Carlo out ofMonte Nadal knocked 8-time champion 48 stances justtwodaysafterarmedmenseizedJordan’sambassador.—AFP diplomat identifiedasAl-AroussiGantassiwaskidnappedinstillunknowncircum- TRIPOLI: ApictureshowstheTunisianembassyinLibyancapitalTripoli,wherea TRIPOLI: Thursday, aforeign ministryspokesmantold Gantassi hadnot gonetotheembassyon the diplomathadbeenkidnapped. “This iscorrect,”hesaid,whenasked whether and broughthimtoanunknown location. unknown peoplehadseizedthe diplomat Mohamed AbdelaziztoldReuters byphone lent militias.Libyanforeign minister have formedincreasinglypowerfulandvio- leader MuammarGaddafiin2011andwho Islamist militantswhofoughttodepose has beenunabletodisarmformerrebelsand the targets.Theweakinterimgovernment the oilproducer,withforeignofficialsoften Kidnappings havebecomecommonplacein gunmen seizedJordan’sambassador. Libya’s foreignministrysaid,twodaysafter on ThursdayintheLibyancapitalTripoli, SUBSCRIPTION The Tunisiandiplomatcalled Aroussi Tunisian diplomat kidnapped inLibya A Tunisiandiplomatwaskidnapped Gunmen targetdiplomats 150 Fils AUDY PI 9 04 AAAATAI1,13 HNo:16140 SATURDAY, 1435 AH JAMADA ALTHANIAPRIL 19,2014 19, Gulf Arabstatesstrike new dealtohealrifts Crisis ‘betweenbrothers’finallyover? diplomat’s freedom. from aJordanianjailinexchange forthe demanded anIslamistmilitant bereleased kidnapped Jordan’sambassador toLibyaand pone traveltoLibya.”OnTuesday, gunmen Tunisians forcautioninLibyaand topost- eign ministrysaidinastatement. “Weask mats gettingtargetedinLibya,” Tunisia’s for- in Tripoli. works asanadviserattheTunisianembassy contact him.”Hesaidthemissingdiplomat been kidnappedbutwehaveunableto ministry said:“Wecannotconfirmthathehas to theagency.AnofficialinTunisia’sforeign good health,”thespokesmansaid,according assume thattheadvisorAroussiGantassiisin his househadbeendamaged.“Thereforewe state newsagencyLANA.Neitherhiscarnor “Tunisia isworriedaboutTunisiandiplo- Continued onPage 14 madrassas. hero bymoststudents atIslamicschools,or The slainAl-Qaedachiefisstill regardedasa rallies acrossPakistantodenounce thekilling. math ofBinLaden’sdeath,Islamists heldsmall country’s sovereignty.Intheimmediate after- which saidtheUnitedStateshad violatedthe at thetimeangeredPakistani government, meters northofIslamabad.Theunilateralraid Abbottabad, agarrisontownabout125kilo- US NavySEALsinhishidingplace terror network’sslainleader. their storesandplacesofbusiness-afterthe years ofPakistanisnamingtheirsons-oreven first, thoughtherehavebeencasesinrecent trator saidyesterday.Thetributeisanunusual Laden, hisspokesmanandaschooladminis- newly builtlibraryinhonorofOsamaBin capital ofIslamabadhasnamedtheschool’s who runsanIslamicseminaryforgirlsinthe ISLAMABAD: the meetingconcluded. statement wasreleasedjustbeforemidnightafter held inSaudiArabia’scapitalofRiyadh.TheGCC took partintheGCCForeignMinisters’meeting Foreign MinisterKhalidBinMohammedAlAttiyah official newsagencyconfirmedthatDoha’s deep riftsamongitssixenergy-richstates.Qatar’s marking apossiblefirststeptowardbridging on themechanismstoimplementasecuritypact, Gulf CooperationCouncilsaidtheblochasagreed RIYADH: stop interferinginothernations’politicsandsup- failed toupholditsendofasecurityagreement March afterthethreeGulfnationssaidQatar The ambassadorswereofficiallywithdrawnearly say whetherambassadorswouldbereinstated. bers.” tamper withthesovereigntyofanyitsmem- security andstabilityofitsmemberswould member states“wouldnotaffecttheinterests, framework” inwhichthepoliciesofbloc’s statement saidtheGCCagreedona“collective Brotherhood groupintheregion.Thursday’s Doha’s supportfortheIslamistMuslim public protestlargelybelievedtobespurnedby ambassadors fromQatarinanunprecedented United ArabEmiratesandBahrain,withdrewtheir Saudi Arabiasincethekingdom,alongwith ‘ P honors The madrassas are animportantaspectof Bin LadenwaskilledinaMay2011raidby However, thestatementbyGCCdidnot It markedtheforeignminister’sfirstvisitto akistan madrassa The Western-alliedArabstatesofthe A controversialPakistanicleric ’

B and considered somewhat prestigious. students. Asamadrassa, itismoderateinsize Hafsa, hasanall-femalestaffand about1,500 one forgirls.Thegirls’school, calledJamia mosque runstwoschools,one forboysand ry militantattacksacrossPakistan. The and othersunleashedawave ofretaliato- in 2007.Theraidkilleddozens ofextremists former militanthideoutthatthearmyraided leader atthePakistanicapital’sRedMosque-a and controversialcleric.Heisalsoaprayer the cleric’sspokesmanTehsinUllahsaid. the school’slibraryafterAl-Qaedachief, he wantedtopayapropertributebynaming was alsoaheroand“martyr”forIslam try. ForclericMaulanaAbdulAziz,binLaden dents whocomefromotherpartsofthecoun- vide freefood,tuitionandevenboardforstu- study there.Mostofthereligiousschoolspro- Pakistan, andtensofthousandsstudents education inthepredominantlyMuslim leaders. viewed favorablybySaudiArabiaandtheUAE’s under attackinEgypt,andisnotbelievedtobe funded AlJazeeraArabicnewschannelhascome its supporters.Additionally,theQatar-basedand ment asitcrackeddownontheBrotherhoodand dollars toEgypt’snewmilitary-backedgovern- and Kuwaittrumpedthatsupportwithbillionsof ed bythearmylastyear.SaudiArabia,UAE President MohammedMorsibeforehewasoust- Brotherhood-backed governmentofIslamist ernment didthesame. a terroristorganizationnotlongafterCairo’sgov- which recentlydeclaredtheMuslimBrotherhood matically swingclosertothatofSaudiArabia’s, Analysts donotexpectQatar’spolicieswilldra- details aboutwhatthecountriesagreedon. of thepast.”TheGCCstatementdidnotofferany “between brothers”hadendedandwas“athing newspaper Al-Hayatdeclaringthatthecrisis Thursday’s announcementinthepan-Arabic Minister YusufBinAlawiwasquotedjustbefore to joininthediplomaticprotest.Oman’sForeign Oman weretheonlycountriesincouncilnot their security. bility. Theysaidthemovewasmadetoprotect porting organizationsthatthreatentheGulf’ssta- in Laden Aziz haslongbeenconsideredahard-line Qatar gavebillionsofdollarsinaidtothe Kuwait, whichhasIslamistsinparliament,and Continued onPage 14 Continued onPage14 Min Max 21º 36º LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Alarm over hydrogen gas leak on Nuwaiseeb border Vehicle caught with liquor

By Hanan Al-Sadoun Seventh ring road, said security source noting that firefighters from Jleeb rushed to the scene and rescued the trapped family. KUWAIT: A truck carrying hydrogen gas accidently leaked some of its liquefied content at the Nuwaiseeb land border Vehicle on fire exit creating an alarm in the area, said security sources noting A fire broke out in a vehicle along the Sixth Ring road, said that the exit fire brigade and a hazardous substances team security sources noting that Jleeb firefighters were dispatched immediately dealt with the leak. to the scene and the fire was controlled with no casualties. Commenting on the incident, the Customs Syndicate Chairman, Ahmed Ogla Al-Enezi said that the gas leak almost Liquor haul caused a disaster and reminded that the syndicate had repeat- A vehicle loaded with liquor was recently referred to the edly called for more security measures at border exits to pro- traffic department garage pending an inquiry about its owner, tect custom inspectors. said security sources. Case papers indicate that following a collision in Saad Al-Abdullah, one of the two drivers fled the Collision scene on foot leaving his vehicle behind. On searching the A citizen in his forties and two of his sons sustained multiple vehicle, policemen found 4 Red Label Whiskey bottles and 10 injuries when their vehicle collided with a truck along the home-made liquor bottles in it. KUWAIT: A vehicle fire on the Sixth Ring road.

Firemen examine the site of the fire. Police inspect the wreckage of a car that collided with a truck along the Seventh Ring road. 13 drug-peddlers held in major anti-narcotic drive

KUWAIT: In a major drive against narcotics, the Special Operations road in the desert, a police force rushed to the scene, surrounded trapped inside a lift during a blackout in Salmiya, said security Force arrested 13 suspects of various nationalities with possession the two vehicles and arrested the two drivers. On searching the sources. of drugs over the past 24 hours, said security sources. The sources cars, the force found the drugs and ammo. In addition, on check- added that a police patrol suspected an Asian in Midan Hawalli ing on the two cars, they turned out to be wanted for being used Fake detective and on stopping him he was found wanted in many cases. in robberies in Shuwaikh industrial area. A citizen was recently arrested at the airport for impersonating as Searching him, policemen found a bag of ICE. Another patrol a police detective, said security sources. Case papers indicate that air- arrested an Asian and an Iranian in a parking lot at a Salmiya shop- Fire in Kabd port security had suspected the man for wearing a security agent’s ping mall where they were found inebriated. The force found ICE A fire recently broke out at a Kabd stable, said security sources vest and using an outdated badge that is not in use anymore. On with the suspects. In a separate incident, a citizen was stopped at noting that firefighters from Kabd brigade rushed to the scene and stopping him, the suspect claimed to be working for the forgery the Blajat road in Salmiya as he was walking awkwardly and on managed to control the fire without casualties. Initial reports showed department and that he was at the airport on a mission. Searching reaching him, he had ICE on him as well. that the fire spread from a nearby kitchen where lunch was being his car, policemen found fake money and found out that his car had Three Egyptians were arrested in Hawally with possession of six prepared. been rented and that he used a stolen license plate number on it. A bars of hashish, a bag of ICE and cash, said security sources noting case was filed and the suspect was referred to relevant authorities. that the suspects were referred to relevant authorities. Bedoon stolen A Syrian and Jordanian were arrested in Hawalli, said security A bedoon reported that KD 930 in cash and a mobile phone had sources noting that a police patrol had suspected the two on spot- been stolen from his car, said security sources. In his report, the man Over 40C temperature, ting them standing with a motorcyclist on his bike behind a build- stated that on getting out in the morning he found his car windows ing. The sources added that on approaching the three, the motor- smashed and a wallet with money missing in addition to the mobile cyclist dashed away leaving the other two suspects with the pos- phone. dusty weather forecast session of two bags of ICE, three bags of ‘chemical’ drug and KD1,049 in cash. A case was filed and further investigations are in Absconder arrested KUWAIT: The manager of the meteorology department, progress. An Asian absconder was arrested at Kuwait airport on arrival from Mohammed Karam forecast a rise in temperatures of up to Three bdoons and a Saudi were recently arrested in Salmiya a GCC state, said security sources. The man was found wanted on 41 Degrees Celsius with high humidity on coastal areas. He with the possession of a piece of hashish and two joints. checking at the passport control as he tried to check in. He was also forecast moderate wind-speed of 12-35 kilometer/hour A citizen was arrested in Mubarak Al-Kabeer with the posses- immediately arrested and referred to relevant authorities. and light to moderate waves of 2-5 feet height during the sion of ICE and a ready-to use heroin syringe, said security sources weekend. However, Karam also forecast that there would be noting that a police patrol had suspected the way the suspect Asian violator a shift in winds early today when relatively cold northeasterly drove his car. On stopping and searching him, the drugs were Another Asian was arrested in Sharq for violating residency laws. winds with speed of 22-45 kilometers /hour would blow found. The 28-year-old suspect was stopped by a patrol and on checking on causing a dusty wather, especially on the outskirts of the city A citizen and a bedoon were arrested at Arhaya desert with the his ID, he was found in violation of the residency law. and open areas. “This condition is forecast to last till the possession of 28 psychotropic pills, a bag of ICE and three loaded beginning of next week”, he said noting that this time of the gun magazines, said security sources. Case papers indicate that Expat rescued year is locally known as the ‘warm spring’. — Al-Watan responding to a report about two cars suspiciously parked off the An Arab expat in his twenties was rescued recently after he was LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Audit Bureau ‘detects’ Speaker: GCC crisis financial violations ‘nearly’ resolved KUWAIT: Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al- Ghanem stated that he received positive information about MP cites irregularities in balance-sheet for 2012-13 the imminent solution to the GCC crisis. He praised HH the Amir for the crucial role he played in bridging the gulf between KUWAIT: The parliamentary budgets and balance-sheet the cabinet’s secretariat general within Al-Seif Palace the Gulf states over certain issues. Speaking to reporters, Al- committee said that the Audit Bureau detected some where some official signed KD 4.5 million worth of con- Ghanem said that the efforts HH the Amir initiated during the financial violations in the Cabinet’s balance-sheet for the tracts without being authorized to do so. Arab Summit recently in Kuwait are becoming fruitful. He fiscal year 2012-2013. Abdul Samad also said that some of the outgoing gov- wished that safety and security would prevail in all GCC states In this regard, the Committee Chairman, MP Adnan ernors were still doing their jobs despite the conclusion of and said what happened was just another ‘summer cloud’. Abdul Samad gave an example of the violations men- their tenures and that the Cabinet had been paying Oman’s foreign affairs minister, Yousif Bin Alawi stated that tioned in the Audit Bureau report by spending a million bonuses and allowances with a total value of KD 15,1000. the crisis over the recalling of ambassadors by Saudi Arabia, dinars on special assignment without showing enough Abdul Samad said that the fingerprint working hours’ the UAE and Bahrain from Qatar was over and that it has documents on how the sum was spent. “It is a violation of monitoring system was not activated at the Governorates become a thing of the past. Bin Alawi added that the crisis was Article 52 of the Audit Bureau’s law”, he said adding that Supreme Council where over 600 employees were regis- resolved from within the GCC ‘House’ without allowing any other violations have also been detected in a contract of tered and many of them do not even show up to work. interference from non-GCC parties. “What happened was a dis- supplying, installing and operating devices and software Abdul Samad added that the Cabinet secretariat general agreement of the kind that happens amongst brothers that for the central tenders committee with a total value of KD officials had been notified and asked to attend a meeting soon gets resolved”, he stressed underlining that GCC states’ 6,10,000. with the Audit Bureau and present the required docu- interrelations were all clear and that GCC states would always Further, Abdul Samad said that violations were also ments and statistics needed to explain how their expendi- reach out to other Arab brotherly countries with assistance and detected in the construction carried out at the building of tures were approved. —Al-Watan aids. — Al-Anbaa US Ambassador bids farewell to Kuwait

KUWAIT: The US Ambassador to Kuwait, process was too complicated, especially consid- Matthew Tueller recently stressed that US- ering that there were detainees from various Kuwait relations were strong on both public and countries detained in it. This calls for more coor- official levels and that 1990 was a major turning dination with the concerned authorities in each point of bilateral relations between both coun- of them. “I cannot say more about the develop- tries, namely during the Iraqi invasion. ments regarding this issue but I assure you that “However, those relations go way back in history much progress has been achieved towards the to 1912 when a US medical mission arrived to ultimate goal of returning the Kuwaiti detainees Kuwait to inaugurate the first American hospi- home”, he underlined. tal”, he stressed. Further, Tueller said that commercial Speaking to reporters during a press confer- exchanges between the US and Kuwait had ence held on the occasion of the end of his increased by 167 per cent since he started his tenure in Kuwait Tueller stressed that Kuwaiti tenure in Kuwait, which is one of the most students had been studying in American univer- important economies in the region. sities for over 50 years and that both countries Tueller also stressed that Kuwait has its val- cooperate in various fields including medicine ues and traditions and that it has a constitu- KUWAIT: Iman Ereiqat and Ali Al-Rayes shake hands after signing the MoU. and education. Tueller’s next post will be as an tion that values the rights of women and that ambassador of the US in Yemen. this was clear in granting women the rights to IOM Kuwait, GCC institution Tueller added that representing his country vote and be elected in parliamentary elec- in Kuwait was a great honor. He said that this tions and assuming many senior official posi- celebrate signing of MoU had been his third tenure in Kuwait as he had tions. — Al-Anbaa been previously posted in Kuwait in the period between 1991-1994 and 2004-2007. His last KUWAIT: The International Organization for methodologies and best practices for the imple- tenure was from 2011 to 2014. “I witnessed so Migration (IOM) in Kuwait and the Gulf mentation of media awareness projects that aim many changes in Kuwait during these periods”, Cooperation Council Joint Program Production to serve the community and embody the objec- stressed Tueller noting that Kuwaiti youth have Institution celebrated the signing of a memoran- tive of this agreement.” strong ambitions and determination to work on dum of understanding between the two during Ali Al-Rayes, General Manager of GCCJPPI, building a better future for Kuwait. a press conference held on April 17 at the United elaborated, “We are very pleased to sign this Commenting on regional developments, Nations House in Kuwait. cooperation agreement, which will allow us to Tueller said that the region has been witnessing “Building on our close partnership and effec- better work hand-in-hand to serve the commu- considerable changes and that together with tive cooperation with all stakeholders, we at IOM nity and the region, and we see this is an oppor- Kuwait, his government had worked on securing are delighted to announce the expansion of our tunity to expand cooperation overlooking a safer life for the people in the region and in circle of partners through the signing of a mem- regional presence on the international platform fulfilling their aspirations. He also noted that his orandum of understanding (MoU) with the GCC across through IOM’s esteemed organization.” successor had served for several years in the Joint Program Production Institution, a regional The International Organization for Migration region and that he would be keen on resuming media organization and the only one of its kind (IOM) is an inter-governmental organization and boosting the bilateral relations between the with an aim to cater to the educational and established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1951. IOM two countries. social needs of the Arab region,” stated IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly Responding to a question about the Kuwaiti Kuwait Chief of Mission Iman Ereiqat. migration for the benefit of all. It does so by pro- detainees at Guantanamo, Tueller stressed the “To enhance and utilize this partnership,” viding services and consultation to governments commitment of US president Obama to close Ereiqat continued, “IOM and GCCJPPI will be and NGOs in the fields of human rights, counter- down Gitmo. He further explained that the holding several meetings to discuss and share trafficking, and labor migration, among others. US Ambassador Matthew Tueller MoE weighs new norms for teachers’ promotions

KUWAIT: The Minister of Education and Higher Education, the CSC. Speaking to reporters, MoE official spokesperson, address the CSC to get the final approval. Talking about the Ahmed Al-Mulaifi said that the ministry was currently studying a Dhaidhan Al-Ajmi said that after consulting various subjects, the recent fire in Um Al-Qura School in Abu Halifa recently, he comprehensive project that links teachers’ promotion to the ministry has agreed on a minimum number of classes the teach- remarked that the fire was the result of an electrical short circuit. number of hours they put in for tutoring. The proposal is pend- ers have to take per week taking into consideration the nature However, Al-Ajmi said that Minister Ahmed Al-Mulaifi had ing a final approval by the council of MOE undersecretaries and and needs of each subject. He added that the council agreed to ordered an investigation into the fire. — Al-Watan LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

BAYT.COM AND YOUGOV SURVEY Kuwait economy to remain stable

45% in Kuwait expect their personal financial situation to improve

KUWAIT: The latest Bayt.com Middle East and economy, believing that it has mostly Current job perspective position, though at least three in 10 (25 per- North Africa Consumer Confidence Index sur- improved in the last 6 months. However, Regional sentiment cent) report being unhappy with their salary vey, conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s countries in the Levant and North Africa are There is a near even three-way split across and allowances. number one job site, and YouGov, the less positive, with those in the Levant in par- the region in regards to the change in the ‘Despite a regional consensus on a propor- region’s reputed research and consulting ticular, believing that their country’s eco- number of employees within respondents’ tional rise in the cost of living, positive senti- organization, has revealed that while 45 per- nomic situation has dramatically receded companies in the last 6 months; 30 percent ment across the region, particularly in the cent of Kuwait respondents share a positive when compared to the economy of 6 months state there has been an increase in employ- GCC countries and more recently among sentiment that their personal financial posi- ago. The Levant countries are also less posi- ees, 30 percent state there has been a North African states, can be seen,’ said Suhail tion will improve in the next 6 months, 83 tive about the future of their economy, with decrease, and 34 percent state there has Al-Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com. ‘An increased percent also expect the cost of living to the majority of respondents holding the been no change. In the next 6 months, slight- cost of living may negatively impact con- increase within the same time period. belief that things will get worse. ly more than one third (35 percent) anticipate sumers’ ability to live comfortably and save, Across the region, overall 50 percent of their organization to grow, while a similar affecting the overall morale and job satisfac- Regional sentiment those surveyed are optimistic about the number (35 percent) expect the workforce to tion of the MENA employee. In fact, we have Across the region, less than a fifth (17 per- future business conditions in their respective remain the same. recorded a particular dissatisfaction with cent) of those surveyed are of the opinion countries. Respondents are also relatively evenly salary and allowances that should be that their personal financial situation has This sentiment is much stronger amongst split in terms of their level of satisfaction with addressed by employers across the region in improved, compared to 6 months ago. GCC residents (average of 62 percent) and respect to career growth opportunities, with order to avoid a situation in which talent However, for 39 percent it has remained the weakest across the Levant region (average of 38 percent satisfied and 41 percent dissatis- could migrate elsewhere. We believe that this same and 37 percent state that their situation has declined. This has affected the savings of 58 percent who report seeing a decrease in their savings in comparison to last year. Four in 10(39 percent) are optimistic that in the next 6 months things will get better for them, even though 78 percent anticipate the cost of living to increase. Almost a third (30 percent) of respondents in the MENA region plan to buy a vehicle for personal use in the next 12 months, with 49 percent preferring to buy a used vehicle over the 44 percent who will seek a new one. Nearly a fifth (19 percent) is planning to invest in property within the same period, with new apartments being the most popular consider- ation for purchase. The top three consumer goods purchases that respondents plan to make include desk- top or laptop computers (26 percent), furni- ture (18 percent), and LCD or plasma televi- sions (16 percent).

In Kuwait In Kuwait, 17 percent report that their financial position has improved in the last 6 months, with a further five in 10 (49 percent) claiming there has been no change, while25 percent have seen a decline. More than half (51 percent) claim that their savings have decreased compared to 12 months ago. The outlook is positive however, with 45 percent anticipating their financial situation to change KUWAIT: A general view of downtown Kuwait. for the better within the coming 6 months, despite the expected increase in cost of living 27 percent). fied with the opportunities available to them. is absolutely doable, especially when you within the same period among eight in 10(83 The state of business conditions reflects Compensation is considered to be unsatisfac- know that the majority of MENA respondents percent) living in Kuwait. the regional opinion of job availability; tory by 53 percent of the region’s respon- expect business conditions to get better in a Among the 36 percent who are consider- respondents in GCC countries believe that dents. However, when it comes to non-mon- year’s time.’ ing buying a vehicle for personal use in the there are plenty of job opportunities, whereas etary benefits received, 42 percent are satis- ‘At Bayt.com, we conduct our Middle East next 12 months, six in 10 (60 percent) would those in the Levant and North Africa believe fied and 41 percent claim being dissatisfied. and North Africa Consumer Confidence Index prefer a used vehicle. A quarter (23 percent) the opposite to be true. Respondents in the The opinion about job security is also split surveys in order to understand and chart plans to invest in property within the next 12 GCC are also more positive about an increase evenly, with 40 percent being satisfied with changing confidence levels as well as chal- months. Amongst property investors, 47 per- in the number of jobs in the next 6 months. their level of job security and another 39 per- lenges and pressures as the region goes cent will look for newly-built properties, and cent unsatisfied. through different economic cycles. Our 41 percent will opt for apartments. In Kuwait research aims to provide employers and job- Respondents in Kuwait are interested in Two in 10 Kuwait respondents (21 percent) In Kuwait seekers alike with up-to-date information buying desktop or laptop computers (21 per- state that the country’s economy has With 39 percent of respondents stating that is both relevant and reliable to use as a cent), furniture (20 percent) and LCD or plas- improved in the last 6 months - a trend that that there are more employees working with reference for better decision making,’ added ma televisions (13 percent) in the next 6 40 percent believe will continue in the 6 them now than half a year ago, it suggests Al-Masri. months. months to come. Business conditions are con- that companies in Kuwait have been hiring in Suhail Shaikh, Director, YouGov stated: sidered to be good to very good by 44 per- the past 6 months. This trend will continue as ‘Although some countries in the region, such Country’s economic situation cent of respondents, with six in 10 (58 per- half of Kuwait respondents (46 percent) as those in the GCC, are more likely to see fur- Regional sentiment cent) claiming that things will become even expect to have more colleagues in the com- ther economic buoyancy, the rising cost of There is a significant split within the better in a year’s time. ing 6 months. living will be a major hurdle for most in the regions of the MENA when it comes to There are few of jobs available in Kuwait Kuwait respondents are content with the MENA region. People in the Levant and North respondents’ evaluation of the economy in according to 45 percent of respondents, with career growth opportunities (43 percent), Africaare more likely to feel the financial bur- their country of residence. In the GCC, the hope of more openings to appear in the non-monetary benefits (39 percent), and lev- den as their economies battle against the respondents are generally positive about the coming 6 months (as stated by 30 percent). el of job security (43 percent) in their current socio-political uncertainties.’ Available at The Sultan Centre & Carrefour

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Bouteflika wins Ukraine separatists Vice-principal of S Korea re-election 9 reject deal to disarm 10 school commits suicide 11

KATHMANDU: Nepalese mountaineer, Dawa Tashi Sherpa, survivor of an avalanche on Mount Everest, lies in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Grandi International Hospital yesterday. — AFP Avalanche in Everest kills 12

KATHMANDU: At least 12 Nepalese guides preparing routes “I wanted to run but there was no time, we were just risks borne by Sherpas, who carry tents, bring food supplies, up Mount Everest for commercial climbers were killed yester- trapped,” the 22-year-old guide said. The force of the ava- repair ladders and fix ropes to help foreign climbers who pay day by an avalanche in the deadliest mountaineering accident lanche fractured Sherpa’s ribs, broke his shoulder blades and tens of thousands of dollars to summit the peak. ever on the world’s highest peak, officials said. The men were left him buried in neck-deep snow, before rescuers found him A government statement said Dorje Khatri, vice president among a large party of Sherpas who left Everest base camp and had him airlifted to the capital. Kathmandu-based expert of a trekking workers’ union who had summated Everest at before dawn, carrying tents, food and ropes, in an early morn- Elizabeth Hawley, considered the world’s leading authority on least eight times, was among those killed. Two years ago, ing expedition ahead of the main climbing season starting lat- Himalayan climbing, said the avalanche was the most deadly Karsang Namgyal Sherpa, an experienced climber who scaled er this month. Four were still missing, tourism officials said, single accident in the history of mountaineering on the peak. the peak several times, died on the mountain, apparently due while one rescuer at the scene said he expected the death toll The previous worst accident on Everest occurred in 1996 to altitude sickness. to rise by at least three after other bodies were spotted. when eight people were killed during a storm while attempt- More than 300 people have died on Everest since the first The avalanche occurred at around 6:45 am (0100 GMT) at ing to summit the mountain, first conquered in 1953 by Sir summit in 1953. Nepal’s worst-ever climbing disaster hap- an altitude of about 5,800 meters (19,000 feet) — in an area Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The 1996 tragedy was pened in 1995 when an avalanche struck the camp of a nicknamed the “popcorn field” due to ice boulders on the immortalized in the best-selling book “Into Thin Air” by US Japanese trekking group near Mount Everest, killing 42 people route leading into the treacherous Khumbu icefall. “We have mountaineering journalist Jon Krakauer and now is the sub- including 13 Japanese. The impoverished Himalayan country retrieved 12 bodies from the snow,” Nepal tourism ministry ject of a Hollywood film under production. “This is the is home to eight of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters. official Dipendra Paudel told AFP in Kathmandu. absolutely the worst disaster on Everest, no question,” Hawley Nepal’s government has issued permits to 734 people, Deteriorating weather conditions forced rescuers to sus- told AFP. including 400 guides, to climb Everest this summer. To pend searches for the missing until today morning, Paudel address worries about overcrowding on the “roof of the said. “We do not want to risk another accident,” he said. Aided Risks for Sherpas world”, the government earlier announced plans to double by rescue helicopters, at least seven people were plucked Every summer, hundreds of climbers from around the the number of climbing ropes on congested ice walls near the alive from the mountain and the injured were sent to hospital world attempt to scale peaks in the Himalayas when weather summit of Everest to reduce risks for climbers. Authorities are in the capital. One survivor said dozens of guides were on the conditions are ideal. In the past, some accidents have been also stationing soldiers and police at Everest base camp so move when the avalanche hit. “It came out of nowhere, this blamed on overcrowding or on ill-prepared commercial climbers can approach officers in case of any trouble following huge block of ice that fell from above, flying right at us,” Dawa climbers taking unnecessary risks to reach the summit before a brawl between commercial climbers and Nepalese guides Tashi Sherpa told AFP from his hospital bed in Kathmandu. returning home. Yesterday’s accident underscores the huge last year. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Scandal-hit advisor quits in fresh blow to Hollande

