norfolk Island 00672 partner as well. Racy novels and movies could be especially may have untapped talents that could make you more mar- Croatia 00385 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 appealing, and you might toy with the idea of shopping at ketable, and you might also want to train those talents. Think Cuba 0053 North Korea 00850 Victoria's Secret. Go for it! about this! And if you really think you want a change, go for it. Cyprus 00357 Norway 0047 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Oman 00968 Czech Republic 00420 Pakistan 0092 Denmark 0045 Palau 00680 Diego Garcia 00246 Panama 00507 Djibouti 00253 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dominica 001767 Paraguay 00595 Cancer (June 21-July 22 Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Dominican Republic 001809 Peru 0051 ) Ecuador 00593 Philippines 0063 Egypt 0020 Poland 0048 El Salvador 00503 Portugal 00351 A family member could be feeling a little down, Cancer, and Your self-confidence could well be in the pits today, England (UK) 0044 Puerto Rico 001787 you may be tempted to give him or her a pep talk to get them Capricorn. Mistakes from the past could come back to Equatorial Guinea 00240 Qatar 00974 Eritrea 00291 Romania 0040 going again. Don't. They won't respond to it, and this could cre- haunt you, and you may be momentarily overcome by the Estonia 00372 Russian Federation 007 ate tension in the home. Your own self-confidence is probably fear that you'll make similar errors again. Force yourself to Ethiopia 00251 Rwanda 00250 at an all-time low. You tend to be your own worst critic in the be objective before you drive yourself crazy. It could cause Falkland Islands 00500 Saint Helena 00290 best of times, but today you're a bit confused. Try to be fair to you some unnecessary problems. Try to realize that you’re Faroe Islands 00298 Saint Kitts 001869 everyone around you, especially yourself. unique and that you have skills and talents that set you Fiji 00679 Saint Lucia 001758 apart from everyone. Finland 00358 Saint Pierre 00508 France 0033 Saint Vincent 001784 French Guiana 00594 Samoa US 00684 French Polynesia 00689 Samoa West 00685 Gabon 00241 San Marino 00378 Gambia 00220 Sao Tone 00239 Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Georgia 00995 Saudi Arabia 00966 Germany 0049 Scotland (UK) 0044 Ghana 00233 Senegal 00221 Gibraltar 00350 Seychelles 00284 Too much exposure to books, newspapers, and computers Greece 0030 Sierra Leone 00232 today could produce eyestrain headaches, Leo, so try to exer- Generally, you tend to be a very physically oriented person, Greenland 00299 Singapore 0065 cise a little caution when working with small print or computer Aquarius, but today you’re more likely to want to look within, Grenada 001473 Slovakia 00421 perhaps to experiment with your own psychic abilities or study Guadeloupe 00590 Slovenia 00386 text. Thoughts of love and romance could interfere with your Guam 001671 Solomon Islands 00677 ability to do your work effectively. You may be tempted to spiritual concepts. You also might find yourself more interested Guatemala 00502 Somalia 00252 spend most of your time on the phone. We all have days like than usual in the arts, particularly that which comes from other Guinea 00224 South Africa 0027 this, so don't fight it. Just make sure you're feeling great when cultures. You'll be far more contemplative today than usual. It Guyana 00592 South Korea 0082 might prove enlightening to write down your thoughts. Haiti 00509 Spain 0034 the evening rolls around! Holland (Netherlands)0031 Sri Lanka 0094 Honduras 00504 Sudan 00249 Hong Kong 00852 Suriname 00597 Hungary 0036 Swaziland 00268 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sweden 0046 Iceland 00354 Switzerland 0041 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) India 0091 Syria 00963 Indian Ocean 00873 Taiwan 00886 Indonesia 0062 Tanzania 00255 By nature you’re a master psychologist, Virgo and you don't Someone you work with might need a sympathetic shoulder to Iran 0098 Thailand 0066 Iraq 00964 Toga 00228 need to know someone well to accurately assess his or her cry on today, Pisces. Stresses on the job extend beyond everyone's Ireland 00353 Tonga 00676 thoughts and motives. Today this ability goes far beyond psy- capacity to endure, so don't be surprised if at some point a col- Italy 0039 Tokelau 00690 chology and borders on the psychic. People's feelings may jump league sheds a few tears. You might find your patience pushed Ivory Coast 00225 Trinidad 001868 out at you. Reading newspaper headlines gives you uncanny beyond its normal limits. On days like this it's best to work as quick- Jamaica 001876 Tunisia 00216 ideas about the future. You could also experience some intense ly as you can, stay focused, and go for a drink after you leave work. Japan 0081 Turkey 0090 Jordan 00962 Tuvalu 00688 and vivid dreams. Make a careful record of the symbols in your Then have a nice walk home! Kazakhstan 007 Uganda 00256 dreams. You’ll be surprised at what they tell you. Kenya 00254 Ukraine 00380 Kiribati 00686 United Arab Emirates00976 Leisure FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Word Search DOWN 1. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for CROSSWORD466 the sale of petroleum. 2. (obstetrics) The number of live-born children a woman has delivered. 3. The universal time coordinated time on board the spacecraft. 4. (botany) Producing a well-developed stem above ground. 5. (Akkadian) Father of the gods and consort of Tiamat. 6. A radioactive transuranic metallic element. 7. A medieval hood of mail suspended from a basinet to protect the head and neck. 8. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm. 9. A fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface). 10. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins. 11. Make or become free of frost or ice. 12. Any of various trees of the genus Ulmus. 13. A small cake leavened with yeast. 14. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. 19. Aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium. 23. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages. 25. (botany) Relating to a plant of the family Araceae. 29. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America. 30. One of the bottle-shaped pins used in bowling. 32. Of or relating to or characteristic of Texas or its residents. 33. Moving quickly and lightly. 35. Any of various fissiped mammals with nonretractile claws and typically long muzzles. 36. Resembling or containing slate. 38. Anything that provides inspiration for later work. 40. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms. 41. The basic unit of money in Nigeria. 42. An imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children. ACROSS 45. At risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant. 1. (Roman mythology) Goddess of abundance and fertility. 48. The occurrence of a change for the worse. 4. Of or relating to a cancroid n. 49. Uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror. 12. The compass point that is one point south of due east. 54. Of or relating to or characteristic of Uganda or its people. 15. Committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite 55. (used of count nouns) Every one considered individually. political candidates. 56. A marksman who shoots at people from a concealed place. 16. Any customary and rightful perquisite appropriate to your station in life. 58. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite. 17. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects. 61. A small island. 62. Earlier a god. 18. (Greek mythology) Greek god of darkness who dwelt in the underworld. 64. A repetitive song in which as many syllables as necessary are assigned to a sin- 20. A Nilotic language. gle tone v 1. 21. A master's degree in business. 65. A brief stanza concluding certain forms of poetry. 