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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 THULHIJA 1, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net New British Death threats Iran photog Qatar takes Ambassador for Saudi pilots pays price a stand in Lodge briefs after raids on for artistic hijab row local media4 IS13 militants freedom40 at18 Asiad Obaidi takes health office Max 42º Min 25º staff to task over graft High Tide 00:07 & 11:53 Low Tide MP claims irregularities in airport expansion project 06:03 & 18:33 40 PAGES NO: 16296 150 FILS By B Izzak and Agencies minister stressed. Separately, MP Saadoun Hammad yes- India triumphs in Mars mission KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ali Al- terday claimed irregularities in the Obaidi yesterday announced referring process of prequalifying companies for BANGALORE: India won Asia’s race to members of staff of the Kuwaiti Health the KD 1.033 billion airport expansion Mars yesterday when its unmanned Office in Washington to the prosecution project. Hammad said that as many as 19 Mangalyaan spacecraft successfully over graft allegations. “Based on com- companies were prequalified, most of entered the Red Planet’s orbit after a 10- plaints received from citizens them having no experience month journey on a tiny budget. Scientists sent to have medical treat- in the field, and later only at mission control let out wild cheers and ment abroad in the US about two firms were left in the applause after the gold-coloured craft the staff of the health office, fray after the other 17 com- fired its main engine and slipped into the and on information received panies pulled out of the planet’s orbit following a 660-million-km about financial and adminis- race. He charged that some voyage. “History has been created. We trative irregularities at the companies were paid to have dared to reach out into the unknown office, it has been decided to enter the race and then pull and have achieved the near impossible,” a send a specialized technical, out, warning that the issue jubilant Prime Minister Narendra Modi said financial and legal team to will not pass without a at the Indian Space Research investigate the alleged irreg- probe. Organisation’s (ISRO) base near Bangalore. ularities,” the minister said in The lawmaker also “The success of our space program is a a press statement. claimed that an internation- shining symbol of what we are capable of After about two weeks of al company was initially as a nation,” Modi said, grinning broadly serious and hard work, the denied prequalification for and embracing the ISRO’s chairman. team prepared a report over Dr Ali Al-Obaidi a number of reasons, but The success of the mission, which is suspected abuse of public funds and for- when its local agent was replaced with a designed to search for evidence of life on gery by some members of the office staff, more powerful name, it was granted pre- the Red Planet, is a huge source of national as well as financial and administrative qualification. In addition, Hammad pride for India as it competes with its Asian irregularities, which prompted referring claimed that an international company rivals for success in space. Indians from the entire matter to the prosecution, offered to build the project for just KD 650 ministers to students and office workers Obaidi said. The Health Ministry never million with all the guarantees needed, took to Twitter to express pride, with the CHENNAI: Indian schoolchildren stand in formation as they celebrate the success of India’s accepts corruption or technical or finan- but was rejected although it could have Continued on Page 13 Mars Orbiter Mission at a school yesterday. — AFP cial irregularities or abuse of public funds, saved around KD 383 million for the state. and violators are held accountable, the Continued on Page13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 LOCAL

Flowers presented by Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud Al- Sabah, the Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Flowers from Al-Anba newspaper. Flowers from Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa. Flowers from adlink. Kuwait Times congratulated on 53rd anniversary KUWAIT: Kuwait Times received congratulations yesterday on its 53rd anniversary. Founded by Yousuf Saleh Alyan on Sept 24, 1961, Kuwait Times is the first English-language daily newspa- per in the Arabian Gulf region, based in Kuwait. The forty-page broadsheet provides in-depth reporting on local events and business news, analysis and editorials on local, regional, and international issues and entertainment and sports news and features. Kuwait Times also pub- lishes a free 48-page tabloid, the first in the country. The Friday Times offers local commentary, news and analysis as well as entertainment, sports and comprehensive features.

(From left) Haydar Rafraf, Holiday Inn Marketing & PR Executive, Taleb Kanjo, Kuwait Taleb Kanjo, Kuwait Times Marketing & Advertising Manager, and A bouquet from Mazda. Times Marketing & Advertising Manager and Shereen Almonoufy, Marketing Manager Amena Al-Jariri, Action Kuwaitís Country Manager. (Inset) Chocolate pre- Holiday Inn Salmiya. (inset) A cake from Holiday Inn Salmiya. sented by Action Kuwait.

Taleb Kanjo with Khadija Muftah from Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Hazem Ahmad, PR Executive of Sheraton Hotel, Taleb Kanjo. (Inset) A Bida’a. (Inset) A cake from cake presented by Sheraton Hotel. Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a.

Wassim Mahdi Safir, Hotel & Residences Director of Mina Gorgey Marriott Cluster Public Relations & Sales & Marketing, with Taleb Kanjo. (inset) A cake Marketing Executive and Taleb Kanjo. (Inset) from Safir Hotel & Residences. Marriott Hotel’s cake.

(From left) Mohamed Omar, Assistant Director of Sales of Marina hotel, Taleb Kanjo and Maisa’a Thaher Asda’a, Account Executive. (Inset) Marina hotel’s cake. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 LOCAL

Kuwait, Egypt sign military deal

KUWAIT: Kuwait and Egypt have signed a bilateral agreement in the military field as part of a previously hammered out military training deal. The deal was inked on the sidelines of the 8th meet- ing of the Joint Kuwaiti-Egyptian Military Committee held here today, the Kuwaiti army’s Moral Guidance Department said in a statement. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways and means of promoting and developing bilateral cooperation in mili- tary training and exercises, it added. Separately, Lt Col Mohammad Al-Kandari, chief of Kuwait’s joint military operations and head of the committee tasked with preparing for Eagle Resolve 2015, said Tuesday that the military exercise is the biggest regionally and internationally. Addressing the meeting on the exercise, Al-Kandari said that Eagle Resolve 2015 aims at enhanc- ing defense cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and brotherly and friendly countries. It is also aimed at exchanging expertise in managing joint military operations in coordination with the US Central Command. “Kuwait will host Eagle Resolve 2015 exercise next March in which more than 30 Arab and foreign countries are expected to participate,” he added. “The US, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, France, Italy, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Japan and Argentina have all confirmed that they would take part in the exercise,” he stressed. He added that Eagle Resolve 2015 exercise will be held on Kuwaiti soil, territorial waters as well as a host of territories designed for training across GCC countries. The exercise, in its 13th edition, will be conducted through three phases, he said, adding KUWAIT: HH the Amir receives the ‘medal of Abu Bakr Al-Sedeeq’ from HH Sheikh Sabah receives a photo album gifted by KRCS Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Sayer that the event is a strategic gain to Kuwait on both the regional ARCO Secretary General Dr Abdullah Al-Hazza. — KUNA and international levels. Kuwait has participated in all editions of the exercise since it started in 2000 in Bahrain, and this reflects the “professional stan- dard of Kuwait’s Armed Forces,” he said. He also commended the KRCS, ARCO honor role of both the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and the Supreme Command of Kuwaiti Armed Forces in facilitating all obstacles. The Head of the US Military Cooperation Office Gen Rick Matson stressed the importance of the exercise, saying it is a Amir on UN award chance to strengthen mutual relations and to boost military capa- bilities. Furthermore, Britain’s representative in the exercise said that his country looks forward to working with Kuwait along with KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- tions to him on the occasion of having been recently honored As for Dr Al-Sayer, he also gave HH the Amir a gift from his its allies through the event. Jaber Al-Sabah welcomed in his office at Bayan Palace yester- by the UN as a Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as a organization consisting of a collection of photographs high- Squads from the Fire Services Directorate and the Ministry of day Chairman of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Dr Humanitarian Center. lighting the relief aid activities carried out by KRCS all over the Interior are also scheduled to take part in the operation. The event Hilal Al-Sayer and the Secretary General of the Arab Red Dr Hazza furthermore gave HH the Amir ARCO’s highest world. is also set to receive coverage by the local media, as the head of Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO) Dr Abdullah Al- medal known as “the medal of Abu Bakr Al-Sedeeq” as he Accepting the gifts and appreciating his guest’s sincere planning department at Ministry of Information Hamoud Al- Hazza. Also attending the meeting were members of the praised the Kuwaiti ruler and Kuwait for their humanitarian sentiments, HH the Amir noted to them that the honor Khaldi said. Teams from the state Kuwait TV and Radio are ready to board of the KRCS. mark which he said he noticed in his travels around the world, bestowed on him recently by the UN was more of a recogni- cover and transmit the event, he said. — KUNA HH the Amir’s guests extended their warmest congratula- particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Arab world. tion for the people of Kuwait than for him personally. — KUNA Britain onboard in int’l coalition to defeat IS New British Ambassador Matthew Lodge meets local media

By Ben Garcia involved,” he added. ence of presenting my credentials to His Highness the Amir He was asked whether the British absence in the first was one I’ll never forget, and I am eager to continue the great KUWAIT: The British government is fully onboard with an inter- airstrikes has something to do with the British hostages being work the embassy has done on further strengthening our close national coalition targeting IS in Iraq and Syria, the new British held by IS. “The murders of the British and American hostages friendship.” ambassador to Kuwait said during his first meeting with local are something very real. But people should have no doubt of Lodge presented his credentials to HH the Amir Sheikh reporters yesterday. Matthew Lodge was commenting on the the resolve of the British government to tackle this terrorist Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at a ceremony at Bayan Palace. airstrikes being conducted by the international coalition in both brutality. We are not a government, we are not a people who Lodge was accompanied by his wife Alexia and a delegation Iraq and Syria since the past two days. “We are involved militari- are swayed by these threats (of IS to behead other British from the British Embassy. After formal introductions, the Amir ly, and Prime Minister (David Cameron) was in New York this hostages). We have a very clear policy - we don’t pay ransom; granted Lodge a private audience, during which they dis- week talking to leaders from across the globe urging actions we engage ourselves politically and even militarily if necessary cussed issues of common interest and the long-standing rela- and stressing the very serious nature of the IS threat,” he added. and appropriate; we are determined and we are very involved tionship between the two countries. The new ambassador said in Iraq, the previous ambassador already and we may see in the coming days or weeks if more is Lodge was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Marines to Kuwait (Frank Baker) is now closely working with the Iraqi needed but it is up to the central government in London,” on leaving school in 1986. He graduated from Birmingham government to help address the IS threat and political and Lodge mentioned. University with a BA with honours in modern languages. internal issues in Iraq. “Our military has already been contribut- “One particular concern of Britain on the rise of IS concerns Subsequent duties with the Royal Marines included service in ing to the coalition and the international efforts through equip- the presence of young and radicalized British foreign fighters Norway and the United States, and a secondment to the Army ments and support teams, particularly to the Kurdish region in in Iraq and Syria; they might come back and pose a threat to which included an operational tour in Northern Ireland and the north. We have full cooperation with the Baghdad govern- the national security of the United Kingdom. London is an service in Kenya. Matthew joined the Foreign and ment including the provisions of humanitarian assistance to the international city so this is the threat for everybody and it’s our Commonwealth office in 1996. His early diplomatic career people of Iraq and Syria. We are closely working with our allied responsibility to protect our people and our citizens. It is nec- included work on the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, serv- partners in the region to ensure there is a collective internation- essary to apply robust and collective efforts and it could ice in Georgia and Armenia, and postings to Athens, Paris and al effort to tackle IS,” he said. involve political dialogue,” he mentioned. the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. Lodge noted that military actions being taken in both Lodge also spoke about his excitement to be working with From 2004 to 2007 he was Private Secretary to the FCO countries are still in the very early stage. “The Americans have a close British ally like Kuwait and his determination to further Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic been there and working for the past several months, but the strengthen the strong and historic bilateral relationship. “I Service. In March 2007, Matthew was appointed as Deputy UK was first to provide equipment and support in northern already had the pleasure of calling on a number of national Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Baghdad. On his Iraq, especially to the Kurdish community, and we are closely and political figures in Kuwait. I also met several businesspeo- return from Iraq, Matthew attended the Higher Command and engaged with the Iraqi government to tackle political chal- ple - both Kuwaiti and British. The volume of trade between Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy before being appoint- lenges there. We have contributed over 600 million pounds of Kuwait and Britain stands at about 3 billion pounds a year and ed as Head of the FCO’s Afghanistan Group. From 2010 to 2013, aid for the Syrian crisis. It is important to note that the coalition increasing,” he added. Matthew was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Finland. In Aug of countries is an international effort and every country in the Commenting on his arrival in Kuwait, the new Lodge, stat- 2014 Matthew arrived in Kuwait as Her Majesty’s Ambassador region is involved. The fact that Britain is not part of the ed: “I am delighted to be in Kuwait, and the country and its to the country. Matthew is married to Alexia and they have KUWAIT: Ambassador Matthew Lodge speaks during the airstrikes during the last 24 hours does not mean we are not people have already made a real impression on me. The experi- twin boys. press conference yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Work permits regulations finished By A Saleh abroad is currently closed pending new regulations to organized the process. Dousary confirmed earlier this month that the recruit- KUWAIT: The Manpower Public Authority finished setting new ment door will be reopened early next year. regulations for issuing work permits in all labor sectors, said Meanwhile, in a bid to end specialty overlapping between vari- informed sources. ous departments, the authority is in the process of forming a spe- The new regulations still have to be approved by General cial team to amend the organizational structure of some of its Director Jamal Al-Dousary before taking effect, said the sources departments, the sources said. They added that the amendments who spoke on the condition of anonymity. would be submitted to the Civil Services Commission (CSC) pend- Issuing visas for companies seeking to recruit manpower from ing approval. ‘Global action Crime over climate change’ Report NEW YORK: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be Detective jailed for a collective responsibility shouldered by countries around the globe, and Kuwait has already begun using clean ener- aggravated assault gy resources, the visiting Kuwaiti Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair said. Kuwait shares the international community’s concern KUWAIT: The criminal court sentenced a detective to over climate change, growing greenhouse gas emissions three years in jail for beating a person in Shaab. The inci- and supports global endeavors for addressing this phe- dent took place when a verbal dispute happened nomenon in a collective manner, Omair said in a speech between the detective and some people. He then before the 2014 Climate Summit in New York, late Tuesday. attacked them and broke the hand of one of them. He however noted in this respect that emission’s volume differs from one country to another. Fugitive nabbed in Jahra Omair, also Minister of State for National Assembly A citizen was arrested in Jahra as she is wanted Affairs, hoped all these efforts would contribute to a cli- over ten civil cases. A security source said check- mate change agreement in Paris in 2015, within the UN points in Saad Al-Abdallah found and arrested the Duo arrested with drugs, weapons Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). citizen and she was sent to concerned authorities. Omair highlighted Kuwait’s contribution to eliminating By Hanan Al-Saadoun Multiple arrests greenhouse gas emissions, the summit’s main theme. Good Samaritan attacked Ahmadi security men discovered a local liquor brewery Kuwait respects the international demands to address Two men harassed a girl in a Jahra mall, then when KUWAIT: Narcotics authorities arrested two citizens with and 59 full barrels, in addition to 14 gas cylinders, 15 bags emissions, but takes into consideration the need for sus- another man attempted to help her, they beat him and 250 gm of ice and two firearms. The arrest was made fol- of sugar and 4 cartons of yeast. The bust was made fol- tainable development, economic, social development and broke his nose in the process before escaping. Police are lowing tips about one of the suspects, who was arrested lowing information from two Asians who were arrested diversification of the economy, the Kuwaiti official added. investigating. with the second, and they had an AK-47, a pistol and drug on liquor selling charges. Meanwhile, an Asian man was It began using renewable resources as wind and solar paraphernalia. arrested in possession of locally made liquor in Mangaf, energies, while the oil sector launched a strategy to manage while three African men were arrested at Riqqa, two for greenhouse gases emissions at its facilities, explained Omair, Armed robbery Drugs, alcohol possession absconding and one with an expired visa. In Al-Zour, a who is accompanying the representative of His Highness the A citizen called police for help after two persons Jahra police sent three citizens in their early twenties to wanted person was arrested, while four grocery stores Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the he knows threatened him with a knife and stole narcotics authorities in possession of hashish, liquor and were removed from Bneider chalets at the municipality’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, to his car, phone and wallet before escaping. paraphernalia. The three were surprised by a checkpoint, request. In Mahboula, an Asian man was arrested with 39 the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) session. He Detectives are investigating. — Al-Rai so they escaped on foot, leaving their car behind. The three bottles of liquor. All suspects were sent to concerned meanwhile said the pricing of the carbon should be in line were caught and arrested. authorities. with the principles of the UNFCCC.—KUNA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 LOCAL

KUWAIT: Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez, Kuwaiti government officials, ambassadors and other guests cut the ceremonial cake. ñ Photos by Yasser (From left) Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, the Al-Zayyat Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Acting Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, and Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah. Saudi Arabia marks National Day in Kuwait

KUWAIT: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Kuwait has praised leading position in the Arab and Islamic worlds that is an added relations between both countries as “a model that should be asset to its weight on the religious, political and economic followed” on the 84th national day of his country on Tuesday. scales, he explained. In a statement meant to mark the Kingdom’s festive occa- “September 23 of every year marks a glorious day that is not sion, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez said that the “contin- forgotten in the history of the Kingdom. This is characterized by ued relations between both countries, over all fields, reflect the huge national epic which led to the unification of the their distinguished nature - either on an official or people- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under one body and one strong, to-people basis. coherent nation.” “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been going through It was on this day in 1932, he said, that the late King an exceptional stage of prosperity over many fields since Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud unified the country under King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz assumed his role nine and a half one banner - thus announcing the founding of the Kingdom. “It years ago.” is a day when every Saudi man and woman remembers the sac- Through his wide expertise in politics and administration, rifices of their forefathers who founded this huge institution. It King Abdullah has managed to aid “distinctive growth” for his gives us impetus to maintain it, and gains made in its favor, and country, despite developments that have surfaced in the region to continue building the nation and supporting its foundations recently, he added. This has given rise to granting the nation a in the benefit of future generations,” he said. — KUNA

Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez (left) with Parliament (From left) Former minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al- Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. Sabah, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez, and former par- liament speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun.

Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Fayez (third from left) welcomes guests at the event. Ambassadors in a group photo at the event. ‘Refugee children’s future is international leaders’ responsibility’ HH Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi meets UN officials

NEW YORK: Wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin outcome of the Big Heart Campaign, especially in its third of Syrian IDPs, as well as refugees in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, This aims at sharing the burden with international organiza- Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council phase, which focused on providing educational aid to more and Egypt. tions, and strengthening regional solidarity in facing displace- and Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint than 1.2 million Syrian children in refuge. She offered an offi- Her Highness’ last meeting was with Her Excellency Zainab ment issues. Mohammed Al-Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee cial invitation to His Excellency Gordon Brown to attend the Bangura, Special Representative of the United Nations The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Children, has emphasized the importance of taking action by upcoming ‘Investing in the Future’ conference, which will Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, who briefed (UNHCR) appointed Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint the international community to put an end to the suffering of spread awareness among young people around the current Her Highness on the latest UN reports on the sexual violence Mohammed Al-Qasimi as Eminent Advocate for refugee chil- refugee women and children around the world. Her Highness situation in the region and the negative implications of the being faced by refugees, especially children. Her Highness dren around the globe in May 2013, in appreciation of her stressed that refugee rights should be a top priority for the refugees issue on the future, encouraging the youth to take called for the launch of awareness campaigns among refugees efforts to raise awareness around the issue of refugees and international community, resulting in availing decent life con- part in humanitarian aid activities. to encourage them to report sexual assaults, and guarantee- the work of UNHCR in this regard. Her Highness’ efforts per- ditions for them, and more importantly, hope for the future. Commenting on his meeting with HH Sheikha Jawaher Al- ing no impunity for the assaulter. Her Highness stressed that taining to supporting displaced children in particular were These statements came during Her Highness’ meetings Qasimi, HE Gordon Brown, remarked, “The commitment of Her sexual violence should count as a war crime, owing to its use highlighted by UNHCR, who represented the international with leaders of international organizations working in the field Highness Sheikha Jawaher to improve the condition of in humiliating civilians and forcing them to be displaced, community in rewarding Her Highness for this commitment, of refugee support, as well as international humanitarian aid refugee children, particularly the right to education through highlighting that this topic will be high on the agenda of the especially regarding the Big Heart Campaign, which aims at leaders, on the sideline of the 69th Regular Session of the United Nations’ General Assembly. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi met with three of the top UN officials, dis- cussing ways to reach a common mechanism of action among all organizations and relevant entities active in the field, aiming at enhancing collaboration in refugee support activities, and avoiding replication of action, in order to achieve the maxi- mum utilization of financial and human resources, expand services, and increase the sustainability of these services. Her Highness stated that refugee aid should go beyond providing tents and humanitarian aid, and become a top pri- ority item on world leaders’ agenda. She emphasized that it is only via the collaboration of all influencers in various domains that refugee suffering can be stopped from becoming a pro- longed crisis. Her Highness expressed her deep compassion and sympathy with those who have been forcefully displaced away from their homes, becoming only numbers in camps around the world. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi highlighted that maintaining human dignity is a basic right called for by all reli- gious creeds, and guaranteed by laws and regulations. She stressed that the world should take solid steps to mitigate the suffering of refugees, and children refugees in particular, whose future is endangered. She called upon international humanitarian aid leaders to take action in order to stop this HH Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi during her meeting with Gordon Brown HH Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi meeting Valerie Amos in the presence of the Ambassador suffering, and prevent it from becoming a prolonged displace- Lana Nusseibeh ment. She also stressed the importance of advocating peace and putting an end to the conflicts that lead to displacement, the Big Heart Campaign, has had a tremendous impact. Today ‘Investing in the Future’ conference. mitigating the suffering of women and children during con- highlighting that technological advancements should be we are committed to work together to do more for children Zainab Bangura stated, “I very much look forward to work- flicts. accompanied by human development, especially as more displaced by conflict and to engage young people in the cam- ing together with Her Highness to prevent and respond to Launched in June 2013, one month after the appointment than half of the world population live in poor countries and paign to reach universal education”. sexual violence against refugee children and other vulnerable of Her Highness as Eminent Advocate for refugee children areas affected by conflict. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi also met with Her groups. The commitment and engagement of champions like around the globe, the Big Heart Campaign has succeeded in Excellency Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Her Highness is invaluable if we are to bring an end to this raising $15 million, which has helped in easing the suffering of Humanitarian challenges Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who heinous crime”. many Syrian IDPs and refugees, via providing humanitarian Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi started her high- briefed Her Highness on the latest updates on refugees in the relief. The Campaign took a further step in its support, work- level meetings with a meeting with His Excellency Gordon Middle East, and efforts exerted by the UN to provide humani- Refugees’ suffering ing on bringing Syrian refugee children whose education was Brown, former UK Prime Minister and United Nations Special tarian relief, as well as the mechanisms by which the UN miti- During her meetings with the three top UN officials, Her interrupted by the war back to school. Envoy on Global Education. The meeting discussed ways to gates challenges facing the delivery of this relief to a wider Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi highlighted that hosting Organized by the UNHCR with the goal of discussing the meet humanitarian challenges pertaining to refugees, particu- category of refugees and IDPs. the ‘Investing in the Future’ conference in Sharjah is bound to protection of children and adolescents in the Middle East and lar in terms of their protection, and meeting their most basic Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al-Qasimi emphasized the involve international civil society leaders in formulating a Africa, the ‘Investing in the Future’ conference will be held in needs. She also highlighted the suffering of Syrian IDPs and importance of collaboration between international organiza- vision of how to mitigate the suffering of refugees, particularly Sharjah on October 15 and 16, 2014, under patronage of His refugees in surrounding countries, stressing her personal tions, highlighting that the Big Heart Campaign succeeded so children and adolescents, using locally available resources, Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, commitment to their plight. Her Highness highlighted the far in raising $15 million, which helped in easing the suffering with the support of young people and university students. Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 LOCAL

kuwait digest kuwait digest Avoiding ‘foreign invasion’ Stop development!

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij By Basel Al-Jasser nternational efforts to fight terrorism will remain incomplete, rather it will remain Western, and not inter- he government’s declaration that the previous Inational efforts in confronting terrorism, if it does not development plan has failed was a daring and include in it the countries and people of the region. The Tlaudable one. Declaring that the plan failed limitation of the participation of the region’s countries to because of governmental bureaucracy deserves praise meetings and conferences, and some statements in sup- as well, though I believe it is one of the silliest reasons for port of the international efforts is not enough - rather it such failure. There are more important reasons such as gives a wrong impression that what is going on is a con- lack of vision, profiteering, lack of transparency and frontation between the East and West, between the peo- many other reasons. Nonetheless, I will go along with ple of the region and the Western invasion of them. the government’s diagnosis that limits the reasons to red There must be practical participation of the region’s tape and governmental bureaucracy. armies, and the conflict must take its true nature of being The question the Kuwaiti people longs to hear an a fight between extremism and moderation, between answer to while lamenting not developing their country chaos and order, between stability and security of the is: “What has the government done to face this develop- region and attempts to compromise this stability and ment deterrent - bureaucracy - and what are its plans to spread chaos and destruction in the region. eliminate it?” Unfortunately, the government’s decelera- I believe that one of the important reasons for the tion lacked any solutions to this problem. Yet, it stumbling of Afghanistan’s development and the liquida- announced allocating $100 billion for the new develop- tion of Al-Qaeda remnants there is basically because of ment plan and intends referring this budget to the parlia- ment for approval while the same reasons that led to the

Western countries facing Taleban alone, rather because of Al-Watan Islamic countries refraining from public and positive partic- failure of the previous plan still exist, which means that ipation in the struggle against terrorism and extremism the new $100-billion development plan is also doomed to whose example are Qaeda and Taleban in Afghanistan. In failure, wasting Kuwait’s and its people’s time and funds. fact some countries such as Pakistan seemed to be cooper- Any development plan There are those who kuwait digest set in any country requires efficiently use religious Another US-created IS is developing! a clear vision and determi- and sectarian differences nation of both present and to protect themselves and By Dr Hassan Jouhar future demands hide the fact of its being ver since the US created a nucleus of mujahideen in ers. At the same time, the US announced the presence of a new, and Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion in this underprivileged maybe more dangerous group in Syria under the name of Khorasan, Asian state in 1979, this cursed tree they have planted is still which means that NATO would immediately start preparing another ating with terrorism more than being cooperative with the E Actually, any development plan set in any country plan to fight Khorasan once the IS battle concludes. international alliance against it. producing armed gangs and militias every single day, attracting requires a clear vision and determination of both present All countries of the region are playing the same role - in young people from all over the world and sent in combat missions This is exactly like the ‘balloon loans’ policy adopted by some and future demands (short and long term). It also fact Turkey seems to be another “Pakistan”, where terrorists where they commit massacres and destroy cities and villages. local banks to keep their clients imprisoned with debts for up to 50 requires the presence of a coherent cooperating team, and anarchists, at least it seems, find a haven to escape to Though the US government lost control over these groups that years. I wish things stop at this point, but ever since the third US war transparency and prioritizing public interests to personal and a fundamental area to move from. The duty of the have greatly diversified in relations, ideology and leaders, it has in the region started in 1990, and with Congress approval, the US ones as a base of preventing profiteering at the expense region’s states is to positively help confronting terrorism, in been trying to ‘restrain’ some of them and unleash others on the administration announced a plan to form a new Arab army compris- of the nation. order to give regional legitimacy, and even the religious ‘international chessboard’ from time to time. The minute these ing of ‘moderate Syrians’ this time who would be headquartered in Unfortunately, our government lacks such basic ele- one to the efforts of fighting it. There are those who effi- gangs start posing threat to the West marks the beginning of termi- Saudi Arabia and prepared to substitute IS, Nusra and Khorasan. ments. Therefore, I urge HH the prime minister stop ciently use religious and sectarian differences to protect nating it simultaneously with activating a new one to take over. How sick-minded the Americans are! pumping funds and setting plans until we have those themselves and hide the fact of its being (entity). The most recent episode of this scenario is the so-called US coali- If the new substitutes were ‘moderate’, why are they being requirements, or at least solve the problem of govern- This, regretfully, does not need special efforts and activ- tion with 40 other countries to get rid of IS, which sounds like a joke trained on killing and extremism, then? Why on Saudi soil? Isn’t it mental bureaucracy. It would be unwise that the govern- ity, as awareness and the way the region’s people think and a silly pretext! The US led a global coalition comprising of 30 enough that, according to Western reports, namely those from the ment admits that its previous plan had fallen into a cer- form fertile grounds to cradle religious differences and to countries to liberate Kuwait from Saddam’s invasion with a budget of CIA and the London International Studies Institute, 10 percent of IS’ tain ‘black hole’ and go on to set a new one while the use convictions and memories of religious wars with these $90 billion. The mission was done in just forty days though the Iraqi army comprises of GCC citizens, except Oman. Most of them come same hole still exists and ready to swallow Kuwait’s people to mass them to sympathize with terrorists and army was the second largest in the Middle East with over a million from Saudi Arabia. funds, time and efforts. anarchists. For this, it is important to simplify the matter, or soldiers! According to the CIA, IS troops are estimated at 30,000 and Isn’t it enough that GCC wealth and fortunes are being black- It would be far much better to stop any further devel- stop the doubts about the true goals of facing terrorism, that they allegedly need a coalition comprising of 40 countries to mailed in endless sums with the excuse of fighting extremism of IS opment plans than to launch new ones already doomed by having regional parties and powers not only in real counter them at a total cost of $ 500 billion according to US secretary and others in addition to spending billions all over to create new to failure and wasting public funds. So let us wait a while leadership in confronting terror, but in leading this con- of defense. The initial duration of the battle would be three years! mercenary armies that end up confronting our own communities? and protect our public funds until we get a government frontation politically and militarily in a way that documents Just before shooting the first bullet in the this new war, Since logic says that ‘once bitten twice shy’, why on earth have our capable of putting an end to the problem of bureaucra- the truth of its decisive stand towards fighting terrorism Washington’s closest allies withdrew from the coalition though all governments been fooled with the very same trick for half a century cy. Admitting to making mistakes is a great unrivalled and confronting religious extremism in the region. indicators show that they themselves are the main hosts of IS fight- and bitten by the same snake?! virtue. Will anybody listen?! —Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Qabas ers, the sources of their trade and providing them with political cov- —Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Jarida —Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa

in my view Test of new plan

By Abdullah Erakat

here are no surprises expected when Palestinian working hard for the two-state solution but is being under- Authority President Mahmoud Abbas takes to the podi- mined by Israel. “We don’t see why we should be blocked; it’s Tum at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday not the right step forward to achieving a Palestinian state,” he even if different parties come away with vastly different reac- said adding that the US should at least abstain rather than tions. While many will be looking for an indication that the veto. Palestinian position has softened following fifty days of war- Last week Abbas said that in case the US does veto, he fare between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, for their part would seek membership in a number of international institu- the Palestinians will be looking to Washington for some indica- tions and agencies, including the International Criminal Court tion that the American administration has its back, can be (ICC), which could see Israel tried for war crimes. trusted to be the honest broker, and will be willing to pressure But the presence of the Palestinian leader at the UN has Israel into making commitments long talked-about but never already put a strain on US-Palestinian relations. agreed-to or implemented. Far from “dropping a bomb” in Turtle Bay, Abbas and other Lopsided relationship Palestinian officials have been making his proposal clear and Political Analyst Nour Odeh describes the PA’s relationship understood in recent days: nine months of renewed talks with the US as a lopsided one, far different than bilateral rela- predicated, per an American promise, upon a return to the tions America enjoys with others. “The Palestinian leader can- pre-1967 borders that will conclude with a guaranteed sched- not confront the US. The people know this,” she said. ule for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from land acquired in However, Odeh calls the PA’s position towards Israel’s the 1967 war over the next three years. In Abbas’ words, “An security illogical and damaging to the president and to the end to the occupation” and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian Palestinian cause. “They (the Americans) have to yet realize conflict. that the more the Palestinian leader is praised for protecting While some argue Abbas is oversimplifying one of the most the security of Israel, the less the popular he will be among complex conflicts in today’s conflicted world, his associate Dr his people,” she said. “Advancing the cause of the Palestinians Mohammed Shtayyeh, an economist and senior member of should be the PA leader’s priority.” the West Bank’s dominant PA-affiliated Fatah faction, said that Odeh’s comments hint at the broader debate heard on the Palestinian Authority leader believes he can finalize his the Palestinian street: “Is the US an honest broker?” plan with the Americans - including the 3-year timetable — Dr Amneh Badran-Abu Sitta, chairman of the department based upon discussions earlier this month with US Secretary of of political science at Al-Quds University, doesn’t think so. State John Kerry. She says Abbas is “trapped in a Inserting the American admin- damned if he does and damned istration into the old adage, The Palestinian official says if he doesn’t” situation. Shtayyeh admonished that, “It’s “The PA has trapped itself in not enough to bring the horse to Abbas’ time in New York will the Oslo agreement and they the river because you can’t force are not able to get rid of it him to drink. But if he becomes feature meetings with a vari- because getting rid of it means thirsty, you can force him to drink ety of diplomatic personalities. breaking the chains that Israel and that hasn’t happened with and the international communi- Netanyahu,” said Shtayyeh. ty have imposed on them. At The Palestinian official says Abbas’ time in New York will the same time, they will lose everything they’ve started to feature meetings with a variety of diplomatic personalities. build in terms of state institutions.” “There will be a review of the financial situation of the Badran-Abu Sitta goes on to say that she says it’s a Palestinian situation focusing on how to break the status quo,” shame that the Palestinians are the ones that always have which he explained means returning to violence or starting a to prove eligibility for negotiating with Israel. Being eligi- new round of non-productive talks. ble, she says, “means meeting Israeli security demands plus accepting facts on the ground.” US Veto This time around, though, the Palestinian brain trust is Palestinian-fatigue demanding a different demeanor from Washington. Shtayyeh “Abbas has caused ‘Palestine-fatigue’ in much of the termed “very disappointing” the fact that the US is leading a international community because of his indecisiveness as a Middle Eastern coalition against ISIS which, he argues, diverts president,” insists Fadi Elsalameen, a senior fellow at the attention from the issue of Palestine. With most observers pre- American Security Project. “He decides to go to ICC then the dicting that the Obama administration will cast a veto if the next day sends his foreign minister to withdraw the applica- Abbas plan is placed in the form of the United Nations Security tion. People are tired of him.” Referring to topics of conver- Council binding resolution he seeks, Shtayyeh warns that the sation at the UN during opening week, Elsalameen argues resulting disillusionment with the entire peace process will not that, “The talk here is containing Ebola in Africa and fighting be limited to the political echelon, but will embrace the public ISIS in the Middle East. No one is discussing Abbas or as well. He warns that, “A veto by the Americans will only bring Palestine the way they used to, thanks to Abbas.” more frustration to the people who had high hopes when Meanwhile, Shtayyeh says that it has not been a pleas- Barack Obama was elected president.” PA Foreign Ministry’s UN ant ride for the Palestinian people and sometimes they expert Ammar Hijazi agrees. He suggests that a US veto of move backwards rather than forwards. “The worry is that Abbas’ plan will send the wrong message to the Palestinian there is no political horizon. That’s the reality. But we will people and would be counterproductive. not go into violence. We hope that the internationalization “We are not in the business of confronting the US, but find- of the cause will do something and that’s why Abbas is ing solutions,” Hijazi said. He says the Palestinian leadership is going to the UN,” he said. —The Media Line THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 British PM, Iran president hold first Abu Qatada acquitted of charges, walks free talks since 1979 Page 8 Page 9

An image grab taken from a video released by Islamic State group’s official Al-Raqqa site via YouTube on September 23, 2014, allegedly shows Islamic State (IS) group recruits riding in armed trucks in an unknown location. — AFP Obama urges world to fight IS ‘network of death’ ‘Freedom-loving’ Hungary irked by Obama criticism

UNITED NATIONS: Declaring the Nigeria and Senegal. mer Iraqi leadership’s lack of inclu- world at a crossroads between war Obama took on Russia directly in siveness for giving the Islamic State and peace, President Barack Obama his remarks, accusing Moscow of a recruiting tool and had made the vowed at the UN yesterday to lead a sending arms to pro-Kremlin sepa- formation of a new government a coalition to dismantle an Islamic ratists, refusing to allow access to condition for deeper military action State “network of death” that has the site of a downed civilian airliner to stop the militant group. Obama wreaked havoc in the Middle East and then moving its own troops also was convening an unusual and drawn the US back into military across the border with Ukraine. “This meeting of the UN Security Council, action. Speaking to the annual gath- is a vision of the world in which during which members were ering of the United Nations General might makes right, a world in which expected to adopt a resolution that Assembly, Obama said the US would one nation’s borders can be redrawn would require all countries to pre- be a “respectful and constructive by another, and civilized people are vent the recruitment and transport partner” in confronting the militants not allowed to recover the remains of would-be foreign fighters prepar- through force. But he also implored of their loved ones because of the ing to join terrorist groups such as Muslims in the Middle East to reject truth that might be revealed,” the Islamic State group. the ideology that has spawned Obama said. “America stands for Even as the president cast the US groups like the Islamic State and to something different.” as the main driver of peace and cut off funding that has allowed that Still, Obama held open the security around the world, he terror group and others to thrive. prospect of a resolution to the acknowledged that his country has “Ultimately, the task of rejecting sec- months-long conflict between not always lived up to its own ideals. tarianism and extremism is a genera- Russia and Ukraine. While he has He singled out in particular the tional task - a task for the people of previously expressed skepticism recent clashes between police and the Middle East themselves,” Obama about a fragile cease-fire signed ear- protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, said in his 38-minute address. “No lier this month, he said yesterday that followed the shooting death of external power can bring about a that the agreement “offers an open- a black teenager. “Yes, we have our transformation of hearts and minds.” ing” for peace. If Russia follows own racial and ethnic tensions,” The president’s remarks came against through on the agreement, Obama Obama said. “But we welcome the the backdrop of an expanded US mil- said the US will lift economic sanc- scrutiny of the world. Because what itary campaign against the Islamic tions that have damaged Russia’s you see in America is a country that State group, with airstrikes now hit- economy but so far done little to has steadily worked to address our ting targets in both Iraq and Syria. A shift President Vladimir Putin’s problems and make our union more coalition of five Arab nations joined approach. perfect.” the US this week in the strikes in In another development, Syria: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, ‘Pursuit of peace’ Hungary reacted angrily yesterday United Arab Emirates and Qatar. As Obama spoke, Russian Foreign after US President Barack Obama The US also opened another mili- Minister Sergei Lavrov sat in the singled out the EU member state for tary front with airstrikes this week audience at the UN, staring down at trying to muzzle civil society groups. against a new Al-Qaeda cell that the a stack of papers without glancing In a short statement, Hungary’s for- Pentagon said was “nearing the exe- up at Obama. The chaotic global eign ministry said Obama’s com- cution phase” of a direct attack on landscape Obama described yester- ments, made Tuesday in a speech in the US or Europe. The threats have day stood in contrast to his remarks New York, were “not based on facts”. drawn Obama back into conflicts in at the UN one year ago, when he “The Hungarian people are a free- the Middle East that he has long spoke of diplomatic openings on dom-loving people, and would not sought to avoid, particularly in Syria, multiple fronts. At the time, the US tolerate any restrictions on their which is mired in a bloody three- was embarking on another attempt freedom,” it said. year civil war. Just months ago, the to forge an elusive peace between Speaking at the Clinton president appeared to be on track to Israelis and Palestinians and there Foundation, Obama had said: “From fulfill his pledge to end the US-led were signs of a thaw in the decades- Hungary to Egypt, endless regulations wars he inherited in Iraq and old tensions between the US and and overt intimidation increasingly Afghanistan. Iran. The Mideast peace talks have target civil society.” Obama also since collapsed, though the presi- accused Russia, China, Venezuela, Russia flouts warning repeatedly dent said yesterday that “as bleak as Azerbaijan, and Egypt of intimidating Obama sought to distinguish this the landscape appears, America will civil organizations. Since June, current military campaign from never give up the pursuit of peace.” Hungarian authorities have investigat- those lengthy wars, declaring that And while the US, Iran and world ed some 60 non-governmental organ- he has no intention of sending US powers are now in the midst of izations funded from abroad and sus- troops to occupy foreign lands. “We nuclear negotiations, the talks are pected of “meddling in Hungarian pol- will neither tolerate terrorist safe deadlocked and there is skepticism itics” and criminal activity. havens nor act as an occupying about whether a deal can be In July, Prime Minister Viktor power,” he said. The militant threat reached by a Nov 24 deadline. “My Orban, who has been accused of in the Middle East is just one in a message to Iran’s leaders and people leading Hungary on an authoritarian series of global crises that have test- is simple: Do not let this opportunity slide since he took power in 2010, ed Obama this year. Russia has pass,” Obama said. “We can reach a labeled NGOs “paid foreign activists”. repeatedly flouted warning from the solution that meets your energy Earlier this month the US represen- US and Europe to stop its threaten- needs while assuring the world that tative at a gathering of the ing moves in Ukraine. And leaders in your program is peaceful.” Organization for Security and West Africa have criticized Obama Later yesterday, Obama was to Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said for not doing more to help combat hold his first one-on-one meeting the probes “appear to be aimed at an Ebola outbreak that is believed to with new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider suppressing critical voices and have infected more than 5,800 peo- Al-Abadi, who took office this restricting the space for civil society ple in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, month. The US has blamed the for- to operate freely”. — Agencies INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Abu Qatada walks free Doubts cast over US strike on ‘Khorasan’

London Home Office says cleric never returning to Britain BEIRUT: The US says it has hit a little-known group called “Khorasan” in Syria, but experts and activists argue it actu- ally struck Al-Qaeda’s affiliate Al-Nusra Front, which fights AMMAN: Radical cleric Abu Qatada was acquitted of terrorism remains subject to a deportation order and a United Nations Born Omar Mahmud Mohammed Otman in Bethlehem in alongside Syrian rebels. In announcing its raids in the charges by a Jordanian court yesterday and freed from jail, end- travel ban. He is not coming back to the UK.” Abu Qatada-once 1960, the burly father of five was one of the most prominent of a northern province of Aleppo on Tuesday, Washington ing more than a decade of legal cases against the firebrand described as the right-hand man in Europe of late Al-Qaeda set of extremist preachers based in London in the 1990s and described the group it targeted as Khorasan, a cell of Al- preacher. Abu Qatada, who was deported from Britain last year, founder Osama bin Laden-was deported from Britain to Jordan 2000s. Videotapes of his sermons were allegedly found in the Qaeda veterans planning attacks against the West. But was found not guilty of conspiring to attack tourists in Jordan in July 2013 after a 10-year legal fight. Hamburg flat of Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the experts and activists cast doubt on the distinction during millennium celebrations, due to insufficient evidence, September 11, 2001 attacks. Abu Qatada arrived in Britain in between Khorasan and Al-Nusra Front, which is Al- officials said. The bearded 53-year-old, who had pleaded not Critic of IS jihadists September 1993 with his family on a forged United Arab Qaeda’s Syrian branch. “In Syria, no one had ever heard guilty, broke into tears upon hearing the verdict, while members Despite his detention, Abu Qatada has been outspoken on Emirates passport and claimed asylum on the basis that he had talk of Khorasan until the US media brought it up,” said of his family applauded and shouted Allahu akbar (God is certain issues, including the brutal jihadists who have overrun been tortured in Jordan. Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian greater). swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent weeks. On September 7, he He gained refugee status the next year but his fiery oratory Observatory for Human Rights. “Rebels, activists and the His lawyer, Hussein Mubadeen, called the decision “a success criticized the Islamic State group for beheading Western journal- soon brought him to the government’s attention, as he advocated whole world knows that these positions (hit Tuesday) for Jordanian justice”. Outside the courtroom, relatives including ists, calling it a “killing machine” and likening its fighters to “dogs the killing of Jews and praised attacks on Americans. After Britain were Al-Nusra positions, and the fighters killed were Al- women clad in black burqas embraced and kissed each other as of hellfire”. adopted anti-terror laws following the September 11 attacks, he Nusra fighters,” added Abdel Rahman, who has tracked they celebrated the ruling. The Palestinian-born cleric was later In July, he denounced IS for declaring a “caliphate”, saying it was arrested in 2002. Attempts to deport him began in 2005 but the Syrian conflict since it erupted in 2011. Experts were seen leaving Muwaqqar prison, just south of Amman, where he was “meaningless” because it was not approved by other were stymied by appeals all to the way to the European Court of similarly dubious about the distinction. “The name refers to Al-Qaeda fighters previously was greeted by family members before going to his home in the jihadists. Yesterday’s ruling ends a decade of legal cases against Human Rights, which ruled in 2012 that Britain could not deport based in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran who have trav- Jordanian capital. Britain said there was no chance of the cleric Abu Qatada, including the extradition battle that cost the British him because evidence of two co-accused in Jordan was likely to elled to Syria to fight with... Al-Nusra,” said Matthew returning. taxpayer £1.7 million ($2.7 million). He faced two retrials after he have been obtained through torture. Henman, head of IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency “It is right that the due process of law has taken place in was convicted in his absence on the charges in 1999 and 2000 He was eventually deported last year after Britain and Jordan Centre. “They... should not be considered a new or dis- formally approved a treaty guaranteeing that evidence obtained Jordan. The UK courts agreed that Abu Qatada posed a threat to and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. tinct group as such.” Aron Lund, editor of the Syria in Crisis national security in the UK, so we are pleased that we were able In the first retrial in June he was acquitted of plotting a 1999 by torture would not be used against him in any retrial. Despite website run by the Carnegie Endowment for International to remove him,” a government spokesman said. “Abu Qatada attack on the American school in Amman. his acquittal, David Blunkett, the UK home secretary at the time Peace, raised similar doubts. “The fact that news about of his detention in London, said Britain had been right to deport this Al-Qaeda-run, anti-Western cell linked to Al-Nusra him. “Abu Qatada’s managed to do what he wanted to do, emerged just over a week ago, through US intelligence which was to prevaricate for 10 years,” Blunkett told BBC radio. leaks-well, it’s certainly an interesting coincidence,” he told “By doing that he’s made it very much more difficult for the pros- AFP. “And it certainly helped make the case for attacking ecution. However, it also proves that he was wrong, because the them, for why this mattered to US national security, and case he made against extradition was that he wouldn’t receive a for why this was not about attacking a rebel group in fair trial in Jordan, and he clearly has.” — AFP Syria but about attacking a group hostile to the US.”