CLERMONT-FERRAND: A senior adviser behave in line with that,” Hollande told appointment for left-wing voters,” said ken any laws and Morelle wrote in his to French President Francois Hollande reporters. Dominique Wolton, a political scientist resignation letter to Hollande that he quit yesterday over accusations of past With a jobless rate above 10 percent, at the CNRS public research institute. would seek to defend himself against conflict of interest linked to his work for Hollande’s approval score is the lowest “You cannot ask an entire country to the accusations. Details of the report pharmaceutical firms, adding to pres- of any French leader in the last 50 years make enormous savings while showing are likely to embarrass Hollande’s sure on the unpopular Socialist leader and polls suggest he could lose badly to a different image at the highest level of Socialists. Mediapart said Morelle had weeks before European elections. conservatives and the far-right National government.” Morelle, 51, said in a led a high-flying lifestyle at taxpayers’ Aquilino Morelle, Hollande’s chief com- Front in May’s European Parliament elec- Facebook post on Thursday that he expense, including using Elysee Palace munications adviser, speechwriter and a tion. He is also facing mounting tension had obtained authorization from the chauffeurs for personal errands, order- main political strategist, has denied within his party over a 50 billion-euro IGAS public health inspection body in ing excessive amounts of fine wines investigative website Mediapart’s report package of budget cuts designed to 2007 for outside work with Danish from the palace cellar, having his office that he had failed to obtain clearance for help Paris meets its EU commitment to pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, redecorated several times and having a lobbying work when he was an employ- shrink France’s public sector debt. The for which Medipart said he had earned shoe-shine man visit his office. ee of the public health inspectorate. latest scandal further undermines 12,500 euros ($17,300). Morelle wrote on Facebook that due The furore deals another blow to Hollande’s 2012 campaign pledge to run However, IGAS said in a statement it to his workload he had at times asked Hollande after heavy losses for his party an “exemplary Republic”, already hurt had no record of authorizing collabora- drivers to fetch his children from in town hall elections at the end of when his former budget minister, tion with drugs firms in recent years. school, without responding to the oth- March. Hollande said his aide had “taken Jerome Cahuzac, resigned over revela- Mediapart said Morelle, while at IGAS, er issues. The HATVP, a recently created the only option open to him”. “My judg- tions that he had secret bank accounts in had “worked in secret for pharmaceuti- watchdog in charge of ensuring trans- ment was that there can be no room for Switzerland. cal laboratories”, including arranging parency in public life, said it would confusion, as impartiality and independ- meetings between Lundbeck and peo- open an investigation into Morelle’s ence are principles that I have always Disappointment ple involved in pricing drugs in France. public declaration of interests and advocated, and everyone needs to “This is going to be a profound dis- The report did not suggest he had bro- assets.— Reuters Turkish prez rules out role swap with Erdogan Erdogan expected to run for presidency ANKARA: Turkey’s president appeared to rule nal rules on three-term limits. Gul could then out a job swap with Prime Minister Tayyip remain as president. Erdogan when his term as head of state ends in “If Erdogan doesn’t give up on going (for the a few months, signaling strains between the presidency), Gul won’t go against him. But not allies following months of political tension. going against him doesn’t mean he would let President Abdullah Gul’s comments yesterday himself be crushed politically,” said Eyup Can, threw open the question of who might succeed editor of the liberal daily Radikal. “Gul is not say- Erdogan if he runs for president in an August ing farewell to politics. On the contrary, he is election as expected, and raised the prospect of conducting ‘hardcore politics’,” he said, seeing him picking a close loyalist to cement his grip Gul’s words as a warning to Erdogan not to on power. force his presidential ambitions. The president has until now been chosen by While Erdogan and Gul have been close allies ALEPPO: A Syrian man carries a wounded child following a reported barrel bombing yes- parliament and played a largely ceremonial role, during their political careers, they have terday. — AFP but August’s election will be the first direct vote appeared to fall out on occasions. Last month, for the post. Erdogan has said that will give the Gul openly contradicted the prime minister by presidency more authority, and has vowed to dismissing suggestions that outside forces were 14 killed in car exercise its full powers if elected. Gul co-found- conspiring against Turkey in a corruption scan- ed the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party with dal which has shaken Erdogan’s government Erdogan and had been seen as a potential since last December. Gul was also at odds with bombing in Homs future prime minister should Erdogan, who has Erdogan over bans on social media sites such as dominated Turkish politics for more than a Twitter, Facebook and YouTube , after the pre- decade, become head of state. mier suggested they should be shut to stop a BEIRUT: A powerful car bomb exploded yes- city often referred to as the capital of the rev- A more conciliatory figure than the prime stream of leaked recordings fuelling the scandal. terday outside a mosque in a pro-govern- olution, is the last major stronghold for rebels minister, Gul has been seen as a check on Twitter was blocked by the authorities for two ment district of central Syria, killing 14 people in central Syria, and the fight to take it under- Erdogan’s authoritarian impulses, although their weeks, while access to YouTube remains in the latest violence to hit the war-shattered scores how emboldened Syrian forces have relations have grown increasingly strained. “I blocked. city, state-run Syrian television reported. The become in opposition-held areas, bolstered don’t have any political plan for the future bombing occurred as worshippers left the by fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militant under today’s conditions,” Gul told reporters in Executive ambitions Bilal Al-Habshi mosque on the edge of group Hezbollah. Activists say more than the western province of Kutahya, when asked Erdogan had long wanted to change the Akrama after attending Friday prayers, the 150,000 people have been killed in the Syrian about the presidential election. constitution and create an executive presidency, conflict since it began in March 2011 with report said, and also wounded at least 50 Asked if a “Putin-Medvedev model” was con- but political opposition to such a move has largely peaceful protests calling for Assad’s people. The area, populated mainly by ceivable, Gul said such a formula would not be checked those plans for now. Gul’s absence ouster. The larger fight to topple Assad has Alawites, members of President Bashar “appropriate” for a democracy but did not elab- could pave the way for a more malleable figure been undermined by fierce rebel infighting, orate. Russia’s current Prime Minister Dmitry to assume the post of prime minister should Assad’s minority sect, repeatedly has been particularly since the beginning of the year. Medvedev replaced Vladimir Putin as president Erdogan win the presidency, enabling him to targeted by car bombs in recent months. In an audio message posted on militant in 2008, while Putin became prime minister. shift the balance of power towards the head of Opposition activists also reported the blast. websites late Thursday, the spokesman of a They swapped roles in 2012. Erdogan told state even without a full presidential system. AK The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said powerful Al-Qaeda breakaway group, the reporters after Friday prayers he had not heard Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ali Sahin, seen the explosion killed at least nine people, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, slammed Gul’s words and would not comment before as staunch Erdogan loyalist and a fellow party adding that the number likely would rise the terror network’s chief, blaming him for because many of the wounded were in critical the widening rift between rival Islamic rebels. speaking with him. founder, has been mooted as the most likely can- condition. Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani accused Al- didate. In the longer term, Erdogan looks unlikely The attack coincides with a crushing offen- Qaeda’s top leader, Ayman Al-Zawahri, of Strains to abandon his ambition to create a full presiden- sive by government forces aimed at retaking “deviating from the right approach” and A majority of deputies in the AK Party voted tial system. He confirmed yesterday that the AK the last rebel bastions in the historic quarters betraying the cause of jihad, or holy war. in a secret ballot on Wednesday in favor of an Party is preparing a draft law to change the of the old city of Homs. The last few days has Since January, the Islamic State has been Erdogan presidential bid. Senior party officials nationwide electoral system, a move which could seen some of the fiercest fighting there in engaged in fierce fighting against an Al- have said Gul would be highly unlikely to try to increase its majority in parliament and make it months, and the government claimed more Qaeda affiliate called the Nusra Front. run against him, a possibility the president also easier to drive through constitutional changes. progress yesterday. A military official quoted Thousands of fighters have been killed. The seemed to rule out yesterday. But Erdogan, who Senior AK Party officials said the proposed system by the state-run news agency said troops fighting intensified after al-Zawahri stepped has failed to push through the constitutional would eliminate the current 10 percent threshold seized several buildings in the Wadi Al-Sayeh into the rivalry. The Islamic State rejected his changes he wanted to create an executive presi- of votes needed for a party to enter parliament, area, including the landmark St George orders that the Nusra Front take the lead dency in Turkey, could also seek a fourth term as among the highest in the world, and redefine church.The old neighborhoods of Homs, a among Islamic fighters in Syria.—AP prime minister if the AK Party changed its inter- electoral boundaries. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Powerful earthquake rattles Mexico

MEXICO CITY: A powerful earthquake and small parts of masonry crumbled doorman working in central Mexico building. “The structure is fine,” the struck Mexico yesterday, shaking build- inside apartment buildings. City. The USGS said the quake was cen- woman, who identified herself only as ings in the capital and sending people Luis Felipe Puente, head of the tered some 37 km (23 miles) north of Ana, said by telephone. Cesar Sanchez, running out into the street, although Mexican government’s emergency the municipality of Tecpan de Galeana 24, a student living in Guerrero’s capital there were no early reports of major services, said there were no immedi- in Guerrero. It was relatively shallow, at Chilpancingo said he got a big shock damage. The magnitude 7.2 quake was ate reports of damage and the US a depth of about 24 km (15 miles). when the tremors began. “I was in bed, centered in the southwestern state of Pacific Warning Center said it did not Emergency services in Guerrero, which and some things fell that have never Guerrero, close to the Pacific beach expect the quake to trigger a destruc- is frequently struck by earthquakes, said fallen. The dogs outside were barking resort of Acapulco, the US Geological tive tsunami. Nevertheless, residents there were no immediate reports of and barking,” Sanchez said. A devastat- Survey (USGS) said. Some residents of of the capital were shaken by the major damage, but that checks were ing 8.1-magnitude earthquake in 1985 the capital ran outdoors in their paja- quake, one of the biggest to hit still being made. killed thousands of people in Mexico mas after the quake. Electricity was cut Mexico in several years. An employee of the Fairmont hotel City. In March 2012, a 7.4 magnitude off in parts of the city and some resi- “I had to hold on to a tree, like a in Acapulco, said the situation was calm quake hit Mexico but did not cause dents said paintings fell off the walls drunk,” said Pedro Hernandez, 68, a and that guests had returned to the major damage. — Reuters

Egypt’s once-feared police on guard against ‘unseen enemy’

CAIRO: Colonel Amr has forbidden his family to discuss his police work; with militants relentlessly targeting Egypt’s security forces he remains perpetually on guard against what he says is “an unseen enemy”. “Every day one of our colleagues becomes a martyr,” says Colonel Amr, a stout man in his 40s. Since the military deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, militants have increasingly singled out members of Egypt’s once-feared security forces for attack. Official figures show that more than 500 people-mostly policemen and soldiers-have been killed in bombing and shooting assaults by militants since that date. The attacks, many of them brazenly in broad daylight, have been car- ried out in the restive northern Sinai, where an Islamist militancy is growing rapidly, as well as in the Nile Delta and in the capital Cairo. The killings are generally claimed by jihadist groups who say they are in retaliation for a bru- tal police crackdown on Morsi’s supporters, which has left more than 1,400 people dead. As with a number of police officers interviewed by AFP Amr, who has been in service for 25 years, refused to dis- close personal details and agreed to reveal only his first name. Policemen have been living in “anxiety and ten- sion” since the ouster of Morsi, he says, adding that his police station was in central Cairo, an area that has wit- ALGIERS: A supporter of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika holds up posters bearing his portrait as he celebrates in nessed several attacks in the past few months. Algiers yesterday. — AFP Egypt’s police, feared for decades, had faced massive public anger during the uprising against veteran president Hosni Mubarak in early 2011. It managed to rehabilitate Bouteflika wins re-election itself in the eyes of the public by pursuing supporters of the unpopular Morsi in the wake of his ouster, but in doing so incurred the wrath of militants. Jihadist groups Opposition boycotts polls, foes cry fraud such as the Sinai-based Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis have claimed most of the attacks against the security forces. ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the aging inde- magnates and army generals - known as “Le Pouvoir” or “The pendence veteran who has been in power for 15 years, has won re- Power”, in French - manages politics in behind-the-scenes negotia- ‘Fighting an unseen enemy’ election with 81.53 percent of the vote, according to official prelim- tions and see themselves as guardians of status quo. Bouteflika in Amr says the toughest part “is fighting an unseen ene- inary election results issued yesterday. Bouteflika, 77, had been the past had said it was time for his generation to step aside, but my whose strength we don’t know”. The authorities blame widely expected to win a fourth term, even though he appeared his appearance in a wheelchair at a polling station was a striking Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood for the attacks and have des- only rarely since a stroke last year. Opposition parties boycotted image for many Algerians. ignated it as a “terrorist group”. The Muslim Brotherhood, the vote or denounced Thursday’s election as a fraud. “It came as a shock to see a man sitting in a wheelchair to vote which swept all elections since the fall of Hosni Mubarak, Loyalists praise him for helping bring the country out of a 1990s while seeking to run a large country for five years. It’s not good for denies this and regularly condemns attacks targeting war with Islamists that killed 200,000 people and many Algerians the image of Algeria,” said Mohamed, a 26-year-old university stu- security forces. Amr is not alone in his caution-his entire are fearful of the sort of turmoil that has swept neighboring Tunisia, dent. Algeria mostly escaped the “Arab Spring” unrest that has top- unit, based in a police post on the banks of the Nile, has Egypt and Libya since their “Arab Spring” revolts in 2011. “It will be pled long-standing leaders in the region. become more vigilant. Bouteflika, there won’t be any change,” said Abdelkiem, waiting in Some Algerians point to the 1980s when the FLN opened up It has removed all identification signs from the building an Algiers barbershop. one-party rule to opposition and brought an Islamist party close to and becomes extra-cautious on a Friday, when pro-Morsi “Algerians vote for stability. They are worried about change, we election victory. protesters pass by on their way to stage public rallies, already passed through that before.” Six opposition parties boy- The FLN suspended the vote, and the country slipped into more which often degenerate into street clashes with security cotted Thursday’s vote, saying it would not reform a system mostly than a decade of war. Riots and protests are common among forces. Amr has even repainted the police-supplied car closed to change since the FLN’s one-party rule in the early post- younger Algerians frustrated over joblessness, economic opportu- used by his family. “It was blue, now it is white because I independence years. Voting passed mostly peacefully, but in two nities and housing shortages. was afraid it could be set on fire or attacked when my villages east of Algiers, gendarmerie troops fired tear gas and A small movement, called Barakat or “Enough” in local dialect, family was travelling in it,” he says. “I also removed all clashed with youths who tried to disrupt voting. emerged after Bouteflika’s re-election bid to call for peaceful signs that were displayed on my own police car.” His wife “There has been a violation of the will of the people,” change. But large-scale political protests are rare. With around $200 Noha is also worried. “I don’t introduce myself anymore as Bouteflika’s main rival and former ally Ali Benflis said on Thursday, billion in foreign reserves from energy sales, Bouteflika spent heavi- officer Amr’s wife, especially to strangers, or when I order saying he would not accept what he dismissed as a fraud. “I com- ly in 2011 on subsidies, cheap credits and housing to calm rioting something on the phone”, she says, adding that her hus- pletely reject these results.” Bouteflika won 90 percent of the vote over food prices. Analysts say that after years of state-controlled band’s title once used to be “a source of pride” in a coun- in 2009 and 85 percent in 2004, when Benflis alleged fraud on an policies, the OPEC member state needs reforms to open up its try where police were feared. —AFP “industrial” scale. economy to more foreign investment and attract more big oil oper- Many Algerians say an ageing elite of FLN leaders, business ators to revive its stagnant energy production. —Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Nigeria admits kidnapped school girls still missing

MAIDUGURI: The Nigerian military admitted yesterday escaped from the Islamists. “At the moment we have were free, residents said. Others decided to scour the that most of the 129 girls abducted by Boko Haram taken custody of 30 girls,” Mallam Inuwa Kubo said in a remote area in a desperate search for girls who may Islamists in a shocking school raid in the country’s statement. “The aim is for us to take proper account of have escaped. “Some of our parents are even combing restive northeast remained missing. A security source our 129 students who were at the hostel on the day of the bush,” Kwambura said, adding that families had said there were fears the girls were being used as that unfortunate attack,” he said. pooled money to buy fuel for motorcycles and other human shields or sex slaves by the Islamists. “By our records, of 129 students at the hostel at the vehicles to help with the search. Boko Haram’s name The military had claimed on Wednesday that all but time of that unfortunate incident, we are expecting loosely translates as “Western education is forbidden” eight of the girls snatched from their school in the state the return of about 99 students.” The mass abduction and the group has repeatedly attacked schools and uni- of Borno managed to escape the gunmen’s clutches, sparked global outrage and came just hours after the versities. Students have been massacred in their dormi- contrary to comments by the state government and the deadliest attack to hit the capital Abuja, where a tories and bombs set off at university campuses, but the school principal. “The defense headquarters wishes to bomb blast also blamed on Boko Haram killed at least mass abduction specifically targeting girls is unprece- defer to the school principal and governor’s statement 75 people. dented. A top security officer said the girls might have on the number of students still missing,” defense min- been abducted by the Islamists to serve as human istry spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement. Parents scour bush shields, domestic helpers and sex slaves. He said vigilante groups and hunters were assisting Boko Haram’s extremist uprising, aimed at creating a “The terrorists are desperate for survival. The military the authorities in the frantic search for the girls, who strict Islamic state in northern Nigeria, has killed thou- offensive is taking a heavy toll on their rank and file,” the were grabbed from the Government Girls Secondary sands of people since 2009. Parents of the missing girls officer, who did not want to be named, told AFP. “The School in the Chibok area of Borno late Monday. Borno swarmed the home of Chibok’s tribal chief on Thursday, female hostages are being used as shield during battles state education commissioner said that 30 girls had now demanding answers after the military claimed the girls with the military.—AFP

Russia’s culture policy is weapon against West MOSCOW: The Kremlin is preparing a new culture policy for Russia focusing on its distinctive civilization and traditional val- ues, which observers say has political ends amid Moscow’s stand- off with the West. At the end of four hours of questions Thursday in his annual call-in, President Vladimir Putin waxed philosophical on what it means to be Russian. Russians not only have their own “cultural code,” he said, they also have a unique moral outlook- unlike Westerners, Russians are selfless and prone to self-sacrifice. “These are the deep roots of our patriotism,” Putin said. Tapping into perceived “traditional cultural values” of Russian civ- ilization, the culture ministry is drawing up a government strate- gy that observers say has all the trappings of a new state ideolo- gy, echoing Soviet legacy. The authors preparing the document, who are kept secret, believe that such a policy must be based on the thesis that “Russia is not Europe” and generously quote from Putin’s speeches. The policy states Russia is at a historical crossroads and must make a choice between cultural extinction or the preservation of SLAVIANSK: A man wearing military fatigue stands guard outside a regional administration building seized by pro- its unique “moral and spiritual foundations,” which can only be Russian separatists yesterday. — AFP done with a “state culture policy.” An early version of the docu- ment has been leaked to the press and is currently being exam- ined by a Kremlin working group chaired by one of President Ukraine separatists Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, chief of staff Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB agent recently blacklisted by the United States. “Russia is an ancient, independent, distinctive civilization,” cul- ture minister Vladimir Medinsky said at a press conference reject deal to disarm Wednesday. In an interview with the Kommersant daily, Medinsky further added that Russia “is forced to culturally protect itself” from the what he sees as the depravities of Europe’s con- temporary culture. “Perhaps Russia will be the last keeper of Kiev’s Maidan says it won’t budge either European culture, Christian values and truly European civilisa- tion,” said Medinsky. SLAVIANSK/DONETSK: Armed pro-Russian because of the deep mistrust between the how to respond to the Geneva agreement. separatists in eastern Ukraine said yesterday pro-Russian groups and the Western- Anatoly, one of the armed separatists ‘Russia is not Europe’ they were not bound by an international backed government in Kiev. This week has who have taken over police headquarters, “The main idea is that we have to defend ourselves from the deal ordering them to disarm and would already seen several people killed in violent said: “We are not leaving the building, West, that the West is evil,” said political analyst Alexei Makarkin. not move out of public buildings they have clashes. The fact any deal was reached at all regardless of what statements are made, “The Crimea events reinforced this trend” after previous attempts seized until the Kiev government stepped in Geneva came as a surprise, and it was not because we know what is the real situation to root out Western influence such as the law on “foreign agents” down. The agreement, brokered by the clear what had happened behind the in the country and we will not leave until targeting NGOs, he said. “We lived like that in the Soviet era,” he United States, Russia, Ukraine and the scenes to persuade the Kremlin, which had our commander tells us to.” Two Ukrainian said. “Conservatives like it, those who want a comfortable, air- European Union in Geneva on Thursday, shown little sign of compromise, to join calls military aircraft circled Slaviansk several tight world without irritating things like abstract art.” On seemed to be the best hope of defusing a on the militias to disarm. It rejects Ukrainian times yesterday. In front of the mayor’s Wednesday, philosophy scholars of the usually apolitical Russian stand-off in Ukraine that has dragged East- and Western accusations of orchestrating office, men armed with automatic rifles Academy of Sciences said that the policy violates Russia’s consti- West relations to their lowest level since the the gunmen. Russian President Vladimir peered over sandbags that had been piled tution by presenting a “required state ideology.” Cold War. Ukraine said the drive to root the Putin overturned decades of post-Cold War higher overnight. Separatists remained in A public letter of 25 academy professors said that the concept separatists out would continue and warned diplomacy last month by declaring Russia control of the city’s main streets, searching “Russia is not Europe” was only an opinion that could not be it could take “more concrete actions” next had a right to intervene in neighbouring cars at checkpoints around the city. inferred from Russian history. “Such a free interpretation of week if they do not back down. countries and by annexing Ukraine’s Black ideas... is absolutely inappropriate in any self-respecting society,” The Geneva agreement requires all ille- Sea peninsula of Crimea. No surrender the philosophers said, adding that the government should gal armed groups to disarm and end occu- That move followed the overthrow of The self-declared leader of all the encourage debate and research rather than dictate its views. pations of public buildings, streets and Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president Viktor region’s separatists said he did not consider Medinsky on Wednesday tried to assuage fears of a return to squares, but with the separatists staying put Yanukovich after months of street protests his men to be bound by the agreement. Soviet-style censorship, where works of art or drama had to be in the east and Ukrainian nationalist protest- prompted by his rejection of a trade deal Denis Pushilin, head of the self-declared reviewed by Communist party officials. The Kremlin’s new policy ers showing no sign of leaving their - with the EU. In Slaviansk, a city that has Donetsk People’s Republic, told journalists will be executed “not by bureaucrats” but by experts and respect- unarmed - camps in the capital’s Maidan become a flashpoint in the crisis after men in Donetsk, the regional capital, that Russian ed culture figures, he said. One expert sitting on a jury that Square, it was not clear that either side with Kalashnikovs took control last week- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov “did not sign decides state grants for artists promised to make his judgments would be willing to move first. Enacting the end, leaders of the pro-Russian groups met anything for us, he signed on behalf of the based on artistic merit, not political need.—AFP agreement on the ground will be difficult, inside one of the seized buildings to decide Russian Federation”.—Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 William, Kate hit the beach on Sydney visit

SYDNEY: Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate got to grips with Australia’s beach and bush lifestyles yesterday, watching a life-sav- ing display and a sheep-shearing demonstration as part of their tour Down Under with baby son George. The young royals have received a warm welcome in Sydney, the first stop of their 10-day Australian tour, with thousands flocking to their official reception at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday. Thousands more craned for a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Easter Show yesterday, where the glam- orous couple viewed agricultural exhibits. Kate, who was wearing a cream cotton lace dress by Australian brand Zimmerman, joked while inspecting an alpaca wool display that her husband’s thin- ning hairline could do with some help from the fleece. “She pointed at him and said ‘You need it more than me.’ He laughed,” said Lyn Cregan, 67. The pair are popular in Australia- where William’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II is head of state- and have been lavished with bouquets and gifts from the crowds, including many for eight-month-old George, who also travelled with them to New Zealand. “They’re such a lovely couple. They’re so much in love,” Margaret Bryant from the country town of Cowra told the ANSAN: Students hold messages for missing school children who are among the unaccounted for passengers trapped in Australian Associated Press, having arrived in Sydney at 3:00 am to a South Korean capsized ferry yesterday. —AP see the royals. In her first speech of the visit, at the children’s hos- pice Bear Cottage, Kate expressed gratitude for the warm welcome she and George have received on their first visit to Australia. Vice-principal of S Korea school “To be here together as a family has been very special and we will always remember it with fond and happy memories,” she said. in ferry disaster commits suicide The Duchess also praised Bear Cottage, describing its work as “inspirational”. It was then to Manly Beach where Sydney put on perfect autumn sunshine for a demonstration of surf life-saving. Arrest warrant issued for ship’s captain Close to 100 “nippers”-junior life-savers in training-competed in ing, fellow students have left messages before the accident. However, right beach races, swimming and board events, with Kate firing the gun MOKPO/JINDO: The vice-principal of a on desks, blackboards and windows, after the accident, I saw him rushing for one of the races. The couple were presented with a six-foot surf- South Korean high school who accom- asking for the safe return of their miss- back into the steering house ahead of board for George. panied hundreds of pupils on a ferry ing friends. “If I see you again, I’ll tell you me,” said Oh Young-seok, one of the But the royal couple didn’t get any sand between their toes- that capsized has committed suicide, I love you, because I haven’t said it to helmsmen on the ship who was off duty choosing to keep their shoes on, in Kate’s case a pair of wedge police said yesterday, as hopes faded of you enough,” reads one message. and resting at the time. “He calmly heels. The move made news in Australia, prompting the headline finding any of the 274 missing alive. The Investigations into the sinking, South asked by how much the ship was tilted, in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph: “Royal couple hit the beach but shoes Sewol, carrying 476 passengers and and tried to re-balance the ship,” said stay on”. Local resident Giovanni Testini was one of the many in the crew, capsized on Wednesday on a jour- Oh, who was speaking from a hospital crowd with a gift for the royals-in his case, a pair of miniature ney from the port of Incheon to the bed in the city of Mokpo yesterday, ‘budgie smugglers’, men’s swimming briefs, for George. “We’ve southern holiday island of Jeju. Kang where the injured have been taken. come down to give George a pair of budgie smugglers and we’ve Min-gyu, 52, had been missing since got a pair for the Prince as well,” Testini told the Telegraph. “It’s Thursday. He appeared to have hanged Normal practice good for Australia, the whole family coming through. It’s excit- himself with his belt from a tree outside Handing over the helm is normal ing.—AFP a gym in the port city of Jindo where rel- atives of the people missing on the ship, practice on the voyage from Incheon to mostly children from the school, were Jeju, which usually takes 13.5 hours, gathered. according to local shipping crew. Divers Police said Kang did not leave a sui- gained access to the cargo deck of the cide note and that they had started ferry on Friday, although that was not looking for him after he was reported close to the passenger quarters, accord- missing by a fellow teacher. He was res- ing to a coastguard official. Other coast- cued from the ferry after it capsized. guard officials said that divers made sev- Twenty-eight people had been officially JINDO: A relative of a missing passen- eral attempts to reach the passenger declared dead before Kang’s suicide. ger aboard the sunken ferry Sewol in areas but failed. One hundred and seventy-four were res- the water off the southern coast “We cannot even see the ship’s white cued. Most of the missing are students prays while crying at a port yester- color. Our people are just touching the from the Danwon High School on the day.—AP hull with their hands,” Kim Chun-il, a div- outskirts of Seoul, who were on a holi- er from Undine Marine Industries, told day trip. The government revised the Korea’s worst maritime accident in 21 relatives of the missing. The ferry went total number of passengers and the years based on possible casualties, have down in calm conditions and was fol- number of people rescued, saying there centered on possible crew negligence, lowing a frequently travelled route in had been further inaccuracies in tabula- problems with cargo stowage and struc- familiar waters. Although relatively close tion, without elaborating. Divers are tural defects of the vessel, although the to shore, the area was free of rocks and fighting strong tides and murky waters ship appears to have passed all of its reefs. Lee has not commented on when to get to the sunken ship. The likelihood safety and insurance checks. he left the ship, although he has apolo- of finding any of the missing alive is The ship’s 69-year-old captain has gized for the loss of life. slim. At the high school in Ansan, an also come under scrutiny after witnesses He was described as an industry vet- industrial town near Seoul, many friends said he was among the first to escape eran by the officials from Chonghaejin and family of the missing gathered in the sinking vessel that was on a 400-km Marine Co Ltd, the ship owner, and oth- somber silence, with occasional sounds (300-mile) voyage to Jeju. According to ers who had met him described him as of sobbing breaking the quiet. investigators, Captain Lee Joon-seok an “expert”. “I don’t know why he aban- was not on the bridge at the time the doned the ship like that,” said Ju Hi- Possible crew negligence Sewol started to list sharply, with a jun- chun, a maritime author who inter- “When I first received the call telling ior officer at the wheel. Prosecutors on viewed the captain in 2006 as one of the me the news, at that time I still had Friday issued arrest warrants for Lee, the experts on the route to Jeju island. But SYDNEY: Britain’s Prince William (left) and Catherine, the hope,” said Cho Kyung-mi, who was officer at the wheel and one other crew he added: “Koreans don’t have the view Duchess of Cambridge, chat with Australian Prime waiting for news of her missing 16 year- member for failing in their duty to aid that they have to stay with their ship Minister Tony Abbott (right) as they are presented with a old nephew at the school. “And now it’s passengers. until the end. It is a different culture surfboard at Manly beach yesterday. — AFP all gone.” In the classrooms of the miss- “I’m not sure where the captain was from the West.” —Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Seven killed in Indonesia boat accident

JAKARTA: Seven people died including noon, district police chief Dewa Putu Gede the boat was on its way to join other vessels agency chief Paulus Igo Geroda said that four three children when a boat carrying dozens Artha said. Fifty-three people were rescued for the Easter celebration. The exact number people remained missing, based on relatives’ of Christian worshippers celebrating Easter in the incident which happened off the coast onboard is not known, and rescuers were still accounts, and that the other 30 to 40 boats sank yesterday off eastern Indonesia, police from Larantuka town, in the East Flores dis- searching for possible survivors, the police which joined the ritual have returned safely. said. The worshippers were holding a tradi- trict of East Nusa Tenggara province. chief said, with officials gathering informa- The Indonesian archipelago of more than tional sea ritual in waters off Flores Island “We found seven bodies, including three tion from relatives about those who may be 17,000 islands has a poor sea safety record, when one of the wooden boats sank before children,” Gede Artha told AFP, adding that missing. District disaster management and fatal accidents are common. — AFP Japan deploys 100 soldiers to remote western island Move set to raise tension with China

TOKYO: Japan is sending 100 soldiers and Forward strategy said last week. radar to its westernmost outpost, a tropical Japan’s remote-island strategy, set out Tapping such concerns, Abe raised mil- island off Taiwan, in a deployment that in the guidelines, is to “intercept and itary spending last fiscal year for the first risks angering China with ties between defeat any invasion by securing maritime time in 11 years. He is bolstering Japan’s Asia’s biggest economies already hurt by a supremacy and air superiority” with swift capability to fight for islands with a new dispute over nearby islands they both deployments supplementing troops posi- marine unit, more longer-range aircraft, claim. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori tioned in advance. “Should any remote amphibious assault vehicles and helicop- Onodera will break ground today for a mili- islands be invaded, Japan will recapture ter carriers. Although the country’s land- BEIJING: Relatives of Chinese passengers onboard the tary lookout station on Yonaguni, which is them. In doing so, any ballistic missile or mass is smaller than California, its thou- Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 pray at a hotel conference home to 1,500 people and just 150 km (93 cruise missile attacks will be dealt with sands of islands give it nearly 30,000 km yesterday. — AP miles) from the disputed Japanese-held appropriately.” (18,600 miles) of coastline to defend. Tight islands claimed by China. A spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of fiscal constraints, however, mean Japan MH370 search to be The mini-militarization of Yonaguni - Foreign Affairs, asked about her reaction can’t keep pace with China’s yearly dou- now defended by two police officers - is to Japan’s build-up on Yonaguni, said ble-digit military budget increases. most costly at $100m part of a longstanding plan to improve Japan’s neighbors were closely watching defense and surveillance in Japan’s far- its defense policy. “We hope the Japanese Wary welcome SYDNEY: The search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight flung frontier. Building the radar base on side can draw lessons from history and act The people of Yonaguni, where Abe MH370 is set to be the most expensive in aviation history, the island, which is much closer to China in a way that is conducive to peace and wants to station 100 troops and perhaps analysts say, as efforts to find the aircraft deep under the than to Japan’s main islands, could extend stability,” the spokeswoman told a regular as many family members within two years, Indian Ocean show no signs of slowing. The Boeing 777 van- Japanese monitoring to the Chinese main- briefing in Beijing. have mixed feelings about their imminent ished on March 8 with 239 people on board, after veering dra- land and track Chinese ships and aircraft Yonaguni, at the western tip of Japan’s role in facing off against China. “Opinion is matically off course en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing circling the disputed crags, called the 3,300-km (2,000-mile) southwestern island split down the middle,” Tetsuo Funamichi, and is believed to have crashed in the sea off Australia. Senkaku by Japan and the Diaoyu by chain, is practically within sight of the dis- the head of the island’s branch of the Australia, which is leading the search in a remote patch of China. puted rocks that are the feared flashpoint Japan Agricultural Association, said by water described as “unknown to man”, has not put a figure on “We decided to deploy a Ground Self- of Japan’s island strategy, which could telephone. “It’s good for the economy if spending, but Malaysia has warned that costs will be “huge”. Defense Force unit on Yonaguni Island as a draw the United States into a fight. they come, but some people worry that “When we look at salvaging (wreckage) at a depth of 4.5 part of our effort to strengthen the surveil- Onodera’s groundbreaking ceremony we could be attacked in an emergency.” kilometers (2.8 miles), no military out there has the capacity to lance over the southwestern region,” comes four days before President Barack Takenori Komine, who works in an do it,” Transport and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Onodera said this week. “We are staunchly Obama lands in Tokyo for a summit with island government office, said it was a risk Hussein said Thursday. “We have to look at contractors, and determined to protect Yonaguni Island, a Abe, the first state visit by a US president worth taking if it meant reviving an out- the cost of that will be huge.” Ravikumar Madavaram, an avia- part of the precious Japanese territory.” in 18 years. post of Japan that has been in decline tion expert at Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific, said Malaysia, The 30 sq km (11 sq mile) backwater - Japanese and Chinese navy and coast- since a brief postwar boom. At that time, Australia and China, which had the most nationals onboard known for strong rice liquor, cattle, sugar guard ships have played high-stakes cat US-occupied Yonaguni’s proximity to the flight, were the biggest spenders and estimated the total cane and scuba diving - may seem an and mouse around the disputed islets Taiwan made it an entry point into Japan cost up to now at about $100 million (72 million euros). “It’s unlikely place for Prime Minister Shinzo since Japan nationalised the formerly pri- for smuggled food and clothing from difficult to say how much is the cost of this operation ... but, Abe to put boots on the ground. vately owned territory in September 2012. Hong Kong. Since the end of World War yes, this is definitely the biggest operation ever (in aviation But Yonaguni marks the confluence of Japanese fighter jets scrambled against Two, the island’s population has withered history). “In terms of costs this would be the highest,” he told the Japanese defense establishment’s con- Chinese planes a record 415 times in the by some 90 percent. Average income of AFP. cerns about the vulnerability of the coun- year through to March, up 36 percent from about $22,500 a year is a fifth below the try’s thousands of islands and the per- the previous year, the Defense Ministry national average. —Reuters Hopes rest on submersible ceived threat from China. The new base In the first month of the search-in which the South China “should give Japan the ability to expand Sea and Malacca Strait were also scoured by the US, Malaysia, surveillance to near the Chinese mainland,” Singapore and Vietnam-the Pentagon said the United States said Heigo Sato, a professor at Takushoku military had committed $7.3 million to efforts to find the University and a former researcher at the plane. Meanwhile the Indian Ocean search, in which assets Defense Ministry’s National Institute for have also been deployed by Australia, Britain, China, South Defense Studies. Korea, Japan and New Zealand, has failed to find anything “It will allow early warning of missiles conclusive. and supplement the monitoring of Chinese Hopes rest on a torpedo-shaped US Navy submersible, military movements.” Japan does not spec- which is searching the ocean floor at depths of more than ify an enemy when discussing its strategy 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) in the vicinity of where four signals to defend its remote islands. But it makes believed to have come from black box recorders were detect- no secret that it perceives China generally ed. David Gleave, an aviation safety researcher at Britain’s as a threat - a giant flexing its growing Loughborough University, said the costs “will be of the order muscle and becoming an Asian military of a hundred million dollars by the time we’re finished, if we power to rival Japan’s ally, the United have found it (the plane) now”. States, in the region. But he said the longer it took to find any wreckage, the Japan, in National Defense Program more costs would mount because scanning the vast ocean Guidelines issued in December, expressed floor “will take a lot of money because you can only search “great concern” over China’s rapid military about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) a day”. buildup, opaque security goals, its Salvaging anything would also depend on how deep the “attempts to change the status quo by ocean is at the crash point and how dispersed the wreck- coercion” in the sea and air, and such “dan- KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Muslim activists hold placards during a protest age, with weather and politics also complicating factors, he gerous activities” as last year’s announce- against US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Malaysia, outside the said. —AFP ment of an air-defense identification zone. US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Chelsea Clinton expecting first child