22. Brightly colored carnivorous fish of western Atlantic and West Indies waters. 66. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 24. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light. 68. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for avia- 26. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. tion and spaceflight. 27. Being one more than one hundred. 71. Channel into a new direction. 28. A youth subculture (mostly from the middle class) originating in San Francisco 74. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. in the 1960s. 75. One of the five major classes of immunoglobulins. 31. A soiled or discolored appearance. 79. A colorless explosive liquid that is volatile and poisonous and foul-smelling. 34. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 37. A prosthesis that replaces a missing leg. 39. A person who eats human flesh. Yesterdayʼs Solution 43. The upper angle between an axis and an offshoot such as a branch or leafstalk. 44. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object). 46. City in central Iran. 47. A genus of Scolopacidae. 50. Being one more than one. 51. Injured by bites or stings. 52. The compass point midway between northeast and east. 53. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. 57. (informal) Exceptionally good. 59. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 60. English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles. 63. Of a pale purple color. 67. (law) The party to whom something is assigned (e.g., someone to whom a Chalenge Puzzle right or property is legally transferred). 69. A state in New England. 70. The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb. Challenging Cazes Cy CrazyCadC CooC C Caze CC 72. Type genus of the Clupeidae. 73. A family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in southeastern Asia. 76. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the genus Iva with small greenish flowers. 77. Wrap us in a cerecloth, as of a corpse. 78. An entire system. 80. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria. 81. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers. 82. (of tempo) Moderately slow n. 83. Brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Ireland stun World T20 champions West Indies

KINGSTON: Ireland added to their list of giant- two-match series ahead of Friday’s second T20 at killing victories with a six-wicket win over World Sabina Park and a stand alone 50-over one-day SCOREBOARD Twenty20 champions West Indies in the first T20 game there on Sunday. “It was a bit of a strange international at Jamaica’s Sabina Park on atmosphere but the nice thing is that we weren’t KINGSTON: Scoreboard in the first Twenty20 international between the West Indies and Wednesday. It was at the Kingston venue where jumping around like we’d won the World Cup. Ireland at Sabina Park, Jamaica, on Wednesday: Ireland dramatically defeated Pakistan in a St Joyce said West Indies’ abundance of power hit- Patrick’s Day 50-over World Cup match back in ters and some skilled bowlers led by spinner Sunil West Indies Ireland 2007. And seven years on from that success, Narine made them “scary” opponents in this for- Dw. Smith c Sorensen b Murtagh 14 W. Porterfield lbw b Badree 4 Ireland-the leading non-Test cricket nation-upset mat. “They have a lot of power-Chris Gayle, C. Gayle c Dockrell b Cusack 18 P. Stirling c Russell b Rampaul 0 one of the sport’s ‘big boys’ once again, with for- Dwayne Smith opening up, and Marlon Samuels. M. Samuels st Wilson b Dockrell 16 mer England batsman Ed Joyce making a decisive They also have the best Twenty20 bowler in the E. Joyce not out 40 L. Simmons c Thompson b Cusack 16 G. Wilson b Badree 18 40 not out. After the West Indies won the toss and world in Narine.” Joyce, who helped Ireland recover Dw. Bravo c K O’Brien b Sorensen 8 A. Poynter b Narine 32 batted, a good all-round Ireland effort in the field from eight for two after both openers went cheap- A. Russell b Murtagh 15 saw the hosts restricted to 116 for eight in their 20 ly, added: “They are a fairly scary team to play D. Sammy b K O’Brien 7 K. O’Brien not out 15 overs. Tim Murtagh, Alex Cusack and Kevin O’Brien against but we know we’ve got a chance to beat D. Ramdin c Wilson b K O’Brien 4 Extras (lb5, w3) 8 took two wickets apiece, with Cusack capturing the anyone when we play well on our day.” S. Narine not out 6 Total (4 wkts, 19.1 overs) 117 prize scalp of dangerman Chris Gayle for a meagre West Indies captain Darren Sammy said his men S. Badree not out 3 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Porterfield), 2-8 (Stirling), innings top score of 18. Ireland, coached by former had been beaten by the “better team”. “Ireland Extras (lb2, w7) 9 3-37 (Wilson), 4-95 (Poynter) West Indies batsman Phil Simmons, collapsed to played well and deserved their victory,” the all- Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 116 Did not bat: M Sorensen, S Thompson, A eight for two in reply, losing both openers cheaply, rounder added. “We were a bit rusty and they came Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Smith), 2-38 (Gayle), 3- Cusack, T Murtagh, G Dockrell before Joyce, the captain of English county side hard at us and in the end were the better team on 58 (Samuels), 4-77 (Bravo), 5-79 (Simmons), Sussex, and Andrew Poynter steadied the innings. the day. “We can’t make any excuses....They bowled Bowling: Badree 4-0-18-2; Rampaul 3-0-24-1 6-98 (Russell), 7-106 (Sammy), 8-107 (2w); Narine 4-0-16-1; Sammy Joyce’s runs came off 49 balls, and it was left to well against us and we just didn’t handle it as we (Ramdin) 3-0-16-0; Samuels 1-0-7-0; Dw Bravo 3-0-21- Kevin O’Brien-just one of two survivors from the should have.” Next month sees the West Indies Did not bat: R Rampaul Ireland team that beat Pakistan at Sabina Park in defend their global title at the World Twenty20 in Bowling: Stirling 2-0-14-0; Sorensen 4-0-23- 0 (1w); A Russell 1.1-0-10-0 2007 - to hit the winning runs as the Irish finished on Bangladesh-a tournament where Ireland’s first 1; Murtagh 4-0-28-2 (4w); Cusack 4-0-17-2 Result: Ireland won by six wickets 117 for four with five balls to spare. “It was obviously match is a St Patrick’s Day clash against Zimbabwe (1w); K O’Brien 2-0-17-2; Dockrell 4-0-15-1 Series: Ireland lead two-match series 1-0 brilliant,” said Joyce as Ireland took a 1-0 lead in the on March 17. —AFP NFL - Dolphins sack 2 in Early Match Play wake of bullying report exits for Poulter MIAMI: The Miami Dolphins sacked an assistant coach and a and Donald physical trainer on Wednesday in response to a scathing report on bullying in the team’s locker room. Jim Turner, the coach in charge of offensive linemen, and head athletic trainer Kevin ARIZONA: Unpredictability was again a O’Neill were both relieved of their duties, the NFL team said in a recurring theme at the WGC-Accenture statement. The move comes after a 144-page report by inde- Match Play Championship as former cham- pendent investigator Ted Wells found that offensive linemen pions Ian Poulter and Luke Donald of Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey directed intimi- England, and American Zach Johnson, dating behavior at teammate Jonathan Martin and others. were all eliminated in Wednesday’s first Martin left the team late last October and later claimed round. While American Jimmy Walker Incognito bullied him with threats of violence and voice mails maintained his red-hot form this season that included racial slurs. “The language and behavior as with a commanding 5&4 win over South described in the Ted Wells report are against the core values of Africa’s Branden Grace, matchplay expert our organization,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. “After and 2010 winner Poulter was upset 2&1 by receiving the report, I conducted my own internal review of the American Rickie Fowler in the 64-player facts to determine the appropriate steps for our organization. event at Dove Mountain. “Jim Turner and Kevin O’Neill are good people who care a great Donald, who clinched the 2011 title, was deal about their profession and the players whom they serve, but hammered 5&4 by Italy’s Matteo both exhibited poor judgment at times which led me to this con- Manassero and world number six Johnson, clusion,” Ross said. The owner added that he had been in contact the tournament’s third seed who is known with Martin, and was also planning a partnership with the New York University School of Law on a “broader effort to address for his gritty play, was stunned 5&4 by conduct in sports”. Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin also said the South Africa’s Richard Sterne. Long-hitting behavior by some of his players and staff as outlined in the Wells Dustin Johnson, who has triumphed once report was “disappointing and unacceptable”. “It is not possible and been a runner-up twice in just four for a team to accomplish its goals when the fundamental values starts on the 2013-14 PGA Tour, also made of respect are violated,” Philbin said. “That ultimately rests on my an unexpected early exit, going down 4&3 shoulders and I will be accountable moving forward for making to Swede Peter Hanson. In total, there were sure that we emphasize a team-first culture of respect towards nine upsets based on seedings from the 32 one another.” matches at Dove Mountain as the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event Ravens rusher Rice charged once again lived up to its reputation for In another development, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray wild uncertainty and sharp swings in for- Rice, who helped his team win last year’s Super Bowl, faces tune. assault charges from an alleged incident involving his fiancee in Fowler took advantage of a sub-par per- an Atlantic City casino.A copy of a New Jersey court summons for formance by Poulter, who is renowned for next week, obtained by Baltimore television station WJZ, showed his steely matchplay prowess, especially in that the three-time All-Pro rusher was charged with simple the Ryder Cup. “I knew it was going to be a assault and domestic violence. The altercation with Janay Palmer tough match today, no matter if Poulter is in an elevator of the Revel Casino early last Saturday also saw not on his game,” Fowler told reporters. Palmer charged with simple assault and domestic violence for “He wasn’t playing great, but I knew he was allegedly hitting Rice. The court document stated that Rice had struck Palmer with his hand, rendering her unconscious. A sur- going to find a way to hang around. veillance video obtained by TMZ.com showed Rice, 27, dragging “Obviously it feels good to get a win a motionless Palmer out of an elevator. Rice, who signed a five- against him, against anyone. I’m excited for year National Football League contract worth $35 million before tomorrow.” Poulter, who succumbed to his the start of the 2012 season, struggled through the worst cam- third first-round exit in four years at Dove paign of his career last season, running for 660 yards and averag- Mountain, wrote on Twitter: “Disappointed ing a career-low 3.1 yards a carry. In six NFL seasons, Rice has run ARIZONA: Ian Poulter of England lines up a putt during the first round of the with my performance today do not deserve for 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns and caught 359 passes for World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship at The Golf to move on. Congrats to 3,034 yards and six touchdowns.— Agencies Club at Dove Mountain on February 19, 2014. — AFP @RickieFowlerPGA.”—Reuters Sports43 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Venus destroys Pennetta, books Dubai Open semis

DUBAI: Venus Williams continued to raise hopes of a return to the top eche- lons with her third straight sets win in a Practice day row and a place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Open yesterday. The seven-times crash tests former Grand Slam winner overcame Flavia Pennetta, the seed-destroying Daytona safety Italian, 6-4, 7-5 with a mixed perform- ance which included a slow start and a measures tense finish but some typically powerful ground stroking during the guts of the DAYTONA BEACH: Spectator safety measures match. It followed her rather more were put to the test at Daytona International impressive conquests of Ana Ivanovic, Speedway on Wednesday when a seven-car the former world number one, and Elena accident ended opening Sprint Cup Series Vesnina, the Russian she had never pre- practice for the day ahead of Sunday’s Daytona viously beaten, and increased Venus’ 500 race. A car driven by rookie Parker chances of regaining a title she captured Kligerman was sent into the catch fence, near last time she was here, five years ago. the area of a multi-car accident last year in However she failed to serve out for which more than 30 fans were injured, but the match at 5-4 and then went love-40 thankfully this time the spectator area was not down when she attempted to close it breached. out at 6-5, and there were suggestions Wednesday’s accident, in which no one was she might have been getting low on injured, was apparently caused when Joey energy. “I was just thinking, god, what if Logano and Matt Kenseth made contact in she comes back and plays amazing,” said tight drafting practice, resulting in several vehi- Venus, perhaps aware that a third set cles being diverted sideways. may not have unfolded in her favor. Kligerman bore the brunt of it as his vehicle “She’s very tenacious and has done rode up and over the car of Paul Menard before unbelievable to get back from injury.” getting pushed from behind by Ryan Truex’s Venus has done similarly. The 33-year- vehicle, then slid along the top of the outside old American has already confounded wall and into the catch fence. “Turns out Joey predictions with her recent progress and was bump drafting the 20 (car of Kenseth) in is already certain to climb from outside the middle of the pack when we were trying to the top 40 back up to the mid-thirties. get up to speed,” Menard, who was among the fastest in qualifying practice, told reporters. “I Asked how she had managed to get guess that’s the end result.” Track president back from her illness and fitness prob- Joie Chitwood III told Reuters that the gate in lems, Venus said: “I pray and try a million the area of the accident had not been restored different things all the time. “Serena has because there were an additional nine been extremely supportive and my fami- crossover gates at the venue. ly have changed their life style for me. It “We did not put back in the one we lost makes me feel better.” Asked if she after the accidents,” Chitwood said. “For us, looked forward to an all-Williams final, we’re always going to look to be better. “It’s no Venus replied: “That would be fantastic, different when we put in the SAFER barriers but we both have to get there first.” An (fences designed to dissipate race car inertia). all-Williams final last happened five years Five years ago, we replaced all the fencing.” ago in the WTA Championships in Doha Twelve months ago, the undercarriage of Kyle when Serena won. Venus served consis- Larson’s race car flew through the fence and tently without being overwhelming, but into the grandstands at the Daytona often effectively when it mattered, sav- International Speedway during the Nationwide ing 11 of the 15 break points against her. Series race, leaving more than 30 fans injured. She also hit a high ratio of ground- stroking winners. The sunny conditions, Hard look she said, were a bit like playing in Crews worked through the night to repair California, where she was raised. As the catch fence so the Daytona 500 race could Venus hinted, Pennetta did indeed look go ahead as planned the following day, and threatening late in the match, earning officials have since implemented additional two break points