Rebels allied with Nusra Claims of a distinction are lost of many of Syria’s rebels, Palestinians meet who have also often rejected the world community’s des- ignation of Al-Nusra as a “terrorist” group. When in Cairo amid rift Washington added Al-Nusra to its list of “terrorist” organi- zations, even the internationally-backed Syrian opposi- clouding Gaza tion National Coalition criticized the decision. The Coalition’s support for the group cooled after Al- truce chances Nusra officially pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri and was named the group’s official Syrian branch. But on the ground, almost all rebel groups CAIRO: Palestinian factions met in Cairo yesterday for two have been willing to cooperate with Al-Nusra, seeing days of talks aimed at mending a rift that could threaten them as distinct from the Islamic State group (IS), which Egyptian-mediated negotiations to turn the Gaza ceasefire espouses transnational goals and includes many non- into a lasting truce. The split between the Islamist movement Syrians among its ranks. Al-Nusra, by comparison, has Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah maintained a focus on overthrowing Syrian President faction relates to several key issues including control of Gaza. Bashar Al-Assad-the main goal of the rest of the Syrian The disagreement could undermine any broader deal with opposition and has mostly Syrian fighters. Israel. The ceasefire struck last month between Israel and the The cooperation between moderate and Islamist Palestinians to end the Gaza war including stipulations that rebels and Al-Nusra has even extended beyond the fight the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, should take over civil against Assad to the creation of a coalition that began administration in Gaza from Hamas. fighting IS jihadists in January. Angered by its abuses But a dispute over the Palestinian Authority’s non-pay- against civilians and rivals, the loose coalition succeeded ment of salaries to Gaza’s public sector workers has brought in pushing the group out of much of northern Syria, tensions between the two main Palestinian factions to near- though it has since regained ground, bolstered by new breaking point, raising the risk of a return to conflict. Sakher recruits and weapons seized across the border in Iraq. Bseiso, a Fatah central committee member taking part in the That history of cooperation has left some rebels and talks, told Reuters Fatah and Hamas would discuss issues activists on the ground suspicious and even angry about including security, elections and governance of the Gaza the strikes on Al-Qaeda. Ibrahim Al-Idlibi, an activist in AMMAN: Radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada (right), born Omar Mahmud Mohammed Otman, hugs his mother at her house Strip. “The Cairo talks will discuss enabling the unity govern- yesterday. — AFP Idlib province, said the opposition backed strikes against ment to undertake its role in Gaza Strip and (conduct) bilat- IS, but not against Al-Nusra, or the so-called Khorasan. eral relations between the two movements,” he said. “Some of these strikes only serve Western interests,” he said. Al-Nusra “has stood with the rebels against both “Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue” Daesh and the regime,” he added, using the Arabic Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of Hamas’ politi- acronym for IS. cal bureau, wrote on his Facebook page about “the Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue”, saying: “The most impor- Tensions in US coalition? tant thing this dialogue needs is good intentions, mutual Many are also angry that the strikes are targeting trust and national responsibility... and commitment to what jihadists but not the Syrian regime. In a statement, the has been agreed upon.” Israel and the Palestinians agreed on rebel Supreme Military Command affiliated with the Tuesday to resume talks late next month on cementing a opposition National Coalition emphasised “the need to Gaza ceasefire, allowing time for Palestinian factions to avoid targeting moderate national and Islamic forces”. resolve their divisions. “We demand that the attacks focus on the forces of tyran- Egyptian security officials said yestedray’s meetings were ny... represented by the Assad regime and its supporters.” occurring under the supervision of Egyptian intelligence but And targeting Al-Nusra could even prove controversial gave no details, not even the location of the talks. Egyptian- within Washington’s anti-jihadist alliance. Some key mem- mediated talks in July and August succeeded in securing a bers are believed to maintain channels of communication series of ceasefires aimed at laying the groundwork for talks with Al-Nusra, including Qatar, which has helped negoti- on a broader deal. Efforts to cement a permanent truce ate the release of prisoners held by the group. On could prove difficult, though, with the sides far apart on their Tuesday, Washington made clear that, unlike the strikes central demands, even if the dialogue among Palestinians against IS, none of its allies participated in the raids yields a unified position.—Reuters against Al-Qaeda targets. —AFP

AL-AQSA: A Palestinian boy puts his hands on an Israeli policeman as Israeli security forces temporarily close off access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound yesterday. — AFP Clashes at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa

JERUSALEM: Clashes broke out at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa men were injured during the clashes, one of whom was in mosque compound yesterday as Palestinians protested moderately serious condition, Samri said. The Al-Aqsa com- against Jews visiting the flashpoint holy site on the eve of pound is the scene of frequent clashes between Palestinians Jewish New Year, police said. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri and Israeli police. The plaza houses the Dome of the Rock and told AFP that Palestinian youths had thrown stones and petrol the Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, and is revered by bombs at police, injuring several, who had “pushed the rioters Jews as the location of the biblical Jewish temples, considered inside the Al-Aqsa mosque.”The loud report of sound Judaism’s holiest place. Security forces regularly impose an grenades echoed through the Old City as police closed off age limit on worshippers attending Muslim weekly prayers on access to the sprawling plaza, which lies in the heart of the Fridays, keeping out men under the age of 50.Non-Muslim vis- Old City, to prevent the unrest from spreading. its to the Al-Aqsa complex are permitted and regulated by The clashes were apparently triggered by the early morn- police, but Jews are not allowed to pray at the site for fear it ing visit to the site by a group of Jewish visitors ahead of the could trigger major disturbances and unrest. start of the two-day Rosh Hashana holiday, which begins at The Old City and wider Israeli-annexed Arab east Jerusalem sundown. Police said 402 non-Muslims had visited the com- have been the scene of regular, violent clashes since the mur- pound yesterday morning, 90 of them Jewish Israelis. Two of der of a Palestinian teenager by Jewish extremists in July. them were arrested for violating an order barring Jews from Clashes intensified during a 50-day war between Israel and praying at the site, she said. Hamas in Gaza, but they continued even after conflict ended Near the compound, police were seen throwing sound on August 26. On September 7, 16-year-old Mohammed bombs at a small crowd of Palestinians waiting just outside Sinokrot died from injuries sustained when he was shot by Lion’s Gate, one of the entrances to the Old City. One police- Israeli border police in east Jerusalem, bringing thousands of man suffered head injuries in the scuffle. A total of five police- angry demonstrators on to the streets. — AFP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 INTERNATIONAL France to probe ‘jihadist’ bungle

PARIS: France’s interior minister yester- rorist judge. “There was clearly a mas- charges and links to a jihadist group, intimidated,” Valls said. “We will not fail, fight in Syria, 189 had already come day announced a probe into a series of sive bungle but it was in large part due was also one of the three arrested in we will not tremble. In the face of threats, home. The prime minister said several blunders that saw three suspected to the absence of proper collaboration Turkey. The interior ministry claimed in the face of blackmail, France will not would-be jihadists, including children, jihadists waltz out of a French airport with Turkish authorities,” Defence that after the pilot of the Paris-bound yield.” had been blocked from leaving the coun- after being transferred from Turkish cus- Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France flight refused to allow them on board the try, and “several planned attacks” in tody. Authorities were left red-faced Info radio. Interior Minister Bernard Turkish authorities put them on the flight ‘Several attacks foiled’ France foiled. The three men, suspected after an announcement they had arrest- Cazeneuve told journalists he had called to Marseille. Critics of an already deeply unpopular of being part of a network that recruited ed the three men at a Paris airport for an administrative inquiry to “get to But it insisted that Paris did not government seized on the blunder, say- jihadists for Syria, handed themselves turned out to be false. To make matters the bottom of what happened”. He said become aware of the last-minute change ing the jihadists had “made us the laugh- over to police in the southwestern city of worse, it emerged the suspected French he would also soon visit Turkey to avoid of plan until after the men had landed on ing stock of the world”. “So we can send Toulouse. extremists had been put on a different a repeat of the “malfunction”. In a French soil. One of the trio’s lawyers, planes to Iraq but we can’t control our One of the three, Imad Jebali, “told plane entirely to the southern city of speech to parliament, Prime Minister Pierre Dunac, said the men were not own borders?” said Christian Estrosi, a for- us by phone that the pressure was too Marseille, where they were-to their Manuel Valls said: “This affair did not questioned when they landed. “As incred- mer government minister with the con- great,” said Pierre Le Bonjour, another apparent surprise-able to walk freely unfold as it should have.” ible as it might seem, it’s true.” The deba- servative opposition UMP. lawyer for the suspects. “Clearly from from the airport on Tuesday. cle came as France was juggling several The government hit back, praising the start... our clients showed a willing- In another snag, passport control ‘Incredible ... but true’ extremist threats, with a tourist taken security and intelligence services for their ness to explain themselves to police failed to flag the men as suspicious, as a The trio included the 29-year-old hostage and threatened with execution work in battling the terrorist threat at and justice officials,” he said. After security databank was out of order at brother-in-law of Toulouse jihadist in Algeria and Islamic State jihadists call- home in recent months, notably in coun- Merah’s death, it emerged that he had the time. The government was however Mohamed Merah, who was shot dead ing for Muslims to kill French citizens. tering the recruitment of fighters for visited Pakistan and Afghanistan prior spared further blushes from the fiasco by police after he murdered seven peo- Hundreds of French citizens meanwhile Syria. The prospect of these fighters to his attacks and had been on the as the men handed themselves over to ple, including three children, in a 2012 are leaving to fight in Iraq and Syria. returning to stage attacks on home soil radar of French intelligence, who had police yesterday-nearly a day later. They killing spree. A 27-year-old man previ- On Friday, France conducted its first air has France on high alert. Valls said that of gravely underestimated the threat he were due to appear before an anti-ter- ously convicted over terrorism-related strikes in Iraq against IS. “We will not be 580 French citizens who had gone to posed. —AFP

British PM, Iran president hold first talks since 1979

UNITED NATIONS: British Prime Minister allies launched the first air and sea strikes David Cameron held talks with Iran’s against IS militants in Syria on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani yesterday at the expanding the action the US has been United Nations, the first meeting between leading against the jihadists in Iraq since the countries’ leaders since the 1979 Islamic the start of August. Iran, which usually rails Revolution. The meeting took place at the against any US presence in the Middle East, British mission office at the United Nations has been unusually accepting of the US as the General Assembly got underway. action in Iraq, where it is also tackling IS Rouhani posted a photograph of himself militants. smiling as he shook hands with Cameron. Rouhani has criticized the US for not The British government says a key priori- sending in ground troops, and on Monday ty at the largest diplomatic gathering in the said the people in the region were “defend- world is building broad-based support for ing themselves... against the terrorists” and the new government in Iraq and interna- that Iran would help. Britain and France tional action to confront jihadists in Iraq have taken up the task of trying to win and Syria. Cameron is due to address the some form of other cooperation from Iran UN General Assembly later Wednesday. against IS. Cameron has promised to ask for Western powers are seeking to build sup- parliamentary approval for any British port for the fight against the Islamic State involvement in the US-led military action jihadist group, which holds a large tract of against IS, but he appears wary of a repeat territory in Iraq and Syria and which has of last year’s humiliating defeat in the beheaded two US journalists and a British House of Commons over military action in aid worker. The United States and Arab Syria.—AFP

STRASBOURG: Picture shows US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden speaking to European officials via videocon- ference during a parliamentary hearing on improving the protection of whistleblowers, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, eastern France.—AFP Snowden wins ‘alternative Nobel’ Unclear if Snowden can attend awards ceremony STOCKHOLM: Edward Snowden was among discuss the potential arrangements for his responsible journalism in the public interest.” the winners yesterday of a Swedish human participation,” von Uexkull told The In a statement, Rusbridger said he was NEW YORK: British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) meets with Iranian President rights award, sometimes referred to as the Associated Press. Snowden, who has report- “delighted” to share the award with Snowden Hassan Rouhani at the UN during the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly yes- “alternative Nobel,” for his disclosures of top edly also been nominated for the Nobel “because I think he was a whistleblower who terday. — AFP secret surveillance programs. The decision to Peace Prize, remains exiled in Russia since took considerable risks with his own person- honor the former National Security Agency leaking top secret NSA documents to journal- al freedom in order to tell society about contractor with the Right Livelihood Award ists last year. He has been charged under the things that people needed to know.” appeared to cause a diplomatic headache for US Espionage Act and could face up to 30 Jahangir is a human rights lawyer who has Sweden’s Foreign Ministry, which withdrew years in prison. Though the honorary award defended women, children, religious minori- the prize jury’s permission to use its media doesn’t include any money, the foundation ties and the poor in Pakistan, the award cita- room for the announcement. Snowden split would offer to help pay Snowden’s legal tion said. the honorary portion of the award with Alan costs, von Uexkull said. Fernando, originally from Sri Lanka, led Rusbridger, editor of British newspaper The The announcement had been set for today the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Guardian, which has published a series of but it was communicated early after a leak to Commission for nearly two decades and articles on government surveillance based on Swedish broadcaster SVT. Von Uexkull said now serves as its director of policy and pro- documents leaked by Snowden. the foundation had been denied access to grams. McKibben is founder of 350.org, a The 1.5 million kronor ($210,000) cash por- the Swedish Foreign Ministry’s media room, grass-roots environmental movement aimed tion of the award was shared by Pakistani where it has announced the awards since at spurring action to fight climate change. human rights activist Asma Jahangir, Basil 1995. He provided an email in which the The Right Livelihood Award is typically Fernando of the Asian Human Rights ministry said it had closed the room to announced just ahead of the Nobel Prize Commission and US environmentalist Bill “external events” for security reasons, but announcements, which this year will begin McKibben. Created in 1980, the annual Right said he believed the decision was linked to on Oct. 6. There is no connection between Livelihood Award honors efforts that founder the fact that Snowden was among the laure- the two, except Jacob von Uexkull estab- Jacob von Uexkull felt were being ignored by ates. The Foreign Ministry referred questions lished his prize after failing to persuade the the Nobel Prizes. Foundation director Ole von to Foreign Minister Carl Bildt’s spokesman, Nobel Foundation to expand the categories Uexkull - the award creator’s nephew - said all Erik Zsiga, who didn’t return calls and an for its prestigious awards. A wealthy stamp winners have been invited to the Dec 1 award email seeking comment. The award founda- dealer, he sold his collection to fund the ceremony in Stockholm, though he added it’s tion cited Snowden’s “courage and skill” in prize. The Right Livelihood Award founda- unclear whether Snowden can attend. revealing the extent of government surveil- tion typically honors grass-roots activists “We will start discussions with the Swedish lance and praised Rusbridger “for building a and says it’s “not an award for the world’s government and his lawyers in due course to global media organization dedicated to political, scientific or economic elite.” —AP

Ukraine’s battle against graft as election looms

KIEV: Golden loaves became a symbol of in Ukraine is that corruption is good,” for- Ukraine’s fight against graft after bread- mer economy minister Pavlo Sheremeta shaped gold bars were discovered at Viktor acknowledged this month. Sheremeta Yanukovych’s lavish estate outside Kiev, resigned in frustration at the slow pace of one of the many symbols of the greed and reform, failing to push through plans to tasteless excess of his regime. Seven slash red tape and eradicate the Soviet-era months on, the new leaders who took mismanagement and corrupt practices that office after the toppling of the Kremlin- have sent Ukraine to the brink of bankrupt- backed president have done woefully little cy. to tackle corruption, diverted they say by The justice minister said this month that the deadly conflict in the east. In a country the Yanukovych regime had stolen $11 bil- where the average monthly salary is barely lion through the abuse of government ten- $250 (200 euros), Ukrainians were stunned ders alone in the last four years. at the grotesque opulence at the residence Transparency International still ranks of the disgraced former president, accused Ukraine at a lowly 144 out of 177 countries of syphoning off billions of dollars from the on its corruption perceptions index, on a public purse. par with Nigeria and Papua New Guinea. But commentators say graft still perme- And international lenders behind a massive ates all walks of life, from traffic police to $27 billion lifeline to head off total eco- customs officials to top judges, and almost nomic collapse say stamping out corrup- no form of business is possible without tion is a must if Kiev wants to keep the aid bribes or kickbacks. “The prevailing opinion flowing.— AFP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 INTERNATIONAL Poor support Rousseff in Brazil re-election

SAO PAULO: Life may still be tough and one grandson share the cramped pays mothers a varying monthly Fassoni Arruda, a political science for millions of poor Brazilians - but it’s two-bedroom walk-up that rents for stipend as long as they can prove that professor at Sao Paulo’s Roman also never been better. And that’s the $400 a month, her entire salary for they’re keeping their kids in school Catholic University. “There is no key for President Dilma Rousseff’s re- coordinating educational activities for and taking them monthly to govern- doubt that nationwide Dilma and the election bid. Although Rousseff and youth at a local community center. “If ment health clinics for checkups and Workers Party have the support of top rival Marina Silva are locked in a it weren’t for the money my sons earn immunizations. Santos received about the poorest segments of society.” virtual tie among those in the middle doing odd jobs here and there and $100 in cash a month to keep her chil- Silva’s team has accused Rousseff’s class, the biggest group of voters, the running errands I would not be able to dren in school until the last child fin- campaign of spreading rumors president has a wide edge with among poor Brazilians that Silva, who Brazil’s poorest people because of is pushing a more orthodox line of generous welfare programs that have economic policy, would end Bolsa helped slash hunger and extreme Familia if elected. Rousseff’s team poverty under the watch of her denies that. Last week, Silva ran an Workers Party. Between 2001 and emotional campaign ad that showed 2012, Brazil reduced extreme poverty her telling a rally in northeastern from 14 percent of the population to Brazil that she would never end Bolsa 3.5 percent, according to the United Familia because she herself went hun- LOS CABOSO: A damaged street can be seen following the passage of Nations annual report on global food gry as the daughter of an impover- Hurricane Odile, in Los Cabos, Baja California State, Mexico. —AFP insecurity released last week. The ished rubber tapper deep in the number of malnourished people Amazon jungle. dropped from 19 percent to below 5 Los Cabos celebrity haunt percent, removing Brazil from the UN ‘We don’t know Silva’ World Hunger Map. Privately, Silva’s campaign advis- races to recover from storm Tens of millions of poor people ers acknowledge frustration over have also been lifted into the lower their inability to attract poor voters, SAN JOSE DEL CABO: Mexico’s popular Los fled the hurricane-ravaged region.”I’m leaving middle class over the past decade. arguing they lack the time or cam- Cabos beach resort, a favorite haunt of US because there’s no work. The hotel where I The most recent poll by the respected paign funds to make them more tourists and celebrities, is scrambling to clean worked was completely destroyed and I have Ibope Institute, released last week, aware of the difference between up the destruction left by Hurricane Odile nothing to eat,” Monica Jimenez, who works in showed that 46 percent of people in Silva’s humble roots and Rousseff’s before its peak season starts. Odile caused an a hotel in Cabo San Lucas, said as she waited the poorest income category - about middle-class rearing. Still, among estimated $1 billion in damage in the pictur- for an airlift to Mexico City with her two chil- a fourth of the electorate - would vote poor voters, Rousseff’s political men- esque Baja California peninsula, leaving plenty dren. Claudia Arce, who sells bags to tourists, for Rousseff in the first round in the tor, former Brazilian President Luiz of work to do if the region is to remain said she was also heading to the country’s cap- Oct 5 election, compared to 24 per- Inacio Lula da Silva, who rose from Mexico’s number-two tourist destination after ital. cent for Silva. That’s much better than being a shoeshine boy to the nation’s Cancun and the Riviera Maya, with two million “Who will buy from me now?” she said after Rousseff’s showing among the elec- highest office, and the Workers Party annual visitors. nearly all of the 30,000 tourists who were in torate as a whole. The Ibope poll brand seem enough to keep them as Less than a month before the Bisbee’s fish- Los Cabos during the storm were flown out. shows her with a slim 6 percentage firm supporters. ing tournament, which marks the start of high Offers for temporary jobs were posted in local point lead over Silva in the first round. Manoel Otaviano da Silva, a com- tourism season, most hotels are in disarray. newspapers. An advertising campaign on the If neither candidate gets 50 percent, a munity leader in the Heliopolis slum, The airport is inoperable, and looters have radio and on signs posted on walls urged runoff will be held on Oct 26 and the put it bluntly. “Lula is seen here as a emptied shops. Officials brought in new elec- locals to rally: “Together we will rebuild! Los poll shows Silva leading that by a slim God who can no wrong,” he said. “If he tricity poles to replace the ones knocked down Cabos will get back on its feet!” margin. Ibope surveyed 3,010 people backs Dilma, then she can do no by the powerful storm last week while water “We are facing tough times, and a sad across Brazil from Sept 13-15 for the wrong. Most residents here see her as services are slowly being restored. Americans December,” said Nelida Lopez, a waitress in a continuation of Lula and the pro- poll, which had a margin of error of are the main visitors to Los Cabos for its golf one of the few restaurants that managed to grams his government introduced.” plus or minus 2 percentage points. courses, Pacific beaches and the Sea of Cortez, reopen, with a simple menu of chicken or beef Walking around the labyrinth streets a location French oceanographer Jacques tacos instead of the usual offerings of lobster Bolsa Familia program of Heliopolis, it’s virtually impossible SAO PAULO: In this photo, Brazil’s President and the Worker’s Cousteau once called “the world’s aquarium.” and seafood. To cope with the upcoming sea- In Sao Paulo’s Heliopolis slum, one to find a single poster or banner from Party presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff (right) speak dur- Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and tel- son, tourism operators are planning to offer of Brazil’s largest, Andrea Santos says the Marina Silva campaign. Rousseff’s ing a debate on the Internet. —AP evision legend Oprah Winfrey have vaca- special rates, invite US travel agents to come there is no question who most of her campaign ads are plastered all over see the repairs for themselves, and try to neighbors will vote for. “Improvements the place. “Why should I vote for tioned in Los Cabos, following the footsteps of Dilma and the Workers Party have pay the rent,” said Santos, standing in ished classes in December. Marina Silva when I know what Dilma film legends John Wayne and Bing Crosby. attract Mexican visitors to the area. The gov- made in health and educational serv- front of flat-screen TV with Nelinha, “The lives of the poor have and the Workers party have done and Tourism Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu insisted ernment has announced plans to revive the ices for the poor will guarantee that 90 her 7-year-old Pinscher dog. For four improved under Workers Party gov- will continue doing?” said Maria that Los Cabos “will be in shape to welcome local economy with tax benefits and credits to percent” of the voters in Heliopolis will years, her family benefited from one of ernments and they will vote for Dilma Damaceno de Santana, a 43-year-old tourists in the high winter season” in the service industry. As they pick up the pieces, cast ballots for Rousseff, said Santos, the Workers Party’s most popular pro- because they feel their lives will con- cook who lives in the slum. “Dilma December. Los Cabos residents hope to shed the image who lives in a decrepit, three-story grams, Bolsa Familia, which paid $10.7 tinue getting better, and fear they must be re-elected so she can contin- of destruction and once again be able to enjoy building of concrete tucked into a nar- billion to almost 14 million families in may lose the benefits they have ue helping the poor. We know Dilma. Workers have fled things like celebrity sightings; U2 singer Bono row alley. Santos and her five children 2013. Bolsa Familia is a program that obtained should she lose,” said Pedro We don’t know Marina Silva.” —AP But the municipality is short on workers gave an impromptu concert in a restaurant after hundreds of Los Cabos’ 238,000 residents back in May. —AFP

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 INTERNATIONAL South Korea to buy 40 F-35A fighter jets

SEOUL: South Korea will buy 40 F-35A tionally favored importing fighter jets Acquisition Program Administration. al buyers include Britain, Israel, Italy, remains technically at war because the fighter jets from Lockheed Martin for and other weapons from the United Agency and military officials said the new Australia, Canada, Turkey and Japan. Last 1950-53 Korean War ended with an about $7 billion in the country’s biggest- States, which stations about 28,500 sol- jets are to be delivered to South Korea year, South Korea rejected Boeing Co’s armistice, not a peace treaty. North ever weapons purchase aimed at coping diers in the country as deterrence against between 2018 and 2025. A Joint Chiefs of bid to supply 60 F-15 Silent Eagle jets at Korea’s air force is relatively old and ill- with North Korea’s military threats, offi- possible aggression from North Korea. Staff officer, speaking on condition of about $7.7 billion after critics said the prepared, but has a large number of air- cials said yesterday. South Korea agreed The purchase is aimed at replacing the anonymity citing department rules, said warplane lacks state-of-the-art stealth craft that could be a factor if a conflict to the purchase of F-35A jets in March country’s aging warplanes and bolstering the decision announced yesterday is capabilities and cannot effectively cope were to break out. North Korea has con- and has since been negotiating with capability to attack nuclear and other final. with North Korea’s increasing nuclear ducted an unusually large number of Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed strategic targets in North Korea in the The F-35 is the Pentagon’s most threats. The rival Koreas have hundreds of missile and artillery launches this year, Martin over a price, technology transfer event of a war on the Korean Peninsula, expensive aircraft program, costing an thousands of combat-ready troops along keeping tensions with the South elevat- and other matters. South Korea has tradi- according to the state-run Defense estimated $400 billion. Other internation- a heavily armed border. The peninsula ed. —AP

HONG KONG: Students protest for greater democratic rights march yes- terday. —AFP HK students march on financial district

HONG KONG: Striking students marched on Group hints at takeover date Hong Kong’s financial district yesterday, tak- Occupy Central, a prominent grassroots ing their protest for greater democratic pro-democracy group, has vowed to take rights to the commercial centre for the first over Central if its demand that Hong time. Student groups are currently spear- Kongers be allowed to nominate candidates heading a civil disobedience campaign by a for leader is not met. Last month China said HONG KONG: A homeless man reacts as students protest for greater democratic rights march yesterday. —AFP coalition of democracy activists protesting Hong Kongers would be allowed to vote for against a recent decision by Beijing to vet their leader for the first time in the 2017 who can stand for the city’s top post at the election, but that only two or three candi- Philippine’s Abu Sayyaf militants next election. University students began a dates approved by a pro-Beijing committee week-long class boycott on Monday, rallying could stand. The students are not expected a crowd that organizers said was 13,000- to engage in direct action imminently. threaten to kill German captives strong on a campus in the north of the city Federation of Students leader Alex Chow and breathing new life into a movement has given Leung until Thursday morning to that had been stunned by Beijing’s hardline meet their delegates. If he refuses, Chow No change to Iraq policy after hostage threat stance. said, students will intensify their actions. On Tuesday the students moved their Students outside the legislative building protest to a public park outside the main chanted taunts against Leung yesterday, MANILA: Al-Qaeda-linked militants (IS),” SITE reported. two Germans were seized at gun- reported Tuesday that Islamist legislative complex of the semi-autonomous calling him a turtle unwilling to come out of in the southern Philippines have A spokeswoman for the German point from a yacht between extremists in the Philippines have Chinese city, briefly mobbing current Hong his shell and meet them. “I don’t think this threatened to kill two German foreign ministry told a regular Malaysian Borneo and the south- threatened to kill one of two Kong leader Leung Chun-ying as he exited protest will gain us more freedoms, but we hostages they have been holding press briefing in Berlin that “threats ern Philippines in April. They have German hostages unless a 250 mil- the building. Around 500 students and sup- can’t just lay down and do nothing while the since April unless Germany stops are no appropriate way of influenc- been previously identified by lion pesos ($5.62 million) ransom is porters yesterday made their way from Chinese government tramples over us,” said supporting US action against ing German foreign policy”, and Philippine military officials as paid and Berlin stops supporting Tamar Park to Central business district, Karena Sun, a third-year nursing student. Islamic State militants, the SITE that the ministry’s crisis group was Stefan Okonek, in his early 70s, and the US-led campaign against the where many big international companies Occupy co-founder Benny Tai has hinted monitoring service said. Philippine working on the case. Henrike Dielen, in her mid-50s. Abu Islamic State group in Iraq and are based. Shouts of “We want democracy!” that the takeover of Central could begin on security officials said yesterday that Sayyaf has been blamed for Syria. US-based SITE, which moni- amplified by bullhorns echoed around the October 1, a national day holiday when they were checking intelligence Air strikes beheadings, bombings and kid- tors extremists’ activities world- district famously dominated by towering much of the district will be empty. reports of the threats from the The United States and its Arab nappings for ransom. The group is wide, released a picture attributed skyscrapers. “While others are celebrating the big day small but violent Abu Sayyaf allies bombed Islamic State targets also holding a Dutch, a Swiss, a to the Abu Sayyaf group showing a “This march is to show the rich, the peo- of the country, we will set up a grand ban- group, which is also demanding a inside Syria for the first time on Japanese and some Filipinos in the masked militant with a machete ple working in Central, the people with real quet in Central to fight for Hong Kong’s ransom of 250 million pesos ($5.6 Tuesday. The Sunni Muslim group south of the mainly Roman beside a grey-haired white man. power in Hong Kong, that they can’t ignore democracy,” he wrote in the Apple Daily million) for the captives’ release. has seized swathes of territory in Catholic state. A younger white woman with this grassroots movement,” said Nathaniel tabloid earlier this week. The students plan “They are reportedly held here civil war-torn Syria and Iraq, In 2001, Abu Sayyaf rebels in close-cropped hair was also shown, Siu, 18, an applied social science student at to keep their protest in the park opposite but, as far as such demands are slaughtering prisoners and order- the southern island province of while other masked men stood Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Siu said the legislative building going until at least concerned, we are verifying it,” said ing Shiites and non-Muslims to Basilan beheaded an American behind them, armed with assault his mother, who works in one of the office Friday, with a series of public lectures and Abraham Orbita, a police official. convert or die. Germany has ruled who had been taken captive from rifles and machine guns. The for- buildings along the protest route, does not speeches. Britain handed Hong Kong back Abu Sayyaf rose to prominence in out taking part in air strikes, but an island resort in Palawan eign ministry spokeswoman said approve of his activism and dinner conver- to China in 1997 under a ‘one country, two the early 2000s by kidnapping for- did break a post-World War Two province. Two other Americans that the German government had sations have become increasingly awkward systems’ agreement which allows it civil lib- eigners. It has links with Al-Qaeda, taboo on sending weapons to were held for more than a year, and set up a crisis task force on the case at home. erties not seen on the mainland, including although analysts and Philippine active conflict zones by agreeing to one was killed during a rescue “and we will of course continue our “Walking to Central shows more people free speech and the right to protest. But ten- security sources say it has lately arm Kurdish fighters battling operation. The other survived with efforts to secure a release”. The we really care about democracy, that we’re sions have been growing over rising been focused on kidnap-for- Islamic State fighters in northern minor wounds. About 200 US spe- German government has ruled out serious. We’re not just sitting in a park any- inequality and Beijing’s perceived political ransom and other criminal activi- Iraq. cial forces troops have been joining air strikes or any ground more,” said Tiffany Fong as she pointed a interference. During one point yesterday’s ties. A Philippine military intelli- deployed in the southern offensive in the fight against IS handheld fan at her face in the humid student march an AFP reporter heard a In the message, distributed via gence source said he was aware of Philippines since 2002 to help train jihadists. weather. The students ended their march tourist from mainland China tell his son in Twitter, the militants said they the threats to the German and advise local soldiers in fighting But it announced late last month without incident, gathering back in Tamar Mandarin: “They don’t want Hong Kong to would “kill one of the two hostages from Abu Sayyaf, but Islamist extremists that it would send weapons to the Park where regular lectures are being held. become like China.” —AFP hostages” if their demands were doubted they would be carried Peshmerga Kurdish fighters in not met within 15 days, according out, predicting that the group ‘Secure a release’ northern Iraq to help them fend off to SITE Intelligence Group, which would most likely negotiate a low- Meanwhile, Germany said yes- IS jihadists. It has also sent around tracks communications from er ransom. “We take all threats seri- terday it would not change its poli- 40 soldiers to help train the Kurdish Islamist groups. “A message attrib- ously,” he said. “But, based on our cy following a reported threat by fighters in Iraq. The move broke a India’s Modi eyes global uted to the Philippines-based Abu experience in dealing with this Philippine Islamist militants to kill a taboo in Germany which, burdened Sayyaf group threatened that two group, they are plain criminals who German hostage unless Berlin stops with its past aggression in two world sales pitch with US tour German hostages will be killed are only interested in getting mon- backing US action against jihadists wars, generally shies away from for- unless it is paid a ransom and ey. They will eventually settle for a in Iraq and Syria. “There will be no eign military engagements and as a NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Square Garden, a speech to the United Nations Germany stops its support to the smaller ‘board and lodging fee’.” change to our Syria and Iraq policy.” rule does not export weapons into Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in the United and an appearance at a Central Park festival that United States against Islamic State According to media reports, the A terrorism monitoring group war zones. —Agencies States tomorrow aiming to woo corporate titans features rap star Jay Z. He will meet the US politi- and crown a burst of investment-focused diplo- cal elite, including leaders of Congress and former macy, while marking a personal victory for a man President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Bangladesh becomes gold smuggling hub who was for years unwelcome in the country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is tipped for Modi, who was elected in May, will spend two a White House run in 2016. days in New York before heading to Washington DHAKA: Bangladesh has seen a huge leap in gold handed every day at the country’s two international since July 2013, up from just 15 kilos over the whole for his first meeting with US President Barack Unofficial boycott smuggling to neighboring India, the customs intel- airports, with bullion brought in mainly from the of the previous five years, he said. Obama. The US leader is keen to see a strategic In the run-up to the trip Modi’s government ligence chief said yesterday. Mainul Hossain Khan Middle East and believed destined for India. They “Gold seizures in the airports have become a relationship he has called “one of the defining gave relief to US businesses - scrapping a proposal said his team was catching gold smugglers red- had seized 623 kilograms (1,370 pounds) of gold daily affair,” Khan told AFP, saying that only that day partnerships of the 21st century” live up to its to place anti-dumping duties on foreign solar his team had found 27 gold bars hidden in a potential. In meetings over the past month with panels and reining in a government agency that microwave oven. Officials said the incidence of world powers including China and Japan, Modi capped drug prices. The Obama administration smuggling rose after India increased duties on gold won investment pledges of $55 billion to support sees India not only as a land of huge potential for imports in April 2013. This made it much cheaper to his domestic reform drive. But no such state expanded business and trade but also as a strate- bring the precious metal into neighboring largesse can be expected in Washington and gic partner in the face of an increasingly assertive Bangladesh and then smuggle it to India, one of Modi has recognised it is the US private sector he China, whose leader visited Modi in India last the world’s biggest gold importers. must win over. A leader who says commerce is “in week. U.S. officials have played down any sugges- To tackle the problem, Bangladesh raised its my blood,” will meet 17 US corporate chiefs tion Modi’s visit will bring dramatic break- own import tariffs by 20 times on July 1 this year, including those of Google, IBM , GE, Goldman throughs, but they hope it will set the tone for a bringing them into line with those of India. But that Sachs and Boeing - some at a breakfast where he “revitalized” relationship. They are particularly appears to have done little to stem the tide. is not expected to eat because he is observing a hoping to expand defense ties through co-pro- Customs commissioner Hossain Ahmed said the nine-day fast for the Hindu Navratri festival. duction and co-development ventures. Without gold being seized at the airport was likely only the How far investors will be convinced by Modi’s giving details, India’s foreign ministry said it tip of the iceberg, with most of the contraband promise to replace red tape with a “red carpet” expected “substantive outcomes” in areas such as metal being smuggled into India across the more remains to be seen. India this year slipped three defense, trade and energy. than 2,500-mile (4,000-kilometre) border. places to 134 on a World Bank list of 189 countries The welcome he will get from US business “The amount of gold seized by our officials is ranked according to their ease of doing business. and political leaders is all the more striking, and only a fragment of the bullion that is being brought “People are impatient because they are so eager perhaps satisfying, given that Modi was denied a to the country. This is then smuggled to India to see India accelerate its growth again,” said US visa in 2005 after more than 1,000 people, through land routes,” Ahmed told AFP. “We believe Diane Farrell, acting president of the US India most of them Muslims, were killed in riots in the the gold which is imported to Bangladesh both Business Council. state he governed. Some protests are expected legally and illegally is smuggled to India.” Officials “But it’s like trying to turn an aircraft carrier - it during his visit. The United States was the last said the increase in gold seizures may be due to takes time, it takes precision and it doesn’t hap- major power to end an unofficial boycott on high- increased enforcement efforts. Whatever the rea- pen in a few minutes.” Modi’s schedule lists about level interaction with Modi that followed the 2002 KOLKATA: In this photograph, an employee weighs a piece of gold jewelry for a cus- son, it is proving a boon to the country’s central 35 engagements during a 100-hour trip, including riots, sending an ambassador to meet him only a tomer in a jewelry shop in Kolkata. —AFP bank, which has added the seized bullion to its gold a rock-star-like address at New York’s Madison few weeks before the May election. —Reuters reserves. —AFP NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Death threats for Saudi pilots after raids on IS Arab states risk backlash by joining campaign RIYADH: Saudi pilots who conducted air strikes on jihadists Endowment for International Peace. “In addition, the Gulf in Syria received online death threats Wednesday after pho- states could face domestic criticism and agitation over their tos were published of those involved, among them a son of participation in a US-led coalition,” he said. the crown prince. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) The four Gulf monarchies, along with Jordan, joined the released photographs of eight airmen it said were involved in US-led campaign on Tuesday that launched air strikes on IS Tuesday’s US-led operation, carried out with Gulf allies. In one positions inside Syria for the first time. The exact nature of picture they stood, some smiling, in green flight suits with their involvement has been vague and it is not clear exactly arms around each other in front of one of their fighter jets. which strikes their planes have carried out. But even if One of the pilots involved in the raids is a son of Crown Prince Washington is behind the vast majority of attacks, the sym- Salman bin Abdul Aziz himself, according to Saudi newspa- bolic importance of having Sunni-ruled Arab states on side pers. against the Sunni extremists of IS has been crucial. Dozens of Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda militants Experts said the Gulf governments were well aware of this were reported killed in the coalition air raids, sparking and insisted before signing on to the air campaign, which jihadist threats online where the Saudi pilots’ photos reap- started last month in Iraq, that it be expanded to Syria as well. peared. One Twitter user said the air force men were “wanted “The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) condition was very by IS” while another said their throats “will sooner or later be clear: no support of US policy to deal with ISIS in Iraq without slit”. A broader threat came from a Twitter post which called military action in Syria,” said Mustafa Alani from the Geneva- for the killing of police as well as military men. based Gulf Research Centre, using an alternative name for the Some Internet users, however, defended the Saudi airmen. jihadist group. Their first objective, said expert Abdulkhaleq “The Saudi pilots returned safe and sound Tuesday morning Abdulla, is to counter IS, which some governments in the after having accomplished their duty in carrying out success- region were accused of initially helping and financing. ful and effective strikes against the Islamic State extremist organisation in Syria,” SPA said overnight. “My sons, the pilots, Danger of ‘Radical Voices’ fulfilled their obligation toward their religion, their h’omeland “ISIS is in fact in many ways a threat to their security and and their king,” SPA quoted Crown Prince Salman as saying. also to the ideological legitimacy of Saudi Arabia” as a reli- He was “proud of the professionalism and bravery” of the gious centre, said Abdulla, a professor of political science at Saudi air force men, SPA said. Emirates University. Their second objective, experts said, is in Their combat mission happened to coincide with the king- the long run to undermine Assad, whose minority Alawite, dom’s 84th national day. Saudi Arabia is dominated by the Tehran-backed regime they despise. Alani said the US-led ultra-conservative Sunni doctrine of Wahabism. The kingdom’s coalition was essentially creating a “no-fly” zone in parts of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh last month said Al- Syria, undermining Damascus’s control over its territory and Qaeda and the IS group “have nothing to do with Islam and its capacity to defend itself. “The ultimate goal is to bring (their proponents) are the enemy number one of Islam”. Assad to a new round of (peace) talks... with the hope that The country is seeking to deter youths from becoming the end result will be the removal of Assad,” Abdulla said. jihadists but fighters from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco “That is the strategy.” make up the majority of about 12,000 foreign extremists who But experts warned it could backfire by easing the pres- have travelled to Syria and Iraq, according to the London- sure on Assad from IS, the most effective group battling his based International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. regime. And in particular for Saudi Arabia, which has also The IS group has declared a “caliphate” straddling Iraq and agreed to train Syrian rebels on its territory, the campaign Syria. Its fighters control swathes of territory where they have could stir widespread outrage at home. “The US bombing of committed widespread atrocities including beheadings and ISIS is unpopular with a range of Saudis,” Wehrey said. “There Saudi Arabian air force pilots pose for a photo at an undisclosed location after taking part in a mission to crucifixions. is the perception in the Gulf that the US is attacking Sunni strike Islamic State (IS) group targets in Syria on Tuesday. — AFP power while privileging minorities, especially Shiites. “Radical Risks for Arab States voices in the Gulf could capitalise on this sentiment.” But by joining US-led strikes in Syria, Gulf Arab monar- Moreover, the US expanded the strikes beyond the chies are hoping to eliminate the threat to their authority Islamic State, hitting Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, the Nusra India triumphs in Mars mission from Islamic State jihadists and push the regime in Damascus Front, in a bid to take out a cell called the Khorasan Group out of power. But their plan is not without serious risks, ana- believed to be plotting attacks against the United States. That Continued from Page 1 year. Lacking enough rocket power to blast directly out lysts warn. Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab has other Syrian rebel factions with Islamic ideologies - and of Earth’s atmosphere and gravitational pull, it orbited Emirates could end up strengthening President Bashar Al- there are many of them - worried they too could be hit by the Hindi slogan “JaiHind” or “Hail India” trending on the the Earth for several weeks while building up enough Assad and face anger at home over their bombings of fellow Americans. “For four years, we called on the West to help us microblogging site. India has been trying to keep up with velocity to break free. Critics of the program say a country Sunni Muslims. topple the regime, but it’s clear the target is the Islamic fac- neighbouring giant China, which has poured billions of that struggles to feed its people adequately and where “I expect this is going to be causing a great deal of con- tions,” said a Damascus-based opposition activist, Abu Akram dollars into its program and plans to build a manned roughly half have no toilets should not be splurging on cern that the Gulf is inadvertently serving as Assad’s air force,” Al-Shami, speaking via Skype. “This will affect the revolution space station by the end of the decade. space travel. said Frederic Wehrey, a Middle East expert at the Carnegie on the ground.” — Agencies At just $74 million, the mission cost is less than the But supporters say it is the perfect opportunity to estimated $100 million budget of the sci-fi blockbuster showcase India’s technological prowess as well as a “Gravity”. It also represents just a fraction of the cost of chance for some one-upmanship on its rival Asian super- NASA’s $671 million MAVEN spacecraft, which successful- power. “It’s a low-cost technology demonstration,” said Obaidi takes health office staff to task... ly began orbiting the fourth planet from the sun on Pallava Bagla, who has written a book on India’s space Sunday. India now joins an elite club of the United program. “The rivalry between regional giants China and Continued from Page 1 sentenced an opposition activist to one month in jail but States, Russia and Europe who can boast of reaching India exists in space too and this gives India the opportu- asked him to pay KD 500 to suspend the implementation Mars. More than half of all missions to the planet have nity to inch ahead of China (and capture more of the Meanwhile, the court of appeals yesterday rejected a of the jail term until the appeals court rules on the case. ended in failure, including China’s in 2011 and Japan’s in market),” Bagla told AFP. demand to change the judge trying about 70 people Ahmad Sayyar Al-Enezi was given the sentence on 2003. No single nation had previously succeeded at its China offered its congratulations. “This is the pride of including 11 former MPs for storming the National charges of writing comments on his Twitter account first go, although the European Space Agency, which rep- India, the pride of Asia, and is a landmark of the progress Assembly building three years ago. Last December, the deemed offensive to former prime minister Sheikh resents a consortium of countries, pulled off the feat at its of humankind’s exploration in outer space,” said foreign criminal court acquitted all the defendants for lack of evi- Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. first attempt. ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a daily briefing. dence that they deliberately stormed the Assembly A number of MPs meanwhile welcomed a decision by Scientists announced at 8:02am (0232 GMT) that Former prime minister Manmohan Singh announced the building with the intention to damage it. The court’s acting Education Minister Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej that Mangalyaan had entered the orbit. Now the probe is mission launch in a speech on Independence Day 2012, decision was in part based on testimonies by a number certain stateless or bedoon students will be allowed expected to study the planet’s surface and scan its shortly after China’s attempt flopped when it failed to of Assembly guards who said they protesters did not admission in government schools starting next year. The atmosphere for methane, which could provide evidence leave Earth’s atmosphere. break into the Assembly but they opened the gate for decision applies to children of Kuwaiti women regardless of some sort of life form. Mangalyaan is carrying a cam- India has launched 40 satellites for foreign nations them. of the nationality of their fathers in addition to children era, an imaging spectrometer, a methane sensor and two since kick-starting its space program five decades ago. The public prosecution later challenged the verdict of bedoon servicemen. MP Abdullah Al-Tameemi wel- other scientific instruments. NASA congratulated India’s But China launches bigger satellites. ISRO scientists said before the court of appeals which began the proceed- comed the move as a good humanitarian decision that “Mars arrival”, welcoming Mangalyaan, which means the Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, had “proved” India’s ings but a number of defendants filed a lawsuit calling for complements the United Nations honoring of HH the Mars vehicle in Hindi, in a tweet to “the missions studying “technological capabilities” and showed it was capable of changing the presiding judge who had expressed politi- Amir as a humanitarian leader and recognizing Kuwait as the Red Planet”. The European Space Agency also offered venturing further. “MOM is a major step towards our cal views on the case on his Twitter account. But the a humanitarian center. congratulations, tweeting “welcome to the club!” future missions in inter-planetary space,” ISRO chairman K court yesterday rejected the request, which means the MP Askar Al-Enezi welcomed the decision as purely Indian engineers employed an unusual “slingshot” Radhakrishnan told reporters. The probe is expected to appeals court will continue the trial under the same humanitarian and urged the minister to issue another method for Mangalyaan’s voyage, which began when it circle Mars for six months, about 500 km from its surface, judge. decision to admit the same people at Kuwait University blasted off from India’s southern spaceport on Nov 5 last and send data back to Earth. — AFP In a related development, the lower court yesterday after obtaining the higher secondary certificate. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 ANALYSIS