WASHINGTON: Chelsea Clinton and her hus- progress,” Clinton said. “I want to see us keep up in the public eye as a teenager in the band, Marc Mezvinsky, are expecting their moving and certainly for future generations White House, Chelsea Clinton graduated first child later this fall. The 34-year-old as well so that maybe our grandchild will not from Stanford University and Columbia daughter of former President Bill Clinton and have to be worried about some of the things University’s Mailman School of Public Health ex-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that young women and young men are wor- and worked in New York for a hedge fund made the announcement Thursday at the ried about today.” She later added on Twitter: and a management consulting firm. end of a Clinton Foundation event in New “My most exciting title yet: Grandmother-To- She and Marc Mezvinsky, the son of two York on empowering girls. There has been Be!” The former president also expressed former members of Congress, were married wide speculation about a future baby in the jubilation about the news on Twitter: “Excited in Rhinebeck, New York, in July 2010, and the Clinton family. Chelsea Clinton said in an to add a new line to my Twitter bio...grandfa- former first daughter has balanced a number interview with Glamour magazine last year ther-to-be! @HillaryClinton and I are so happy of work and interests, pursuing a doctorate that she and her husband were hoping to for Chelsea and Marc!” from Oxford University, where her father was start a family soon, calling 2014 “the year of Preparations for the new baby will coin- a Rhodes Scholar, while taking a leading role the baby.” cide with Hillary Clinton’s deliberations over in her family’s foundation. Joined on stage by her mother, Chelsea another campaign for the White House. Mrs. She serves as vice chair of the family foun- Clinton told a group of young female stu- Clinton is set to release a book about her time dation, which was renamed the Bill, Hillary & dents that she feels “all the better whether it’s at the State Department in June, followed by Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and helps direct a girl or a boy that she or he will grow up in a a book tour, and Democrats hope she will be the organization’s humanitarian and philan- world with so many strong female leaders.” “I a top surrogate for their candidates in the thropic efforts around the globe. She also just hope I will be as good a mom to my child 2014 midterm elections. serves as a special correspondent for NBC and hopefully children as my mom was to The former secretary of state is expected News. She has avoided commenting on her me,” she said. The former first lady, secretary to announce her decision later this year and mother’s potential presidential campaign of state and New York senator, who is consid- polls show her as the leading contender for except to say that she’ll support her in what- ering another presidential campaign in 2016, the Democratic Party’s nomination if she ever she does. But she would be a strong NEW YORK: Executive producer of the said she was “really excited” about becoming runs. If Clinton seeks the White House, her voice for her mother among young voters if film “Of Many” Chelsea Clinton attends a grandmother. “It makes this work even campaign would potentially coincide with the former secretary of state decides to seek an after party during the 2014 Tribeca more important because we’ve made a lot of her grandchild’s first two years. After growing the presidency. — AP Film Festival at High Line. — AP Tunisian diplomat... Man said to be homesick Continued from Page 1 Masked men shot and wounded the driver of Ambassador for prison gets three years Fawaz al-Itan’s car as they snatched the diplomat from a street in the capital Tripoli. Last week, Libya’s interim prime minister resigned after just one month into the job, saying gunmen had Boredom, loneliness push Unbehaun back to jail tried to attack his family. Local officials, policemen and army personnel are also target- ed and there have been some random acts of violence against CHICAGO: An ex-con who spent most of ordinary foreigners. In December, an American teacher was shot his adult life behind bars on Thursday got dead in Benghazi and in January, a British man and a woman what he said he wanted for robbing a from New Zealand were shot execution-style on a beach in west- suburban Chicago bank. The 74-year-old ern Libya. One month later, seven Egyptian Christians were found gets to go back to the place he called dead, having been killed in a similar manner. Tribal groups, mili- home - prison. Telling Walter Unbehaun tias and even local citizens resort to road blockades as a negotiat- he frightened a teller by showing her a ing tactic. Some have even resorted to shutting down the OPEC revolver tucked in his waistband during member’s vital oil facilities. — Reuters the 2013 heist, a federal judge imposed a 3 1/2 year prison sentence, citing a rap sheet that includes crimes from home Pakistan madrassa... invasion to kidnapping. “This is not the first time you’ve inspired fear,” Judge Continued from Page 1 Sharon Johnson Coleman said, scolding the high-school dropout and part-time The newly constructed, one-room library is located inside bathtub repairman. the school compound, next to a computer room and Aziz’s As he had on the day he robbed the office. A paper sign posted on the library’s wooden door reads, bank, Unbehaun gripped a cane as he in Arabic, “Maktaba Osama Bin Laden Shaheed” - or, Library hobbled to a podium to make a brief Osama Bin Laden, the Martyr. “Aziz thinks that Osama Bin statement. He didn’t withdraw his wish to ROCK HILL: This file surveillance photo provided by the FBI shows 73-year-old Laden is a hero and he is a martyr and that is why he selected go to prison, though he said, “I don’t want Walter Unbehaun, an ex-convict from Rock Hill. — AP Osama Bin Laden’s name for the library,” said Ullah, the to die in prison.” “My crime is bad, there spokesman. — AP ain’t no doubt,” he said calmly. “I just few minutes, McLeese had thought walls.” The Chicago-born Unbehaun first wanna be like everybody else.” Boredom Unbehaun was saying he hoped to get went to prison at 23 for transporting a and loneliness, defense filings said, had bond. Then he realized Unbehaun was stolen car. He was convicted of kidnap- Gulf Arab states strike... partly led Unbehaun to conclude that a asking to go to prison. It was as if, ping a 19-year-old girl in 1970 whom he life on the inside was preferable to life McLeese said, a patient had asked his doc- had tied to an Ohio motel bed before flee- Continued from Page 1 outside. No family or friends of Unbehaun tor to help him have a stroke. ing in her car. His record includes more attended Thursday’s hearing in Chicago. than half a dozen convictions, including - The UAE and Saudi Arabia have little tolerance for Brotherhood- Listening to the proceedings, he fid- ‘Did the system fail Mr Unbehaun?’ ironically - for escaping from prison. linked activity and perceive Islamist groups as a threat to their politi- geted and rubbed his forearms, both of “It is, without a doubt, one of the sad- cal systems. Simon Henderson, director of the Gulf and Energy which sported tattoos. He occasionally dest and most disturbing cases I’ve dealt Living like a hermit Policy Program at The Washington Institute, said in an analysis that nodded as his lawyer spoke. Last year, he with,” he said. Prosecutor Sharon Fairley He pleaded guilty in September to the “Qatar is likely unwilling to eat humble pie.” “Unlike (Saudi) King walked into the bank with a cane but no conceded the judge faced a dilemma: 2013 bank robbery. Prosecutors asked for Abdullah and certain other Gulf leaders, Doha seems to view its disguise, displayed the loaded gun and Sending Unbehaun to prison could be a five-year sentence Thursday, though own quasi-monarchal political system as above any potential told the teller, “I don’t want to hurt you.” seen as more reward than punishment to they’d asked for seven in earlier filings; Brotherhood threats,” he wrote, adding that Qatar has also been in With $4,178 in loot, he drove to a nearby him, but setting him free would risk him the defense asked for three. It wasn’t as if competition with Saudi Arabia for influence among Syria’s opposi- motel and waited for police to arrive. committing another serious crime. His no one tried to extend Unbehaun a help- tion seeking to oust President Bashar Assad, “though it may be eas- When they did, the bald, portly case raised broader societal questions, ing hand. Following his 2011 release from ing up on that posture.” Unbehaun dropped his cane, raised his she said in one filing. prison after serving an 11-year term for A sticking point for the UAE’s relationship with Qatar had been hands and startled police by his apparent “Did the system fail Mr Unbehaun? Or bank robbery, his sister and her husband Egyptian-born cleric Youssef Al-Qaradawi’s fiery sermons in Doha, joy at getting nabbed. At his initial court was his inability to stay out of jail the bought Unbehaun, a childless widower, a in which he criticized Gulf countries for their support of Egypt’s appearance, he also confounded his result of his own free will?” she asked. “We trailer home in rural Rock Hill, SC, the cou- interim government. The cleric has close ties with Brotherhood and lawyer. “His first words were, ‘I just want may never know. But what we do know, ple said Wednesday. He spent his days would deliver his speeches live on Qatar state television. He has not to go home,” that same attorney, Richard clearly, is Mr Unbehaun lacks the desire to watching television, or drawing and appeared on the pulpit since ambassadors were withdrawn. — AP McLeese, told the court Thursday. For a lead a law-abiding life outside of prison painting. —AP Wal-Mart jumps into PetroChina hikes Chinese dream trumps Businessmoney transfer biz 16 shale gas spending 18 environment as cars sales boom19

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Winter storms weigh on DuPont during 1Q 17

NEW YORK: Weibo Corporation Chairman Charles Chao, center, accompanied by Nasdaq CEO Robert Greifeld, right, and Weibo CEO Gaofei Wang, celebrates his company’s IPO by ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq Market Site, in New York, Thursday. — AP Sina Weibo shares jump 19% in US debut

NEW YORK: Sina Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, debuted innovating in a very focused way, we can create shareholder Even so, he admits, the two compete with each other in on the Nasdaq exchange Thursday with a 19.1 percent jump value.” Weibo, launched in August 2009, is China’s largest terms of time spent by the users. Yet Weibo has the advantage despite an IPO that went out undersubscribed and lower social media service with 144 million active monthly users. It is for advertisers, he insisted. priced than hoped. In a spate of buying that suggested that most often compared to Twitter. But by allowing more content “Fundamentally... a public network is much more efficient Wall Street’s waters are still welcoming to loss-making technol- and functionality, it overlaps with Facebook as well. Twitter than a private network,” he said. “A private network can never ogy high flyers, and to Chinese firms as well, Weibo shares rose and Facebook are banned in China. be efficient in terms of content distribution.” Chao also said from the subscription price of $17 to as high as $24.28, before Weibo has yet to make a profit, losing $38 million last year China’s economic slowdown was also not a problem for Sina or settling the day at $20.24. on revenues of $188 million, and another $47 million in the first Weibo, and could possibly work to their advantage. That is good news for Alibaba, the immensely profitable quarter of this year, though revenues jumped to nearly $68 “Maybe a downturn in the economy will have some impact Chinese online commercial gateway that is preparing its initial million for the three months. Chao said Weibo is rapidly build- on the advertising business we are doing, but over the longer public offering for the US market later this year. Weibo sought ing income from display and performance-based ads. “We are term, we’re not concerned at all.” to raise $380 million by selling 20 million shares for as much as making great progress in both advertising areas, serving differ- “The Internet has proven that it is very resilient... What the $19 each. ent clients bases from brand advertisers to SMEs (small and Internet does is, it increases the efficiency of everything, and so But underwriters could only find demand for 16.8 million medium-sized firms) to e-commerce merchants,” he said. sometimes in bad times Internet companies can perform bet- shares at the low end of the offer, $17, bringing the company “There is no question that (Weibo’s) revenue growth is much ter.” In New York for the IPO, Chao ran into questions about $287 million. Charles Chao, the chief executive of Chinese higher than our existing portal business.” China’s tough censorship of the Internet. He argued that online power Sina Corp, Weibo’s parent, shrugged off the Weibo has been a key player in giving all Chinese a voice, and undersubscription, saying it was mainly important to achieve China slowdown no worry that China has progressed a lot. the listing and establish Weibo’s separate identity. Critics say Weibo faces a challenge from rival network “There is no question that each country will have their own “It’s a tough market... The entire IPO market is rather soft,” WeChat, owned by China’s Tencent group, but Chao says the rules in terms of regulating the content industry or content he told AFP in an interview. “To have a successful listing for us two are distinct. While Weibo’s messaging is open and public, behavior by users on the Internet... China is no exception,” he is probably the most important. We do not actually care too WeChat users confine their messages to their own selected argued. “We are very experienced in terms of complying with much about the temporary price for the stock,” he said. “If we groups of followers, keeping discussions private and offering the laws and regulations in this area. So I don’t think it’s a big can over the longer term keep executing our strategies and more protection from Beijing’s censors. concern for us.” — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Gold flat below $1,300/oz, heading for weekly fall

LONDON: Gold was heading for a 1.8 “The price of gold dropped this gold higher. daily outflow since late December. percent weekly fall yesterday, dented week ... as further evidence emerged But Yellen’s remarks were offset by by hopes that diplomatic efforts can of an improvement in the US econo- US economic data pointing to activity Platinum down calm violence in Ukraine and by my,” Natixis analyst Bernard Dahdah picking up after disruptions due to Platinum was unchanged at strengthening US economic data. said. “As the US economy ‘normalises’, harsh winter weather. Gold’s main $1,404.50 an ounce, having posted its Fears over slowing demand in top so debate at the Fed is clearly mount- prop over the past few sessions has biggest daily loss since January, down consumer China and sustained sales ing over how and when to renor- been its role as an insurance against 1.9 percent, in the previous session from gold-backed funds also con- malise interest rates,” he added. “If the market risks raised by escalating after South Africa’s biggest platinum tributed to its fall below $1,300 an further strengthening of U.S. econom- tensions between Russia and the producers offered to raise wages for ounce. In thin Easter holiday trade on ic data were to raise expectations of a West over Ukraine. But these eased miners in a bid to end a 13-week-old Friday, spot gold was unchanged at renormalisation of interest rates, gold somewhat on Thursday after the strike. $1,294.80 an ounce by 0920 GMT, prices would once more come under United States, Russia, Ukraine and the Anglo American Platinum Ltd and while gold futures for June delivery pressure.” European Union called for an immedi- Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd said closed down 0.8 percent at $1,293.90 Earlier this week the Federal ate halt to violence. Implying underly- they proposed a settlement to end an ounce on Thursday. Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterated ing investor bearishness and pes- South Africa’s longest and most dam- There will be no London gold fix- an accommodative monetary policy simism over the longer-term outlook, aging mining strike in living memory. ing - the twice-daily price-setting stance. Low interest rates, which cut holdings in the world’s biggest Among other precious metals, sil- benchmark - yesterday and Monday the opportunity cost of holding non- exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold ver was down 0.1 percent at $19.58 an because the UK is on holiday. The US yielding bullion above other assets, Trust, fell 8.39 tonnes to 798.43 ounce and palladium was unchanged market will be closed yesterday. have been an important factor driving tonnes on Wednesday, the biggest at $794.00 an ounce. — Reuters Wal-Mart jumps into money transfer biz

NEW YORK: Wal-Mart is delving deeper location in response to Wal-Mart’s actions, just one more reason to spend more time into financial services at its stores and MoneyGram said in an emailed statement. inside Wal-Mart. Daniel Eckert, Wal-Mart’s shaking up the money transfer business. It said that Wal-Mart is its single largest senior vice president of services, said that The world’s largest retailer introduced a corporate customer, but has been the move into the money transfer busi- new money transfer service Thursday that decreasing as a percentage of its revenue ness gained momentum after company it says will for the past five years. In a statement officials heard complaints from customers cut fees for its low-income customers emailed to The Associated Press, Western about high fees elsewhere. He acknowl- NEW YORK: In this Jan 18, 2011 file photo, a Morgan by up to 50 percent compared with similar Union said, “Our retail product and service edged in a conference call Thursday that Stanley billboard is displayed in Times Square, New York. services elsewhere. The Walmart-2- offerings today are already quite diverse. “ the program could bring more customers Morgan Stanley will report first quarter earnings later Walmart service is being rolled out in part- Western Union noted that people have into stores, but he insisted that the goal is Thursday. — AP nership with Ria Money Transfer, a sub- the flexibility to send money in minutes or to offer shoppers more financial choices. sidiary of Euronet Worldwide Inc. next day from a retail agent location or Eckert told reporters that it didn’t alert Shares of money-transfer companies online and they can also send money MoneyGram that it was teaming up with US orange production MoneyGram and Western Union slid directly into a bank account. “The compa- Ria, but said that for more than a decade Thursday. The service, which will be avail- ny is well positioned in the US domestic Wal-Mart has had a strong partnership hit by disease, able starting April 24, allows its customers money transfer space, having offered a fee with MoneyGram and that it renewed its to transfer up to $900 to and from more of $5 for $50 since 2009,” Western Union contract in 2012. He pointed out that juice prices soar than 4,000 Wal-Mart stores in the US. added. Wal-Mart is aggressively trying to MoneyGram has no money transfer limits It’s a huge footprint that could reshape increase foot traffic in its stores after see- and customers can transfer funds outside NEW YORK: A citrus disease spread by a tiny insect has dev- that industry and is likely to set off a pric- ing comparable-store sales decline for four the US using its services. astated Florida’s orange crop, which is expected to be the ing battle. Customers can transfer up to consecutive quarters. “Walmart-2-Walmart brings new com- worst in nearly 30 years, and sent juice prices soaring on New $50 for a $4.50 service fee and up to $900 petition and transparent, everyday low York markets. The culprit? The gnat-sized Asian citrus psyllid, for $9.50. Comparable services elsewhere Strong partnership prices to a market that has become com- which is infecting citrus trees across the Sunshine State with cost up to $70 when transferring less than The Walmart-2-Walmart service may plicated and costly for our customers,” huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, which causes fruit $1,000, according to Wal-Mart. help stem that trend, giving customers Eckert said. —AP to taste bitter and fall from trees too soon. Western Union on its website puts the “It feels we are losing the fight,” said Ellis Hunt, the head of price of transferring $900 in New York a family-run citrus farm spread over about 5,000 acres (2,000 between $20, if using a bank account, to hectares) in the central Florida town of Lake Wales. $85 if using a credit or debit card. Wal- The deadly bacteria has slashed his annual production Mart’s announcement is the latest way it’s over the past few years from one million boxes of fruit to acting more like a bank. About a decade 750,000. Citrus greening disease has become such a problem ago, Wal-Mart applied unsuccessfully for this year that the US government has lowered its forecast for an industrial bank charter. Those efforts the upcoming harvest four times. The latest figures, pub- were blocked even though the retailer lished earlier this month by the US Department of vowed it would not open retail branches Agriculture, predict production of 110 million boxes of fruit, but wanted to use its bank to process card or roughly 4.95 million tons. transactions. In 2007, it abandoned those That is 18 percent less than last year, and the lowest since plans, but it has been creating an expand- 1985, when citrus groves were hit by a deep freeze. It is also ing menu of financial offerings for cus- far from the record 244 million boxes collected in 1998. tomers, aimed particularly at those with The outlook surprised investors, as the USDA forecast dip limited access to banks. Wal-Mart already was “bigger than the trade had anticipated,” according to Joe offers prepaid cards, check cashing servic- Nikruto, senior market strategist for RJO Futures. es and tax preparation services. Following the release of the latest USDA figures, the price of frozen concentrated orange juice rose to its highest point Single largest corporate customer on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York since late Shares of MoneyGram International March 2012. Juice for May delivery, the most traded, rose sev- Inc., which could get hit the hardest, fell 18 en percent in three trading sessions to $1.67 a pound. percent to close at $14.81. MoneyGram is The price has also been driven by drought in Brazil, the the company that currently provides mon- MARIETTA: In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, file photo, retired US Air Force world’s top producer of orange juice, but Nikruto explained: ey transfers to Wal-Mart. The stock of Master Sgt. Thomas Gipson, of Atlanta, right, has his resume looked over by “The USDA numbers are fueling this fire.” Western Union Co., its rival, fell 5 percent Ralph Brown, a management and program analyst with the Centers for Disease On his Florida farm, Hunt is fighting the good fight but all to $15.25. Control and Prevention, during a job fair for veterans at the VFW Post 2681, the insecticide, fertilizer and extra minerals in the world don’t MoneyGram is not “taking any pricing Marietta, Ga. The government reports on state unemployment rates for March seem to be helping. —AFP actions” at Wal-Mart or at any other US yesterday. — AP Business SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

S African platinum firms lift wage offer to 10%

JOHANNESBURG: South African platinum producers “This settlement offer has been made in the interests cannot afford the AMCU wage demands due to rising made a new wage offer on Thursday in a bid to end a of bringing an end to the debilitating 12-week strike operating costs and depressed prices for the precious three-month strike at their mines that has hit 40 per- that has crippled the platinum sector and has brought metal, which is used in catalytic converters in automo- cent of global output of the industrial metal. untold hardship to employees, their families, communi- biles. Thursday’s meeting took place between officials Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the world’s top ties and the companies,” Amplats said. on both sides at the highest levels since the early days producer, and Impala Platinum (Implats), the second- It was unclear whether Lonmin , the third-largest of the strike, including the chief executives of the three biggest, said in separate statements they had offered producer, has offered a similar deal. Talks between the companies, AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa and annual increases of 7.5 to 10 percent, compared with an companies and leaders of the Association of South African Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant. earlier offer of as much as 9 percent per year. Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) are The strike has also been a headache for The companies’ new wage increase offer would scheduled to continue on Tuesday, following a four-day President Jacob Zuma and the African National push the overall salary package of all their underground Easter holiday weekend. Congress as a national election is just three weeks workers to 12,500 rand a month by 2017. On its side, Amplats, Implats and Lonmin have so far lost 13.5 away. AMCU on Tuesday asked the government the union has softened its original wage demand from billion rand ($1.3 billion) in revenue to the longest and and the public for funds to help sustain 70,000 12,500 rand to be achieved immediately to the same most damaging South African mining strike in living striking members who have gone nearly three amount over three to four years. memory. The producers have consistently said they months without pay. — Reuters Winter storms weigh on DuPont during 1Q

DOVER: DuPont’s agricultural sales suffered and its operating costs rose during extensive winter storms that dragged on first-quarter earnings, although volumes increased in the company’s industrial segments and profit margins improved in almost every one of them. The Wilmington, Del., chemical maker reported net income Thursday of $1.4 billion, or $1.54 per share, for the quarter ended March 31. That’s down from $3.35 billion, or $3.58 per share, for the same quarter a year ago, which included a one- time gain from completion of the sale of DuPont’s perform- ance coatings unit. Excluding one-time items, DuPont reported operating earnings of $1.58 per share, up from $1.56 per share on an adjusted basis in last year’s first quarter, but slightly below the consensus Wall Street estimate of $1.59 per share. Sales declined 3 percent to $10.1 billion for the quarter, mainly due to differences in timing and planted area for agri- culture sales, negative currency impact, and adverse weather conditions in North America. Analysts were expecting revenue of $10.4 billion. “We delivered near record earnings per share despite the challenges of harsh weather and differences in year-on-year comparisons in our agriculture segment, and our key initiatives remain on track,” said CEO Ellen Kullman. The company reaffirmed its outlook for full-year operating earnings of $4.20 to $4.45 per share, compared to $3.88 per ORLANDO: In this March 7, 2014 photo, a realty sign hangs in front of a home for sale in Orlando, Florida. Freddie Mac share last year, based on anticipated growth in global indus- reports on average US mortgage rates for the week on Thursday. — AP trial market demand. For the quarter, volumes declined in North America and Latin America, as operating earnings in the agricultural unit slid $74 million, or 5 percent. The PepsiCo’s profit rises on company attributed the earnings drop to earlier timing of seed shipments realized in last year’s fourth quarter, lower corn planted areas in Brazil and North America, and lower her- bicide volumes in North America. Those declines were partial- snack sales, price hikes ly offset by pricing gains in seeds, higher insecticide volumes in Latin America, and lower seed input costs. Shares of The NEW YORK: PepsiCo reported a stronger- Mountain Dew. He said that stepped-up In Europe, snack and beverage volumes DuPont Co., which are trading near 15-year highs this month, than-expected quarterly profit as the compa- marketing has strengthened the company’s each rose by 3 percent. In the unit encom- closed down 74 cents at $66.98. — AP ny sold more snacks around the world and brands, which has allowed PepsiCo to raise passing Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the hiked prices, including on its drinks. prices. For the year, he said the company company said revenue growth was driven The company, which also makes Frito- planned to raise prices between 2 percent by higher snack volume. Lay, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Tropicana, and 3 percent in both snacks and drinks. Johnston said that strength during the said global snack volume rose 2 percent in quarter demonstrates why the company’s the period. Global beverage volume was Stronger brands snack and beverage units belong together, unchanged from a year ago, including in its “As we make the brands stronger, con- seemingly in reference to calls by activist closely watched North American drinks unit. sumers are willing to accept that,” he said. investor Nelson Peltz, who wants the com- Coca-Cola also reported flat volume in Finding ways to charge customers more has pany to split its stronger snacks unit from its the North America market earlier this week. been critical for Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, drinks unit. PepsiCo has steadfastly rejected Both companies have been offsetting ongo- which are trying to make up for declines in the strategy. For the first quarter that ended ing declines in their flagship soda businesses soda volume. Both companies, for instance, March 22, the company earned $1.22 billion, by relying more heavily on other beverages, have rolled out “mini -cans” of soda that or 79 cents per share. Not including one- such as sports drinks, juices and bottled they say fit with people’s desire to control time items, it earned 83 cents per share, waters. portion sizes. But the smaller sizes are also above the 75 cents per share Wall Street Even though beverage volume was flat in more profitable for the companies. “Taking expected. North America, PepsiCo managed to push up down pricing is not going to drive up A year ago, it earned $1.08 billion, or 69 revenue by raising prices as well as introduc- demand all that much,” PepsiCo CEO Indra cents per share. Revenue edged up to a SPRINGFIELD: This Jan. 23, 2012, file photo, shows a ing more expensive drinks such as Mountain Nooyi said in an earnings call. Both compa- better-than expected $12.62 billion. DuPont logo on sheets of Tyvek insulation covering a wall Dew Kickstart, which is marketed as an ener- nies have been slashing costs to boost profit PepsiCo, based in Purchase, NY, stood by of a home under construction in Springfield, Ill. DuPont’s gy drink of sorts for younger men. In a phone and free up money for marketing. At its its outlook for the year. It expects adjusted announced agricultural sales suffered and its operating interview, Chief Financial Officer Hugh Frito-Lay North America unit, revenue rose 4 earnings per share to grow by 7 percent. costs rose during extensive winter storms that dragged on Johnston noted that a can of Kickstart costs percent, reflecting a 3 percent increase in Its stock closed up 78 cents, or almost 1 first-quarter earnings. — AP $1.99, versus $3.50 for a 12-pack of volume and slightly higher prices. percent, at $85.55. — AP BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Asian shares mostly up in quiet trade

HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly rose down 1.14 points to 2,097.75. January-March. General Electric also company had hoped for. while the dollar edged up in holiday-nar- Bangkok added 0.03 percent or 0.40 unveiled forecast-beating results and In Geneva, the US, European Union, rowed trade yesterday following a mixed points to 1,409.18 while Kuala Lumpur SanDisk, a maker of memory cards and Ukraine and Russia agreed after talks to lead from Wall Street and news of a deal gained 2.15 points or 0.12 percent to other data storage technology, “restore security” in eastern Ukraine, between Russia and the West to ease 1,852.69. announced a 62 percent rise in profit. where forces from Kiev had moved to Ukraine tensions. Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, While there were disappointing oust armed pro-Moscow separatists from With many bourses closed for the Jakarta, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Manila reports from Google, IBM and toy maker government buildings they had occu- Easter break, business was thin at the were closed for public holidays. “The Mattel, the week closed largely up for pied. The news provided some support end of a broadly positive week in Asia, market doesn’t move unless foreign Wall Street following last week’s slump to the dollar in New York and it extend- which was helped by bargain buying investors move, and they look like that was fuelled by fears tech plays were ed those gains in Asia yesterday. The after the previous week’s sell-off. they’re enjoying a slow, sleepy Easter overpriced. greenback bought 102.41 yen, slightly Tokyo added 0.68 percent, or 98.74 weekend,” CLSA equities strategist On Wall Street the Dow eased 0.10 up from 102.39 yen in New York, while points, to finish at 14,516.27 — the index Nicholas Smith told Dow Jones percent but the S&P 500 advanced 0.14 the euro fetched $1.3817 and 141.48 yen rose four percent for the week after los- Newswires. US shares ended mostly percent and the tech-rich Nasdaq added against $1.3813 and 141.45 yen. ing more than seven percent last week. higher before breaking up for the holi- 0.23 percent. The Nasdaq was also In oil trade New York’s main contract, Seoul rose 0.61 percent, or 12.23 days, thanks to some impressive corpo- boosted by Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like West Texas Intermediate for delivery in points, to close at 2,004.28 and Taipei rate results. Chinese micro-blogging site, which May fetched $104.55 a barrel and Brent gained 0.25 percent, or 22.50 points, to Morgan Stanley said earnings jumped soared 19.1 percent on its debut after its North Sea crude for June was at $109.66. 8,966.66. Shanghai was flat, edging a better-than-expected 56 percent in initial public offering raised less than the Gold fetched $1,289.90 an ounce. — AFP PetroChina hikes shale gas spending Raises output target for 2015 to 2.6 bcm

BEIJING: Chinese state energy giant PetroChina. “We’re stepping up shale ments to shorten the drilling period for PetroChina plans to spend more than gas development this year,” he said. each well. At Fuling, Sinopec is now 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) on shale Sinopec’s shale work has been con- able to drill up to six wells simultane- gas this year, sources with knowledge centrated in the Fuling area of ously from one platform, cutting down of the matter said, as domestic competi- Chongqing municipality in southwest the drilling time for a single well to 89 tion heats up after rival Sinopec China, also part of the Sichuan basin, days from 100 days. TOKYO: A woman walks by an electric stock board outside a announced a commercial find. one of the most promising geological Even so, Sinopec has only managed securities firm, yesterday in Tokyo. Asian stocks were mostly Faced with high drilling costs and zones for the unconventional fuel. to reduce its per-well costs to about 80 higher yesterday after mixed US earnings reports with most the complexity of tapping shale gas, Sinopec has drilled nearly 30 pilot shale million yuan, an amount that is eco- of the region’s exchanges closed for Good Friday. — AP China has struggled to revolutionise its gas wells in the Fuling area. nomic only with a government subsidy energy supplies. The top energy con- of 0.40 yuan per cubic metres of pro- Tokyo investors to eye sumer wants to unlock what could be High drilling cost duction, industry officials said. the world’s largest shale gas reserves by The main challenge for both Sinopec China pumped about 113 bcm of China, US, Japan data emulating the hectic success of the US and PetroChina is to cut the drilling cost natural gas last year, of which shale gas shale boom. per well to under 50 million yuan ($8 was a meagre 200 million cubic metres, TOKYO: Tokyo investors will be watching the release of a string PetroChina’s decision to triple its million), half the current hefty rates according to official data. of data from the United States, China and Japan next week, after shale gas spending from expenditures averaging around 80-100 million yuan, The government has set shale gas the benchmark Nikkei 225 index scratched back some of last on the unconventional fuel over the experts say. That requires a factory-style production targets at 6.5 bcm for 2015 week’s big losses. past few years comes just months after operation and technological improve- and at 60-100 bcm for 2020. — Reuters Among the figures in focus are US durable goods orders for Sinopec Corp lifted hopes that China is March and HSBC’s April manufacturing purchasing managers’ near a breakthrough by announcing a index for China, both due Wednesday Investors will also be keep- commercial find. ing an eye on Japanese trade for March at the start of the week PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas and inflation figures yesterday to see if there has been any early producer, has also lifted its 2015 shale impact in prices from this month’s sales tax hike. gas output target to 2.6 billion cubic Japan’s first rate levy rise in 17 years, seen as crucial to taming metres (bcm), up from the previous 1.5 its ballooning national debt, has stoked fears that the country’s bcm, according to a company official nascent recovery will come to a screeching halt as spending and a government source. drops off. Yesterday, the benchmark Nikkei rose 0.68 percent in That would represent only about 2.3 quiet trade as a weaker yen boosted exporter shares following a percent of China’s total natural gas out- mixed session on Wall Street. put of around 113 bcm last year. The index added 98.74 points to finish at 14,516.27, gaining “PetroChina wants to play catch up 3.98 percent since Monday. The rally clawed back some of last after Sinopec’s success,” said a govern- week’s losses when the Nikkei tumbled 7.3 percent-its biggest ment source who has been briefed on weekly drop since just after Japan’s 2011 quake-tsunami disaster. PetroChina’s plans. The headline index is down about 11 percent since the start of Since around 2010, PetroChina has the year. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares fin- spent about 3 billion yuan ($482.39 mil- ished Friday’s session up 0.58 percent, or 6.78 points, at 1,173.37. lion) total on pilot shale drilling, accord- It rose 3.46 percent over the week. Most major Asian markets ing to both sources. The state giant, were closed yesterday for the Easter weekend. which makes up around 70 percent of “I’d like to think that there is a case for buying Japan on earn- China’s total natural gas output, has so ings, in the run-up to another blowout reporting season, but the far largely focused on growing its con- market doesn’t move unless foreign investors move, and they ventional oil and gas portfolio. look like they’re enjoying a slow, sleepy Easter weekend,” said PetroChina will focus on two pilot CLSA equities strategist Nicholas Smith. zones - Weiyuan-Changning in south- Japanese exporters rose as the dollar strengthened to 102.43 west Sichuan basin and Zhaotong in in Tokyo, up from 102.39 yen in New York Thursday. Yunnan province. In share trading, Toyota rose 0.94 percent to 5,564 yen, Sony “PetroChina has over the past four gained 1.25 percent to 1,932 yen and Sharp was up 1.47 percent years improved understanding of the WATERTOWN: In this Dec. 19, 2013, file photo, a passer-by walks near an entrance at 276 yen. Mobile phone carriers ended mixed with SoftBank shale resources and achieved some to a Target retail store in Watertown, Mass. Target is vastly expanding the goods adding 0.23 percent to 7,623 yen and NTT Docomo down 0.12 technological breakthroughs,” said Mao available to order by subscription as it fends off its biggest non-traditional retail percent at 1,579 yen.— AFP Zefeng, joint company secretary of rival, Amazon.com. — AP BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