at 3-4 in the second set, spectator safety measures. The 55-year old and became even more dangerous when DUBAI: US’ Venus Williams serves the ball to Italy’s Flavia Pannetta during their quarter- final match in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships yesterday. — AFP facility, which is owned by International she converted a break point to get back Speedway Corporation, has undergone many from 3-5 to 5-5. At that stage the Italian levels of safety upgrades but racetrack safety was striking the ball at least as well as has typically struggled to keep up with the 33-year-old American, who appeared Ecclestone wins F1 case advances in racecar technology. to be flagging and might have slipped The crossover gate is simply a hole in the into difficulties had she not rescued the fence with a mesh wire door to allow specta- final game from love-40. - but deal ruled corrupt tors and officials to move back and forth from But ultimately Pennetta, who on the grandstand into the infield. Before the race Wednesday had ousted the second- LONDON: Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone won a Gerhard Gribkowsky at the instigation of multimillion-dollar case at London’s High Court Ecclestone. Gribkowsky, who was in charge of sell- starts, the gate is closed and locked. Although seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, could not high-speed crashes are inevitable on the high this time find her best when it mattered relating to the sale of F1 in 2005 yesterday but the ing German bank BayernLB’s 47-percent stake in F1 judge nevertheless said it was a corrupt deal. A for- to CVC, has already been found guilty of corruption, banks of the 2.5 mile superspeedway, the catch most, allowing Venus, who may have fence usually works and contains the highly been jaded after her late night doubles mer F1 shareholder, German media company tax evasion and breach of trust and is serving a 8 Constantin Medien, had sued Ecclestone and other 1/2-year prison sentence. Ecclestone acknowl- modified stock car-looking racers which exceed match with sister Serena Williams, to defendants for up to $144 million, claiming F1 was edged during Gribkowsky’s trial that he made the speeds of 190mph on the track. Last year’s escape. Venus’ attempt to reach the final undervalued at the time of the sale to investment payment to avoid being reported by the banker to Nationwide Series race at Daytona International will pitch her against the winner of group CVC Capital Partners. Ecclestone was authorities over his tax affairs. “The payments were Speedway was the exception. “We made it a Caroline Wozniacki, the former world accused of entering into a “corrupt agreement” a bribe. They were made because Mr Ecclestone contiguous fence from post to post, we number one from Denmark, and Sorana with a banker to facilitate the sale of Formula One had entered into a corrupt agreement with Dr repaired the fence and worked till 2 am that Cirstea, the Rumanian who ousted the Group to a buyer chosen by him. Britain’s High Gribkowsky in May 2005 under which Dr morning to get ready for the 500,” Chitwood fourth-seeded Sara Errani. Meanwhile Court ruled yesterday that the deal was corrupt, but Gribkowsky was to be rewarded for facilitating the said about the repair measures hastily imple- Serena, who had to save two set points said that Constantin Medien did not lose out as a sale of BLB’s shares in the Formula One group to a mented after last year’s crash. The International in a difficult opening match against result. buyer acceptable to Mr Ecclestone,” judge Guy Speedway Corporation later hired an engineer- Elena Makarova, another Russian, was During the trial, which ran from October to Newey said in his conclusions. Ecclestone is also ing firm to suggest improvements to the mesh due for a quarter-final with Jelena December last year, Constantin Medien’s lawyers facing trial in Germany. The 83-year-old is charged fence and cabling for the circuit to be ready for Jankovic, the former world number one said that payments totaling about 27 million with bribery and incitement to breach of trust con- its second big event in July.—Reuters from Serbia.—AFP pounds ($45 million) were made to German banker nected with the payment to Gribkowsky. —AP 44 Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 Timberwolves overpower Pacers 104-91

MINNEAPOLIS: Kevin Love had 42 points and 16 rebounds, Ricky Rubio added a career-high 17 assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Paul George and the Indiana Pacers 104-91 on Wednesday night. JJ Barea scored 12 points off the bench as the Wolves took control early against the Eastern Conference leaders. George led Indiana with 35 points, but managed just two in the fourth quarter as the Pacers lost for the third time in five games, never once taking a lead. It was Love’s eighth straight game with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, the longest streak since Shaquille O’Neal accomplished the same feat Jan 3-19, 2005. Love has an NBA-best 14 games with 30 points and 10 rebounds this season.

SPURS 111, TRAIL BLAZERS 109 Patty Mills came off the bench to score 29 points, Marco Belinelli hit a go-ahead 3- pointer with 1:34 remaining and San Antonio defeated Portland in a game between short handed teams. Mills scored 24 points during the second half to lead the Spurs, who rested starters Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Belinelli had 20 points and Manu Ginobili 16 for San Antonio, which also sat Kawhi Leonard with an injured right hand. Damian Lillard scored 31 points, Mo Williams added 19 points and Wesley Matthews had 18 for Portland, which played without LaMarcus Aldridge. The Trail Blazers’ leading scorer and rebounder is out with a groin injury. Both teams had six players score in double figures. MINNEAPOLIS: Minnesota Timberwolves center Ronny Turiaf (right) is fouled by Indiana Pacers guard George Hill during the second ROCKETS 134, LAKERS 108 period of their NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb 19, 2014. —AP Dwight Howard thoroughly enjoyed his season. With both centers out with injuries rebounds. He has scored at least 20 points KNICKS 98, PELICANS 91 visit to the team he left as a free agent after and a shorter roster from trades each team in 16 of the last 18 games. Brandon Carmelo Anthony capped a 42-point one tumultuous and contentious season, made earlier in the day, the depth of the Jennings had 20 points for Detroit before performance with three clutch baskets in getting 20 points and 13 rebounds in a rout Warriors was just too much for the Kings to being ejected with 1:13 left after picking up the last two minutes, and New York of Los Angeles that extended Houston’s win- overcome. Isaiah Thomas had 26 points and his second technical foul. The Pistons have snapped a three-game skid with a victory ning streak to eight. The streak is Houston’s seven assists, and Travis Outlaw scored 18 lost nine of 14. over New Orleans. A night after losing at longest since a franchise-record, 22-game points for a Sacramento team that’s headed Memphis, New York blew a 13-point, run in 2007-08 under Rick Adelman. James for an eighth straight losing season. NETS 105, JAZZ 99 fourth-quarter lead before Anthony, com- Harden scored 11 of his 29 points in the final Joe Johnson scored 27 points, Andray ing off a 30-point outing in the All-Star 1:25 of the third quarter and added 11 CAVALIERS 101, MAGIC 93 Blatche had 25 and Brooklyn beat the Jazz game in the same arena Sunday, took over assists. Wesley Johnson scored 24 points for Kyrie Irving scored 22 points and for the Nets’ first win in Utah since 2008. by hitting a pair of pull-up jumpers from Los Angeles, and Kendall Marshall had 20 Cleveland won its sixth straight by beating Deron Williams added 19 points and seven the left side of the lane. He hit the first of points and 16 assists. Orlando. Irving, chosen MVP of the NBA All- assists. His 3-pointer with 2:11 remaining them over Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis, Star game Sunday, paced a balanced who blocked five shots in the game, and BULLS 94, RAPTORS 92 gave the Nets their largest lead of the offense that extended the Cavaliers’ the second over Luke Babbitt. J R Smith had Carlos Boozer scored 20 points, D J game. Brooklyn snapped a three-game longest winning streak since they won road losing skid. The surging Nets have 19 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 Augustin had 19 against his former team eight in a row in March 2010. That was for New York, which lost Iman Shumpert to and Chicago edged Toronto to win its won five of their last seven overall. Reserve LeBron James’ final season in Cleveland. guard Alec Burks led the Jazz with 23 points a sprained left knee in the third quarter. fourth straight game. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 Luol Deng scored 17 points, while Tyler Tyson Chandler had 11 rebounds and a pair points, Jimmy Butler had 16 and Taj Gibson and Enes Kanter, starting in place of Derrick Zeller and Tristan Thompson each added Favors (hip), had 18 points and 10 of blocks. Eric Gordon scored 28 for the fouled out with 10 as the Bulls won for the 16 for Cleveland. Arron Afflalo led Orlando Pelicans, but was shut out in the fourth fifth time in six games and halted Toronto’s rebounds. But the Jazz wasted a 13-point, with 23 points. The Magic have lost 14 con- third-quarter lead and a chance to extend quarter. Davis had 14 points and 10 winning streak at three. Joakim Noah had secutive road games and are an NBA-worst rebounds. their winning streak to a season-best four eight points and 13 assists for the Bulls. 3-25 away from home. The Cavaliers built games. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 32 an 18-point lead in the first quarter that SUNS 100, CELTICS 94 points but had a couple key misses at the was trimmed to two early in the fourth. WIZARDS 114, HAWKS 97 Markieff Morris scored 18 points to lead end. Kyle Lowry fouled out with 16 points six Phoenix players in double figures and seven assists. Augustin, waived by BOBCATS 116, PISTONS 98 ATLANTA: John Wall scored 21 points and against Boston. Goran Dragic and Gerald Toronto in December, hit two 3-pointers Al Jefferson scored 29 points, Kemba Washington recovered to beat reeling Green added 17 points apiece for the Suns. early in the third as Chicago took a 76-66 Walker had 24 points and a career-high 16 Atlanta after almost blowing a 20-point lead. Channing Frye scored 15, among them a lead at 9:34. assists, and Charlotte defeated Detroit for Paul Millsap had 21 points and 11 rebounds, crucial 3-pointer with 1:20 left. Markieff’s the second straight night. The win gave the and Elton Brand, a fill-in starter at center, twin brother, Marcus, scored 10 of his 11 WARRIORS 101, KINGS 92 Bobcats (25-30) a sweep of the three-game had 20 points and 11 boards for the Hawks, points in the second half, including a 32- David Lee had 23 points and 11 season series and a 21/2-game lead over who have lost seven straight. Trevor Ariza footer at the third-quarter buzzer. PJ Tucker rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 18 points the Pistons in the race for the eighth and and Bradley Beal each scored 19 for the had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the and Golden State held off Sacramento in a final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Wizards, who snapped a three-game losing Suns, who took the lead for good with a 17- game both teams played short-handed. It was Walker’s best all-around game since streak. Washington ended an 11-game skid 0 second-half run, then used free throws to Stephen Curry added 13 points and eight returning from a sprained ankle. Jefferson, in Atlanta, winning for the first time since hold off the Celtics at the end. Rajon Rondo assists for the Warriors in the first game fol- who had 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven Jan 11, 2008. The Hawks, who trailed by 20 had 18 points and 10 assists for the Celtics. lowing the All-Star break for each team. assists in Tuesday’s win at Detroit, went 12 in the first half, made a third-quarter charge Brandon Bass also scored 18 and Jeff Green Golden State is 3-0 against Sacramento this of 20 from the field and grabbed eight to twice cut the deficit to one. added 17.—AP Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 45 Kaka showing flashes of the old magic

MILAN: He may not quite have the Fortunately, it has not worked out er fine effort when he curled the ball in June but since then, things have not explosive acceleration of old, yet Kaka that way at all. Despite being thrown into onto the roof of the net from a difficult gone so well for Scolari who has seen a showed against Atletico Madrid that the a team in transition and a club in disar- angle. There was another vintage number of attacking players suffer injury old magic is still there and he could play ray, Kaka has scored six goals and pro- moment on the hour when he collected problems. a role for Brazil at the World Cup if select- duced five assists in all competitions for a pass around 30 meters from goal, drift- Neither the player nor Brazil have ed. The former World Player of the Year’s Milan, who are Italy’s only survivors in ed effortlessly between two defenders ruled out a last-minute recall, even performance on Wednesday suggested the Champions League. If it were not for and toe-poked the ball just wide from though he was again overlooked for next that Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibault outside the penalty area. So far, it has month’s friendly against South Africa. has not picked Kaka for a year, could give Courtois’s fingertips, television stations not been enough to impress Scolari, “I’m doing my utmost to make sure I him a place in the squad, even if he is not worldwide would have spent yesterday who has not selected him since the don’t miss this event,” Kaka said on a regular starter. replaying a goal every bit as stunning as friendlies against Italy and Russia in Monday. “We’ll see if I’m on the list in When Kaka returned to AC Milan in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s effort against Bayer March last year. May.” “We consider all players, some August after four unhappy years at Real Leverkusen. In the 15th minute, Kaka Somewhat strangely, Scolari suggest- more than others,” Scolari told reporters Madrid, it was seen as something of a spun onto Adel Taarabt’s pass in the cor- ed that Kaka had not done enough in Brazil on Wednesday, adding that he gamble by Milan and an attempt to win ner of the penalty area and curled a left- defensive work against the Russians. would not be pressured. “Everyone lob- back fans who have seen a succession of foot shot towards the top corner which “Kaka’s performance was what we bies for one player or the other.” But with big names leave the club in the last two Courtouis tipped onto the bar. expected, but the most important that I Brazil likely to face massed defenses in years. A thigh sprain in his very first wanted him to do was to come back and most games, having Kaka around on the match added to the feeling that the 31- Vintage moments mark the Russian number eight, who bench could prove an invaluable option year-old, plagued by a variety of nagging Playing just behind striker Mario was dictating the rhythm of the game,” for Scolari, both for his experience, injuries during his time at Real Madrid, Balotelli, Kaka always looked capable of Scolari said after the game. Brazil moment of inspiration and ability to would spend most of his time in Milan’s unlocking an uncompromising Atletico seemed to have little need for Kaka carve out chances in the tightest of cor- already crowded treatment room. defense and was close again with anoth- when they won the Confederations Cup ners.— Reuters