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Issues War carries risks for Obama at home and abroad

By Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton

ppearing relaxed enough to crack a joke, US President Barack Obama took to the world Astage on Tuesday after launching airstrikes in Syria against Islamic State militants but he is still fac- ing huge political risks at home and abroad. The rea- son for Obama’s good humor? His diplomacy paid off this time, with military contributions from five Arab states. One of his first items of business after arriving in New York for meetings at the United Nations was to personally thank representatives from the five. But heading into a US congressional election campaign NGOs reassess security in Middle East season where control of the Senate is at stake, Obama’s new war could become problematic for him By Isabel Coles playing a part in the conflict.” tions are ongoing,” an aid worker in south- that oil companies are used to paying. and his Democratic Party if all does not go smoothly. ern Turkey said of the situation in Syria. Reports of beheadings or kidnappings It could temper the enthusiasm of anti-war id agencies are tightening security ‘Serious Concern’ could also impact on donations to aid char- Democrats to turn out and vote on Election Day in measures in the Middle East and In footage showing the beheading of Insurance Premiums ities although the Oxfam spokeswoman increasingly outsourcing work to aid worker David Haines, his masked execu- Security risks pose a series of problems said: “We have not seen donations rise or November. Any problems with the mission could fur- A local organisations to limit their exposure tioner said it was in revenge for Britain’s for aid agencies. The cost of insurance in fall as a result of the recent high-profile ther dampen his approval ratings, now hovering to multiplying risks across the region. Most decision to arm Kurdish forces, which have the region is on the rise. Insurance con- advance of IS forces in Syria and Iraq. Our around 40 percent, and embolden Republicans ready if not all international NGOs had already been regaining ground from IS militants in tracts are normally renewed only on an supporters gave generously to appeals we to pounce at the slightest misstep. Initially, at least, stopped sending expatriate staff into Syria northern Iraq since the United States annual basis, but insurers say premiums are have run for both Syria and Gaza to sup- Obama was scoring points with both political parties by the time footage emerged 10 days ago began a campaign of air strikes last month. rising in kidnap and ransom products even port Oxfam’s response to these crises.” for his actions. Opinion polls could be expected to of a British aid worker being beheaded by Another British aid worker, was shown at if they have already been renewed, with The worsening situation in the Middle show some Americans will be pleased Obama acted Islamic State militants who control around the end of the video, and the masked man estimates of as much as a 100 percent East comes as pressure increases on NGOs to retaliate against Islamic State after the extremists one third of the country. But the killing has said he too would be killed unless British increase over the past 18 months. Those to do more to help people in West Africa Prime Minister David Cameron changed his policies cover oil and construction workers affected by the Ebola virus which has killed beheaded two American captives and taunted the brought into focus the increasing dangers faced by aid workers across the region just policies. “Humanitarian activities are being as well as aid workers who are often closer over 2,811 people. NGOS are on the ground United States. as they are also facing huge risks in their more and more manipulated in order to to the action. but face serious risks. Three local MSF staff Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup work dealing with the Ebola outbreak in serve goals and objectives that don’t have “In the Iraq business, we are seeing have died of the disease and an infected polling organization, said polling on Sept. 20 and West Africa. anything to do with the humanitarian assis- higher demand than we were a year ago, French staffer was evacuated to Paris. In Sept. 21 found majority support for military action Those dangers are making it hard for tance that we strive to provide,” said Fabio our premiums have to adjust to the risk,” Guinea, eight people trying to raise aware- but “whether that will be translated into increased NGOs to deal with some of the most Forgione, Head of Iraq Mission for Doctors said Henry MacHale, head of accident and ness of Ebola were killed by a hostile support for the president at least as we measure it is acute humanitarian crises of the century. without Borders (MSF). “That...completely speciality risks at insurer Aspen, on kidnap crowd. Nevertheless, some NGOs have still unknown”. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on “The severity of the risk, but also the tar- undermines our capacity to reach those and ransom insurance. “We have seen (Syria started to focus their resources on Ebola, Sept. 12 showed that Americans support Obama’s geted nature makes it very hard for any populations that are in the most dire need and Iraq) as a real problem over the last making it harder to recruit expatriate staff humanitarian organisation to operate in in Iraq.” two years but we have had to review pre- to the Middle East. campaign of airstrikes but they have a low appetite these areas,” said a representative of one A new record for violence against civil- miums further in light of the increase in for a long campaign. Sixty-four percent of people in aid organisation working in the Middle ian aid operations was set in 2013 with 251 activity in the region during the last 6 ‘Remote Control’ the online survey said they backed the campaign. East, who did not want to be named. separate attacks affecting 460 aid workers months.” A security director for one NGO working Twenty-one percent were opposed and 16 percent “Humanitarian activity is very limited at of which 155 were killed, according the Aid Oxfam, which does not work in IS-con- in Iraq said although expatriates were still said they did not know. the moment; everyone is very much con- Worker Security Report which is supported trolled areas, said it could not reveal details travelling to areas outside the relatively Obama could face problems with Congress. The strained by the security situation.” by USAID. The increase was driven mainly of its insurance premiums but a spokes- safe Kurdistan region, only staff from coun- vote to authorize the use of force that lawmakers International aid agencies are relying by Syria and South Sudan but Afghanistan woman said: “We have robust, specialised tries that are not involved in the conflict approved last week did not give Obama carte increasingly on local organizations to get was the most dangerous country. The gov- and detailed security procedures firmly in were sent. Many international NGOs have blanche to carry out this fight but rather it was a lim- access to communities in need both in ernments of kidnapped expatriates often place to protect our staff and partners, and suspended their activities in areas pro- Syria and Iraq. In Syria alone, some 3.5 mil- impose media blackouts whilst they try to to make use of a range of different insur- claimed a caliphate by Islamic State, but ited vote for a narrow, two-month authorization to lion people have been internally displaced negotiate their release so the number of ance policies to ensure our teams are able some agencies continue to provide assis- equip and train Syrian rebels. Lawmakers will be tak- by the conflict with more than 800,000 aid workers being held by militant groups to effectively, and safely, deliver desperate- tance via “remote control”-as they refer to ing up this issue again after the election. “His presi- forced from their homes since IS overran including Islamic State is not known, but ly needed aid.” working through local partners. “It’s a dency was built on getting out of wars, not getting in the north’s largest city in June. “The basis the United Nations estimates 200-300 A spokesman for MSF said it had not process that we do when we decide that a them,” said James Goldgeier, dean of American of our security in a context like Iraq...is Syrian aid workers were abducted in had to change its global insurance cover in country is getting too dangerous to work University’s School of International Service in acceptance, so the people on the ground, August. “The kidnapping of local workers the past few years due to “perceived in: like Somalia, some parts of Afghanistan, Washington. “It’s certainly risky, but there is popular all parties to the conflict, know who you has become a phenomenon and it’s hap- increased exposure to risks”. With budgets Libya,” said Laurent Hamida of ACTED, for support there for doing something. So I think a lot is are,” said one NGO security director. “We pening a lot - especially in the last 2 driven in large part by donations, NGOs can which Haines also worked when he was are trying to approach everybody that is months. It’s all anecdotal because negotia- little afford the kind of insurance premiums kidnapped. —Reuters going to depend on how it goes.” Obama, who shied away from airstrikes in Syria a year ago, had a slow reversal in course. A year ago he saw no positive outcome for getting involved in Will Obama’s coalition hang together? Syria’s civil war. Spurred into action by the rapid rise of Islamic State, Obama has become what he worked By Warren Strobel viduals in the Gulf of funneling money to palace in Jeddah that the kingdom “was will- division of labor.” really hard to avoid becoming, a war president. But Islamic State. Saudi Arabia and its neighbors ing to do whatever was necessary to help By contrast, Washington’s frequent he has sought to make sure the United States was he Arabs are in. Turkey is on the fence. could face violent retaliation from militants with the coalition, including air strikes,” a European wartime partners, Britain and not acting alone. His mood was such afterward that Britain, still smarting from an earlier opposed to military cooperation with the second senior State Department official said. France, have moved cautiously on the mili- he told a joke about the pregnant Chelsea Clinton TIraq war, is cautiously edging toward United States. Jordan, meanwhile, is strug- A few days later, Kerry pressed the United tary front. France has conducted several air expanded action. Even Greece wants to help gling to cope with hundreds of thousands of Arab Emirates to follow the Saudis’ lead in a strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq, after former President Bill Clinton introduced him at - if someone would tell it how. Two weeks Syrian refugees that have crossed its bor- meeting with Emirati foreign minister but has said it will not do so in Syria. Britain the Clinton Global Initiative. “If Chelsea begins deliv- after he announced plans to form a “broad ders. Abdullah bin Zayed in Paris, said the official, has stayed out of combat operations so far, ering while I’m speaking, she has my motorcade,” coalition” to fight the militant group Islamic Still, a senior State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity. although it has helped deliver humanitarian Obama said to laughter. State, President Barack Obama’s hopes for said there was “total unanimity” at a meeting Kerry lobbied Jordan’s King Abdullah aid; conducted reconnaissance and intelli- Now, his challenge is to negotiate a careful path in international support for actions in Iraq and between the Arab nations involved in the over dinner in Amman earlier this month gence missions; and provided weapons to the Middle East, keeping Syrian President Bashar al- Syria appear to be gelling. But it remains to strikes, Obama and Kerry. The countries and again last Friday in an unannounced Kurdish peshmerga forces in Iraq fighting Assad from interfering in going after more Islamic be seen whether this motley global crew, committed to stick with the campaign “for last-minute meeting in Washington. Islamic State. State targets. Aides said they doubt Assad will whose members have widely differing goals, the long haul” the official said. US officials Bahrain and Qatar also participated in, or A spokesperson for British Prime Minister can hang together for a mission that Obama provided new details on Tuesday of how supported the strikes. Jon Alterman, senior David Cameron said on Tuesday that respond, since it has no control over the area that the has acknowledged could last for years, and Washington, in a blizzard of meetings and vice president at the Center for Strategic Cameron backed the latest air strikes in Syria airstrikes targeted. Obama must make sure Iraqi which is bound to encounter difficulties - as phone conversations this month, secured and International Studies think tank, said and would hold talks at the UN General Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi follows through on well as both military and civilian casualties. backing from normally wary Arab govern- Arab military capabilities are extremely Assembly “on what more the UK and others forming a government that includes Sunnis, and per- “The common threat gives the president ments to join air strikes over Syria. limited compared to those of the United can do to contribute to international efforts haps most importantly, must get a rebel Syrian army an ability to bring together a broader coali- Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah told US States. “Symbolically, it’s given (the Obama to tackle the threat we all face from ISIL”. prepared to hold ground cleared by the airstrikes. tion,” said former US ambassador Edward Secretary of State John Kerry during a two- administration) cover,” Alterman said. “But Arab participation could shift public opinion Blaise Misztal, director of foreign policy at the Djerejian, who was involved in an earlier US- hour meeting on Sept. 11 at the king’s practically, it doesn’t really change the in Europe, which is still wary of US-led mili- Bipartisan Policy Center, said that Congress may sup- led coalition to oust Iraq’s Saddam Hussein tary efforts in the Middle East, following the port Obama for now, but “the longer this goes on, the from Kuwait in 1991. Ironically, that coalition 2003 Iraq invasion, which was sold on the included Syria. “We just don’t know how basis of false intelligence on Iraqi weapons more of a political football it will become.” —Reuters robust the coalition will be in terms of stay- of mass destruction. “There’s clearly a larger ing together. That’s a big question,” said piece of this that is about convincing publics Djerejian, director of Rice University’s Baker around the world, and particularly in the Institute. (Mideast) region, that we’re not repeating All articles appearing on these Five Arab nations - Saudi Arabia, United the events of 11 years ago,” a Western official Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar - said. pages are the personal opinion of joined in or supported US-led air strikes Events such as Islamic State’s beheading the writers. Kuwait Times takes no against Islamic State targets in Syria begin- of British hostage David Haines may be shift- responsibility for views expressed ning late Monday. Even though American ing European perceptions, said the official, therein. Kuwait Times invites read- warplanes dropped what a US general said who requested anonymity. A State was the “preponderance” of bombs and mis- Department fact sheet lists 54 countries ers to voice their opinions. Please siles, the Arab participation was significant which have pledged contributions to count- send submissions via email to: opin- in geopolitical terms, US and other Western er Islamic State, from tiny Andorra to [email protected] or via snail officials said. It was meant to undercut Ukraine, which has its own severe security Islamic State’s argument that it is at war with challenges countering a Russian-backed mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. the West, they said. insurrection in its east. The contributions are The editor reserves the right to edit The Gulf Arab states have at times tracked and coordinated by a State any submission as necessary. backed different factions in Syria’s civil war, An image grab taken from a video released on Sept 23, 2014 shows Islamic State Department task force set up for that pur- and Washington has accused private indi- (IS) group recruits marching in an unknown location. —AFP pose, a US official said. —Reuters p15_Layout 1 9/24/14 10:30 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS

Cook keeps England armband Atapattu to coach Sri Lanka Nishikori returns to court LONDON: England has retained Alastair Cook as captain for the one-day COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday appointed former Test captain KUALA LUMPUR: Kei Nishikori said his crushing recent defeat in the US international series in Sri Lanka in November, despite his side’s recent 3-1 Marvan Atapattu as head coach to prepare for the 2015 World Cup hosted Open final left him drained, but Japan’s rising tennis star showed no hint of home series defeat against India and increasing calls for him to relinquish by Australia and New Zealand. that Wednesday, cruising into the Malaysian Open last eight in his return to the role. Atapattu, 43, becomes the island nation’s seventh coach in the last four the court. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and former spinner Graeme years and is the first Sri Lankan in 15 years to hold the position of full time The world number eight sent Rajeev Ram of the United States packing in Swann have both publicly questioned Cook’s limited-overs form and national coach. “Marvan (Atapattu) was appointed for a period of two straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Nishikori was dominant from the start, breaking Ram’s authority as captain. years,” Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President Mohan de Silva told AFP. Officials serve and controlling the front court. Cook, who has one half century in the last 15 months, will lead a 16-man declined to give further details of his contract. A selection committee inter- The top seed soon brought out his trademark baseline play, leaving the squad minus Gary Ballance, and including the recalled Ravi Bopara and viewed Atapattu and one other candidate on Tuesday before recommend- doubles specialist short on options. Nishikori sealed the first set in just 22 James Taylor. He received an emphatic backing from national selector ing him for the job. The SLC executive committee then “unanimously minutes and, as his baseline work heated up, made short work James Whitaker when the squad was announced yesterday. approved and appointed Mr. Marvan Atapattu to the position of national of the second set as well. “Let me reassure everybody, we are 100 percent committed head coach... with immediate effect”, an SLC statement added. “I’m feeling almost perfect. Everything worked well, my behind Alastair Cook for the Sri Lanka trip, and also for the Originally, the governing body had short-listed 12 candidates for the movement, my strokes. I’ve just got to practice tomorrow and World Cup,” Whitaker said. “We are certain Cook will come job and Atapattu was the only local among them, SLC sources said. be ready for the last eight,” he said afterward. good, and score the hundreds he has in the past.” Whitaker Atapattu had served as the interim coach for three months before his full- Nishikori’s stirring run in the US Open left victims including also praised batsman Taylor’s domestic form for time appointment Wednesday, guiding the team during the recent series world number one Novak Djokovic in his wake as he become Nottinghamshire, which has earned him a chance to add against England, South Africa and Pakistan. the first Asian man to make a Grand Slam singles final. to his two ODI caps a year ago, while maintaining The former batsman replaces Englishman Paul Farbrace who quit in But he was crushed in straight sets in the final by that Ballance remains an integral part of April after just four months on the job to take over as England’s deputy Crotia’s Marin Cilic, which Nishikori admitted took a England’s one-day plans.—Reuters coach under Peter Moores. —AFP toll, physical and mental.—AFP Pirates clinch playoff spot

ATLANTA: Gerrit Cole retired the final 17 best 12 strikeouts, one month to the day hitters he faced, and the surging Pittsburgh after Jon Lester fanned the Angels slugger Pirates clinched a spot in the playoffs with a three times at the Coliseum. But Gray had 3-2 win over the free-falling Atlanta Braves nothing to show for it as the Athletics were on Tuesday night. shut out for the seventh time since Aug. 1. The Pirates’ win combined with Oakland and Kansas City are tied for the Milwaukee’s loss to Cincinnati assured two wild-card spots at 86-71, three games Pittsburgh of no worse than an NL wild card. ahead of Seattle with five to play. The Royals The Pirates wrapped up their berth exactly beat Cleveland 7-1 earlier in the night and one year after clinching a place in the 2013 won the season series with Oakland 5-2, giv- playoffs. They reacted to the final out on ing Kansas City the tiebreaker. Tuesday with little emotion. The Pirates That means if the Royals and A’s win the exchanged high-fives in a line on the field wild cards and finish with identical records, before sharing hugs in front of their dugout. Kansas City would host their one-game play- Starling Marte gave Pittsburgh the lead off next Tuesday. with a sixth-inning double. The Pirates, who are still chasing St. Louis for the NL Central TIGERS 4, WHITE SOX 3 title, have won 11 of 13. Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Tigers to a key victory ROYALS 7, INDIANS 1 over the White Sox. The win kept Detroit a Rookie Yordano Ventura blanked game ahead of Kansas City atop the Cleveland’s punchless offense for seven American League Central and dropped their innings as the Kansas City Royals kept pres- magic numbers to five for the division and sure on first-place Detroit in the AL Central two for the postseason. with a win over the Indians. Ian Kinsler started the bottom of the The hard-throwing Ventura (14-10) ninth by bouncing a single over Conor allowed four singles and threw a 100 mph Gillaspie’s head at third, and Jake Petricka fastball on his 104th pitch. Salvador Perez’s (1-6) walked Torii Hunter. Cabrera then lined two-out, two-run double off Danny Salazar a single to left, with Kinsler scoring from (6-8) put the Royals ahead 5-0 in the fifth second. David Price took a three-hit shutout and they turned their attention to the left- into the ninth. Adam Eaton singled, Alexei field scoreboard to monitor the Tigers’ score. Ramirez doubled and Avisail Garcia hit a Kansas City entered one game out of first two-run single with one out. Paul Konerko and with a grasp on one of the league’s two singled with two out, moving Garcia to third wild-card spots. and Marcus Semien followed with an RBI sin- The Royals are closing in on their first gle. Joe Nathan (5-4) then came on to get postseason appearance since 1985, when the last out. ATLANTA: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Starling Marte (6) steals second base as Atlanta Braves second baseman Phil Gosselin (15) dives for the wild they won their only World Series title. throw in the fourth inning of a baseball game. —AP At 86-71, Kansas City matched its win ORIOLES 5, YANKEES 4 total from last season. It’s the first time the Nelson Cruz hit his major league-leading for home-field advantage during the 29-45 and fallen far behind Pittsburgh and secured a postseason spot last weekend, still Royals have had consecutive seasons with at 40th home run and the Orioles pushed National League playoffs. They began the San Francisco in the wild card race. have a magic number of four to wrap up least 86 victories since 1977-78. Derek Jeter and the Yankees to the brink of day three games ahead of the Los Angeles their second consecutive division crown. playoff elimination, beating New York. Dodgers for the league’s best record with MARLINS 2, PHILLIES 0 Castillo finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs. DODGERS 4, GIANTS 2 The Yankees fell five games behind for less than a week left in the regular season. Henderson Alvarez pitched into the Zac Rosscup (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning Justin Turner homered twice and Matt the second AL wild card with only five Span is a key player for the Nationals. A eighth inning to outduel Cole Hamels and for his first major league win. Pat Neshek (7- Kemp had a two-run shot in a testy first games left. Jeter extended his hitting streak strong defensive presence and their leadoff the Marlins beat the Phillies. Alvarez (12-6) 2) took the loss. inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to seven games, but struck out on three hitter, he entered with the club’s highest gave up five hits and struck out two over 7 beat the second-place Giants to stretch their pitches with a runner on first to end it. The batting average at .298 and most stolen 2-3 innings to lower his ERA to 2.70. Jeff TWINS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 3 NL West lead to 4 1/2 games. retiring captain has two more home dates bases with 31. The player who replaced him, Baker and Casey McGehee had RBIs for the Kyle Gibson matched a career high with The Giants’ seventh loss in 10 games kept scheduled. The AL East champion Orioles rookie Michael Taylor, doubled home Marlins in the 2-hour, 20-minute contest. eight strikeouts, Chris Parmelee hit a two- them from clinching a playoff berth after began the day 2 1/2 games behind the Los Washington’s first run in the fifth. Hamels (9-8) allowed seven hits and two run single after entering the game for an Milwaukee lost at Cincinnati. The Dodgers Angeles Angels, who played later at runs in seven innings. He struck out four and injured Joe Mauer, and the Twins beat the can win the division title behind ace Clayton Oakland, for the best record in the league BLUE JAYS 10, MARINERS 2 walked one. Alvarez issued a two-out walk Diamondbacks. Kershaw with a victory in the series finale and home-field advantage for the entire Dalton Pompey hit his first major league to Carlos Ruiz in the top of the eighth Trevor Plouffe added four singles and Wednesday night. postseason. Cruz boosted his career high homer and the Blue Jays roughed up Felix inning, ending his night after 97 pitches as Aaron Hicks two hits and an RBI for the The game got off to a rocky start when with a drive into the left-field seats to open Hernandez for a career worst-tying eight he was replaced by left-hander Mike Dunn. Twins. After getting hit in the right elbow by both benches and bullpens emptied after the fifth inning, giving him 107 RBIs. He earned runs in a victory over the Mariners After Chase Utley singled, Dunn struck out Andrew Chafin (0-1) in the first inning, left-hander Madison Bumgarner hit Dodgers became the sixth Baltimore player to post a that further dented Seattle’s fading wild- Ryan Howard with runners on first and sec- Mauer played defense in the second before star Yasiel Puig in the left foot with a pitch. 40-homer season, topped by Chris Davis’ 53 card chances. ond to end the inning. Steve Cishek pitched coming out with a bruised elbow. The Twins No punches were thrown and order was last year. Edwin Encarnacion added a two-run shot the ninth for his 38th save in 42 chances. say he is day to day. Parmelee hit in Mauer’s soon restored. and R.A. Dickey (14-12) allowed two runs spot and singled down the left-field line to NATIONALS 4, METS 2 over seven innings to win for the fourth time RANGERS 2, ASTROS 1 drive in Hicks and Eduardo Escobar, giving ANGELS 2, ATHLETICS 0 Nationals center fielder Denard Span left in five starts. Nick Martinez pitched 6 2-3 scoreless Minnesota a 3-0 lead in the second. Gordon Beckham homered and the in the third inning after making a diving, Seattle lost its fourth straight thanks to innings and Robinson Chirinos homered to That was plenty of support for Gibson Angels dropped the Athletics into a tie for tumbling catch, and NL East champion another poor effort by a starting pitcher. lead the Rangers to a victory over the Astros. (13-11), who allowed one run in seven the top AL wild card. Sonny Gray whiffed Washington went on to a victory over the Mariners starters have failed to complete The Rangers won their third straight and innings and won for just the second time in Mike Trout three times among his career- Mets. The win boosted the Nationals’ push five innings in any of the past four games, 10th of their last 11 games. The Astros have his last eight starts. allowing 27 earned runs over 14 2-3 innings dropped six of eight. Martinez (5-11) got his in that span for an ugly ERA of 16.56. first win at home and his first at night. The ROCKIES 3, PADRES 2 The Mariners fell three games out of the rookie right-hander went into the game 0-6 Drew Stubbs hit a tiebreaking home run second AL wild-card spot with five games in eight starts at Globe Life Park in Arlington leading off the eighth and left fielder remaining. Despite the win, Toronto was and 0-10 in 14 starts at night. He allowed Brandon Barnes robbed Rene Rivera of a eliminated from playoff contention when five hits, no walks and struck out five. tying shot in the bottom of the inning to Kansas City beat Cleveland. Neal Cotts allowed a run in the ninth, lead the Rockies to a victory against the earning his second save in nine opportuni- Padres. The Padres, who were trying to RAYS 6, RED SOX 2 ties. Brett Oberholtzer (5-13) gave up extend their winning streak to a season-high Ben Zobrist had three hits and drove in Chirinos’ homer and an RBI single to Daniel six games, were assured of their fourth Tampa Bay’s first two runs during an eighth Robertson, both in the fourth inning. straight losing season. The Padres (75-82) inning rally for the Rays in a win over the can still finish with their best record in three Red Sox. Alex Cobb pitched seven strong CUBS 4, CARDINALS 3 seasons. They went 76-86 in 2012 and 2013. innings and Matt Joyce added a solo homer Welington Castillo homered and drove in Stubbs homered on the first pitch from in the ninth for the Rays in the series opener the winning run with a 10th-inning single, Dale Thayer (4-4) into the Jack Daniel’s party between the bottom two teams in the AL giving the Cubs a victory over the Cardinals deck atop the right-field wall, his 15th. It East. Cobb (10-8) allowed just one run on that tightened the NL Central race. was the first run Thayer allowed in nine out- five hits, striking out three and walking one. St. Louis’ lead was reduced to 1 1/2 ings. Daniel Nava had an RBI double in the fourth games over second-place Pittsburgh, which Rymer Liriano was shaken up after slam- for the Red Sox. It stood as the game’s only clinched a playoff berth by beating Atlanta. ming into the wall trying to make the catch run until Tampa Bay got to Boston starter With four games to play, the Cardinals, who but remained in the game. —AP Clay Buchholz in the eighth. Buchholz (8-10) had a shutout going through seven, but a leadoff walk and hit MLB results/standings batter cost him in the eighth when the Rays Kansas City 7, Cleveland 1; Baltimore 5, NY Yankees 4; Washington 4, NY Mets 2; Toronto 10, Seattle 2; Detroit 4, rallied for five runs with two outs. Chicago White Sox 3; Tampa Bay 6, Boston 2; Pittsburgh 3, Atlanta 2; Cincinnati 3, Milwaukee 1; Miami 2, Philadelphia 0; Texas 2, Houston 1; Chicago Cubs 4, St. Louis 3 (10 innings); Minnesota 6, Arizona 3; LA Angels 2, REDS 3, BREWERS 1 Oakland 0; LA Dodgers 4, San Francisco 2; Colorado 3, San Diego 2. Johnny Cueto kept his hopes of a 20-win season in play, and Todd Frazier and Devin American League National League Mesoraco hit back-to-back homers, sending Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB the Reds to a victory that pushed the Washington 92 64 .590 - Baltimore 94 63 .599 - Atlanta 76 81 .484 16.5 Brewers to the verge elimination from wild NY Yankees 81 76 .516 13 NY Mets 76 81 .484 16.5 card contention. Toronto 80 77 .510 14 Miami 75 81 .481 17 Cueto (19-9) gave up Carlos Gomez’s Tampa Bay 76 81 .484 18 Philadelphia 71 86 .452 21.5 homer over eight innings. He’ll pitch Boston 68 89 .433 26 Central Division Central Division Cincinnati’s final game on Sunday against St. Louis 88 70 .557 - Detroit 87 70 .554 - Pittsburgh at Great American Ball Park. Pittsburgh 86 71 .548 1.5 Kansas City 86 71 .548 1 Milwaukee 80 77 .510 7.5 The Reds haven’t had a 20-game winner Cleveland 82 76 .519 5.5 since left-hander Danny Jackson in 1988. Chicago White Sox 72 85 .459 15 Cincinnati 73 84 .465 14.5 The last Reds right-hander to win 20 games Minnesota 67 90 .427 20 Chicago Cubs 70 88 .443 18 was Sammy Ellis in 1965. Western Division Western Division The Reds got the better of a matchup LA Angels 97 61 .614 - LA Dodgers 90 68 .570 - between teams with huge second-half Oakland 86 71 .548 10.5 San Francisco 85 72 .541 4.5 fades. Milwaukee led the NL Central for 150 Seattle 83 74 .529 13.5 San Diego 75 82 .478 14.5 DETROIT: Chicago White Sox pitcher Scott Carroll throws against the Detroit Tigers in the Houston 69 89 .437 28 Colorado 66 92 .418 24 days, but fell apart at the end. Up by 6 1/2 Texas 64 93 .408 32.5 Arizona 63 95 .399 27 first inning of a baseball game. —AP games on June 28, the Brewers have gone p16_Layout 1 9/24/14 10:29 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS Beathard may hold starter spot this week

IOWA CITY: Kirk Ferentz never did say news is there is nothing torn or really the Hawkeyes overcome a 17-7 halftime Thursday, but Tuesday and Wednesday have two pretty good players.” that CJ Beathard will be Iowa’s starter this bad,” Ferentz said. “He feels better this deficit. In class Monday, people knew he were pretty good. That’s kind of like our Rudock was 5 of 10 for 80 yards with a weekend. The closest he came was that morning than he did yesterday, and get- was. People interested in Iowa football whole team, the consistency factor. TD and an interception, which flipped the sophomore quarterback was Iowa’s ting the test results back was a real posi- probably already knew. The major differ- “CJ’s a really good quarterback, and I out of Powell’s hands and into a Pitt starter for Tuesday afternoon’s practice. tive.” Lots of words, few specifics, which is ence between Rudock and Beathard is don’t think I would be surprised by any- defender’s for one of your more unfortu- Probably don’t read too much into the course nearly 100 percent of colleges Beathard’s long, curly hair that he’s thing he did or Jake. I think both of them nate interceptions. (No, Powell said that that. Ferentz also acknowledged that coaches take in regard to injuries and QB grown for around 18 months. The hair are capable of playing really well. I had never happened to him. Yes, he did junior starter Jake Rudock did sit out playing time. Maybe this answer best with the Tennessee accent, Beathard sort thought Jake played a good first half.” change his gloves after that play, too.) Tuesday with a soft-tissue injury. Rudock, illustrates where Iowa (3-1) is at the quar- of sticks out. How bad was it Thursday? Did you Rudock didn’t return to game after whose streak of 17 straight starts is up in terback position for this game and Linebacker Quinton Alston let stu- throw the ball through someone’s car halftime, but he was on the field and the air, was hit by a pair of Pitt defenders beyond. dents know in the Monday lecture in window? “It was just one of those days,” worked the headphones and communi- near the end of the first half of Iowa’s vic- “If Jake had sputtered [last season, his “Arts of Africe” that the quarterback hero Beathrard said. “It wasn’t a great practice cated with Beathard. Before Beathard ran tory. He didn’t return to the game, and first as starter], it probably would’ve of the weekend was sitting among them. all around. It was lacking energy, it just out for the last offensive play, he tapped Beathard came in to lead three second- maybe played out the way that one did,” “Yeah, it was embarrassing,” Beathard wasn’t a great practice.” Rudock’s shoulder and gave him a nod. half scoring drives. Ferentz said in response to a question said. “We’re in there for school. He’s a cool Where does QB go after Purdue? Let’s “This guy [Rudock] is not your average A lot of words were used, but few about the 2008 QB shuffle between Jake teacher and a good teacher, I just wasn’t not look too far ahead. Ferentz was polit- player,” Ferentz said. “This is an excep- specifics were given. Going into a bye Christensen and Ricky Stanzi. “But Jake ready for it.” During his postgame radio ical in his comments. He was asked if an tional young man going back to his week after Saturday’s Big Ten opener at didn’t sputter. He took control of things. interview on Saturday, Ferentz men- injured player can lose his job. He said organic chemistry test last year and all Purdue (2-2), it’s probably safe to assume Now, we’re in a situation more by fate tioned a practice last Thursday that there is no set policy. He also was careful that stuff. Beathard is the starter and will hold the than anything else, where C.J. has been Beathard struggled in. That commented to mention Rudock, who wasn’t expect- “Jake is just really wired the way you spot until Rudock returns. “Jake is going able to play when Jake’s been hurt. was noted by several Hawkeyes fans. ed to work with trainers on Tuesday, would want a player to be wired, any to be day-to-day from what I can tell,” “We’ve been able to discover some Maybe reading into it that Rudock would alongside Beathard in nearly every com- player, especially a quarterback.” Ferentz said Tuesday. “I think right now, good things about C.J. without having be back in ASAP. Or, maybe, folks just ment. “I read a couple things coming Beathard has certainly flashed on the CJ is definitely our starter today the ‘do we, don’t we’ stuff. It’s all good.” It read too much into it. home that night,” Ferentz said, referring field. Rudock hasn’t sputtered. Ferentz [Tuesday] because Jake won’t be practic- was all good in Beathard’s first extended “If you guys had seen Thursday prac- to the Saturday night reviews on Iowa said he has two quarterbacks he trusts ing. We’ll just see how the week plays playing time of 2014. He completed 7 of tice the answer would be yes, I was sur- QB. “If we catch that one ball, and he got and believes in. There really isn’t a need out.” Ferentz said Rudock’s injuries were 8 passes for 98 yards, including a 62- prised,” Ferentz said when asked if a turnover credited to his count instead for any declarations on what happens at in a couple of different spots. He didn’t yarder that wide receiver Damond Powell Beathard’s performance opened his eyes. of a big completion, his numbers look QB after this week. The answers will specify beyond “soft tissue.” “The good grabbed with one hand. Beathard helped “I was underwhelmed with what I saw pretty good, too. So, again, I think we come. —AP Hard work pays off for gritty Gallacher

GLENEAGLES: Stephen Gallacher expects a At one stage he thought his lifelong baptism of fire at the Ryder Cup this week, dream of matching uncle Bernard and play- but he believes all the hard work he has put ing in the Ryder Cup had gone, but he in will see him pull through it all. decided to give it one last try. At 39, Gallacher is the second-oldest “I made a conscious effort a couple European rookie in the history of the event, years ago to get in this (Ryder Cup),” he having benefitted from one of captain Paul said. “Especially for my generation, it’s nev- McGinley’s three wildcard picks. er going to be here again. It’s a course that I And as the sole Scot on the 12-man like in your home country. team, he knows that the pressure to per- “Just improved every single part of my form on home soil at Gleneagles will be all game, whether it be mental, whether it be the more intense. nutrition. Injury prevention, down to my But Gallacher intends to use the crowd equipment, swing tinkering, the way I go support, and the fact that he knows the about things, you know, your routines, course far better than any of the other 23 absolutely everything. players, to his advantage. That and the fact “You get a little bit better in every that his uncle Bernard is a past European aspect, and the overall, the big picture gets Ryder Cup player and a captain. Asked how better through that.” The hard work paid useful it was to have in the family someone dividends, culminating in the biggest win so steeped in Ryder Cup lore as his uncle, of his career at last year’s Dubai Desert Gallacher replied: “Certainly he’s experi- Classic, a title he successfully defended in enced enough, he’s played in eight and the February. captaincy and vice, too. A mixed batch of results in the summer “I spent the week with him when my meant that Gallacher fell agonisingly short gran was ill in the hospital, and he was sort of ensuring for himself one of the nine of chatting away, basically giving good automatic qualifying spots for Gleneagles, advice. “He says, ‘You’re going to have long, but the spirit he showed late on convinced long days, so it’s all about conserving your McGinley to call him into the team. energy.’ Ultimately he wants me to enjoy Now it is all a matter of him enjoying the myself, take a time-out to soak it in. You occasion and producing his best golf. “It know, just be yourself, play your own was my lifetime ambition. It was my goal to game.” Playing his own game for Gallacher get here. I’m proud that I’m here,” he said. “I GLENEAGLES: Henrik Stenson of Sweden tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round at the Gleneagles golf course, ahead of het 2014 over the last two years has been a long, am very excited, and it is a bit surreal still, Ryder Cup match between Europe and the USA. —AP painstaking hike. because I live so close. “But it’s one I’m Long touted as the heir to Colin embracing and just trying to use the posi- Montgomerie as a world class golfer from tive energy, and the crowd is going to be Fergie stirs Europe as soldiers Scotland, Gallacher struggled for years to spectacular as well, and it’s just going to be live up to his potential. really entertaining.” —AFP sober Americans at Ryder Cup

Pakistan axe Younis for GLENEAGLES: Former Manchester United manager Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola for past speeches. and I didn’t take my eyes off him,” McIlroy said. “I was Alex Ferguson and two US soldiers who lost limbs US captain Tom Watson tried to ease the pressure sort of in this trance just listening to everything he Australia one-day series fighting in Iraq delivered motivational messages to on an American side that has lost seven of the past was saying and I’m sort of thinking, ‘This is all the golfers ahead of Friday’s start of the 40th Ryder Cup. nine Ryder Cups by reminding players golf is just a stuff that he’s probably said to Manchester United KARACHI: Pakistan have axed senior bats- younger players,” he added. Australia and And the inspirational talks Tuesday night could game, having them meet two US Army sergeants teams over the years.’” One of Ferguson’s major mes- man Younis Khan for next month’s one-day New Zealand will host the World Cup from just make a trophy-winning difference in this week’s wounded fighting in Iraq. sages was to make the most of the home-soil advan- series against Australia in the United Arab Feb. 14-March 29 next year. showdown at Gleneagles, says world number one “I think the sobering effect of last night has put tage. “Whenever he was managing, they made Old Emirates as they announced their ODI and Younis, despite having an impressive bat- Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland. them on a good even keel. I like that,” Watson said. Trafford a bit of a fortress,” Twenty20 squads yesterday. ting average of 51 in 91 tests, has not been as “Those things do help, those things really do. It “We had some men who suffered nearly the ulti- McIlroy said. “We’re slight favourites for a reason. After a one-off T20 match on Oct. 5, effective in ODIs, scoring 7017 runs at an galvanises us and brings us together,” McIlroy said. mate sacrifice for their country... It did give perspec- We deserve to be. We’ve played well this year. It’s not Pakistan will play Australia in three one-day- average of 31. “These things, they help. They are little details in the tive. That was the whole reason. something that we should shy away from. It’s some- ers over the following week before the first bigger picture, but it would be that half a percent or “In this cauldron of pressure, it’s great to have thing that we should embrace.” test starts on Oct. 22 in Dubai. STILL HOPING one percent that helps us to get back that little tro- that kind of sobering. We make it a big deal, but it’s Even Real Madrid fan Sergio Garcia gathered Younis, 36, was recalled to the side for the But the batsman told reporters in Karachi phy.” Ferguson a 72-year-old Scotsman who retired not that big a deal. It is the Ryder Cup. Yeah, there’s something from Ferguson. “Hard-working, confi- August ODI series in Sri Lanka and played in he had not given up hope of playing at the in 2013 after a 26-year career, guided Manchester pressure there. But you look in perspective of what dence, belief, never giving up, that’s some of the the first game before returning home due to World Cup. “I will do my best to force my way United to 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League those men did... We’re playing a game for a living. things he kind of mentioned,” Garcia said. “Just keep the death of his nephew. back into the ODI side. I have no plans to titles and two Champions League titles. That’s the message.” fighting until the end.” Younis, who has played 254 ODIs, had pre- retire from this format as yet,” he added. The “OK, everyone might not be a Man United fan, Noah Galloway, one of the soldiers who visited viously been sidelined by the selectors since selectors also ignored experienced pacer but at the same time, everyone has to respect what the US team, tweeted, “I’ve had several interesting PRACTICE HINTS March, 2013. “Younis has been dropped as Umar Gul for the ODI and T20 squads and Alex Ferguson has done in his career and how suc- things happen to me, but I must say the moment Yesterday’s practice pairings hinted at possible part of a strategy to look forward to the dropped left arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar. cessfully,” said McIlroy, a Man United supporter. Phil Mickelson grabbed my phone for a selfie and foursomes and fourball duos with McIlroy joined by future but the doors are not closed on him,” Khan said that while announcing the two “He’s a very inspirational sort of man when he Rickie Fowler photobombed it is definitely one of reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer of chief selector Moin Khan told a news confer- squads the main thrust was on the World Cup talks. He’s got a lot of authority and the room just those that top my list.” Germany and the likely tandem of Graeme ence. “which is why we have focused on youngsters goes quiet and everyone listens. It was a great expe- McIlroy, who won back-to-back majors at this McDowell and France’s Victor Dubuisson. McIlroy “There is little time left before the World like Saad Nasim.” Nasim, a leg spinner-bats- rience.” Europeans, seeking their sixth victory in sev- year’s British Open and PGA Championship, was and McDowell have been a formidable pairing in Cup so the selectors have decided to try out man, is the only uncapped player in the two en tries over the United States, have employed nearly hypnotised by Ferguson. past Cups and might again go together before and give more exposure to the new and squads.‚—Reuters Welsh rugby union star Gareth Edwards then- “I was just sitting there and looking up at him, Sunday’s 12 concluding singles matches.—AFP

GCC media heads visit Olympic Shooting Complex KUWAIT: Heads of delegations of news agen- Assistant Treasurer Adnan Al-Ibrahim, equipment, and they took shooting rounds in successfully organizing shooting tourna- love the sport of shooting. Director General of cies of GCC countries, participating in the Assistant Technical Director for Pistol and Rifle the process. Director General of Bahrain News ments at all levels. Meanwhile Oman News Qatar News Agency Ahmad Al-Buainain said, 18th meeting of Gulf News Agencies officials Nasser Al-Dahesh. Agency Muhannad Al-Nuaimi said Kuwait Agency’s director General Dr. Mohammad Al- “we congratulate Kuwait for this facility which visited Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic The delegation toured the shooting Shooting Sports Club is one of the outstand- Oraimi said we were honored to visit this boosts Kuwait’s status at the regional and Shooting Complex. They were received by ranges and saw firsthand the facilities and ing facilities in the region, and it is known for beautiful facility, which cradles all those who international levels. p17 2_Layout 1 9/24/14 10:29 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS

Indian boxers have coaches Photo of the day back in their corners

INCHEON: Shiv Thapa couldn’t hide his including two gold. India will need to get relief at the Asian Games boxing venue medals from this sport again at Incheon if yesterday. Not because he’d been awarded it hopes to match its aggregate of 65 a walkover in his first bout - dodging medals at the 2010 Asian Games. punches wasn’t the issue. But even India’s chief coach Gurbaksh He was relieved just to have a coach in Sandhu is not sure what to expect. “It will his corner during competition. For Thapa not be easy for us to do well here,” Sandhu and the 12 other Indian boxers at Incheon, said. “It’s difficult for me to evaluate my there hasn’t been coaching support at boxers and work out strategies because international competition for close to two I’ve not seen them much in international years. A ban on the Indian Boxing competitions.” Sandhu said not accompa- Federation meant that boxers had to com- nying the team on previous trips had pete as independent athletes - not under made things difficult. the Indian flag - and coaches could not “Lifting of the ban has been very good travel with them. for us but I feel India has lost precious time It was only at the Commonwealth and has slid behind. I can’t assess our Games at Glasgow, Scotland in July-August chances and I’ve been telling our boxers this year that boxers were allowed to com- that each bout is a final for us,” Sandhu pete under the India banner, but only on said. the condition that elections for a new The Indian squad includes five-time national federation would be held soon. A women’s world champion and London provisional return to the fold of a newly- Olympics bronze medalist Mary Kom, but elected Boxing India was permitted just is without Beijing Olympics bronze medal- before the Asian Games opened. ist Vijender Singh, who is sidelined with an “It’s a relief for us because boxers need injury. “Things are good for all our boxers coaches around,” said Thapa, who is ranked because we’re finally competing under world No. 3 in the 56-kilogram category. normal conditions. It’s good to be congrat- “They guide us and we have more confi- ulated by everyone around for our re-entry dence when they are with us. During but the challenge has just begun,” Sandhu bouts, it’s the coaches who spell out ring said. The old Indian boxing federation was strategies and tell us what to improve in suspended by world body AIBA in the next round.” December 2012 for not following proper The 20-year-old Thapa, who is one of procedures during elections in which it India’s top contenders here and considered elevated previous president Abhay Singh a long-term prospect, said the team now Chautala to chairman of the body. A competitor performs during the Red Bull Soapbox Race 2014 in Bucharest, Romania. — www.redbull.com has more incentive to lift its performances. Chautala’s election as president of the “It’s great to be competing under the Indian Olympic Association that same Indian flag,” he said. “It’s a motivation factor week led to the IOA’s suspension by the for us and we wish to do well here with the International Olympic Committee. wishes of our countrymen.” The IOA was reinstated to the Olympic Sharapova dumped out Boxing was a rich source of medals for movement during the Sochi Winter Games India at the last Asian Games in in February after a new set of officials were Guangzhou when they won nine medals, elected. —AP CHINA: Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky contin- ued to swipe past the seeds at the Wuhan Open yesterday by dumping world number four Maria Sharapova from the hard court tournament with World Bowling eyes a 7-6(3) 7-5 victory. The world number 61, who knocked out U.S. Open semi-finalist and 13th seed Ekaterina radical changes Makarova in the second round, prevailed again in the battle of baseliners to notch arguably the biggest win of her career. Having taken the first INCHEON: About a month and a half ago, the remaining pins, that’s called a spare, set of the third round clash on a tiebreak, Kevin Dornberger and his Swedish friend and it counts for the 10, plus however Bacsinszky fell 3-1 down in the second against Christer Jonsson were watching a tourna- many pins that bowler knocks down in the French Open champion Sharapova. ment in Hong Kong. They made it through next throw. If the bowler fails to get a strike The Russian, though, struggled to rid her most of the afternoon before Jonsson, the or a spare, the score for the first frame is game of unforced errors as the 25-year-old secretary general of the World Tenpin registered as however many pins are Bacsinszky broke back to level the match, which Bowling Association, looked at Dornberger, knocked down in the first two attempts. looked to be heading for a second tiebreak. the president of World Bowling. “This is bor- But a 43rd error from Sharapova gifted the ing,” he said. Simple enough, right? Swiss the vital break to win the set 7-5 and set Dornberger and a lot of people trying to Dornberger - who has bowled since he up a quarter-final clash with either eighth seed was eight, had a 40-plus-year competitive figure out how to keep sport bowling out Caroline Wozniacki or Australia’s Casey career, has rolled 16 perfect 300 games and of the gutter don’t think so. At big interna- Dellacqua. who now heads the sport’s international tional competitions, where dozens of Sharapova joined an alarming list of seeds governing body - nodded his head bowlers are playing at the same time and dumped from the $2.4 million inaugural event at emphatically. “I’ve watched more world the winners are determined by cumulative the early stages with only four of the 16 remain- championships competitions than anyone scores, not finals, it’s hard for spectators to ing. in the world,” Dornberger told The get emotionally involved because no one World number one Serena Williams was Associated Press on Wednesday on the knows the winners until the whole day’s forced to retire from her second round clash on sidelines of the Asian Games bowling com- competition is over. Tuesday because of illness, while a back injury petition in Incheon, South Korea. “And it “It took 11 1/2 hours to complete the ended Jelena Jankovic’s run as did a thigh prob- has occurred to me that the people who two rounds of play today,” said Bill lem for Ana Ivanovic. Second ranked Romanian CHINA: Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return during her match against Switzerland’s Timea say we are boring have a point.” Hoffman, a five-time world champion and Simona Halep only had herself to blame for her Bacsinszky at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament . —AFP Dornberger’s solution, which he wants Hall of Fame bowler who is coaching Hong three set loss on Tuesday. Germany’s Angelique to see implemented by the 2016 World Kong’s team at the Asian Games. “That is Kerber was one seed to find the going unusually performed so well in knocking out Halep a day the third set to set up a meeting with either sixth Championships in Doha, Qatar is a radical way too long for climaxes.” straightforward as she smashed past Barbora earlier, withdrew because of gastritis. seed Eugenie Bouchard of Canada or American overhaul of the very heart of the sport - its Hoffman said the changes would likely Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-1 in quick time on France’s Alize Cornet, who was trailing Alison Riske. complicated, but to bowlers beloved, scor- face the most opposition from the 10 or 15 Wednesday. Williams before the American retired on Tuesday, Cornet’s compatriot Caroline Garcia, who ing system. What he would like to see is an players who are at the top of the world The seventh seed will next face Ukraine’s moved on through to the quarters with a 7-6(4) beat Agnieszka Radwanksa in the second round, arrangement similar to the soccer World standings, since the system is working for Elina Svitolina, who was given a walkover to the 1-6 6-3 win over Belgian wildcard Kirsten smashed 11 aces in knocking out American Cup that would pit players against each them the way it is. But he added that he last eight after Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who Flipkens. Cornet recovered from a break down in CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3 6-2. —Reuters other in a group format culminating in thinks major changes are required to finals. Scoring, possibly only in the finals, attract spectators and sponsors and win could be simplified into a frame-by-frame the backing of the International Olympic showdown. The player winning the frame Committee. Wiggins wins would get one point. Any player getting to “I think we will see change,” he said. “I six points would automatically be the win- think the industry in general knows the world time-trial ner, and that would be the end of it. need for change so that we are more rele- Another radical suggestion being con- vant on popular culture again.” PONFERRADA: Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins ended sidered is to make every strike count for 30 Mike Seymour, an Australian who is the Tony Martin’s three-year reign by winning the world time- points, no matter what the next ball is. World Tenpin Bowling Association’s vice trial title in Ponferrada, Spain yesterday. Spares would count for 20. That would president, said a working group is sched- The 34-year-old Briton, the Tour de France champion in make the math a lot easier, but retain the uled to make four or five proposals at an 2012, had twice finished second to Martin in 2011 and 300 as the perfect score for a game - a tra- executive board meeting in December in 2013, but he finally landed his first world title. dition many bowlers would be very unhap- Abu Dhabi. Seymour said top-level bowling Wiggins said this title went some way to making up for py to see vanish. could soon start to look more like tennis. missing out on riding the Tour in July, when he was over- “I’m open to anything because I love our With each game shorter, finals could be looked as a potential supporting team-mate for then sport,” Dornberger said. “I love tradition, but played in a best-out-of three format. But he champion Chris Froome. it’s vital that we become an Olympic sport. acknowledged that, even for supporters of “I mean, I don’t know what to say really. I knew coming If we have to be dragged into the 21st cen- the overhaul, letting go of the magical 300 into it that I had the legs,” Wiggins told reporters at the fin- tury to do that, I’m ok with that.” is hard to imagine. ish line. “I realised once I saw the course that if I was ever “Maybe for the average league-type going to beat Tony then it would be on a course like this. Here’s how bowling currently works: player a few more years down the track if “It’s been an up and down year. I didn’t ride the Tour. I Each game is broken down into 10 the 30-point strike system has been estab- want to dedicate this to my family because they’ve been frames. If a bowler rolls a strike, that counts lished and proven that might take over,” he there for me all summer and they had to put up with me Gala Leon for the 10 pins knocked down in that said. “I don’t like banishing the old 300. I’m when I was at home during July. It’s my last world time trial throw, plus the pins knocked down in the a traditionalist and I’ve been around for a championship and I’ve finished with a gold medal.” next two throws. If the bowler fails to knock long time in this sport. I can’t see it being The victory added to Wiggins’s overall success at the Leon to focus on down all the pins on the first throw, there’s banished forever, maybe just a change at Tour of California in May and stage win in the race against another chance. If the bowler knocks over the top end.”—AP the clock at the Tour of Britain earlier this month. Davis Cup success Dutch time-trial champion Tom Dumoulin put in a strong finish over the 47.1km course to take the bronze BARCELONA: Spain’s new Davis Cup cap- tions with players, which I think is right, but medal and deny Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus. tain Gala Leon shrugged off “sexist debate” in this case it hasn’t happened,” Toni Nadal German Martin had been in imperious form against the about her appointment on Tuesday and told Spanish radio. clock all season, winning time-trials at both the Tour and said her only concern was taking the team “I have nothing personal against her. I Vuelta a Espana. back to the top of the sport. don’t know her capabilities and I hope she He had also reigned supreme at the World Leon, who had a career-high ranking of does well. But at first sight she doesn’t Championships since 2011, although Wiggins beat him 27 as a player, was the surprise choice to know men’s tennis. If you told me she had into second at the London Games in 2012. replace Carlos Moya, who stood down after been involved for the last 10 years on the The 29-year-old was fastest at the first time check after the five-times Davis Cup-winners were rele- men’s circuit, then I would say it was nor- 12km but from there on, Wiggins just accelerated away. He gated from the World Group following mal. was 2.64sec ahead of the German at 23km and had defeat against Brazil in a play-off. “I am not being chauvinist. Anyone who stretched his lead to more than 9sec at 35km. “Everyone has the right to say what they says that doesn’t know what the word The last section included two climbs where Wiggins, think. I am not here to create a sexist means. Having said that, I am a bit stuck in who had said before the race he felt the course suited him debate but to help the Davis Cup team to the past when I see a woman in the men’s more than Martin, was expected to have an advantage. return to the World Group and (ensure) that dressing room. I accept that I am a bit old- And so it proved as Martin rolled over the line 26sec the trophy returns home soon,” Leon told a fashioned but you can’t say I’m being chau- down with Dumoulin, who had not been among the lead- news conference. vinist.” ing five names at any of the three time checks, a further Leon previously held the role of sports Britain’s double grand slam champion 14sec back. director at the Spanish tennis federation Andy Murray, who broke the mould earlier For Martin it was the sixth year in a row in which he took and has now become captain after initially this year by engaging former French player a world medal, following bronze gongs in 2009 and 2010. being given the role of looking for a succes- Amelie Mauresmo as his coach, came out in He was 4sec up on Wiggins at the first time check with six- sor to Moya. support of Leon however. time French time-trial champion Sylvain Chavanel third, The appointment of Leon immediately “Congrats to Gala Leon Garcia for less than a second behind the Briton. led to a flood of criticism in Spain, includ- becoming first female Spanish Davis Cup But he quickly fell off the pace and was almost 2min ing from Rafa Nadal’s uncle and coach, Toni captain today... hopefully first of many,” said 30sec down at the finish. Australian Rohan Dennis Nadal. the Scot on Twitter. Leon’s task now will be ANYANG: Singapore’s Tan Daphne competes in women’s singles squad A bowling appeared to be challenging the top two and was third, “In recent years when you look at deci- to take charge of Spain’s Europe/Africa sions like these there have been consulta- Zone campaign next year.—Reuters competition at Anyang Hogye Gymnasium. —AP 7sec off Wiggins, at the second time check.—AFP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS Qatar quits basketball over headscarf ban

INCHEON: Qatar yesterday withdrew their head of Qatar’s women’s sports committee. quickly,” Al Mana said. Meanwhile, Asia’s Olympics boss said newspaper that the World Cup would not be women’s basketball team from the Asian “What happened today is against “Of course the OCA encouraged us to par- Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup was a held in Qatar because of its sizzling summer Games just before their first match over a rule International Olympic Committee goals which ticipate but this is a technical decision from “foregone conclusion”-and also backed the weather. banning Muslim headscarves. are meant to include countries from different FIBA. I hope in the near future they will allow Gulf state to hold the Olympic Games. FIFA’s ethic committee will in coming Qatar and the Olympic Council of Asia cultures, and also it’s against the slogan of the us.” FIBA did not comment on the case, but the Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, head of months announce the results of its investiga- (OCA) hit out at the International Basketball Asian Games in Incheon which is ‘Diversity OCA director general Husain Al-Musallam hit the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), defended tion into the bid process for the 2022 World Federation (FIBA) rule which bans all head- Shines here.’” out over the hijab ruling. “The right of the ath- Qatar after a FIFA executive committee mem- Cup and the 2018 edition which went to wear on safety grounds. Al Mana said Qatar knew about the ban in letes must be the highest priority,” he said in a ber said Qatar would lose its World Cup host- Russia. Sheikh Ahmad also said Doha, which The Gulf state, whoses team were due to advance, but hoped to persuade FIBA to statement. ing rights. failed in its bids to host both the 2016 and the open their campaign against Mongolia in the change its mind. The headwear ban has “Every athlete has the right to represent “Qatar has completed the process and the 2020 Olympics, would be a strong candidate qualifying round at Incheon yesterd, said the already been relaxed at national level. their country’s flag without discrimination or 2022 World Cup in Qatar is a foregone conclu- to host the Games in future. rule ran contrary to Olympic principles on She added that teams from other countries without the threat of a financial penalty.” sion,” the Kuwaiti told a Qatar Olympic com- “I’m sure Doha can win the Olympics in diversity. “FIBA didn’t let our players play with affected by the ban had not travelled to the Football is among the sports which allow reli- mittee reception at the Asian Games in future with determination and the will of its the headscarves and so we had to withdraw Games in South Korea. “I’m pretty sure that gious head coverings following a change of Incheon. The comment comes after FIFA exec- leadership that strongly supports sports from the tournament,” said Ahlam Al Mana, what happened today can change FIBA rules heart from world body FIFA earlier this year. utive member Theo Zwanziger told a German development,” he said.—AFP

INCHEON: Japan’s Kosuke Hagino competes in the finals for the men’s 400m individual medley swimming event during the 17th Asian Games at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Centre. —AFP

Medals Table

INCHEON: Yesterday’s Asian Games medals table (gold, silver, bronze, total): Hagino stars but China 59 32 27 118 Kuwait 1 2 0 3 South Korea 26 23 25 74 India 1 1 10 12 Japan 20 29 27 76 Thailand 1 0 6 7 China rule the pool Kazakhstan 6 7 13 26 Uzbekistan 0 3 7 10 North Korea 4 5 8 17 Indonesia 0 3 2 5 Mongolia 4 3 6 13 Macau 0 3 0 3 Taiwan 4 2 6 12 INCHEON: Japan’s Kosuke Hagino won his combined for a 4x100m freestyle win over The 29-year-old from Ulaanbaatar finished Philippines 0 2 1 3 Iran 2 6 2 10 fourth swimming gold but China ruled the Japan. It left China on 57 gold medals near the final with 624.1 points, just four off the Hong Kong 2 3 11 16 Turkmenistan 0 1 2 3 pool as they shot out to a big lead on the the end of day five, well ahead of South world record of 628 set by German Beate Malaysia 2 3 3 8 Laos 0 1 1 2 medals table at the Asian Games yesterday. Korea on 26 and on their way to topping the Gauss at the recent world championships. Hagino, 20, put in a strong final freestyle table for the ninth straight Asian Games. “Our previous best was a team silver four Myanmar 2 0 0 2 Lebanon 0 1 0 1 Iraq 0 0 1 1 leg to add the 400 metres medley to his China scooped up five out of seven golds years ago, so this is really, really special,” Vietnam 1 4 13 18 200m medley, 200m freestyle and 4x200m in their home-grown martial art of wushu Chuluunbadrakh told AFP. “More so, since this Singapore 1 2 5 8 Pakistan 0 0 1 1 freestyle titles in Incheon. and another five from seven as the rowing is also my best score.” “That was hard work, I felt like I could be in competition got underway. Japanese cyclists Seiichiro Nakagawa and a bit of bother,” Hagino told reporters. “I Weightlifters Xiang Yanmei and Tian Tao Tomoyuki Kawabata took gold and silver in Palestine rising in didn’t expect to feel that tired but I kept it both grabbed gold, and Olympic superstar the men’s individual sprint. together somehow. Obviously the freestyle Zou Kai ended China’s wait for a men’s gym- And there was a rare success for Singapore (leg) did bail me out.” nastics gold with a world-class floor routine. when Joseph Schooling won its first men’s world soccer But the night belonged as much to China, The five-time Olympic gold medallist sur- swimming gold since 1982 with a Games who rounded off another dominant day of vived a couple of slight early stumbles to record 51.76sec in the 100m butterfly. INCHEON: Palestine go into the knockout world how much our people are suffering at competition with four swimming golds score 15.533 with the most difficult routine “I’ve just enrolled as a freshman at the stage of the Asian Games men’s football on the hands of Israel,” Rajoub told AFP, high- including the women’s 200m freestyle and attempted on the night. University of Texas,” he said. “I’m just happy the back of a spectacular rise in the world lighting how sports facilities had been butterfly. Meanwhile Narantuya Chuluunbadrakh to be sitting here. I’ve only been training one rankings, but the team is not celebrating. destroyed and 37 athletes and coaches were Shen Duo won the freestyle race, Jiao became the first Mongolian to win an Asian day, for the last four weeks. I’ve not really Despite a siege of Gaza and the recent killed. “Football is a game we all love in Liuyang topped the butterfly and Fu Yuanhui Games shooting gold medal when she been doing much to be honest. It’s a huge Israel-Hamas war, Palestine have reached the Palestine,” said Rajoub. “If we lived in peace, took the 100m backstroke before China’s men clinched the women’s 50m rifle prone title. step.” —AFP Asian Cup finals in Australia in January and we could go far in sport.” Now the team is today they play Japan in the Asian Games focused on the game against Asian champi- second round. ons Japan, who will also be their opening The Palestinians topped their qualifying opponents in the Asian Cup in January. Maldives trailblazers say medals don’t matter group with wins over Oman and Tajikistan, The Asian Games is for under-23 teams who have just had a player kicked out of the plus three senior players, meaning some INCHEON: Their swimmers train in the Indian tournament for failing a drug test. Asian Cup-bound players are in Incheon. Ocean and the women soccer and handball Despite their troubles, the Palestinians, “I know it is not going to be easy for us, players haven’t managed a goal between them who only joined FIFA in 1998, have invested but we will do our best,” said Barakat. “We pre- at the Asian Games, but the Maldives says it in football in recent years and it is starting to pared well for the Asian Games despite the does not care about success-yet. show. In March, 2011, Palestine were ranked difficult situation at home. We organised trips Getting 142 athletes from the poor islands, 178th in the world by FIFA. In July this year to Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.” No matter how best known as a honeymoon paradise, to the they reached an all-time high of 85th, though far they get at the Asiad, the Palestinians have Games in Incheon, South Korea, has already they have since slipped back to 102. arranged an intensive follow-up. They will been an achievement, according to team lead- They have players like striker Imad Khalili play matches in India, China, Vietnam, ers. And a Muslim nation insisting that at least a who was the top scorer in the Swedish league Pakistan and Saudi Arabia before going to third of the team should be women has also last season and is now with Shanghai Dongya Australia in January. The first day of second raised eyebrows among fellow Islamic states. in China. round matches will also see South Korea take South Korean fans have taken to their hearts the “We have qualified for next year’s Asian on Hong Kong, China play Thailand and athletes from a nation of less than 350,000 who Cup so obviously we are making good Jordan play Kyrgyzstan. have yet to win a medal at the Asian Games or progress,” said coach Abdalnasser Barakat. The Games hosts won all three of their Olympics. “Our football ranking has gone up... the opening group matches without conceding a The swimmers are often still battling in the leadership is satisfied,” said Jibril Rajoub, head goal. Japan lost to Iraq and looked frail. pool long after rivals have finished. The women’s of the Palestinian Football Association, and a China also lost a game to unbeaten North footballers conceded 38 goals in three matches leading member of the Fatah political organi- Korea and only squeaked through to the sec- without scoring and Japan beat their handball sation. ond round, while Thailand hammered team by a huge 79-0. But Maldives Olympic But the conflict is never far from the minds Indonesia 6-0 on the way to top place in their Committee secretary general Ahmed Marzooq of the players and coaches. “The Palestine group with three wins, 11 goals scored and said the results do not matter. “Just before we sports family believes we can expose to the zero let in.—AFP came I told the athletes that there would be crit- icism and comments. But I told them, ‘We don’t care about any result that comes, just perform, just enjoy the Games.’” INCHEON: Xiang Yanmei of China lifts 153kg as she competes in the women’s 69kg weightlift- In an indication of the difficulties their ath- ing final event of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. —AFP letes face, swimmers Nishwan Ibrahim and Aishath Sajina have to train in the Indian Ocean- “Back home we don’t have any facilities to ers to Incheon. Some of that is being used to at night-off the capital Male. practice turns,” he said. “The swimmers have to press a minimum 33 percent quota for women in “We swim in the sea and there’s a current and focus on the currents and they don’t know when all Maldives teams going to international con- lots of rubbish, and it’s dark,” Ibrahim told AFP. they’re going to touch the pads because it’s tests. There are more than 50 in this team, while “We don’t have any swimming pools. It’s really dark. Most of the time they crash into them.” Saudi Arabia has none and just 20 percent of different from the pool here. It’s difficult in the “The first time I went to the deep end I felt Iran’s squad is women. pool, the sea is more buoyant.” really scared,” said Sajina. “I didn’t like the fish “There is some opposition,” Marzooq said. Ibrahim got a standing ovation after clocking and stuff. I wanted to get out as soon as possi- Other Olympic Council of Asia representatives two minutes, 45.23 seconds in the men’s 200 ble.” But now she is a leader in the biggest con- confirmed that the Maldives had made some metres medley heats, in his first ever attempt at tingent the Maldives has ever taken to an inter- other Muslim nations nervous. the event. national sporting event. Sajina swam almost two But Maldives has no regrets, despite all the But after completing the last lap in complete lengths of the pool alone in the women’s slow swims and the conceded goals. “It has solitude to finish over 45 seconds behind the 4x100m freestyle relay and triggered an enor- changed a lot how women do sport,” said quickest qualifier, Ibrahim discovered he had mous cheer when she stopped the clock almost Marzooq. “The girls now know that there is a been disqualified for an illegal turn. a minute and a half behind heat winners Japan. chance for them to go out of the country to per- “It kind of sucks because I was last!” he said “It felt motivated when I heard them,” she said form. “It gives them life skills. I can see their con- with a smile. Coach Ismail Faruhaan said swim- with a giggle. “I think I swam even faster. It felt fidence building. I am not thinking about medals mers train in a 25-metre ocean pool fashioned good.” Olympic committee chief Marzooq has at these Games, what I want is to take these INCHEON: Nakagawa Seiichiro (top) of Japan and Bao Saifei of China compete during from floating blocks for sides and touchpads. motivated funding from foreign governments women out of the kitchen and empower them,” men’s sprint at the Incheon International Velodrome during the 17th Asian Games. —AFP They share it with fish and coral. and sports bodies to get the swimmers and oth- he said. —AFP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS Leverkusen hold on, jump to second spot

BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen were temporarily Wednesday over Hamburg, who haven’t stopped by some local lightning strikes but scored a goal this season thus far and are ended up beating FC Augsburg 1-0 yesterday last with two points. to remain on the heels of Bundesliga leaders Max Kruse won the game for Gladbach Bayern Munich. with his score in the 25th minute. South Korean international winger Son Hoffenheim missed their chance to keep Heung-min scored the game-winner as pace with Munich but Jannik Vestergaard Leverkusen jumped to 10 points for second scored three minutes into injury time to place, one point behind Bayern, who breezed secure a 3-3 draw at home to SC Freiburg past previous surprise leaders SC Paderborn and see them move on to nine points for 4-0 to move to 11 points on Tuesday. fourth place. Mike Frantz scored in the After Son scored in the 33rd minute, the 32nd and 33rd minutes for Freiburg. Tarik Leverkusen match was delayed in the 39th Elyounoussi pulled back a goal in the 44th minute for nine minutes with referee Guido minute and Sebastian Rudy equalised for Winkmann sending the teams into the Hoffenheim from a free kick after 63 min- BayArena catacombs because of heavy utes. lightning nearby. Hanover 96 pulled even Freiburg went ahead as Vladimir Darida with Leverkusen on points in third place converted a penalty in the 75th minute. But after a 1-0 victory over FC Cologne. the Czech international was sent off six Spaniard Joselu found the back of the minutes later, setting up Vestergaard’s net for Hanover in the sixth minute and heroics. Cologne’s offensive problems continued Haris Seferovic scored in the 82nd having scored just two goals this season. minute to secure a 2-2 draw for Eintracht Borussia Dortmund lost ground on the Frankfurt at home against Mainz. Jonas group of leaders with seven points for Hofmann gave Mainz the lead after 41 min- eighth place after a 2-2 draw at home utes and Shinji Okazaki grabbed his fifth of against previously last-placed VfB Stuttgart, the season for the visitors in the 44th who sacked sporting director Fredi Bobic minute. earlier in the day. But Alexander Maier halved the deficit Stuttgart had scored just once this sea- for Frankfurt a minute into injury time son coming into the game but Daniel before Seferovic secured the point. Schalke Didavi collected a brace in the 48th and picked up their first victory of the season 68th minutes for a 2-0 lead. with a double strike early in the second half ITALY: Juventus’ midfielder Arturo Vidal kicks the ball during the Italian Serie A football match against Cesena. — AFP Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled a to beat Werder Bremen 3-0 on the road. goal back for Dortmund in the 73rd minute Max Meyer scored in the 48th minute and Ciro Immobile secured at least one and Roman Neustaedter doubled the lead point with his score in the 86th minute. in the 51st minute for Schalke and Bayern Munich on Tuesday restored Tranquillo Barnetta made it 3-0 in the 85th Juventus go on top some normality to the Bundesliga table as minute. the reigning champions eased past surprise “We had a lot of pressure coming into early leaders SC Paderborn 4-0 to take over the game. But we really played a strong first place. second half,” said Schalke coach Jens Keller, pressure on Benitez Mario Goetze scored two goals in the who was without suspended leaders Julian eighth and 78th minutes with Robert Draxler and Kevin-Prince Boateng. In yes- Lewandowski making it 2-0 in the 14th terday’s other match, Hertha Berlin picked MILAN: A brace from Arturo Vidal and a late Stephan Lichsteiner strike in a 3-0 minute and Thomas Mueller adding a up their first victory of the season with a 1- romp of Cesena sent Juventus top of Serie A on goal difference as the pressure Italian League results/standings fourth score in the 85th minute. 0 win at home over VfL Wolfsburg thanks grew on Rafael Benitez after Napoli drew 3-3 with Palermo. Borussia Moenchengladbach moved to to Salomon Kalou’s goal in the 35th Roma, along with Juve the only other team with a perfect record in Italy’s Cagliari 1 (Cossu 11) Torino 2 (Glik 21, Quagliarella 29) nine points with a 1-0 home victory on minute. — AFP top flight, thanked Miralem Pjanic’s free kick two minutes from time for all Fiorentina 0 Sassuolo 0; Verona 2 (Tachtsidis 52, Ioniata 64) Genoa 2 three points in a 2-1 win away to Parma. (Matri 34, 47); Inter Milan 2 (Osvaldo 40, Hernanes 87) Atalanta Inter Milan moved up to third thanks to a 2-0 home win over Atalanta while 0;Juventus 3 (Vidal 18-pen, 64, Lichsteiner 85) Cesena 0; Napoli 3 Sampdoria’s solid start was given a boost by a 2-1 home win over Chievo (Koulibaly 2, Zapata 11, Callejon 45+1) Palermo 3 (Belotti 18, 61, which left Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men fourth. Vazquez 24); Parma 1 (De Sceglie 56) Roma 2 (Ljajic 27, Pjanic 88) Champions Juventus sit top on 12 points from four games with Roma sec- Sampdoria 2 (Gastaldello 45, Romagnoli 80) Chievo 1 (Paloschi 89) ond due to inferior goal difference and Inter in third, four points off the pace Italian League table after yesterday’s games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals but one ahead of city rivals Milan, who could only manage a 2-2 draw away to for, goals against, points): promoted Empoli on Tuesday. Juventus 4 4 0 0 7 0 12 Atalanta 4 1 1 2 2 4 4 Juventus dominated Cesena from the outset and after Sebastian Giovinco Roma 4 4 0 0 7 1 12 Torino 4 1 1 2 2 4 4 tested Nicola Leali with two volleys in the early stages Vidal stepped up to beat Inter Milan 4 2 2 0 10 1 8 Cesena 4 1 1 2 3 8 4 the ‘keeper from the spot after Roberto Pereyra’s shot came off the arm of mid- Sampdoria 4 2 2 0 5 2 8 Lazio 3 1 0 2 4 4 3 fielder Emmanuel Cascione. Verona 4 2 2 0 5 3 8 Palermo 4 0 3 1 6 7 3 AC Milan 4 2 1 1 10 8 7 Parma 4 1 0 3 8 10 3 With Giovinco stepping in for Carlos Tevez, it was a case of little and large Udinese 3 2 0 1 3 2 6 Chievo 4 1 0 3 4 6 3 for Juve up front with the diminutive striker partnering towering Spaniard Genoa 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 Sassuolo 4 0 3 1 1 8 3 Fernando Llorente. Just after the half hour Llorente spun on Patrice Evra’s low Fiorentina 4 1 2 1 1 2 5 Empoli 4 0 2 2 4 7 2 drive only to send his effort just wide, although it was Giovinco who came Napoli 4 1 1 2 5 6 4 Cagliari 4 0 1 3 3 7 1 closest to adding Juve’s second on three separate occasions. Juve finally settled their nerves in the 64th minute when Vidal had time to Minutes later a Felipe foul on Mattia Destro gave away the free kick which control on the edge of the area before beating Leali with a precision strike- allowed Bosnian forward Pjanic to step up and beat Mirante with a well-placed another reason why the Chilean is reported to be a target for English giants curler. Manchester United. Napoli’s title hopes have been compromised by a shaky start to the season Lichsteiner put the icing on the Juve cake with a fine angled strike after and the future of Benitez now looks uncertain after Palermo managed to claim Simone Padoin sent the Swiss wingback through with a defence-splitting pass their first draw against the Partenopei in four years. Kalidou Koulibaly rose to five minutes from time. head his maiden Napoli goal past Stefano Sorrentino in the Palermo goal after At Parma, Adem Ljajic gave Rudi Garcia’s visitors a 27th-minute lead when just two minutes and soon after Duvan Zapata fired into the top corner from he ran on to Francesco Totti’s sublime chip to fire a half-volley through the legs Marek Hajmsik’s lay-off after a midfield interception. of ‘keeper Antonio Mirante from 10 yards. Antonio Cassano was a nuisance to However goals from Andrea Belotti and then Franco Vazquez had levelled the Roma defence all evening but it was Paolo De Sceglie who levelled with a the score by 24 minutes and despite Jose Callejon hitting a third for Napoli on header from a corner on 56 minutes. the stroke of half-time Belotti hit his second just after the hour to stun the Roma pressed in the late stages but a superb tackle from defender Felipe hosts. Pablo Dani Osvaldo scored arguably the goal of the night with a superb GERMANY: Augsburg’s Caiuby from Brazil (left) and Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Bernd stopped Alessandro Florenzi in his tracks as the Italian teed up to strike yards volley to beat Marco Sportiello in the Atalanta goal on 40 minutes, although Leno challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match. — AP from goal. Hernanes’ rocket free kick three minutes from time was a close second. — AFP Celtic break Hearts in Scottish League Cup GLASGOW: Celtic progressed to the quarter- just two minutes later when Alim Ozturk barged The Swedish striker ghosted in behind Hearts finals of the Scottish League Cup after a compre- Guidetti off the ball in the box to concede a defender Ozturk but with only the keeper to beat hensive 3-0 win over Championship leaders penalty that Kris Commons expertly converted. Guidetti somehow couldn’t direct his shot on tar- Hearts at Parkhead yesterday. An Adam Eckersley own-goal in the 61st get. John Guidetti fired Celtic in front midway minute rounded off the scoring as Celtic joined A minute later the ball broke to Jason Denayer through the first half as he grabbed his first goal holders Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Hibernian and in the box but the on-loan Manchester City since joining the Glasgow giants on loan from Old Firm rivals Rangers in the draw for the quar- defender scuffed his shot straight at Alexander. Manchester City. ter-finals. Celtic were piling on the pressure and took Only a goal-line clearance denied the Swede a Celtic, who made an embarrassing exit at this the lead in the 24th minute as Guidetti grabbed second two minutes later before he had another stage last season to Morton, made four changes his first goal for the club. A poor defensive header effort ruled out for offside. from the side that could only draw with from Hearts captain Danny Wilson fell to Guidetti However, things could have been different if Motherwell at the weekend as keeper Craig in the box and the Swede rifled a fierce half-vol- Hearts, relegated from the top flight last season, Gordon, captain Scott Brown, Commons and ley in off the post. had taken their chances. Jamie Walker fired a Stefan Johansen returned to the starting line-up. Guidetti almost had a second two minutes shot off the crossbar on the stroke of half-time They made a positive start with Anthony when he redirected Callum McGregor’s shot before Osman Sow sent his 54th minute penalty Stokes flashing a shot just wide of the post before towards goal and Eckersley acrobatically cleared over the bar after Virgil van Dijk had clipped his Guidetti missed a golden chance to put Celtic in the danger on the line before the Swedish striker heels in the box. Hearts were left to rue that miss front in the 15th minute. had another effort chopped off for offside. — AFP Lille slump to first defeat of season

PARIS: Lille slumped to their first Ligue 1 shake off their early season slump which SPAIN: Almeria’s midfielder Jose Antonio Garcia Rabasco vies with Atletico’s mid- defeat of the season yesterday, shattering had seen them slip to bottom place. fielder Raul Garcia during the Spanish League football match. — AFP their hopes of moving into second place in After a Champions League win over the table behind leaders Marseille. Leverkusen and a 1-0 win against It was Lille’s first away defeat since Guingamp, Monaco needed a stoppage Miranda lifts Atletico February when Nice also got the better of time winner from substitute Valere MADRID: Atletico Madrid moved up to the season against Celta and he was only them, also by a single goal. Yesterday, it Germain to beat Montpellier. second in La Liga as Miranda scored the denied an early opener by Ruben was their former player Mathieu Bodmer Monaco are now comfortably in mid- only goal in a 1-0 win away to Almeria Martinez’s outstretched boot as he pow- who secured Nice’s third home win of the table with 10 points from seven games. On yesterday. ered Koke’s corner towards goal. season with a 41st minute header from a Tuesday, Marseille picked up their fifth The champions had to rely on their Martinez also made fine saves to twice corner. straight victory as top scorer Andre-Pierre Lille remain fourth in the table, four Gignac claimed a brace in a 5-0 thrashing threat from set-pieces once more as the deny Raul Garcia and a long-range effort points off the lead, but they can be over- of Reims. Brazilian centre-back rose highest to from Martinez as Almeria held on to go in taken later in the evening when champions Gignac could even afford the luxury of a thump home Koke’s corner. level at half-time. Paris Saint Germain go to Caen. Lyon, the missed eighth-minute penalty, before scor- Diego Simeone’s men now trail However, their resistence was broken seven-time champions, were the night’s ing two first-half goals while Ghana inter- Barcelona by a point with the Catalans in on the hour as Miranda nipped in front of biggest winners with a 4-0 home win national Andre Ayew also struck twice at action later on Wednesday, away to his marker to nod home at the near post. against Lorient. the Stade Auguste Delaune. The win took Malaga. Atletico had uncharacteristically Arda Turan missed a great chance to Nabil Fekir scored twice with Alexandre Marcelo Bielsa’s side three points clear at conceded five goals in their last two seal the three points moments later as Lacazette and 21-year-old Clinton N’Jie also the top of the French table ahead of Saint- games as they lost away to Olympiakos 3- Martinez stood up once more to make a on target. Etienne and Bordeaux who meet today. 2 in the Champions League before being fine save, but Atletico saw the game out Highly-rated Cameroon star N’Jie had “It’s very satisfying to get five wins in a held 2-2 at home by Celta Vigo at the without suffering any serious scares. earlier signed a new five-year deal with row and we did it in style as well,” said weekend. Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao’s disastrous Hubert Fournier’s side and marked the Gignac, who also scored twice in the 3-0 However, they were rarely put under start to the campaign on the domestic occasion in style with his first goal for the win over Rennes at the weekend. pressure by an Almeria side lacking in front continued as they lost 2-1 at strug- club. “Obviously it’s been a good day and now FRANCE: Lille’s Danish defender Simon Kjaer (right) ambition and could have put the game gling Rayo Vallecano, thanks to two goals Monaco, last season’s runners-up, we can look forward to a big match against vies with Nice’s French forward Eric Bautheac (left) dur- out of the hosts’ reach in the first half. from on-loan Atletico striker Leo recorded their third win in three games to Saint-Etienne on Sunday.” — AFP ing a French League football match. — AFP Diego Godin opened his account for Baptistao. — AFP Sharapova Hagino stars dumped out but China rule the pool

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER17 25, 2014 18

Miranda lifts Atletico to second spot Page 19 City, Chelsea reach round four

LONDON: Holders Manchester City smashed Spurs will now host second-tier Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday 7-0 and Chelsea edged English League Cup Hove Albion, who won 3-0 at fourth-division Bolton Wanderers 2-1 as both teams overcame Burton Albion. West Bromwich Albion produced a Championship opposition to reach the League Cup goalkeeper Petr Cech and took a 25th-minute lead stunning late rally to beat Hull City 3-2 and set up a fourth round yesterday. when debutant Kurt Zouma lashed home at the trip to Championship outfit Bournemouth. Frank Lampard and Edin Dzeko each scored second attempt after Gary Cahill’s header was Goals from Tom Ince and Robbie Brady put Hull twice as City strolled to victory with seven second- blocked at a corner. 2-1 up after Brown Ideye had given the hosts a half goals at the Etihad Stadium, setting up a home Matt Mills equalised for Bolton six minutes later 15th-minute lead, but Gareth McAuley equalised in game with either Crystal Palace or Newcastle with a deep header from a free-kick that crept the 87th minute before Saido Berahino grabbed United. inside Cech’s right-hand post, but Oscar gave the winner a minute later. Lampard broke the deadlock in the 47th Chelsea victory in the 55th minute with a low long- The night’s other all-Premier League tie went to minute, tapping home a low cross from James range drive. Chelsea will visit fourth-tier extra time after Sullay Kaikai marked his Palace Milner at the near post to score his second goal in Shrewsbury Town in round four. debut by making it 2-2 against Newcastle in injury two games following Sunday’s equaliser against his Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur had to come time at Selhurst Park. former club Chelsea. Dzeko turned in a Jesus Navas from behind to win 3-1 at home to Nottingham Arsenal were dumped out of the competition cross in the 53rd minute and Navas made it 3-0 Forest. Championship leaders Forest made a bright after losing 2-1 at home to Southampton on with a jinking run and fierce shot a minute later. start, hitting the bar through Ben Osborn’s curler, Tuesday, while Liverpool edged second-tier Yaya Toure added a fourth from the penalty and took the lead in the 61st minute when 19-year- Middlesbrough 14-13 in a remarkable penalty spot on the hour after Kamil Zayatte had been sent old Jorge Grant tucked in a Lars Veldwijk cross. shootout following a 2-2 draw at Anfield. off for tripping Lampard, before late goals from But substitute Ryan Mason drew Spurs level Southampton will visit Stoke City in the next Dzeko, substitute Jose Pozo and Lampard complet- with a 25-yard shot in the 72nd minute and late round and Liverpool will tackle Swansea City, who ed the rout. goals from Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane sent beat their Merseyside rivals Everton 3-0 on Chelsea gave a first appearance of the season to Mauricio Pochettino’s side through. Tuesday. — AFP Liverpool penalty win short of world mark

LONDON: Liverpool and Middlesbrough set third round match at Anfield ended 2-2 after a new Capital One (League Cup) landmark extra time. with 27 goals in their penalty shootout on The decisive spot kick was clipped wide Tuesday but they would have needed to in front of the famous Kop by Ghana interna- convert another 13 spot kicks to beat the tional Albert Adomah, putting the home side world record. through to the fourth round of the competi- The highest-scoring shootout was tion. Argentinos Juniors’ 20-19 win over Racing Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers Club in November 1988, when all drawn praised his team, saying: “Our players Argentine League games went to penalties, showed great resilience to keep going. “And from 44 attempts overall. at the end, when it was needed, they However, the longest shootout, as recog- showed wonderful composure with some of nised by the Guinness Book of Records, was our young players stepping up.” 48 in the 2005 Namibian Cup final, when KK While setting a new shootout mark for Palace won 17-16 against Civics after 15 kicks the competition, it also equalled the record were missed. between English professional clubs estab- Liverpool and their spirited lished when Dagenham & Redbridge beat Championship (second tier) opponents Leyton Orient 14-13 on penalties after a 1-1 Middlesbrough were far more accurate, miss- draw in a minor cup played between lower LONDON: Sheffield Wednesday’s Kamil Zayatte op)(t out jumps Manchester City’s Edin ing three between them out of 30 after their league teams in September 2011. — Reuters Dzeko during their English League Cup soccer match at the Etihad Stadium. — AP EU weighs Iran natural gas imports as sanctions ease Page 22

India’s top court cancels Business 214 coal field permits Page 23 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Boubyan Bank’s market NBK enjoys the largest network in Kuwait share of payment cards business up to 12% Page 26 Page 25

TOKYO: Pedestrians cross a road in Tokyo. Inflation hit a three-decade high and unemployment dipped further in Japan, data showed, as the government’s bid to jumpstart the economy takes hold, even as analysts warned it was too early for cel- ebrations. — AFP Saudi GDP growth falls to 3.8% in Q2 Oil sector slows on weaker global demand

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s economic growth eased to an annual few public holidays halt work; GDP then regularly falls in the Saudi oil production may ease in the second half of this could help the kingdom easily achieve the economic growth 3.8 percent in the second quarter of 2014, the lowest rate in a second quarter from the previous three months. Growth in year since crude oil prices have decreased to around $96 per target of 4 percent in 2014,” said Abdulwahab Abu Dahesh, a year, because of a slowdown in the oil sector, official data the hydrocarbons sector, which accounts for almost half of the barrel and as the region exits the summer period of peak Saudi economist. showed yesterday. $748 billion Saudi economy, slumped to 2.5 percent year-on- demand. Around a million foreign workers left Saudi Arabia last But the first-quarter growth rate for inflation-adjusted year in the second quarter from 6.1 percent in the previous “We think that the second half will see a lower (GDP) year after a crackdown on visa irregularities as a part of gross domestic product was revised up to 5.1 percent - the three months, the data showed. growth than 4.5 percent...because of the lower contribution labor reforms aimed at putting more Saudi nationals into fastest pace since the third quarter of 2012 - from an initial of the oil sector,” said Fahad Alturki, head of research at jobs. This dampened consumption and production in some reading of 4.7 percent. Weak demand Jadwa Investment in Riyadh. Growth of the non-oil private sectors. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP dropped 3.1 percent in The OPEC member exported just below 7 million barrels of sector edged up to an annual 4.7 percent in April-June from “The situation is definitely improving. And because of the the second quarter, the biggest fall since the quarterly data oil per day in May-July, the lowest amount since September an upwardly revised 4.6 percent in the previous three year-on-year growth, we will see less of that impact in the series began in 2010, after a 4.1 percent jump in the previous 2011, according to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative months, a sign that the impact of labor market reforms third quarter and fourth quarter,” Alturki said. A Reuters poll of quarter, the figures from the Central Statistics Office showed. (JODI), because of weak global demand. The kingdom burns might be starting to subside. “Momentum in the private sec- analysts in April forecast Saudi economic growth would ease Saudi Arabian economic growth is usually at its most more oil domestically in the summer to satisfy growing tor continues, indicating that despite a decline in oil produc- to 3.8 percent in 2014 from 4.0 percent last year and then robust early in the year, when the weather is favourable and demand for cooling, which has been eating into exports. tion, the non-oil private sector as well as state spending accelerate to 4.3 percent in 2015. — Reuters