NEW YORK: The Infiniti Q70L is displayed at the New York International Auto Show in New York.— AP Chinese dream trumps environment as cars sales boom

SHANGHAI: When accountant Ariel Wang West Lake and elsewhere, becoming the bought a new car a few weeks ago, envi- sixth major city to make such a move. ronmental protection was far from her Announced with just five hours’ notice, mind even though smog has reached crisis the policy sparked panic buying of cars levels in China’s commercial hub Shanghai. regardless of make or model as consumers She settled on a sturdy sport utility vehi- sought to log the purchases before the cle, the Audi Q5, as the ideal family car for new system took effect. The policy could her husband’s daily commute to work and limit car plates to 80,000 a year. transport for her young daughter at the “People were buying cars like they were weekends. cabbages,” one customer told a state news- “We didn’t really think about environ- paper, using the Chinese equivalent of hot mental protection, as long as the car’s cakes. Hangzhou will use a combination of emissions aren’t too high,” she said. `”Look a lottery system and an auction to limit the at it this way-whether we use a car or a taxi, number of car plates issued, following in it’s the same effect.” the tracks of Shanghai and the capital Shanghai has long been considered Beijing, as well as the cities of Tianjin, more sheltered from the notorious smog Guangzhou and Guiyang. that blankets large parts of northern China, Such moves to limit vehicles could ulti- but in December the city’s air quality was mately cut into national sales, at a time so bad that flights were grounded and when China’s economy is slowing and the sales of face-masks rocketed. government is frowning on luxury purchas- Across the nation-the world’s largest es in a crackdown on official corruption. NEW YORK: Cars from Toyota’s Scion brand, foreground, are part the New York auto market-air pollution caused by vehicle But the buying of more environmentally International Auto Show in New York. — AP exhaust and smoke-belching factories has friendly vehicles could help offset the failed to cloud the dream of owning a car, moves-if they can attract customers. despite growing concerns over the impact “This will have an impact on overall new on health. vehicle sales in the country,” said Namrita China’s rapid economic growth has cre- Chow, principal analyst for IHS Automotive ated huge wealth and a rising middle class, in Shanghai. “But people will buy higher with 109 million people owning vehicles quality cars with better engines.” for personal use at the end of last year, up Last year, China’s auto sales surged 13.9 from 93 million in 2012. percent to 21.98 million vehicles, according to a Chinese industry group, as a recovery Limits on vehicle numbers in Japanese brands previously hurt by a But some Chinese cities, choked by diplomatic row offset the impact of slowing smog and plagued by traffic congestion, economic growth. have slapped limits on vehicle numbers, to The government has sought to increase the dismay of would-be car owners and ownership of electric vehicles with the aims manufacturers alike. of reducing pollution and building up The famed tourism spot of Hangzhou domestic manufacturing, but demand has last month unveiled rules to limit the cars disappointed. which clog the roads around its scenic Last year, the central government offered subsidies of $5,700 to $9,800 for buying electric passenger cars, while local- level incentives can cut even more off the NEW YORK: The 2015 Honda Fit is displayed at the New York International Auto Show in New York. — AP price. ly not big,” he said. China has set a target of opens to the public on Monday, Germany’s Little demand for electric cars having five million new energy vehicles on Audi announced it would launch a plug-in Chinese auto parts group Wanxiang the streets by 2020. But with Chinese buy- hybrid for the China market, and South snapped up the assets of failed US electric ers-many first-time owners-hoping to make Korea’s Hyundai Motor said it would set up carmaker Fisker Automotive for $150 mil- a splash, electric vehicles have taken a back a $290 million research centre in China to lion to make inroads into the segment. seat, while local governments are reluctant develop new energy vehicles. Sales of “new energy” vehicles-which to invest in charging stations given that so Another US electric carmaker, Tesla includes fully electric cars and hybrids-were few such cars are on the road. Motors, has caused a splash in China around 25,000 in the past two years, esti- Still, some automakers see government with aggressive advertising and by NEW YORK: The Dodge Super Been logo is mates Cui Dongshu, deputy secretary gen- support for the initiative as a market oppor- pitching its vehicles to luxury buyers, displayed on a new 2015 Challenger at the eral of the China Passenger Car Association. tunity. although analysts said they might only New York International Auto Show. —AP “The volume for this segment is definite- Ahead of the Beijing auto show which find a niche market.— AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Desa seeks partner in drive to be global luxury brand ISTANBUL: Turkish luxury leather Desa has more than 100 stores in ness. “What we need is a strategic part- investor. goods maker Desa, which supplies Turkey and a flagship site in London’s ner with the right connections and “As a family who still has the majori- brands including Prada and Mulberry, Covent Garden. It wants to expand into right network ... to realise my dream of ty share in the business, we’re not look- is seeking a strategic partner to help new markets by establishing itself in taking this brand international in three ing at exiting. It is a healthy business, it take its own label global, its chief exec- locations including China, Paris, Milan years instead of the ten years which the is a promising business, and there are utive said in an interview. and New York. natural progression of things will take,” still a lot of things I would like to do The Istanbul-based firm, which start- “It is a financially sound and strong he said. with the business,” Celet said. ed 42 years ago making handbags for company, so we do not need an addi- He said the company, mostly owned Desa generated earnings before the domestic market, began supplying tional infusion of cash ... to realise the by the Celet family with a 35 percent interest, tax, depreciation and amorti- leather to top global fashion houses in business plan,” chief executive Burak free float, was talking to several poten- zation of 11.8 million lira ($5.6 million) the 1990s. It has also been quietly shift- Celet said in an interview. His father tial investors but declined to give in 2013, up almost a quarter on the ing its own brand into the higher-mar- founded the company, and his family details, beyond emphasising that Desa previous year, on sales of 183 million gin premium segment. still holds a majority stake in the busi- was not seeking a purely financial lira. — Reuters

India’s energy giant RIL posts marginal quarterly profit rise

NEW DELHI: Energy giant Reliance Industries Ltd reported a marginal rise in quarterly profit yesterday, with billion- aire tycoon Mukesh Ambani saying his company had turned in a “satisfying” full-year performance. Reliance, which operates the world’s biggest refining complex, said net profit for its fourth quarter ended March 31 rose 0.8 percent to 56.3 billion rupees ($933 million) from a year earlier. The profit was in line with analysts’ forecasts. The com- pany’s average gross refining margin-a key benchmark of profitability-fell to $9.3 per barrel from $10.1 in the same period a year earlier. But analysts said investors were looking beyond the fourth-quarter results and focusing on the impact on earn- ings of billions of dollars worth of future energy projects and Reliance’s multi-billion-dollar telecom foray. Infiniti Q50 launched in ME Shares of the energy-to-retail conglomerate, which have climbed nearly 24 percent in the past year on expec- DUBAI: Encapsulating Infiniti’s vision of Infiniti Q50 brings more world-firsts. horsepower 3.7-litre V6 engine. Infiniti tations of strong earnings in years ahead, closed up nearly future premium sport sedans, Infiniti The Predictive Forward Collision Q50 Hybrid mates a 3.5-litre V6 petrol two percent Thursday at 958.75 rupees. Q50 has been officially launched across Warning system alerts the driver to risks engine with Infiniti’s Direct Response Financial markets were closed yesterday for a public the Middle East today, marking a new that lie beyond their field of view, sens- Hybrid System delivering net 350 horse- holiday. Revenues for the final financial quarter climbed era for its model range. Already having ing the speed and distance of the vehi- power and 536Nm of combined torque 12.9 percent percent to 978.07 billion rupees from a year claimed accolade around the world, cle directly ahead and of the one travel- with Intelligent Dual Clutch Control, earlier. Total consolidated net profit for the full year to including the Middle East, Infiniti Q50 ling in front of that, giving early warning making it capable of reaching 100km/h March 31, 2014, was up 7.7 percent at 224.93 billion brings distinctive design, world’s first of a potential accident. Meanwhile from a standing start in 5.1 seconds. rupees ($3.8 billion) on revenues that climbed 8.1 technologies, engaging performance Active Lane Control(tm) helps Infiniti All models come equipped with a percent to 4.01 trillion rupees ($67.0 billion). It was a “satis- and a new standard of in-car connectivi- Q50 remain in the middle of the lane, refined 7-speed automatic transmission fying year for Reliance,” Ambani, India’s wealthiest person, ty. Offering new levels of driving person- preventing the driver unintentionally with available solid magnesium paddle said in a statement. The company’s refining business alisation, Infiniti Q50 is for the new gen- moving from between the marker lines shifters. The Infiniti Drive Mode Selector delivered record high profits and petrochemical earnings eration of young-minded, premium cus- and reducing the need for minor adjust- with Eco, Standard, Sport and Custom grew sharply, he said. tomers seeking Infiniti’s unique fusion of ments of the steering wheel while cruis- settings is also standard on all models, “While we continue to face technical challenges in inspired performance and hospitality. ing along highways. part of the advanced customizable digi- growing domestic upstream production, the US shale gas Juergen Schmitz, General Manager, Inside Infiniti Q50, occupants are tal environment system that allows driv- business grew significantly during the year and has Infiniti in the Middle East, said: “Infiniti greeted by another world-premiere - ers to create unique settings for engine, become a material contributor to our earnings,” Ambani Q50’s muscular, athletic appearance not just one touch screen control panel transmission, handling and steering said. Reliance’s retail business “has turned around and is brings a blend of dynamic exterior but two. These offer intuitive access to a controls. now India’s largest retail chain”, he added. The company styling and Infiniti’s signature ‘double dazzling array of features which tailor The all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 is avail- has also “accelerated efforts to roll-out our state-of-the- wave’ interior to create design which their driving experience and also Infiniti able in Premium and Sport grades, the art” ultra-fast fourth-generation mobile services across the creates an emotional engagement. In Touch which puts communication latter featuring sport styling, brakes and country. —AFP Infiniti Q50’s looks alone make it stand- with the outside world within easy suspension tuning. Infiniti Q50’s out in its class. reach. This telematics system integrates advanced range of safety features are “But Infiniti Q50 also introduces a hands-free phone, moving map naviga- available as part of the ‘Technology new era of technology and features to tion, entertainment and smart phone Pack’ available across all derivatives. our range. After ten years of develop- apps in a way that is safe and easy-to- Infiniti Q50 earned its first Middle ment, we have transferred the digital use while driving. East award in 2013, claiming the title of steering system used in aviation for The Infiniti Q50 range introduces the ‘Best car of the Year 2014’ by one of the decades to the automotive industry and brand’s first hybrid powertrain to the region’s leading automotive publica- made it standard across the Infiniti Q50 Middle East alongside the refined 326- tions, Sport Auto. range in the Middle East in the form of ‘Direct Adaptive Steering’. It offers the driver multiple settings of steering weight and response speed, giving them a personalized driving experience to suit their mood, whether it be inspired by performance or the desire for comfort. LIVERPOOL: A picture shows signage outside a Tesco store “As a global brand Infiniti is entering in Liverpool, north west England. Supermarket giant a new era focused on new products, Tesco announced a second drop in annual profits in a row new technology and new designs for on April 16, leaving Britain’s biggest retailer hoping that our customers. Infiniti Q50 is the recent expansion into India and China can offset weakness embodiment of this new vision,” said in Europe. — AFP Schmitz. 19, 2014 SATURDAY, APRIL APRIL SATURDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

A fetish for full body suits in Japan Page 27

Photo shows a tulip with rain drops on it stands out from a row planted in a field near Mount Vernon, Wash.— AP

Flowers blooming for Skagit Valley Tulip Festival PAGE 29 SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Former President Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey on stage together at the 25th Actor Kevin Spacey, left, performs with singers James Taylor and Sting, right, at the 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fund benefit concert. Anniversary Rainforest Fund benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Thursday in New York. — AP Bill Clinton jokes with Spacey at benefit concert

ear the end of the first half of Thursday’s 25th Anniversary became the rule with performers leaving their comfort zone to Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You.)” Paul Simon did a couple of his Rain Forest benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, chairwoman entertain the audience. The show opened with Sting and Spacey own songs, including “Graceland” and “The Boxer,” and Dionne NTrudie Styler introduced a man who recently learned he sitting at a bar performing a duet of Cole Porter’s “Well Did You Warwick covered some of the Burt Bacharach tunes she helped was going to be a grandfather, and out came former President Bill Evah (What a Swell Party This Is),” backed by a huge orchestra. make famous, including “Walk on By.” Clinton. After Clinton praised the Rain Forest Foundation, he They eventually were joined by James Taylor, who entered the Stephen Stills brought the crowd to its feet several times with thanked Sting, Styler and others for their efforts for the organiza- stage wearing a lampshade on his head. raucous versions of “For What It’s Worth” and the finale for the tion. Then he acknowledged Kevin Spacey. “I know Kevin Spacey nearly three-hour show, “Love the One You’re With,” where he was made fun of me earlier,” he told the crowd. Tree-hugging tantric yogis joined by all of the evening’s performers. The Rain Forest Clinton was referring to Spacey doing an imitation of him prais- At the end of the number, Sting welcomed everyone and intro- Foundation Fund is dedicated to preserving rain forests around ing his Netflix series, “House of Cards,” where the actor plays the duced Spacey as President Underwood, his “House of Cards” char- the world by defending the rights of indigenous people living in president of the United States. Spacey walked out onstage and acter. After opera singer Renee Fleming did her first selection early and around them. It was founded in 1989 by Sting, Styler and greeted Clinton. The former president told the actor that he in the show, she requested a partner to accompany her on an Jean-Pierre Dutilleux. In her speech, Styler spoke of the global always wanted to be in his line of work. But then he quipped to excerpt from “Don Giovanni,” and out came Sting. After accompa- importance of protecting rain forests around the world, and said hearty laughs: “Now, damn it, you’re in mine.” Clinton continued nying her seamlessly in Italian, Spacey walked out with a giant daf- that she and Sting no longer mind being described as “Tree-hug- poking fun at Spacey. “I was always accused of getting away with fodil in his mouth and joined in. ging tantric yogis.” — AP murder, but Spacey actually does it in 15 minutes,” Clinton said, Actor Oscar Isaac of “Inside Llewyn Davis” performed a solo referring to a scene in the first episode of the second season. acoustic version of Rod Stewart’s “Young Turks.” And Sting’s oldest Earlier in the day, Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, announced that son, Joe, covered Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”Some stayed she and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, are expecting their first in their comfort zone. Taylor performed his signature hit, “Fire and child later this year. As for the benefit concert, the exception often Rain,” and later covered the Holland-Dozier-Holland classic “How Guitarists still making memorable music with Strat

imi Hendrix made it shriek. Buddy Holly made it swing. Stevie Ray while blues virtuoso Robert Cray calls it a workhorse. As shredder Yngwie Vaughn made it snarl. Some of the most legendary guitarists in music Malmsteen put it: “There is no substitute.” As this iconic guitar celebrates Jhistory have elicited unforgettable sounds from the Fender its 60th anniversary in April, The Associated Press takes a visual journey Stratocaster, the distinctive double-cutaway guitar born in a small into the creation of the iconic guitars, and explores why it’s still a fixture Fullerton, Calif, workshop 60 years ago this month. It’s far from a musical on concert stages today. — AP relic: It remains an essential tool for some of today’s top guitarists. Vince Gill relies on it so much he calls it an “extension of my hands,”

An original 1954 Fender Stratocaster, left, is shown next to a Blues icon Robert Cray performs with his signature Fender Stratocaster at a Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen 2014 model. concert in Anaheim, Calif on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009. holds his Fender Stratocaster up as he finishes his performance at Wembley Arena in London. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 ‘X-men’ director accused of assault on teen boy

lawyer for “X-Men” director Bryan Plied with drinks Singer on Thursday dismissed as Egan, who grew up in Nebraska, moved Adefamatory claims that the filmmaker first to New York, where he did some model- sexually assaulted a former child model and ing, and then to Los Angeles, where he was aspiring teenage actor. The alleged victim, invited to parties. “I had drugs put in drinks, I Michael Egan III, said in a lawsuit that Singer had liquor poured down my throat,” Egan forced him to have sex at parties in California said, saying the abuse happened in one par- and Hawaii in the late 1990s, when he was 17 ticular house. “I was raped numerous times in years old. But Singer’s lawyer said the allega- that house, by numerous individuals. “You tions were absurd, and that the timing of their were like a piece of meat to these people, release was designed to generate maximum they would pass you around between them,” publicity ahead of the release of the latest “X- Egan said, calling his attackers “evil.” Men” movie next month. In terms of threats, he recalled one time “The claims made against Bryan Singer are when a gun was put in his mouth. “As a child, completely without merit. We are very confi- I was scared to death,” Egan said. Egan, now 31, said he told his mother about the abuse at dent that Bryan will be vindicated in this the time and that she went to the police absurd and defamatory lawsuit,” said Marty about it. The LA Police Department brought Singer, who said he is not related to the direc- in an agent from the Federal Bureau of tor. “It is obvious that this case was filed in an Investigation, but the case was not pursued. attempt to get publicity at the time when “It fell on deaf ears,” Egan told reporters at a Michael Egan III looks to his attorney Jeff Herman as they brief the media in Los Angeles Bryan’s new movie is about to open in a few Beverly Hills press conference. “Then I basical- on a lawsuit alleging the ‘X-Men’ director Bryan Singer sexually abused him.—AFP weeks.” ly buried it in me, as deep as I possibly could, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” starring and I developed a problem with drinking to Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Hugh numb that pain for years.” He began going to Jackman is due out on May 23 in the United trauma therapy 11 months ago and then Williams in talks to reprise States, and around the world on that date or a sought legal action. few days before. His lawyer Jeff Herman denied the timing In the lawsuit, Egan alleged that Singer of the lawsuit was linked to the upcoming “X- ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ role “manipulated his power, wealth, and position Men” film release, saying it was due to a legal in the entertainment industry to sexually “window” in Hawaii that meant he has to file ox 2000 is developing the abuse and exploit the underage plaintiff before April 24. And Herman-who specializes sequel to the 1993 hit comedy through the use of drugs, alcohol, threats and in sex abuse cases, including representing vic- F“Mrs Doubtfire,” which starred inducements.” He suffered “catastrophic psy- tims of Catholic clergy in the United States- Robin Williams. The follow-up will chological and emotional injuries” because of said he will likely file another three or four be penned by “Elf” writer David the abuse, added the 13-page legal docu- lawsuits. “Hollywood has a problem with the Berenbaum, the studio’s spokes- ment filed Wednesday in Hawaii. sexual exploitation of children,” he said.—AFP woman, Chelsey Summey, con- firmed on Thursday. While no deals are in place yet, Williams and Chris Days after shooting, Columbus are in talks to join the production, Summey said. The 62-year-old Williams would ‘Virunga’ debuts at Tribeca reprise his role as Mrs. Doubtfire, and Columbus would be back to ays after the director of Africa’s oldest defenders. direct and produce with his compa- national park was shot by gunmen, a Directed by British filmmaker Orlando von ny 1492. Williams starred in “Mrs Ddocumentary about those who protect Einsiedel, “Virunga” depicts the desperate strug- Doubtfire” as struggling actor Daniel Virunga National Park from armed poachers and gle by de Merode and the park rangers to pro- Hillard, a father of three who dis- encroaching oil interests premiered at the tect the park and its wildlife from armed militias, guised himself as Scottish nanny Tribeca Film Festival. The debut Thursday night rebels and an oil company. “It’s obviously very Mrs Doubtfire to spend time with his of “Virunga,” named after the eastern Congo tragic what’s happened, but a lot of people have kids. The former wife of Williams’ park, followed the shooting Tuesday of taken interest in this. It’s helped to magnify Daniel was played by Sally Field. Emmanuel de Merode, the chief warden of things,” said von Einsiedel, who has been in fre- Pierce Brosnan also starred. The In this April 28, 2012 file photo, Robin Williams Virunga. He is in serious but stable condition quent contact with De Merode while he recov- original film made over $400 million appears onstage at The 2012 Comedy Awards in after being attacked by three gunmen while ers from gunshot wounds to his abdomen. worldwide.—AP New York.—AP driving through the park. De Merode, a Belgian “Emmanuel is very conscious of that, too. He’s royal, appears extensively in the documentary, like, ‘I’m getting better. Now let’s go make a lot which provides a striking portrait of the violence of noise about what’s happening,’” von ‘Amazing Spider-Man 2’ end credits to surrounding the majestic park and its dauntless Einsiedel said. The Congolese government has authorized feature ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ scene oil exploration in the park by London-based ver wanted to see the X-Men and Spider- keting venture, fans should not expect them to SOCO, following the discovery of oil in 2010. The Man together on the big screen? Well team up on any official creative ventures regard- World Wildlife Fund has protested the legality of Eyou’ll soon be able to - sort of. A scene pro- ing the Marvel heroes anytime soon. “The that decision. Virunga is a World Heritage site moting Fox’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” will Amazing Spider-Man 2” is set for release May 2, listed by UNESCO as “in danger.” The park is appear during the end credits of Sony’s “The while “X-Men: Days of Future Past” hits theaters best known as home to about a quarter of the Amazing Spider-Man 2.” The end-credits sting three weeks later on May 23.—Reuters world’s estimated 800 remaining mountain features Jennifer Lawrence reprising the role of gorillas. It’s the only place on Earth were one Mystique, opposite her “X-Men: First Class” co- can see all three African great apes. The park star Lucas Still and “X-Men” newcomers Evan includes the snowcapped Rwenzoria mountains, Jonigkeit and Josh Helman. Mystique engages a seven volcanoes, a lake and plains filled with group of military men and gets to show off her wildlife. trademark fighting skills. While this is not a direct crossover, it does mark the first time that the two studios have Powerful company partnered in the promotion of their respective “This is a British company operating illegally Marvel properties. Fox holds the rights to the X- in a World Heritage site,” said von Einsiedel. Men characters, while Sony has the rights to the There’s like .05 percent of the world’s surface is a Spider-Man universe. (And Disney owns Marvel.) World Heritage site. If we can’t protect those, The studios have made previous attempts to what does it say for the Great Barrier Reef, for merge their brands in the past. Most notable, Six years old Justin, right, poses with a Yellowstone, for Yosemite?” In meetings filmed there were discussions to include the Oscorp person dressed as Spider-Man during a Journalist Melanie Gouby, left, and film- with hidden cameras, “Virunga” shows local building, a key landmark from the Spider-Man fan event with the actors of the movie maker Orlando von Einsiedel pose before SOCO supporters attempting to bribe park series, into the New York skyline for “The ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ prior to the their interview about the film ‘Virunga,’ workers to circumvent de Merode, arguing that Avengers.” Unfortunately, nothing came to pass. movie’s premiere in Berlin, Germany, Thursday in New York.—AP “he’s the one hindering the process.” —AP While the studios have partnered on this mar- Tuesday, April 15, 2014.—AP SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Max Vertin, 7, left, and his brother, Rowen, 5, celebrate after floating in a wind tunnel. Wearing an Iron Man costume, Max Vertin, 7, from Hastings, Neb, floats in a wind tunnel simulating free fall during a day hosted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation at SkyVenture Colorado in Lone Tree, Colo, south of Denver. — AP photos Nebraska boy gets his wish: Skydiving in Colorado

ax Vertin has a disease that is weakening his muscles, festing itself when patients are very young and causing their but not his imagination. Make-A-Wish Colorado says muscles to slowly deteriorate. Until recently, according to the MMax, who loves to pretend to fly like a superhero, Muscular Dystrophy Association, patients did not survive soared Tuesday at an indoor skydiving facility near Denver much beyond their teens, when the disease begins to affect called SkyVenture Colorado. The Hastings, Nebraska boy the heart and respiratory muscles. Life expectancy has been donned a yellow-and-red Iron Man costume and red helmet increasing because of advances in cardiac and respiratory Wearing an Iron Man costume, Max Vertin, 7, adjusts his and broad smile for his wind tunnel adventure. care. — AP goggles as he prepares to float in a wind tunnel simulat- Max and his two brothers have Duchenne muscular dystro- ing free fall. phy, a genetic disorder that primarily affects boys, often mani-

Lost radio program featuring Hank Williams found Cyrus remains hospitalized, reviously unreleased recordings of country music leg- end Hank Williams performing songs on a 1950 radio Pshow will be released next month for download and on vinyl. “The Garden Spot Programs, 1950” features 24 songs cancels two more concerts and jingles from a taped show that aired on early country radio stations, sponsored by a Texas plant nursery. Most of the tapes were lost, but only the copies from one station, iley Cyrus, who is suffering KSIB-AM in Creston, Iowa, survived. The recordings were from a sinus infection, has transferred, restored and mastered for release May 20 by Mpostponed two more US con- Omnivore Records. The singer’s daughter, Jett Williams, said certs on her “Bangerz” tour as the pop in a written statement that no one knew these recordings star remains hospitalized following an existed. Williams’ biographer, Colin Escott, wrote the liner allergic reaction to antibiotics, her notes for the album and said the recordings were used to concert promoter said on Thursday. augment live acts on local radio stations. — AP Cyrus, 21, called off upcoming shows in Nashville, Tennessee, yesterday and Louisville, Kentucky, today. The show in Nashville has been rescheduled for Aug 7 and Louisville on Aug 9, Live Nation Entertainment Inc said. The “Wrecking Ball” singer, who has canceled shows in Kansas City, Missouri, and St Louis earlier this week, posted a statement on Twitter saying she suffered an allergic reac- tion to the antibiotic cephalexin. The North American leg of Cyrus’ tour in support of her recent album “Bangerz” began in February and she was scheduled to perform more than 40 dates. The 22-concert European leg of the tour begins on May 2 in Amsterdam. — Reuters

In this undated photo released by the Country Music Photo dated December 31, 2013 shows US pop star Miley Cyrus performing in Hall of Fame, country music artist Hank Williams is New York’s Times Square to celebrate the ball drop at the annual New Year’s Eve shown. — AP celebration. — AFP SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Rave on Londoners re-live dancing days with kids in tow he bass is pumping, the lights are low and the dance floor of the club is heav- Ting. It’s the weekend and the young man is enjoying himself-until someone steals his balloon. Dressed in a Spiderman outfit, the four-year-old boy runs to his dad by the bar to complain, before receiving a glow-stick in consolation. Such are the highs and lows of family raving, a new craze fuelled by London’s ex-clubbers who still want to go dancing but now have kids in tow. “What a genius idea- Four-year-old Maximilian enjoys the music†and entertainment at the Big Fish Little Fish drink, raving, children. What more could you ‘2-4 Hour Party People’ event in Brixton, South London. — AFP photos want?” said Paul Crawley, 34, swaying slowly light look disturbingly like small, drunk adults, year-old former civil servant who organized on the dance floor carrying his baby daughter while the waft of stale drink lends the party an this party. Her events company, Big Fish Little Camille in a sling. authentic feel. It is a little too authentic for Fish, is aimed at-and the pun is intended- “The worst thing is I was invited out last Jody Bullough, a 43-year-old from Burnley in ”two-to-four hour party people” who like to night, but I said no, I’ve got to stay sober for northern England who is here with her six- strut their stuff before getting home for the this party.” This dingy bar in south London is year-old daughter Jasmine. “It’s a scuzzy kids’ bedtime. Saunders used to spend her normally the venue for all-night raves, but for (grimy) venue. It’s really dirty,” said Bullough, weekends at clubs and warehouse parties and two and a half hours on a Saturday afternoon, who runs a manufacturing business, noting her holidays in Ibiza. it is transformed into a playgroup with a dif- Jasmine’s filthy hands after playing on the Now with two children under four, she ference. In the chillout area, mums breastfeed floor. The location has brought back fond found no shortage of family-friendly musical on low leather sofas to a soundtrack of soft Ten-month-old Miles enjoys the music memories, though. “I remember coming here events but despaired at the chart-topping rock, while older children paint and draw at a and entertainment at the Big Fish Little years ago, when I lived in London and we used pop tunes that they played. “My kids are hap- well-equipped craft table under moving pro- Fish 2-4 Hour Party People’ event. to go raving. It’s a really good idea,” she says. py listening to my favorite drum’n’bass tracks, Nearby, Bullough’s friend Rebecca Smith, a so I knew it would be fine,” she said. Given the 40-year-old probation officer sporting a vest nature of the dance music scene, many of the top and pixie haircut, does the funky chicken parents here are likely to have indulged in dance with her daughter. As the girls wander recreational drugs in the past. But the only off to get tattoo transfers at the bar-they will sign of nefarious behavior is a group of chil- wash off later-Smith breaks into some more dren in a corner silently trading sparkly rib- impressive moves. bons from the glitter cannon. By the end of the party there are empty No funny business plastic pint glasses piled up on tables, but Family discos and raves are increasingly most people are sober, fully aware of their common across London, as the clubbers who responsibilities as parents. “The toxins we once packed world-famous venues such as were pouring into our bodies (when we were Ministry of Sound get older and have children. younger) were neither here nor there-actually “We haven’t stopped being people with our we still like music and dancing, and we can own interests,” said Hannah Saunders, a 45- still do that,” Saunders said. — AFP

Eight-year-old Cosima is carried by her father as she enjoys the music and entertainment. jected images. The bar is well stocked and next door, pro- fessional DJs play chilled house music, funk and drum’n’bass at a surprisingly loud vol- ume, although organizers insist it is safe for babies’ ears. The undisputed king of the dance floor is Caelan, a fleet-footed five-year- old wearing impeccable white trainers. “Keep to the beat!” urges his dad, Michael Edie, while a little girl in a princess outfit looks on admiringly. Caelan has been taking dance les- sons since he was three and this is a good place for him to get some practice in, offering a bit more space than at home. Edie, a DJ with London urban music radio station Rinse FM, is happy to stay seated, however. “You won’t see me dancing. I’m no way as good as him,” he laughs. Four-year-old Tehya watches a boy break- ‘We went raving here’ dance as she enjoys the music and enter- The toddlers staggering around in the half- tainment. Two-year-old Oscar enjoys the music. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Home craft: Natural dyes offer a burst of spring color

ransforming weeds, kitchen scraps and other natural elements into a rainbow of textile dyes is a concept as old as civilization Titself, with dye vats dating to as early as 2000 BC. Now, these homemade pigments - some long abandoned in favor of more star- tling chemical dyes - are being rediscovered in kitchens and studios around the world. “There’s been a huge rise in interest over the last two or three years,” said Sasha Duerr, author of “The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes” (Timber Press, 2011), who teaches natural dye techniques and has founded the Permacouture Institute, which pro- motes sustainable textiles. “There’s a lot we have to revisit and learn.”In Colorado fiber-arts circles, small and independent dyers who sell their wares are thriving concerns, and fiber guilds, such as the Rocky Mountain Weaver’s Guild , the Handweavers Guild of Boulder and the Northern Colorado Weaver’s Guild offer informa- tion on the craft. The Rocky Mountain guild is even working on cre- This undated photo shows a natural dye bath, top left, ating a dye-plant garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. made from pomegranate rinds, and natural dyes, bottom, At a time when focus is returning to locally produced goods, made from rose petals and iron. these sustainable natural colors reflect their surroundings. The soft, welcoming blues of painted shutters in the south of France are made from indigo. The golds of Provence are from ochre. And from the American Southwest, those dazzling reds and fuchsias are made Frothy fun from cochineal, a parasite that lives on cactus. Natural ingredients “I try to stay open and think of colors when I look around me. I collect Dyeing Easter eggs lots of different things, like Osage orange, pecans and walnuts, in shaving cream onions and pomegran- ates,” said Maura This undated photo provided by Sasha Duerr shows a paint- f dyeing Easter eggs with vinegar and color tablets is Ambrose, who makes ing with natural dyes using colors made from reductions of feeling old, reach for a new duo: shaving cream and liq- hand-stitched quilts of foraged black walnut hulls (black) and purple cabbage Iuid food coloring. It’s a tactile project many kids will naturally dyed fabrics in (blue) with a lemon resist which acts as a color modifier or a enjoy - especially swirling the colors into the cream. “They her Folk Fibers studio in bleach resistant. (Left) Photo shows loquat leaves and silk thought it was really cool to drop the food coloring into Austin, Texas. Onion skins fabric dyed in a loquat leaf dye bath. — AP photos the shaving cream and take the toothpick and swirl it,” (yellows), walnut hulls (browns), avocado peels rhubarb, sumac, pomegranate rinds, lemon Sarah Barrand of Caldwell, Idaho, says of her four children. and pits (pale pink), marigolds (yellows), sumac juice or vinegar. “And the shaving cream will actually even help clean leaves (brown), mushrooms and lichens (with With a mordant, sumac fruit yields red pig- up the mess afterward,” she wrote in her blog, A Thrifty their rainbow of possibilities), cochineal (fuch- ment and indigo yields its classic shades of blue. Mom. As simple as the traditional egg-dyeing method but sias and reds) and madder root (oranges and Cream of tartar can be used to brighten colors, potentially messier, this method involves filling a deep- reds) are traditional favorites. Coffee grounds and salt to intensify them. To be safe, designate sided baking pan or sheet with an inch of shaving cream - and old tea bags also are great for shades of tan a pot specifically for dyeing projects, and use no more, to be thrifty - and then and brown. Nettle yields greenish tints. gloves to protect your skin. If you’re dyeing in smoothing it so colors Even succulent plants can be used to make the kitchen, work in the sink and avoid surfaces won’t run together. dyes, said Duerr, who recommended aloe for used for preparing foods. Randomly add pinks and yellows and jade plants for purples Although natural-dyeing books from the drops of two to and black. Wild fennel, abundant in northern ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s are plentiful, experts warn that four colors - California, yields fluorescent yellows “so bright books from that period often recommend using more than they hurt your eyes” if harvested while in toxic substances like chrome, copper or even that “creates bloom. brown or lead as mordants. “You just don’t want to be ugly green,” inhaling that kind of thing,” said Duerr. Good tips Wrapping the natural materials in muslin or put- says Barrand. Like cooking, the results depend as much on ting them in some old pantyhose makes proj- With a the chef as on the recipe, Duerr said. “The beau- Fabrics being soaked in colors. ects neater and easier. — AP toothpick or ty of it is that you can take something from the lollipop stick, back of your closet and give it new life using swirl the colors just the waste from your dinner.” Any plants containing sufficient through the shaving tannins can be used to achieve colorfast fabrics without additives, cream, being careful not known as mordants. But there are also natural mordants, such as to over-mix. “Large swirls and loops will give the layering effect,” writes Barrand in her blog. Working from one end of the pan to the other in a straight line, roll a hard-boiled egg through the swirled colors and deposit it in an egg carton to dry. Wear rubber gloves or the food coloring will dye your hands. Barrand could roll three eggs in a 9-by-9-inch pan before the colors muddied. When that occurs, rinse and dry the pan, add more shaving cream - don’t use shaving gel - and start the process anew. After 3 minutes, clean off an egg to check its color - likely a light pastel. For darker shades, wait 10 minutes so the food dye has more time to seep into the eggshell. The eggs will look as if they’ve been tie-dyed. This undated photo shows a color palette Duerr has If you’re concerned about using shaving cream on an dubbed ‘compost colors,’ dyed using onion skins and edible egg, use whipping cream instead, Barrand says. Or avocado pits, from left, yellow onion skin and alum salts, blow out the eggs before coloring them. Find other egg- yellow onion skin with no mordant, avocado pits and dyeing ideas at Pinterest.com. — AP Artist and designer Sasha Duerr works with organic dyes soda ash, avocado pits with no mordant, and avocado and fibers, focusing on creative reuse of materials. pits and iron added. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