Crisis club Fulham seek fresh start with Magath LONDON: Fulham will look to put a week of off-field drama behind them and focus on their bid to avoid relegation when they travel to fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League tomorrow (1500 GMT). The west London club are bottom with 20 points, four off safety, and on Friday appointed German Felix Magath as their third manager this season following the dismissals of Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen. The club confirmed this week that assistant coach Ray Wilkins and technical director Alan Curbishley had been let go just weeks after they were appointed, while first team coaches Mick Priest and Jonathan Hill also joined the exodus of back- room staff from Craven Cottage. Fulham, ever-present in the Premier League since 2001, have picked up one point from their last six matches and have brought in Magath in the hope that the noted disciplinarian can arrest their slump. “We’re going to get the full German experience from him and I definitely think he’ll help us achieve our goal of staying in the Premier League,” midfielder and fellow German Lewis Holtby said. Record signing Kostas Mitroglou could be in line for his debut after arriving from Greek champions Olympiakos Piraeus lacking match fitness. West Brom are outside the rele- gation zone on goal difference and, despite a creditable 1-1 draw with leaders Chelsea last time out, are without a win MILAN: Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian forward Diego da Silva Costa (right) makes a bicycle kick during the Champions under new manager Pepe Mel. League match between AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, on February 19, 2014.— AFP Manchester City will be licking their wounds from Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Barcelona when they host Stoke City tomorrow (1500), their final outing before they Barca, Atletico on a high meet Sunderland in the League Cup final on March 2. After picking up one point from their last two matches against Chelsea and Norwich, Manchester City will be desperate to after European success rekindle their title charge. They are in third spot with 54 points, three off Chelsea and two behind Arsenal. MADRID: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid giants are a declining force, while Atletico’s but what we all want is to go as far as we wobbled in recent weeks but will be brim- gritty win in Milan was further evidence can.” One reason Barca appear to be back Stoke confident ming with confidence when they return to they are genuine challengers for domestic on track is the form of their Argentina for- Stoke striker John Guidetti is unable to play as he is on loan La Liga action this weekend after rousing and European silverware. ward Lionel Messi since he returned at the from City but is confident his new team can cause an upset performances in the Champions League. Barca suffered a surprise La Liga reverse start of January after a two-month injury against his parent club. “The manager (Mark Hughes) has lots Barca, who won 2-0 at English Premier at home to Valencia at the start of the layoff. The four-times World Player of the of experience, having played and scored many goals in this League side Manchester City and Atletico, month and Atletico took over at the top Year has netted 11 times this calendar year, league, and he’s coached a lot in this league too so he knows who beat Italian club AC Milan 1-0 at the before they stumbled at Almeria and the including six in his last four appearances, how to get a result in these sort of games,” he told the club San Siro, are tied on 60 points with Real champions returned to the summit on goal and has 25 in all competitions. website (www.stokecityfc.com). Sunderland, who are battling Madrid at the top of Spain’s domestic difference. They thrashed Rayo Vallecano Real also look to be in fine form as the for top-flight survival despite their cup form - which has also league with 14 matches remaining. 6-0 at the Nou Camp last weekend and season enters a critical phase. Carlo seen them reach the FA Cup quarter-finals - could move out of Real have to wait until next Wednesday Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes said the Ancelotti’s side have gone 25 matches the relegation zone with a point against Arsenal tomorrow before they play their Champions League win at City had left the squad in a “very without tasting defeat, equaling their sec- (1500). Chelsea will look to hold their advantage at the top last 16, first leg at Bundesliga side Schalke positive” frame of mind. “We won the ball ond-best run from the 1996-97 campaign when they host Everton (1245), themselves in need of victory 04 and coach Carlo Ancelotti could rest a back very quickly and the way the game when Ancelotti’s Italian compatriot Fabio to close the gap to fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. “We lost number of key performers for tomorrow’s turned out was very good for us,” Valdes, Capello was in charge. Their record is 34 the last game in the FA Cup and we don’t want to lose two in visit of promoted Elche (1500 GMT). Barca who has rejected a contract extension and games unbeaten from 1988-89. a row. That would be bad,” striker Demba Ba told the club’s play at Real Sociedad, who are sixth and is set to leave at the end of the season, told Tomorrow’s match against Elche is the last website (www.chelseafc.com), referring to tomorrow’s 2-0 targeting a European qualification berth, reporters. one La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo defeat at Manchester City. “We are just going to do everything tomorrow (1900) and Atletico travel to “Barca is a rival you can never discount,” will miss before completing a three-match tomorrow because it’s important to get back to winning ways, Pamplona to take on Osasuna on Sunday added the 32-year-old. “There has been a suspension handed down after his dis- it’s important for the title race and it’s important for our confi- (2000). Barca’s performance in Manchester lot of talk about whether we are pressing missal in the 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on dence.” — Reuters helped refute any suggestions the Catalan our opponents in the same way as before Feb 2.— Reuters Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS Chapuis leads French sweep in ski cross

ROSA KHUTOR: Jean Frederic Chapuis skied sports and countries in 2010, had shown Although Midol’s ski made contact with that tained another knee injury last Sunday and calmly through the chaos to take freestyle ski good form all day. Fourth fastest in the morn- of Leman before the fall, the Canadian had did not start. cross gold at the Sochi Games yesterday and ing seedings run, the 24-year-old led Midol earlier similarly taken out Swiss favorite Alex Fiva, the 2012/13 overall World Cup cham- lead France to their first Winter Olympics through from their round of 16 heat and the Fiva in the first round of heats. Having tangled pion, was struggling with his back and failed podium sweep. Arnaud Bovolenta took silver pair repeated the one-two in their two subse- with Leman, Midol, whose world champi- to complete the seeding run before being and Jonathan Midol won bronze after the quent races to secure berths in the final. onship silver medallist brother Bastien was taken out while leading by Leman. As usual in fourth finalist, Canada’s Brady Leman, crashed Bovolenta came through the bottom half ruled out of the Games by a serious back the rough and tumble of the most unpre- out on the penultimate jump. of the draw with Leman and made a good injury, looked unlikely to catch Bovolenta and dictable freestyle event, there were plenty of It was the second 1-2-3 in the freestyle ski- start in the final, edging ahead of Chapuis the trio settled for staying upright over the crashes and Fiva was by no means the only ing at the Extreme Park after the Americans before being hauled in by the world champi- final jump. leading skier to go out early. Medal contender swept the slopestyle event, and gave France a on. When Chapuis got in front, he never Semi-finalist Armin Niederer apart, it was a Victor Oehling Norberg’s exit was the most total of 14 medals in Sochi, their best tally at a looked like being caught and once Leman, miserable day for the strong Swiss team. spectacular, the Swede crash-landing while Winter Games. World champion Chapuis, who missed out on skiing at the Vancouver Defending champion Michael Schmid, who leading after the final jump in his quarter-final who has dual nationality and raced for Games after breaking his leg on the eve of the has had three ruptured anterior cruciate liga- and still missing out the semis by only a mat- Switzerland in Alpine skiing before switching contest, had fallen, the French sweep was on. ments since winning gold in Vancouver, sus- ter of centimeters in a photo finish.— Reuters