Oil storage with SUMED will kick off in Oct: KPC Confusion swirls over Air France low-cost plans as strike deepens KUWAIT: A shipment of Kuwaiti crude oil will leave for Egypt’s Red Sea Ain vides for two million barrels monthly. Sokhna port in the early days of October as part of a storage deal recently Meanwhile, the KPC international marketing official referred to recent PARIS: Confusion swirled over Air France’s into a second week, management on signed between Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and the Arab Company Chinese data that showed the Asian giant’s imports of Kuwaiti oil dropped by plan for its low-cost subsidiary that has Monday offered to put the project on hold for Oil Pipelines (SUMED), said KPC Managing Director for International 19,2 percent in August, compared to the same month in 2013, to hit 809,000 been at the heart of a bitter and costly until December. But unions dismissed this Marketing Nasser Al-Mudhaf. tons, about 191,000 barrels daily. He explained that the data is based on ship- strike yesterday, as the government and as a “smoke screen” that would not protect The storage contract with SUMED aims at streamlining crude oil exports ments delivered during the month, not including quantities arriving later management contradicted each other jobs in France. The pilots are striking in to Europe across the Mediterranean, Al-Mudhaf said yesterday. The first ship- though included in the same deals. within minutes. As the strike at Europe’s protest at the airline’s plans to develop ment will have two million Kuwaiti oil barrels to the Sokhna port, then The contract with China for August includes 200,000 barrels daily, Al- second-biggest flag carrier stretched into Transavia, which serves holiday destina- through pipelines to Sidi Krir, west of Alexandria, to be sold to retailer Mudhaf said, noting it increased to 300,000 in September. The 10-year con- its 10th day, Transport Minister Alain tions across Europe and the Mediterranean. European importers. Egypt will be given priority, in case of need, he said. Al- tract starts with exporting 250,000 barrels a day, with annual rise of 20,000 Vidalies told French radio the airline had They fear the airline will seek to replace Mudhaf said the step is likely to help open up fresh markets for Kuwaiti oil barrels till it reaches 300,000 barrels, he said, expecting it to rise to 400,000 scrapped plans to expand its Transavia expensive Air France pilots, who can earn exports, which could need more in the future. The KPC-SUMED contract pro- later on as talks are underway with Beijing. — KUNA budget subsidiary. up to 250,000 euros ($321,000) a year, with “The Transavia Europe project has been Transavia pilots, who are paid considerably abandoned by management,” Vidalies told less. The 10-day strike is already the RMC radio. longest at the airline since 1998 and is But within minutes, an Air France costing up to 20 million euros daily, esti- Large IPOs, geopolitics spokesman told AFP it was “premature” to mates management, which has warned it say the airline had buried the plans to will have a major impact on profits. develop its budget subsidiary, which it sees Unions have threatened to extend the weigh on Gulf markets as vital to survive in the cut-throat world of action until tomorrow if their demands are low-cost aviation. “There is no change in not met and pilots marched through Paris the negotiations to suggest that this proj- in uniform on Tuesday, wearing “Made in ect has been withdrawn,” a spokesman said. France” striped sailor jerseys draped MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS “The proposal on the table remains to around their shoulders. A counter-demon- freeze this project and to begin a wide dia- stration is planned for Wednesday at the DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s stock market retreated further from opening new long positions, especially with money for last-minute subscriptions to the IPO “might logue with social partners between now main Paris airport, Charles De Gaulle, in yesterday as investors cashed out ahead of long holi- global markets in a risk-averse mood following the be one of the reasons” for Dubai’s decline, said and the end of the year, as management support of management. days and a large initial public offer, while the escala- start of US-led military strikes against the Islamic State Sebastien Henin, head of asset management at The announced on Monday,” added the The government has called several tion of conflict in Syria and Iraq dampened the region group. Geopolitical concerns also appeared to affect National Investor in Abu Dhabi. spokesman. times for the strike to be halted, with Valls as a whole. The main Saudi index slid 1.4 percent, its other markets in the region yesterday, after The share sale is likely to be priced at 2.90 dirhams In a bid to raise the pressure on man- previously warning that the image of biggest daily decline in three months, in a broad- Washington said Arab allies including Saudi Arabia, a share, the top of its range, two sources familiar with agement and unions to break the deadlock, France was at stake. Vidalies on Wednesday based sell-off. the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had participated the matter said yesterday. Institutional investors have Prime Minister Manuel Valls urged a solu- again asked pilots to return to work, saying “It’s a mix of some regional geopolitical tensions in or supported the first joint bombing of Islamic two more days to buy in, but strong demand has tion “in the coming hours,” warning that “Air “there is no longer any reason for the strike as well as the upcoming National Commercial Bank State fighters in Syria. Most investors believe the Gulf already seen the institutional tranche subscribed 7.5 France is in danger”. to continue”. But unions have complained IPO,” said Asim Bukhtiar, head of research at Riyad economies are well insulated from the conflict, and times at the top end of the 2.50-2.90 dirham range, The confusion between the government that the lines of dialogue with manage- Capital, referring to the factors driving the market. credit default swaps and currency forwards in the while the retail tranche is subscribed 20 times, the and management of the airline-which is ment are down as the strike becomes The pull-back began on Monday, after National Gulf have not moved significantly. But ahead of long sources said. nearly 16 percent state-owned-appeared increasingly bitter. Commercial Bank (NCB), the king- holidays, the geopolitical situation was enough to Henin, too, said the escalation of conflict in Syria to mirror the disruption that has gripped “We haven’t had any meeting with Air dom’s largest bank by assets, said it would launch an deter some buyers. was affecting the market to some extent. “The geopo- air travellers in France for more than a France to discuss (the strike) since Friday,” IPO next month, prompting investors to start setting Qatar’s bourse edged down 0.5 percent to 13,932 litical environment has been more challenging in the week. As in previous days, more than half complained Jean-Louis Barber, head of the aside cash. points, erasing early-session gains as most stocks last few days and some market participants may have of Air France flights were cancelled nation- main pilots’ union SNPL. NCB will sell 15 percent of its shares to the public declined. decided to reduce their exposure,” he said. Abu wide but the situation at some regional air- “Management spent more time last and place a further 10 percent with a state fund. The Dhabi’s bourse slipped 0.1 percent while Egypt’s main ports was much worse, with 80 and 70 per- weekend setting up its media strategy IPO is expected to be one of the largest ever in the UAE, Egypt index edged down 0.4 percent. The Cairo bourse said cent of flights scrapped at the southern air- than consulting with us,” he added. Gulf region. Dubai’s index fell 1.2 percent as heavyweight on Tuesday it would list the 1.0 billion Egyptian ports of Nice and Toulouse respectively. However, the chief executive of the wider The bourse was closed for Saudi Arabia’s National Emaar Properties slid 0.9 percent. Wednesday was the pound ($140 million) rights issue of major property Air France-KLM group, Alexandre de Day on Tuesday. The market will close for Eid al-Adha last day when retail investors, who dominate Dubai’s developer SODIC on Oct. 1, which may have prompt- ‘Last offer’ Juniac, hit back, stressing: “Negotiations holidays from Oct 3 and resume trading on Oct 12. market, could subscribe for shares in Emaar’s malls ed some investors to start accumulating cash. SODIC In what it described as a “last” offer to have not been broken off. Our door is The approaching holidays deterred local investors unit. Cashing out of the parent company to raise shares fell 1.7 percent yesterday. — Reuters break the deadlock, as the strike stretched open.” — AFP BUSINESS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 EU weighs Iran natural gas News in brief

Kuwait’s oil exports to imports as sanctions ease China at 191,000 bpd BEIJING: Kuwait’s crude oil exports to China in August stood at 809,000 tons, equivalent to about 191,000 bar- Ukraine crisis strains EU-Russian gas relations rels per day (bpd), the latest government data showed yesterday. Shipments from Kuwait to China fell 19.2 per- LONDON: The European Union is quietly not a credible alternative energy supplier in ment by a Nov. 24 deadline. Iran and six Iran has long lobbied to build a designat- cent from a year earlier, according to data released by increasing the urgency of a plan to import the short-term due to sanctions and large world powers - the United States, Britain, ed pipeline that would connect its huge the General Administration of Customs. China’s overall natural gas from Iran, as relations with infrastructure needs before exports become France, Germany, Russia and China - are try- South Pars gas field with European cus- imports of crude oil in August rose 17.5 percent on the Tehran thaw while those with top gas suppli- viable. Internal EU energy security docu- ing to hammer out a long-term nuclear tomers - the so-called Persian Pipeline. “It’s year to 5.96 million bpd. Saudi Arabia remained China’s er Russia grow chillier. Two “ifs” - the removal ments seen by Reuters also describe plans to accord that would bring an end to interna- an extremely ambitious project,” Handjani top supplier last month, with its shipments growing 4.2 of sanctions on Iran and the addition of tap new non-European gas import sources in tional sanctions that have crippled the said. “Even if half of it gets built it would be percent to 933,000 bpd, followed by Angola with some pipeline infrastructure - are not pre- central Asia, including Iran. Iranian economy. major accomplishment for both Europe and 761,000 bpd, up 5.0 percent. Oman became third with venting EU planners preparing, a European Iran, exploiting the reversal of old enmi- Analysts say Iran has already lost out on Iran.” imports from the country surging 102.4 percent to Commission source involved in developing ties caused by the upheaval of the Islamic lucrative liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports Investors in Europe, as well as the 688,000 bpd. Russia ranked fourth and Iraq fifth, respec- EU energy strategy told Reuters. State militants in the Middle East, is also keen in Asia, where customers pay the highest European Commission, favor the cheaper, tively. China is the world’s second oil consumer after the “Iran is far towards the top of our priori- to sell its gas. prices, to Gulf rival Qatar, so Tehran has to and politically less controversial, option of United States. Last month, state-run Kuwait Petroleum ties for mid-term measures that will help “Iran can be a secure energy centre for look to Europe. importing Iranian gas to the EU via Turkey Corporation (KPC) and China’s top energy trader Unipec reduce our reliance on Russian gas supplies,” Europe,” its President Hassan Rouhani was “Iran’s interest to deliver gas to Europe is through extended pipelines that already signed a landmark deal that will significantly boost the source said. “Iran’s gas could come to quoted on Wednesday telling Austrian very big. Parts of Iran’s economical and politi- exist or are currently being developed. crude oil deliveries over the 10 years, the biggest-ever Europe quite easily and politically there is a President Heinz Fischer in New York. Tehran’s cal elite as well as Western companies are Energy majors Total of France and Italy’s Eni sales contract in KPC’s history by volume and revenues clear rapprochement between Tehran and assertions over reliable supply are likely to preparing for an end of the sanctions,” said have in the past expressed interest in devel- in all regions. Under the agreement, KPC will supply the West.” ring alarm bells at Russia’s giant Gazprom, Frank Umbach, energy research director at oping South Pars, one of the world’s biggest Unipec with 300,000 bpd of crude oil starting from this Russia is currently Europe’s biggest sup- after interruptions to its exports via Ukraine King’s College in London. gas fields, shared by Qatar and Iran, with year, with a strong possibility of increasing the volume plier of natural gas, meeting a third of its in previous disputes scared Europe. Mark Dubowitz, of US think tank total reserves estimated around 50 trillion to 400,000 bpd, KPC told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) demand worth $80 billion a year. The EU has “Iran is trying to position itself in Europe Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said cubic metres (tcm), enough to meet after the signing ceremony. imposed sanctions on Moscow over the con- as an alternative to Russian gas. It’s playing a Iran was looking to exploit the situation in European demand for over 100 years. flict in Ukraine, increasing the need for gas very sophisticated game, talking with Russia both Iraq and Russia to get concessions out Independent feasibility studies show that, Morocco’s Attijariwafa from elsewhere. While sanctioned itself, Iran on the one hand about cooperation on eas- of the West on the nuclear track. if sanctions were to be eased and invest- bank net profit rises 1.8% has the world’s second largest gas reserves ing sanctions and also talking to Europe “Washington should be wary of any ments started soon, Iran could supply 10-20 RABAT: Attijariwafa Bank, one of Morocco’s biggest lenders, after Russia and is a potential alternative giv- about substituting Russian gas with its own,” attempt to further erode its negotiating posi- billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year to posted a 1.8 percent rise in net profit to 2.3 billion dirhams en talks between Tehran and the West to said Amir Handjani, an independent oil and tion by opening up any more economic Turkey and Europe by the early 2020s. ($267 million) for the first six months of the year. The bank’s reach a deal over the Islamic Republic’s dis- gas specialist working in Dubai. “Given escape hatches for Iran until a comprehen- Diplomats are in place to ease a potential profit growth was held back by a rise in bad loans related to puted nuclear program. Russia’s current strategy politically, which is sive deal is reached, and enforced, that dis- major shift in global energy trade. “Our main an economic slowdown in its domestic market and its expan- “High potential for gas production, one of confrontation with Europe, I see the mantles Tehran’s military-nuclear program,” point of contact with the Iranian govern- sion in sub-Saharan African markets. It has subsidiaries in domestic energy sector reforms that are EU having little choice but to find alternative said Dubowitz, who has also advised US law- ment is through its embassy in Berlin, and its Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Cameroon, underway, and ongoing normalization of its gas supplies,” he added. makers on sanctions. new ambassador there is a former member Gabon and Congo Brazzaville, plus branches in Europe cater- relationship with the West make Iran a credi- The US State Department had no imme- of Iran’s energy ministry,” the Commission ing mainly for Moroccans living there. The bank said on ble alternative to Russia,” said a paper pre- Sanctions and routes diate comment. The most feasible route for source said. Ali Majedi was named in July as Wednesday it had set aside an additional provision of 1.6 bil- pared for the EU’s Directorate-Generale for The lifting of sanctions on Iran - the game Iranian gas to Europe would be via Turkey, Iran’s ambassador to Germany. Before that lion dirhams as bad loans reached 10.2 billion dirhams, up External Policies following Russia’s annexa- changer - is unlikely to be soon. Diplomats already a customer, although the existing he was deputy oil minister in charge of inter- from 9 billion at the end of 2013. Total provisions were at 6.7 tion of Ukraine. are pessimistic over the odds that Iran and Tabriz-Ankara pipeline would not be big national affairs. Majedi could not be reached billion dirhams at the end of the first half, the results showed. However, the paper added that Iran was world powers will conclude a final agree- enough for major exports. for comment. —Reuters The bank, controlled by Moroccan royal family holding SNI, said net banking income rose 7.2 percent to 9.8 billion dirhams, thanks to consolidated deposits and loans which Hopes dashed for new increased by 9.4 percent and 1.1 percent respectively.

South Sudan economy Dubai’s Gulf Extrusions to double output JUBA: When South Sudan was born, the world’s with other Western donors such as Britain and ABU DHABI: Dubai-based Gulf Extrusions Co will double youngest country had generous Western allies Norway, poured in aid, helping spur a mini-boom its output as a new plant comes on stream next year to and sturdy oil exports, a formula that offered a in the capital that was meant to spread to the rest cater to growing demand from the industrial and con- chance to build a modern economy and drag its of the nation. Now Western and regional African struction sectors, a company executive said. The firm, part people out of their daily struggle to feed them- diplomats talk of mounting frustration at of the Al-Ghurair Group and one of the largest aluminum selves. Three years on, ethnic-fuelled conflict has President Salva Kiir and the deputy he sacked last product makers in the Gulf, will lift annual output to flared, oil money has been spirited away through year, Riek Machar, as they continue to command 100,000 tons in the next three to four years, said general corruption or squandered on war and a nation rival forces in battle. Nascent businesses that manager Modar Al-Mekdad. “The growth is from regional that sits on Sub-Saharan Africa’s third biggest might have brought a modern economy are buck- and international demand and in markets where con- reserves of crude is sliding towards famine. ling under the pressure. struction and industrial activity is rising,” he told Reuters at In the capital Juba, a muddy Nile trading post “There is fear. People don’t want to expand an industry conference. “We export over 30 percent of our where new office blocks had begun rising, trading their businesses, and those who are operating in production to Europe, India, Africa, the Middle East and firms and banks that had sprung up now struggle the crisis areas, they lost a lot,” said Bruna Siricio, southeast Asia,” he said, adding that more than half of the to survive after nine months of fighting between deputy managing director of locally-owned Ivory United Arab Emirates’ construction market was supplied government forces and rebels. Bank. The bank moved its headquarters from by Gulf Extrusions. The firm’s current output at its Dubai In the rural hinterland, where most of the Sudan’s capital Khartoum to the south’s capital BAMIYAN: Afghan farmers harvest potatoes in a field in Bamiyan province. plant is 50,000 tons. A $225 million plant in Abu Dhabi, country’s 11 million people till tiny plots of land or Juba in 2009 to take advantage of the opportuni- close to the Emirates Aluminium smelter, is to be opera- herd cattle on traditional pastures, hopes of ties that independence would bring, but now Afghanistan’s economy has improved significantly since the fall of the tional by end-2015. The plant is a 50:50 joint venture with development entertained when South Sudan faces a stark reality. In a country where only a tiny Taleban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international Abu Dhabi’s General Holding Co (Senaat). The Abu Dhabi split from Sudan in 2011 have been dashed. “We fraction of the population had ever had a bank assistance. Despite significant improvement in the last decade the country plant will be funded by equity and project finance from are just living as you can see, with no job, no mon- account, Ivory Bank set up branches in remote is still extremely poor and remains highly dependent on foreign aid. — AFP banks. State-owned Senaat is helping to drive Abu ey. We thought our independence from Sudan locations. Government employees could be paid Dhabi’s industrial growth as the capital of the United Arab would mean our children would go to school and their salaries directly into their accounts, which Emirates diversifies its economy away from oil. see no war,” said Simon Koul, a 47-year-old father could be used as guarantees for loans. UAE’s Masdar joins mega of five in a Juba camp, one of an estimated 1.3 Saudi Emaar Economic City million people who have fled their homes due to Default wind project off Britain fighting. Now, its branches in war-torn towns of signs 2bn riyal loan with SABB By year end, a third of the nation could face the Malakal, Bentiu and Bor, north of Juba, have shut. ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi energy company Masdar both traditional and renewable energy to interna- KHOBAR: Saudi Arabia’s Emaar Economic City has secured threat of starvation. Already, almost 180,000 chil- The government has stopped transferring said yesterday that it was joining a multi-billion tional markets, the UAE is committed to accelerat- a 2 billion riyal ($533 million) Islamic murabaha loan from dren between 6 months old and five years are salaries to customer accounts to avoid paying dollar offshore wind farm project in Britain in part- ing the use of wind energy as an effective means Saudi British Bank (SABB), an affiliate of HSBC Holdings, the being treated for severe acute malnutrition. workers who rebelled, so many loans are not nership with Norwegian firms Statoil and Statkraft. of balancing the global energy mix,” said Masdar company said yesterday. The company will use the loan, Mothers are more likely to die in childbirth than being serviced. The farm will produce clean power for about chairman Sultan Al-Jaber. which matures in September 2021, to build residential and anywhere else in the world, according to U.N. sta- This month the bank advertised in newspa- 410,000 homes in Britain, according to Masdar, Statoil will also hold a 35-percent stake while infrastructure projects in King Abdullah Economic City, it tistics. “There was no country on earth that had a pers telling defaulters to report to the bank or which oversees UAE’s drive to boost renewable Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable said in a statement to the Saudi stock market. Emaar larger score of goodwill than South Sudan,” face legal action. Siricio said the bank had energy production in the oil-rich sheikhdom. energy, will own the remainder, the statement Economic City, a consortium headed by Dubai’s Emaar Thomas Shannon, a US State Department envoy stopped all lending for the next three months. Construction is scheduled to start in 2016, with full said. Statoil will also be the operator of the ven- Properties and Saudi investors, focuses on building King for Africa, told Reuters. “But beginning in “We are concentrating on collection,” Siricio said at operations expected to begin in late 2017. ture. The UAE investment was signed on the side- Abdullah Economic City, a special economic zone on Saudi December it has been spending that goodwill at the bank’s headquarters, which like other firms Masdar said it would take a 35 percent stake- lines of the United Nations Climate Change Arabia’s Red Sea coast near Jeddah. The zone is projected to record speed.” relies on a private generator for power in a nation worth $858 million-in the $2.5 billion project, Summit taking place in New York. It is Masdar’s be the size of Washington DC when completed, hosting as The United States had heralded South Sudan’s where experts say just 1 percent of the population which was first announced by the Norwegian second major investment in the British offshore many as 2 million people and helping to diversify the king- independence as a foreign policy success and, are connected to the grid. —Reuters firms in July. “As the only OPEC nation supplying wind energy market. —AFP dom’s economy beyond oil into light industry and shipping. EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Syrian Pound 2.830 Sierra Leone 0.000071 0.000077 Nepalese Rupees 3.925 Singapore Dollar 0.224061 0.230061 South African Rand 0.019807 0.028307 ASIAN COUNTRIES Malaysian Ringgit 89.855 COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.310 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001904 0.002484 Japanese Yen 2.648 Australian Dollar 236.55 233.55 Indian Rupees 4.739 Thai Bhat 9.925 Taiwan 0.009413 0.009593 Canadian Dollar 263.90 264.00 Turkish Lira 129.290 Thai Baht 0.008592 0.009142 Pakistani Rupees 2.801 Swiss Franc 311.27 309.27 Srilankan Rupees 2.208 Euro 373.27 374.27 Nepali Rupees 2.968 Arab US Dollar 287.40 290.40 Bahraini Dinar 0.757468 0.765466 Singapore Dollar 228.110 Sterling Pound 475.15 478.15 Bahrain Exchange Company Hongkong Dollar 37.169 Egyptian Pound 0.038876 0.041978 Japanese Yen 2.69 2.712 Bangladesh Taka 3.714 Iranian Riyal 0.000080 0.000081 Bangladesh Taka 3.714 3.984 Philippine Peso 6.488 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT Iraqi Dinar 0.000186 0.000246 Indian Rupee 4.729 5.020 Thai Baht 8.968 Europe Jordanian Dinar 0.402104 0.409604 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.207 2.642 Irani Riyal transfer 0.271 Belgian Franc 0.007493 0.008493 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Nepali Rupee 2.955 3.490 Irani Riyal cash 0.273 British Pound 0.465316 0.474316 Lebanese Pound 0.000142 0.000242 Pakistani Rupee 2.806 2.790 Czech Korune 0.005435 0.017435 Moroccan Dirhams 0.023382 0.047382 UAE Dirhams 78.31 78.78 GCC COUNTRIES Danish Krone 0.045633 0.050633 Nigerian Naira 0.001156 0.001791 Bahraini Dinar 764.93 767.00 Saudi Riyal 76.857 Euro 0.364353 0.372353 Omani Riyal 0.742026 0.747705 Egyptian Pound 40.19 40.79 Qatari Riyal 79.192 Norwegian Krone 0.041308 0.046508 Qatar Riyal 0.078396 0.079609 Omani Riyal 748.700 Jordanian Dinar 409.03 414.68 Romanian Leu 0.084021 0.084021 Omani Riyal 747.41 754.71 Saudi Riyal 0.076163 0.076863 Bahraini Dinar 765.510 Slovakia 0.008338 0.018338 Syrian Pound 0.001706 0.001926 UAE Dirham 78.491 Qatari Riyal 79.38 79.91 Swedish Krona 0.036278 0.041278 Saudi Riyal 76.77 77.17 Tunisian Dinar 0.158471 0.166471 Swiss Franc 0.299834 0.310034 Turkish Lira 0.130509 0.137509 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.130509 0.137509 UAE Dirhams 0.077430 0.078579 Egyptian Pound - Cash 41.400 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Yemeni Riyal 0.001299 0.001379 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.208 Australasia Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.345 Australian Dollar 0.246893 0.258393 Tunisian Dinar 163.040 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate New Zealand Dollar 0.226253 0.235753 Jordanian Dinar 407.010 Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar 287.850 America Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.934 Canadian Dollar 266.330 Canadian Dollar 0.254694 0.263194 Syrian Lira 2.054 US Dollars 0.283900 0.288600 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Morocco Dirham 33.894 Sterling Pound 471.395 Euro 371.320 US Dollars Mint 0.284400 0.288600 US Dollar 287.450 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Swiss Frank 307.085 Euro 371.900 US Dollar Transfer 288.100 Bahrain Dinar 766.165 Asia Pound Sterlng 474.200 Euro 371.940 UAE Dirhams 78.350 Bangladesh Taka 0.003292 0.003892 Canadian Dollar 261.650 Sterling Pound 472.480 Qatari Riyals 79.945 Chinese Yuan 0.045444 0.048944 Indian Rupee 4.722 Canadian dollar 264.550 Saudi Riyals 77.020 Hong Kong Dollar 0.035083 0.037833 Egyptian Pound 40.180 Turkish lira 129.110 Jordanian Dinar 406.575 Indian Rupee 0.004383 0.004784 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.204 Swiss Franc 308.130 Egyptian Pound 40.204 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000020 0.000026 Bangladesh Taka 3.704 Australian Dollar 267.180 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.210 Japanese Yen 0.002570 0.002750 Philippines Peso 6.460 US Dollar Buying 286.900 Indian Rupees 4.737 Kenyan Shilling 0.003313 0.003313 Pakistan Rupee 2.800 Pakistani Rupees 2.804 Korean Won 0.000267 0.000282 Bahraini Dinar 765.650 GOLD Bangladesh Taka 3.715 Malaysian Ringgit 0.085362 0.091362 UAE Dirham 78.350 20 Gram 232.505 Philippines Pesso 6.477 Nepalese Rupee 0.002971 0.003141 Saudi Riyal 76.750 10 Gram 118.950 Cyprus pound 707.020 Pakistan Rupee 0.002700 0.002980 *Rates are subject to change 5 Gram 60.155 Japanese Yen 3.645 Philippine Peso 0.006379 0.006659 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 BUSINESS US oil company rewrites its history

OKLAHOMA CITY: Oil driller Continental ried in 1988. If the shift to oil came prior to Resources Inc has been revising its corpo- the Hamm marriage, then Sue Ann may rate history in ways that diminish the pub- not be entitled to reap part of the reward. licly traded company’s accomplishments Last month, Harold Hamm testified that he under CEO Harold Hamm, part of a legal only recently discovered inaccurate claims strategy that might help Hamm avoid the on the website, and ordered Continental’s largest divorce award in US history. staff to change them. Downplaying his role in Continental’s suc- The company also removed a notable cess is central to Hamm’s chances of mini- passage from one of its US Securities and mizing the financial blow from his divorce, Exchange Commission filings, key docu- lawyers say. ments used by investors to evaluate firms. Under Oklahoma state law, if Hamm can In 2013 and earlier years, the annual proxy show that market conditions - rather than statement described Harold Hamm as “one his management prowess - drove the rise of the driving forces” behind Continental’s in Continental’s stock value during their success, a man who had “successfully marriage, he won’t have to share those grown the Company through his leader- gains with his estranged wife, Sue Ann. The ship skills and business judgment.” That two never signed a prenuptial agreement. passage was dropped in the 2014 proxy. Testimony in the trial continues this week At stake in the divorce is the $17.2 bil- in the county courthouse here. lion piece of Continental owned by Harold Hamm, 68, is a former energy adviser to through his 68 percent holding in the com- Republican presidential nominee Mitt pany’s publicly traded shares. Legal Romney and one of America’s wealthiest experts interviewed for this article said the men. Sue Ann Hamm, 58, is a former changes on the website appear to be part lawyer at Continental . Attorneys following of his strategy. The purpose, they say, is to the Hamm divorce say a judgment could persuade the judge that the surge in award Sue Ann Hamm about $3 billion. Continental’s share value has had little to Reuters compared Continental’s current do with Harold’s deft management during corporate websitewww.contres.com - with his 26-year marriage to Sue Ann. a version from early this year. The analysis According to state law, if the growth of was done using the Internet Archive Continental was “passive” - that is, owing to Wayback Machine, a repository of past market factors beyond Harold’s control web pages. rather than to his skill and effort - he won’t SILIGURI: An Indian laborer breaks up pieces of coal at a depot in Siliguri. India’s top court cancelled more than 200 government permits for The comparison identified 18 separate have to share those gains. coal mines and handed down fines worth hundreds of millions of dollars yesterday after the licensing process was deemed illegal. — AFP items that had been recently deleted, “The company may be framing Mr. added or revised. Hamm’s impact as less important than it The changes included altering a claim had before,” said Ilan Hirschfeld, head of that the company was first to “discover” an the marital dissolution practice at account- India’s top court cancels important oil field near the massive forma- ing and advisory firm Marcum LLP. tion known as the Bakken Shale. Hirschfeld isn’t involved in the case. A spokeswoman for Continental Resources, Kristin Miskovsky, declined to comment 214 coal field permits Dates and deletions Another change involved adding a new about the website changes or the role of claim about the company’s hugely prof- Continental’s board in reviewing them. itable decision to shift its exploration focus Attorneys representing the Hamms are Firms handed hefty fines; licensing process deemed illegal from natural gas to oil. Now, the website under court order not to discuss protected shows the key decision came in 1985 - information in the case. They declined to NEW DELHI: India’s top court cancelled more ultra megapower projects in the central Indian Rohtagi told reporters outside court. three years before the Hamms were mar- comment. —Reuters than 200 government permits for coal mines state of Madhya Pradesh and the remaining Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also praised and handed down fines worth hundreds of mil- belong to the state-owned National Thermal the court’s ruling. “The government has already lions of dollars to some companies yesterday Power Corporation (NTPC)and Steel Authority of taken a position, that we will be happy if all (the after the licensing process was deemed illegal. India (SAIL). permits) are cancelled so that we can make a Insurers may appeal UK The ruling triggered a sharp slide on the As part of the ruling, the firms who have been fresh start except for those which are with gov- stock market, deepening the crisis in the mining allowed to continue operating the 46 mines will ernment companies and some other pressing sector which has been in turmoil since the gov- have to pay a fine of 295 rupees ($4.80) for every needs,” he told reporters. The ruling that the watchdog ruling on ernment-run procedure for awarding the coal ton of coal extracted. The companies with the blocks were allocated illegally stems from 2012 blocks between 1993 and 2009 had been four ongoing contracts are exempt. India’s NDTV allegations by the national auditor that the gov- replacement cars declared illegal. news network reported that the total could ernment underpriced coal mines and gave away After the Supreme Court’s momentous ruling amount to between 80 billion to 100 billion around $30 billion in windfall gains to compa- last month, the coal industry had been fearing rupees ($1.32-1.64 billion). nies. LONDON: An insurance trade body said yes- “It’s perfectly clear that there are inefficien- the worst from Wednesday’s hearing. In the end, The Bombay Stock Exchange’s key bench- The federal auditor had concluded in its terday it may appeal a British competition cies, to use the polite word, in the supply only four out of the 218 contracts-which were mark index plunged nearly 176 points immedi- scathing report that the blocks should have watchdog’s decision not to tackle the high chain, which raise costs for customers,” said mainly handed out by the previous left-leaning ately after the court verdict although it did been auctioned instead. India has one of the costs of replacement cars in motor insurance David Powell, a manager at the LMA, which Congress government-were allowed to stand. recover some of its losses towards the end of world’s biggest proven reserves of coal but dis- policies, which it said created unnecessary has eight members who write motor insurance The court cancelled 168 of the other 214 allo- trading. While the ruling could have dramatic array in the sector means demand still outstrips costs for customers. policies. “If we need to change the law, go cations with immediate effect and gave the oth- consequences in a country with a long history of supply. Its comments came after the Competition ahead and do it.” British insurance companies er 46 six months’ grace to continue operating. power cuts, it was welcomed by the right-wing Fuel shortages routinely cause hours-long and Markets Authority (CMA) said it could not such as Admiral, Direct Line and Esure are “All the coal blocks must be cancelled, there is government which took power in May’s elec- power cuts while hundreds of millions in the find a solution to the problem that the active in the highly-competitive motor insur- no reason to save them as they are illegal,” said tions. country of 1.25 billion are completely without amount which insurers have to pay for tem- ance market. After an investigation into the car Chief Justice R M Lodha said in the ruling. electricity. The court decision could starve the porary replacement cars is far greater than insurance market, the CMA also said it would “Breathing time needs to be given to 46 allot- Fresh auctions coal-fired power plants that produce two-thirds the cost. The CMA said alternatives such as ban agreements between price comparison tees, who have been give respite till 31st March, The new government, which savaged the of the country’s electricity. requiring a not-at-fault driver’s insurance websites and motor insurers which stop insur- 2015,” he added. All of these are functional Congress-led administration over its record of Nearly all of the cancelled permits were allot- company to cover the cost of a replacement ers from making their products available more blocks where mining activity has been under- corruption, has promised to initiate a fresh ted by Congress as part of a scandal that car, or capping the amount which could be cheaply on other online platforms. way. round of speedy “transparent” auctions to deal became known as “Coalgate”. The party was recovered from the other driver’s insurer for In addition it recommended the Financial Four other coal fields which were initially with a looming power crisis in the country. ousted in May after a decade in power by the the replacement, would require a change in Conduct Authority look at how insurers tell declared illegal have also been spared because “Central government welcomes this judgment right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by the law. And it said such a change was not customers about products sold as add-ons of their massive power generation capacity, the and we are comfortable with the verdict given new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has necessary since the issue only caused an to car insurance policies. “The regulatory court said. Two of them are government-run by the Supreme Court,” Attorney General Mukul vowed to stamp out corruption. — AFP increase in the average motor insurance pre- cloud persists over the UK quoted motor mium of 3 pounds ($5) a year. But the Lloyd’s insurers,” said Eamonn Flanagan at broker- Market Association (LMA), a trade body for age Shore Capital in a client note. “This, the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, said together with continued uncertainty over it may appeal the decision, arguing con- the rating and claims environment, leads us China property hard-sell rages sumers are charged an aggregate 178 million to reiterate our ‘sell’ recommendations on pounds a year under the current system. Admiral, Direct Line and Esure.” — Reuters in bid to lift sagging sector

BEIJING: Chinese banks, property developers and of fear of being criticized for reflating China’s prop- “especially good response”, Taobao said in a state- regional governments are intensifying efforts to erty bubble. But those in the market were hopeful ment this month when Vanke expanded the pro- drag the housing market from its worst slump in such a move was imminent, especially since motion to cover more housing projects. two years by allowing people to buy more than regional governments have already tried to prop The month-long initiative now covers apart- one home, slashing prices and launching unortho- up the market by abolishing housing investment ments and villas in 40 Vanke projects spread across dox promotions. The property sector, which limits in 40 of 46 cities. “The unwinding of property 14 cities, including the eastern city of Hangzhou, accounts for about 15 percent of China’s economy controls by local governments should lift sales, but one of the areas worst hit by an oversupply of and directly affects some 40 industries from furni- the effect so far isn’t obvious,” said a senior execu- homes and falling property prices. ture to steel, is of increasing concern to companies tive at a mid-sized listed developer in Beijing, who With China Poly Real Estate, one of China’s and policy makers as it drags on growth. declined to be named. “Relaxing the rules on home largest developers, buyers can get discounts pro- The most powerful support measure may be loans would be more effective and practical.” portionate to the amount of weight they lose in a yet to come. Chinese media said on Tuesday that few weeks, the Beijing Evening News newspaper one of China’s top four state banks planned to dis- Losing weight, free chickens said last week. “Many property developers face big count mortgage rates by 30 percent and relax In the meantime, developers are resorting to pressure to meet their sales targets this year,” said lending rules for those buying a second home. off-beat marketing ploys to boost business. China’s Zhang Xu, an analyst at property consultant Whether the flurry of measures can stoke largest residential developer China Vanke has part- HomeLink, in Beijing. “Some of them are exploring growth in a sector that is crucial to the world’s sec- nered Taobao, China’s version of eBay, to give new ways to boost sales.” ond largest economy remains to be seen. Even in shoppers who have spent at least 1 yuan on Developers started cutting prices in February, central Beijing, one of the few cities left in China Taobao in the past year a discount of 50,000 yuan but modest reductions failed to turn the market where home purchase restrictions are still in place ($8,148) when they buy a home featured in a pro- around as buyers held out for bigger discounts. due to record-high prices, the sector is feeling the motion. And as inventories of unsold homes climbed MANILA: Bureau of Customs Chief John Sevilla (left) and Francisco Pangilinan, pinch. And discounts go up to 2 million yuan for those during the traditional peak season for property Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization reveal sacks Lu Yanzeng, a property agent, said he had not who have bought 2 million yuan worth of goods launches in September and October, analysts said of Thai rice yesterday after the shipment was seized by customs agents at the inter- sold a single home in two months. Business this on Taobao, owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. developers, especially those strapped for cash, national port in Manila, Philippines. Some 1,250 metric tons (1.25 million kilograms) year “is very so-so, it’s not as good as last year,” he The promotion, which includes a free taxi ride for could offer deeper discounts in the coming of white rice in 50 container vans with an estimated market value of 50 million pesos said. “Sales of second-hand homes are slow, but those who visit the showroom, has drawn an months.—Reuters ($1.36 million) were seized by customs authorities allegedly for lack of an “import new home sales are brisk.” permit” and for being left unclaimed by its consignees since June of this year.—AP China’s property market, where prices surged to all-time highs for five consecutive years, is expe- riencing its sharpest slowdown in around two years. Average new home prices fell for a fourth Starbucks to buy up consecutive month in August by 1.1 percent, meaning the market is now close to wiping out Japan unit for $900m gains seen over the last year. Compared to a year ago, sales as measured by floor space were down TOKYO: Starbucks is to take full ownership of of brands from sundries and apparel to food 12.4 percent. its Japanese operations at a cost of more and beverages services. While the slowdown in a heated market has than $900 million, a move which the compa- Under the deal, Starbucks said it would benefited millions of Chinese, for whom soaring ny said was aimed at further tapping its sec- buy Sazaby’s 39.5 percent stake for $505 mil- house prices have made home ownership a dis- ond-largest market. The Seattle-based coffee lion, and then move to buy the remaining 21 tant dream, slackening activity has also raised con- giant said it would buy the 60.5 percent stake percent held by other investors at a price of cerns about the health of China’s economy. It is that it does not already own as part of a two- 1,465 yen per share, totalling $408.5 million. straining already softening domestic demand and step tender process expected to be complet- Starbucks said the deal was aimed at pushing overall fixed-asset investment to lows not ed by the first half of 2015. Japan was the expanding further into the major market, seen in nearly 14 years on a cumulative basis first overseas destination for Starbucks when including the possible launch in Japan of its between January to August. it expanded from the United States in 1996. Teavana tea chain. “The acquisition positions Falling home prices are also fuelling credit risks. The news, announced on Tuesday, sent Starbucks to accelerate growth across multi- State news agency Xinhua said on Sunday that 32 shares of Starbucks Coffee Japan up 4.43 per- ple channels in Japan, including the poten- small property developers in the city of Handan in cent to 1,461 yen ($13) on the Jasdaq start- tial introduction of new concepts,” the com- north China have defaulted on loans that were up market yesterday. The Japan business, pany said in a statement. Starbucks’ stores in borrowed illegally from an underground market. which was launched in 1996 and now has Japan, which employ about 25,000 people, That prompted the local government to arrest more than 1,000 locations, is a joint venture have so far held up against a recent down- several executives to stem local investor panic. No SHANGHAI: A worker of an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) branch counts between Starbucks and Sazaby League, a turn in the economy and this month the unit bank or official has so far confirmed media reports money as she serves a customer in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade zone during a media Tokyo-based firm that operates a wide range raised its annual profit forecasts. —AFP that mortgage rates would be lowered, partly out trip yesterday. — AFP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 BUSINESS Stocks, bonds up on ECB stimulus hopes

PARIS: Stocks and safe-haven government for a fifth straight month in September to its a weak take-up of the ECB’s new set of emer- firmed what he has said recently. It’s posi- ing tensions with Ukraine helped Russian bonds in Europe edged higher yesterday, lowest level since April 2013 and the Bank of gency loans last week, has increased tive, but won’t be enough to really prevent dollar bonds to their firmest level in over a with the prospect of more monetary stimu- Spain warning that Spanish private con- chances that the central bank will turn to stocks from drifting lower,” Saxo Bank trader month. Shanghai shares also finished at lus from the European Central Bank offset- sumption growth and new job creation other measures to spur growth. “It provides Andrea Tueni said. their highest in more than 1-1/2 years, ting a drop in German business sentiment. A were likely to have slowed in the third quar- a further signal of broad-based weakness in helped by brokerage firms which rose amid recovery in Russian and Chinese shares also ter. But a renewed pledge from ECB economic activity and raises pressure on Emerging rebound optimism over policy reforms. The main helped emerging markets halt a near- President Mario Draghi to keep monetary policymakers to address this,” said Lyn The pick-up in Russian and Chinese Chinese index climbed 1.5 percent for its unbroken three-week run of falls. policy accommodative - for as long as it Graham-Taylor, a strategist at Rabobank. shares boosted emerging markets while the best close since March 6, 2013. Emerging Investors, however, have been rattled by takes to push ultra-low inflation in the euro The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 US-led air strikes in the Middle East pushed European gains were led by Russia. Stocks this week’s worse-than-expected economic zone back up closer to 2 percent - gave sup- index was up 0.2 percent at 1,378.09 points investors toward safe-haven government there jumped 1.7 percent to extend data from euro zone countries, leaving port to financial markets and dulled the at 1047 GMT, breaking a two-day losing run debt, cooling the recent pressure on emerg- Monday’s rally following reports the Europe’s equity markets pretty much where sting of economic weakness without entire- but little changed since the start of ing markets from rising global bond yields. European Union might review its Ukraine- they began this month. ly neutralising it. September. The MSCI emerging stocks index edged up related sanctions on Moscow, and hopes There was more bad news yesterday, Analysts reiterated that the recent soft German bond yields inched lower fol- 0.3 percent as it attempted to make only its China’s economy is strong enough to fuel with German business sentiment dropping patch of economic indicators, coupled with lowing the German data. “Draghi just reaf- second daily gain in 15 sessions, while eas- demand for Russia’s raw materials.—Reuters Oil slips towards $96 on supply, slack demand

LONDON: Oil fell towards $96 a barrel adding more light, sweet crude oil to an yesterday as rising supply from Africa already well supplied market. and Iraq offset mounting tensions in the Meanwhile, the European Central Middle East and better-than-expected Bank faces an uphill task to spur growth data in China. Weak European economic as euro zone business activity expanded data and a rise in oil exports from Iraq, at a slightly weaker pace than expected Libya and Nigeria have hammered the oil in September as firms cut prices for the price, which is down nearly 14 percent 30th month in a row, a survey showed on this quarter. Tuesday. Manufacturing and services Brent for November delivery fell 34 output in the bloc’s top two economies, cents to $96.51 a barrel by 1048 GMT. It Germany and France, has also slowed. was down more than 6 percent for the In China, August crude inventories, month so far, the biggest monthly drop excluding strategic reserves, were higher since April 2013. US crude fell 13 cents to than the previous month. China’s 2015 $91.43 a barrel. “We have restocking economic growth, however, is expected (because of increased exports) from to be “well above” 7 percent, according Libya, and crude oil is also weak because to the International Monetary Fund yes- of refinery maintenance,” said Olivier terday. For now, oil prices are under pres- Jakob of consultancy Petromatrix in Zug, sure and even US manufacturing activi- Switzerland. Libya was producing ty, which held near a 4-1/2-year high this 800,000 barrels per day (bpd), up about month, and tensions in the Middle East 14 percent from Sunday, after the El have failed to turn the market around. Sharara oil field restarted production. Technical analysts said that there is lit- Exports from Iraq’s southern terminals tle to stop oil slipping towards $90 per have averaged 2.58 million bpd, accord- barrel. “There’s not a lot to stop the trend ing to shipping data for the first 23 days breaking down further,” said Lynnden of September tracked by Reuters, up Branigan, a technical analyst at Barclays from the August average of 2.38 million. Capital. “There’s extreme selling pressure, Nigeria’s oil exports are expected to and after the July 2012 low of $95.30, the hit a 14-month high in November, next support is at $91.85.” — Reuters BUSINESS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Libyan budget gap Boubyan Bank’s market share of to double as strife hits oil output payment cards business up to 12%

TOBRUK, Libya: Libya’s budget deficit could more Visa holds first study about a bank in MENA than double to 19 billion Libyan dinars ($15 bil- lion) this year, as political and civil chaos ravage KUWAIT: Visa Inc, the biggest credit card Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the Bank’s providing products catering to customers’ the OPEC member’s oil revenues, a senior lawmak- issuer in the world, said that the distin- goal was not to make customers increase needs and differentiating its products from er said yesterday. Libya usually enjoys large budg- guished rewards program offered by their internal or external spending, but rather competitors. et surpluses thanks to oil export revenue but last Boubyan Bank to its customers has made it to encourage them use more secure pay- The Bank succeeded in setting a strategy year it ran an 8 billion-dinar deficit as a wave of one of the fastest growing banks in Kuwait in ments methods, especially outside Kuwait, as and execute it to perfection, bearing some protests cut into crude output. That civil strife has the area of credit card issuance and use, and if they are supposed to spend money anyway, extra costs for gaining customers’ satisfaction, since spiralled into fighting that is close to civil turned it into a key player in a highly compet- why do not they spend them in a secure man- but the results were remarkably fast and war. itive market. ner, and even more obtain other benefits. spectacular, VISA added. In response to the economic crisis, the House of These statements were included in the Al-Tuwaijri pointed out that “a highly qual- On his part, Al-Tuwaijri expressed appreci- Representative plans to cut spending in the 2014 first report of its kind issued by Visa to exam- ified specialized work team from the Bank ation to VISA being the partner that con- budget next week to 52 billion dinars from 64 bil- ine the developments witnessed in the MENA worked to innovate a distinguished rewards tributed to achieving this leap through mutu- lion dinars, Abdelsalam Ansiya, a senior lawmaker region, the fact that proves the extent of program, which was considered the first of its al cooperation. expected to be the new head of the budget com- great developments realized in Boubyan Bank kind, not only inside Kuwait, but also all over Generally speaking, Boubyan credit cards with regard to credit card issuance and use. the whole region, the fact that contributed to provide various benefits to customers includ- mittee, told Reuters. The report stated that within one year and realizing this achievement.” ing calculating no profits on the due amount, Parliament will also slash its oil revenue fore- a half, the Bank managed to increase its credit Two years ago, the Bank offered a rewards the ability to pay outstanding amount in mul- cast to 17 billion dinars from a previous estimate card base five-fold, mostly in Platinum cards program for customers that gives them up to tiple flexible payment ratios, the availability of 26 billion, he said. “In the first six months there for affluent customers, in addition to increas- a 5 percent cashback of the amount spent of following up card transactions through dif- were almost no oil revenues,” said Ansiya, who was ing its market share to 12 percent within the using credit cards, whether inside or outside ferent electronic channels like Mobile Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri the previous budget committee head before June same period, thus pushing the Bank up in Kuwait, such a lucrative benefit that encour- Banking, Customer Service Center, Internet elections for a new parliament. Kuwait market rankings. aged them to use their credit cards more fre- then, more importantly, working to update Banking... etc, in addition to enjoying a vari- Oil production has increased to 800,000 barrels Deputy CEO of Boubyan Bank, Abdullah quently.” and develop card issuance systems for instant ety of exclusive offers and discounts for per day (bpd) but two months ago output was less Al-Najran Al-Tuwaijri said: “We faced many Regarding the implementation mecha- issuance at the branches without any delay, Boubyan cardholders. than a quarter of that due to year-long protests at challenges, mainly being a new entrant in a nism, Al-Tuwaijri said: “After deciding the and reduction of waiting times. Moreover, VISA Platinum and Infinite cards ports and technical problems at facilities that had highly competitive market, in addition to the rewards program and launching the 5 per- provide their holders with free travel insur- stood idle. For months Libya’s oil production was difficulty to change customers’ behavior to cent Cash Back, the Bank updated its credit Achieved goals ance, Priority Pass card with unlimited access less than 100,000 bpd, barely enough to supply its use credit cards and convincing them that policies in line with the rules and regulations VISA mentioned in its report that through to hundreds of VIP airport lounges world- own Zawiya refinery. these cards are the best alternative for cash in of the Central Bank of Kuwait. In addition, the this, the Bank succeeded in gaining a signifi- wide, free local concierge service, and free Ansiya said the budget deficit estimate of 19 their transactions, whether inside or outside Bank worked to set a systematic program for cant share of payment cards transactions, and valet parking service in many commercial billion dinars up from a previous estimate of 10 Kuwait.” upgrading cardholders to premium products, moving its ranking up for the excellence in complexes and other locations in Kuwait. billion - was on the pessimistic side. “I personally think the deficit will be less,” he said.