This picture taken on January 25, 2014 shows members of Tokyo Zentai Club chatting Members of Tokyo Zentai Club walking on a street in Tokyo. with each other at a park in Tokyo. — AFP photos A fetish for full body suits in Japan y day, she is a mild-mannered office clerk, whose modest Invisible touch “In a way, they are trying to expose their deeper self by hiding make-up and conservative hairstyle make her blend in to While the hobby is a long way from being mainstream in their own identity,” said Daibo. “I find it a very interesting way of Bany crowd. By night, she dresses in a skin-tight, all-in-one Japan, a country with an unsurpassed ability to dream up slightly communication.” Alice Omori, 40, a practitioner for around 20 Spandex body suit that covers everything-including her eyes-and off-the-wall pastimes, it makes occasional appearances in popular years who now runs an Internet-based tailoring service for fellow sits in bars, alone but liberated, she believes, from the judgment culture. Among the most prominent was a movie of comedy zentai fetishists, agreed. “You can feel so good and happy just by of others. “With my face covered, I cannot eat or drink like other vignettes that each focused on common but crushingly awkward wearing this,” he told AFP as he stood in his custom-made suit, customers,” said the woman, who is in her 20s and says her name social situations that were resolved through a conversion to zen- cut to cleave tightly to the outline of his head, hands and feet. is Hokkyoku Nigo (North Pole No. 2). “I have led my life always tai wearing. In one, a recipe-blogging housewife who is a victim “You can savor more mentally-fulfilling communication with oth- worrying about what other people think of me. of bullying by a group of homemakers gives up the fight against ers,” he said. “It is such a wonderful thing.” — AFP They say I look cute, gentle, childish or naive,” she said, her lips the over-bearing leader and finds liberation in a circle of zentai ruffling the tight, red shiny material. “I always felt suffocated by lovers. that. But wearing this, I am just a person in a full body suit.” And in seeming homage to the superheroes whose unspoken Hokkyoku Nigo is part of a small subset in Japan with a fetish for presence informs adherents’ costume choices, a young man wearing outfits called “zentai”-an abbreviation of “zenshintaitsu”, dressed as a Power Ranger made headlines in Japan after it was which means “full body suit”-who say they are seeking liberation revealed he hangs around at the entrance to a subway station to by effacing the physical self. help young mothers carry their baby buggies down stairs. “I like Some meet through Internet forums and through gatherings to touch and stroke others and to be touched and stroked like like the Tokyo Zentai Club, whose ten members get together this,” said a 36-year-old teacher, Nezumiko. “Once you are in one every other month, just like any other group, to hold barbecues or of these suits, you can feel the person, instead of looking at them. parties. Unlike any other group, they are covered head-to-toe in skintight Lycra. “I was always fascinated by hero costumes as a ‘Erasing’ appearance child,” said member Hanaka, 22, who was introduced to the club Academic Ikuo Daibo of Tokyo Mirai University said zentai fans by her 25-year-old boyfriend, Popo. seems to be groping for a different way of expressing their own “When I was 13 or 14, I even tried to make a full-body suit identity. “In Japan, many people feel lost; they feel unable to find myself, sewing stockings together. But I stopped, thinking maybe their role in society,” he said. “They have too many role models I was doing something weird. “I was really happy when I finally and cannot choose which one to follow.” He said they take solace found out on the Internet that there were people like me out from the erasing of their outward appearances and say they there,” said Hanaka, who always comes to Tokyo Zentai Club believe it offers a way for people to get to know others as they events with Popo. are, rather than because of how they look. Hokkyku Nigo posing before a mirror at a bar in Tokyo. Jimmy Choo creates Fukushima shoes line

esigner Jimmy Choo unveiled a one-off range of shoes in Choo said he believed the kind of true craftsmanship he had seen Japan yesterday, made using materials and techniques in Fukushima had the power to help turn around the fortunes of a Dnative to the disaster-hit Fukushima area, in a bid to boost place where tens of thousands of people remain displaced the profile of artisans there. Choo was inspired to come up with because of radiation released from the crippled nuclear plant. The the creations after visiting workshops in the area, which is strug- six pairs of shoes he made will be donated to local organizations gling to overcome the tsunami-sparked nuclear catastrophe that in the area after they have been exhibited, and Choo says he hit in 2011. There he found traditional materials that have been hopes they will help to bolster the profile of talented craftsmen made in the area for hundreds of years, such as Aizu cotton, nearby, so that they have something to build on for the future. super-fine Kawamata silk and the Aizu lacquerware, which he “If you give money to them, money (will run out), but passing thought could perfectly complement six pairs of high heels. on the skill, the skill will remain. They can start their own business- “When I looked at the fabric, I felt it was very, very unusual, es, they can acquire people, they can start a factory, bringing the especially when I saw the workshop, the tradition 250 years old,” economy back to the city.” Choo has focused on a couture line the London-based designer told AFP. “They use their own materi- catering to deep-pocketed clients after selling his share of an al to create this beautiful fabric. These people... they know how to eponymous ready-to-wear brand in 2001. He opened up his own weave the fabric (but) they don’t know how important (it is) to let London workshop in the late 1980s, gaining recognition and the whole world enjoy the craftsmanship, enjoy beautiful fabric.” international exposure after being featured in Vogue Magazine, The Penang, Malaysia-born Choo, whose haute couture shoes are but his star power soared to new heights after Princess Diana was worn by everyone from British royals to Madonna and US First photographed wearing his creations. — AFP Lady Michelle Obama, said a pair of shoes is more than just some- thing to wear on your feet. Malaysian designer Jimmy Choo poses with his son, Danny Art piece Choo after his lecture ‘Creativity Through Skills’ in “You know the shoe is a shoe, but a shoe to me is an art piece... Fukushima city yesterday. — AFP Some people can buy them and not necessarily wear them.” SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Details from a prototype of an electric carriage is displayed. A prototype of an electric carriage is displayed at the New York International Auto Show in New York yesterday. — AP photos Old timey car to replace NYC horse carriages show

n electric car that proponents hope will ment opportunities and will be good for our replace horse-drawn carriages in New York tourism industry.” ACity was presented Thursday at the New City Councilmember Daniel Dromm said legisla- York International Auto Show, as critics expressed tion was still being crafted, with the specifics of their distaste for the idea. The “Horseless eCarriage” how those who hold licenses for the carriage hors- prototype was commissioned by NYCLASS, a es could get the vehicles and how it would be paid group advocating for a ban on carriage horses for still to be determined. He insisted there were because they say it’s inhumane to have the animals enough votes for legislation to pass. — AP toiling in an urban environment. The high-tech insides of an electric carriage are displayed. The prototype car seats eight people and is made to look like it’s from the early 20th century, with lots of brass and oversized wheels. Creator Jason Wenig of The Creative Workshop, a car restoration and customization business, said the selling price could be between $150,000 and $175,000. Wenig called the car “an homage” to an earlier time, with a body shape that “reflects and celebrates an era that’s of amazing historical signifi- cance to this city.” But before the cars could make their way to the streets around Central Park, legislation banning the carriage horses would have to be passed. Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to ban the horses. But carriage- horse operators and their allies - including actor Detail from a Liam Neeson - have loudly opposed the mayor’s prototype of an plan and the council has not yet introduced the electric carriage is legislation. displayed. The Central Park Conservancy, a nonprofit that The instrument panel of a prototype electric carriage is displayed. oversees the park in partnership with the city, was against the idea of bringing more cars into the pop- ular place. “Forty million people visit Central Park each year, including runners, bicyclists, kids and dog owners,” said Doug Blonsky, president and CEO of the conservancy. “Adding vehicles to the mix will make the park less safe for all of them and increase congestion.” Wenig said the cars would be able to go up to 30 mph outside of the park, but would be kept electronically from going more than 5 mph inside it. Asked about the conservancy’s opposition, de Blasio said he thought it was a “misunderstanding” of what’s being proposed. “Right now, besides the fact that the horse carriages are not humane - there have been a number of accidents involving car- riages - the routes we’re talking about would be the same as our existing routes,” he said. “You’re talking about electric cars for tourists that go slow on purpose because they should go slow and because tourists want to see things. That’s very different from other issues about cars in parks, and it is a cleaner, better, more humane The wooden steering wheel of a prototype Visitors to the New York International Auto Show sit in an electric carriage prototype. approach, that obviously will also provide employ- electric carriage is displayed. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Photos show workers remove petals from tulip plants, which is part of the bulb-producing process, in a field near Mount Vernon, Wash. — AP photos Flowers blooming for Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

ost flower fields near Mount Vernon will be in full bloom this Mweekend as the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival continues through the month of April. Visitors are drawn to the agricultural valley north of Seattle every year to view acres of brightly colored blooms that stretch in neat rows toward picturesque farmhouses. Bulbs and blooms are avail- able for sale. Various community activi- ties coincide with the festival, including the annual “Tulip Pedal” bike ride this Saturday in nearby La Conner, which offers riders distances of 20, 40, and 60 miles. — AP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Target hackers may take years to find: Cyber cops

WASHINGTON: Secret Service investigators say they are close to gaining a full understanding of the methods hackers used to breach retailer Target’s computer systems last December. But the agency says it could take years to identify the criminals who stole some 40 million debit and credit card numbers of Target shoppers and other personal information from as many as 70 million people in the pre-Christmas breach. And it may take even longer to bring the offenders to justice. The federal investigation is complicated by the international nature of high-profile digital heists. The perpetrators are likely located overseas, which makes extradition and prosecution difficult. As a result, the Secret Service is focused on monitoring the online activities of its suspects, in hopes that they’ll be able to arrest them at an opportune moment, says Ari Baranoff, an assistant special agent in charge with the Secret Service’s crim- inal investigative division. “We take a lot of pride in having a lot of patience,” Baranoff said during a rare sit-down interview with the Associated Press at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “There are indi- viduals we’ve apprehended that we’ve known about for 10 years and we’re very comfortable indicting these individuals, sitting back and waiting patiently until the opportunity arrives that we can apprehend them.” Target says it can’t yet estimate what the breach will cost the company, but some analysts put it at close to half a billion dollars. The total cost of the breach -which also would include losses incurred by banks, consumers and others- could easily reach into the billions of dollars. Target, which is in the midst of its own investigation, has said very little about how the breach happened, except that it believes the thieves gained This image provided by Facebook shows the “Nearby Friends” tool. Using your smartphone’s GPS system, it will tell your entry to its systems by infiltrating computers owned by one of Facebook friends — provided they have the feature turned on — that you are nearby. Rather than share your exact location, its vendors, thought to be a Pittsburgh-area heating and though, it will only show that you are in close proximity, say within half a mile. —AP refrigeration business. Baranoff couldn’t speak specifically about the federal investigation into the Target breach, since the case is ongoing, but he talked candidly about the growing threat of large-scale, financially motivated cybercrimes and Facebook rolling out the Secret Service’s efforts to stop them. Behind every major breach, there’s usually a team of highly specialized cybercriminals who mainly know each other location-sharing feature through online nicknames and reputations. Most aren’t moti- vated by politics, just greed, Baranoff says. ‘Nearby Friends’ feature to be available soon Server farms If the hackers do invest in anything, it’s their own opera- NEW YORK: Facebook users in the US will soon be able to see Of course, all the safeguards and slow rollout mean that most tions. An increasing number are building their own server which of their friends are nearby using a new feature the compa- users won’t have the feature available right away on Thursday but farms, sometimes leasing space to other criminals, making it ny has launched on Thursday. rather in the coming weeks and months. Initially it will go to peo- harder for law enforcement to track them down. Further com- The “Nearby Friends” feature must be turned on by the user, ple who are likely to appreciate it, Vaccari said, such as people plicating matters, Baranoff says the vast majority of high-level so people shouldn’t expect to broadcast their location unknow- who have “checked in” to various restaurants, bars or other loca- cybercriminals tend to be Russian speakers based in former ingly. It will use your smartphone’s GPS system to tell your tions using Facebook. Soviet and Eastern European countries, which largely puts Facebook friends you are nearby - provided they have the feature Unlike with other features, Facebook isn’t forcing people to them out of the reach of US authorities. turned on as well. Rather than share your exact location, it will use Nearby Friends. Therefore, there is a possibility it won’t catch But the Secret Service has strong ties with cybercrime show only that you are nearby, say, within half a mile. on widely. Vaccari is optimistic that it will. agencies in many countries - including The Netherlands, If you like, you can manually share a more precise location Vaccari joined Facebook in 2012, when the company acquired Germany and the United Kingdom - and has found others to with a specific friend you’d like to meet up with. Friends can see Glancee, his startup service for meeting nearby people who have be helpful as well, even if they don’t have extradition treaties where you’re located in a particular park, airport or city block. By friends and interests in common. He has been working on the with the United States. default, your exact location will be shared for only an hour, new feature since then. Facebook employees have been testing While best known for protecting the president of the although you can change this. Nearby Friends launches amid the Nearby Friends, and Vaccari cites ways it has helped people get United States, the US Secret Service was originally formed in growing popularity of location-based mobile dating apps such as together: 1865 to investigate crimes related to counterfeit currency. The Tinder and Hinge. But unlike those apps, Facebook’s feature will When two people landed at the airport at the same time from passage of the Patriot Act following the Sept. 11 terrorist let you meet up only with people who are already your friends. different flights, they saw that they did through Nearby Friends attacks expanded its role in investigating computer-related Facebook, whose motto has long been “move fast and break and shared a ride home together. crimes. From the agency’s unassuming headquarters a few things,” built a lot of precautions in this new tool as it tries to When two people were out shopping alone in San Francisco, blocks from the bustle of the National Mall, special agents infil- avoid privacy fiascos that often bubble up when it makes changes they joined forces after seeing each other nearby. Nearby Friends, trate online forums frequented by hackers, monitoring their to its service. Vaccari said, isn’t for the five to 10 close friends whom you feel activities, and creating online undercover identities in hopes The new motto, “ship love,” is evident in the cautious rollout of comfortable texting or calling up to hang out. Rather, he said, it’s of infiltrating criminal networks. Nearby Friends, said Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of for the broader group of friends you enjoy spending time with The same kinds of activities take place at the Secret Privacy Forum, an industry-backed think tank in Washington. He but wouldn’t necessarily call. Nearby Friends may provide that Service’s other electronic crimes task forces in the US and has advised Facebook on privacy issues, including the latest fea- extra push. Users can limit whom they share their location with to overseas. The tactics the investigators use are surprisingly sim- ture. smaller groups of friends. ilar to the law enforcement methods used by traditional beat He believes Facebook is showing “a deeper appreciation that Users who sign up will be shown a short tutorial on how the cops everywhere. But digital investigations come with their with a billion users, any change needs to be implemented in a feature works. Besides seeing friends who are nearby, users can own challenges. And based on the growing volume of stolen way that doesn’t surprise the audience.” That’s especially so when also see which of their friends are traveling, and in general which data now up for sale, hackers are becoming more sophisticat- it comes to privacy, especially when it comes to location sharing. friends are using the feature even if they are not nearby. ed and more successful at evading justice. Chester Wisniewski, “Once you start bringing this to a mass audience, you need to be Facebook says there are no current plans to draw advertising senior security adviser for the computer security firm Sophos, cautious,” Polonetsky said, “so inadvertent oversharing is not pos- revenue from Nearby Friends. The company says it does not cur- says it’s the Secret Service’s ability to coordinate with law sible.” rently target ads to users based on where they happen to be at enforcement agencies around the world that make it effective Nearby Friends also won’t be available to users under 18, said the moment, but uses their stated “current city” and the loca- in fighting cybercrime and help speed things up.—AP Andrea Vaccari, a product manager at Facebook. He said the tool tion of their computer based on its numeric Internet Protocol “makes it easy to join your friends in the real world.” address. — AP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 White House updating online privacy policy Online comments to be in open domain

WASHINGTON: A new Obama adminis- a dozen social media sites including mation in order to perform their official tration privacy policy released yesterday Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest, duties and exercise controls to limit what explains how the government will gather Instagram, Vine, MySpace and seven dif- data they can view based on the specific the user data of online visitors to ferent Facebook pages including La Casa needs of their position,” the policy says. WhiteHouse.gov, mobile apps and social Blanca and Education to Innovate. For example, if someone gives the White media sites, and it clarifies that online Visitors who link to those social media House a telephone number or email comments, whether tirades or tributes, sites are advised: “Your activity on those address, staffers might respond to the are in the open domain. sites is governed by the third-party web- message or petition, providing informa- NEW YORK: Chet Kanojia, the founder and CEO of Aereo, speaks during an interview in New York. The future of Aereo, an online “Information you choose to share with site’s security and privacy policies,” which tion or even services if appropriate. They service that provides over-the-air TV channels, hinges on a bat- the White House (directly and via third frequently allow those companies to sell might also take messages, comments, tle with broadcasters that goes before the US Supreme Court in party sites) may be treated as public users’ data. In addition, the White House Twitter replies and Facebook comments late April 2014. —AP information,” the new policy says. archives Twitter, Facebook and Google to use for public advocacy, like promot- The Obama administration also prom- Plus content to comply with the ing Obama’s health care overhaul. ises not to sell the data of online visitors. Presidential Records Act. If a user asks the White House a ques- Aereo CEO speaks on But it cannot make the same assurances The policy says Obama will keep some tion that is really about homeland securi- for users who go to third-party White information - automatically generated ty, the user’s information may be shared future of company House sites on Facebook, Twitter or email data, Mobile App use data and with that agency. And if someone is try- Google Plus. There will be no significant some cookie data - until the end of the ing to report a federal crime, or threaten- NEW YORK: The future of Aereo, an online service that provides over- changes in actual practices under the current administration. The White House ing someone, that person’s information the-air TV channels, hinges on a battle with broadcasters that goes new policy. But legal jargon and bureau- is also explicit about what it doesn’t do, may be passed on to law enforcement. before the US Supreme Court next week. For as little as $8 a month, cratic language has been stripped out, including collecting geolocation informa- Lehrich said that when people share Aereo subscribers in New York and 10 other markets can watch making it easier for readers to now tion from mobile-app users or sharing comments or sign online petitions shows live or record them using Aereo’s online digital video recorder. understand that the White House stores information for commercial purposes. through the We the People platform, it’s Subscribers access programming with computers, smartphones and the date, time and duration of online vis- with the understanding that it is public other devices, as well as with TVs with Roku or Apple TV streaming its; the originating Internet Protocol Criticisms information. Reviews from privacy devices. Aereo resembles a cable or satellite TV service, except it costs address; how much data users transmit The policy is being released at a time experts - who have been watching the less and is limited to over-the-air channels, plus Bloomberg TV. from WhiteHouse.gov to their comput- when the administration is facing privacy-policy revisions closely were Cable and satellite TV companies typically pay broadcasters to ers; and more. The administration also unprecedented criticism over disclosures mixed. include TV stations on customers’ lineups. Aereo argues it’s exempt because it merely relays free signals. When recording or watching a Problem show, subscribers are temporarily assigned one of thousands of small The biggest problem, said Jeramie antennas at Aereo’s data centers. Aereo likens its antennas to the per- Scott, national security counsel for the sonal antennas in people’s homes that pick up free broadcasts. Electronic Privacy Information Center in Broadcasters argue that Aereo built the individual antennas specifi- Washington, DC, is not what happens cally to skirt copyright law, as there’s no technical reason such a serv- when users are on WhiteHouse.gov, but ice would need them. Millions of dollars are at stake: If people ditch when they click onto the White House’s cable service for Aereo, broadcasters would be able to charge cable third-party social media sites that don’t companies less. Oral arguments in the copyright challenge are sched- uled to go before the court on Tuesday, with a ruling expected by this abide by Obama’s own privacy rules and summer. Aereo founder and CEO Chet Kanojia recently spoke to The may sell personal data they glean from Associated Press about his company and the industry. Questions and users. answers have been edited for length, and the order of some ques- “Interacting with the White House tions has been changed to improve flow. and its different sites is inherently politi- cal, and that type of thing shouldn’t be Q: Why shouldn’t broadcast and cable companies fear Aereo? used for commercial gain,” Scott said. A: What they should be afraid of, and I’m sympathetic to this, is Mark Jaycox, a legislative analyst at the Internet is happening to everybody, whether you like it or not. It the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San happened to books, news people, it happened to music people, it Francisco, said the new policy under- happened to Blockbuster. There is nothing in our Constitution that scores the administration’s ongoing says there is a sacred set of companies that will never be affected by interest in collecting data. “You see it new technology. across the board. You saw it in the cam- paign. You see it in the White House Q: A lot of people who may think about cutting service and petitions. This is just one more step going with Aereo may be reluctant because of the one or two toward amassing more information,” he cable channels they watch regularly. said. A: The market is going to evolve. If you think about what Netflix is NEW YPRK: Ewan MacAskill (left) and Laura Poitras, part of the reporting team that won Jaycox said the new policy is not doing (with original programming), it is going to force change in the a Pulitzer Prize for The Guardian US, the British newspapers American operation, chat explicit enough about what the White paid TV business. Here’s a channel effectively operating as a paid online with leaker Edward Snowden in New York. — AP House does with information it gathers. channel. If Netflix can pay the bills, the next hit show is going to be on Netflix. It’s not going to be on HBO. That’s going to force the change. “The onerous thing is we don’t know tracks whether emails from the White from former intelligence contractor what they’re doing on the back end with Q: How did you come up with this idea? House are opened, forwarded or printed. Edward Snowden that expose sweeping all of this data,” he said. A: My last company, we pioneered how to measure viewership in The updates were needed because US government surveillance programs. But several privacy experts praised cable systems. When you started looking at the data, it was obvious “Our old privacy policy was just that - The policy aims to address at least some the new policy as more explicit and that nobody watches more than eight channels. Half of them happen old,” blogged Obama’s digital director of those concerns. understandable.”It’s a nice gesture by to be major networks, which are free to air. Nathaniel Lubin. White House spokesman Matt Lehrich the White House,” said Federation of After coming to office in a campaign said they also do not give third parties, American Scientists secrecy expert Q: If you prevail, what do you think that will mean for the lauded for its online savvy, President including the political organization Steven Aftergood in Washington. “I think industry? Barack Obama’s White House has quickly Obama for America or the U.S. National the move reflects a heightened public A: Change is a long process. I don’t think anything is going to adapted to online engagement since tak- Security Agency, access to their email awareness of privacy concerns, which is change anywhere because of Aereo. What is happening is the entire ing office in 2008, embracing using the database or other systems. commendable.” market base is changing with access to alternatives, whether it’s Internet in all of its manifestations. The “Within the White House, we restrict Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project Netflix or iTunes or things like that. Aereo is simply providing a first administration with an Office of access to personally identifiable informa- director John Simpson said that in terms piece of the puzzle. After we win, it’s not that a sea change is going to Digital Strategy, Obama’s online strategy tion to employees, contractors, and ven- of pure disclosure, “this seems to be one happen overnight. It is just going to be that we will be allowed to now includes a We the People petitions dors subject to non-disclosure require- of the better policies, a model perhaps continue to fit that missing piece in a consumer’s life as they’re evolv- platform, live online chats and more than ments who require access to this infor- for others.” — AP ing. These things take decades to play out.—AP TV listings SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

18:00 BBC World 21:00 Freaks Of Nature 19:00 BBC World 21:25 Freaks Of Nature 20:00 BBC World 21:50 Storm Chasers 21:00 BBC World 22:40 Squeamish 22:00 BBC World 23:05 Squeamish 00:45 Life On Us 23:30 The Long March Into Space 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 00:30 Fast N’ Loud 00:20 The Gadget Show 00:20 Wild Hawaii 02:25 Safari Vet School 01:20 Classic Car Rescue 00:45 How Do They Do It? 01:10 Shark Island 02:50 Safari Vet School 02:10 Overhaulin’ 2012 01:10 Powering The Future 02:00 Betty White Goes Wild! 03:15 Tanked 03:00 You Have Been Warned 02:00 Brave New World 02:50 How Human Are You? 04:05 Treehouse Masters 03:50 Border Security - Series 6 02:45 Mythbusters 03:45 America The Wild 04:55 Animal Cops Phoenix Specials 03:35 Sci-Trek 04:40 Unlikely Animal Friends 04:30 Through The Wormhole With 05:45 Animal Clinic 00:30 Crime Stories 04:15 Storage Hunters 05:35 Blue-Collar Dogs 06:35 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors Morgan Freeman 00:30 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 01:30 My Ghost Story 04:40 Auction Hunters 06:30 Monster Fish 07:00 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 05:20 Scrapheap Challenge 01:20 American Greed 02:30 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 05:05 How Do They Do It? Turbo 07:25 Fish Warrior 07:25 My Cat From Hell 03:30 When Life Means Life 06:10 Strangest Weather On Earth 02:10 Desperate Measures Specials 08:20 Swamp Men 08:15 Too Cute! 04:30 Private Crimes 06:35 Strangest Weather On Earth 03:00 Couples Who Kill 09:15 World’s Weirdest Extreme Body 06:00 Surviving The Cut 09:10 Gator Boys 05:00 Beyond Scared Straight 07:00 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 03:45 Nightmare Next Door Parts 10:05 Call Of The Wildman 06:00 The First 48 07:00 The Big Brain Theory 07:55 Freaks Of Nature 04:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 10:10 The Monster Project 10:30 Swamp Brothers 07:00 Crime Stories 07:50 Ben Earl: Trick Artist 08:20 Freaks Of Nature 05:20 Disappeared 11:05 One Ocean 11:00 Tanked 08:00 Crime Stories 08:40 Mythbusters 08:45 Strangest Weather On Earth 06:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn 12:00 Fishzilla: Snakehead Invasion 11:55 Treehouse Masters 09:00 Crime Stories 09:30 Dual Survival 09:10 Strangest Weather On Earth 07:00 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 12:55 Building Penguin Paradise 12:50 Gator Boys 10:00 Homicide Hunter 10:20 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell 09:40 Strangest Weather On Earth 07:25 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 13:50 How Human Are You? 13:45 Gator Boys 11:00 Homicide Hunter 11:10 Yukon Men 10:05 Strangest Weather On Earth 07:50 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 14:45 America The Wild 14:40 Gator Boys 12:00 Homicide Hunter 12:00 Classic Car Rescue 10:30 Strangest Weather On Earth 08:15 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 15:40 Great Migrations 15:35 Gator Boys 13:00 Homicide Hunter 12:50 Classic Car Rescue 10:55 Strangest Weather On Earth 08:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner 16:35 Wild Amazon 16:30 Gator Boys 14:00 Homicide Hunter 13:40 Classic Car Rescue 11:20 Strangest Weather On Earth 09:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 17:30 Grizzly Cauldron 17:25 Gator Boys 15:00 SWAT 14:30 Classic Car Rescue 11:45 Strangest Weather On Earth 10:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 18:25 Predator CSI 18:20 Tanked 16:00 SWAT 15:20 Classic Car Rescue 12:10 Strangest Weather On Earth 11:10 Dr G: Medical Examiner 19:20 Fishzilla: Snakehead Invasion 19:15 My Wild Affair: The Elephant 17:00 SWAT 16:10 Classic Car Rescue 12:35 Strangest Weather On Earth 12:00 Extreme Forensics 20:10 How Human Are You? Who... 18:00 SWAT 17:00 Gold Rush 13:00 How Do They Do It? 12:50 Extreme Forensics 21:00 Building Penguin Paradise 20:10 Animal Maternity Ward 19:00 SWAT 17:50 Klondike 13:30 Sci-Trek 13:40 Extreme Forensics 21:50 America The Wild 14:30 Extreme Forensics 21:05 Great White: The Impossible 20:00 SWAT 18:40 Gold Divers 14:20 Sci-Trek 22:40 Great Migrations 15:10 Rocket City Rednecks 15:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn Shot 21:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths 19:30 Dual Survival 23:30 Wild Amazon 22:00 My Wild Affair: The Elephant 15:35 Rocket City Rednecks 16:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn 21:30 The First 48 20:20 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell Who... 16:00 Kings Of Construction 17:00 On The Case With Paula Zahn 22:30 Gangs Of Britain... 21:10 Yukon Men 22:55 Animal Maternity Ward 23:30 Gangland 16:50 Freaks Of Nature 17:50 On The Case With Paula Zahn 23:50 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 Game Of Pawns 17:15 Freaks Of Nature 18:40 Disappeared 22:25 Game Of Pawns 17:40 Brave New World 19:30 Disappeared 22:50 Game Of Pawns 18:30 Powering The Future 20:20 Disappeared 23:15 Game Of Pawns 19:20 Penn & Teller Tell A Lie 21:10 Disappeared 23:40 Auction Hunters 20:10 You Have Been Warned 22:00 Disappeared 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 22:50 American Greed Stewart 23:40 True CSI 01:00 The Colbert Report 00:10 Doctors 01:30 It’s Always Sunny In 00:35 Casualty Philadelphia 01:25 Bedlam 02:00 The League 02:10 Incredible Journeys With Steve 02:30 Hello Ladies Leonard 03:00 Last Man Standing 03:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 03:30 New Girl 03:45 Keeping Up Appearances 00:00 Chelsea Lately 04:00 All Of Us 04:15 The Weakest Link 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 05:00 Tweenies 00:30 The Spin Crowd 00:55 The Spin Crowd Jimmy Fallon 05:20 The Green Balloon Club 05:30 My Boys 05:45 Poetry Pie 01:25 THS 03:15 E! Investigates 06:00 The War At Home 05:50 Little Human Planet 06:30 My Name Is Earl 05:55 Show Me Show Me 04:10 E!ES 05:05 Extreme Close-Up 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 06:15 Tweenies 08:00 All Of Us 06:35 The Green Balloon Club 05:30 Extreme Close-Up 06:00 THS 08:30 My Boys 07:00 Poetry Pie 09:00 Last Man Standing 07:05 Little Human Planet 07:50 Style Star 08:20 E! News 09:30 Enlisted 07:10 Show Me Show Me 10:00 The Michael J. Fox Show 07:30 The Weakest Link 09:15 Fashion Police 10:15 E! Entertainment Special 10:30 My Name Is Earl 08:15 Doctor Who Explained 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 09:00 Rev. 11:10 E!ES 12:05 E! News Jimmy Fallon 09:30 The Vicar Of Dibley 12:00 The War At Home 10:00 Absolutely Fabulous 13:05 The Drama Queen 14:05 The Drama Queen 12:30 All Of Us 10:30 My Hero 13:00 My Boys 11:00 Doctor Who 15:00 Giuliana & Bill 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 13:30 My Name Is Earl 11:50 Me & Mrs Jones 14:00 New Girl 12:20 Doctor Who Explained 17:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 17:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 14:30 Enlisted 13:05 Casualty 15:00 The Michael J. Fox Show 13:55 Eastenders 18:00 E! News 19:00 E!ES 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 14:25 Eastenders Stewart 14:55 Eastenders 20:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 20:30 Keeping Up With The 16:00 The Colbert Report 15:25 Eastenders 16:30 The War At Home 15:55 Eastenders Kardashians 21:30 Fashion Police 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 16:25 Me & Mrs Jones 18:00 Dads 16:55 Me & Mrs Jones 22:30 E! News 23:30 Chelsea Lately 18:30 The Neighbors 17:25 Lorna Doone 19:00 Cougar Town 18:15 Doctor Who 19:30 Two And A Half Men 19:00 Being Erica 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 19:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man Jimmy Fallon 20:30 The Town 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 21:20 Pramface Stewart 21:50 Threesome 00:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:15 Me & Mrs Jones 22:00 Saturday Night Live 22:45 Ideal 00:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 01:00 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey 23:00 Hello Ladies 23:15 Incredible Journeys With Steve 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers Leonard 02:00 Nordic Wild 03:00 Mega Factories 04:00 Situation Critical 05:00 Doomsday Preppers 06:00 Doomsday Preppers 07:00 A Traveler’s Guide To The Planets 00:00 Psych 00:00 BBC World 08:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 01:00 The Client List 01:00 BBC World 08:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 02:00 Survivor: Cagayan 02:00 BBC World 09:00 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey 03:00 True Blood 03:00 BBC World 10:00 Nordic Wild 19:00 Bones 04:00 BBC World 11:00 Doomsday Preppers 20:00 Criminal Minds 05:00 BBC World 12:00 Situation Critical 21:00 Castle 06:00 BBC World 13:00 Doomsday Preppers 22:00 Sons Of Anarchy 07:00 BBC World 14:00 Doomsday Preppers 23:00 True Blood 08:00 BBC World 15:00 A Traveler’s Guide To The 09:00 BBC World Planets 10:00 BBC World 16:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 11:00 BBC World 17:00 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey 12:00 BBC World 18:00 Nordic Wild 13:00 BBC World 19:00 The Border 14:00 BBC World 20:00 Inside Combat Rescue 15:00 BBC World 21:00 The Border 01:00 Good Morning America 16:00 BBC World 22:00 Sea Patrol 04:00 Rescue Me 17:00 BBC World PHILLY KID ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 23:00 Wild Russia 05:00 Good Morning America TV listings SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

07:00 The Bachelor 06:00 The Expatriate-PG15 14:00 C.S.I. New York 08:00 Steel Magnolias-PG15 15:00 Live Good Morning America 10:00 Fun Size-PG15 How ‘Rio 2’ could beat ‘Captain 19:00 24 12:00 Hitchcock-PG15 20:00 Covert Affairs 14:00 Frankenweenie-PG 21:00 The Glades 01:15 The Mortician-18 16:00 Steel Magnolias-PG15 America’ at box office 22:00 Rescue Me 03:00 Breaking And Entering-18 18:00 What To Expect When You’re 23:00 Hannibal 05:00 Angels Crest-18 Expecting-PG15 07:00 Underground: The Julian 20:00 Colombiana-PG15 Assange Story-PG15 22:00 Evil Dead-R he singing macaws of “Rio 2” Langella, Ellen Burstyn and Chadwick 09:00 Here On Earth-PG15 could knock “Captain America: Boseman (“42”). 10:45 Ed Wood-PG15 The Winter Soldier” off its box The role is a good fit for Costner’s 13:00 Twist Of Fate-PG15 T 15:00 Beasts Of The Southern Wild- office perch this weekend. But it will wheelhouse, who has played the lead in PG15 00:00 Beneath-PG15 01:00 PGA European Tour Weekly take some luck - and a major turnout several well-known sports films, includ- 16:45 Ed Wood-PG15 01:30 Live ITU World Triathlon Series 01:45 Starship Troopers-18 19:00 Life Happens-PG15 from the minivan set. If Disney’s Marvel ing “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams” 04:00 Men In Black 3-PG 04:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 20:45 The Door In The Floor-18 04:30 Live ITU World Triathlon Series superhero sequel can come in with half and “Tin Cup.” Costner’s last outing was 06:00 Metal Tornado-PG15 22:45 Schindler’s List-18 08:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 07:00 Live NRL Premiership of the April record $96 million that it “3 Days to Kill,” an action thriller that 10:00 Excess Baggage-PG15 09:00 Total Rugby debuted with last weekend, it should opened to $12.2 million. “Kill,” from 12:00 The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo 09:35 Live Super rugby repeat as No. 1. But anything less will Relativity, topped out at $30.3 million in Drift-PG15 11:40 Live Super rugby 14:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 01:00 Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth- 13:30 NRL Premiership create an opening for “Rio 2,” the fami- February. 16:00 Paycheck-PG15 PG15 15:30 Total Rugby ly-targeting cartoon sequel featuring The film’s timing couldn’t be better, 18:00 The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo 03:00 Arthur 3: And The War Of Two 16:00 Live Super rugby Drift-PG15 Worlds-PG 18:05 Live Super rugby the voices of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne since the NFL draft has never been 20:00 Bait-PG15 05:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 20:10 Live Super rugby Hathaway. more popular. This year’s event, which 22:00 The Devil Inside-18 06:45 Anna Karenina-PG15 22:00 Bellator MMA The 3D computer-animated musical is set for May 8, will be watched by 09:00 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen- PG15 from Fox’s Blue Sky Studios will debut more than 12,000 people at New York’s 11:00 Five-PG15 with between $40 million and $45 mil- Radio City Music Hall, with more than 8 13:00 White House Down-PG15 lion, industry analysts say. Summit million tuning in on TV to see which col- 15:15 Moonrise Kingdom-PG15 00:00 Super Rugby 02:00 WWE SmackDown 00:00 Dazed And Confused-18 17:00 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen- Entertainment’s Kevin Costner football lege players are chosen by which pro PG15 04:00 Live Bellator MMA 2014 02:00 Here Comes The Boom-PG15 06:00 Trans World Sport movie “Draft Day” and the Relativity teams. 04:00 The Animal-PG15 19:00 G.I. Joe: Retaliation-PG15 21:00 The Mortal Instruments: City Of 07:00 Amlin Challenge Cup Media horror film “Oculus” also open Lionsgate’s Summit will have the PG- 06:00 Frankenweenie-PG 09:00 Sevens World Series Highlights 08:00 The Big Year-PG Bones-PG15 Friday, with both expected to land in 13-rated “Draft Day” in roughly 2,700 23:15 The Raven-18 09:30 Live NRL Premiership 10:00 Jumanji-PG 11:30 Live NRL Premiership the $10 million to $15 million range. theaters. Mike Flanagan’s “Oculus” is 12:00 The Animal-PG15 13:30 Total Rugby Freestyle Releasing is upping the screen Relativity Media’s first foray into the 14:00 The Simpsons Movie-PG 14:00 PGA Tour 16:00 Jumanji-PG 17:30 Inside The PGA Tour count on its resilient Christian drama micro-budgeted horror realm. Relativity 18:00 The House Bunny-PG15 00:00 The Expatriate-PG15 18:00 NHL “God’s Not Dead” and will have it in partnered with genre master Jason 20:00 Grabbers-PG15 02:00 Sky Force-FAM 20:00 Live PGA Tour 22:00 Dazed And Confused-18 04:00 Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away-PG nearly 2,000 locations for its fourth Blum and acquired the Intrepid Pictures weekend, while Sony Pictures Classics is project for $2.5 million last fall after it going nationwide with its martial arts screened at the Toronto Film Festival. sequel “The Raid 2,” which will be in 944 Flanagan (“Absentia”) directed “Oculus” theaters. from a screenplay he wrote with Jeff Roadside Attractions’ “Joe,” a drama Howard, which was based on the short starring Nicolas Cage and Tye Sheridan, screenplay by Flanagan and Jeff is the week’s top limited release and will Seidman. be in 48 theaters. “Captain America: The Mark D. Evans and Trevor Macy pro- Winter Soldier,” which will remain in duced the film, which stars Karen Gillan roughly 3,930 theaters, has the inside (“Doctor Who”), Brenton Thwaites track. It took in just over $6 million (“Maleficent”) and Katee Sackhoff Monday - and nearly $7 million (“Battlestar Galactica”). The R-rated Tuesday. “Soldier” is up to $108 million thriller follows a brother and sister who domestically, and more than $315 mil- team up to defeat an evil force that lion worldwide. killed their parents. CBS Films will have But Fox is bullish on the G-rated “Rio “Afflicted” in its second week of limited 2,” and with good reason. The original release, but “Oculus” is the first wide opened to $39 million on this same horror release since January, when weekend in 2011, going on to earn “Paranormal Activity: The Marked $143.6 million domestically and a Ones,” “Devil’s Due” and “I, strong $341 million internationally. “Rio Frankenstein” all opened. This week- 2” has already taken in $55 million over- end, “Oculus” will haunt roughly 2,500 seas, including $21 million from Russia theaters. and another $15 million from Brazil. “Joe,” produced and directed by Director Carlos Saldanha returns for indie filmmaker David Gordon Green the sequel, as do characters voiced by (“Prince Avalanche”), is the story of an Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx and Tracy ex-con (Cage) who becomes an unlikely Morgan. Newcomers Bruno Mars and role model for a 15-year-old boy Kristen Chenoweth join the ensemble. (Sheridan). Gary Hawkins adapted the The tracking has been solid for weeks, screenplay from Larry Brown’s 1991 its social media indicators are trending novel. Also on the specialty front, up and advance sales are strong. But Entertainment One is rolling out the the reviews have just been OK; the best romantic dance comedy “Cuban Fury” thing going for it could be that it will in 79 theaters and six markets. have the family field pretty much to “Cuban Fury” is directed by James itself. “Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” anoth- Griffiths (“Up All Night”) and written by er kids film distributed by Fox, is head- Jon Brown, based on an original idea by ing into its fifth week - playing on far Nick Frost. He stars along with Rashida less screens than “Rio 2,” which opens Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Olivia Colman, in 3,940 theaters. Kayvan Novak, Rory Kinnear, Alexandra The Ivan Reitman-directed football Roach and Ian McShane. The story fol- drama “Draft Day” centers on Sonny lows a former youth salsa dancer (Frost) Weaver (Costner), general manager of who goes back to his childhood instruc- the Cleveland Browns, who is desper- tor (McShane) in order to beat out his ately trying to land the No. 1 pick in the rival (O’Dowd) to win the affection of NFL draft to reverse his team’s losing his new boss (Jones). It’s produced by streak. Rounding out the cast are Nira Park and James Biddle, the team Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank behind”The World’s End.”— Reuters THE HOUSE BUNNY ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Palestinian culture exhibition

he Palestinian Culture Center holds the Exhibition Highlights first of its two annual exhibitions for Traditional cross-stitch embroidery of T2014 at The Women’s Culture Social dresses, linens, shawls, cushions, table run- Society. The show includes a large collection ners, cards, frames, coasters, belts, purses, of textile-based traditional handmade cross- bookmarks and more stitch as well as pottery from Hebron, books • Handmade ceramics from Hebron about Palestine in English and Arabic, posters. • Books, posters, key chains, kafiya’s and It aspires to reaffirm the Palestinian national DVDs as well as posters from Palestine. identity by its handicrafts and support educa- • Food sale of traditional Palestinian food tion and families such as thyme, sumaq, and on Thursday The Palestinian Culture Center is a non- only baked goods and other traditional profit organization that was established in plates. Jordan in 1993. It aims to (1) preserve the rich • Palestinian folklore “Dabkah” will be per- heritage and culture of Palestine, (2) help formed on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 empower women and their families in the PM Palestinian refugee camps become economi- Palestinian embroidery using needle and cally independent, and (3) sustain needy silk thread is a manifestation of the Palestinians in their homeland and in the Palestinian identity as it has evolved over the Diaspora. ages. An age old art, all Palestinian ladies, This year continued to be an active year for young and old, would spend hours embroi- the Center due to the affects of the global dering their trousseau, dresses, shawls and financial crisis which placed a further strain on cushions. Using geometric shapes at first, and the poor. Furthermore, the violent and then evolving to depicting images from aggressive Israeli military onslaught on Gaza, nature surrounding them, the dresses are Jerusalem and the rest of occupied Palestine, famous for their flowery designs and bold Seva Darshan holds have made the situation in Palestine dire, and natural colors of indigo and red. Symbols of the need for aid more urgent. As a result, the the ubiquitous cypress trees surrounding the Center has worked to increase the salaries of orange groves, roses, jasmine and the famous Sanskrit workshop the 500 or so women who do the embroidery olive tree are typical motifs in these dresses. work as well as pay for their transportation The exhibition will be held at the Women’s poken Sanskrit workshop conducted by andimportance of Sanskrit as a language and (from the camps). We motivate the ladies by Cultural Social Society in Khaldiya, block 2, Al Samskrita Bharati joining hands with its potential for the welfare of the world com- granting bonuses for excellent quality work. Ouroba Street. It will be held for 4 days start- SBharatiya Vidya Bhavan Sanskrit munity. The eminent teachers of the work- We also provide support to Palestinians in the ing Monday, April 21 through Thursday 24th. Department concluded with a cultural meet- shop, Dr. P. Nandakumar, Vandana homeland by providing financial aid to needy It is open to the public from 10:00 am to 1:30 ing held on April 5th, Saturday, at Barathiya (Samskrita Bharathi, Kerala), ABalaji, (Sanskrit families, health care, and university scholar- pm and 4:30 to 8:30 pm. For details call Vidya Bhavan, Abbasiya. The function was Department Faculty, Bharathiya Vidya ships. 99376608 - 25727388, 25755866. blessed with the presenceof eminences from Bhavan) were honoured at the function. expatriate Indian cross section in Kuwait. The Shubhasis Goldar, NK Ramachandra Menon function commenced withprayer song by the (Chairman, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan), Haridas camp participants and the students of Varrier (AMMA Kuwait), Dr Ganesh Paritha Abbasiya Baladarsan,Vandemataram by (Kuwait Odissa Association), Balsree Bera(Art Mahadevan and an introductory speech by of Living), and Nakare Satish Chandra Shettty Biju Raj. (Kannada Kootta) were also honored. An Shubhasis Goldar, Deputy Chief of informative VCDin Sanskrit was released by Mission, Indian Embassy lit the inaugural tra- Sunil Menon (HOD, Sanskrit Department, ditional lamp at the function chaired by BVB). Ajayakumar (President, Sevadarsan). Shubhasis Goldar, NK Ramachandra Samskrita Bharati Kuwait coordinator P Menon, DrP Nandakumar, Ajayakumar, Gopakumar extended the welcome speech. Haridas Varrier, Dr.Ganesh Paritha, Balsree The workshop experience was shared at the Bera, and Nakare Satish Chandra Shettty gave function by the participants of three centers. away the certificates for the participants. Dr P Nandakumar (Samskrita Bharathi, Samskritha Bharati executive member Maina India), explained to the crowd the necessity Sunil delivered the word of gratitude. Indian Overseas Congress arts competitions-2014

ndian Overseas Congress (IOC) conducted its 8th Arts Festival for started with the Classical Dance followed by Folk Dance, Mono act, the same day of the event after the Group Dance Competitions. The the Indian Community in Kuwait on 10th and 11th April 2014 at Poster Poetry and Patriotic Song on the first day. The day long pro- Special Memorial Award established in the name of Late Pala KM IUnited Indian School, Abbasiya. The Programme was inaugurat- grammes continued on the second day also with drawing/painting, Mathew, “Kalamayukha” declared awarded to Athira Ravi Prasad ed by KJ John, Vice-president of IOC in a gathering presided over by Elocution, Poetry recitation, Solo singing and concluded with Group from Girls section and no one from boys section got “Kalasurya”. The John Abraham and attended by a crowd of Indians from various Dance in the evening. The competions were conducted for different prizes will be distributed on 10 Oct. 2014 during the annual celebra- states of India. Somu Mathew, General Secretary and Tony Mathew age groups on two different stages. Dignitaries and leaders of vari- tions of Indian Overseas Congress. The festival was concluded with falicitated on the occasion. ous Indian organizations visited the venue during this event and the vote of thanks by Raju Zacharias, General Convenor who Various competitions were held on two days with lots of partici- congratulated the winners and participants. expressed sincere thanks to the participants, parents, judges and pation from children from all parts of Kuwait. The competitions Complete results of all the items and groups were announced on the IOC volunbteers who contributed to the success of the event. WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Soorya Fest - A superb cultural extravaganza

he evening of Thursday, April 10, was a day to remember when The founder of Soorya India Stage and Film Society Soorya Krishna Soorya Artistes from India staged a breathtaking performance at Murthy was also honored on the glorious occasion in appreciation of Tthe Indian Community School Auditorium (Sr), Salmiya, organ- his valued contribution for the promotion of art and culture. Vijay ized by Soorya Kuwait Chapter, in association with UAE Exchange. Karayil, President, Soorya Kuwait Chapter, honored Soorya Krishna Prior to their excellent performances, Indian Ambassador Sri. Sunil Murthy by presenting a Memento, while the audience gave him a Jain inaugurated the programme by lighting the sacred lamp, along standing ovation. Soorya India, present in 20 countries, has been with Vijay Karayil - President, Soorya Kuwait Chapter, Vivek Nair, propagating the art of India outside the country for the last 16 years Acting-General Manager, UAE Exchange and B.S. Pillai, General with the active support of its Chief Patron Dr. B.R. Shetty, Managing Secretary. The ambassador appreciated Soorya Kuwait Chapter for its Director, NMC group of companies. Soorya is now heading towards continued efforts in promoting India’s rich and diverse culture. the 37th year of its dedicated service for the cause of the promotion General Secretary, Soorya Kuwait Chapter, in his welcome address of art and culture. commented on the constructive initiatives taken by The Ambassador since he took over his new assignment, as Ambassador to Kuwait, a few months back. The audience applauded for his kind gesture of re- opening the Embassy Auditorium, for association related functions, a long pending desire of all Indians in Kuwait. The program was a mix-of three oldest dance forms of India - a Bharatnatyam recital, a Mohiniyattam solo ballet and an Odissi per- formance along with a Mridangam solo fusion. The solo ballet performed by Aiswarya Warrier, one of the leading Mohiniattam exponent, stole the show with her immaculate move- ments and attractive facial gestures. The Bharatnatyam recital show- cased by one of the most promising Bharatnatyam dancer today, Dakshina Vaidyanathan was very strong in rhythm and this aspect came through attractively in her recital. The Odissi dance performed by the leading dancers of the Country, Arupa Gayatri Panda and Praval Kumar Swain, was one of its class and mind blowing as they succeeded in building up an instant rapport with the audience. The Mridangam solo fusion by the maes- tro, the world record holder for longest hand-drum marathon Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan was extra-ordinary. He uses his skills in percussion as a catalyst for social change exalting peace and anti-vio- lence. On the whole, the Soorya India Fest of this time was really an exceptional cultural feast for the art lovers in Kuwait. Later, the artistes were honored with gifts for their outstanding performances. Vivek Nair and Ramdas Nair presented the gifts. HEALTH SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 FDA warns of cancer risk with fibroid procedure WASHINGTON: The Food and Drug Administration is warning women that a surgical procedure used to eliminate growths in the uterus could inadvertently spread cancer to other parts of the body. The agency is discouraging doctors from performing the procedure, which uses an electronic device to grind and shred uterine tissue so it can be removed through a small inci- sion in the abdomen. Known as laparoscopic power morcella- tion, the technique is widely used to treat painful fibroids, either by removing the noncancerous growths themselves or the entire uterus. Doctors have long recognized the risk of accidentally spreading cancer from undetected tumors, but FDA officials said Thursday the problem now appears far more common than previously thought. An FDA analysis estimates that 1 in 350 US women who undergo fibroid procedures each year have a form of cancer called uterine sarcoma. “There is a risk that the procedure will spread the cancerous tissue within the abdomen and pelvis, significantly reducing the patient’s likeli- hood of long-term survival,” said Dr. William Maisel, the FDA’s director for medical devices. He added that there is no reliable UNITED STATES: This artist’s concept depicts Kepler-186f, the first validated Earth-size planet to orbit a distant star in way to spot cancerous uterine tumors before removing them. the habitable zone.—AFP The agency did not give estimates for the number of can- cers affected by the problem, but at least 50,000 U.S. women undergo the procedure each year for hysterectomy - removal Quest for extraterrestrial of the uterus. Electronic uterine procedures were developed as a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery, in which the uterus or fibroids are removed through the vagina or a large life not over, experts say incision in the abdomen. Studies suggest the device-assisted approach results in faster recovery and smaller scars. Fibroids PARIS: The discovery of an Earth-sized ever. “We are not even close to having spotted the new planet, was dedicated can grow to the size of cantaloupes, causing severe pain, heavy planet in the “habitable” zone of a dis- the means with which to take these exclusively to the task of finding exo- bleeding, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, mostly among tant star, though exciting, is still a long measurements,” he said. “We will have to planets-it has found 3,600 planet candi- women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s unclear what causes the way from pointing to the existence of wait for the next generation of space tel- dates of which 961 have been confirmed tumor-like growths, but they are blamed for an estimated extraterrestrial life, experts said yester- escopes, in 10 or 20 years.” so far. Future missions like PLATO will 240,000 of the 600,000 annual hysterectomies in the US. day. The planet, dubbed Kepler-186f, is seek to detect Earth-like planets orbiting the first of this size found orbiting its star Are we alone? stars that are brighter than Kepler-186f Rare cases at a distance that would allow it to have The exoplanet, some 500 lightyears and closer to our own planet-which Surgically removing the uterus is a key treatment because it liquid water-a prerequisite for the devel- from Earth, shows that potentially habit- should make it easier to detect life, if is the only way to ensure fibroids do not return. Myomectomy, opment of life, whether primitive or able worlds can exist. Other exoplanets there is any. “In the next decades, we will surgery that removes fibroids while leaving the uterus intact, is complex. But whether it has any, we may found within their stars’ habitable zones be able to get answers, but in other sys- recommended for women who still want to become pregnant. never know. “Unfortunately, the system have been gas giants-this one’s size may tems” than Kepler-186f, said Rauer. The risk of disturbing undetected uterine tumors has long is too far away and too faint to know mean it is a rocky planet, another condi- Fabio Favata, coordinator of ESA’s sci- been debated by reproductive specialists. Previous figures in more,” Heike Rauer of the German tion for life to take root. Science has ence and robotics exploration program, the medical literature estimated anywhere from 1 in 500 to 1 in Aerospace Centre’s Institute for invested much time and resources into said that while Kepler-186f is the only 10,000 women would have their cancer spread by the electron- Planetary Research said. “We don’t know finding so-called exoplanets, which planet of its size found in a habitable ic fibroid procedures. FDA officials said they decided to take for sure whether it is rocky, we don’t revolve around stars other than our Sun. zone to date, that may soon change. “We action after realizing the risk is much higher. “What is new is know for sure that it has an atmosphere, The quest is targeted mainly at answer- are in a golden era of exoplanet discov- that the magnitude of the risk appears to be greater than was what this atmosphere is made of, or that ing the question: “Are we alone?”, but eries. So far it is unique, but will it stay appreciated by the clinical community,” Maisel said. He added it has water,” she said. also to find clues as to how and why life so? I am ready to bet you money that it that the agency has received a dozen reports of cancers spread “We know how we want to measure on Earth began. Rauer, who will head the won’t.” The search for a planet capable due to the procedures, but that only represents cases submit- it: by taking a spectrum of the atmos- European Space Agency’s (ESA) PLATO of hosting life remains an academic pur- ted by concerned physicians. phere, but with current and next fore- planet-hunting mission, due for launch suit there is no solar system close The FDA approved the first electronic morcellators in 1995 seen technology, we cannot take this in 2024, said the first dedicated searches enough for mankind to ever reach it, and about two dozen are now available in the US. The devices spectrum.” Sean Raymond, an astro- started in the mid-1990’s, with tele- unless we develop time travel. Kepler- were cleared through an abbreviated review process because physicist at France’s CNRS national scopes on the ground measuring the 186f is so far from Earth that “if you could they were deemed similar to manual surgical devices long on research centre who was a member of mass of distance planets. build a perfect spaceship that can travel the market. Even with more rigorous testing, Maisel said the the team that discovered the planet, This was followed in the next decade close to the speed of light, to go there cancer risk would probably have not been detected because agreed we won’t know how hospitable by satellites determining their radius. and back would still take more than cases of uterine cancer are so rare.—AP Kepler-186f is for quite some time. If NASA’s Kepler space observatory, which 1,000 years,” said Favata.—AFP

Vietnam battles fatal measles outbreak

HANOI: Vietnam is scrambling to contain a ease and urging parents to seek treatment with measles in the last week. “I am worried deadly outbreak of measles that has killed locally instead of at pediatric hospitals as I only vaccinated my daughter once... I for- more than 100 people, mostly young chil- whose patients are vulnerable to infection. got the second vaccination. But also because dren, and infected thousands more this year, World Health Organisation representative of scandals and rumor with the vaccination, I the government said yesterday. At least 112 Takeshi Kasai said he was “very concerned” decided to skip it. Now it makes me wor- people-the majority of them under 10 years about the outbreak. “This virus is very infec- ried,” she told AFP. old-have died of the disease so far in 2014, tious and difficult to control,” he told AFP, “I can only pray that things will be ok.” the Ministry of Health said in a statement. It adding that the best way to contain the dis- Measles, a highly contagious viral disease warned that the number of deaths could rise ease was to encourage people to be vacci- which is particularly deadly for young chil- because of cross infections, bad weather and nated. Vietnam has high rates of vaccina- dren, claimed some 122,000 lives globally in overcrowding at pediatrics hospitals in tions for many early childhood diseases 2012, the most recent year for which global major cities where panicked parents are including measles, but may be falling victim figures are available, according to the WHO. bringing their infected children. to its own success as some parents particu- Back in 2000, the toll was a stark 562,000. The Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan larly those who have read scare stories about measles vaccination is not particularly effec- Dung on Wednesday called for authorities to vaccination side effects-see less risk from tive for children under nine months, the WHO be more “active” in preventing the spread of leaving their children uninoculated. Nguyen said, so societies need to ensure high rates of HANOI: This picture shows families with their children suf- the disease. The authorities are providing Hoa Lan, 38, said both her son and daugh- vaccination among older children to boost fering from measles at a state-run hospital.—AFP vaccines, stepping up surveillance of the dis- ter-aged 10 and 7 — have become infected overall immunity of the population.—AFP health & science SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 issued in Kuwait, hereby Kuwait FOR SALE change my name to KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY Aashique Ali Abdul Gafoor Doctor leaving Kuwait, Mahaldar. (C 4701) (17/04/2014 TO 23/04/2014) excellent condition 32” Sony 15-4-2014 LED, 42” Plasma TV and two sofas. Contact: 99598324. I, Yeenapati Subramanyam SHARQIA-1 BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 AM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PM (C 4700) (old name) Passport No. BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PM G6678230, S/O E. Guravaiah CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 AM 2012 Chevrolet Traverse LT, R/O D.No. 13/316, Gandhi 3:30 PM FANAR-4 NO SUN+TUE+WED Nagar, Chennur (Mandal), YSR TOKAREV (DIG) 6:15 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:15 PM white color, remote control BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:15 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 4:45 PM 360º- 2 engine start, CD, rims, back Kadpa district, changed my BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:15 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:15 PM OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 2:30 PM camera, sensors, steering name as Enapati BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:15 AM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:45 PM OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 4:45 PM wheel controls, mileage Subramanyam (new name) NO SUN+TUE+WED TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:15 AM OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 7:00 PM 45,000 km, price KD 6150. 10-4-2013 NO SUN+TUE+WED OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 9:15 PM SHARQIA-2 OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 11:30 PM Contact: 99821134 (C 4698) I, Mohammed Abbasali RIO 2 (DIG) 12:30 PM FANAR-5 NO SUN+TUE+WED Saifuddin, holder of Indian TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 12:45 PM THU+MON OCULUS (DIG) 3:00 PM 360º- 3 2013 Toyota Innova, white Passport No. J3969815 hereby RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) exterior, sensors, USB port, change my name to FRI+SAT 5:00 PM 12:30 PM steering wheel controls, rims, Mohammed Saifuddin RIO 2 (DIG) 5:00 PM NO THU+FRI+SAT CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG-3D) Merchant. C-204, Ashwini mileage 32,000 km, Price KD TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:15 PM RACE GURRAM (DIG) (Telugu) 5:00 PM 3:30 PM Palace, near Kedari petrol 5450. Contact: 99821134. TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:45 PM THU+ FRI+SAT CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) pump, Wanowarie, Pune, (C 4699) TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:15 AM OCULUS (DIG) 8:00 PM 6:30 PM India, Pin code: 411040. NO SUN+TUE+WED OCULUS (DIG) 10:00 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 14-4-2014 OCULUS (DIG) 12:05 AM 9:30 PM (C 4691) 9-4-2014 SHARQIA-3 NO SUN+TUE+WED CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) Half lorry 2012, Hino Japan, AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:45 PM 12:30 AM white color 5 meter length. OCULUS (DIG) 2:45 PM MARINA-1 NO SUN+TUE+WED KD 6,000. Phone: 66052331. AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:45 PM OCULUS (DIG) 12:30 PM SITUATION WANTED OCULUS (DIG) 6:45 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 2:30 PM AL-KOUT.1 (C 4695) AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:45 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:30 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 1:45 PM An academic Arabic teacher WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 10:45 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 6:30 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) Bus Coaster 2012 model, 35 years experience in teach- OCULUS (DIG) 12:15 AM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:30 PM 4:15 PM long chassis, 93,000 km, ing Arabic language for for- NO SUN+TUE+WED OCULUS (DIG) 10:30 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:00 PM white color, good condition. eigners and students of ASK OCULUS (DIG) 12:45 AM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:30 PM Phone: 50111978. MUHALAB-1 NO SUN+TUE+WED TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:05 AM & BSK, all levels, conversation, (C 4696) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED reading, writing & grammar. 12-4-2014 OCULUS (DIG) 2:30 PM MARINA-2 Classical & Kuwaiti dialect. BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 4:30 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:00 PM AL-KOUT.2 Tel: 99538080. (C 4702) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 6:30 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 4:45 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 8:30 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) TOKAREV (DIG) 2:30 PM 17-4-2014 BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:30 PM 7:15 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 4:30 PM CHANGE OF NAME OCULUS (DIG) 12:30 AM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 10:00 PM TOKAREV (DIG) 6:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 AM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:30 PM I, Deodita Magdalena SITUATION VACANT NO SUN+TUE+WED BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:30 PM Ricardina Fernandes, holder MUHALAB-2 BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 AM of Indian Passport No. Printing press needs ñ di - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) MARINA-3 NO SUN+TUE+WED G1686441 issued at Kuwait, cutting operator + cutter 1:00 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 1:45 PM hereby wish to change my operator + lamination oper- AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 3:45 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 4:00 PM AL-KOUT.3 name from Deodita SUN+TUE+WED RIO 2 (DIG) 6:15 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 1:30 PM ator. Call: 99560035. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:15 PM FRI Magdalena Ricardina 14-3-2014 3:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:15 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 1:00 PM Fernandes to Deodita WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 5:45 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:15 AM RIO 2 (DIG) 3:30 PM Magdalena Ricardina Lobo A Pilipino lady is needed to AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 7:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED RIO 2 (DIG) 5:45 PM Fernandes. (C 4692) work for two days a week in AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 9:45 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:00 PM an apartment located in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) AVENUES-1 AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 10:00 PM I, Ashaque Ali Abdul Gafoor Salmiya. Salary/month is KD 11:45 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 2:15 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:30 AM Mahaldar, holder of Indian NO SUN+TUE+WED AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 60. Tel: 66417504. (C 4697) AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 6:45 PM Passport No. G7937174 13-4-2014 MUHALAB-3 AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 9:00 PM AL-KOUT.4 TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 11:15 PM OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 12:45 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 3:00 PM OCULUS (DIG) 2:45 PM Prayer timings THU+MON AVENUES-2 OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 4:45 PM RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 3:15 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 1:45 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 6:45 PM FRI+SAT TOKAREV (DIG) 3:45 PM OCULUS (DIG) 8:45 PM Fajr: 03:55 RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 5:30 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 5:45 PM OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 10:45 PM Shorook 05:18 TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:45 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 7:45 PM OCULUS (DIG) 12:45 AM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 10:15 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 9:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Duhr: 11:48 TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:45 AM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 11:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED BAIRAQ-1 Asr: 15:22 TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 PM FANAR-1 AVENUES-3 RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 3:00 PM Maghrib: 18:17 AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 2:30 PM RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 2:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 4:45 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:30 PM Isha: 19:37 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 4:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 7:00 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 10:00 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 6:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 9:15 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 AM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 8:30 PM OCULUS (DIG) 11:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 10:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 12:30 AM BAIRAQ-2 NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-4 RIO 2 (DIG) 1:30 PM THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:45 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 3:45 PM FANAR-2 BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 2:45 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:45 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 2:00 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 4:45 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 7:45 PM FOR CIVIL INFORMATION RIO 2 (DIG) 4:30 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 7:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:15 PM RIO 2 (DIG) 6:45 PM NO TUE BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:15 AM Automated enquiry OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 8:45 PM Special Show “RIO 2 (DIG)” 7:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 10:45 PM TUE aboutthe Civil ID card is OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 12:45 AM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PM BAIRAQ-3 NO SUN+TUE+WED BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PM OCULUS (DIG) 12:45 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:15 AM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 2:45 PM 1889988 FANAR-3 NO SUN+TUE+WED CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 PM 4:45 PM TOKAREV (DIG) 3:00 PM 360º- 1 OCULUS (DIG) 7:30 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 PM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 9:30 PM TOKAREV (DIG) 7:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 3:00 PM OCULUS (DIG) 11:30 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 112 BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 7:00 PM information SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers use seats

Arrival Flights on Saturday 19/4/2014 UAL 982 IAD 17:25 KAC 101 London/New York 10:25 Airlines Flt Route Time GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 QTR 1084 Doha 00:05 JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 KAC 521 Al Najaf 11:15 JZR 239 Amman 00:20 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 17:45 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 JZR 267 Beirut 00:25 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 JZR 539 Cairo 00:30 IZG 4161 Mashhad 18:00 KAC 501 Beirut 11:40 DLH 637 Dammam 00:35 KAC 542 Cairo 18:15 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:45 SAI 441 Lahore 01:35 QTR 1080 Doha 18:25 IAW 158 Al Najaf/Baghdad 12:00 THY 764 Istanbul 01:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 KAC 104 London 18:45 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 GFA 211 Bahrain 01:55 IRA 669 Mashhad 18:50 SYR 342 Damascus 13:05 UAE 853 Dubai 02:25 JAV 621 Amman 18:50 JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:30 ABY 129 Sharjah 18:55 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:15 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:35 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 JZR 124 Bahrain 13:30 FDB 067 Dubai 03:05 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 PIA 239 Lahore 03:05 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 MRJ 4814 Mashhad 13:55 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 KAC 502 Beirut 19:20 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 OMA 643 Muscat 03:20 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 THY 767 Istanbul 14:10 QTR 1076 Doha 03:25 KNE 474 Jeddah 19:25 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:00 JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35 FDB 058 Dubai 14:35 THY 770 Istanbul 04:35 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:35 IRM 1187 Tehran 14:40 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 KAC 561 Amman 14:45 FDB 069 Dubai 05:50 KAC 562 Amman 20:00 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15 FDB 061 Dubai 20:05 MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00 JZR 529 Asyut 06:35 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05 BAW 157 London 06:35 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:15 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 KAC 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 06:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:25 IRC 527 Mashhad 15:30 KAC 382 Delhi 07:30 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 KAC 204 Lahore 07:35 AXB 489 Kochi/Mangalore 20:35 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:35 JZR 503 Luxor 07:40 KLM 415 Amsterdam 20:55 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 JZR 188 Dubai 15:50 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:50 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 QTR 1086 Doha 07:55 QTR 1074 Doha 21:30 KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30 KAC 352 Kochi 08:05 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KNE 463 Madinah 16:30 KAC 344 Chennai 08:20 FDB 059 Dubai 22:00 FDB 052 Dubai 16:35 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25 KNE 481 Taif 16:40 ABY 125 Sharjah 08:50 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:40 RJA 641 Amman 16:55 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:55 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:40 KAC 785 Jeddah 17:00 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:10 JZR 157 Dubai 22:55 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:30 JZR 185 Dubai 22:55 QTR 1073 Doha 17:20 FDB 055 Dubai 09:35 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 17:30 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 THY 772 Istanbul 23:45 JZR 538 Cairo 17:40 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:45 IAW 157 Baghdad/Al Najaf 11:00 Departure Flights on Saturday 19/4/2014 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:50 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 Airlines Flt Route Time UAE 858 Dubai 18:15 JZR 325 Al Najaf 11:25 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:50 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:20 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 JZR 165 Dubai 11:50 KLM 413 Amsterdam 00:55 JZR 184 Dubai 18:20 SYR 341 Damascus 12:05 JZR 502 Luxor 01:30 JZR 156 Dubai 18:35 JZR 241 Amman 12:40 DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:40 UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:20 JZR 238 Amman 18:45 MRJ 4815 Mashhad 12:55 SAI 442 Lahore 02:35 IZG 4162 Mashhad 19:00 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 QTR 1081 Doha 19:25 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 FDB 068 Dubai 03:45 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 THY 766 Istanbul 13:10 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 ABY 120 Sharjah 19:40 IRM 1184 Shiraz 13:30 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:20 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 KAC 672 Dubai 13:40 OMA 644 Muscat 04:20 IRA 666 Esfahan 19:55 QTR 1078 Doha 13:45 QTR 1077 Doha 04:25 KNE 475 Jeddah 20:15 FDB 057 Dubai 13:55 PIA 240 Sialkot/Islamabad 04:35 KAC 285 Dhaka 20:15 MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15 MSC 406 Sohag 05:00 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 KAC 546 Alexandria 14:15 QTR 1085 Doha 05:20 JAV 622 Amman 20:50 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 THY 765 Istanbul 06:00 FDB 062 Dubai 20:50 JZR 779 Jeddah 14:20 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:30 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:50 IRC 526 Mashhad 14:30 RJA 643 Amman 06:35 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:40 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 KAC 351 Kochi 21:05 JZR 357 Mashhad 14:50 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:00 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 KAC 522 Al Najaf 14:55 JZR 240 Amman 07:05 JZR 552 Alexandria 21:15 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00 JZR 164 Dubai 07:15 MSR 607 Luxor 21:25 KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35 KAC 545 Alexandria 07:20 KAC 543 Cairo 21:30 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 JZR 324 Al Najaf 08:05 AXB 490 Mangalore/Kochi 21:35 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 BAW 156 London 08:25 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 15:50 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 21:55 RJA 640 Amman 15:55 JZR 778 Jeddah 08:45 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55 QTR 1087 Doha 08:55 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 FDB 051 Dubai 15:55 JZR 356 Mashhad 09:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 KAC 118 New York 16:00 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 381 Delhi 22:30 JZR 535 Cairo 16:05 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 QTR 1075 Doha 22:40 QTR 1072 Doha 16:15 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:30 FDB 060 Dubai 22:40 JZR 125 Bahrain 16:25 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:35 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:40 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:45 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:50 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:15 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 UAE 857 Dubai 16:55 FDB 056 Dubai 10:15 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:35 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 IRM 1185 Shiraz 10:20 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

DOWN 1. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion. CROSSWORD522 2. First in order of importance. 3. Of or relating to neuroglia. 4. (computer science) A coding system that incorporates extra parity bits in order to detect errors. 5. Makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks. 6. A former copper coin of Pakistan. 7. Scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians. 8. A city in northwestern Mexico near the California border. 9. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement. 10. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series). 11. A genus of bee. 12. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia). 13. Praise, glorify, or honor. 14. A member of a Finnish people living in the northwestern Urals in Russia. 21. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflight. 23. Used as a Hindi courtesy title. 25. Crowd or pack to capacity. 27. Analgesic drug (trade name Talwin) that is less addictive than morphine. 29. Doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on car- rion. 33. An oil port in southern Iraq. 34. A loud harsh or strident noise. 35. Small turnover of Indian origin filled with vegetables or meat and fried and served hot. 37. Of a moderate orange-yellow color. 38. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread. 39. Yellow-fever mosquitos. 40. The attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth. 42. A decree that prohibits something. 46. French marshal in the Napoleonic Wars (1769-1815). 48. A deep bow. ACROSS 50. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable 1. A small piece of cloth. timber and resinous juice. 4. Of or relating to or in the manner of Erasmus. 52. Lacking gonads. 12. Large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male. 58. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born. 15. An extension at the end and at right angles to the main building. 62. The 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 16. A composition for orchestra and a soloist. 64. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World. 17. An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of many body compounds (e.g., epineph- 66. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann. rine and norepinephrine and serotonin). 68. Kamarupan languages spoken in northeastern India and western Burma. 18. An index of the cost of all goods and services to a typical consumer. 70. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy. 19. Battle in 401 BC when the Persian King Artaxerxes II defeated his younger brother 71. An anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by who tried to usurp the throne. such symptoms as guilt about surviving or reliving the trauma in dreams or numbness 20. Mosses similar to those of genus Bryum but larger. and lack of involvement with reality or recurrent thoughts and images. 22. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of 73. The activity of persuading someone to buy. Jezebel (9th century BC). 74. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. 24. Cassava with long tuberous edible roots and soft brittle stems. 75. God of love and erotic desire. 26. The upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. 77. Tag the base runner to get him out. 28. Tropical trees having papery leaves and large fruit. 79. Support resembling the rib of an animal. 30. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. 83. A silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion. 31. Common Indian weaverbird. 32. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural). 36. Of or relating to or resembling a lobule. 41. Young sheep. Yesterdayʼs Solution 43. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 44. Fiddler crabs. 45. A smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked. 47. State in northeastern India. 49. Earless seals. 51. A town in southwestern British Columbia on Vancouver Island west of Vancouver. 53. In an urbane manner. 54. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal. 55. A mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern Asia. 56. Fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm. 57. A complete metric system of units of measurement for scientists. 59. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers. 60. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in urani- um ores. 61. The cry made by sheep. 63. Airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.. 65. A public promotion of some product or service. 67. An associate degree in nursing. 69. (British) Any elderly pompous reactionary ultranationalistic person (after the car- toon character created by Sir David Low). 72. A mask with a filter protects the face an lungs against poisonous gases. 76. Fairly small terrestrial ferns of tropical America. 78. Relating to or used in or intended for trade or commerce. 80. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground con- trol using precision approach radar. 81. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 82. Of an organism's environment. 84. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or water or to keep out the sea. 85. A light touch or stroke. 86. A small rubber ball used in the game of handball. 87. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

HOUSTON: Houston Astros right fielder George Springer dives and makes the catch for an out on Kansas City Royals’ Mike Moustakas in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, April 17, 2014, in Houston. —AP Tigers maul Indians

DETROIT: Ian Kinsler homered and drove in four runs, and the six-run eighth, setting up Santos (0-1) for trouble as manager Sox ace Chris Sale. Lester retired his first 16 batters before Tyler Detroit Tigers held on for a 7-5 victory over the Cleveland John Gibbons called for his closer early. Santos walked all Flowers singled in the sixth. Xander Bogaerts homered with Indians on Thursday. Justin Verlander (2-1) allowed three three batters he faced. Josmil Pinto came home on a wild two out in the sixth for Boston’s only hit off Sale. Ronald unearned runs in five innings, and the Tigers trailed 3-1 before pitch. Ball four by Santos to pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki was wild, Belisario (1-2) was the loser. Kinsler’s three-run homer in the fifth off Danny Salazar (0-2). too, allowing Chris Herrmann to score and tie the game. Detroit never gave up the lead after scoring four runs in the Santos threw another wild pitch to Brian Dozier, and pinch- ROYALS 5, ASTROS 1 fifth, although Cleveland’s Michael Brantley hit a two-run runner Pedro Florimon raced home for the lead. Casey Fien (2- James Shields struck out 12 in eight innings and the Royals homer in the seventh to make it 6-5. Joe Nathan pitched a per- 0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory. completed a three-game sweep of the Astros. Shields (1-2) fect ninth for his second save. gave up one run and four hits, all singles. He struck out seven RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 1 straight batters in the late innings. Scott Feldman (2-1) yielded RANGERS 8, MARINERS 6 Jon Lester pitched eight sharp innings and David Ross hit a four earned runs and nine hits in six innings. It was the first Kevin Kouzmanoff delivered again, doubling twice and tiebreaking RBI double in Boston’s two-run ninth, leading the tough outing for the Astros newcomer after he had allowed scoring two runs as Texas won its third straight after losing the Red Sox to over the White Sox. Lester (2-2) allowed one run just one run and seven hits combined in his first three starts. series opener. Kouzmanoff is hitting .414 since being promot- and seven hits for his second straight win after opening the The Royals were up by two when Alcides Escobar hit a two-run ed from Triple-A on April 9 after starting third baseman Adrian season with two losses. The left-hander struck out nine and double in the fourth. Salvador Perez added an RBI double in Beltre strained his left quadriceps. Shin-Soo Choo homered for walked none, winning an impressive pitcher’s duel with White the fifth.— AP Texas and J.P. Arencibia had a pair of RBI groundouts. Robinson Cano hit his first homer for the Mariners, going back-to-back with Corey Hart. Cano is in a 3-for-18 slump. Pedro Figueroa (2-1) earned his second victory in less than 24 Dodgers down Giants 2-1 hours. Joe Beimel (0-1) was the loser. SAN FRANCISCO: Hyun-Jin Ryu stretched his road scoreless right field. Chris Denorfia broke in, then retreated as the ball YANKEES 10, RAYS 2 streak to 26 innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the went over him for an RBI double. Rosario grounded out to CC Sabathia pitched seven innings for a rare win at San Francisco Giants 2-1 Thursday to avoid a sweep. Ryu (3- shortstop as Tulowitzki scored for a 2-1 lead, and Nolan Tropicana Field, leading the Yankees past David Price and the 1) struck out three and walked one on a season-high 112 Arenado followed with a run-scoring single. LaTroy Hawkins Rays in a matchup of former AL Cy Young Award winners. pitches in seven innings, helping his club move into a tie pitched the ninth to remain perfect in four save chances. Sabathia (2-2) allowed two runs and seven hits, improving to with the Giants atop the NL West at 10-6. Kenley Jansen 2-7 in 12 starts at Tropicana Field since joining the Yankees in gave up a two out RBI single to Adrianza before finishing for CARDINALS 8, NATIONALS 0 2009. He lowered his ERA to 5.19. Price (2-1) entered 6-1 in his fifth save. Yasiel Puig returned to the Dodgers starting Adam Wainwright (3-1) pitched his fourth career two-hit- nine starts against Sabathia but gave up six runs and 10 hits in lineup and went 1 for 4 with a strikeout. He dropped a rou- ter and seventh shutout. He chipped in at the plate with a five innings. Sean Rodriguez hit into a triple play and had a tine fly ball in right early on but recovered to throw out double and single, and St. Louis benefited from four errors solo homer for the Rays, who have lost four straight. Brian Brandon Belt at second. He then made a nice over-the-head in beating Washington for the eighth straight time dating to Roberts, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and rookie Yangervis catch on the next batter and a running grab in shallow cen- Game 5 of the 2012 NL division series. Wainwright allowed Solarte drove in two runs each for the Yankees. ter in the eighth with a runner on second. Madison Ian Desmond’s infield single in the second inning and Adam Bumgarner (2-1) allowed two runs, six hits and three walks LaRoche’s single to right in the ninth. He struck out eight TWINS 7, BLUE JAYS 0, 1ST GAME with six strikeouts in 4 1-3 innings but threw 99 pitches. and walked three. Taylor Jordan (0-1) gave up seven runs - Unfazed by the subfreezing temperature at first pitch, Kyle five earned - in 5 1-3 innings. Gibson (3-0) allowed four singles in a career-high eight score- PHILLIES 1, BRAVES 0 less innings in a day-night doubleheader opener. At 31 Ben Revere hit an RBI single with two outs in the eighth, PIRATES 11, BREWERS 2 degrees, took the mound for the coldest start for an outdoor and AJ Burnett tossed three-hit ball over seven innings to Andrew McCutchen hit his first homer of the season and game in Twins histor. Josmil Pinto highlighted a five-run fifth outpitch Alex Wood (2-2). Atlanta’s Julio Teheran beat Cliff drove in three runs, Pedro Alvarez had a three-run shot and inning against R.A. Dickey (1-3) with a two-run double, missing Lee 1-0 less than 24 hours earlier. Antonio Bastardo (2-1) pinch-hitter Josh Harrison broke a tie with a long ball in the a grand slam by a few inches. Trevor Plouffe also had two RBIs. worked the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished off the seventh. Harrison’s two-run drive down the left field line was four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his fourth save. the second of his career as a pinch hitter. It stared TWINS 9, BLUE JAYS 5, 2ND GAME Pittsburgh’s nine-run outburst over the seventh and eighth Minnesota scored three straight runs on wild pitches by the ROCKIES 4, PADRES 1 innings that was capped by Alvarez’s sixth of the year. Blue Jays’ Sergio Santos in the eighth inning, when the Twins Franklin Morales (1-1) allowed four hits in six innings and McCutchen, last year’s NL MVP, hit a two-run homer in the walked eight times off three relievers in rallying for a victory Wilin Rosario hit a tiebreaking groundout in a three-run sev- first inning in his 57th at-bat. Edinson Volquez (1-0) gave up and a sweep of a day-night doubleheader. The Twins trailed 5- enth. Ian Kennedy (1-2) took a one-hit shutout into the sev- two runs and eight hits in seven innings for his first win with 1 in the fifth of the night game after another lackluster start by enth before Corey Dickerson reached on a one-out double, the Pirates. Milwaukee has lost three of four following a Mike Pelfrey. Steve Delabar walked two batters starting the Troy Tulowitzki walked and Justin Morneau lined a ball to nine-game winning streak.—AP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

FED CUP PREVIEW Australia and Germany bid to end decades of Fed Cup pain

PARIS: Australia and Germany aim to end decades of Fed four-woman team. Germany reached the semi-finals for The Czechs and Italy meet in Ostrava in what will be their Cup pain when they clash in the semi-finals while Italy and the first time in 19 years by defeating Slovakia. fourth semi-final clash in the last five years with the home the Czech Republic, the current tournament heavy- Their singles hopes will be spearheaded by world num- side winning each of the previous three before going on weights, face off in the other last-four tie. Australia’s last ber seven Angelique Kerber, one of only four members of to claim the title. The Czech Republic made the semi-finals final appearance was in 1993 when they lost to Spain the top 10 playing Fed Cup this weekend, and Andrea when Andrea Hlavackova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova while the most recent of their seven titles came way back Petkovic, the champion in Charleston last week. Germany won the decisive doubles to see off Spain while Italy in 1974 when Evonne Goolagong was in her pomp. are captained by Barbara Rittner who played doubles eased past 17-time champions the USA 3-1 in Cleveland. Germany haven’t won the competition since 1992 when when her country last won the Fed Cup. Australia and World number six and former Wimbledon champion Petra Steffi Graf and Anke Huber starred in the team which Germany are meeting for a 13th time with the Australians Kvitova and world number 26 Lucie Safarova lead the defeated Spain. currently holding an 8-4 advantage having also won the Czech challenge while Italy have recalled Sara Errani and “It’s a great opportunity for our team,” admitted most recent meeting two years ago in Stuttgart. Unlike Roberta Vinci, who skipped the quarter-final. In the World Australia captain Alicia Molik who has home advantage Germany and Australia who have struggled to make an Group play-offs, where a place in the elite section is on with the Saturday-Sunday tie being played in Brisbane. impact in the Fed Cup in recent years, the Czech Republic offer for 2015, the United States, without the Williams sis- “It’s time for us to make our little piece of history.” and Italy have been busily making the tournament a two- ters, host France in St Louis while Russia, minus Maria Australia cruised past an under-powered Russia to make nation affair. Sharapova, take on Argentina in Sochi at a venue used for the semi-finals and will again be looking to former US Italy were champions in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013 this year’s Winter Olympics. Slovakia face Canada in Open champion Samantha Stosur, the world number 19, while the Czechs took the title in 2011 and 2012. Russia, Quebec City while Poland, with world number three and Casey Dellacqua, the world 53, to see them through. with wins in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, are the only other Agnieszka Radwanska in the mix, head to Barcelona to Teenagers Ashleigh Barty and Storm Sanders make up the nation to have captured the Fed Cup in the last decade. play Spain. — AFP Hopkins, 49, seeks win for the ageless

WASHINGTON: Nine months shy of his 50th birthday, Bernard Hopkins will try to become the oldest boxer to unify world titles when he faces Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov today. Hopkins, already the oldest fighter to win a world title, defends his International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight crown against the WASHINGTON: US boxers Shawn Porter (left) and Paulie Malignaggi 30-year-old World Boxing face off during a press conference in Washington ahead of their IBF Association champion. “This is a welterweight title fight today. — AFP defense of my legacy,” Hopkins said. “I don’t want anybody to take a BOXING piece of my legacy away. “Belts are nice. They are great for a younger Undefeated Porter, fighter. I’m defending something bigger than that. I’m defending my legacy. That’s more important than Malignaggi face off anything I can put around my waist.” Hopkins hopes to fight for an undis- WASHINGTON: Undefeated Shawn “A chance to win a third world WASHINGTON: IBF light heavyweight boxing champion Bernard Porter puts his International Boxing championship, to take a belt from a guy puted world title near his 50th birth- day against World Boxing Council Hopkins (left) and WBA and IBA light heavyweight boxing champion Federation world welterweight title on like that, it becomes a game not only of Beibut Shumenov, of Kazakhstan, pose face-to-face during a news con- the line against former world champion skill but of will,” Malignaggi said. “I will champion Adonis Stevenson, a ference in Washington. — AP Paulie Malignaggi in an all-American be a three-time world champion.” Haitian-born Canadian southpaw showdown today. It is on the undercard Porter, 23-0 with one draw and 14 who defends his crown May 17 ‘Ready to die for victory’ Philadelphia. “This is not a hobby. in Washington of the unification bout knockouts, won his first world title fight against Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara. Shumenov issued Hopkins a This is a bloodsport,” said Hopkins. between light heavyweight champions in December, taking a unanimous 12- But first, he must get past warning of his own. “You are mistak- “When you fight as a hobby, this Bernard Hopkins and Beibut Shumenov, round decision from compatriot Devon Shumenov, although Hopkins land- en if you think I think I’m fighting a isn’t a sport where you last too long. as is unbeaten Peter Quillin’s World Alexander for the IBF title on the same ed the first mental blows Thursday 50-year-old,” Shumenov said. “It’s I’m doing it because I had to. He’s Boxing Organization title defense card where Malignaggi beat Judah. in a final news conference after not the most important thing for doing it because he wants to.” against Czech Lukas Konecny. “We’re going to defend it with every- accepting a plaque from Joe me, the money. “I’m fighting for the Hopkins also taunted Malignaggi, 33, fighting outside his thing we have,” Porter said. “We’re Frazier’s family for helping fund a glory to be acknowledged as the Shumenov’s relative lack of experi- hometown of Brooklyn for the first time going to defend it with honor, with will statue of the late heavyweight leg- in two years, is confident of reclaiming and with skill. We have worked hard for best. I’m not seeking future fights. ence, the American having been a end. “Joe Frazier lives through me,” a world crown and dumping Porter, 26, this. We understand the position we are I’m ready to die to get the victory. pro boxer when the Kazak fighter from the ranks of the unbeaten. in and we’re excited.” Hopkins said. Hopkins then began “On Saturday night, we will see who was only five years old. “Get ready “We’re both very hungry,” Porter suffered the only blemish on his remarks by taking Shumenov’s is taking whose belts.” Hopkins, 54-6 for school, student,” Hopkins said. Malignaggi said. “I feel I’m the more tal- his record in a 10-round draw in 2012 title belt from him in front of his with two drawn and 32 knockouts, “I’m the professor and I’m going to ented fighter. I feel I’m the more intelli- with Julio Diaz but in a rematch Porter seated rival and moving it to his side said later he was happy to have teach you. ‘How can a 50-year-old gent fighter. I feel I’ve got more in my took a unanimous decision last of the podium. “Since we’re collect- annoyed Shumenov, 14-1 with nine man beat me like that?’ It’s not the back pocket.” Malignaggi, 33-5 with September, setting up his title bout ing good awards and achievements, knockouts. “The damage is done,” physical beat down. It’s the mental seven knockouts, owned the IBF light with Alexander. Quillan, 30-0 with 22 I had better take this now,” Hopkins he said. “When I started talking, he one.” Shumenov appeared unfazed welterweight crown in 2007 and 2008, knockouts, makes his third title defense said. It stayed there as Hopkins should have taken it back. It don’t by Hopkins and paid tribute to the twice beating Australian Lovemore against Konecny, 50-4 with 23 knock- made lengthy remarks and only matter what he says. Let’s see how legend, who has been winning Ndou for the title, and held the World outs. “It’s a test of maturity,” the 30- after the US legend was done talking he handles it. “I know he is coming fights for 25 years. “This is the kind Boxing Association version of the wel- year-old American said. “I want a com- did the usually softspoken to fight. He will bring out the best in of moment I have been dreaming of terweight crown for a year until losing it prehensive win.” Konecny, 35, suffered Shumenov rise to reach over to me.” Hopkins also dismissed all my life,” Shumenov said. “All the last June to countryman Adrien Broner. his only losses in the past eight years in reclaim his property. “I got him up. Shumenov as a rich guy fighting as a preparation has been done. I’m The “Magic Man” comes into his chal- his only two prior world title bouts, He’s got a pulse,” Hopkins said. “Just hobby while Hopkins spoke of his fighting a legend who has beaten lenging role off a unanimous 12-round both for the WBO light middleweight what I wanted. He’s alive. Alive.” decision over Zab Judah in December. crowns. —AFP poor upbringing on the streets of legends.”— AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Annual Shooting Tournament ends in style

By Abdellatif Sharaa Khalaf Al-Otaibi and board members will shooting disciplines were included in addi- and Saad Lafi Al-Mutairi. Results of the also be present. It was clear from the start tion to the Olympic archery. A large num- special needs events were as follows - in KUWAIT: The annual Shooting of the tournament that competition will be ber of shooters from the club, military the 10M air rifle, Atif Al-Dousari was first Tournament of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah hard as shooters expressed clear interests associations and Qatar Shooting followed by Nizar Ramadhan and Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will end today in getting the best results possible to win Federation participated in the tourna- Mohammad Atab. Meanwhile in the Pistol with the closing ceremony to be held at the prestigious cup and become champi- ment.” A special event was organized for Event, Tawfeeq Ashkanani won - followed 5.00 PM at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad ons of the 2013/2014 local season. those with special needs from the Kuwait by Khalid Mallouh. The 10 Meter Air Rifle Olympic Shooting Complex. Information The Secretary General of Kuwait and Handicapped Sports Club and they dis- event was won by Hamad Abdallah, fol- Minister, State Minister for Youth Affairs Arab Shooting Federation Obaid Munahi played good skills ahead of upcoming lowed by Bader Al-Muhaini and Hassan Al- Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Otaibi said that the tournament was international events. Mulla. The 10 Meter Pistol event was won Al-Sabah will represent HH the Amir during highly competitive and results were highly Meanwhile Kuwait National Team by Ali Al-Muhannadi from Qatar followed the ceremony. President of Kuwait and promising. He added that “due to the member Hamad Al-Afasi won the double by Abdallah Al-Harby and Mohammad Arab Shooting Federations Engineer Duaij importance of the tournament, all Olympic trap event, followed by Ahmad Al-Afasi Abdelrahman.

Kuchar shrugs off Masters fade, ties Heritage lead

SOUTH CAROLINA: Matt Kuchar shrugged off his Masters near-miss last week to share the lead after the opening round of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Thursday. Kuchar, who contended in Sunday’s final round at Augusta National before slipping back into a tie for fifth, put that disap- pointment behind him and shot a five-under-par 66 on a cool, breezy morning at Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island. “Once I got out there this morn- ing, I was ready to go,” the six-times PGA Tour win- ner told Golf Channel after finishing in style with a 15-foot birdie on his final hole, the par-four ninth. Kucher ended the round level with fellow Americans William McGirt and Scott Langley, both of whom played in the warmer and less difficult conditions of the afternoon. Indeed, Kuchar was the only morning starter to break 69. “I didn’t miss many shots. I found the fairways a lot, not only the fairways but the right (correct) side of the fairways to have a good approach,” said the 35-year-old said. “I had very good control off the tee and found a lot of greens (with my irons). This morning was tricky, so to shoot five birdies, no bogey, was really good.” Kuchar has been the hottest golfer on tour the past three weeks, finishing no worse than fifth, though he has conspicuously failed to close the deal, most notably at the Houston Open where he KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Westwood of England tees off on the 15th hole during the second round of the Maybank Malaysian bogeyed the final hole of regulation before losing a Open golf tournament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. —AFP playoff. The world number six said he would guard against mental and physical fatigue in his fourth consecutive tournament by avoiding the practice Sharp-shooting Westwood range for the rest of the week, instead spending his off-course time relaxing with his family. After the demands of the first major of the year, Hilton Head stretches lead in Malaysia Island can be a relaxing change of pace for the players, not that Harbour Town itself is easy. It is KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Westwood who is coming off a seventh-place finish It was a round to remember for Spain’s one of the tightest layouts on tour, with the small- stretched his lead at the Malaysian Open at last week’s Masters in the United Pablo Larrazabal, who plunged into a est greens, and the inevitable winds add another yesterday, putting on a clinic with his States. “But I rallied well and ended up water hazard in a desperate bid to challenge. irons as the Englishman moved closer to shooting 66.” Westwood, who last won escape a swarm of stinging hornets. “It The relatively short course has attracted several ending a nearly two-year title drought. at the 2012 Nordea Masters in Sweden, was the scariest moment of my career, veterans, including golfing greats Tom Watson and Westwood notched a six-under 66 on credited swing tweaks made under his for sure. I’ve never been so scared,” he Nick Faldo and five-time Heritage winner Davis day two to move to 13-under at the new coach. “I’m playing a lot better said. Larrazabal was walking along the Love. Watson, 64, did not come close to breaking tournament’s half-way point, four since I started working with Mike Walker fairway of the fifth hole when the hor- his age, shooting 75, but he enjoyed the chance to strokes clear of Belgium’s Nicolas about six or seven weeks ago. I saw an nets struck, stinging him on the face and play with 20-year-old Jordan Spieth. Masters run- Colsaerts and Antonio Lascuna of the immediate improvement on the range.” head. “My caddie told me to run, so I ner-up Spieth, the 2013 PGA Tour rookie of the Philippines. Precise wedge play put Lascuna got off to a hot start yester- start running like a crazy guy, but the Westwood in position to sink five birdie day with five birdies in the first seven hornets were still there, so the other year who carded a 69, is likely to be a member of putts from within four feet (one metre) holes, shooting the day’s low score-a players told me to jump in the lake,” he the Watson-captained United States Ryder Cup on the front nine at the Kuala Lumpur seven-under 65. He now stands at nine- said. The scare did little harm to his play- team which will take on holders Europe in Scotland Golf and Country Club. He had eight under par for the $2.75 million tourna- after brief treatment by a tournament in September. “He didn’t hit the ball particularly birdies in all. ment, which is jointly sanctioned by the doctor, he birdied the hole on his way to well for him today but he’s got a great short game,” Westwood’s lead would be greater if European and Asian tours. Colsaerts a four-under 68 for the day. Larrazabal is Watson said of Spieth. Love missed a short putt at not for a double-bogey on the difficult carded a 69 to stay level with Lascuna tied for 25th at two-under, level with the last to shoot a 70, while Faldo, back at the 11th, where he found the water. “It was and keep Westwood in sight. Former defending champion Kiradech scene of his first PGA Tour victory 30 years ago, solid stuff. I got a bit unlucky at the 11th. British Open champion Louis Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who continued could not conjure up the old magic as he battled to The wind just gusted on me and it came Oosthuizen ended the day nine strokes his erratic play by starting the front nine a 77.— Reuters up short into the water,” said off the lead. The South African shot a 68 with three bogeys before fighting back Westwood, a former world number one to go to four-under for the tournament. with four birdies later. — AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Ricciardo warns Red Bull ‘are coming’

SHANGHAI: Daniel Ricciardo sounded a warning The encouraging session prompted Ricciardo fastest time, was unhappy with the handling of his to Mercedes after the first practice sessions for to tell reporters afterwards that Mercedes should Mercedes throughout the day, complaining of tomorrow’s Chinese grand prix, declaring that be aware that Red Bull “are coming”. But the affa- understeer and later saying on team radio: they should watch out as Red Bull “are coming”. ble Australian admitted that it would take a little “There’s something wrong with this car. I’m com- Mercedes, having won the opening three races of more time. “There won’t be any deposing going ing in.” the season, still appear to be the dominant force on this weekend,” Ricciardo said. “I would like to Rosberg said it wasn’t only Hamilton having in Shanghai as Lewis Hamilton topped the times think that we have caught up, but I think they problems given the nature of the Shanghai circuit in yesterday’s second practice session. Team-mate (Mercedes) have got a bit more in there that they with long bends under braking. “Lewis had under- and drivers’ standings leader Nico Rosberg was didn’t show today. Ricciardo had said earlier in the steer, I had understeer also, but everybody has third, but appeared to have been hampered on week that he felt “pumped” for the Shanghai race, that problem here because the circuit destroys his fastest lap by yellow warning flags waved after despite losing an appeal against his Australian your front tyres,” said Rosberg. “You just have to Pastor Maldonado crashed his Lotus at the pit grand prix disqualification and he talked enthusi- figure out a way round that. Turn one is a tyre lane entrance. astically about his chances for today’s qualifying killer because it never ends, it goes on and on and With a clear run, Rosberg may have bettered session. on.” Hamilton caused confusion when he was Hamilton’s time. The Silver Arrows were split by a “We’d like second row in qualifying tomorrow. asked if the planned “clear-the-air talks with resurgent Ferrari, driven by Fernando Alonso, That’s the aim at the moment,” he said. “We are Rosberg following their acrimonious Bahrain bat- after Spaniard had earlier set the fastest time in making small improvements. The gap is a big one tle had happened on Thursday night and replied: the first practice session. Ricciardo’s Red Bull was so it’s not going to come down over one race, but “No.” But Rosberg had a different take on the mat- fourth, just half a second behind Hamilton with I feel that we have crept up a little bit more,” ter. “Yeah, we sat down and went through every- his teammate and world champion Sebastian Ricciardo added. “It’s still a big one but we are thing,” he said. “It’s all behind us and it’s flat out, Vettel in fifth, two-tenths of a second further back. coming.” By contrast Hamilton, despite setting the full speed ahead.”— AFP

Rally de Portugal - Maiden win for Stephane Lefebvre LISBON: Fourteen Citroen DS3 R3s took part in Rally de Portugal, the first round of the 2014 FIA Junior WRC, for which Citroen Racing is the exclu- sive supplier. After the ceremonial start in Estoril, the crews completed the super special stage held on tarmac roads in the centre of Lisbon. The Italian Simone Campedelli got off to the best start, finish- ing ahead of Martin Koci and the Czech Jan Cerny. After a long road section south to the Algarve, the Citroen DS3 R3s finally ventured onto the gravel yesterday morning. Alastair Fisher was the quickest man of the morning loop, with two consecutive SHANGHAI: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during a practice session ahead of tomorrow’s stage wins. With a lead of almost half a minute, he Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit yesterday. — AP led from Simone Campedelli and Martin Koci. The leader’s progress was only held up by a puncture on the final stage of the day. Martin Koci Hamilton leads 2nd took full advantage to become the first Slovakian to win a stage in the JWRC. Alastair Fisher neverthe- less returned to Faro with around a thirty-second lead over Martin Koci and Simone Campedelli. practice in China Stephane Lefebvre and Christian Riedemann round- ed off the top five. On his 21st birthday, Martin Koci SHANGHAI: Lewis Hamilton overcame handling and at one point radioed his brought some small updates here, was quickest out the blocks on day two, winning problems with his car’s handling to team to tell them there was “something which we already tried at the Bahrain SS8. Despite closing to within 21 seconds of the return Mercedes to the top of the wrong with this car. test,” Alonso said after practice. leader, his hopes of making further progress were timesheets in the second practice ses- “It was quite a difficult day today as “Everything worked well and that’s quickly dashed. Hampered by problems with his sion for the Chinese Grand Prix yester- we missed some of this morning’s ses- good news. Leaving aside the perform- brakes, he lost almost two minutes and fell back to day. Hamilton completed 25 laps of the sion which put us on the back foot ance of the others, I am happy with fifth place, behind Alastair Fisher, Simone 5.4 km Shanghai International Circuit in slightly, but we were glad to get some what we have done today,” he added. Campedelli, Stephane Lefebvre and Christian the afternoon session to end the day laps in the second session at least,” His team mate Kimi Raikkonen, howev- Riedemann. with a best time of one minute 38.315 Hamilton said after practice. “We’re not er, was hampered by technical glitches Saturday’s second loop shook up the standings. seconds, edging out the morning’s too happy with the balance of the car at and forced to sit out the first session. But pacesetter Fernando Alonso by a tenth the moment, so we need to go and work the Finn bounced back in the afternoon, Category leader Alastair Fisher went off on SS13 of a second. Formula One world champi- on that,” the 2008 world champion racking up 25 laps on his way to the sev- and was forced to retire. Simone Campedelli was onship leader Nico Rosberg in the other added. Hamilton’s Mercedes team have enth-fastest time. unable to start the final stage of the leg due to Mercedes was third, the German falling set the standard this season, the Behind the top three, Daniel problems with his brakes. Stephane Lefebvre there- four tenths of a second short of his team German marque having swept to three Ricciardo, who was third in the morning, fore ended day two in first place in the standings, mate’s benchmark. dominant wins in as many races. continued to lead the charge for world ahead of Martin Koci, Christian Riedemann, Despite ending the day fastest, yes- However, the Brackley-based team did champions Red Bull. The Australian end- Federico Della Casa and Simone Campedelli. terday’s two practice sessions were far not seem to have as big an edge over ed the day fourth ahead of team mate Stephane Lefebvre controlled from the front on the from trouble-free for Hamilton, who the opposition as in Bahrain two weeks Sebastian Vettel on what Germany’s final three stages to win the opening round of the arrives in China having won the last two ago, though they could well have been four-time world champion said was a season. Behind him, Christian Riedemann took races and is gunning for his first grand masking their true pace. good day for the team. However, he con- advantage of Martin Koci’s puncture to grab second prix hat-trick. The Briton was limited to ceded that the Milton Keynes outfit was running nine laps in the morning after a Alonso happy not yet a match for the top teams. Felipe spot from the Slovakian. Swiss driver Federico suspension issue brought an early end Fernando Alonso in particular - being Massa in the Williams followed the two Della Casa finished in fourth position, ahead of to his session. The problem persisted closely watched by his new boss Marco Red Bulls in sixth, ahead of Raikkonen Simone Campedelli, Simone Tempestini, Jan Cerny, into the second 90-minute session and Mattiacci - looked strong in his Ferrari. and McLaren’s Jenson Button. Romain Molly Taylor, Panikos Polykarpou and Quentin Hamilton was forced to miss out on the Having set the pace in the morning, the Grosjean gave Lotus, who have endured Giordano. Eleventh and twelfth respectively, opening half-hour of the post-lunch Spaniard swapped the fastest time with a trying start to the year, cause for opti- Sylvain Michel and Kornel Lukacs finished outside action as his team worked to fix his car. Rosberg’s Mercedes for most of the mism by setting the ninth-fastest time, the points. Once out on track, Hamilton continued afternoon before teams switched their while Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat round- to experience problems with his car’s focus to high-fuel long runs. “We have ed out the top 10. —Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Quo Vadis? An apt query for frustrated Lakers fans

LOS ANGELES: The title of the historical under .500 with a 27-55 record, having made his job a lot more difficult. Burying memories novel “Quo Vadis” is an apt question for never before lost so many games in a Shooting guard Kobe Bryant, a five- Farmar, who averaged 10.1 points and frustrated Los Angeles Lakers fans to ask single campaign, and they were elimi- time NBA champion, played in only six 4.9 assists but missed 41 games because of players and coaches after the team’s nated from playoff contention a month games after recovering from a torn of a strained groin and hamstring tears, nightmare 2013-14 NBA campaign ago. At home, they were a dismal 14-27 Achilles’ tendon and then fracturing his was eager to bury memories of the dismal came to an end. Written by Pole Henryk in front of Staples Center crowds who knee while veteran point guard Steve season. “Just trying to put it behind us,” he Sienkiewicz in 1895, the novel borrows became bored and gradually dwindled Nash appeared in only 15 games due to said. “Not try to think about it. I view it as its title from the biblical query “Quo in number and they failed to reach the nerve damage in his back. And that list an asterisk season. We didn’t have a fair vadis Domine?”, Latin for “Where are playoffs for the first time since 2005, and goes on and on and on with players shot at it.” Asked whether there was any you going, Lord?”, and the future desti- only the sixth time ever. such as Spanish forward Paul Gasol and specific reason for the spate of injuries, nation of the Lakers franchise is certain- The Lakers set team records for their point guards Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar Farmer replied: “Sometimes things just ly up for debate. largest losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Xavier Henry among others spend- happen. It doesn’t have to do with tough- Granted the team were severely (34 points) and to the Minnesota ing considerable time on the sidelines. ness or strength. “Injuries are a part of this hampered by multiple injuries through- Timberwolves (36 points) while their 48- “We’ve hit the bottom,” Nash, a twice game. It’s unfortunate it had to be this out the season but, as 16-time NBA point defeat last month to city rivals, the former Most Valuable Player, told way. Mike D’Antoni has coached this way champions, they are held to a lofty stan- Clippers, was their biggest against any reporters after his exit interview at the for a long time and it hasn’t happened dard by their supporters who could not opponent. Coach Mike D’Antoni came team’s El Segundo practice facility on before.” Victories in their last two games believe their eyes as one low after under increased criticism for his various Thursday. “We had championship aspi- of the season, over the Utah Jazz and another was posted. The Lakers strategies during the season and did not rations and nothing has gone right, indi- under-manned Spurs, dropped the Lakers plunged embarrassing new depths as always communicate well with his play- vidually and collectively, but not from a to sixth position in the NBA’s May 20 draft they finished the regular season well ers, though a rash of injuries certainly lack of want and trying.” lottery.—Reuters

Olympic Council hunts for Asian Games host

SINGAPORE: The Olympic Council of Asia must move fast to find a replacement city to host the 2019 Asian Games, International Olympic Committee Vice President Ng Ser Miang said yesterday, but ruled out his suitable Singapore homeland as an option. Vietnam’s government announced their surprise decision on Thursday to quit as hosts of the event in their capital Hanoi, citing a lack of preparedness and concerns that holding the multi-sport event for the first time would not prove financially viable. Wealthy Singapore will host the much smaller SEA Games in 2015 for 11 Southeast Asian countries in their soon to open $1 billion sports hub, which includes a 55,000 seat stadium, and 6,000 capacity aquatics centre, but were not seeking any extra work load at short notice. “With the process of selecting a city and prepar- ing the city for the Games, time is of essence as we are only five years away,” Ng said in a statement sent to Reuters. “We are putting all our resources and energy to ensure a successful SEA Games. A bid for 2019 Asian Games is not on the cards at the moment.” MIAMI: In this file photo, San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (right) and Miami Heat small forward LeBron James collide Hanoi was awarded the Games in November 2012 during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Miami. A rematch of last year’s thrilling NBA Finals finish is possible, but ahead of the Indonesian city of Surabaya but the cost of the Spurs and Heat would have to get through tough paths to get there. — AP hosting the event, which economists have estimated could be as high as $500 million, was an issue. Indonesian Olympic officials also voiced concerns about Heat seek third title but the likely increased price when asked if they were inter- ested in rebidding. “We have to realize that budgeting Spurs, Pacers top seeds to host such an event will be different by now,” Indonesia Olympic Committee chairperson Rita Subowo told Reuters via telephone. “The government of WASHINGTON: LeBron James and his Miami Washington at Chicago in addition to No worries for Wade Indonesia may be ready to take over, but what about Heat teammates seek their third title in a row Charlotte at Miami in the East and Portland at Wade has been nagged by a sore ham- the hosting city? We are happy that Surabaya is the and fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals Houston and Dallas at San Antonio in the string late in the season and could have trou- hosting city of the 2021 Asian Youth Games, but we will starting with their playoff opener tomorrow West. Miami went 1-5 to end the regular sea- ble reconnecting the correct chemistry with discuss about 2019.” against Charlotte. But it will be the league- son, a far cry from last year when they enjoyed James quickly in the playoffs. “I’m not worried best San Antonio Spurs and Eastern a 27-game win streak at one stage and finished about continuity with him at all,” Wade said. Surprised Conference pace-setter Indiana that carry the the season 66-16. But Charlotte is the only “The biggest thing is we both know what we The Asian Games, which was held for the first time in top seedings and home-court edges through- NBA club that has never won a playoff game. need to do and we just have to do it. We’ve 1951, has grown to consist of around 40 sports with ath- out the NBA playoffs that begin today. “It’s going to be a dog fight playing against the played together for four years, so it’s enough letes from 45 countries taking part putting pressure on Attention will focus on four-time NBA Most defending champions,” said Charlotte center continuity right there. So we’ll be fine.” Indiana host nations to build infrastructure and accommoda- Valuable Player James and Miami’s bid to Al Jefferson. opens against eighth seed Atlanta and the tion as well as stadiums. It will be held in Incheon, South defend the crown once again. And while “We’ve been underdogs ever since I’ve Pacers have superior depth and the NBA’s best Korea this year after China hosted the last edition and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh need strong been here and it’s worked so far... Why not go home-court record while the Hawks have had wealthy Qatar before them in 2006. Although Vietnam’s supporting roles, there’s no doubt James must against the best? Regardless, we’ll learn some- to play well to secure the last East spot and $155 billion economy is in recovery and annual growth excel for Miami to have any real chance. “We thing.” The Bobcats are 0-16 against the Heat stretch their run of playoff bids to seven in a of more than five percent is expected in the next few need him to be a monster for us,” Miami’s since James joined Miami in 2010, and he row, the East’s best. years, it faces many deep-rooted problems, including Shane Battier said. “As long as he has the edge scored a career-high 61 points against Michael The Pacers were eliminated by Miami in weak infrastructure, one of Asia’s highest levels of bad to his game, that’s what we need. That gives us Jordan-owned Charlotte last month. But the each of the past two seasons and the teams debt and a state sector mired in graft and inefficiency. the best chance of winning. I think he’s close.” Heat vow no overconfidence. “We’ll be tested. will be favored to reach the East final again. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a meeting Today’s opening games in the first round, Our guys understand that,” Heat coach Erik Washington will return to the playoffs for the with officials on Thursday and concluded it was bet- best-of-seven playoff matchups find Memphis Spoelstra said. “We embrace that competition. first time in six years against Chicago, seeking ter to opt out now, because poor preparation could at Oklahoma City and Golden State at the Los When you get into this second season, you their first playoff series win since beating damage Vietnam’s reputation and that the state Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference have no idea what’s going to happen. That Chicago in 2005. The Bulls will offer a pressur- budget could be invested “in other very urgent and Atlanta at Indiana and Brooklyn at Toronto fierce competition either brings out the best of ing defense against Wizards top scorer John tasks.” — Reuters in the Eastern Conference. Tomorrow finds you or brings out something else.” Wall. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

Italian League Preview German League Preview

Roma lick wounds; Juve German League table

edge closer to scudetto German League table ahead of weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

MILAN: Juventus will look to a possible and Roma all but certain of keeping the Bayern Munich 30 25 3 2 82 20 78 slip-up by closest challengers Roma at two automatic qualifying places for the Dortmund 30 19 4 7 67 32 61 Fiorentina as the Turin giants begin the Champions League, Napoli have two Schalke 30 17 7 6 56 38 58 countdown to claiming a third consecutive major concerns. One is keeping Fiorentina, Bayer Leverkusen 30 16 3 11 50 37 51 Serie A title. Roma’s faint hopes of a first fourth at nine points adrift, at bay while VfL Wolfsburg 30 15 5 10 53 45 50 scudetto since 2001 were kept in check on hoping Gonzalo Higuain, who sits third in M’gladbach 30 14 7 9 52 35 49 Monday when Juve restored their eight- the league scoring charts, two behind the Mainz 30 14 5 11 44 45 47 point lead at the top with a comfortable 2- 19-goal tally of Torino’s Ciro Immobile, FC Augsburg 30 12 6 12 41 45 42 0 win away at Udinese. Antonio Conte’s recovers from a training ground knock. Hoffenheim 30 10 10 10 66 63 40 Juve side would be forgiven for hoping Higuain is one of two Argentinians Hertha Berlin 30 10 7 13 38 42 37 Roma, who on Thursday failed in their bid vying for the top scorer award along with Eintr. Frankfurt 31 9 8 14 39 53 35 to reduce a three-match ban handed second placed Carlos Tevez of Juventus Hanover 31 10 5 16 41 57 35 down to top scorer Mattia Destro, concede (18), but he is a doubt for today’s visit to Werder Bremen 30 8 9 13 34 58 33 defeat away at a Fiorentina side which still Udinese after he left training early on SC Freiburg 30 8 8 14 35 52 32 has a mathematical chance of challenging Thursday due to a left leg injury. The for- VfB Stuttgart 30 7 7 16 45 58 28 third-placed Napoli for the league’s final mer Real Madrid striker is set to undergo Hamburg 30 7 6 17 46 62 27 Champions League place. Such a scenario tests late yesterday, a day ahead of a Nuremberg 30 5 11 14 35 58 26 would put Juve, who host Bologna, 11 potentially tricky away fixture. Napoli’s Braunschweig 30 6 7 17 28 52 25 points ahead with four games remaining, last away match ended with a shock 1-0 and allow the title party preparations to defeat at Parma, while Udinese put up Note: Top three qualify directly for the Champions League, fourth goes into the play-offs, begin. only scant resistance during a 2-0 capitu- fifth into Europa League. The bottom two sides are relegated and the team finishing 16th Roma coach Rudi Garcia, however, has lation at home to Juventus on Monday. has a two-legged play-off against the side which finishes third in the second division. refused to throw in the towel: “We’re play- The fight for Europa League places will ing in Florence and on paper it’s a difficult have special significance this weekend match, while Juve look like they have it with several candidates facing off against Bayern Munich eager for easier. “But you never know... just when it each other. seems there can be no more surprises, Parma, Torino, Milan and Lazio are all that’s when they happen. As long as there between one and five points adrift of fifth- Madrid confidence boost is life, there is hope.” Garcia’s comments placed Inter. Inter are away to Parma, Lazio on Wednesday came a day before the host Torino while AC Milan arguably have BERLIN: Bayern Munich need a convincing looking to pick up their fifth straight win club’s appeal against Destro’s three-match the pick up the bunch when they host a win at Bundesliga bottom side Eintracht having booked their German Cup final ban was rejected. The 23-year-old striker Livorno side whose battle to climb out of Braunschweig today to dismiss talk of a berth against Bayern on May 17. had bagged a hat-trick during Roma’s 3-1 the drop zone continues. Livorno’s bid mini-crisis ahead of their Champions Dortmund enjoyed a 2-0 win over win at Cagliari on April 6 but, after escap- would be helped by snatching at least a League semi-final at Real Madrid. With only Wolfsburg in Tuesday’s semi-final but both ing punishment for striking Cagliari share of the points against Clarence two wins in their last six games, Bayern goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller (groin) defender Davide Astori from behind, fell Seedorf’s Milan side, and by defeat for have suffered a dip since winning the and striker Robert Lewandowski (thigh) are victim to trial by television following a Bologna, who sit fourth from bottom, at Bundesliga nearly a month ago with a carrying knocks. Lewandowski scored his request by the disciplinary commission of Juventus. Yet given Milan’s recent resur- record seven games to spare. Bayern 100th goal for Dortmund against the federation. gence from the depths of arguably their booked their place in next month’s German Wolfsburg, but his final match in the black Destro will now return to league action worst season of the modern era, that Cup final with a 5-1 drubbing of second and yellow jersey will be against future only in time for Juventus’s visit to Roma on seems an unlikely scenario. Juve coach May 9 for the penultimate match of their Conte, for one, says his side won’t be tak- division Kaiserslautern in Wednesday’s employers Bayern in the cup final. Seventh- season-by which time the Turin giants ing their foot off the pedal just yet. “We semi-final in Munich. But Munich’s director placed Mainz 05 now find themselves in a could already have secured the title. All of know Roma aren’t giving up and although of sport Matthias Sammer said while the Europa League spot due to both cup final- this weekend’s fixtures will be played on we’re in front we have to have the same scoreline was impressive, the performance ists Dortmund and Bayern having qualified the today of Easter weekend and with Juve attitude.”— AFP was lacking spark. directly for next season’s Champions Bayern have lost back-to-back league League. matches, an obvious concern ahead of Hamburg set for historic drop -A few Wednesday’s Champions League semi- shock results can be expected in the last Italian Serie A table final, first leg at Real Madrid. “I had the feel- four weeks of the season with sides desper- ing that we’re not really running hot at the ate for points in the lower half of the table Italian Serie A table ahead of weekend games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals moment,” said Sammer, who questioned set to surprise those higher up. A good against, points): Bayern’s desire to win the Champions example is today evening’s tie when rele- League and German Cup finals. “For the gation-threatened Hamburg host VfL Juventus 33 28 3 2 71 22 87 tasks we are facing, that’s not enough. We Wolfsburg, who are just a point off a Roma 33 24 7 2 68 19 79 have to ask ourselves if we still want to win Champions League berth for next season. Napoli 33 20 7 6 63 35 67 these two titles.” On paper, Bayern’s trip to Hamburg are the only team in Fiorentina 33 17 7 9 56 37 58 Braunschweig looks straightforward, but Germany’s top-flight to have never been Inter Milan 33 13 14 6 55 35 53 the hosts have picked up seven points in relegated and have just four games left to Parma 33 13 12 8 53 42 51 their last four games to boost their survival escape the bottom three. Hamburg coach Torino 33 13 9 11 49 42 48 bid. Braunschweig are without injured cap- Mirko Slomka is without centre-back AC Milan 33 13 9 11 50 44 48 tain and striker Domi Kumbela, a rich Heiko Westermann who has a groin Lazio 33 13 9 11 44 44 48 source of goals for them in recent weeks, injury. Wolves are without defensive mid- Atalanta 33 14 4 15 38 44 46 and are just three points from safety. fielder Junior Malanda who tore knee lig- Verona 33 14 4 15 50 57 46 Bayern will be without right-back aments in Tuesday’s cup defeat at Sampdoria 33 11 8 14 40 49 41 Rafinha, who is serving a three-match ban Dortmund. There will be a similar points Genoa 33 10 9 14 36 43 39 after being sent off in last Saturday’s 3-0 battle when Nuremberg host Bayer Udinese 33 11 5 17 35 46 38 league defeat at home to Borussia Leverkusen tomorrow with the visitors Cagliari 33 7 12 14 31 45 33 Dortmund. There is also a question mark eager to hold off Wolves and stay fourth. Chievo 33 8 6 19 30 49 30 over Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Second-from-bottom Nuremberg are two Bologna 33 5 13 15 27 51 28 who missed the mid-week game with a calf points from safety, but have lost their last Livorno 33 6 7 20 36 64 25 strain. It remains to be seen whether coach three games. Likewise, Leverkusen have Sassuolo 33 6 7 20 32 62 25 Pep Guardiola rests his squad or looks for fragile confidence with only two wins in Catania 33 4 8 21 24 58 20 some continuity by naming a strong team their last 13 matches despite their fourth Top three qualify for Champions League. Fourth and fifth for Europa League. four days before the trip to Real. Second- place and fired coach Sami Hyypia a fort- Bottom three are relegated. placed Borussia Dortmund host Mainz night ago.— AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 Liverpool embark on title hunt at Norwich LONDON: Liverpool visit Norwich City Liverpool have scored 18 times in the last always about the next game.” Park later the same day. United’s own this weekend, determined to maintain four meetings between the teams, with Champions League hopes have been all focus on the task in hand despite grow- Luis Suarez helping himself to four goals Everton seek reaction but extinguished as they lie 10 points ing national excitement about their bid in a 5-1 win when the teams last met in Chelsea have an opportunity to below the top four, but manager David to be crowned Premier League champi- December. Norwich are in desperate emphasise just how far Liverpool still have Moyes will be desperate to avoid embar- ons. Last weekend’s pulsating 3-2 defeat need of points, however, as they are only to go as they can move to the top of the rassment on his return to his former club. of title rivals Manchester City left Brendan two points above the relegation places table with victory at home to bottom club “We’ve not lost so many games in the Rodgers’s side two points above Chelsea and play Manchester United, Chelsea and Sunderland today. After two defeats in last months, so there is no reason for us to at the summit and needing four wins to Arsenal in their final three fixtures. three games, Chelsea have got back on feel deflated,” said Everton left-back guarantee a first league title since 1990. It While Suarez is aware of the clamor to track with successive wins over Stoke City Leighton Baines. “We were on a run of was Liverpool’s 10th successive win and see Liverpool return to the summit of the and Swansea City, but they will be wary of good wins. To lose one game doesn’t take the thrilling nature of their late-season English game after 24 years, he says that a team who held Manchester City to a anything away from the way we’ve been burst, coupled with the emotion generat- his team-mates cannot afford to be dis- shock 2-2 draw on Wednesday. playing and we’ve just got to get back on ed by the 25th anniversary of the tracted by speculation about the destina- City, who now trail Liverpool by six track as quickly as possible.” At the other Hillsborough disaster, has seen them cast tion of the title. “It’s normal for the sup- points but retain a game in hand, host end of the table, third-bottom Fulham can as the neutrals’ favorites. porters to get excited and be discussing fifth-bottom West Bromwich Albion in the provisionally climb out of the relegation While a potential title decider at home our chances,” he told the Liverpool web- Monday night game. Like City, Everton zone at Norwich’s expense if they win at to Chelsea awaits on April 27, the first site. “When I’m out shopping or out with suffered a mid-week setback when they Tottenham Hotspur today. “I think we obstacle that Steven Gerrard and his my family, I bump into fans who mention lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace, which have very important games at the team-mates must overcome is tomor- it to me. I’ve told them to stay calm and enabled Arsenal to preserve their hold on moment and if it works like the last two, it row’s trip to Carrow Road. Following the not to worry. We’ll be trying our best. “For fourth place, one point above Roberto will be OK,” said Fulham manager Felix win over City, Gerrard was emphatic in his the players it’s probably best if we don’t Martinez’s side. Arsenal visit Hull City Magath, whose side have won their last insistence that Liverpool must not under- get involved in that kind of talk. Winning tomorrow in a dress rehearsal for next two matches. “Everybody has a chance. estimate Norwich, but their recent record the title would be very special, but we month’s FA Cup final, with Everton wel- We can go to Tottenham and try to against Paul Lambert’s men augurs well. can’t think about that yet. For us it’s coming Manchester United to Goodison win.”— AFP

EPL PREVIEW MATCHES ON TV

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Chelsea can cope with Tottenham v Fulham 14:45 beIN SPORTS 9 HD beIN SPORTS 11 HD double bid, says Cech Chelsea v Sunderlnad 17:00 beIN SPORTS 9 HD beIN SPORTS 11 HD LONDON: Petr Cech insists Chelsea can cope with the to concentrate on what we might do right, rather than what ITALIAN LEAGUE demands of challenging for a Premier League and Champions the opposition might do right.” Sunderland were denied a vic- Udinese v Naples 16:00 League double as the Blues face Sunderland at the start of an tory at Eastlands by a late mistake by their goalkeeper, Vito beIN SPORTS 10 HD eight-day period that could define their season. Jose Mannone, who has been one of their outstanding individuals Catania v Sampdoria 16:00 Mourinho’s side go into the latest round of Premier League in an unhappy season. beIN SPORTS 2 HD matches in second place, two points behind leaders Liverpool. Mannone will retain his place at Stamford Bridge in a Lazio v Turin 16:00 Victory at Stamford Bridge over bottom of the table Sunderland side that is likely to be unchanged since Phil beIN SPORTS 1 HD Sunderland will ensure Chelsea increase the pressure on Bardsley, their defender, remains suspended. Connor Wickham, Parma v Inter Milan 16:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD Liverpool, who travel to Norwich the following day. scorer of both goals at City, has virtually guaranteed himself a Milan v Livorno 16:00 Mourinho’s men will temporarily claim top spot if they beat place in the side for their remaining games of the season. The beIN SPORTS 6 HD Sunderland, leaving them in control of their own destiny in the striker was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds earlier Juventus v Bologna 19:30 title race ahead of the crucial trip to face Liverpool at Anfield this season, but has impressed since being recalled. “When I beIN SPORTS 12 HD on April 27. Chelsea’s position was strengthened in midweek came to the club there were five or six strikers, so it was impossi- beIN SPORTS 3HD by Gus Poyet’s Sunderland who held third placed Manchester ble to play them all,” Poyet said. “Connor was young so I let him Florentina v Rome 22:00 City to a draw at Eastlands, four days after City had lost at go out on loan and he did well so we brought him back. If he beIN SPORTS 3 HD Liverpool. But the west Londoners also have a European cam- delivers, he keeps playing-it’s that simple.”— AFP SPANISH LEAGUE paign to consider however, as they travel to Atletico Madrid for Osasuna v Valencia 17:00 the first leg of the Champions League semi-final next Tuesday. English Premier League table beIN SPORTS 4 HD The coming days will test the depth of Mourinho’s squad, Levante v Getafe 19:00 although Eden Hazard is the only significant injury concern and beIN SPORTS 14 HD the Belgian winger could yet recover in time to face English Premier League table ahead of the weekend’s beIN SPORTS 4 HD Sunderland. Hazard missed last weekend’s victory at Swansea matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, Sociedad v Espanyol 21:00 after limping out of the Champions League win over Paris Saint points): beIN SPORTS 10 HD Germain and will not be risked with the Atletico game looming. Liverpool 34 24 5 5 93 42 77 beIN SPORTS 14 HD Chelsea’s Czech Republic goalkeeper Cech believes the squad Chelsea 34 23 6 5 66 24 75 possesses enough experience and know-how to handle the Man City 33 22 5 6 88 34 71 Lennon demands test ahead. “It’s very tough to play three huge games in a row Arsenal 34 20 7 7 59 41 67 but that’s why we are a top club,” he said. Everton 34 19 9 6 55 34 66 strong finish from Celtic Spurs 34 18 6 10 48 48 60 ‘Forget about opposition’ Man Utd 33 17 6 10 56 38 57 GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon has warned his play- Meanwhile, Poyet has never given up hope that Sunderland ers the hard work isn’t over yet, despite his side having Southampton 34 13 9 12 50 45 48 will escape relegation this season, although even the manager Newcastle 34 14 4 16 38 52 46 already wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title. The Hoops admitted to doubts before their fine performance at City. They sealed their third championship in a row last month but still Stoke 34 11 10 13 38 48 43 achieved a 2-2 draw which won’t alter his belief that a major Crystal Palace 34 12 4 18 27 41 40 have five games to play, starting with a visit to high-flying overhaul of the club is required, but it is possible they will still West Ham 34 10 7 17 38 47 37 Motherwell today. The Fir Park side are still battling it out with be a Premier league club next season when Poyet hopes to Hull 33 10 6 17 34 40 36 Aberdeen for second place and a shot at European competi- start the transformation. “It was an excellent performance by us Aston Villa 33 9 7 17 35 49 34 tion next season. Lennon knows some of his players may against City,” Poyet said. “It’s the sort of performance which already be thinking about their summer holidays but after a going to give us confidence. I don’t like using that word, but it Swansea 34 8 9 17 45 50 33 two-week break due to last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi- is true. West Brom 33 6 15 12 40 51 33 finals, the Hoops boss is demanding a strong finish to the sea- “It will give us a bit of hope against Chelsea. Now the play- Norwich 34 8 8 18 26 53 32 son for the post-split fixtures against their fellow top-six sides. ers will believe they might get something. “We have to think Fulham 34 9 3 22 34 74 30 “We have good games coming up with the top five now, about ourselves in these games against the top teams. We Cardiff 34 7 8 19 30 6429 and they will all be really good tests for us, whether they are have to think about passing, creating, defending, running and Sunderland 33 6 8 19 31 56 26 home or away,” said Lennon, whose side demolished tackling. “We have to forget about the opposition and concen- Notes: Top four teams qualify for next season’s Champions Motherwell 5-0 on their last visit to Fir Park in December. trate on ourselves. It is not easy but we achieved that against League; fifth-place team qualifies for Europa League; bot- “They have a real fight on for second place and are in a bril- City and we have to do that in the remaining games. “We have tom three teams relegated to Championship. liant position at this stage in the season. —AFP Hopkins, 49, seeks win for the ageless42 SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014 APRIL SATURDAY, SportsSports

MONACO: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after losing a point against David Ferrer (inset) of Spain during their quarterfinals match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, yesterday. —AP Ferrer ends Nadal’s claycourt winning run 8-time champion knocked out of Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO: David Ferrer produced a Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka, as he served for victory leading 5-2, but was go of a 40-15 lead in the first game. From that major upset at the Monte Carlo Masters yes- who beat Nadal in that grand slam final and broken. On his second chance, the 32-year- point on, momentum totally shifted to the terday as the persistent Spaniard stunned booked his place 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 over Canadian old got the job done after two hours, 11 min- Swiss world number three, who broke the eight-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-6 (7/1), 6- Milos Raonic. Nadal’s only other losses at the utes. The win was the first on clay for Ferrer Canadian again for 5-2 before serving out for 4 in the quarter-finals. Ferrer, seeded sixth, tournament occurred in the 2003 third round against Nadal in a decade. “The time I beat the match in 90 minutes. handed the top seed only his third loss at the against Guillermo Coria and last year when he Rafael in clay court was 10 years ago. But I’m “I showed him on every point that the tournament a day after Nadal had won his went down in straight sets to Novak Djokovic happy because I am in the semi-final and match will be tough for him,” said the winner. 300th clay match of his career and 50th at the in the final. Prior to that final, he had won because I am playing very good this week,” “Even in the first set he was staying with me. Monte Carlo Country Club. Ferrer came to the eight straight editions. “I’m not happy today said Ferrer. “Maybe this week is my best of He was close to winning the tie-break. “But it court with a 5-21 deficit against his compatri- about what I did, not very happy about the this season. “Rafa’s not a machine. Sometimes was a tough set for him because he had to ot, whose form has dropped this season. way that I played the second set after losing he can play not so good always. Maybe today play his best, he had to always try something. “When the opponent is doing the things bet- the first,” continued Nadal. he doesn’t play his best tennis, and I played “I felt strong from the baseline, I feel good ter than you, the normal thing is to lose. very good.” physically. I know that on clay courts if I play That’s what happened today,” said Nadal. “I Rafa’s not a machine Wawrinka, who had a walkover in the pre- my best tennis I can beat those guys. “I know didn’t play the right way. I didn’t play with the “I didn’t play with the right intensity at the vious round when Spain’s Nicolas Almagro it’s never easy, but I’m really happy the way I right intensity with my forehand. “I played too beginning of the second. I give him big pulled out with a foot injury, took control as did today.” He now stands 3-0 over Raonic, short. I give him the chance to have the con- opportunity at the beginning of the second. I Canadian Raonic twice lost leads in the open- who was playing his first clay court quarter- trol of the point almost all the time. He did cannot do it.” Nadal was well off the boil from ing set tie-breaker. The mistakes gave an final at the Masters 1000 level. Wawrinka much better than me, so just congratulate the start in a contest where the opening set opening to Wawrinka, who took the first set duplicated his 2009 result by reaching the him.” took 75 minutes and the third game required on his initial opportunity and then broke to semi-finals and improving his season record Ferrer will now face off today against a quarter of an hour. Ferrer battled his nerves start the second as the frustrated Raonic let to 18-3.—AFP