KRASNAYA POLYANA: (From left) Norway’s Magnus Hovdal Moan, Joergen Graabak, Magnus Krog and Haavard Klemetsen dive as they celebrate win- ning the gold medal of the Nordic combined Gundersen large hill team competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics yesterday. — AP

After Sochi, what’s next? Canada, USA braced for Sochi superpower clash SOCHI: The sheer cost, size and scale of the isn’t for the games themselves; it’s for roads, always give a chance to developing winter Sochi Olympics has outstripped anything railways, hotels and other long-term regen- sports nations to develop what they need to SOCHI: Defending ice hockey champions Canada and the done before. The question for future Winter eration projects. do,” Adams says. “We can’t always just go to USA meet in a rematch of the 2010 Olympic Games gold Games is clear: Can anyone - should anyone - Still, the international mood has shifted. countries where they’ve got everything medal showdown while Sweden seeks to keep its perfect try to top that? Sochi has showcased Proposed bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics already. President Vladimir Putin’s grand project, from Munich and St. Moritz-Davos were That wouldn’t help to spread the games record intact against Finland in today’s semi-finals. Canada using the Olympics to reshape the entire rejected last year by voters in Germany and and it wouldn’t be fair, either.” Next to be face an explosive American team that has scored a tourna- Black Sea resort region, with brand new facil- Switzerland because of financial and envi- decided is the site of the 2022 Games. A low- ment high 20 goals in four games. “This is what it is all about,” ities and infrastructure built from scratch. ronmental concerns. Stockholm recently key bidding campaign has been waged said Canadian forward Jonathan Toews. “Canada-USA. It’s The huge financial investment, massive secu- pulled out of the 2022 race after Swedish behind the scenes in Sochi among the five become even a bigger rivalry than Canada-Russia.” The North rity apparatus and litany of logistical issues politicians said the costs were too high. “A lot candidate cities: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; American rivals met in the 2010 Vancouver final where has thrown up major challenges to potential of cities have found this a little scary, that so Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; and Oslo, Sidney Crosby scored the winner in overtime. The men’s future Winter Olympic host cities. Can they much money has to be invested,” senior Norway. The IOC executive board will cut the hockey tournament at Sochi is down to four teams after a sur- afford it? Will the public support it? Should Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg field to a short list of finalists in early July. prising quarter-final round that saw host Russia crash with a the games keep going to emerging and told The Associated Press. “People in western The full IOC will select the winner on July 31, 3-1 loss to the Finns. developing countries or return to more tradi- Europe say this is too much for us, too much 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The USA easily beat the Czechs 5-2 in their quarter-final, tional winter sports nations? Will the weather investment, too difficult to run. We need to Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Summer Canada survived a scare before easing past Latvia 2-1 on a be cold enough? get more cities interested. It’s a question of Olympics, would seem a longshot after the late goal in the third and Sweden rolled over Slovenia 5-0 set- Under new President Thomas Bach, the cost - as little as possible.” IOC awarded two consecutive games to Asia ting the stage for some dramatic semi-finals. USA coach Dan International Olympic Committee is weigh- - Pyeongchang for 2018 and Tokyo for the Bylsma said the Americans are hungry to avenge their loss ing changes to the bidding process that Thinking about fairness 2020 Summer Games. It would seem impos- from four years ago in Vancouver. “Now we have a rematch,” would cut down on the costs for applicant The next Winter Games will be held in sible for Lviv to be able to overcome the Bylsma said. “Canada is the matchup we certainly all wanted.” and host cities. “The idea that perhaps a 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Like political crisis and unrest in Ukraine, especial- Canada is hoping to get more production from some of their more traditional country would produce a Sochi, it’s a new destination, the first Winter ly after the clashes that claimed at least 25 NHL stars like Crosby who has yet to fire on offence. smaller scale games with a different legacy, Olympics in Korea, and a city with which lives in Kiev on Tuesday. Krakow is an inter- The top two scorers for Canada are defenceman Shea it’s entirely possible,” IOC spokesman Mark many in the world are unfamiliar. Unlike esting option at the heart of Europe, but its Weber (five points) and Drew Doughty (six points) while Adams says. The fact is, potential host cities Sochi, Pyeongchang already has many exist- plans for holding some ski events across the American forward Phil Kessel leads the tournament in scoring have been spooked by the $51 billion price ing facilities in place. The infrastructure border in Slovakia pose tricky logistical with eight points in four games. —AFP tag associated with Sochi. Most of that cash budget is a modest $7 billion. “We need to issues. —AP Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS KRASNAYA POLYANA: Germany’s team walk to the flower ceremony of the Nordic combined Gundersen large hill team competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics yesterday. — AP

Norway hold off Germany for dramatic win

ROSA KHUTOR: Norway scraped the narrowest of wins in a admirable, especially because world number one Eric Frenzel dramatic finish to the Olympic Nordic combined men’s team was still suffering the after-effects of a virus. “We knew this was F1- Stray dogs event yesterday, holding off Germany to grab the gold by 0.3 the team to beat and we came here looking for a good fight,” seconds. Coming into the stadium at the end of the 4 x 5 km said Graabak. Riessle said Graabak was a strong competitor. “It cross-country relay race, Norway’s Joergen Graabak was just was a really hard race,” he added. “We started slow at the a big problem ahead of Fabian Riessle. Graabak had been in the same posi- beginning. Joergen is a great athlete. He did well.” The tion during Tuesday’s individual large hill event and pulled Germans had landed four solid leaps in the ski jumping section SOCHI: Stray dogs roaming the streets of Sochi are just one of away to win easily. When he tried the same move yesterday, to earn a lead of seven seconds over Austria, and 25 ahead of the problems facing Russian Formula One Grand Prix organiz- Riessle stuck with him and Graabak barely found the strength the Norwegians, at the start of the relay. ers as