Salaries and subsidies The government is unable to control brigades of former rebels who helped oust Muammar Gaddafi that are now battling each other. Chaos reached the capital Tripoli in late July and after weeks of fighting an armed opposition group from the city of Misrata took control, forcing par- liament to move to the eastern city of Tobruk. Expatriates have pulled out, diplomats have evacuated and foreign airlines have mostly stopped flying to Libya. The Tobruk parliament is being challenged by a rival assembly and govern- ment, set up by the Misrata group controlling Tripoli. But Ansiya said the House of Representatives was still able to cooperate with the central bank in Tripoli. “The central bank is (still) paying salaries and subsidies,” he said. The slump in oil revenues forced the central bank to eat into its foreign cur- rency reserves, which were down to $109 billion by the end of June, the last reported figure, from $130 billion in August 2013. The bank might have to draw on more funds as Libya has yet to finalize legislation governing bond issues, a plan long in the works and hard to achieve due to the turmoil, analysts say. Ansiya said parliament would not cut the public sector salaries and subsidies that make up more than half of the budget and would instead target minis- terial and infrastructure spending since the militia fighting has made many projects impossible. That might help the budget, but may also fuel discontent among Libyans. Anger over ageing schools and poor roads were among the griev- ances of Libyans who rose up against Gaddafi. Major projects such as a new airport for Tripoli have already been halted by chaos and political infighting. A huge repair bill from the Tripoli fight- ing is also waiting. The old airport terminal, the runway and much of the civilian air fleet were damaged during the fighting in Tripoli in July and August. — Reuters French Prime Minister Manuel Valls (second left) arrives flanked by Le Havre’s mayor Edouard Philippe (center) and economist Jacques Attali (left) to take part in the “Positive Economy Forum” yesterday in Le Havre, western France. — AFP US new home sales at 6-year high as Six Mideast companies make the Cut on supply increases BCG’s 2014 list of 100 global challengers WASHINGTON: Sales of new US single-family homes surged in August and hit their highest level in more KUWAIT: Six companies from the Middle East serve restaurants and beverages. These addi- four global challengers from the region. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Qatar than six years, offering confirmation that the housing were named ‘global challengers’ by The tions show both the growing purchasing This year, the Middle East is also home to Airways, two of the fastest-growing airlines in recovery remains on course. Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a recognition power of the middle class in emerging mar- two ‘graduate’ companies, Saudi Aramco and the Middle East have also made both the The Commerce Department said on Wednesday sales of their rapid growth, global expansion and kets and the success of companies in devel- Emirates. These international players-both of 2013 and 2014 lists. In recent years, both air- emerging position as leaders in key markets. oping capabilities beyond low-cost manufac- which also featured in last year’s roster of lines have succeeded in leveraging the jumped 18.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual These organizations include Emirates Global turing. ‘graduates’ - are starting to closely resemble region’s favorable geostrategic location as a rate of 504,000 units. That was the highest level since Aluminium, Etihad Airways, Etisalat, Qatar “Eight years ago, when we created the established multinationals. They are becom- transportation hub at the crossroads of Asia- May 2008 and marked the second straight month of Airways, SABIC and El Sewedy Electric. global-challenger list, it was dominated by ing true global leaders in their respective Pacific, Europe, and Africa. gains. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new The 2014 BCG Global Challengers report Etisalat, the region’s largest telecommuni- home sales rising to only a 430,000-unit pace last sheds light on the innovative business mod- cations operator, andEmirates Global month. els, strategies, and challenges arising from Aluminium, the fifth-largest aluminum com- While the new home sales segment accounts for only emerging markets. Entitled Redefining Global pany, are the two newcomers from the 9.1 percent of the housing market, the increase last Competitive Dynamics: 2014 BCG Global Middle East on BCG’s 2014 list of 100 Global month should allay fears of renewed housing weakness Challengers, the study also highlights how Challengers. Etisalat currently operates in 19 after a surprise decline in home resales last month. these companies are rapidly gaining success countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Existing home sales fell in August for the first-time in in developing capabilities beyond low-cost including Nigeria, the continent’s largest four months as investors, who have been supporting manufacturing. economy. The company expanded its African the market, stepped away. Some economists, however, footprint in May when it acquired a control- think the departure of investors, who have been bid- A global perspective ling stake in Maroc Telecom from Vivendi. The ding up prices, is a positive development for housing. The analysis’ 2014 edition marks BCG’s acquisition helped boost second-quarter A survey last week showed homebuilder sentiment sixth report since 2006 to identify 100 fast- profits by 27 percent. hit its highest level in nearly nine years in September, growing companies that are from emerging Global challenger Emirates Global with builders reporting a sharp pick-up in buyer traffic. markets and are shaking up the global econo- Aluminium is the product of a merger But housing continues to be hobbled by relatively high my through success overseas. This year’s list between Dubai Aluminium and Emirates unemployment and sluggish wage growth. of BCG global challengers reflects the reshap- Aluminium, two state-owned enterprises. In In a separate report, the Mortgage Bankers ing of the global economy, as the number of 2012, the last year for which data is available, Association said mortgage applications fell last week. emerging markets represented is larger than the companies collectively generated $4.3 The decline, however, followed a jump in the week end- ever. billion in revenues. The new company ing Sept 12. US financial markets were little moved by The list features companies from 18 coun- expects to generate $6.6 billion in 2015 by the data, but housing shares tumbled after home tries - eight more than on the original 2006 taking advantage of the Middle East’s strate- builder KB Home reported earnings that missed Wall list -including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and gic location for serving global markets. The Street’s expectations. KB HOME shares fell 6.89 percent, the United Arab Emirates. The BRIC nations of Cristiano Rizzi Thomas Bradtke company has customers in nearly 70 coun- while Pulte Group slipped 1.74 percent. Toll Brother Brazil, Russia, India, and China, once home to tries. dropped 1.27 percent. 84 challengers, are now down to 65. From Chinese and Indian manufacturers that large- fields. “The six Middle East challengers for 2014 In August, new home sales soared 50 percent in the 2000 through 2013, the revenues of the chal- ly competed on the basis of low costs,” said Emirates Airline has reported a remarkable are growing up rapidly, relying on innovation, West to their highest level since January 2008. lengers as a group grew at an annual average Thomas Bradtke, Partner and Managing record of 25 consecutive profitable years. In talent and other strengths to win,” added Sales in the populous South increased 7.8 percent to a rate of 18 percent. Director in BCG’s Dubai office and originator parallel, Saudi Aramco is, today, the largest Cristiano Rizzi, Partner and Managing 10-month high. In the Northeast, sales rose 29.2 percent, From 2008 through 2013, the 2014 BCG of BCG’s Global Challenger report series in integrated global petroleum enterprise in the Director in BCG’s Dubai office.”Their work, but were flat in the Midwest. Despite the rise in sales, the global challengers increased their employ- 2006. “Today, the global challengers come world, with ventures all over the globe. however, is not done. To become global lead- stock of new houses on the market hit its highest level in ment by 32 percent, compared with 11 per- from a much wider range of industries and In 2014, Saudi Arabian chemicals giant ers, they need to develop even deeper four years, giving buyers more choice. At August’s sales cent for the nonfinancial S&P 500. Even more countries-and increasingly from consumer SABIC and Egypt’s Elsewedy, a leading manu- benches of talent and strengthen current pace it would take 4.8 months to clear the supply of striking, the average revenue per employee goods sectors.” facturer of electrical wires and cables, people practices. And, as the cost advantage houses on the market. That compared to 5.6 months in of the global challengers exceeded that of cemented their status as global challengers of global challengers shrinks, they need to July. Six months’ supply is normally considered a healthy the nonfinancial S&P 500 companies - Global challengers for the fourth consecutive year. Both compa- become increasingly innovative - not just balance between supply and demand. The median new $479,000 compared with $440,000. A total of six global challengers from the nies continue to impress with their scale, pouring money in R&D but also developing a house price increased 8.0 percent in the 12 months to Several of the new global challengers Middle Eastare part of BCG’s 2014 list of 100 international market positions and excellence strategic technological landscape and their August. — Reuters come from new categories, including quick- Global Challengers. In 2013, there were only in operations. place within it.” THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 BUSINESS NBK enjoys the largest network in Kuwait 65 branches, more than 8,200 points of sale and 230 ATMs KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait Points of Sale.” new branch in Grand Avenue reflects (NBK) enjoys the largest banking net- “Recently, NBK has also opened a our commitment to continuously work in Kuwait with more than 65 new branch in Grand Avenues, the develop services and maintain our branches, 8,200 Points of Sale and 230 leading position as the bank of choice ATMs that provide withdrawals and for customers.” accept deposits of the new Kuwaiti In addition to its branches, ATMs, Currency Notes to provide its cus- and Points of Sale, NBK is a pioneer in tomers with the most convenient serv- adopting the latest technology to pro- ices and products. vide its customers with a unique bank- “NBK is keen to strengthen its local ing experience. NBK was the first bank banking network to provide superior in Kuwait to launch the call center services and products to its growing service and NBK Online banking serv- customer base,” said Ahmed Al-Khader, ice. NBK’s Mobile Banking application NBK’s Deputy Head of Consumer is considered the most advanced, Banking Group. innovative application for its unique Al-Khader added: “NBK has main- features. tained its leading position in the mar- NBK also enjoys the widest interna- ket by constantly investing in its local tional presence with more than 170 network to ensure the reach of prod- branches worldwide. NBK’s interna- ucts and services to a wider segment Ahmed Al-Khader, NBK’s Deputy tional presence spans many of the of customers. NBK enjoys the largest Head of Consumer Banking Group world’s leading financial centers banking presence in Kuwait with more including London, Paris, New York and Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, around the clock, seven days a week than 230 ATMs, including 80 CDMs second in the Avenues Mall, to Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai). and Turkey. via NBK Mobile Banking, “Watani that accept deposits of the new increase its local branch network to 65 Meanwhile, regional coverage extends NBK customers can control their Online” on www.nbk.com, or by simply Kuwaiti Currency Notes, and 8,200 branches”, added Al-Khader.”NBK’s to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, accounts and manage their finances calling NBK Call Center on 1801801. Zain Sudan CEO confident of further growth in country’s telecom sector Erwa addresses Middle East Com conference

DUBAI: Zain Group, a leading innovator of country especially in value added services mobile communications in eight markets and we shall be committing resources across the Middle East and Africa, details towards those also,” Erwa said. the headlining participation of its Zain Zain Sudan currently counts over 11.4 Sudan CEO, Elfatih Erwa, at the Middle East million customers, with an estimated 40% Com conference, organized by Informa of them already utilizing their devices to Telecoms & Media, and hosted at Mina access Internet content, with the operator A’Salam hotel in Dubai this week. awaiting approval to introduce 4G services. In a keynote interview in front of 400 Erwa noted that the company has invested Burgan Bank issues industry leaders, Erwa detailed the impres- over US$100 million in network upgrades sive progress Zain Sudan has continued to in the past 12 months (approximately 17% $500m additional make since his appointment as CEO in of its revenues) and recently introduced 2008, and the subsequent secession of appealing data packages for its customers. Tier 1 capital South Sudan in 2011. Approximately 11% of Zain Sudan’s rev- “Internally the company is doing well on enues are from data and Erwa expects this KUWAIT: Burgan Bank, Kuwait’s second largest commercial all operational levels and we are investing to grow to 15% by end of 2015 as smart- bank by assets, has successfully priced $500 million heavily in network upgrades,” Erwa told the phone usage picks up further. Perpetual Additional Tier 1 securities. Pricing took place fol- delegates in attendance. “We have experi- “We could launch 4G commercially with- lowing successful investor meetings in Europe, Asia and enced 15% revenue growth year-on-year in in three or four months of being given per- the Middle East. local currency terms, and enjoy a leading mission to do so by the regulator,” Erwa These securities have been structured to comply with 41% customer market share that reflects a asserted. “We already have a number of the new Basel III global guidelines and is the first issuance 60% share of revenues in the overall mar- competitive advantages including being of its kind by a Kuwaiti bank. The bank has a history of ket.” one of the founding mobile operators in being a pioneer in Kuwait for issuance of capital instru- Erwa explained that Sudan’s contribu- Sudan so we have good access to spec- ments having previously issued 10 year subordinated tion to Zain Group’s overall service rev- trum, and are viewed as a preferred Lower Tier 2 bonds in 2012 which was also the first of its enues had fallen from a peak of 20% to provider in the country. We also benefit kind in terms of tenor and size. Both the Additional Tier 1 now contribute around 15% given the local from significant synergies with Zain Group, and Tier 2 issuances were well oversubscribed with a currency fluctuations that has seen the and we are very fortunate to have the strong demand from both regional and international Sudan pound depreciate by over 120% in ongoing support of one of the leading tele- investors. recent years. He also noted Zain Sudan was com groups in the region,” he added. The Additional Tier1 securities have been issued with an contributing a similar 15% of Zain Group’s On human resource issues, Erwa initial coupon of 7.25 percent. and are perpetual instru- net profit, highlighting the debt-free nature detailed how the company is investing ments that are callable by the bank after five years. The cur- of the operation, which places the operator heavily in the training and development of rent ratings of Burgan Bank are A3 (stable) by Moody’s and in a prime position to benefit from market his dedicated workforce and how the com- the telecom sector in Sudan shall remain a market. “I’m optimistic about the potential BBB+(stable) by S&P. Sole Global Coordinator for the opportunities as they arise. pany has recently increased salaries to significant one, if not rise even further in of the telecom sector in Sudan and similar- issuance was HSBC, Joint Lead Managers are Citigroup, “I believe we are coming into another meet rising inflation. “By doing this, we are importance given the increase in mobile ly for the future of Zain Sudan. We shall HSBC, JP Morgan and National Bank of Abu Dhabi and the take-off period in Sudan, and in some geo- rewarding our workforce for their dedica- penetration rates and use of mobile data continue developing our strong distribu- co-lead manager is Burgan Yatirim Menkul Degerler AS. graphic regions we are already witnessing tion and successes to date. It also works as services. He also forecasts there will be little tion channels and innovating with new Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, the chairman of Burgan Bank com- an explosion of data usage. We are interest- a retention tool to avoid operators abroad chance for the successful entry of new play- services, focusing on providing customers mented that: ‘This transaction is a testimony to the confi- ed in the growing area of mobile money, from poaching them. We have the best tal- ers, and believes in fact that the industry the best mobile experience in the country. dence that the investment community has in our business.’ and have recently launched a commercial ent in the country and we strive to keep may be entering a period of consolidation We remain committed to deliver our brand “The bank’s decision to issue the perpetual tier 1 securi- service with the Bank of Khartoum. We also them.” given the three mobile and two fixed line promise of a Wonderful World to the com- ties is in line with its plan to enhance our capital ratios in see other good growth opportunities in the Looking ahead, Erwa said he believes operators already providing services in the munities we serve,” Erwa concluded. compliance with Basel III and to further achieve appropri- ate scale and level of business performance to support future growth plans,” added Al-Ajeel. “The issuance of these perpetual securities, will enhance Flydubai announces three routes in Tanzania the quality of the capital with no dilution effects on current shareholders,” concluded Al-Ajeel. Burgan Bank Group has one of the largest regional branch networks with more than 230 branches across Kuwait, Turkey, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Tunis, Lebanon and Palestine.

One million Filipinos join booming outsourcing sector MANILA: The Philippines’ booming outsourcing industry now employs a million people after growing almost tenfold in just over a decade, the industry association said yesterday. Widely considered as second only to India, Philippine outsourcing is expected to earn $18 billion this year, said the IT and Business Process Association Philippines. “We just (hit) one million. Still targeting 1.3 million in 2016,” its president Jose Mari Mercado said in a statement. He expressed confidence that the sector, which started from scratch in the early 1990s, would increase its revenues to $25 billion by 2016. The business process outsourcing or BPO sector has emerged as a shining star of the Philippine econo- my after posting just $1.5 billion in revenues with 103,500 employees in 2004, figures released by the industry group showed. Mount Kilimanjaro in the background Stage in the Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania This has helped provide better-paying jobs to a country where 10 million people, about a tenth of the population, KUWAIT: Dubai-based flydubai yesterday attract 20 million visitors to the Emirate by have travelled overseas to seek employment. announced the launch of flights to Dar es 2020. By offering reliable, affordable and For each person hired directly by the industry, about 2.5 Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro in convenient travel services from Tanzania, additional support jobs are also generated, the association Tanzania. Flights to the East African coun- we provide passengers with the opportu- said. The Philippines has already overtaken India as the global try will commence in October, expanding nity to travel to Dubai and connect leader in call centres and is also expanding into more sophisti- the airline’s network in Africa to 12 desti- onwards to more than 200 worldwide des- cated outsourced operations as Western firms farm out back nations. Commenting on the launch of tinations through Dubai International office and other tasks to lower-cost areas. These include finan- flights, Ghaith Al-Ghaith, Chief Executive Airport,” commented Sudhir Sreedharan, cial services, software design, medical and legal transcription, Officer of flydubai, said: “With the addition Senior Vice President Commercial (GCC, animation and gaming. The industry said as of 2012, it of these three new destinations in Subcontinent and Africa). accounted for 5.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic Tanzania we’ve doubled our network in Tanzania is a country renowned for its product and this could rise to 7.8 percent by 2016 under a North and East Africa this year, strength- natural beauty and its extraordinary “roadmap” prepared in coordination with the government. ening our commitment to serving previ- wildlife. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s eco- The Philippine office of real estate giant CBRE also foresaw ously underserved markets.” nomic hub and offers a picturesque sea- further growth in the BPO industry based on its growing flydubai recently announced the port and a wealth of cultural and historic demand for office space. “Philippine BPO expansion looks to launch of flights to Bujumbura in Burundi, attractions. Known as the Spice Island, be on a strong 10-year run in real estate,” said Rick Santos, Entebbe in Uganda and Kigali in Rwanda Zanzibar is encapsulated by white sandy chairman of CBRE Philippines. He said more companies were and flights to these destinations will com- beaches and is bursting with culture, his- investing in BPO functions in the Philippines due to the low mence at the end of September. tory and endemic wildlife. In addition, the Tanzania is a regional hub for tourism snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro costs, the weakness of the Philippine peso and the high quali- Sudhir Sreedharan, SVP in East Africa and in 2013 the country wel- Gaith Al­Ghaith on welcome tourists for hiking and skiing all ty of the English-speaking workforce. “BPO companies come comed over 1 million tourists. According board flydubai aircraft year round. Khartoum and Port Sudan in Sudan, here for the costs. They grow because of the people,” Santos to the Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB), this flydubai has built up a comprehensive Djibouti’s capital Djibouti, Juba in South told reporters, adding that the industry was also attracting figure looks set with to double with 2 mil- “Our ever-expanding network supports network in Africa with flights to Addis Sudan as well as Bujumbura in Burundi, manufacturing firms to the Philippines. —AFP lion tourists forecast by 2017. Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 that aims to Ababa in Ethiopia, Alexandria in Egypt, Entebbe in Uganda and Kigali in Rwanda. technology THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Solar-powered family car rides along US East Coast

SAN FRANCISCO: A solar-powered family car com- Holland who designed and built Stella in what grew “We think it is possible to make these cars and pleted its drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco into a school-wide project that won a World Solar Car have them in a showroom in five to 10 years, but it is a fueled by good vibes and pure California sunshine. challenge race across Australia in 2013. Stella launched big dream and something we have to really work on,” And after turning the heads of gob-smacked onlook- a US tour in Detroit at the Intelligent Transportation said Hoefsloot. The technology in Stella is not new and ers during its journey up California’s scenic Pacific Society World Congress in early September. if the solar cars were mass-produced like gas-guzzling Coast Highway, the creators of “Stella” are dreaming of The team drove to San Francisco to join sponsor models they could be similarly affordable, according a day when their futuristic vehicle is a commonplace NXP Semiconductors of The Netherlands in an event to the student. Big auto-makers have had little contact sight. The lightweight, wedge-shaped automobile is focused on a future in which roads are made safer and with the team because “they think it is too far-fetched,” capable of traveling 500 miles (800km) on a single air pollution reduced by cars that “talk” to one another Hoefsloot said. “We think otherwise, of course,” he said charge, further if the sun is shining-while clocking 80 as well as traffic signals. The street-legal four-seater as he leaned on Stella’s low, dark roof. “It is the first miles per hour. pulled up to the Dutch consulate residence in San family car that is powered by solar energy; it just does- “It was great to see all the people looking at us; hur- Francisco and eased in front of a red Tesla that was n’t have a family yet.” Car components colossus Delphi rying to get their smartphones out to get pictures equipped to swap information with the solar-powered has already been enlisted by General Motors to make while we were driving,” said Lex Hoefsloot, manager of cousin. Inside the car, a tablet computer on the dash- auto-to-auto communication modules for future Solar Team Eindhoven. “I think we caused some traffic board showed a traffic light and counted down the models. “As more cars have it and people get excited jams and we were worried some drivers might run into time until a signal ahead would next turn green. A by what it does, then you get safety benefits and it SAN FRANCISCO: This picture shows solar-panels on the roof of family-car ‘Stella’ which us while trying to take pictures.” Hoefsloot is one of the transmitter in the Tesla let Stella know where it was and starts to snowball,” said NXP marketing senior vice provides it energy giving it a range on par with the Tesla parked behind it. — AFP students at Eindhoven University of Technology in what it was doing. president Drue Freeman.—AFP Japan’s bullet train celebrates 50 years

OMIYA: Fifty years ago, the first bullet train sums up its celebrated blend of old and new. pulled out of Tokyo station and hurtled across “The shinkansen helped enhance Japan’s eco- the countryside, heralding Japan’s arrival as a nomic competitiveness by accelerating the modern economic powerhouse with a trans- concentration of population and industries in port system soon to become the envy of the Tokyo,” said Osuke Itazaki, a senior analyst at world. Less than two decades after a bitter SMBC Nikko Securities in Tokyo. World War II defeat that left much of the It was also credited with “boosting mobi- country in ruins, Japan was at the cutting lization of people around the country, and it edge with its sleek, airplane-shaped is still playing that role,” said Itazaki. The net- “shinkansen” that glided over great distances work expanded over the following decades to of newly-laid track. connect more parts of the mountainous “With the start of the shinkansen, we had country, and now covers all major population a feeling that the starving time would end centers on the main island of Honshu and the and Japan would change dramatically,” southern island of Kyushu. Despite running in recalled Fumihiro Araki, a former railway engi- an earthquake-prone country, none of the neer. “The shinkansen aimed to be the 324 million annual passengers-who travel at world’s fastest train; it gave people hope and speeds of up to 320 kilometers (200 miles) an made Japan look forward,” said 73-year-old hour-has ever died because of a shinkansen Araki, now deputy director at the Railway derailment or collision, although people have Museum in Omiya, north of Tokyo, where the committed suicide by jumping in front of the first engine-named “Hikari” (light) — is trains. housed. “It was nicknamed the ‘super express of Legendary punctuality dreams’ and actually gave Japanese people a The system has almost legendary punctu- dream,” he added. The bullet train unveiled on ality rates with the average delay consider- October 1, 1964 was the centre piece of ably less than a minute. Today, bullet trains Japan’s coming out party, which would begin leave Tokyo for Osaka up to every three min- in earnest a week later with the Tokyo utes and travel the 515 kilometres in two ‘FIFA 15’ kicks off in US Olympics. It proved Japan had caught up hours and 33 minutes. Fifty years after its with-and even surpassed-other developed inception, the shinkansen is no longer countries. Never mind that its construction unique-several countries, including China, had lumbered Japan with huge debts as its now have high speed train networks. The most realistic installment of franchise runaway budget spiraled out of control, or Whether Japan can ever regain its crown that public opposition to the project had remains to be seen. SAN FRANCISCO: Electronic Arts on Tuesday The game infuses on-screen players with Xbox One and PS4 to make game play and been fierce. Ultra speedy magnetic levitation-maglev- kicked off the US launch of its “FIFA 15” video “emotional intelligence” designed to let them graphics more realistic. trains, which hover 10 centimeters (4 inches) game, hyping the latest installment of its long- show how they feel about missed passes, brutal “Visually, this is the biggest step the FIFA Blend of old and new above the tracks and are propelled by mag- running soccer franchise as the most realistic tackles, teammates, opponents and more. “We franchise has ever taken,” Rutter said. “We set out The shinkansen connected Japan’s two nets, are in development, with a proven top yet. More than 5.5 million people have taken want our fans to feel the highs and lows of the with the goal of creating atmosphere, players, major urban centers, Tokyo and Osaka, by speed of 581 kilometers per hour on a test part in a demo period for the game, which will drama that is football, and experience the emo- crowds, and pitches that not only look like they way of 66 tunnels and 96 bridges at speeds of track. The plan is to launch maglev services be released worldwide later this week, accord- tional rollercoaster that plays out during a do on match day, but also feel like they do when up to 210 kilometers (130 miles) an hour, between Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya ing to EA. match,” Rutter said during a glimpse at the title you play or watch football - it’s a level of immer- shortening travel times by a whopping two by 2027. By 2045 they are expected to link “We believe we have built a game in FIFA 15 earlier this year. “We’re now able to immerse you sion we’ve never been able to bring to the game and a half hours. That meant a businessman Tokyo and Osaka in just one hour and seven that delivers the most immersive and responsive in the game and let the story of the match before.” Versions of the game are also tailored for could travel from Tokyo to Osaka and back minutes, less than half the current time. game play experience ever in the FIFA franchise,” unfold based on new commentary, crowd activi- prior generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles, again in a day. It also lassoed both urban cen- But there are doubts the scheme will ever ters for people who wanted to go to concerts come to pass. The costs are astronomical-esti- said EA Sports vice president David Rutter. “We ty, and the natural reactions of the players, along with personal computers powered by or to go shopping in the new consumer econ- mated at nearly $100 billion just for the can’t wait for the millions of fans to start their which make every game unique.” “FIFA 15” on- Windows software. The new title is priced at $60. omy. stretch to Nagoya, with more than 80 percent season and experience all of the innovations.” EA screen players express ranges of emotions that A “FIFA 15 Ultimate Team” version of the game is It also brought top tourist spots like the of the route expected to go through costly is letting virtual soccer stars in “FIFA 15” get psy- evolve based on how a game is going, and have available for free to play on smartphones or ancient capital of Kyoto much closer, and tunnels. Analysts question whether a shrink- ched, or angry, on field just like their real-world attitudes about on-field allies and opponents. tablets powered by Apple, Android, or Windows allowed passengers a majestic view of Mount ing and ageing Japan can really afford to sad- inspirations. EA said it tapped into the improved power of software. — AFP Fuji as the gleaming new train sped past, dle itself with a project this big, even with simultaneously giving Japan the picture that such an elongated time frame. — AFP Microsoft ready to prove itself in China

LOS ANGELES: Microsoft will make history next week when its Xbox One becomes the first videogame con- sole to be legally sold in China in more than a decade. With the government freeing up the ability for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo to start offering their consoles to consumers, China could become a signifi- cant source of revenue for the games biz the way the country has impacted the film industry. That includes not just hardware manufacturers but game makers, as well. Up until now, publishers like Activision have been able to build businesses in China by turning to Internet cafes and offering versions of “Call of Duty” for online play. Without consoles, SAITAMA, Japan: This picture taken on August 1, 2014 shows visitors looking at Chinese consumers have largely relied on their smart- miniature models of Japan’s bullet trains at the railway museum. — AFP phones for entertainment, and that could pose an issue for Microsoft considering its Xbox One will be priced at around $700 with the Kinect motion sensing con- Adobe to close China troller, and $300 without it. Consoles had been banned because of government concerns over the impact games have on children. In the Spring, research department Microsoft announced Sept 23 as the launch date for the Xbox One but had to switch to Sept 29 in order to BEIJING: Computer software maker Adobe fied because of the sensitivity of the issue. get the green-light from the Chinese government for VIRGINIA BEACH: A customer shows off his newly purchased iPhone 6 Plus out- Systems Inc will shut its Chinese research The closure of Adobe’s China R&D arm is the first 10 games to be offered on the system-titles and development arm, as US technology also affected by rampant software piracy in like “Forza Motorsport,” “Zoo Tycoon” and “Naughty side the Apple store. — AP firms face an increasingly hostile govern- the country, as well as the company’s shift Kitties.” Additional games and entertainment apps will ment in the world’s second-biggest econo- towards a cloud-based software-as-a-ser- launch on the platform in the weeks and months to my. The California-based company will vice business model and away from one-off come, Microsoft said. Xbox has plans to develop New iPhone brings maintain its China sales offices, Adobe said boxed sales of software and licenses, the around 70 titles with Chinese game maker BestTV in an e-mail to Reuters yesterday, but person familiar with the situation said. New Media through a joint venture. research and development (R&D) opera- “Adobe’s presence in China will be focused Apple more profit tions will cease by the end of December. on market development activities moving TV plug-in gadget SAN FRANCISCO: Apple’s largest iPhone is Plus version, according to a report from Lay-offs have already begun and will forward, and it will be dissolving and clos- Meanwhile on Tuesday the computer giant put its selling for $100 more than its other new research firm IHS Technology. The full, no- affect more around 300 people, a person ing its research and development (R&D) spin on Google’s Chromecast with a device that lets familiar with the matter told Reuters. branch there,” the company said. “Adobe people mirror what’s on Windows-powered tablets or model, but an outside research firm esti- contract price for the 16-gigabyte iPhone 6 Foreign companies, particularly US tech- will maintain its sales presence in smartphones on their television screens. Microsoft mated Tuesday that it costs Apple only is $650. IHS estimates it costs Apple nology firms, have come under increasing Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wireless Display Adaptor, a thumb-drive-size gizmo $15.50 more to make the more expensive $200.10 for materials and manufacturing. scrutiny in China as Beijing pushes hard on Hong Kong and Taiwan.” that plugs into HDMI and USB ports in televisions, and version. Apple said it sold more than 10 The iPhone 6 Plus retails for $750 without a information security in the wake of last Other US technology firms which have then wirelessly connects with tablets, computer or million of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 contract, but IHS says it costs Apple year’s cyber espionage revelations by for- drawn the ire of China’s government smartphones running Miracast software. Plus models in their first three days on sale. $215.60. mer US National Security Agency contrac- include software giant Microsoft Corp and Several companies already make Miracast plug-in Both have larger screens than earlier With a two-year service contract with tor Edward Snowden. chipset maker Qualcomm Inc. Microsoft is devices for televisions. “With the Wireless Display iPhone models, and analysts say con- a wireless carrier, a 16-gigabyte iPhone 6 The government has also ramped up the target of an anti-trust investigation for Adaptor, I don’t have to worry about getting everyone sumers like the new, bigger sizes. The Plus costs consumers $200. An iPhone 6 Plus investigations into foreign companies suspected issues concerning its Windows to huddle around a device,” Brandon LeBlanc of has a 5.5-inch screen, as measured diago- costs $300 with a contract. The Plus operating in China, wielding a 2008 anti- operating system and Microsoft Office. The Microsoft said in a blog post. “All the content I care nally, while the regular iPhone 6 is at 4.7 model also has a bigger battery and a monopoly law to probe numerous firms’ probe has been described as “Kafka-esque” about, along with audio, is easily shared on the big inches. slightly more expensive camera than the local practices. Western business lobbies by experts because of Microsoft’s negligible screen.” The adaptors were available at Microsoft’s The new iPhones went on sale Friday regular iPhone6, according to IHS. Apple have labeled the tactic as protectionism. revenues in China due to piracy. Last week, online shop for order in the US and Canada at a price and address a key advantage rival Android didn’t immediately respond to a request “The overall climate in China against Adobe reported its worst quarterly revenue of $60, with release set for October. Google launched phones have long had: size. The iPhone has for comment on the report. The Western enterprises has been quite nega- for Asia in the last five years. For the three a Chromecast “dongle” in July of last year with a price been Apple’s main source of profits and is Cupertino, California, company usually tive and that’s one of the major reasons,” months ended August 29, sales in Asia fell of $35.—Agencies expected to remain so for at least the next doesn’t disclose details of its manufac- said the person, who declined to be identi- 25 percent to $148.2 million. — Reuters year. Apple will make more profit on the turing costs. — AP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE 300 bodies found in Ebola lockdown

FREETOWN: Sierra Leone said yesterday without going into detail. Health Minister around 100 bodies and 200 patients had Abubakarr Fofanah said not all the bodies been collected from homes during its three- collected had been confirmed as Ebola vic- day lockdown to stem the deadly Ebola epi- tims. “Even prior to the outbreak, people demic raging in West Africa. Almost six mil- were dying from tuberculosis, malaria, lion people across the country were con- hypertension and even as a result of old fined indoors for 72 hours from Friday while age,” he said. “While government does not 28,000 volunteers went door-to-door, giving intend to massage the figures of death out advice and identifying new suspected caused by Ebola, it is also mindful of the fact cases and deaths that had been kept from that there are many other causes of death in the authorities. the country.” “Over 92 bodies were discovered nation- wide during the three-day lockdown of the Epidemic could peak country,” Karamoh Kabbah, the deputy min- The deadly epidemic could peak by the ister for political affairs, told a news confer- end of the year if global aid efforts are kept ence in the capital Freetown. He said 77 of up, EU experts said yesterday. The outbreak the bodies had been collected in the has killed nearly 3,000 people, with the WHO Western Area, a division including the city of warning the number of cases could explode 1.2 million and its immediate surroundings. and the US saying 1.4 million could be “Over 200 suspected cases were identified... infected by January 2015. of which, so far, 130 have been confirmed The European Union experts, who visited positive,” he added. The deadliest Ebola epi- Liberia and Sierra Leone, which along with demic on record has infected almost 6,000 Guinea are at the heart of the outbreak, said people in West Africa and killed nearly half months of “exponential growth” were ahead. of them, according to the World Health “We’ll certainly not deal with it before the Organization’s latest figures. The fever caus- end of the year,” Philippe Maughan, a senior es can fell its victims within days, causing European Commission aid official, told a severe muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea and- briefing in Brussels. “Our hope is that we’ll in many cases-unstoppable internal and have a plateau situation at the end of the external bleeding. In Sierra Leone, Ebola has year.” But that timescale to rein in the dis- infected 1,813 people, killing 593. ease would only be met “if everything goes Kabbah confirmed an earlier estimate well,” said Marcus Cornaro, a senior EU devel- FREETOWN: Nurses are trained to use Ebola protective gear by World Health Organization, (WHO), workers. —AP that the door-to-door teams had managed opment official. He said it needed “strong to get to around 80 percent of households leadership and massive international sup- in a country where a large proportion of the port”. The EU has pledged 150 million euros population live in remote and sometimes ($195 million) to tackling the Ebola crisis, Lessons learned 6 months inaccessible villages. But he said the exercise part of a huge international effort that has had raised concerns over the methods used seen the US military deploy 3,000 troops to into worst Ebola outbreak by security forces in enforcing quarantines, provide training and logistics. —AFP A look at what scientists have learned so far

LONDON: Six months into the biggest-ever Will this outbreak just burn itself out? infected, said Michael Osterholm, a professor at Ebola outbreak, scientists say they know more Yes, but that’s a worst case scenario. If control the University of Minnesota who advises the US about how the deadly virus behaves. The first measures don’t work, at some point, Ebola will government on infectious diseases. Scientists cases were reported in Guinea by the World have infected everyone who hasn’t already been have also noted hundreds of mutations in the Health Organization on March 23, before killed or recovered from the virus and there won’t virus so far but aren’t sure what that means, since spreading to Sierra Leone, Liberia and else- be enough people to maintain the virus’ spread, viruses evolve constantly. where. Here’s a look at what scientists have said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO assistant director- learned so far. general in charge of emergencies. He said the Can anything be done for next few months are crucial to curbing transmis- patients not in a hospital? How different is this outbreak? sion. “As this outbreak continues, the sheer case- Maybe, given the scarcity of hospital beds, Past outbreaks have mostly been in remote, load will make it much more difficult to get peo- health officials say authorities shouldn’t just rural communities and have typically been ple isolated and into beds,” he said. “The way focus on patients being treated in clinics. Some snuffed out in weeks or months. But one main Ebola has spread so far, it’s hard to believe it will groups have started handing out basic protec- difference this time is that the virus has hit just die out,” added Dr Heinz Feldmann, chief of tion kits they admit are woefully inadequate but densely packed cities in West Africa, making virology at the US National Institute of Allergy better than nothing. Agencies including UNICEF, the current outbreak an international threat. “I and Infectious Disease. “At some point it will, but USAID and Doctors Without Borders have given always thought Ebola was really bad when it how long is that going to take and how many out tens of thousands of Ebola kits, including happens, but that it would kill 100 people in a people have to die for that to happen?” gloves, aprons, face masks and garbage bags in remote part of Africa, and then it’s over,” said Dr Liberia, the worst-hit country. WHO notes that Peter Piot, the co-discoverer of Ebola. He said Is Ebola becoming more infectious? water and soap are still unavailable in some parts SIERRA LEONE: A girl cries outside the “Island Clinic”, a new Ebola treatment the severity of this outbreak could also be We don’t know. Experts say it’s difficult to of West Africa. “It’s a tragic situation, so we are centre that opened in Monrovia after the death of her father and her mother by linked to the increased movement of people assess that in the current outbreak since so many helping arm people with the best possible solu- Ebola. —AP across borders and “more contact with whatev- issues are involved. It’s possible the virus has tion in a worst-case scenario,” said Sarah Crowe, a er the primary source of Ebola is.” The virus’ become more infectious than before - which UNICEF spokeswoman in Liberia. “So if they are reservoir is thought to be fruit bats, considered might explain the spiraling caseload - but it’s also going to have to use plastic bags to wipe up ‘Deer populations creating a delicacy in some parts of Africa. In a study possible health workers aren’t properly protected vomit of a sick person, then there is a correct released Tuesday by the New England Journal or are so overworked they are making more mis- method.” The American aid agency, USAID, says concern for airports, pilots of Medicine, the World Health Organization takes. There has also been more physical violence only about half of Ebola patients are seeking said there could be almost 21,000 Ebola cases involving patients, many of whom are suspicious treatment, so the kits and information about the WASHINGTON: Long the bane of garden- Nature finds a way by early November and that cases could contin- of Western aid workers. This has led to risky situa- disease are indispensable to fighting the out- ers and unwary motorists, soaring deer Last month in Florida, the propeller of a ue to trickle out for years. tions that might increase the chances of getting break. —AP populations are also nuisances for airports small plane landing at night at the Ormond and threats to pilots, especially at this time Beach Municipal Airport struck a deer, caus- of year, according to aviation and wildlife ing the plane’s front landing gear to collapse, experts. Whether driven by hunger or just according to local police. The pilot and three UN seeks to turn climate crazy for love, deer will do seemingly any- passengers were unhurt. Most collisions thing to get onto airport grounds and run- involve small planes, but airliners occasional- ways, including leaping over tall fences or ly tangle with deer as well. A US Airways jet squeezing under them. Once there, they plowed through a herd of deer shortly after summit prose into action like to warm themselves by sauntering on landing at Charlotte Douglas International runways, which hold heat longer than cold Airport in North Carolina in October 2010. At ground. But put a deer and a plane togeth- least one deer became entangled in the PARIS: Having renewed their commitment to sure now on the next six months,” Bill Hare, Issue back on radar er on a runway and both can have a very plane’s main landing gear and the runway saving Earth’s climate, governments face director of the Berlin-based think-tank Climate But there was also cause for hope, with bad day. had to be closed for about 40 minutes while From 1990 to 2013, there were 1,088 the mess was being cleaned up. daunting challenges in the coming months to Analytics, said. Under the UN plan, a climate thousands of people turning out for marches collisions between planes and deer, elk, A 7-foot fence was built a few years ago draft a global pact and set targets for slashing deal must be sealed in Paris at the end of 2015 and protests worldwide on Sunday to moose and caribou, according to a recent along the border of the park, but a beaver carbon emissions, analysts said yesterday. and take effect from 2020. But two huge hur- demand urgent action on climate change. joint report by the Federal Aviation chewed through a tree, which fell on the Important signals went out Tuesday from a dles have to be overcome by then. In Lima in And observers like Meyer pointed to “a posi- Administration and the Agriculture fence and allowed the deer back in. The air- special summit of political leaders and corpo- December, countries will seek to hammer out a tive attitude and atmosphere” among the Department. Most of the planes suffered port then put up an 8-foot fence with barbed rate bosses hosted by UN chief Ban Ki-moon in common format for national pledges, and draft leaders gathered in New York that could drive damage, and some were destroyed, the wire. The deer just walked around the airport New York. the outlines of the global agreement. compromise so that the Paris meeting, unlike report said. One person was killed and 29 to the industrial park and leapt over a 6-foot But action is still falling short of meeting the Then, in the first quarter of 2015, countries the Copenhagen summit of 2009, goes others injured. No mention is made of the fence on that side. The airport now plans to trumpeted goal of averting dangerous climate must start putting their pledges on the table smoothly. fate of the deer. build a taller fence there as well. damage, the analysts said. The UN is seeking to so that climate poker can begin in earnest. The summit saw business- and city-level The vast majority of collisions involved “Nature found a way,” said Langston limit global warming to two degrees Celsius Nations have been squabbling for more than vows to reducing emissions. But observers white-tailed deer, the smallest member of Majette, the airport’s senior operations spe- (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial two decades over sharing the burden of curb- highlighted a statement by China, the world’s the North American deer family, but big cialist. Officials at the AAA automobile club’s biggest greenhouse-gas emitter, that it want- enough to wreck a plane. There were only mid-Atlantic chapter were so impressed with ed absolute emissions to peak as early as pos- about 350,000 of the creatures in the US in the deer problem at airports that they decid- sible-a potential game-changer. 1900. By 1984 there were 15 million and by ed to highlight it in their annual warning 2010 more than 28 million. They’ve caused this week to motorists to beware of deer.”It “All of the commitments described in $44 million in aircraft damage and 238,000 is the call of the wild,” AAA spokesman John terms of greenhouse gas emissions by nation- hours of lost flying time over the past 24 Townsend II said. “This time of year the al governments are not new and have been years. About 30 percent of collisions problems that aircraft pilots face on run- made in other contexts,” said Niklas Hoehne, occurred during the October-November aways are similar to the ones that motorists director of energy and climate policy at the mating season. encounter.” —AP Ecofys consultancy. And those announce- ments that were made “do not yet present a step change” towards 2 C, he warned. Nations still disagree about who has to do what to curb emissions, with developing countries arguing the West has a historical responsibility to do more. The West, mean- while, points the finger at emerging giants like China and India, whose emissions have soared in the past decade alongside their populations and economies. Nations also dis- agree about the legally binding nature of the deal, what must be included in it, and how countries’ policies and actions towards reach- ing emissions targets will be monitored. Another vexed issue is money. Wealthy economies have promised to muster $100 bil- NEW YORK: Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President of Kenya, speaks while Danish lion (78 billion euros) a year by 2020 in help President Helle Thorning-Schmidt listens, at the UN Climate Summit. —AP for climate-vulnerable poor countries. Some funds were pledged Tuesday to the Revolution levels-but scientists say on current ing emissions, which requires a costly shift Green Climate Fund (GCF), the main vehicle trends; the global average could reach twice away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy for administering this-but, at a total of $2.3 that. sources. On Monday, the Climate Action billion, a lot more will be required for devel- “The almost universal reaffirmation of a Tracker (CAT), a monitor of countries’ climate oping nations to be assured of the support of commitment to limit warming below 2 C by policies, confirmed the world remained on wealthier countries. “The real test of this (UN) leaders at the summit, along with virtually no track for warming of about 3.7 C by 2100 — a summit now lies ahead of us: was it just a talk- new commitments to reduce emissions from level the experts think will drive perilous fest or will it lead to the major increases in IOWA: A herd of deer cross a snow covered gravel road near the state the 4 C path we are on, places enormous pres- floods, drought, storms and rising seas. ambition needed?” said Hare. —AFP airport. —AP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE DHL ‘parcelcopter’ drone flies parcels to German isle

BERLIN: Logistics firm DHL is using a drone raised concerns over privacy and whether to fly parcels to the German island of Juist, the technology is safe, saying drones could in what it says is the first time an unmanned hit other aircraft or even people. For the aircraft has been authorized to deliver Juist project, Deutsche Post has received goods in Europe. The company, owned by permission from the German transport min- Germany’s Deutsche Post, joins the likes of istry and air traffic control authority for a Amazon.com and Google in testing the restricted flight area that will be used only potential for drones to deliver parcels and by its parcelcopter. The drone will also not packages. fly over any houses, a spokeswoman for DHL Its drone - the “parcelcopter” - can fly at Parcel told Reuters. The craft has four rotors, up to 65 km (40 miles) an hour. It will deliver weighs around 5 kg and can carry loads of medication and other urgently needed up to 1.2 kg. Its flight is completely automat- goods to the car-free island of Juist, off ed, although it will be monitored from the Germany’s northern coast, at times when ground and, depending on weather condi- other modes of transport such as flights or tions, the 12 km trip to Juist will take 15-30 ferries are not operating. If the trial is suc- minutes. Flights to the North Sea island, cessful, the craft could be used to deliver home to around 1,700 people, will start such packages to other remote areas or in from Friday, weather permitting, and will emergencies. continue until the middle or end of October, However, critics of delivery drones have the spokeswoman said. —Reuters

CALIFORNIA: Photo shows a rainbow visible looking west from Palm Spring next to an array of wind turbines. —AP Wind energy proposal would light LA homes

LOS ANGELES: An alliance of four companies proposed competing with 200 other proposals,” said Steven ment estimates at least 85 eagles are killed each year by GERMANY: This photo provided by Deutsche Post/DHL shows a flying DHL an $8 billion project on Tuesday that within a decade Homer, the director of project management for the wind turbines. An Associated Press investigation in 2013 drone. —AP could send wind power generated on the plains of authority, whose members deliver electricity to approxi- revealed that the Obama administration was not prose- Wyoming to households in Southern California. If mately 2 million customers. cuting wind energy companies for killing eagles and approved and financed, the sprawling venture would Wind development in Wyoming’s wide expanses has other protected birds. Wasp ‘SWAT team’ to the produce clean power equivalent to the output of a large surged in the past decade as companies and state offi- A lynchpin in the plan would be a $1.5 billion energy nuclear power plant by creating one of the country’s cials seek cleaner alternatives to coal. The proposed wind storage site near Delta, Utah, 130 miles southwest of largest wind farms near Cheyenne, a huge energy stor- power development near Chugwater would be a boon Salt Lake City. The rural area already is home to one rescue of Indonesian crop age site inside Utah caverns and a 525-mile electric to the sleepy ranching town of 216 residents nestled coal-powered plant that generates electricity for Los transmission line connecting them. below sandstone bluffs on the high prairie. A decade Angeles County. With the push for pollution-free energy JAKARTA: An “eco-friendly SWAT team” of skirts of Jakarta yesterday afternoon, “This would certainly be one of the most ambitious ago, in a desperate bid to revive their economically sources that can help reduce greenhouse gases blamed 2,000 tiny wasps will be released in allowing them to reproduce naturally and and expensive energy infrastructure projects we have depressed community, town officials sold city lots for for global warming, billions of dollars have been invest- Indonesia yesterday to battle bugs threat- to be monitored in local conditions before seen,” said Travis Miller, an industry analyst for invest- $100 apiece on the condition that the buyer would build ed in wind and solar projects. Finding an economical ening to devour cassava crops, a major being unleashed in an open field. ment research giant Morningstar Inc. “Energy storage, a house and live there at least two years. Results were way to store renewable energy, however, has been a key staple and source of income for millions, Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest paired with renewable energy, has been the holy grail of mixed, at best: Chugwater’s population dropped 11 per- issue. scientists said. The two-millimeter A cassava producers and each year plants cent from 2000 to 2012, even as Wyoming’s overall econ- Under the proposal, the energy would be stored utilities and energy companies.” Jeff Meyer of Pathfinder Lopezi parasitic wasps work by laying lar- some one million hectares (2.5 million Renewable Wind Energy, one of the companies behind omy grew and population increased. through a compressed-air system using caverns, similar vae that consumes the mealybugs from acres) of the crop. It is the second most- the plan, described it as “the 21st century’s Hoover Dam,” to a system that has been used in Alabama since the consumed staple after rice in the develop- referring to the 726-foot high span across the Colorado Rapid growth early 1990s. When energy demand is low, excess elec- the inside and mummifies them. The River that for decades has produced hydroelectric power If completed, it would become Wyoming’s second- tricity would be used to compress and inject high-pres- wasps need to consume the pest to sur- ing nation of 250 million people, which for Nevada, Arizona, and California. The announcement largest wind power project. The biggest is a 1,000-tur- sure air into the four caverns, each of which would have vive. struggles with malnutrition. It is con- came on the same day that President Barack Obama bine site planned by The Anschutz Corp. That project 41 million cubic feet of volume. At times of high energy The cassava pink mealybug is native to sumed as a vegetable but also processed pressed world leaders to follow the United States’ lead near Saratoga, in south-central Wyoming, is the largest demand, the high-pressure air would be combined with South America, as is cassava, and is one of into starch to make a variety of products on climate change in a one-day United Nations summit under development in the US. The rapid growth in wind a small amount of natural gas to power eight electricity- the world’s most destructive pests preying from noodles to pharmaceuticals. The aimed to gather support for a climate change treaty to power has come with a cost, however. The US govern- producing generators. —AP on the crop, according to the team of sci- mealybugs are capable of reducing cassa- reduce heat-trapping pollution. The new proposal, with entists behind the wasp release. It likely va yields by up to 84 percent, and were a tentative completion date of 2023, would potentially travelled to Africa and Asia by hitchhiking first reported as a major problem in Asia in generate twice as much energy as the 1930s-era dam. Man lives for two months on infected cassava as it was transported Thailand in 2008. Success hinges on a string of uncertainties, including across countries and continents. The pest has also been detected in oth- clearing government regulatory hurdles and striking Scientists behind the release, from the er Asian countries including Cambodia, agreements to sell the power that would be essential to with bullet in his heart Colombia-based International Center for Laos and Vietnam. Although the current secure financing. Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Indonesia’s area affected in Indonesia is still low, the AHMEDABAD: An Indian man was recovering well apex of his heart’s left ventricle. Bogor Agricultural University and the UN’s scientists said the pest can spread fast if Cleaner alternatives after undergoing surgery to remove a bullet that Cardiac surgeon Anil Jain said he and his team of Food and Agriculture Organization, have not managed, as Thailand found. Wasps With potential shifts in government policy, environ- had been lodged in his heart for two months, a doc- two performed a “complicated” three-hour opera- dubbed the wasps an “eco-friendly SWAT were successfully used in Thailand to tack- mental regulation and the economics of producing tor said yesterday. Bharat Sharma, 32 was shot twice tion to remove the bullet and stitch up the heart. team” and stress they are harmless to le the problem. “If we don’t act now, this green power “any infrastructure project that looks out in July after becoming accidently caught up in a “The bullet was stuck horizontally between the humans and animals. could be a major blow to the country’s nine, ten years, has a lot of uncertainties,” Miller, the ana- bank robbery in the country’s eastern Uttar Pradesh valves,” said Jain, from the SAL private hospital in The mealybugs “have been living in the cassava industry and to the millions of lyst, said. Pathfinder Energy, Magnum Energy, Dresser- state, according to a report in the Times of India. Ahmedabad. “Also, since the patient had lost lots of lap of luxury” in their new environments, farmers who depend on this crop for their Rand and Duke-American Transmission Co said in a Sharma had surgery to remove a bullet lodged in blood after the incident, we had to be very careful,” where they face no effective threats, incomes,” said Aunu Rauf, an entomologist statement they plan to submit the blueprint to the his waist, but local surgeons had refused to take out he said. “How the patient survived and reached us is according to Kris Wyckhuys, an entomolo- with Bogor Agricultural University. A mas- Southern California Public Power Authority by early the one in his heart, fearing he would die instantly, pure destiny, Jain said. The doctor said Sharma gist from CIAT focusing on Asia. “It’s time sive aerial wasp drop in the 1980s in sub- 2015. California agency officials said they were unaware the report said. Sharma finally travelled to the west- would be able to return to work in another month to help nature along.” The wasps, which Saharan Africa was credited with saving of the proposal. The authority has been seeking propos- ern city of Ahmedabad for the surgery on Tuesday after his recovery in the hospital’s intensive care the cassava industry from $20 billion in als to supply the Los Angeles region with renewable are native to Central America, will first be to remove the .20 calibre bullet lodged near the unit. —AFP power required under state law. The new plan “would be released in a confined field on the out- potential damages. —AFP WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Al-Sayer supports voluntary work center by donating two Toyota Hilux vehicles

l-Sayer Group donated two Toyota Hilux ered home for over hundred varieties of unique vehicles to Sabah Al-Ahmed Natural plants. Representatives from Sabah Al-Ahmed AReserve that functions under Voluntary Natural Reserve agreed to extend their support Work Center, a Non-Profit Organization based towards Al-Sayer Green Camp through the sup- in Kuwait. The vehicles will be utilized by ply of special plants, which has the capability to Sabah Al-Ahmed Natural Reserve to facilitate enrich the environments as well as make the fieldwork and transportation. FouziBurhama, soil more stable and fertile. Manager and Ahmed Al-Saqar, Supervisor Al-Sayer Green Camp is a solar powered from Sabah Al-Ahmed Natural Reserve facility to host several environmental activi- received the vehicle keys and documents from ties, organized in partnership with Ministry of Nehad Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Corporate Electricity, Ministry of Education and Society Sustainability & Responsibility Manager, Al- of Engineering. The Camp, which will be Sayer Group. organized in 2014 - 2015 during the months of After the ceremony, the representatives dis- November, December, January, and February, cussed different ways of cooperation to devel- will benefit employees and society through op environment protection initiatives. Both educational seminars and workshops to gain organizations aim to construct a man-made better understanding about saving energy and lake with the main purpose of supporting the protecting environment. Students from differ- ecosystem and protecting the migrating birds. ent schools in Kuwait will invited to take part A team from Al-Sayer Group will be visiting the in “Dream Car” painting competition, in associ- natural reserve, located in the north east of ation with United Nations Environment Kuwait, spreading over 320 sq m and consid- Programme and Toyota.

Farewell dinner for Mexican Ambassador enegalese Ambassador to Kuwait and Dean of Diplomatic core Abdou Lahad Mbacke held a dinner in honor of the Ambassador of Mexico on the occasion of the end of his tenor in Kuwait. Foreign ministry Sofficials and accredited ambassadors of Kuwait attended the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Kuwait delegation of KALA Art visits Indian Ambassador What’s On - Submission Guidelines ALA Art’s Kuwait office-bearers visited the Indian embassy and met Ambassador Sunil Jain. The delegation All photos submitted for What’s On Kexchanged different thoughts pertaining to the Indian community in Kuwait. They raised several points for the should be minimum 200dpi. embassy’s kind consideration and favorable action. The delega- Articles must be in plain text and tion expressed their gratitude to the embassy for opening pass- port & visa service centers in Abbasiya and Farwaniya for better should include name and phone convenience of the Indian community. They requested the numbers. Articles and photos that ambassador to open another Center in Jahra in the near future. They briefed the ambassador about the forthcoming event fail to meet these requirements will ‘Niram 2014’, Children’s Day Painting Competition on Friday, not be published. November 14th 2014. This is the 10th anniversary of NIRAM, being held on the occasion of Children’s Day, the birth day of Please send them to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. The delegation consisted of KALA Art Kuwait president [email protected] Hassan Koya, General Secretary Mukesh V P, Joint Secretary Jaison Joseph, members Sunil Kumar and Safvath Babu. WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Students at the Sebamed stand. Bashayer Mohammad at the Sebamed stand.

Dr Barjas Al-Enezi and Dr Najah Al-Zanki Health centers organize awareness stands s the hajj season (pilgrimage) draws near, health centers in various areas of Kuwait are organizing awareness days to educate people on what to do and avoid before, during and after the rituals. Saad Al- Abdullah’s block 10 health center organized such an event yesterday in which Sebamed participated and offered advice on how to maintain healthy skin and what can be done to avoid dehydration and Aloss of moisture. Head of the health area Najah Al-Zanki and head of Saad Al-Abdullah health center Dr Barjas Al-Enezi were also present.

Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah counts down to CS 20

n Monday, September 29, the Dar different periods and highlighting their “Splendors of the Ancient East: There are three films this quarter, start- music from Europe, the Gulf and Latin Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (DAI) will shared humanity. This, our 20th Cultural Antiquities from the Al-Sabah collec- ing with ‘The Story of QiuJu’, a Chinese America. Wednesday night’s program is Olaunch its 20th Cultural Season. Season features activities that do the tion”, splendors loaned from the Kuwait film with English subtitles. There are also equally diverse, featuring musicians The lecture by Ziad Rajab on “Lady Jane same: through lectures, educational National Museum, and the story of eight workshops on the calendar cover- from the region performing a wonderful Digby” will inaugurate a season rich with opportunities, cinema, theatrical and Amricani. ing a variety of subjects from music to blend of local and regional music, with a lectures, concerts, films, theatre, work- musical performances, workshops and The last quarter of 2014 will see a textile arts. bit of opera and classical mixed it for shops and other cultural offerings. special events.” dozen Monday night lectures on sub- Music fills the calendar Sundays and good measure. “The Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah pro- The Amricani Cultural Centre, on the jects close to home, like Piotr Bieliski’s Wednesdays this quarter and through- “In short, DAI’s Cultural Season 20 will motes the fusion of people, cultures and Gulf Road next to the National Assembly lecture on “How the ‘Kuwaitis’ lived more out the season. Musicians visiting from bring people together to share knowl- ideas,” said National Council of Culture, buildings is, in itself, a masterpiece of than 8 thousand years ago: Exploration abroad are featured on the Sunday night edge, to enjoy music, films and theatre Arts and Letters Assistant cultural fusion. It will host the early por- of the Bahra 1 settlement”; others more “Music of Diplomacy” program, as from around the world, to discuss big Undersecretary Abdulkareem Al- tion of Cultural Season 20 and a wealth galactic, like Adel Al-Wugayan’s “Cosmic embassies in Kuwait arrange to present ideas and little insights, and to sip many Ghadban. “Our exhibitions do that by of special events and workshops thinking: Universe beyond Earth”. performances of traditional music from cups of tea,” Al-Ghadban concluded. All bringing together objects created by dif- through May. It will also host a new exhi- Tuesday nights will feature classic films their countries. Before the New Year, Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah activities start ferent people, in different places, from bition, Long Ago Zoo, in addition to and hands-on creative workshops. audiences will have the chance to enjoy at 7 PM. TV PROGRAMS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

20:35 The Liquidator 21:00 Hardcore Heroes 18:00 WWE Bottom Line 21:50 Americarna 19:00 WWE NXT 22:15 Americarna 20:00 WWE Main Event 01:00 Bachelorette-PG15 00:45 Beast Lands 00:15 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 22:40 Amish Mafia 21:00 Top 14 Highlights 03:00 Standing Ovation-PG15 Notebook: London 23:30 Hardcore Heroes 21:30 Total Rugby 01:35 Animal Cops Houston 05:00 Muhammad Ali’s Greatest 00:40 Extreme Makeover: Home 22:00 Live Super League 02:25 Shamwari: A Wild Life Fight-PG15 02:50 Shamwari: A Wild Life Edition Specials 02:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build 07:00 Hitchcock-PG15 03:15 Wild Ones 02:55 Bargain Hunt 09:00 After Earth-PG15 03:40 Wild Ones 03:40 Beat My Build 10:45 Man Of Steel-PG15 04:05 Secret Creatures Of Jao 04:25 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 13:15 There Be Dragons-PG15 04:30 Secret Creatures Of Jao 00:00 Violetta Taylor 15:00 Stuck In Love-PG15 00:30 Champions League T20 00:45 The Hive 04:55 Sharks Of Palau 04:50 Extreme Makeover: Home 17:00 After Earth-PG15 Highlights 00:50 Art Attack 05:45 Beast Lands Edition Specials 19:00 G.I. Joe: Retaliation-PG15 01:30 ICC Cricket 360 01:15 Art Attack 06:35 Animal Airport 06:05 DIY SOS: The Big Build 21:00 The Wolverine-PG15 02:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 01:40 Jungle Junction 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 23:15 Star Trek Into Darkness-PG15 Highlights 01:50 Jungle Junction 07:25 Dogs 101 07:45 Bargain Hunt 03:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 02:05 Jungle Junction 08:15 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 08:30 Beat My Build Highlights 02:15 Jungle Junction 08:45 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 09:20 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 04:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 02:30 Violetta 09:10 Preposterous Pets Taylor 01:00 Blue Elephant 2 Highlights 03:15 The Hive 10:05 Call Of The Wildman 09:45 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 02:45 Pacific Pirates 05:00 England Women v South 03:20 Art Attack 10:30 Call Of The Wildman Notebook: London 04:15 Eleanor’s Secret African Women T20I Highlights 03:45 Art Attack 06:00 Champions League T20 11:00 Shark City 10:10 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 06:00 Barbie As Rapunzel 04:10 Jungle Junction 11:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 08:00 Cher Ami Highlights 11:55 Meerkat Manor 04:20 Jungle Junction Edition Specials 09:45 Shark Bait 07:00 ICC Cricket 360 12:20 Animal Airport 04:35 Jungle Junction 12:15 DIY SOS: The Big Build 11:15 Krazzy Planet 07:30 Natwest T20 Blast Highlights 12:50 Wild Ones 04:45 Jungle Junction 13:05 Bargain Hunt 12:45 Pacific Pirates 08:30 Natwest T20 Blast Highlights 13:15 Wild Ones 05:00 Art Attack 13:50 Beat My Build 14:15 The Missing Lynx 09:30 Natwest T20 Blast Highlights 13:45 Secret Creatures Of Jao 05:25 Art Attack 14:40 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 16:00 Lego Batman: The Movie - DC 10:30 ICC Cricket 360 14:15 Secret Creatures Of Jao 05:50 Mouk Taylor Super Heroes Unite 11:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 14:40 Wildest Africa 06:00 Jessie 15:05 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 18:00 Shark Bait Highlights 15:30 Dogs 101 06:25 Liv And Maddie Notebook: London 20:00 Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers II 12:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 16:30 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 06:45 Dog With A Blog 15:30 Extreme Makeover: Home 21:45 The Missing Lynx Highlights 07:10 I Didn’t Do It 17:00 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Edition Specials 23:45 Barbie As Rapunzel 13:00 Caribbean Premier Leaue 07:35 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 17:25 Animal Maternity Ward 16:45 DIY SOS: The Big Build Highlights Teenage Witch 18:20 Call Of The Wildman 17:40 Bargain Hunt 14:00 ICC Cricket 360 07:55 Win, Lose Or Draw 18:45 Call Of The Wildman 18:20 Beat My Build 14:30 Champions League T20 08:20 Suite Life On Deck 19:15 Animal Heroes 19:10 Valentine Warner Eats Highlights 08:45 A.N.T. Farm 20:10 Extreme Animals Scandinavia 15:30 Champions League T20 09:05 A.N.T. Farm 21:05 Air Jaws: Fin Of Fury 19:40 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 00:00 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded-18 Highlights 09:30 Sonny With A Chance 22:00 Animal Heroes Taylor 02:00 Stolen-PG15 16:30 Champions League T20 09:55 Sonny With A Chance 22:55 Extreme Animals 20:05 Cash In The Attic 04:00 Dangerous Attraction-PG15 Highlights 10:15 Suite Life On Deck 23:50 Shark Attack File 3 20:55 Cash In The Attic 06:00 Red Dawn-PG15 17:30 Live Champions League T20 10:40 Suite Life On Deck 21:30 Cash In The Attic 08:00 Phantom-PG15 21:00 ICC Cricket 360 11:05 That’s So Raven 22:15 Bargain Hunt 10:00 Lovestruck: The Musical- 21:30 Champions League T20 11:25 That’s So Raven 23:00 Beat My Build PG15 Highlights 11:50 A.N.T. Farm 23:50 Valentine Warner Eats 12:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark 22:30 Champions League T20 12:15 A.N.T. Farm 00:35 Eastenders Scandinavia Stranger-PG15 Highlights 12:35 Good Luck Charlie 01:05 Doctors 14:00 The Croods-PG 23:30 Champions League T20 13:00 Good Luck Charlie 01:35 Great Ormond Street 16:00 Phantom-PG15 Highlights 13:25 Jessie 02:25 Last Tango In Halifax 18:00 Gambit-PG15 13:45 Jessie 03:15 Dead Boss 20:00 Drinking Buddies-PG15 14:10 Austin & Ally 03:45 Big School VANTAGE POINT ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 22:00 This Is 40-18 14:35 Win, Lose Or Draw 04:15 The Weakest Link 00:20 What Happened Next? 15:00 Mako Mermaids 05:00 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n Roll 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 00:10 Hoarding: Buried Alive 00:45 What Happened Next? 15:25 I Didn’t Do It 21:00 Bones 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 01:00 My Five Wives 05:20 Boogie Beebies 01:10 Dynamo: Magician 15:50 Liv And Maddie 22:00 Banshee 11:10 Eric And Jessie: Game On 01:50 Secret Eaters 05:35 The Green Balloon Club Impossible 16:10 Violetta 23:00 True Detective 00:30 Trans World Sport 11:35 Eric And Jessie: Game On 02:40 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 06:00 Nina And The Neurons 02:00 Fast N’ Loud 17:00 Dog With A Blog 01:30 Inside The PGA Tour 12:05 E! News 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 03:05 Secretly Pregnant 06:15 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n Roll 02:50 Storage Hunters 17:20 Jessie 02:00 European Challenge tour 13:05 Extreme Close-Up Stewart 03:55 Long Island Medium 06:35 Boogie Beebies 03:15 American Diggers 17:45 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 03:00 Currie Cup 13:35 E!ES 01:00 The Colbert Report 04:20 Say Yes To The Dress 06:50 The Green Balloon Club 03:40 The Liquidator Teenage Witch 05:00 Currie Cup 14:30 Style Star 01:30 The Boondocks 02:15 Age Of Heroes 04:45 Say Yes To The Dress 07:15 The Weakest Link 04:05 How It’s Made 18:10 I Didn’t Do It 07:00 Golfing World 15:00 Kourtney And Kim Take 02:30 South Park 04:00 Dante’s Peak 05:10 Toddlers & Tiaras 08:00 After You’ve Gone 04:30 How Do They Do It? 18:30 Win, Lose Or Draw 08:00 Total Rugby Miami 03:00 Hot In Cleveland 06:00 Ghostbusters II 06:00 Oprah: Behind The Scenes 08:30 Big School 05:00 Gold Divers 18:55 Liv And Maddie 08:30 Sydney Darts Masters 16:00 Kourtney And Kim Take 03:30 Baby Daddy 08:00 Chinese Zodiac 07:00 Driving Me Crazy 09:00 Eastenders 06:00 Classic Car Rescue 19:20 Violetta 11:30 NRL Full time Miami 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 10:15 Armageddon 07:50 Say Yes To The Dress – 09:30 Doctors 06:50 Deadliest Catch 20:05 I Didn’t Do It 12:00 Futbol Mundial 17:00 Giuliana & Bill Jimmy Fallon 12:45 Transformers Bridesmaids 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 20:30 I Didn’t Do It 12:30 Top 14 Highlights 10:00 Great Ormond Street 18:00 E! News 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 15:15 Vantage Point 08:15 Say Yes To The Dress – 08:30 Storage Hunters 20:50 I Didn’t Do It 13:00 Golfing World 10:50 Monty Halls’ Island Escapes 19:00 THS 09:00 Hot In Cleveland 16:45 Flight Of The Intruder Bridesmaids 08:55 American Diggers 21:15 I Didn’t Do It 14:00 NRL Premiership 11:40 After You’ve Gone 20:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 09:30 Melissa & Joey 18:45 Armageddon 08:40 Secret Eaters 09:20 The Liquidator 21:40 I Didn’t Do It 16:00 AFL Premiership highlights 12:10 Big School 20:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 21:30 The Grandmaster 09:30 Toddlers & Tiaras 09:45 How It’s Made 22:00 Good Luck Charlie 17:00 Golfing World 12:40 Walk On The Wild Side 21:00 Fashion Police Jimmy Fallon 10:20 Say Yes To The Dress 10:10 How Do They Do It? 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 18:00 Ryder Cup Opening 13:10 Eastenders 21:30 Untold With Maria 14:00 Baby Daddy 10:45 Say Yes To The Dress 10:35 You Have Been Warned 22:50 Shake It Up Ceremony 13:40 Doctors Menounos 14:30 Melissa & Joey 11:10 Cake Boss 11:25 What Happened Next? 23:10 Wolfblood 19:00 European tour weekly 14:10 Great Ormond Street 22:30 E! 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Fox Show 14:55 Brides Of Beverly Hills 13:55 The Liquidator 06:00 Chinese Zodiac-PG15 23:00 WWE Bottom Line 18:10 Life On Air 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 15:20 Cake Boss 14:20 Deadliest Catch 08:15 Armageddon-PG15 00:30 Fashion Police Jimmy Fallon 15:45 Driving Me Crazy 19:00 My Family 15:10 Classic Car Rescue 10:45 Transformers-PG15 01:25 Keeping Up With The 00:40 The Hungry Sailors 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 16:35 Toddlers & Tiaras 19:30 Absolutely Fabulous 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 13:15 Vantage Point-PG15 Kardashians 01:30 Coach Trip Stewart 17:25 Say Yes To The Dress 20:00 The Suspicions Of Mr 16:50 How It’s Made 14:45 Flight Of The Intruder-PG15 02:20 E! News 02:00 Emmerdale 21:30 The Colbert Report 01:00 Golfing World 17:50 Say Yes To The Dress Whicher 17:15 How Do They Do It? 16:45 Armageddon-PG15 03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 02:55 Coronation Street 22:00 Louie 02:00 NRL Premiership 18:15 17 Kids And Counting 21:30 Friday Night Dinner 17:40 Gold Divers 19:30 The Grandmaster-PG15 03:40 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 03:25 The Widower 23:00 South Park 04:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 18:40 Little People, Big World 21:55 Little Britain 18:30 Porter Ridge 22:00 The Marine-PG15 04:10 E!ES 04:20 Lightfields 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 19:10 Oprah: Behind The Scenes 22:25 Hotel Secrets With Richard E 18:55 Porter Ridge 05:05 E!ES 05:15 The Chase 06:00 NRL Full Time 20:05 Brides Of Beverly Hills Grant 19:20 Americarna 06:00 THS 06:10 Please Marry My Boy 06:30 Top 14 Highlights 20:30 Cake Boss 23:10 The Weakest Link 19:45 Americarna 07:50 Style Star 07:05 Coach Trip 07:00 Indycar Highlights 21:00 Say Yes To The Dress 23:55 My Family 20:10 American Diggers 08:20 E! News 07:30 The Widower 00:00 Royal Pains 00:00 Free Samples-PG15 08:00 NRL Premiership 21:25 Say Yes To The Dress 08:30 Lightfields 01:00 The Fosters 02:00 Overboard-PG15 10:00 Golfing World 21:55 Something Borrowed, 09:20 Doc Martin 02:00 Mistresses 04:00 Dudley Do Right-PG 11:00 ITM Cup Something New 10:15 The Chase 03:00 American Horror Story: 06:00 Drillbit Taylor-PG15 13:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 22:20 Something Borrowed, 11:10 Emmerdale Coven 08:00 Win A Date With Tad 14:00 V8 Supercars Highlights Something New 12:00 Coronation Street 04:00 The Voice Hamilton!-PG 15:00 NFL 22:50 Long Island Medium 12:30 The Hungry Sailors 05:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 10:00 Overboard-PG15 17:30 NFL Gameday 23:15 Secretly Pregnant 13:25 Please Marry My Boy 06:00 Royal Pains 12:00 Fred 2: Night Of The Living 14:20 Coach Trip 08:00 Criminal Minds Fred-PG 14:45 The Chase 09:00 The Fosters 14:00 Sabrina-PG 15:35 William And Kate: The South 10:00 The Voice 16:15 Splash-PG New Line ramping Seas Tour 11:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 18:15 Undercover Brother-PG15 16:30 Tom Daley Goes Global 12:00 Emmerdale 20:00 Clear History-PG15 up ‘No Baggage,’ 17:25 Harry’s South Pole Heroes 12:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Jeff, Who Lives AtHome- 18:20 Please Marry My Boy 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show PG15 based on ‘Craziest 19:10 Coronation Street 14:00 Criminal Minds 19:35 William And Kate: The South 15:00 Royal Pains OkCupid Date Ever’ Seas Tour 16:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tom Daley Goes Global 16:30 Coronation Street 21:25 Harry’s South Pole Heroes ew Line is moving ahead with a movie ver- 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 22:20 Coronation Street sion of “The Craziest OkCupid Date Ever,” 18:00 Criminal Minds 01:00 Salmon Fishing In The 22:50 Emmerdale hiring Adam Brooks to adapt Clara 19:00 C.S.I. Yemen-PG15 N 23:45 The Chase Bensen’s tale of a three-week date. Variety report- 03:00 Between Us-PG15 20:00 Killer Women ed in April that New Line has picked up movie 21:00 The Fosters 05:00 The Chateau Meroux-PG15 rights to Bensen’s Salon.com article, set the proj- 22:00 Survivor: San Juan Del Sur 07:00 Atlas Shrugged-PG15 ect up with Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot 23:00 American Horror Story: 09:00 The Music Never Stopped- Coven at their Offspring Entertainment banner and PG15 titled the project “No Baggage.” 00:00 My Brilliant Brain 11:00 The Chateau Meroux-PG15 Brooks’ credits include “Bridget Jones: The Edge 01:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 13:00 Between Us-PG15 of Reason,” “Definitely, Maybe” and “Practical Magic.” 02:00 Sea Patrol 15:00 Centre Place-PG15 “Jeff and I traveled to eight countries in 21 days 03:00 World’s Toughest Fixes 17:00 The Music Never Stopped- without changing clothes,” Bensen wrote in her arti- 04:00 Hunter Hunted PG15 cle for Salon.com. “It sure beat meeting for coffee.” 05:00 Brain Games 00:00 Bones 19:00 Grand Piano-PG15 Bensen, a writer based in Austin, Texas, said the 05:30 Brain Games 01:00 Good Morning America 21:00 Ain’t Them Bodies Saints- journey went well despite the lack of belongings. 06:00 Banged Up Abroad 03:00 Banshee 07:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai PG15 “On the surface, we appeared to be sure candi- 04:00 True Detective 08:00 My Brilliant Brain 23:00 I, Anna-PG15 dates for ‘World’s Most Unlikely Pair,’” she wrote. 05:00 Good Morning America 09:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest “He’s a wildly energetic university professor who 07:00 Emmerdale 10:00 Sea Patrol is always on the move. I’m a reclusive writer who 07:30 Coronation Street 11:00 Fight Science spends hours identifying new constellations in 09:00 Once Upon A Time In 12:00 Swamp Men the ceiling paint.” The duo made no plans in Wonderland 01:15 Left To Die-PG15 13:00 Alaska Wing Men advance, Bensen noted. “With no stuff, moving to 10:00 Emmerdale 03:00 The Missing-PG15 14:00 Breakout the next destination was as simple as getting out 10:30 Coronation Street 05:15 You Got Served: Beat The 15:00 Close Quarter Battle of bed and pointing to a dot on the map,” she 12:00 Chicago Fire World-PG15 15:30 Close Quarter Battle 13:00 Bones said. “We jumped from city to city using almost 16:00 Time Scanners 06:45 Les Miserables-PG15 14:00 Live Good Morning America every mode of transportation on earth: an old 17:00 Outback Wrangler 09:30 Emperor-PG15 16:00 Once Upon A Time In train along the Turkish coast, a giant ferry across 18:00 Shark Men 11:15 Buck-PG15 Wonderland the Aegean, a cramped bus through the Balkans, 19:00 Close Quarter Battle 12:45 Reviving Ophelia-PG15 17:00 Chicago Fire a series of hitches through Croatia, a flight to 19:30 Close Quarter Battle 18:00 Bones 14:15 Meet Joe Black-PG15 Edinburgh and a pair of bikes in London.” Dave 20:00 Time Scanners 19:00 Once Upon A Time In 17:15 Emperor-PG15 Neustadter and Andrea Johnston are overseeing 21:00 Outback Wrangler Wonderland 19:00 Mud-PG15 the project for New Line.—Reuters 22:00 Shark Men 20:00 Chicago Fire 21:30 The Lady-PG15 TRANSFORMERS ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 23:00 Fight Science Classifieds

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY

SHARQIA-1 INTO THE STORM (DIG) 3:15 PM 360º- 1 THE GIVER (DIG) 12:30 PM DAAWAT-E-ISHQ (DIG) (HINDI) 5:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:30 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 2:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 7:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 3:00 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 4:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 10:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 5:30 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 6:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:45 AM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 8:00 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 8:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 10:30 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 10:15 PM FANAR-3 THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:00 AM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 12:15 AM THE GIVER (DIG) 12:30 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 2:30 PM 360º- 2 SHARQIA-2 THE GIVER (DIG) 4:15 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 2:30 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 12:45 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 6:15 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 4:45 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 3:15 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 8:15 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 7:00 PM JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 5:15 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 10:15 PM Special Show “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” 7:00 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 7:30 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 12:15 AM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 9:15 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 9:45 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 11:30 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 12:05 AM MARINA-1 THE GIVER (DIG) 12:45 PM 360º- 3 SHARQIA-3 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 2:45 PM HERCULES (DIG) 1:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:00 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 4:45 PM HERCULES (DIG) 3:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 3:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 6:45 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 3:30 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 3:00 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 8:45 PM HERCULES (DIG) 6:30 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 6:00 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 11:00 PM THE EXPENDABLES 3 (DIG) 9:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 8:00 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 12:45 AM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 6:30 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 10:30 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 9:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:30 AM MARINA-2 HERCULES (DIG) 12:30 AM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:30 PM MUHALAB-1 NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 3:45 PM AL-KOUT.1 AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 1:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 5:30 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 1:00 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 4:30 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 7:45 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 3:15 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 7:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 9:45 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 5:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 10:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:15 AM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 7:45 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 12:45 AM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 10:00 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 2:00 PM MARINA-3 A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 12:15 AM THE GIVER (DIG) 4:00 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 1:15 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 6:00 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 3:30 PM AL-KOUT.2 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 7:45 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 5:45 PM JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 1:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 9:45 PM JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PM HERCULES (DIG) 3:45 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 11:45 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 10:15 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 5:45 PM A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 12:30 AM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 7:30 PM MUHALAB-2 JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 9:30 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:45 PM AVENUES-1 ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 11:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 3:00 PM INTO THE STORM (DIG) 1:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 5:30 PM INTO THE STORM (DIG) 4:00 PM AL-KOUT.3 ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 7:45 PM AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 4:00 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 2:00 PM 97334456. (C 4770) manager or chief account- THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 9:30 PM INTO THE STORM (DIG) 7:00 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 4:15 PM ACCOMMODATION 24-9-2014 ant with iqama transfer. THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:05 AM INTO THE STORM (DIG) 10:00 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 6:15 PM Contact: 97934610 / AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 7:00 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 8:30 PM Sharing accommodation - 98856808. (C 4769) MUHALAB-3 AAGADU (DIG) (Telugu) 10:00 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 10:30 PM two fully furnished & spa- SITUATION WANTED 21-9-2014 A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 1:15 PM INTO THE STORM (DIG) 1:00 AM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 12:45 AM cious bedrooms in CAC flat A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 3:30 PM Indian female (MBA in HR), A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 5:45 PM AVENUES-2 AL-KOUT.4 are available in Ishbiliya, Prayer timings JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 2:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 12:45 PM block 1. Bachelor/Single 10 years experience in HR/Administration. Capable A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 10:15 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 4:30 PM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 2:45 PM Pakistani/Indian Muslims Fajr: 04:18 A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (DIG) 12:30 AM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 6:30 PM NO GOOD DEED (DIG) 4:45 PM are preferred. Contact Afzal of managing all functions in HR/Admin. Proficient in MS ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 8:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 6:30 PM Shafi: 99714430. (C 4771) Shorook 05:37 FANAR-1 ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 10:30 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 8:30 PM 25-9-2014 Office. Good communica- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 1:45 PM ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 12:30 AM AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (DIG) 10:30 PM tion skills. Please contact: Duhr: 11:40 IF I STAY (DIG) 4:00 PM THE GIVER (DIG) 12:30 AM 94062123. (C 4765) ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 6:00 PM AVENUES-3 SITUATION VACANT Asr: 15:07 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 7:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:45 PM BAIRAQ-1 Accountant (Indian) having ELLY JAY AHSAN (DIG) (Arabic) 10:00 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 4:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:00 PM Required a driver, any experience in Middle East TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 11:45 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 6:45 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG-3D) 3:15 PM and Africa for the last 23 Maghrib: 17:43 THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 9:15 PM THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 5:30 PM nationality for a Kuwaiti businessman, familiar with years working in Kuwait as FANAR-2 THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 11:45 PM TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG-3D) 7:45 PM chief accountant since 2006 Isha: 19:00 THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 1:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED THE MAZE RUNNER (DIG) 10:00 PM Kuwait areas. Contact: looking for post of accounts

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Arrival Flights on Thursday 25/9/2014 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00 Departure Flights on Thursday 25/9/2014 THY 767 Istanbul 14:10 Airlines Flt Route Time AGY 680 Alexandria 15:20 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 058 Dubai 14:10 QTR 1084 Doha 00:05 KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 267 Beirut 00:25 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 JZR 562 Sohag 00:10 KAC 741 Dammam 14:35 DLH 637 Dammam 00:35 MPH 093 Amsterdam 15:40 JAV 622 Amman 00:15 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 JZR 239 Amman 01:00 OMA 645 Muscat 15:50 NIA 264 Alexandria 00:20 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:25 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:20 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 MSC 403 Sohag 01:30 KAC 118 New York 16:00 MSR 615 Cairo 00:30 QTR 8646 Dhaka 15:30 SAI 441 Lahore 01:35 JZR 535 Cairo 16:05 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:35 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 THY 764 Istanbul 01:40 QTR 1072 Doha 16:15 KLM 411 Amsterdam 00:55 FDB 082 Dubai 15:35 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:20 JZR 502 Luxor 01:30 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:00 RJA 640 Amman 16:20 DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35 JZR 188 Dubai 15:50 RBG 555 Alexandria 02:05 FDB 051 Dubai 16:25 THY 773 Istanbul 02:20 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:25 JZR 125 Bahrain 16:25 MSC 404 Sohag 02:30 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:35 UAE 857 Dubai 16:45 SAI 442 Lahore 02:35 AGY 685 Sohag 16:20 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:45 RBG 556 Alexandria 02:45 KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30 FDB 067 Dubai 03:05 KAC 562 Amman 16:50 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 FDB 073 Dubai 16:55 FDB 070 Dubai 03:40 KNE 461 Riyadh 16:45 QTR 1076 Doha 03:30 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 OMA 645 Muscat 16:50 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:00 UAL 982 IAD 17:25 FDB 068 Dubai 04:05 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 FDB 077 Dubai 04:15 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:10 MPH 093 Dubai/SIN 17:10 THY 770 Istanbul 04:35 KAC 742 Dammam 17:35 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 FDB 052 Dubai 17:10 JZR 539 Cairo 04:55 JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 QTR 1077 Doha 04:25 JZR 512 Sharm el-Sheikh 17:15 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 17:45 MSC 406 Sohag 05:00 QTR 1073 Doha 17:20 JZR 555 Alexandria 05:15 FDB 075 Dubai 17:45 FDB 078 Dubai 05:00 RJA 641 Amman 17:20 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 QTR 1085 Doha 05:20 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:20 IRA 673 Ahwaz 06:20 TAR 328 Tunis/Dubai 18:05 JZR 560 Sohag 05:35 FDB 074 Dubai 17:35 BAW 157 London 06:35 KAC 542 Cairo 18:15 THY 765 Istanbul 06:00 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:45 JZR 563 Sohag 06:35 QTR 1080 Doha 18:25 DHX 172 EBL 06:10 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 JZR 1541 Cairo 06:40 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:30 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 382 Delhi 07:30 JZR 483 Istanbul 18:35 RJA 643 Amman 06:35 JZR 184 Dubai 18:20 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 503 Luxor 07:40 KAC 104 London 18:45 UAE 858 Dubai 18:25 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:00 FDB 076 Dubai 18:25 FDB 053 ubai 07:45 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 07:00 JZR 156 Dubai 18:35 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 AXB 393 Kozhikode 18:55 JZR 240 Amman 07:05 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:40 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 JZR 164 Dubai 07:15 JZR 538 Cairo 18:40 QTR 1086 Doha 07:55 ABY 129 Sharjah 19:00 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55 IRA 672 Ahwaz 07:20 TAR 328 Tunis 18:55 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:00 QTR 1081 Doha 19:25 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:00 KAC 537 Sohag 08:00 UAE 875 Dubai 19:05 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 KAC 352 Kochi 08:05 BAW 156 London 08:25 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 JZR 238 Amman 19:25 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 KAC 502 Beirut 19:20 JZR 778 Jeddah 08:45 ABY 120 Sharjah 19:40 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:45 ABY 125 Sharjah 08:50 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:35 QTR 1087 Doha 08:55 AXB 394 Kozhikode 19:55 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:55 JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 IRA 667 Esfahan 09:00 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 UAE 876 Dubai 20:35 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:30 FDB 061 Dubai 20:05 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:30 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 IZG 4161 Mashhad 09:40 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:15 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:35 FDB 062 Dubai 20:45 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 JZR 482 Istanbul 09:40 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 JZR 189 Dubai 20:25 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:50 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30 IRA 668 Mashhad 10:00 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 MEA 404 Beirut 10:55 DHX 173 EBL 20:50 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:15 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 11:00 KLM 417 Amsterdam 20:55 FDB 056 Dubai 10:20 KAC 351 Kochi 21:05 QTR 8646 Doha 11:10 FDB 079 Dubai 21:05 KAC 101 London/New York 10:25 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 IZG 4162 Mashhad 10:40 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:15 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:30 FDB 8051 Dubai 11:45 FDB 069 Dubai 21:10 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 KAC 543 Cairo 21:30 JZR 165 Dubai 11:50 KAC 561 Amman 11:25 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 065 Dubai 11:55 QTR 1074 Doha 21:30 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 JZR 561 Sohag 12:00 FDB 080 Dubai 21:50 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 21:55 SYR 341 Damascus 12:05 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 501 Beirut 11:40 FDB 071 Dubai 12:35 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 FDB 059 Dubai 22:10 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:45 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 JZR 241 Amman 12:40 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 MEA 405 Beirut 11:55 UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 AGY 684 Sohag 22:20 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 12:10 KAC 381 Delhi 22:30 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:25 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 QTR 1075 Doha 22:40 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:40 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:40 THY 766 Istanbul 13:10 JZR 157 Dubai 22:55 FDB 066 Dubai 12:40 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45 FDB 057 Dubai 13:30 JZR 185 Dubai 22:55 FDB 8052 Dubai 13:00 FDB 060 Dubai 22:50 KAC 538 Sohag 13:40 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:10 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 KAC 672 Dubai 13:40 BON 102 Sarajevo 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 13:05 KAC 203 Lahore 23:10 QTR 1078 Doha 13:45 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20 JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 AGY 681 Alexandria 23:20 JZR 779 Jeddah 14:20 MSR 614 Cairo 23:30 FDB 072 Dubai 13:15 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:35 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 JZR 124 Bahrain 13:30 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 JZR 513 Sharm el-Sheikh 23:30 THY 772 Istanbul 23:45 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:50 FDB 081 Dubai 14:55 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JZR 1540 Cairo 23:50 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

CROSSWORD 678 STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22)

You are very much your own boss. You are at your most practical when it You may find that when people fuss over you or become passionate to comes to dealing and working with others. You know just what to do please you, life becomes a bit stressed. Try to concentrate on your work and can act without haste. You are called on to make use of your natural skills during today and let others go about their plans. The time will come, sometime today, when group meetings. You are very career-oriented and your personal reputation and hon- people will want to show their high regard for your presence in their lives. You are or is of the utmost importance. You possess a natural sense of organization and practi- good at shining a most positive light into life situations. You like life peaceful and cal insight and may excel at managing or supervising others. So now that you know today you strive to find surroundings that will bring about the higher possibilities of this . . . It is time to create a better job for yourself by updating that resume, request- achieving those peaceful conditions. This stress-free living may be why you choose ing a job change, etc. You naturally gravitate toward positions of power and authority. difficult people as friends; they may serve a purpose that is representative of strength Your home life is full of laughter and sweet music this evening. and security. Tonight you have no worries and everything is beautiful.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You are in a mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own bet- A friend, who may also be a co-worker, comes up with ideas today that ter qualities. You communicate with skill and it is stimulating to be around you. Your will help both of you get ahead in the work field. Your fear of taking risks high degree of mental concentration makes you an excellent student-able to excel can be set aside when there is someone with whom you can share the risk taking. In in speaking, writing and all types of communication skills. Your ambitions go hand- both your personal and private lives you are highly organized-others seek you out for in-hand with communication and using the mind and the two should never be far advice regarding business affairs. When you become cognizant of what you are doing apart. You may see value in or feel love for an older person or someone in authority and the power you have to accomplish your goals, your thinking ability will become today. Ask questions and take notes; this elder has seen many interesting things. most positive. Rest, fun and exercise are important this afternoon. You are an excellent This evening is a good time to study-you have a real appreciation for science. You planner with a real head for detail, including keeping up with your money. Good may find yourself enjoying a long conversation, writing a letter, or making a special insight into personal investments is possible today. A sense of harmony is in your phone call. home.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This could be a stressful day but you have the opportunity to rise above A bit of restlessness in the wee hours this morning may find you wishing the stress. Take a moment to surrender your agenda and become cen- there had been better rest. Instead of allowing your mind to control tered or focused. You are able to succeed in whatever you set your mind to do at this you-learn ways to control your mind. Your birth sign shows you have an active mind time. Look for ways to avoid confrontations with co-workers or superiors. Your ideas and keeping your mind busy will help you focus. While you are working you could have a notebook handy for ongoing short story ideas or projects that you want to ACROSS DOWN can be presented on paper and this will help others to think before they question your techniques or ideas. Given time, your ideas will win approval-do not push. work on either now or in the future. When you are not working, you would be wise to 1. A gradual decline (in size or strength or 1. Any place of complete bliss and delight and Writers, salesmen and performers shine during this time. Involvement with special set aside time for walking or bicycling. While walking, bicycling or driving, you might power or number). peace. interest groups will help your progress in the work field now. Your ideas have a strong enjoy listening to recorded stories or self-help ideas. While at home, you may want to 4. Someone who (fraudulently) assumes the influence. True wisdom lies in discovering that there are no ultimate answers, only work with your hands in some creative activity. You will be able to take care of any 2. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake restlessness in the future. appearance of another. Chad. good questions.. 12. A benevolent aspect of Devi. 3. God of wealth and love. 15. The longer of the two telegraphic signals 4. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a used in Morse code. mosque. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. A member of a North American Indian 5. One of the three prairie provinces in central people of the Gila river valley in Arizona. Canada. You do a lot to fulfill the popular stereotype of a genius. You have such an Those around you, or the situation you find yourself in, may not feel right outpouring of insights that having a conversation with you can be a real to you. Saying the right words could be of the utmost importance. You 17. The act of slowing down or falling behind. 6. A strong emotion. could, however, be challenged. There is a great opportunity to use your special skills 18. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet. experience. Your mind works like lightning. Words and thoughts come quickly, illuminat- 7. Steady recurrent ticking sound as made by ing whatever subject is at hand. You really do have very different ideas and ways of today. Some new techniques may be in order. Reading books on solving problems or on 19. Not having or producing echoes. a clock. expressing them. If you are looking for a job or an upgrade within your company, now is communicating with difficult people may be helpful. You could find these books in the 20. (British) Your grandmother. 8. Canna grown especially for its edible root- the time to make your move. There may be a sustained interest in communication, com- business or self-help department of your library. You seem to shine when it comes to 21. Shrub bearing oval-fruited kumquats. puters, electronics and all that is electrical. Updating or purchasing electronic equip- practical matters or those involving work and career. You have an easy way with superi- stock from which arrowroot starch is ors or those in authority and can always get the most out of any skill or ability you have. 23. A light strong gray lustrous corrosion- ment may occupy your mind this afternoon. Compare prices and talk to people that are obtained. using the brand that you want to purchase in order to have a recommendation. You like work but it is important to relax with a different interest this evening. resistant metallic element used in strong 9. To an excessive degree. light-weight alloys (as for airplane parts). 10. Speak one's opinion without fear or hesita- 24. Himalayish language spoken in the tion. Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. 11. A canal for a current of water. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 26. A silvery ductile metallic element found 12. The inner and longer of the two bones of It is important to concentrate on work-related problems today. primarily in bauxite. Luxury is desired just now. Growth and success could be tied to your the human forearm. possessions or to the way you possess and respond to the various ideas Exercise gurus have always suggested a discipline in thinking, because 27. A male monarch or emperor (especially of 13. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was and impulses in your life. You could benefit through material support. With material thoughts are things like anything else. Thoughts manifest themselves into what you Russia prior to 1917). formed by an explosion. support you tend to invest wisely. You could save a little here and there and be your are becoming. In other words, energy follows thought. Create in your mind how you 29. A member of a people living in southern own support person. Investments take on a whole new perspective when you use want your day to go and try to let nothing distract you. Your organizational abilities 14. God of fire. and sense of responsibility will be what guides you and proves successful. Your Benin and Togo and southeastern Ghana. your own saved funds. You may find you enjoy making your own fortune. Home, fami- 22. (law) A defense by an accused person pur- ly and real estate are some of the interests that require a lot of discipline and responsi- career or educational path could assume a much more determined and solid form: a 30. A state in midwestern United States. porting to show that he or she could not bility. If you get serious about these things and think long-term, you come out ahead; firm foundation. Your home environment, friends and surroundings in general 32. English scholastic philosopher and otherwise, you could find yourself in a tight situation. Tidy up-company’s coming. receive encouragement now. You will notice that your career is in real harmony with have committed the crime in question. the rest of your life. assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285- 25. Prolific English writer best known for his 1349). science-fiction novels. 34. The table in Christian churches where 28. A white or silvered surface where pictures communion is given. can be projected for viewing. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 38. Someone who works (or provides workers) 31. (medicine) Having or experiencing a rapid You take time to think and study, for you have a real appreciation for the during a strike. onset and short but severe course. You can expect a little encouragement today; some sort of extra sup- 40. A nonmetallic largely pentavalent heavy port or recognition from those around you is a possibility. You may feel that you are in creative mind. Making your mark on the world has special significance. 33. Large African black-and-white carrion-eat- touch and in harmony with others; the lines of communication are open. Cooperation Achievement, ambition and authority take on a greater importance. Organizing and volatile corrosive dark brown liquid ele- ing stork. is the secret word to your progress and you are willing to do just that-cooperate. The administering to people and projects will become central to your lifestyle. Save a little ment belonging to the halogens. 35. An official language of the Republic of power of organization on a social scale, business, political and such, seems to take on time for having lunch with a friend. Getting away from the workplace for a while will help you have renewed energy when you return. This friend may be someone that 41. Any of a group of proteins found in saliva South Africa. a larger-than-life aura as you enter into a new period. It’s as if ambition and authority and pancreatic juice and parts of plants. are answers in themselves, rather than only a means to an ideal objective. This can works in a neighborhood shop-lovely to have a different perspective. Through this 36. Place a value on. lead to duplicity, ambitious schemes that tend to be lost along the way. Stay on track friend you may learn new and positive ways to view certain things in your life. Time 42. Gannets and boobies. 37. Make one's home or live in. and remember, what you see is not always what is real. and thought, not necessarily money, will resolve problems in a love relationship. 44. An impudent or insolent rejoinder. 39. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising sole- 45. Greenwich Mean Time updated with leap ly the razorbill. seconds. 43. A separate part of a whole. 46. English essayist (1775-1834). 47. A radioactive transuranic element synthe- Word Search Yesterday’s Solution 49. Flower arrangement consisting of a circu- sized from californium. lar band of foliage or flowers for ornamen- 48. German baroque composer (1681-1767). tal purposes. 51. The Oceanic language spoken by the 50. Joint consisting of a line formed by joining Maori people in New Zealand. two pieces. 52. An ancient city of Sumer located on a for- 55. A state in north central United States. mer channel of the Euphrates River. 56. A river in north central Switzerland that 53. An imaginary monster used to frighten runs northeast into the Rhine. children. 58. A flat situated in the wings. 54. A person eating a meal (especially in a 60. Of or relating to or characteristic of restaurant). Morocco or its people. 57. Apathy and inactivity in the practice of 64. Austrian general in the service of the Holy virtue (personified as one of the deadly Roman Empire during the War of the sins). Spanish Succession (1663-1736). 65. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat 59. An address of a religious nature (usually trimmed off. delivered during a church service). 67. Punish with an arbitrary penalty. 61. Strike with disgust or revulsion. 70. Of or relating an apse. 62. Follower of Rastafarianism. 72. An employee who mixes and serves alco- 63. A party who files a notice with a law court. holic drinks at a bar. 66. Any competition. 73. The seventh and last day of the week. 68. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its 74. (formerly) A horse-drawn wagon that mother and raised by hand. delivered ice door to door. 69. (prefix) Within. 77. Not divisible by two. 71. Feline mammal usually having thick soft 78. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike fur and being unable to roar. part of an organism. 75. A state in northwestern United States on 79. The process of exposing to air (so as to the Pacific. purify). 76. Of or relating to the stomach and intes- 80. (used as a combining form) Recent or new. tines. Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 information

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Afghanistan 0093 Luxembourg 00352 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Macau 00853 Algeria 00213 Macedonia 00389 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Madagascar 00261 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Angola 00244 Majorca 0034 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Anguilla 001264 Malawi 00265 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malaysia 0060 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Maldives 00960 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Mali 00223 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Malta 00356 Austria 0043 Marshall Islands 00692 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Bahamas 001242 Martinique 00596 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahrain 00973 Mauritania 00222 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritius 00230 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Barbados 001246 Mayotte 00269 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mexico 0052 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Belgium 0032 Micronesia 00691 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belize 00501 Moldova 00373 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Benin 00229 Monaco 00377 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Bermuda 001441 Mongolia 00976 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bhutan 00975 Montserrat 001664 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Morocco 00212 Bosnia 00387 Mozambique 00258 Adaliya 22517144 Botswana 00267 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Namibia 00264 Brunei 00673 Nepal 00977 Kaifan 24849807 Bulgaria 00359 Netherlands 0031 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands Antilles 00599 DAY: :HGQHVGD\  Issue Time  Burundi 00257 New Caledonia 00687 Shuwaikh 24814507 Cambodia 00855 New Zealand 0064 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Expected Weather for the Next 24 Hours Cameroon 00237 Nicaragua 00505 Canada 001 Nigar 00227 Nuzha 22526804 %<1,*+7 )DLUZLWKPRGHUDWHZLQGLQJHQHUDOQRUWKZHVWHUO\ZLQGZLWKVSHHGRINPK Cape Verde 00238 Nigeria 00234 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cayman Islands 001345 Niue 00683 Central African 00236 Norfolk Island 00672 Qadsiya 22515088 %<'$< +RWZLWKPRGHUDWHZLQGLQJHQHUDOQRUWKZHVWHUO\ZLQGZLWKVSHHGRINPK Chad 00235 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Dasmah 22532265 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 WARNING Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 1R&XUUHQW:DUQLQJV China 0086 Norway 0047 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Shaab 22518752 STATION 0$;5(& 0,1(;3 6)&&+$57 87& Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 .8:$,7&,7< ƒ& ƒ& Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 .8:$,7$,53257 ƒ& ƒ& Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 $%'$/< ƒ& ƒ& Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Sharq 22465401 %8%<$1 ƒ& ƒ& Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 -$+5$ ƒ& ƒ& Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 )$,/$.$,6/$1' ƒ& ƒ& Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Jabriya 25316254 6$/0,<$+ ƒ& ƒ& Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 $+0$', ƒ& ƒ& Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Bayan 25388462 -8/8,$+3257 ƒ& ƒ& Dominica 001767 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 4$52+,6/$1' ƒ& ƒ& Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 W Hawally 22630786 800$/0$5$'(0 ƒ& ƒ& Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 Sabah 24810221 4 DAYS FORECAST El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 Jahra 24770319 Temperatures DAY DATE WEATHER Wind Direction Wind Speed Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 New Jahra 24575755 MAX. MIN. Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 7KXUVGD\  +RW ƒ& ƒ& 1: NPK Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 )ULGD\  +RWƒ& ƒ& 95%6( NPK Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 South Jahra 24775066 6DWXUGD\  +RW ƒ& ƒ& 95%6( NPK Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tone 00239 North Jahra 24775992 6XQGD\  +RW ƒ& ƒ& 95%6( NPK Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 North Jleeb 24311795 PRAYER TIMES RECORDED YESTERDAY AT KUWAIT AIRPORT Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 Fajr  MAX. Temp.  °C France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Sunrise MIN. Temp. °C Firdous 24892674   French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 Zuhr  MAX. RH  % French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Asr  MIN. RH  % Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 Sunset MAX. Wind km/h N Khaitan 24710044  1(  Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Isha  TOTAL RAINFALL IN 24 HR.  mm Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 All times are local time unless otherwise stated. 83  UTC 9 7 ŵŤŚƀ Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Hungary 0036 Toga 00228 Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Dermatology Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 India 0091 Trinidad 001868 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Mohammed Salam Rheumatologists: Indian Ocean 00873 Tunisia 00216 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 Bern University 23845955 Indonesia 0062 Turkey 0090 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dentists Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Iran 0098 Tuvalu 00688 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Iraq 00964 Uganda 00256 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ireland 00353 Ukraine 00380 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Italy 0039 United Arab Emirates 00976 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Ivory Coast 00225 United Kingdom 0044 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Jamaica 001876 Uruguay 00598 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Japan 0081 USA 001 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Jordan 00962 Uzbekistan 00998 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Kazakhstan 007 Vanuatu 00678 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Kenya 00254 Venezuela 00582 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Consultant Cardiologist Kiribati 00686 Vietnam 0084 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Kuwait 00965 Virgin Islands UK 001284 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands US 001340 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Laos 00856 Wales (UK) 0044 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Latvia 00371 Yemen 00967 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Lebanon 00961 Yugoslavia 00381 Soor Center Liberia 00231 Zambia 00260 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center Noor Clinic William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Libya 00218 Zimbabwe 00263 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 23845955 Lithuania 00370 LIFESTYLE36 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Movies & Music regnancy 2ndp ziin araz mpap Bellfreefro risten Bell says she’s much more comfortable during her second pregnancy - not just because she has a better idea of what to expect, but because she’s no longer trailed by paparazzi. The actress established the No Kids KPolicy earlier this year that saw stars unite to withhold interviews from outlets that published photos of celebrity children without parental permission. With a spate of A-list signees to the policy, entertainment news outlets quickly curbed their practice of showing such images. “The response has been so overwhelming that it’s really almost a moral stance that the consumer demanded their publications take,” Bell said in an interview. “We’re all consuming healthier media now.” She said fellow entertainers have also told her they’re not photographed as often while out with their chil- dren. “I feel a lot safer because I’m not followed at all now,” Bell said. “It makes me feel like we all rallied and did some- thing - the good people that were on the side of responsible parenting and passionate about child welfare spoke up and made a difference and that is a really invigorating feeling.” The 34-year-old “Frozen” star said she’s also feeling good because of her eco-friendly lifestyle, which she discussed Tuesday at an event to promote Neutrogena Naturals. She said the brand “is completely in line with everything I believe in” and “brings the idea of green living to an everyday consumer.”t

Hudson’s hopes for Lohan new album JHUD ennifer Hudson hopes her new album will give her fans new insight into her life. The wants 33-year-old singer believes her third studio album, ‘JHUD’, is a “reflection” of true herself Jand she is excited about people listening to it. She told The Hollywood Reporter: “A part of my dream was for my fans to know me. You should have a sense of who you’re following. Mean Girls “I don’t feel like anything in the album was forced - it’s a reflection of me as a person, as a music lover, as a songwriter. “There are a lot of different elements of J.Hud or Jennifer in there, which is what I’m introducing everyone to.” For the new album, Jennifer worked sequel alongside several top music artists including R. Kelly, Iggy Azalea and T.I., who all appear on the LP as well as top producers such as Pharrell Williams and Timbaland. Meanwhile, the ‘Spotlight’ hitmaker - whose album features a mixture of upbeat tracks and slower ballads - indsay Lohan wants a ‘Mean has revealed she took inspiration for her music videos and lyrics from her own experiences. Girls’ sequel. The 28-year-old The video for the track which she released as her second single off the album, ‘Walk It Out’, Lactress - who played Cady was based around the neighborhood in which she grew up. Jennifer said: “Everything about Heron in the cult movie 10 years ago that song reminds me of growing up in the Englewood area, and the boys in the play- - is keen to persuade Tina Fey to pen ground playing basketball, trying to flirt with the girl that’s walking to the candy store.”I a follow-up to the popular 2004 film, wanted to revisit that, and it’s part of my background.” which also starred Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried. When asked about a possible sequel, she told Time Out magazine: “People love the movie. How do you top that? I was with Tina the other day and I said we should do another ‘Mean Girls’ - like an older version, where they’re all housewives and cheating. “That would be really funny. I’ll harass Tina to write it.” Meanwhile, the troubled star, who documented her Diesel previews battle to get her career and life back on track following her sixth stint in rehab last year, is set to make her West End debut in ‘Speed-the- Plow’ at the Playhouse Theatre in London tonight . However, she recently admitted that she’s nervous about performing the lead role in ‘incredible’ Fast the revival of David Mamet’s production but has been working hard at it. She said last month: “I’m working hard, and yesterday was my first day of reading lines on stage. “It was hard work and very scary, but that was what I came prepared for.”I’ve been acting since I was a child, and Furious 7’ but this is completely different and out of my comfort zone.” Lindsay will star in ‘Speed-the-Plow’ until November 29. in Diesel has hailed ‘Fast & Furious 7’ as “incredible” in a Facebook post pre- viewing the new film. The action hero - who recently starred in ‘Guardians of Vthe Galaxy’ - has teased the trailer to the new movie, saying watching the pro- mo was “emotional and bittersweet”, referring specifically to an image of himself with late co-star Paul Walker. His post reads: “Universal came to visit, to show the trailer for FF7. Speechless... yeah, it was that INCREDIBLE! (sic)” The 47-year-old actor added that he wished Walker was around to see the new film for himself. He said: “I Paul joins The 9th must also say, that it was emotional and bittersweet. “We all went above and beyond to make Pablo [Walker’s nickname] proud, but man, I wish he could see what we have created and just how far we have come.” The new film, which is set for release on April 3, 2015, boasts a star-studded cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Life of Louis Drax Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson, as well as Jason Statham and Kurt Russell. What’s more, Vin Diesel revealed in an interview with French radio station Skyrock FM that Iggy Azalea is to make a cameo appearance in ‘Fast & Furious 7’. aron Paul has joined the cast of ‘The 9th Life of Louis Drax’. The 35-year-old actor is to star alongside male model and ‘Fifty AShades of Grey’ star Jamie Dornan in Miramax’s upcoming supernatural thriller, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The ‘Breaking Bad’ star will play the titular character’s father, who becomes the target of a criminal investigation when his son suffers a near-fatal acci- Shatner linked to dent. The film is based on Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel of the same name and the story begins on Louis Drax’s ninth role in ‘Star Trek 3’ birthday, when a lifetime of curious mishaps conclude with a near-fatal fall. Dornan’s character, Dr Allan Pascal, will illiam Shatner could reprise the role of Captain Kirk in the ‘Star Trek’ sequel. The script be drawn into the thrilling mystery that for the eagerly-awaited new film - written by Roberto Orci, JD Payne and Patrick tests the boundaries of fantasy and reali- WMcKay - includes a part for the character Shatner, 83, played in the 1960s TV series. ty as he becomes desperate to reveal the The storyline includes a meeting between two of the show’s most famous characters, Captain strange circumstances behind the acci- Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock, BadassDigest.com reports. It’s said the scene is “plot-driven dent. Alexandre Aja is to direct the proj- and integral enough that it might just survive any future revisions”. The proposed scene will be ect from a screenplay written by Max a landmark moment for fans of the franchise, because Shatner and Nimoy haven’t appeared Minghella while AntColony Films and together in a ‘Star Trek’ film since ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’, in 1991. What’s more, Brightlight Pictures are to produce. Shatner has not starred as Kirk since 1994’s ‘Star Trek: Generations’. The speculation comes Following on from his success as crystal shortly after Zachary Quinto - who plays the role of Spock - said he believes ‘Star Trek 3’ will meth dealer Jesse Pinkman in hit AMC begin shooting within the next six months. When asked how close the cast are to filming ‘Star series ‘Breaking Bad’, Paul has recently Trek 3’, the 37-year-old actor told NBC: “I think it’s on the horizon. “Things are rumbling, so I starred in ‘Need for Speed’ and will next have a feeling that we will be in production sometime in the next six months.” The latest ‘Star appear in ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ Trek’ film is set to hit cinema screens in 2016. opposite Christian Bale.

Dylan named MusiCares Person of the Year McQueen downplays ack White, Sir Tom Jones and the Black Keys are among artists who will perform at a Bob Dylan tribute concert. The ‘Like a Rollin Stone’ singer has been named MusiCares JPerson of the Year by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and he significance of Oscar win will be honored with a special show on February 6 that will see a string of artists cover his most famous tracks. Neil Portnow, CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording teve McQueen says becoming the first black director to win a Best Picture Oscar Academy, said in a statement: “In celebrating the 25th anniversary of our MusiCares Person was “of no consequence” to him. The ‘12 Years a Slave’ director made the admission of the Year tribute, it is most fitting that we are honoring Bob Dylan, whose body of cre- Sin an interview with BBC’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ host Kirsty Young, in which he ative work has contributed to America’s culture, as well as that of the entire world, in gen- claimed his accolade shouldn’t be considered a major landmark for the black communi- uinely deep and lasting ways.” Bill Silva, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board added: ty. He explained: “It’s not important to me at all. “There’s nothing I don’t think black peo- “Bob Dylan’s songwriting ability is unmatched, and it will be an extraordinary evening to ple can’t do so that’s of no consequence to me. I mean so what?” The 2013 film - which hear his work showcased by such a remarkable group of artists.” stars Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Bennedict Cumberbatch - tells the story of an Other artists who will take to the stage at the concert include Neil African-American man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. McQueen, who lives and Young, Beck, Norah Jones, Eddie Vedder, Willie Nelson, John works in Amsterdam, also said he does not obsess about trying to please critics in Mellencamp, Bonnie Raitt and Crosby, Stills & Nash. MusiCares Hollywood. The 44-year-old explained: “I don’t need money. If you don’t need money, Person of the Year recognizes musicians for both artistic achieve- you are free. You do want you want. “The only thing they can offer you is money and if ment and their dedication to philanthropy. Past recipients of the you don’t need it, there is no enticement.” The London-born director is currently working accolade include Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and Brian on a drama based on the lives of black people in the city, which is set to air on the BBC. Wilson. Proceeds from concert will go to MusiCares, which pro- vides help to music people in need. —Bang Showbiz LIFESTYLE37 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Music & Movies Sheila E wants to write more, expand book to film

ays before the release of Sheila E.’s autobiography, Dnews spread that she was once engaged to Prince. The bigger bombshell, however, didn’t get nearly as much attention. “Pretty much, I was engaged to Carlos Santana. That was huge and no one knew about that,” said the 56-year- old drummer, who dated a married Santana when she was 18. “I thought people would be talking about that, and it’s more about, ‘She was engaged to Prince!’ Really?” Sheila E. said Santana, who was 36 at the time, was her first love, calling it “a wonderful romance.” “The Beat of My Own Drum,” the musician’s memoir released through Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books earli- In this Sept 2, 2014 file photo, Grammy-nominated singer, er this month, features stories that Sheila E poses for a portrait in support of her new album range from working with Marvin “The Beat of My Own Drum” released, Tues, Sept 2, 2014 in Gaye, Ringo Starr and Lionel Richie New York. —AP Photos This CD cover image released by Columbia Records shows “The Endless River,” a new album by Pink to being raped at age 5. Dating Floyd to be released on Nov 10.—AP Prince and Santana made her realize she had a thing for guys with gui- tars, she said. “And there were some New Pink Floyd album, first that I did not put in the book,” she said, laughing. Could they appear in another book? in 20 years, due in November “I’ll be able to share more stories on the next three to five books,” she said. The Grammy-nominated star ink Floyd, the British progressive rock group whose mized by other 1970s releases such as “Wish You Were said writing her first book - complet- “Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the best selling Here” and “The Wall” - was cutting edge for its era, mixing ed with co-writer Wendy Holden - Precords of all time, has announced its first new studio soft and heavy rock with philosophical lyrics and pioneer- has inspired her to write more, album in 20 years will be released on Nov 11. “The Endless ing electronic sounds. including children’s books. “When I River” is a tribute to Rick Wright, the band’s keyboardist The band also is known for its revolutionary light shows first approached (Simon & Schuster), who died in 2008, the band said on its website. and ethereal album artwork. “The Endless River” continues I said I wanted to do a bunch of The album is primarily made up of music that Wright, the latter tradition, featuring a standing man, back to the books,” she said. Sheila E. first began guitarist David Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason put viewer, rowing an old boat across the clouds towards what writing “The Beat of My Own Drum” together during a session in 1993 that led to the last studio is either a sunset or sunrise. in her 30s, and said the process felt album, 1994’s “The Division Bell”. “The band have spent the Gilmour and Mason are the two remaining members of “devastating.” She said coming back last year recording and upgrading the music, using the the band still working under the Pink Floyd name. Original to the writing process two years ago advantages of modern studio technology to create ‘The member Roger Waters left in the 1980s for a solo career. gave her a fresh Endless River’,” the website said. It is a primarily instrumen- With Wright, the four played together in a one-off reunion tal offering, with just one song. in July 2005 for the “Live 8” anti-poverty concert in London. perspective. “(Wright’s) keyboards are at the heart of the Pink The fifth member, Syd Barrett, died in 2006. He left the When writing about being raped Floydsound,” the band said. Pink Floyd is one of the most group in 1968 suffering from what is widely believed to be - a topic the performer has dis- successful bands in rock history. According to Billboard, its drug-induced mental illness. He is still considered by many cussed over the years - she thought 1973 “Dark Side” album is estimated to have sold more to be the driving force behind all that Pink Floyd became, she could share her story without than 45 million copies worldwide. The band’s style - epito- however. —Reuters hardship. “The beginning stages of it, because I had been talking about it for so long, it wasn’t hard, but when I really had to dig in and really In this June 1, 2007 file photo, Prince performs with Sheila E. Pictures show aging, bald get in detail about it, when I read it during the 2007 National Council of La Raza ALMA Awards in back, that’s when it hit me, like, Pasadena, Calif. ‘Wow. OK,’” she said. “I really have to imprisoned music legend go in deep to explain really what happened, and to explain it in a way “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love wants for the Sheila E. role. “I’m not that I think that I remember it at five Bizarre,” released the album “ICON” going to tell you who it is,” she said wo newly released photos of years old, not how I remember it last year. She says she wants to with a knowing smile. “They were Phil Spector show the toll of age now.” adapt her book into a movie. She’s very, very interested and excited.” Tand prison on the once flam- Sheila E., whose hits include already spoken to the person she —AP boyant music legend. The most recent photo shows a bald, somber looking 73-year-old Spector staring straight into the camera on Oct 28, 2013. An Review earlier photo of a smiling Spector is dated July 24, 2013. California Department of Corrections spokes- woman Terry Thornton said Tuesday that the October photo was taken when Spector was moved to the prison system’s huge California Heath Care Facility in Stockton. The facility provides medical and mental health care to the state’s sick- est inmates, including those with This May 23, 2005 file photo In this Oct 28, 2013 photo provid- chronic conditions. Thornton said she shows music producer Phil ed by the California Department couldn’t reveal details of Spector’s Spector during his trial at the of Corrections and Rehabilitation, health because of state medical priva- Los Angeles Superior Court in shows former music producer cy regulations. He is serving 19 years Los Angeles. —AP photos Phil Spector at the Health Care to life for the 2003 killing of actress Facility in Stockton, Calif. Lana Clarkson. —AP ‘Two Faces’ builds tension, has nice cast ho can say no to a good Patricia his luxurious hotel room, just as he and the continent instead of paying off student Highsmith adaptation? Though her Colette are tucking into bed. Awkwardly, the loans. In this image released by Focus Features, Eggs, voiced by Isaac Hempstead Wright, appears in a 1964 suspense thriller “The Two men decide to talk in the bathroom, and by On his first trip behind the camera, the W scene from “The Boxtrolls.” —AP Faces of January” is not the easiest story to the next scene Chester is dragging his uncon- British-Iranian Amini shows his skill at work- bring to the screen. Still, the production, shot scious nemesis down the thickly carpeted hall ing with actors and sensing the way they can in Greece and Turkey, is truly lush and the back to his own room. Rydal appears at the fill out literary characters. His screenplay gen- actors - Viggo Mortensen, Oscar Isaac and wrong moment and is forced to help him, not erally feels more naturalistic than Highsmith, Kirsten Dunst - almost too subtle and realizing the trouble he’s getting into. the dialogue less spare. As Chester’s wife and ‘Boxtrolls’ has a demented charm nuanced for the roles they play. The result is Rydal’s potential seductress, Dunst has the easy viewing. Built around a trio of greedy, Easy money least exciting role of the lot, something of a lying, vapid losers, the film opens in Athens at The most puzzling piece of plotting is bone over which the men contend, glower- spooky surrealism has been the specialty of the made out to be - live peacefully underground, charmingly one of the world’s most clichÈd tourist sights, why the McFarlands check out of the hotel in ing at each other. Mortensen’s elegant-until- Oregon-based animation studio Laika, the Pacific stacking themselves for bed as if preparing for UPS pickup. the Parthenon. But it’s 1962 and things looked the dead of night, leaving their passports cornered Chester is a layered character with Northwest purveyors of 3-D stop-motion. The self-styl- They mutter a little like the minions of “Despicable Me,” fleeing newer then. Rydal (Isaac), a good-looking behind. The moment they leave the hotel quite a moral range, from nefarious swindler A ized descendants of the Brothers Grimm and Neil Gaiman like springing accordions or camouflaging themselves beside a young American expat living in Greece, is they are on the lam, in a foreign country, to a man able to make a grand redemptive (whose “Coraline” they adapted for their first of three features), fruit cart. Among them is a child (voiced by Isaac Hempstead playing tour guide to a group of breathless Laika seems to yearn for a little more darkness, a touch of Wright) they’ve raised from infancy named “Eggs” (they all take college girls while portentously talking about Gothic in our children’s films - a laudable and very welcome their names from their boxes, like “Fish” and “Shoe”). He begins “the cruel tricks gods play on men,” when a impulse that makes one inclined to celebrate their fanciful to confidently explore Cheesebridge above ground, defending swanky American couple frolicking around grotesqueries on intentions alone. his Boxtroll brethren, and befriending the assertive, overlooked the ruins catch his eye. Laika’s talented animators, though, often seem to conjure daughter of one of the White Hats, Winnie (Elle Fanning). Chester McFarland (Mortensen) is not easy their puppetry whimsy quicker than their screenwriters can to warm up at first glance. Much older than his spin a story. That was the case with their last one, the brilliant- Victorian fantasy pretty wife Colette (Dunst), there’s a shrewd- looking but meandering “ParaNorman,” about a boy who alone The grubby Victorian designs overseen by directors ness about him that allows him to size Rydal sees and uncomfortably lives with the lingering spirits of dead Graham Annable (the story artist of “ParaNorman”) and up on the spot, watching as the boy brazenly people, and it’s true with their latest, “The Boxtrolls.” The film is Anthony Stacchi (co-director of the 2006 animated film “Open short-changes one of the girls on his tour. set in the British village of Cheesebridge where cheese is the Season”) are ultimately a little suffocating. “Boxtrolls,” loosely Rydal tells the couple he’s a Yale grad who’s in most prized currency and the town’s aristocracy - a trio of clue- based on Alan Snow’s “Here Be Monsters,” belongs to a sub- Europe while he tries to figure out what he In this image released by Magnolia Pictures, Viggo Mortensen, left, less men dubbed “White Hats” for their tall head-ware - spend genre called Steampunk, a kind of Victorian fantasy full of wants to do in life. Chester says he’s an invest- their time slathering over gouda. (In both location and cheese neo-futuristic machines. (It’s a little like a Tom Waits video.) ment broker and hires the boy to take them and Kirsten Dunst appear in a scene from “The Two Faces of worship, Laika is intruding somewhat on the territory of its The sensibility here is probably more than some small chil- around. Neither one seems particularly trust- January.” —AP sunnier stop-motion rivals, Aardman Animation of “Wallace dren will enjoy. Leaches, for example, don’t come standard in worthy and the viewer makes a note. and Gromit.”) The supposed scourge of Cheesebridge are the kids’ movies. But “The Boxtrolls,” despite a rather uncertainly Over dinner that evening, Rydal can’t take without any way to get home. Sensing easy gesture. He cuts an ugly but human figure Boxtrolls, little nocturnal creatures who wear discarded boxes structured story by screenwriters Irena Brignull and Adam his eyes off the light-hearted Colette, though money to be made, Rydal follows them like a vis-a-vis Rydal’s petty con man. But as Chester like a turtle shell and scavenge for mechanical parts on night- Pava, has its pleasantly demented charms. Surely, it’s only to his own date (Daisy Bevan) seems equally guardian angel and whisks them into hiding points out, it’s only a matter of time before time streets. Archibald Snatcher (a deliciously snarling Ben the good that an animated film can include a devilish little girl worthy of attention, not to mention rich and on the scintillating island of Crete, where a the younger man turns into him. “The Two Kingsley), having promised to rid the town of the Boxtrolls, like Winnie lamenting that the Boxtrolls aren’t as fearsome as available. Since the underground Colette- lot of story takes place. Suffice it to say things Faces of January,” a Magnolia release, is rated hunts them with his existentially confused henchmen (Richard foretold: “I was promised rivers of blood!” “The Boxtrolls,” a Rydal attraction is so crucial to the plot, it go from bad to much worse. The film’s major PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of Ayoade, Nick Frost), who - in the movie’s cleverest bit - are in a Focus Features release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture would have behooved everyone to work on a plus is its exotic atmosphere. It’s a time when America for “some violence, language and quandary over whether they’ve unwittingly become bad guys. Association of America for “action, some peril and mild rude little chemistry. In addition to jealousy, Chester you could still meet men like Chester who smoking.” Running time: 96 minutes. MPAA “I’m not a stooge, am I?” wonders one. humor.” Running time: 96 minutes. Two and a half stars out of has new problems to deal with when a private had been on the European front in World rating definition for PG-13: Parents strongly The Boxtrolls - naturally, not the monsters they’ve been four. —AP eye sent by the mob (played tough by a hard- War II and returned as tourists, and when cautioned. Some material may be inappropri- nosed David Warshofsky) tracks him down to smart Ivy League grads could bum around ate for children under 13. —AP lifestyle THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Fashion Nearly-cooked models start Paris Fashion Week

inety-three shows, nine days, one applauded on seeing rippled “grill” patterns fashion-crazed city. The world’s trav- that had been imprinted on the parts of the Nelling circus of fashion editors, buy- techno-fabric exposed. It resembled a sort ers and celebrities waved goodbye to the of microwaved Jacquard. The models wore cobbled streets of Milan and cried “Bonjour stiff, plastic bob-like wigs - and certainly Paris” on Tuesday, bracing itself for the last, looked like they needed a cold shower fol- most colorful furlong of spring-summer lowing this grueling spring-summer show. 2015 ready-to-wear shows. Tuesday’s a day for the up-and-coming fashion designers From Tokyo to Paris and stars of tomorrow. And it can pack Already famous in native Japan, award- some surprises. Anthony Vaccarello, who winning Morinaga is known for his daring has dressed Gwyneth Paltrow, gave himself concepts that merge art and fashion - such an ego boost by plastering his name in as a 2009 creation: a square box that huge letters all over his clothes, while new- becomes a trench coat when the box rib- comer house Anrealage tried to cook its bing is taken out. Making the leap from models for the sake of art. As they say, Tokyo to Paris is a big step for a Japanese “fashion has no mercy.” Here are show designer as it opens up the house to the reports and highlights from day one. international gaze. “Tokyo is already an international city with our own big fashion Models cooked in the name of fashion scene. New York is too domestic, too Japanese house Anrealage produced a American. But Paris is the international highly original debut show in Paris. The fashion window to the world for us,” said pressure is on for any newbie on the calen- Hirofumi Kurino, senior adviser at Japanese dar to make a mark. House designer clothes store United Arrows, who attended Kunihiko Morinaga took this literally - and the Anrealage show. “There are the highest cooked imprints into his designs, live dur- level critics and buyers here, and like ing the show. Several models in plain black (Japanese brand) Sacai that shows here, and white trapeze-silhouettes, and stencil- Paris means more customers and is seen as like cotton and lace outer-garments, the next level for a Japanese designer,” he walked into a “grill” area, where they added. Models present creations by Anthony Vaccarello during the 2015 stopped to be heated up by intense beam lighting. When they walked off stiffly, in Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on September 23, 2014 plate-bottom stilettos, the audience in Paris. — AP/AFP photos

Models present creations for Devastee. lifestyle THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Fashion Anthony Vaccarello blows his name up Ophelie Klere and Francois Alary. Kookie Anthony Vaccarello is one of the biggest prints were the main thrust - with teapots and names on the first day of collections. And he’s church facades with smiley faces, huge polka not afraid to show it. The French designer was dots, hands and rain clouds. The zaniness, in a typically sexy mood for this print-rich delivered against an optical black-and-white show that featured his own name blown up check runway, made it seem as if Klere and on many of the looks. He began his musings Alary were winking at us throughout the with the sartorial pin stripe and business jack- whole 25-piece show. It worked well. Dark et silhouettes - which were given a feminine men’s coats, and one double breasted jacket, lift with provocative, diagonal uber- gave way to more silken, diaphanous silhou- miniskirts. And the mood for graphic prints ettes like a light A-line coat that could have continued in the form of huge blown-up writ- been a dress, or, elsewhere, a beautiful loose, ing, which spelled out letters from the navy jumpsuit with a black waistband and a designer’s name and “spring” in black and limp sash. Silhouettes were loose and effort- white. There was a certain feel for the lessly feminine. And despite the myriad Swinging Sixties, or the designs of Courreges, prints, which featured on almost everything, in the show’s later slashed, figure-hugging proceedings retained a sense of pared down monochrome minidresses that had a nice dis- minimalism thanks to the bare legs, light co-sheen. Too many different styles meant, at materials and sockless black patent leather times, there was a sense of overkill. But brogues. Wednesday’s shows include Dries Vaccarello should be applauded for an envi- Van Noten, Rochas and Guy Laroche.—AP able new scooped, U-shaped neckline that looks sensual without being trashy.

Devastatingly cool Devastee It was a devastatingly cool show for Devastee’s tongue-in-cheek designers

Models present creations for Anrealage. Bell free from paparazzi in 2nd pregnancy

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 36

Models present creations from the Dolce & Gabbana collection during the 2015 Spring / Summer Milan Fashion Week on September 21, 2014 in Milan. — AFP Iran photographer pays Meet Brunello Cucinelli, Italy’s cashmere king price for artistic freedom he best place to eat in Milan during fashion starting at $1,000). Cucinelli’s workers are paid sub- week is not in one of the city’s multi-starred stantially more than average in a sector where Trestaurants. It’s in the courtyard of a shop exploitation thrives from first to third world. The ranian photographer Newsha Tavakolian was over the Changed course where the stubble-cheeked son of a farmer has boss has built them a library and a company can- moon when she won a 50,000-euro prize from a French Tavakolian said the foundation withdrew its offer to rigged up some maxi-sized barbecues and deep- teen that could pass for an idyllic country restau- Ifoundation. She never imagined she would lose it to exhibit her work and publish it in book form on “security” fat fryers to entertain a few hundred hungry rant. Solomeo has its own theatre; local roads and “censorship” by her own benefactors. “I am very sad, disap- grounds, but that in reality there had been a disagreement friends and contacts. Welcome to the agreeable squares have been restored, buildings renovated. pointed. I was so happy that with this prize I finally get a over artistic freedom. Iran’s moderate President Hassan world of Brunello Cucinelli, the one-time hippy Even the football stadium where he still plays with reward for working in difficult conditions,” the 33-year-old Rouhani advocates greater cultural and social freedom who spent 36 years transforming himself from boyhood friends was Cucinelli’s work. photographer who won the Carmignac Gestion photojour- within the bounds of Islamic values, but he often comes in engineering dropout into Italy’s king of cashmere It all reflects a belief, inspired by the Greek nalism award in October 2013 told AFP. for criticism from the country’s strong conservative wing and champion of capitalism with a human face. philosophers, that wealth, if used productively to The brief of her project was to investigate “the burnt which fiercely opposes Western cultural encroachment. “Try the fagioli,” advises the grill chef, gesturing transform places and lives, need not be spiritually generation... whose parents made a (1979 Islamic) revolu- In a sign of the red lines in the Islamic republic, seven to a sage-infused pot of white beans as he hoiks a redundant. It is a philosophy, he says, that has its tion which shocked the world, and now have to cope with young Iranians featured dancing to Pharrell Williams’ hit huge hunk of prized Chianina steak off the roots in seeing his father ground down by the its consequences”. In her proposal, Tavakolian said “togeth- “Happy” in a video which went viral on the Internet were embers. Delicious indeed: as are the fried zucchini drudgery and daily humiliations of the factory er this group of 25-35-year-olds forms a silent majority in earlier this month given suspended jail and lashing sen- flowers, the corpulent “salsicce norcine” (sausages work he was forced to turn to when Cucinelli jun- Iran, rarely seen or heard of outside of the country. Not tences, their lawyer said. The foundation’s Ivan Moneme from Norcia, Italy’s pork capital) and the free flow- ior was a teenager. “To sum it all up, the objective extremist Islamic or fashionably ‘underground’, they are said the photographer changed course between the time ing “Il Bruciato” from Bolgheri, Tuscany’s hottest of my life has been to give work a moral and eco- often overlooked.” of her presentation to when she delivered the project, micro wine zone. Food counts for Cucinelli. At nomic dignity. “We can produce special products But earlier this month, she announced on her Facebook which had become “more aesthetic rather than a photo Solomeo, the medieval hamlet in Umbria that is but to do so we need to have human beings work- page that she was bowing out due to “irreconcilable differ- reportage”. the HQ of his 1.2-billion-euro ($1.5 billion) empire, ing in special conditions.” ences over the presentation of my work” and was returning He denied the charge of censorship and said it was workers take a 90-minute lunch break: enough to the award from the foundation, whose patron is French more a case of a heated meeting between “a patron who eat properly and take the nap that is part of their The bottom line investment banker Edouard Carmignac. The foundation intervenes a little too much and a laureate who is a little boss’s daily ritual, wherever he is in the world. Cucinelli did not become a darling of the Milan denies trying to censor her work and said the award was too young.” The artist had herself agreed to the new title “Lunch is for wimps,” said Gordon Gekko, the stock exchange without having an unerring eye suspended because the Iranian government was exerting before changing her mind, he said. As for Tavakolian, she Michael Douglas character in Oliver Stone’s “Wall for the bottom line. Shares in the company dou- “heavy pressure” on the artist and her family. has returned the 25,000 euro ($32,000) advance for the Street”. To Cucinelli it is the extra virgin oil that bled in the year after a successful 2012 IPO and it Tavakolian traces the dispute back to a conversation award. “No matter what, I will publish my work the way I keeps the wheels of his business running, and the has since sailed on steadily in the teeth of gusting about “artistic freedom... when Mr Carmignac wanted to want and with the title I want. I want to be proud of my stock market loves him for it.. “Coming from the economic crosswinds. Sales in the first six months change the name of the project to ‘Lost Generation’, from first book,” she said. — AFP countryside we have this food culture that is a little of 2014 rose 11.6 percent (to 175.8 million euros), her title: ‘Blank pages of an Iranian photo album’”. “He want- bit special,” Cucinelli told AFP. “By that I mean that it net profit by 18.6 percent (to 15.6 million). An ed to change the whole nature of the project, with other is so, so important to eat a peach that has been expanded company-owned retail network is help- pictures, with another title,” she said. “I said from the begin- picked an hour before, a tomato that has just been ing to drive profitability. The group has just ning that the new title would get me into trouble (with the harvested, a good oil... opened a first shop in Brazil and, Cucinelli confid- Iranian authorities), but the most important was my artistic “The most important thing is the quality of the ed to AFP, India is next on the horizon with an freedom,” said the photographer. “I said: ‘You are trying to raw ingredients. “And so it is in business. We have opening scheduled for early 2015. censor my work’.’” the values of a restaurant and we, in our own way, But Italy’s cashmere king can’t see himself, like are trying to cook in a very careful and precise way. his compatriot Giorgio Armani, running the busi- We are trying to make a product that is, certainly a ness at the age of 80. India will be export market little exclusive, and clearly very expensive, but also number 63 and Cucinelli expects the total to top of the highest quality and craftsmanship.” 70 before he calls it a day. — AFP

‘Absolutely a hippy’ Cucinelli can afford to be a generous host. On paper he is a billionaire. At least he was until earlier this year when, aged 60, he transferred his 61 per- cent stake in his eponymous company to a trust fund that will look after his daughters, Camilla and Carolina, and ensure that his philanthropic work continues after his death. It is a remarkable state of affairs for the son of a tenant farmer who founded his business in 1978 armed with $500 and one good idea. Having seen Benetton’s success with brightly-coloured wool sweaters, the young philosopher-entrepreneur guessed correctly there would be a market for something similar in cash- mere. It was to prove a life-transforming flash of genius. “From 15 to 24, in truth, I lived the good life,” he recalled. “I spent my time in cafes. I didn’t study much, there were the cultural revolutions of 1968 the bar life in Italy was a bit like the Cafe de Flore in Paris: discussions, debates, philosophy. We talked about religion, politics, the rights of women. “It was my university of life. Yes, I was a hippy, absolutely a hippy.” Thirty-six years of decidedly unhippyish hard In this file picture Italian textile entrepreneur Brunello Cucinelli work later and Brunello Cucinelli SpA is a billion- poses during an interview in a hotel in central Rome on June 10, euro business specializing in what the industry jar- 2010. — AFP gon terms “the absolute luxury sector” (ie. sweaters

Iranian photographer Newsha Tavakolian poses for a picture in a park in the capital Tehran on June 26, 2011. — AFP