they prepare for a debut race in October. The slow hand to hold on. Austria and Norway both quickly caught up, however, and of Russian bureaucracy and the risk of post-Olympic compla- “I’ve had a lot of good sprints this year and I knew if I was the three leaders were together for virtually the entire race. cency are also on the list of challenges to be overcome. the first one into the stadium I was pretty confident that I’d be Austria’s Mario Stecher, 36, became the oldest man to win an However, Richard Cregan, who has been brought in to trou- the first one over the finish line,” Graabak told reporters. “I saw Olympic Nordic Combined medal. He won the team gold in bleshoot after managing Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit, is behind me that Riessle was throwing his foot forward, but I was 2006 and 2010 as well as a team bronze in 2002. “It was difficult confident the newest event on the F1 calendar will meet confident that I was first.” Defending champions Austria were to ski because the snow was slushy ... It’s my fourth medal and deadlines and be a success on Oct 12. “There are certainly third, 3.4 seconds behind the Norwegians. The win capped an it is the end of my career,” he told reporters. Stecher and challenges ahead, no question about that,” the former Toyota excellent Olympics for the Norwegian Nordic combined squad, Germany’s Bjoern Kircheisen both became the only two men to team manager told Reuters as the Black Sea resort basks in who had already won gold and silver in the individual large hill win four Olympic Nordic Combined medals. The US team, which the limelight of the Winter Olympics. and a bronze on the normal hill. Given the Norwegians’ excel- won silver in 2010, jumped badly and ended in sixth place, “The target to complete the facility is the first week in lence on the race course the German performance was almost two and a half minutes behind the winners. — Reuters August and I think that’s doable. “There’s enough of the ven- ue ready at the moment to ensure the delivery of the race. It will be tight, it will be challenging but we will make it and we Bobsleigh will deliver.” The Games, and Paralympics, are currently the main focus and the F1 pit and paddock complex, along with the main grandstand, are a fenced-off building site on the Fear the beards? We love them edge of the Olympic Park. The straight has yet to be asphalt- ed, the VIP boxes are windowless, and building debris lies strewn around with skips and diggers where the start/finish ROSA KHUTOR: They are easily distinguishable - four in the interior of British Columbia, the burly 27-year-old line will be. Canadian men with bushy beards creeping out from ‘bobsleigh nomad’ also holds an Australian passport. Promoter Oleg Zabara told Reuters last week that the race- underneath their crash helmets. They could easily pass for “Just kind of the circumstances of my life ... the way I was track itself was more than 90 percent complete, given that lumberjacks if they were not bobsledders. It started as a raised and stuff,” he says of the “man of mystery” public roads around the main Olympic sites will be used and way to help team bonding and the luxuriant whiskers moniker. “Kind of crazy, being born in Hawaii. I have three work would pick up after the Games. “There has been a mas- have continued to sprout on the chins of Justin Kripps, citizenships - Australia, Canada, and the United States. sive focus on the Olympics, which is totally understandable,” Tim Randall, Bryan Barnett and James McNaughton - the “I live a pretty nomadic bobsleigh lifestyle so it’s just said Cregan. “Once these Olympics are completed, then we four-man crew who make up the CAN-3 sled. Randall got how it is. I love it.” His roots to his childhood remain are in a situation where all of the resources are delivering the a head start on the others and sports an impressive floc- strong - he names his sleds after Hawaiian goddesses. F1 circuit. So that’s a good thing. “But there will be some chal- culent dark black mane. His own website says he is “dedi- “The two-man is Pele, the goddess of fire and lava. The lenges in that.” The Olympics have highlighted the number of cated to growing my beard like I am dedicated to my four-man I first raced in World Cup races was Poliahu, the stray dogs roaming the city, with rights activists campaigning bobsleigh training”. goddess of ice and snow.” to save them after a local company was given a contract to The team even have their own Twitter hashtag: Now he is hoping for a little bit of help from a round them up. Formula One’s primary concern is safety and #Beardmode “It was an Olympic thing to start with ... Superhero - Kal-El, the boy born on the planet of Krypton a stray dog running onto the track could be hit by a car and team bonding, make the other nations scared of us, make who became Superman. “This year I inherited (team cause a fatal accident. “It’s just a totally unacceptable situa- all the girls want us,” Kripps, who pilots the CAN-3 sled mate) Lyndon Rush’s four-man sled from the 2010 tion. We have to do everything we can to avoid that, so we said. “Pretty much all of us have fallen in love with them, Olympics. He won a (bronze) medal in that sled so a trib- just have to make sure it doesn’t happen,” said Cregan. Dogs we’ve got a lot of attention from it. “We started in ute to him and that sled I left the name Kel-Al. It kind of on track have been a problem before in F1, particularly in September, Tim in May. He got a head start on us but I sounds Hawaiian too.” Turkey and India when those countries hosted races, despite purpose-built facilities with extensive perimeter fences. think we’re all looking good, they’re all pretty much Kripps, who won a World Cup race for the first time last “It (the problem) certainly went onto a list when we saw, hanging out the helmets now so that’s what we want. I’ve month, is hoping to take the momentum of finishing sixth basically after arriving here, so many of them,” Cregan said of had some of the best times of my life with this beard.” in the Olympic two-man event - the best of the three the dogs. “We’ve already had discussions with (the Olympic The quartet caused a bit of stir last month when the Canadian sleds - into the four-man competition which organizers) about how they’ve dealt with it. “It definitely is an pony-tailed Kripps tweeted a picture of himself and his starts tomorrow. issue we need to deal with ... the fact that we have part of the shirtless team mates posing in their underwear. It per- His good showing, he said, was in spite of not having circuit which is permanent and the rest is effectively street cir- haps caused too much of a stir in Russia with Kripps find- had as much experience as others of the Sanki track. “I cuit brings its own challenges in terms of fencing and access ing his website ‘restricted’ when he tried to access it in didn’t get to come to the international training week at and all of those things.” Sochi. Kripps describes himself on his Twitter profile as an the start of the year, so I missed out on 20-25 runs,” he Some journalists arriving for the Olympics found hotels “Hawaiian-born beach bum, international man of mystery said. “But I’m looking to keep those lines from the two- unfinished or unfurnished but Cregan said that was not likely and seeker of adventure”. man going and take the momentum into the four-man to be a problem for Formula One. —Reuters Growing up in Hawaii before moving to Summerland and hopefully surprise people again.” — Reuters FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 A w A w f f h h t t a a e e r t r t ’ ’ S S s s n n o o c c e e www.kuwaittimes.net x h x h t t i i SEE PAGES46-47 ? , ? , yesterday. —AP 2014 WinterOlympics Extreme Park,atthe final attheRosaKhutor men’s skicrossquarter- during thesecond Jonas Devouassoux Midol, secondleft,and compatriots Jonathan of France(left)leads Jean FredericChapuis KRASNAYA POLYAN: