Kuwait to Vote July 25

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www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 15846- Friday, June 21, 2013 Kuwait to vote July 25

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KUWAIT: Youngsters campaign for their candidates during the previous parliamentary election held in December 2012. — File photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

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[email protected] @thenewme20 Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Local Kuwait’s my business Spotlight The skill of matching yourself to a job The monster is gone

day, and all other free days they’re entitled to, and these By John P Hayes employees always think they are entitled. And since they By Muna Al-Fuzai don’t believe the company pays them enough, “stealing” time (or other things) here and there doesn’t bother them. “If they paid me more I’d care more about my job.” [email protected] The answer to that is, “No, you wouldn’t, because you [email protected] are a mismatch for the job, and until you fix that you will never be happy.” People claim they can be happier with ore than 60 percent of professionals working in the more money, but experience shows us that the more peo- n Egyptian convict, Hajjaj Saadi, 33, was exe- Middle East North Africa (MENA) region believe ple are paid the more they spend, and if they’re prone to cuted in Kuwait this week. Called the monster Mthey are not adequately compensated, according be in debt making X they will be in debt earning Y (a of Hawally, the man was found guilty of rap- to a survey by the job site Bayt.com. Of course, who among greater amount). You cannot fix a job mismatch. When the A us will say we are adequately compensated? Few people. job and the personality don’t jive, both employer and ing 17 children under the age of 10. We all think we should be paid more, and we’re probably employee lose! The horrible crimes had triggered a heated debate right. But here’s what makes matters worse in MENA. In that No skills? Then who wants you? in the media and among the public, especially the same survey, only 49 percent of professionals said they The Bayt.com data included some other important infor- parents. Saadi denied all his crimes in the court, enjoy their job “on most days”; a further 25 percent said mation. Regardless of your personality type, if you fail to they enjoy their job but only “on some days.” When you shocking the Kuwaiti public, and insisted his confes- develop skills you will likely fail in the workplace. Many don’t enjoy your job most days, and you think you’re sions were extracted under duress. I personally do Kuwait nationals who lead major companies have stated underpaid, what’s the result? Unhappy, unproductive and not believe him. He committed not one but 17 rapes that local job seekers lack skills. Many graduates cannot often unbearable people. adequately communicate or work successfully in teams. and was arrested while trying to escape. He was More to say about job profiling Students are often led to believe that “the certificate” is the arrested in July 2007 when he was all set to board a So just when I thought I had said enough about match- flight to Luxor in Egypt. The authorities said Saadi ing the job to the personality (actually, I can’t ever say goal when it’s not. I understand that “the certificate” helps enough about that topic), Bayt.com releases this survey them land a job and get paid more money, but that’s not had confessed to raping 17 boys and girls after luring data, and confirms my previous articles on this topic, which the answer. People are programmed to be happy. When them onto rooftops in Hawally, an area mainly inhab- you can read at www.news.kuwaittimes.net. they are not happy not much of anything else matters. ited by expats. More and more employers want to hire people with If you work in MENA, you have less than a 50 percent With his execution, the victims’ parents would chance of “enjoying” your job “most days”. Basically, there’s skills. In fact, two-thirds of companies told Bayt.com that they don’t mind hiring people with no experience, provid- surely have felt a degree of comfort to see the end of a good chance you will dislike your job most days. Wow! If a man who was no less than a monster because he you spend most of your conscious time at work, or if you ed they have skills. Kuwait could help itself in the long term spend significant time thinking about what you don’t like if the Ministry of Education insisted that schools at every sexually assaulted and mauled the children, leaving about your job, what kind of life is that? Wouldn’t it be bet- level, including the universities, teach transferrable skills. them scarred for life not just physically but mentally ter to find the job that’s perfectly matched to what you are Matching yourself to a job is a skill and socially. capable of doing, and what you prefer to do? The answer is And by the way, learning how to match a job to a per- The victims’ thoughts, ideas, feelings, actions and sonality is a skill that can be and should be learned before “Yes”! attitudes for the rest of their lives stay impacted by you get a job, or before you accept your next job. What’s more important to you? the gory memories of their childhood, and it is not In fact, people who love what they do don’t worry as A US profiling firm has asked me to test its program that much about how much they are compensated. Salary does- matches personalities to sales and business ownership impossible for any of them to carry some of such n’t matter as much to them. “I could earn more money if I opportunities. If you’re interested in those positions, you negative feelings and confusion into their later years, worked elsewhere,” they will admit, “but I love my job and can take the assessment as my guest. Go to this link: and negatively affecting the advances of someone that’s more important.” http://tinyurl.com/kkkmwgu. who may wish to be their lover or close friend. Why don’t employees understand that? Even more per- In the West, there are support groups for such vic- plexing: Why don’t employers understand it? Employers Dr. John P. Hayes heads the Business Administration depart- tims of heinous crimes. Unfortunately, we do not pay untold amounts of money every year because of ment at GUST. Contact Dr. Hayes at questions@hayesworld- unhappy and unproductive employees. Those are the wide.com, or via Twitter @drjohnhayes. By the way, he loves have such a tradition and have no such facility in the employees who make certain to avail of every vacation his work because he’s a perfect match for the job. Arab world. I guess this is so because we tend to hide our problems in the dark and sweep these issues under the carpet as if it will make them go away. People in general do not like to speak out openly In my view about their troubles. I feel it should be the exact opposite because only that will ease the pressure and make one realize that one is not alone and it is I seek help, too! something that can befall anyone of us. If someone falls victim to such a crime, it does not mean he or she is a bad person and should carry the burden of guilt or bear a grudge all their lives. It is neither right nor healthy. It is never going to be easy to learn and accept the By Labeed Abdal news of the hanging of a human being. Hajjaj Saadi, who was handed out a death sentence, complained shortly before his execution that he was not given any assistance by the Egyptian government, a wit- [email protected] ness said. I do not know about the legal assistance from their side but I think he was given a lot of time know for sure that when we human beings are inflicted It is truly like seeking a remedy from an international since 2007. We are now in 2013. with any pain, or suffer an illness, that can happen to doctor for the world’s countries when any one country This monster is now gone and can no longer Ianyone, we seek the help and advice of the best doctors seeks reforms in its labor laws to protect both its employees or clinics. and employers. harm any other child, boy or girl. I know that does Similarly, the machines or even robots need annual After having heard so many reports about expatriates not mean that all evils are now over and no new maintenance and service. who are dependent on family visa and who should not be monster will show up again in Kuwait. We must not When I see the real circumstances of the expats, I want working but continue to violate the law being deported allow a man like him to languish in jail for too many to know what the problem is, what is really going on, and regardless of their condition, and also reports about their years. If he was to be judged, jailed or executed, he why have we not fixed it so far? sponsors no longer being allowed to obtain any visa for I am sure about the efforts being proactively undertaken anyone, has convinced me that the best prescription is to should have received his just deserts a long time by Kuwait, working alongside the International Labor ensure that the state becomes the trusted sponsor for any ago. Keeping such a person in jail only adds to the Organization, and hope these will lead us to find good expat. We all want to end the very reason that leads to the sufferings of others. The monster is gone, thanks be remedies and a solution that would satisfy everyone. legal problems. This is the best solution. to Allah. Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

The OFWs with their trainers.

50 OFWs graduate in art of beauty and hair styling

By Ben Garcia Through a special program, dubbed Distressed OFW Skills Development Program, launched in January this he instinctive spirit to lend a helping hand is one year at the embassy’s compound at the Filipino great quality we all share, irrespective of our Workers Resource Center (FWRC), their group success- Tnationalities. In fact, everyone has an inner fully graduated and equipped about 50 OFWs instinct to help a fellow human being and offer a shoul- (Overseas Filipino Workers) with essential skills for their der to lean on, especially in times of need or a crisis. To survival and to help obtain a new job. many Filipinos, philanthropy comes as a natural They have been targeting distressed OFWs (house- instinct. Such kindly souls are found all over Kuwait. maids) to be the recipient of their act of charity. Both Though it appear to be a small endeavor, their work are successful in their chosen field of beauty, art and has definitely made a difference and changed the lives health. Sordian and Al-Halimi have together agreed to and destiny of others. train Filipinas for free. Meet Mel Marquez Sordian and Farida Al-Halimi, “You know that studying beauty and healthcare is both experts in changing not just the external appear- expensive. In Kuwait, if you want to learn the methods ance of their customers but also changing the lives of we have been teaching, you need at least KD600. We many Filipinos who have been touched by their gen- do it free for the Filipinas because we want them to The nail polishing art erosity. develop and improve their craft,” Sordian noted. “Now, I am not saying that a housemaid’s job is pet- ty work, but compared to the salary of the beauty expert who earn KD400-600 nowadays, I think this is far Known to many in Kuwait as a beauty consultant, Sordian said given better than earning KD60-80 if you are a housemaid,” she added. Al-Halimi, owner of Salon Rawan Al-Salmiya the chance she would love to share all her secrets with the Filipina agrees. “My focus in training is on hair styling, cutting and crowd willing to learn the art of looking beautiful and feeling beauti- coloring. This is also very expensive craft in many salons in Kuwait nowadays. For example, for hair cut- ful at all times. She had previously worked in various women’s health ting, styling and coloring, people are now paying up to KD100. We encourage our Filipina girls to study and clubs and spas in Kuwait, from Hilton Hotel to Palms Beach Hotel, gain experience in these skills and earn better salaries. Champion for Women and Flex Club. If you can cook, and tend to the complex house chores, why not learn the simple art of hair styling and coloring?” Al-Halimi asserted. Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Even before sharing their craft with the amount of money,” she said. distressed OFWs, Sordian and Al-Halimi Known to many in Kuwait as a beauty were training and sharing their skills with consultant, Sordian said given the chance fellow Filipinos outside the embassy com- she would love to share all her secrets with pound. the Filipina crowd willing to learn the art of “Before we launched the program at the looking beautiful and feeling beautiful at embassy, we were training a number of all times. She had previously worked in var- Filipinos. I have many protÈgÈes who are ious women’s health clubs and spas in now experts in the field and are earning Kuwait, from Hilton Hotel to Palms Beach great amount of money. They were very Hotel, Champion for Women and Flex Club. appreciative and we wanted to broaden “I was hired by these companies, mostly our reach. That is why I asked for assistance to open their spa and beauty clubs. Once it from our Labor AttachÈ David Des Dicang was established, I moved on to new com- to help us introduce the program for the panies to share my knowledge with others. distressed OFWs. He accepted it instantly If I could share it with some, why not with and now we have a free training platform our fellow OFWs,” she opined. and workshop at the embassy every “When your heart is into helping peo- Friday,” Sordian mentioned. ple, you will do all you can to really reach The students were taught the basic out to them. I have been offering this pro- skills in spa treatment, massage, nail art gram a long time back, but some are not techniques, manicure and pedicure, hair very interested in it. However, when I made cutting/styling and coloring. “Beauty art this offer to Labor AttachÈ Dicang, her and hair styling is a good and respectable response was very positive and she job and, in fact, a million dollar business for embraced the idea. My partner is a charity many. If you know the art and the essence person, Madam Farida, who also is very of beauty, and know how to treat the body, happy,” she noted. you don’t need to remain a housemaid and be treated like slaves. You can become a beauty consultant and earn a consider- able

Program, launched in January this year at the embassy’s compound at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC), their group successfully graduated and equipped about 50 OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) with essential skills for their survival and to help obtain a new job.

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Summer turns heat on Kuwait power grids Rapid urbanization, growing population add to electricity woes

By Haneyl Jacob electricity is important beyond the minimal Just finding the opportunities to save energy “energy management” is also used by many to impact on your wallet in a country like Kuwait. won’t help you to save energy - you have to reduce the damage that we’re doing to our ith the blistering summer tempera- Whilst energy management has been practiced take action to target them. There are many planet, Earth. As a human race we would proba- tures hovering above 50 Degree in commercial buildings for a long time, it has ways you can conserve electricity in your home. bly find things rather difficult without the Earth, WCelsius in Kuwait, its cooling systems been neglected in homes. Most homeowners Turn off appliances completely when not in use, so it makes good sense to try to make it last. By have gone into an override putting extra load aren’t even aware of the term, and adopt a care- use energy saving appliances, and insulate your taking the time to question yourself and the on the country’s power grids. Already, Kuwait less and ignorant approach when it comes to home properly to help lower your heating and amount of electricity that you waste on a daily has recorded the highest electricity consump- reducing their energy consumption. cooling costs. Swapping your standard incan- basis, you may find yourself more motivated to tion this year at 10,050 megawatts, a figure that Electricity can be obtained from solar or descent bulbs with newer, energy saving mod- do your part. Begin conserving the electricity in surpasses last year’s consumption by 600 wind sources, but most of the electricity used in els like LED bulbs can help reduce your house- your home today and reap the benefits for megawatts. Still, citizens and residents appear homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels hold’s energy consumption, and result in signif- many years to come. At a time when global cli- unfazed as wastage of electricity continues such as coal or, in case of Kuwait, an unimagin- icant savings. mate is changing at alarming rates, the govern- unabated. able amount of oil. These fuels are needed to The easiest and the most cost-effective ener- ment and organizations need everyone while “I don’t see any incentive in worrying about power the turbines that produce electricity. gy-saving opportunities typically require little trying their best to do their share of preserving the daily consumption of electricity at my These resources are neither unlimited nor or no capital investment at a commercial level the planet. Choosing to limit your home’s or house because the tariff is really low. The MEW renewable and the faster they are used, the besides requiring only the tiniest of effort. And office’s use of fossil products and utilizing solar, had also assured us that there will be no power cuts since March when they revealed that gen- erators had been distributed nationwide,” said a citizen, expressing a common view of the people. Statistics indicate that electricity production is likely to barely meet the expected record-breaking consumption rates this year. Kuwait leads the world in the per capita electricity usage and there is increasing pressure on the country’s electricity supply with rapid urbanization and growing population. “Definitely, summer puts extra load on our power grids as the consumption goes up sharply,” an MEW official confirmed. The Ministry of Electricity and Water spends over a billion dinar every year to meet the entire electricity requirement of the country. The bulk of electricity is consumed by buildings, leading to high greenhouse gas emissions. Infrastructure in Kuwait is growing rapidly, as is the electricity consumption. Heavy subsi- dization only leads to massive wastage of energy and de-prioritizes potential conservation efforts. According to a Business Intelligence Middle East report, at the rate Kuwait is con- suming energy, with an average Kuwaiti using 22 times more resources than the country pro- vides per person, experts believe it will need as much as 20 percent of its oil production capacity just for energy generation by 2017 - a consumption pattern deemed unsustainable given that 66 percent of the country’s GDP is dependent on the oil industry. Therefore, implementation of energy efficiency and energy conservation programs in buildings is an important goal. The idea of conserving electricity is based on Technicians work at a power station in Kuwait. the idea of using a resource wisely rather than faster the end of the pit is approaching. one of the simplest ways to save a significant wind or other forms of energy, you are not only wasting it aimlessly. Solutions to conserve ener- Another major impact that mindless consump- amount of energy is to encourage your staff or saving electrical energy, but also reducing gy should ensure comfort for an individual to tion of electricity can lead to is the release of coworkers to switch the equipment off at the greenhouse emission in the environment. As a an extent with minimum power and energy enormous amounts of pollution into the atmos- end of each office working day. Looking at result, there is less pollution and climatic demand so that it may be practicable. This phere by burning fossil fuels. Acid rain, soot and detailed interval energy data is the ideal way to changes. means doing simple things, such as turning off toxic gases are just a few of the ways electricity find routine energy wastage. You can check Looking into the future of electricity con- lights when you leave a room, as well as more production poisons the environment and must whether staff and timers are switching appli- sumption in Kuwait, continued economic devel- but practically less involved processes, such as not be taken lightly as the effect it has on cli- ances off without having to supervise the elec- opment will move the country on to the path of replacing standard light bulbs and appliances matic changes is not to be ignored. tricity consumption in an office throughout the increased per-capita electricity demand, which, with those that use less electricity. While you “It was very hard for us to stay at home when day, and, you can usually figure out who or combined with population growth, will drive may not notice much of an impact on your day- there were power cuts in 2010. There were peo- what causes energy wastage and create aware- demand for electricity upwards over the com- to-day life when you make these changes, the ple sitting in the streets because they couldn’t ness among the workers. ing decades. Since the capacity of electricity environmental impact of your actions will be bear the heat at home. People in Jleeb Al- You would typically analyze your meter data generation is likely to be increased with immense on a much larger scale. One of the Shoyouk and Hassawi saw power cuts that last- to find and quantify routine energy usage to demand, citizens need to be more aware of the biggest motivators people have for conserving ed from six to 12 hours a day and I hope we pay your bills, so it shouldn’t be a lot more consequences that arise with the wastage of electricity in their homes is the accumulated never go through that again,” said a resident of effort to see how much energy is being wasted energy, whether inexpensive or not. Subsidized savings in their energy bills at the end of the Jleeb who experienced shortage of electricity in unnecessarily in the entire building. It’s not just tariffs are a luxury and must be taken advan- year. There are other reasons why conserving an intolerably hot country like Kuwait. about saving energy in buildings - the term tage of without excessive use and carelessness. Local FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 House-to-house raids in Mangaf, 120 held Carry IDs, documents: MOI

KUWAIT: Officials during the house-to-house inspection campaign. KUWAIT: Residency violators being rounded up in Mangaf. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

By Hanan Al-Sadoun

KUWAIT: With the director, Brigadier Ghazi Al-Mai and his assistant, Colonel Najeeb Al-Shatti, in attendance, the immigration detec- tive teams resumed surprise inspection campaigns in Mangaf that resulted in the arrest of 120 persons on account of expired residency visa, working for people other than sponsors and domestic laborers who had absconded, security sources said. Commenting on the campaign, Al-Mai stressed that the Ministry of Interior was determined on carrying on with such efforts to track down urged both citizens and expatriates Ahmadi campaign and three for criminal cases (includ- hashish, said security sources. Case and arrest outlaws and suspects. to carry their IDs, drivers’ licenses Continuing its crackdown on ille- ing one for attempted murder). The papers indicated that the detectives On its part, MOI’s security media and car registration papers with gal residents and outlaws, Ahmadi campaign also resulted in the had been tipped off about the two department stressed that these them at all times to avoid detention, security forces recently conducted a detention of five vehicles and suspects, who were later arrested in campaigns targeted those in viola- especially since all police patrols surprise inspection that resulted in issuance of 145 traffic citations. possession of hash in Qurain. The tion of residency laws or working were now equipped with comput- the arrest 301 people. Among them, two men also led the police to a flat for people other than their spon- ers and access to the ministry’s 17 were illegal laborers, 275 did not Citizens arrested they had rented in Shaab, where sors, deserters, wanted people and database to check anyone’s legal have identification documents or Narcotics detectives recently more hashish was kept. A case was fugitives. status. were in violation of the residency arrested two citizens for being in filed and both suspects were The security media department law, six were wanted for civil cases, illegal possession of a quarter kilo of referred to the relevant authorities. Iranian delegation’s visit termed fruitful KRCS enters 3rd stage of KUWAIT: The Undersecretary of Kuwait Foreign Ministry Khaled Al-Jarrallah hailed the positive outcome of the ‘loaf of bread’ project recent Iranian senior delegation’s visit to Kuwait. In press statements following the conclusion of the sec- BEIRUT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society an projects in both Lebanon and Jordan number-one country in terms of volume ond annual Arab diplomats training program held here, Al- (KRCS) announced here yesterday to help the refugees. of the assistance given to the displaced Jarrallah said the reciprocal visits help dispel concerns and launching the third stage of “loaf of For his part, head of the north region Syrians in Lebanon. — KUNA counter misconceptions. bread” project in Lebanon to aid Syrian of the Lebanese Red Cross Youssef “The meeting that brought together Kuwait Deputy refugees in cooperation with the Boutros hailed the humanitarian efforts Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Lebanese Red Cross. of Kuwait Red Crescent Society, namely Sabah and the Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab KRCS head envoy Musaed Al-Enezi organization of these relief activities to and African Affairs Hussain Amir Abdullahyan on said that the third phase of this humani- aid the displaced Syrians, stressing this Wednesday included positive, detailed and lengthy talks tarian program was launched in a num- action contributed significantly to allevi- that tackled all issues of common concern and means to ber of areas north and south of ating their plight. develop and strengthen bilateral relations,” Al-Jarrallah told Lebanon, and that about 180,000 peo- Boutros added that this is not the reporters, adding that the talks were frank and realistic. ple would benefit from it for a month. first initiative undertaken by the Kuwait Al-Jarrallah expressed Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry’s full sat- Al-Enezi stressed the keenness to Red Crescent Society as it has always isfaction with the outcome of the Iranian delegation’s visit. improve living conditions of needy fami- been active in helping the afflicted and “Such visits help dispel concerns that overshadow the lies experiencing difficult circumstances, needy in all parts of the world. Latest Kuwaiti-Iranian relations and misconceptions about stances pointing out the KRCS would begin statistics show number of displaced of regional and international issues,” he said. within days launching of (Eid) clothing Syrians in Lebanon has reached more He also unveiled that both sides will continue coordina- project, covering thousands of displaced than 530,000, mostly in the regions of tion for convening the joint Kuwaiti-Iranian committee as Syrian families. It would also provide Akkar, Tripoli, Menieh and Dennieh in well as the anticipated visits of His Highness the Amir iftars (fast-breaking) meals for 15,000 the north of the country. Many activists, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s to Tehran. On Syrians during the upcoming holy associations, charities and institutions a separate issue, Al-Jarrallah said the Foreign Ministry will month of Ramadan. have been providing humanitarian aid pursue relentless efforts and talks with US officials to help He also praised efforts by Chairman to the displaced Syrians in Lebanon release Kuwaiti inmates of Guantanamo Bay detention cen- of Red Crescent Society Barjas Al-Barjas Turkey and Jordan. Kuwait through its ter.—KUNA for implementation of these humanitari- official institutions and charities is the Musaed Al-Enezi Local9 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Kuwait to hold election on July 25 Sixth parliamentary vote in seven years

KUWAIT: Kuwait will hold its sixth weeks beforehand. They said the date, which the opposition says Kuwaiti history and the December Supreme Constitutional Court’s rul- parliamentary election in seven years changes made it more difficult to makes alliances difficult. poll had the lowest voter turnout ings on the parliament laws this week. on July 25, a snap vote ordered by its form alliances in a country that bans HH the Amir, who has ruled since the first election held in 1963. The Cabinet has also assigned the top court after the current assembly political parties. The government says Kuwait since 2006, said the changes Prominent Islamist and populist ministerial committee for legal affairs was dissolved earlier this week in the new rules brought Kuwait’s sys- were aimed at ensuring security and opposition politicians have said they to prepare other required draft another sign of political turmoil in the tem in line with voting systems used stability after policymaking stalled in will not stand in any future election decrees to complete the enforcement Gulf Arab state. of the Constitutional Court verdicts, Almost constant factional infight- Sheikh Mohammad added. ing and disarray has stalled infrastruc- HH the Amir is also expected to ture development and held up eco- issue another decree next week dis- nomic reforms in Kuwait, an impor- solving the pro-government parlia- tant oil producer and US ally. On ment in accordance with the court Sunday opposition supporters lost a order. Islamist, nationalist and most legal fight to undo changes to the liberal opposition groups have said voting system they said favor pro- they will boycott the election but the government candidates - a dispute main liberal opposition group the which aggravated political tensions. National Democratic Alliance, which The Constitutional Court however boycotted December polls, said it will found fault in the process leading up take part. to the last elections in December and Opposition groups have claimed ordered a new ballot for the 50-mem- the ruling will encourage autocratic ber assembly. “At an extraordinary rule in the state which became a meeting held today, the cabinet democratic pioneer in the Gulf by approved a draft decree inviting vot- electing a parliament as early as 1962. ers to elect members of the National The electoral law passed in 2006 Assembly on July 25,” the state news allowed each eligible voter to choose agency KUNA quoted Minister for a maximum of four candidates. The Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah presides amendment reduced the number to Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah as saying yester- over the extraordinary session of the Cabinet yesterday. —KUNA just one. Under its electoral system, day. The election date falls during the Kuwait is divided into five districts holy month of Ramadan. The decree elsewhere in the world. the previous opposition-dominated under the one-vote system but some with each electing as many as 10 MPs. was to be issued later by His Highness Under the old system, voters were parliament. He has urged Kuwaitis to liberals and Salafi Islamists have said In another related case, the the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- allowed to cast ballots for up to four put the debate over the voting rules they will compete, splitting the oppo- court rebuffed a challenge to law Jaber Al-Sabah. candidates, which the opposition behind them and participate in the sition. No 20 of 2012 which brought a Opposition politicians boycotted said allowed alliances that partly upcoming election. In press statements following a one-person, one-vote system in the last election in December in made up for the absence of political Sheikh Sabah’s move to change Cabinet’s extraordinary meeting, place of the former rules that protest at changes to the voting sys- parties. The new voting system the voting system last year touched Sheikh Mohammad said the decree allowed voters to cast ballots for tem decreed by HH the Amir six allows votes for only a single candi- off some of the largest protests in comes in implementation of the four candidates. —Agencies Asian selling drugs Kuwait to offer guarantees in open place held for Gitmo prisoner transfer KUWAIT: To their surprise, security forces who were dispatched to Jahra on an inspection campaign to arrest illegal residents found an Asian man dis- KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign coordination and cooperation in various international playing some merchandise outside a grocery shop in the city. He was selling Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said forums out of deep-rooted principles laid down by late drugs to passers-by. The security sources stated that the suspect was arrested here yesterday his country is ready to provide all guaran- Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and late King and referred to the relevant authorities. tees to be demanded by the US to receive its prisoners at Mohammed V during the first state visit by the king to the Guantanamo Bay. The minister made the remark during a State of Kuwait in pre-independence period, exactly on Stolen diesel joint news conference with his visiting Moroccan coun- January 30, 1960,” the minister said. On recent positive A Jahra patrol recently foiled an attempt to sell stolen diesel, said security terpart Saad Eddin Othmani following the sixth session of remarks by Iran’s president-elect Hassan Rohani on rela- sources. Case papers indicate that the patrol noticed that some people on the Kuwaiti-Moroccan joint committee. tions with neighbor countries, he said: “The Islamic three fuel trucks, after delivering a consignment, were pumping out some He said his country had received a US delegation on Republic of Iran is an important and major country in the leftover fuel into smaller tankers. When the patrolling officers stopped by to Kuwait’s preparations and arrangements for receiving region and is keen on the basic principles of the UN investigate the matter, the suspects fled the scene, leaving the trucks behind. Kuwaiti prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, adding that Charter and good neighborliness.” The trucks were confiscated and a search is on for the suspects. “Kuwait will pursue these efforts to bring Kuwaiti prison- He hoped that the new leadership of Iran would work ers Fawzy Al-Ouda and Fayez Al-Kandari to a civil court”. to ensure security and stability in the region which has Citizen arrested On his talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Sheikh suffered long decades of instability. On a recent call by A citizen was arrested and his vehicle was detained because he was driv- Sabah Al-Khalid said they had met His Highness the Amir Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi for an extraordi- ing it on a pavement meant for pedestrians on a busy shopping street in Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the nary Arab meeting on Syria, the Kuwaiti foreign minister Salmiya, said security sources. The man justified his behavior, saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. said contacts were underway for this purpose, pointing to there was heavy traffic and he could not wait till the road was clear. He hailed the joint committee meeting as having his country’s eagerness to stop bloodshed in Syria. been held in a sincerely fraternal atmosphere, with bilat- On the Constitutional Court’s ruling annulling the Asians hurt eral cooperation in all fields having been discussed. The National Assembly (parliament), he reiterated the govern- Three Asians were injured during a fight with three citizens in Mahboula, said joint committee came with several outcomes that ment’s respect to and abidance by the court ruling. For security sources, noting that the citizens used thick sticks and knives before flee- involved the signing of five cooperative agreements his part, the Moroccan foreign minister lauded historical ing the scene. A case was filed and further investigations are under way. which marked a significant addition to developing rela- relations between Morocco and Kuwait as deep in the tions between both countries. culture of the two peoples, which is based on fraternal Kuwaitis arrested He pointed to several common denominators relations. He thanked Kuwait and its Amir for good recep- A citizen who was wanted by law was arrested upon his arrival at Kuwait whether at the level of bilateral relations or at the level of tion and hospitality for the Moroccan delegation partici- airport from a GCC state, said security sources. Meanwhile, three citizens Gulf-Moroccan relations concerning significant world pating in the sixth session of the joint committee. He said were arrested in Salmiya for pretending to be police detectives and trying to issues. “Strategic partnership between the Gulf both sides shared the same views on international issues rob an Egyptian, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a police Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Morocco and on cooperation at international, Arab and Muslim patrol noticed the three citizens arguing with the Egyptian. Upon being proceeds from political consensus and depth of historical organizations, hoping that bilateral coordination would approached, the three claimed they had some business with him. To their relations,” he said. continue at diverse diplomatic and international events. bad luck, the man denied their allegation and told the police that they were “Cooperation between both countries won’t stop at The minister appreciated Kuwait’s support for strategic trying to rob him. Upon further investigation, it was found that the three the activities of this committee and its programmed and partnership between Morocco and the GCC member were wanted for several cases. periodical convention, but it will also involve continuing states. —KUNA FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Iraq, Lebanon Lebanese Panic over MERS alarmed start-ups eye virus fades in at spreading technology boom Saudi Syria11 war 11 12

DEHRADUN: A flood-hit couple console one another after being evacuated by helicopter from the upper reaches of Uttrakhand, in Dehradun, India yesterday. — AP 1,000 feared dead in Indian floods Cricket star Harbhajan Singh stranded

DEHRADUN: India’s military battled yesterday to reach vil- no drinking water or assurances from the government,” a pil- allowed to speak to the media. One of those stranded was lages and towns cut off by flash floods and landslides in the grim, Parwinder Singh, told CNN-IBN by telephone. Indian cricket star Harbhajan Singh, who was attempting to country’s north as officials warned at least 1,000 people may “It is very difficult to move from here,” he added. At least reach a Sikh pilgrimage site but had to take refuge in a police have been killed. Helicopters and close to 10,000 soldiers have 138 people have been killed across Uttarakhand and two station. “Some people are saying that we’re stuck but I would- been deployed to rescue tourists and pilgrims stranded after neighbouring states also hit by floods and landslides, officials n’t say that we’re stuck, I’d say we’ve been saved by God,” said floods caused by torrential monsoon rains hit the Himalayan said, but shrine authorities warned the toll was more than the spin bowler, who was later flown out of the flood-hit area state of Uttarakhand at the weekend. Some 1,400 people have 1,000. “We estimate more than 1,000 people have died as by military chopper. “With the kind of rainstorm we witnessed, been evacuated in the past 24 hours as the military takes unattended bodies are scattered all around,” said Ganesh anything could have happened. Many people lost their lives,” advantage of clearer weather, but another 18,000 are still Godiyal, chairman of a trust in charge of several shrines in the the cricketer said. Figures for the death toll have varied con- stranded, the air force said. pilgrimage towns of Kedarnath and Badrinath. siderably, underscoring the difficulty of reaching isolated “Our priority is to take out the children and women first by Over the border in Nepal, floods and landslides also trig- areas. An Uttarakhand state lawmaker, Shaila Rani Rawat, put helicopter,” said Ajay Chadha, chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border gered by the monsoon have left at least 39 people dead most- the death toll at 2,000, but disaster management officials Police. “We hope to rescue all the living and then start the ly in remote parts of the country, officials said. Indian paramili- could not confirm this. Nearly 10,000 soldiers along with 13 scavenging task,” Chadha said in New Delhi, referring to the tary officers have been building rope and log bridges across teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been task of finding the dead. Houses, buildings and vehicles have raging rivers to try to reach those stranded. Television footage deployed for the rescue and relief effort, the government said. collapsed or been swept away by overflowing rivers and land- showed pilgrims using ropes and makeshift ladders to climb Relief camps have been set up to house evacuated resi- slides, while bridges and narrow roads leading to pilgrimage down cliffs to reach safer ground. dents and tourists. Some 30 aircraft are ferrying many of those towns have also been destroyed, officials said. The military operation was concentrating on reaching the rescued to the camps, while 14 tonnes of food and relief aid Torrential rains four and a half times as heavy as usual have worst-hit Kedarnath temple area, as families of those missing has been dropped in remote areas, the air force said. The hit Uttarakhand, known as the “Land of the Gods”, where and stranded faced an anxious wait in Uttarakhand capital’s monsoon, which covers the subcontinent from June to Hindu shrines and temples built high in the mountains attract Dehradun. “Never seen anything like this... entire roads have September, usually brings some flooding. But the heavy rains many pilgrims. “There are some 3,000 of us stuck in Gangotri vanished and villages destroyed... there’s rubble everywhere,” arrived early this year, catching many by surprise and expos- (a pilgrimage site) for the past few days and there is no food, a military officer said, on condition of anonymity as he was not ing the country’s lack of preparedness. — AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Iraq, Lebanon alarmed at spreading Syria war ‘Friends of Syria’ foreign ministers to meet in Qatar

BAGHDAD/BEIRUT: Neighbouring Iraq warned that Syria’s most diverse countries in the Middle East, Islamist Arab civil war is tearing the Middle East apart and Lebanon’s rebels have clashed with Kurds in northeastern Syria, president urged his country’s Hezbollah movement yester- sources on both sides said. The death toll from fighting and day to pull its fighters out of the conflict. After two years of assassinations in the last few days has reached at least 30 fighting that has killed more than 93,000 people, Syria’s people, with dozens more held in tit for tat kidnappings. turmoil is dragging its neighbours into a deadly confronta- Russian President Vladimir Putin rebuffed Western pres- tion between Shiite Iran supporting President Bashar Al- sure at a Group of Eight summit in Northern Ireland this BEIRUT: Lebanese entrepreneurs from different inter- Assad and Sunni Arab Gulf nations backing the Syrian week to stop arming Assad’s government and warned the net start-up companies work in the offices of “accelera- rebels. West against supplying Islamist rebels he said ate human tor” Seeqnce in Beirut’s Hamra district. — AFP The insurgents have suffered a series of setbacks on the organs. The rebels believe last week’s US decision to give battlefield and are besieged in the outskirts of Damascus them military support will re-open arms deliveries through Lebanese start-ups facing a slow but steady advance by Assad’s forces, which Jordan that were curbed as the United States and Russia have begun to regain the upper hand. In a sign of the dev- negotiated a planned “Geneva 2” peace conference. eye technology boom astation being wrought by the war, the United Nations cul- They seek anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons to help them fight back against Assad’s air force and armour. BEIRUT: Lebanon has long suffered with some of the slow- tural agency UNESCO put the six World Heritage Sites in Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appealed to est Internet speeds in the world, but a new crop of online Syria on its danger list of imperilled monuments yesterday, entrepreneurs believes their country is primed for a tech urging international efforts to protect them. Hezbollah, the main Lebanese Shiite movement, to pull its start-up boom. In the upscale Hamra district of Beirut, Both Iraq and Lebanon have suffered growing violence guerrillas out of Syria, saying any further involvement in its start-up “accelerator” Seeqnce has a second-floor office at home as the Syrian conflict turns increasingly into a neighbour’s civil war would fuel instability in Lebanon. with a vibe and style that recall 1990s Silicon Valley. The proxy war along confessional lines. “Iraq is in the most dif- “If they take part in a battle for Aleppo, and more office is open-plan, a main workspace ringed by meeting ficult position in this regional turmoil and the conflict in Hezbollah fighters are killed, it will lead to more tension,” rooms that are named for and painted in bright colours. Syria has become a regional conflict by all standards,” Suleiman told the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir in an inter- Ideas are scribbled in erasable marker directly onto Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Reuters in an interview published yesterday. “This should end in Qusair, and glass table-tops or white boards, and there’s a well- view in Baghdad. (Hezbollah) should return home.” Suleiman, a Maronite stocked shelf of alcohol that bolsters one employee’s claim “We are doing our best to maintain a neutral position, Christian, originally had Assad’s backing to become presi- that Seeqnce “throws the best parties”. Sitting at comput- but the pressures are enormous and for how long we can dent but has become increasingly assertive in criticising ers in the main room are some of the participants in the hold really is a matter of further developments in Syria.” Syria, which dominated its smaller neighbour militarily and company’s first-ever accelerator programme, a six-month With Russia and Iran arming Assad’s government forces, politically for three decades. — Reuters effort to guide a group of eight budding Internet entrepre- and Lebanon’s Hezbollah fighters joining the war on his neurs from ideas to investment. behalf, Western powers have agreed in the last week to “People are really getting into building Internet start- step up aid to the mainly Sunni rebels, who were driven ups,” said Seeqnce co-founder Fadi Bizri, who helps men- out of the strategic town of Qusair, north of Damascus. tor those taking part in the programme. “They enter, they Foreign ministers of the “Friends of Syria” group of work with us in a boot-camp military fashion, and then nations backing the opposition are to meet in Qatar tomor- they graduate and pitch to investors,” he said. row to discuss assistance to try to help the rebel Free He and his partners set up the programme last year, Syrian Army defend the key northern city of Aleppo. Those planning to solicit 300 individual applications and whittle countries include the United States, Britain, France, Saudi them down to about 30. Some of their would-be investors Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar. were sceptical, but they ended up with 430 applicants, and held mixers and events until they put together eight teams Military support they felt had potential. Rebel prospects for reversing Assad’s gains in Damascus Among the applicants was 24-year-old Marwan may now hinge on military support from Western and Arab Harmouche, who pitched BaytBaytak (Arabic for My House is Your House), a real estate website that connects home- backers. “If the northern front were to receive enough owners to would-be buyers and renters. Some of his material and non-material support quickly, it could soon be friends and family were less than thrilled at his decision to equivalent to thousands of men, or even tens of thou- SIDON: A Syrian young girl who fled with her family looks quit his job in film production and advertising and join the sands,” a Western diplomat involved in the talks said. on at a refugee camp in the Lebanese town of Alman, programme. —AFP In a further sign that violence is spreading in one of the northeast of the southern city Sidon yesterday. — AFP Turkey frustrated with Germany over EU

ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS: Turkey warned bership in their German election pro- they are leaning towards not opening testers night after night in cities German Chancellor Angela Merkel yes- gramme, saying the country would the chapter,” said one EU diplomat, including Istanbul and Ankara, unrest terday not to play politics with its “overburden” the bloc because of its who spoke on condition of anonymity. which left four people dead and some European Union ambitions, and said size and economy, sparking anger in Opposition in Germany to Turkish EU 7,500 suffering from injuries ranging failure to open a new chapter in acces- Ankara. membership has grown in recent from cuts to breathing difficulties, sion talks next week would be a major “If Mrs Merkel is looking for domes- years, with two thirds saying they according to the Turkish Medical setback in Ankara’s relations with the tic political material for her elections, opposed it in a new poll by Forsa for Association. Erdogan and his govern- bloc. Many EU capitals want to take that material should not be Turkey,” yesterday’s edition of weekly maga- ment have bristled at foreign criticism the long-awaited step on Turkey’s path Turkey’s EU minister Egemen Bagis zine Stern. of his handling of the unrest, saying towards the EU next week, arguing told reporters yesterday. “If Mrs the response was no different to police Europe should capitalise on Ankara’s Merkel looks into it she will see that Erdogan angry over criticism action taken in the past in countries rising influence in the Middle East. those who mess about with Turkey do Merkel said on Monday she was including Germany and the United But Germany has criticised Prime not have an auspicious end,” he said. “appalled” by the crackdown on pro- States. Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s heavy hand- European governments delayed a testers in Istanbul. The protests began quoted a senior Turkish diplomat yes- ed response to weeks of anti-govern- decision yesterday on resuming mem- over a redevelopment project in a terday as saying Ankara could suspend ment protests and appears to be bership talks because of reluctance in park, but spiralled into an unprece- negotiations with Brussels altogether if refusing to agree to open a new nego- Berlin, setting the stage for last- dented show of defiance against what the new chapter - dealing with region- tiation area, potentially the first such minute discussions on Monday. Erdogan critics call his authoritarian- al funding issues - is not opened next step in three years. Merkel’s conserva- “Nothing was decided. The Germans ism. Police fired teargas and water can- week, although other officials were tives have rejected Turkish EU mem- have to report back home but it seems non to disperse stone-throwing pro- more cautious. —Reuters International12 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Panic over MERS virus fades in Saudi

AL-HUFUF: People in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Respiratory Syndrome. SARS sparked glob- infection, causing fever, cough and breath- to observe strict hygiene rules, such as Province have again started greeting friends al panic in 2003 after it jumped to humans ing trouble. But it differs in that it also causes washing their hands regularly, using tissues with the traditional kiss on the cheek, and from animals in Asia and killed some 800 rapid kidney failure. Hospitals in the when they sneeze, and avoiding gatherings. face masks in public are becoming rarer, as people. province have taken precautionary meas- But pharmacist Adel Ali said that early panic subsides over the outbreak of a deadly Like SARS, MERS appears to cause a lung ures, distributing masks and urging people panic had died down recently, and that respiratory disease that hit the country last sales of the face masks recommended by year. “We continue to kiss each other when the health authorities had fallen. “At the we meet relatives and friends, and we beginning, people were scared. But now, organise evenings without wearing masks the sale of masks has dropped,” he said. or taking any precautionary measures,” said Mustafa Al-Hamadeh, who studies in the Badr Abdullah, as he bought groceries at a United States and has returned to Saudi for shopping centre in Al-Hufuf, the main city in holidays, said he thought the fear of the Al-Ahsa governorate. virus was “exaggerated.” “At the beginning, panic hit us. But now, “I thought of cancelling my trip because the situation is back to normal,” Abdullah of information carried by media on this said. Last June, the province was hit for the virus. But I noticed when I got here that the first time with what became a spate of cases situation is normal and I have kissed all of what was dubbed Middle East Respiratory those that I met,” said the 23-year-old uni- Syndrome (MERS) because of the high pro- versity student. Health authorities have portion of cases reported in the region. Out organised seminars and put up billboards of 64 cases worldwide, the virus has killed 38 to warn of the symptoms of the virus. people, the World Health Organisation The campaign urged anyone suffering a (WHO) says. Of that total, 49 cases have high temperature, coughing fits and been reported in Saudi Arabia, with 32 peo- breathing difficulties to go to hospital ple dying. immediately. The health ministry also set up But Abdullah, like many in Eastern a web page discussing the virus. Saudi Province, said he believes “most of those Arabia is home to the two holiest sites of affected are aged people who suffered Islam, and hosts the annual Hajj pilgrimage chronic illnesses.” The virus is a member of AL-HUFUF: A foreign worker wears a mask as he rides a bicycle near the to Mecca, when hundreds of thousands the coronavirus family, which includes the King Fahad hospital in Saudi Arabia. —AFP descend on the country from around the pathogen that causes Severe Acute world. —AFP

Palestinian kids tortured, Dubai eyes used as shields by Israel Quran-themed park DUBAI: Dubai has added a new item to its top ambitions such as building the world’s largest Ferris wheel and bidding for an Angry Israel questions motives of UN committee Birds theme park - a site honoring the Quran. The estimated $7.3 million project will include a garden with plants mentioned in the GENEVA: A United Nations human rights The watchdog’s 18 independent experts es had been reported between January Islamic holy book and an air-conditioned tunnel depicting events body accused Israeli forces yesterday of mis- examined Israel’s record of compliance with 2010 and March 2013 alone. Israeli soldiers from the Quran. Dubai media quoted the city’s director of projects, treating Palestinian children, including by a 1990 treaty as part of its regular review of had used Palestinian children to enter Mohammed Noor Mashroom, as saying yesterday the park should torturing those in custody and using others a pact signed by all nations except Somalia potentially dangerous buildings before be ready in September 2014. It’s a departure from Dubai’s empha- as human shields. Palestinian children in the and the United States. An Israeli delegation them and to stand in front of military vehi- sis on Western-style tourism, which draws millions of visitors from Gaza and the West Bank, captured by Israel attended the session. The UN committee cles to deter stone-throwing, it said. around the Muslim world but has its detractors. This week, a Saudi cleric issued a religious edict saying it was a “sin” for Saudi women in the 1967 war, are routinely denied regis- regretted Israel’s “persistent refusal” to “Almost all those using children as human to visit Dubai, but later retracted the opinion after outcry. —AP tration of their birth and access to health respond to requests for information on chil- shields and informants have remained care, decent schools and clean water, the UN dren in the Palestinian territories and occu- unpunished and the soldiers convicted for Committee on the Rights of the Child said. pied Syrian Golan Heights since the last having forced at gunpoint a nine-year-old “Palestinian children arrested by (Israeli) review in 2002. child to search bags suspected of contain- Saudi to expel military and police are systematically subject ing explosives only received a suspended to degrading treatment, and often to acts of “Disproportionate” sentence of three months and were demot- Hezb supporters torture, are interrogated in Hebrew, a lan- “Hundreds of Palestinian children have ed,” it said. guage they did not understand, and sign been killed and thousands injured over the Israel’s “illegal long-standing occupa- BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia plans to deport Lebanese citizens who support Hezbollah because of the militant group’s role in the Syrian civil war, the confessions in Hebrew in order to be reporting period as a result of the state party tion” of Palestinian territory and the Syrian kingdom’s envoy to Lebanon said. The warning comes as Hezbollah’s par- released,” it said in a report. The Israeli military operations, especially in Gaza where Golan Heights, continued expansion of ticipation in the Syrian conflict becomes increasingly prominent, with Foreign Ministry said it had responded to a the state party proceeded to (conduct) air “unlawful” Jewish settlements, construction members of the group fighting on the side of President Bashar Assad’s gov- report by the UN children’s agency UNICEF and naval strikes on densely populated areas of the Wall into the West Bank, land confis- ernment forces. Saudi Arabia is a strong backer of the mostly-Sunni Syrian in March on ill-treatment of Palestinian with a significant presence of children, thus cation and destruction of homes and liveli- opposition trying to remove Assad from power. Assad belongs to the minors and questioned whether the UN disregarding the principles of proportionali- hoods “constitute severe and continuous minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. committee’s investigation covered new ty and distinction,” the report said. Israel bat- violations of the rights of Palestinian chil- Shiite Hezbollah fighters were instrumental in a regime battlefield victo- ground. “If someone simply wants to magni- tled a Palestinian uprising during part of the dren and their families”, it said. ry earlier this month when Syrian government forces regained control of fy their political bias and political bashing of 10-year period examined by the committee. Israel disputes the international position the strategic town of Qusair near the Lebanese border. Saudi Arabia will Israel not based on a new report, on work on It withdrew its troops and settlers from that its settlements in the West Bank are deport “those who financially support this party,” Ambassador Ali Awad the ground, but simply recycling old stuff, the Gaza Strip in 2006, but still blockades the illegal. It says the wall it built there during Assiri told Lebanon’s Future TV late Wednesday. He did not elaborate on there is no importance in that,” spokesman Hamas-run enclave, from where Palestinian the uprising stopped Palestinian suicide whether other actions could be considered support. He added that Yigal Palmor said. militants have sometimes fired rockets into bombers from reaching its cities. In March, Hezbollah bears full responsibility for recent restrictive measures adopted The report by the UN Committee on the Israel. During the 10-year period, an estimat- Palmor, the Israeli Foreign Ministry by Gulf Arab countries against the group. The Gulf Cooperation Council - Rights of the Child acknowledged Israel’s ed 7,000 Palestinian children aged 12 to 17, spokesman, had said that officials from the which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United national security concerns and noted that but some as young as nine, had been arrest- ministry and the military had cooperated Arab Emirates - earlier this month said they would revoke residency permits children on both sides of the conflict contin- ed, interrogated and detained, the UN report with UNICEF in its work on the report, with for Hezbollah members in the Gulf and limit their “financial and business ue to be killed and wounded, but that more said. Many are brought in leg chains and the goal of improving the treatment of transactions.” casualties are Palestinian. Most Palestinian shackles before military courts, while youths Palestinian minors in custody. “Israel will For its part, Hezbollah says it has no businesses in the Gulf nations. children arrested are accused of having are held in solitary confinement, sometimes study the conclusions and will work to However, there are more than half a million Lebanese working in the Gulf Arab nations, including tens of thousands in Saudi Arabia. Many of the thrown stones, an offence which can carry a for months, the report said. implement them through ongoing cooper- Lebanese there are Shiites. Some have been living in the kingdom for penalty of up to 20 years in prison, the com- It voiced deep concern at the “continu- ation with UNICEF, whose work we value decades. “This is a serious decision and will be implemented in detail mittee said. Israeli soldiers had testified to the ous use of Palestinian children as human and respect,” he said, in response to the whether by the embassy (in Beirut) or in the kingdom,” Assiri said, without often arbitrary nature of the arrests, it said. shields and informants”, saying 14 such cas- UNICEF report. —Reuters specifying when the deportations would begin. —AP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Italians debate Lourdes facing summer closure citizenship rights as freak weather lashes France amid resurgent racism Thousands of tourists evacuated from hotels ROME: Savio Warnakulasuriya, born in Rome this month, will have to wait for 18 years before he can be sure of being TOULOUSE: Extensive flood damage numbers in July and August reaching Bernadette had been damaged by the able to remain in the country where he came into the could force the Catholic pilgrimage a peak of up to 40,000 every day. waters to the extent that the founda- world. Until then his right to stay in Italy is tied to the per- site of Lourdes to remain closed to Many of the visitors are severely ill tions of the church were clearly visi- mits of his Sri Lankan parents to work as domestic helpers. visitors for months, it emerged yester- or handicapped, drawn to the town ble. “It’s an apocalyptic scene,” said These papers have to be renewed every two years. day as France counted the cost of by the belief that its waters have cur- one member of the sanctuaries staff. Savio is one of many children born in Italy who freak weather that has claimed three ative powers. The Catholic Church The death toll from the flooding in Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge says should have citi- lives. Lourdes has been left devastat- recognises 68 miracles linked to a the southwest of the country rose to zenship rights at birth, a proposal that has shocked many ed for the second time in less than a town where the Virgin Mary is said to three on Wednesday when a 54-year- Italians and drawn a torrent of racist abuse against her. Italy year by the Gave de Pau, the river that have appeared to a local peasant girl old woman was found drowned in bears the brunt of clandestine seaborne migration to flows through the town, bursting its in 1858. Flooding last October cost an her Renault Clio in a flooded wheat southern Europe, with thousands reaching its long banks. estimated 1.3 million euros of dam- field, 100m from a road that had been Mediterranean shores every year in crammed rickety boats. Thousands of tourists have had to age but the clean-up operation this closed to traffic because of the rise in Parties such as the opposition Northern League campaign be evacuated from their inundated times will be significantly more the level of the Gave de Pau. against boosting immigrant rights, pointing to cultural dif- hotels and visits to the town’s cele- expensive, according to Thierry The flooding in the southwest has ferences and crime rates. brated grotto, underground basilica Castillo, who is in charge of the largely been the result of a sudden Kyenge, born in Democratic Republic of Congo and now and other religious sites have been Lourdes diocese’s economic affairs. rise in temperatures in the Pyrenees, Italy’s first black minister, says it is time for a change in suspended since Tuesday. “As the “We will need the support of everywhere cold weather had kept snow approach to citizenship starting with ensuring that immi- water has begun to recede, we are one,” he told AFP. Although the level on the ground much later than is nor- grant children are not held back from fully integrating with discovering bit by bit the extent of of the Pau river had receded signifi- mal after record falls over the winter. their peers. For Savio’s father, Fernando, an easing in citi- the damage,” said Mathias Terrier, a cantly, those buildings that were not Other parts of France have been hit zenship rules would be welcome. “The sooner they give our spokesman for the Lourdes sanctuar- still under water were covered in by torrential rain or hail which have son citizenship, the better. I am a little worried, we want ies, acknowledging that it could be mud, making it impossible for church caused significant damage to some him to carry on living and working here without problems,” months before they reopen. officials to know the full extent of the crops, notably vines in the area of the he said in an interview. Erika Arribasplata, a 34-year-old “In all honesty, objectively we have damage. Firemen were pumping Loire valley where Vouvray sparkling secretary who was born in Rome to Argentinian parents, to ask the question,” he said. “The three metres of water out of the wine is made. Xavier Beulin, the presi- remembers the difficulties she faced as a child to fully inte- material damage is such that we can’t Basilica of St Pius X, an underground dent of farmers’ organisation FNSEA, grate at school because she lacked rights to Italian citizen- see today how we could reopen in church with the capacity to welcome estimated the damage at up to half a ship. “I remember when we went on a school trip to acceptable conditions and that will 25,000 pilgrims which was left billion euros. “It could be as high as England, I couldn’t go through border controls with my be the same for several weeks to unscathed by the October flooding. that because there are nearly 300,000 group, I had to take a whole other route where I had to come.” Lourdes is visited by some six The surface of the road between hectares that have been destroyed,” wait longer and go through more checks - it was really million people every year with the the river and the Church of St Beulin said.— AFP annoying,” she said. “But the most annoying thing was being tied to my parents’ permit, and the insecurity that came with that, because I was born here and did not feel part of their culture but I was stuck in the middle,” French firemen try out Arribasplata said. She made a successful application for citizenship at 18, but others are not so lucky. Italy’s low fertility rate at 1.4 hypnosis to help victims children per woman means that it will need fresh blood to maintain its ageing population. But due to bureaucratic HAGUENAU: “Look me straight in the processes that Kyenge wants to reduce, some Italian-born eye. Your mind is emptying, your children of immigrants can find their citizenship applica- body is relaxing,” says the fireman, tions rejected at 18 because, for example, they spent some using the calming words of hypnosis time away from Italy as children. “We are talking about to help a trauma victim-a technique young people who could become the future leaders of this being pioneered by fire crews in the country, or could lose themselves in the street if suddenly eastern French region of Alsace. At at 18 they find themselves to be different due to some the Haguenau fire station, 120 firemen bureaucratic error,” Kyenge told reporters this week. On have been trained in basic medical Saturday she unveiled a plan to make it easier for children hypnosis which they can use to of immigrants to apply for citizenship upon adulthood as soothe someone trapped under rub- part of a series of measures Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s ble or in a car following an accident, government is introducing to cut red tape and pull the or even a person suffering an asthma economy out of recession. Kyenge said she would also be attack. The idea is that hypnotherapy heading to the European parliament soon to propose a can complement traditional first aid common EU-wide approach to citizenship rules. assistance. “These are verbal, gesticu- But while her proposals are welcomed by some, she is lar and respiratory techniques that also facing daily insults and racial slurs from groups who aim to ease pain and anxiety, but that oppose her and her appointment as minister in March. One obviously don’t replace traditional Northern League member, Mario Borghezio, was expelled first aid,” explains Cecile Colas- from the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group in the Nguyen, a nurse and member of the HAGUENAU: A file photo shows a man of the fire brigade as he keeps a European parliament earlier this month for remarks about fire brigade, and a trainer in hypnosis. woman under hypnosis during an extrication exercise, in Haguenau, east- her, including saying she wanted to impose Congo’s “tribal While firefighters arriving on the ern France. — AFP traditions” on Italy. scene of an accident get to work tending to the injured or cutting a victim Last week, a local party official for the League caused a tells a pretend victim who has confid- For the moment this use of hypno- free, staff trained in hypnosis establish national uproar when she posted a comment on her ed a love of winter sports. sis is unique to Alsace but Yves a more personal link with the person Facebook page suggesting Kyenge should be raped so she ‘When we hold someone’s hand, Durrmann, the brigade’s chief doctor, and divert his attention away from the can understand how victims of crimes committed by immi- things go better’ Haguenau station says he believes firemen all over trauma of the scene. Typically the fire- grants feel. Foad Aodi, President of the Foreign Doctors in manager David Ernenwein says he is France should use it. But first, the use- fighters speak in a calm and measured “convinced” that the method is useful. fulness of the technique has to be Italy Association (AMSI), said he believed any changes to voice and are careful to avoid any citizenship rights should be introduced carefully. “You “We have all noticed that when we proved. For at least the next six negative words. Instead of focusing hold someone’s hand, things go bet- months, the Haguenau brigade are need to be cautious, and go through a slow cultural on the person’s pain, the emphasis is process, so you don’t shock. In my view many people are ter, even if we did not label it as ‘hyp- keeping a record of the heart rate, on his wellbeing. “While my col- nosis’. The first thing that we can do pain levels or emotions of victims they shocked: not all Italians are ready for this change,” Aodi leagues take care of your safety, your said. Complaints of racial abuse against foreign doctors in to help people is to calm them down, help. These results will be compared mind will take off to the ski slopes and and this technique has given us the with stats of victims treated by fire- Italy, he said, had risen by about 20 percent in the past two your body is going to stay here,” a months.—AFP tools to be able to do that, to help men who have not used hypnosis young firemen at a training exercise people suffer less,” he says. with them.—AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

British teacher found guilty of abducting school girl

LONDON: Married British teacher Jeremy had labelled the mathematics teacher a shared with his wife. The two fled Britain dict yesterday after a two-week trial, Forrest was yesterday found guilty of “paedophile” who had “groomed” the vul- on a cross-Channel ferry to Calais in Forrest told the girl “I love you”. She burst abducting a 15-year-old school girl after nerable teenager after the pair met at a France when they feared the affair was into tears as the guilty verdict was they fled together to France. A jury found school in southeast England. about to be exposed, leading police to announced, and told him “I’m sorry” as he 30-year-old Forrest guilty over the Their sexual relationship began shortly launch a high-profile international search. was led away to the cells. Forrest’s September episode in which the pair after the pupil’s 15th birthday, Lewes Police apprehended them a week later as defence lawyer had argued he felt he had spent seven days on the run, sparking an Crown Court heard, with regular trysts in Forrest was trying to seek work in France. to run away with the girl because he international manhunt. The prosecution his car, in hotels and at the home he As the jury returned to deliver its ver- feared she would commit suicide. — AFP African refugees face dilemma in Morocco RABAT: Thousands of migrants living in Morocco, including hundreds of refugees who fled wars in Africa, face a bleak dilemma-whether to settle in this transit country with scant opportunities or brave the perilous journey to Europe. “We do not know what to expect in the future,” says Blessing, a 13-year-old Congolese girl, at a refugee centre in Rabat. Morocco was hosting up to 25,000 sub- Saharan migrants at the end of 2012, the vast majority of whom at least initially were hoping to make it to Spain, non-governmental organisations say. Gradually, however, the north African country is turning into a permanent home for these immigrants. Among them are around 900 refugees, mostly Ivorians and Congolese who have fled wars back home, more than half of them women and children. Refugee status granted by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) gives them hope of rebuilding their lives. But despite Morocco being the first Arab country to rati- fy in 1956 the Geneva Convention, their situation here is “fragile and ambiguous” in the absence of an adequate legal framework, the UNHCR’s representative Marc Fawe MOGADISHU: A Somali carries an injured person on a cart after Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents shot and blast- told AFP on the occasion of International Refugee Day. ed their way into the United Nations (UN) compound. —AFP Without a residency permit “they are merely tolerated and cannot sign a rental or work contract,” he said. Somali Islamist rebels Despite these hurdles “Morocco is beginning to be treated as a final destination and not just a transit country,” he said. “The situation is better than in Mali where I first warn of further carnage tried to settle,” said Ronaldo, 16, who left Ivory Coast two years ago. “We tried Cameroon and then Benin, but had no success. In Mauritania we stayed for a bit, but it’s not the Al-Shabaab say aim is to expel ‘disbelievers’ same as here,” added Blessing. At the gates of a Europe in crisis, Morocco at least offers the migrants stability, and MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Islamist Al- Muslim is alive.” The loss of urban ter- one UN employee and three contrac- there are some organisations to support them, such as the Shabaab rebel group threatened to ritory and revenue streams in the last tors. Somali guards pinned the East-West Foundation which receives about 800 visitors keep attacking “disbelievers” without two years has weakened Al-Shabaab assailants back with volleys of sus- annually. “When migrants arrived in the early 2000s, respite, a day after launching a deadly as a conventional fighting force, lead- tained gunfire, preventing the attack- Morocco was not ready and they were badly managed. But assault against the United Nations in ing it to resort to a guerrilla-style ers from penetrating deeper into the since then there has been a marked improvement and the capital Mogadishu. Security was insurgency. Western powers, which UN premises where some staff sought today we can carry out all our activities without any prob- tight yetserday as Somali army pick- have long worried that Somalia could refuge in a safe zone and others hid in lems,” said the foundation’s president Yasmina Filali.—AFP up trucks mounted with heavy provide a launchpad for militant Islam their offices. African Union peace- machine guns blocked the main road in east Africa and beyond, fear it could keepers and government soldiers linking the city centre with the forti- slide back into chaos if local forces joined a fierce gunbattle that lasted fied airport and nearby UN base that cannot cement gains. about 90 minutes before the militant was targeted. A water canon truck fighters were killed. Somalia’s govern- blasted away bloodstains on the “Need to re-focus” ment said some exploded suicide street. A Somalia analyst said the govern- vests. The UN’s international staff The Al-Qaeda-linked militants were ment had been distracted by its bid to spent the night at the airport, which driven out of Mogadishu almost two extend its influence beyond is ringed by blast walls and watch- years ago by African peacekeepers Mogadishu, in particular a row over towers and serves as the peacekeep- and government troops. Wednesday’s who controls the strategic southern ers’ main base. The United States con- attack, which killed 22 people includ- port of Kismayu, and had not focussed demned the attack, which it said ing four foreigners, highlighted the enough on keeping its heartland highlighted “the repugnant terrorist fragility of security gains and the secure. “They’ve taken their eye off tactics Al-Shabaab continues to use insurgents’ ability to strike at govern- the ball,” Abdirashid Hashi of the to stand in the way of efforts to ease ment-controlled areas. Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute the suffering of Somali people.” At his “Our aim is to expel the disbeliev- for Policy Studies told Reuters. “They election in September, Somali ers from Muslim lands,” Sheikh need to re-focus on security in President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s Mogadishu.” said security was “priority number spokesman for military operations, The militants on Wednesday deto- one, two and three.” The security told Reuters. “Until that goal is nated a car bomb outside the main forces need rebuilding, but the cash- achieved, the disbelievers will never United Nations compound in strapped government faces a strug- find a safe haven in Mogadishu or in Mogadishu before several gunmen gle to pay and arm recruits, tackle RABAT: A young African refugee prays before a dance any other Muslim land. Not today, not breached the perimeter wall. They corruption and prevent rebels infil- show in Rabat. — AFP tomorrow, not as long as a single shot dead four foreigners including trating their ranks. —Reuters International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Russia, China among worst in human trafficking: US Russia denounces ‘near ultimatum’, China defends record

WASHINGTON: An annual US State Department report of China’s efforts, and stop making unilateral or arbitrary strained by the handling of the civil war in Syria and on Wednesday cited Russia and China among the world’s judgments of China”. China, she told a briefing, “has cybersecurity, among other issues. While it was not imme- worst offenders in fighting forced labor and sex traffick- achieved remarkable progress in fighting domestic and diately clear what the Obama administration might do ing, which could lead to US sanctions, prompting angry transnational trafficking”. The US report acknowledged given the downgrade, human rights advocates and some rebuttals from Moscow and Beijing. The report said Russia that China had taken some steps, such as vowing to work US lawmakers urged strong steps such as imposing sanc- had failed to provide systematic safeguards for victims of with international organizations and increasing public tions or withholding foreign aid. “China has become the trafficking. China, it said, had done too little to outlaw all awareness, but said it also continued to perpetuate the sex and labor trafficking capital of the world,” said US forms of trafficking and punish perpetrators. problem in hundreds of its own institutions. “Despite these Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican. The US designation drops Russia and China, already modest signs of interest in anti-trafficking reforms, the “Without serious and sustained action by Beijing, it is only often are at odds with Washington, in the same category Chinese government did not demonstrate significant going to get worse.” as North Korea and Iran. The State Department ranks efforts to comprehensively prohibit and punish all forms of Under US law, Tier 3 countries may face sanctions that countries according to the efforts they make to fight trafficking and to prosecute traffickers,”US officials wrote. do not affect trade or humanitarian assistance, such as human trafficking. Russia, China and Uzbekistan all fell to The report said China’s one-child policy and prefer- educational funding or culture programs. John Sifton, Asia the lowest level, Tier 3. Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a ence for sons had reduced the number of women in the advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said China statement saying the report used “unacceptable method- country, generating demand for women as brides or pros- and Russia had been given several chances to improve ology” grouping countries according to their degree of titutes. Russia’s government “had not established any their efforts to combat trafficking and protect victims. sympathy with Washington. concrete system for the identification or care of trafficking “The question for the White House is whether they’re “In fighting organized crime, including countering traf- victims, lacking any formal victim identification and refer- prepared to execute the sanctions,” he said. “The question ficking, Russian authorities will never follow instructions ral mechanism,” although there were some “ad hoc for China, Russia, and Uzbekistan is whether they’re pre- worked out in another country, let alone fulfill conditions efforts,” the report said. pared to make commitments in the next 90 days to avoid presented nearly in the form of an ultimatum,” it said. those sanctions.” Despite pledges to combat such crimes, Russia, it said, would retaliate against any sanctions. In Report likely to strain relations countries have failed to identify tens of millions of victims, Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said The findings are likely to further complicate relations according to the report, which ranked 188 countries and Washington “should take an objective and impartial view between the United States and the two countries, already territories.—Reuters Singapore is acting ‘like a child’ over haze: Indonesia Singapore PM says smog may last for weeks

JAKARTA: Indonesia yesterday accused ly last for several weeks and quite possibly Singapore of acting “like a child” over chok- longer until the dry season ends in ing smog from forest fires in Sumatra that Sumatra.” has triggered an environmental crisis, as the Andrew Tan, the head of Singapore’s city-state’s premier warned it could last national environment agency, said that offi- weeks. The escalation in tensions between cials from the city-state and their Indonesian tiny Singapore and its vast neighbour came counterparts had a “very frank exchange of as the levels of haze enveloping the island hit views” during the emergency talks in Jakarta. a new record high, shrouding the whole city, “The situation is deteriorating,” he said. “We from residential blocks to tree-lined parks. As have highlighted to our Indonesian counter- the acrid smell of burnt wood crept into peo- parts that it is time now for decisive action.” SINGAPORE: Office workers cover their mouths and noses while others wear masks as they ple’s flats and medical masks sold out at drug Drug stores in Singapore’s central busi- cross a road yesterday. — AP stores, the city-state’s environment chief ness district were sold out of disposable demanded “decisive action” to address the masks and refused to take advance orders, as crisis after talks with Indonesian officials in the strong odour seeped into homes across China used military in Xinjiang Jakarta. the island as well as inside the air-condi- TOKYO: Singapore has been ratcheting up pres- tioned trains of the metro system. Parks were Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer China’s state media was calling Uighurs “terror- sure for Jakarta to act over one of its worst empty of the usual morning joggers, but claimed yesterday the Chinese government used ists” because they had knives, which she said ever environmental crises-but Indonesia, thousands of employees still trooped to military force in the latest episode of what she they used for cutting vegetables. Kadeer, who is calls “ethnic cleansing” in the troubled region of in Japan on a week-long lecture tour, did not which insists companies in the city-state that offices and labourers continued their work Xinjiang. Her remarks came after Chinese state provide reporters with any evidence of her own plantations on Sumatra also share the on high-rise buildings under construction. media said a court in the region jailed nine peo- claims. Her comments came as courts in the blame, hit back. “Singapore should not be The previous Singapore air pollutant index ple for promoting racial hatred and “illegal reli- Aksu and Kashgar regions of Xinjiang, both of behaving like a child and making all this high of 226 was recorded in September 1997 gious activity” online. Twenty-one people, which have majority Uighur populations, sen- noise,” Agung Laksono, the minister coordi- at the height of a Southeast Asian calamity including police officers, were killed in violent tenced nine people to between two and six nating Indonesia’s response, told reporters. also resulting from vast amounts of haze clashes in the ethnically divided region on April years in prison, for promoting “ethnic hatred” “This is not what the Indonesian nation from Indonesia, where slash-and-burn farm- 23, officials have said. and other crimes, the state-run Legal Daily said wants, it is because of nature.” ing generates heavy smoke during the dry Chinese state media has made no mention of yesterday. Singapore’s air pollution index hit a new season that begins in June. any military involvement in the incident, with an One jailed for six years had downloaded all-time high yesterday, soaring to 371 at Parts of Malaysia close to Singapore have earlier report saying gunfights had broken out material which preached “holy war”, the report 1:00 pm (0500 GMT), well past the previous also been severely affected by the smog. after police tried to search the home of locals said adding that the other eight men smashed record of 321 set the night before, before Laksono said that plans to use cloud-seeding suspected of possessing illegal knives. Beijing electrical equipment under the influence of “ille- falling later in the afternoon. Any reading to unleash rain over Sumatra and put out the says six “terrorists” and 15 police and other work- gal religion...and religious extremism”. It added above 300 is “hazardous” while a reading ers were killed among them 10 from China’s that regional authorities had detained two other fires were also under way, and it was hoped mostly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority. But people for promoting “religious extremism” above 400 is deemed “life-threatening to ill helicopters could be dispatched yesterday. Kadeer told journalists in Tokyo the military had online. and elderly people,” according to govern- Haze was also affecting the Indonesian island been called in and had carried out killings. Xinjiang is home to around nine million ment guidelines. Singapore’s prime minister of Batam, just south of Singapore, where “Security officers searched local people’s Uighurs, many of whom complain of religious declined to respond to Laksono’s provoca- authorities were handing out free masks. houses, and police called the army,” she and cultural repression by Chinese authorities- tive comments, saying he did not want to Visibility was poor and people complained of said.”Police and the army cooperated in killing accusations the government denies. The region engage in “megaphone diplomacy”. having sore eyes and not being able to people in that area,” she said, adding the military is regularly hit by unrest. Officials and state Lee urged people to stay indoors and breathe properly. Smallholders and planta- had used explosives. “We watched some videos media blame the unrest on “terrorists” but some protect themselves from the haze which has tions in Sumatra-some of them with of the area where the incident happened, and experts say the government has produced little hung over the island since Monday, asking Singaporean investors-have been accused of we cannot see any person living in that area. Just evidence of an organised terrorist threat, adding citizens to “look out for one another”. “We using fire to clear land for cultivation, but big burning and collapsing ...houses,” she said, the violence stems more from long-standing cannot tell how the haze problem will devel- palm oil companies deny involvement in speaking through an English translator. She said local resentment.—AFP op,” Lee told a press conference. “It can easi- such activities. — AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Taleban offer to free US soldier

KABUL: The Afghan Taleban are ready to free a US soldier held captive since 2009 in exchange for five of their senior operatives imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay as a conciliatory gesture, a senior spokesman for the group said yesterday. The offer came as an Afghan government spokesman said President Hamid Karzai is now willing to join planned peace talks with the Taleban - provided that the Taleban flag and nameplate are removed from the militant group’s newly opened political office in Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar. Karzai also wants a formal letter from the United States supporting the Afghan government. The only known American soldier held captive from the Afghan war is US Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, 27, of Hailey, Idaho. He disappeared from his base in southeastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, and is believed held in Pakistan. In an exclusive telephone interview with The Associated Press from his Doha office, Taleban spokesman Shaheen Suhail said yesterday that Bergdahl “is, as far as I know, in good condition.” Suhail did not elaborate on Bergdahl’s current whereabouts. Among the five prisoners the Taleban have consistently requested BEIBEI: This photo shows Lei Zhengfu (center) former Communist Party chief of Beibei district, who was involved in a sex are Khairullah Khairkhwa, a former Taleban governor of Herat, and tape scandal. — AP Mullah Mohammed Fazl, a former top Taleban military commander, both of whom have been held for more than a decade. Bergdahl’s I’m a lecher, not a crook: parents earlier this month received a letter from their son through the International Committee of the Red Cross. They did not release details of the letter but renewed their plea for his release. The soldier’s captivity has been marked by only sporadic releases of videos China sex tape official and information about his whereabouts. The prisoner exchange is the first item on the Taleban’s agenda before even opening peace talks, said Suhail, who is a top Taleban Lei accused of accepting $500,000 in bribes figure and served as first secretary at the Afghan Embassy in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad before the Taleban government’s BEIJING: Call me a lecher but don’t call me a crook, an ex-city offi- researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. ouster in 2001. “First has to be the release of detainees,” Suhail said cial at the heart of a sex tape scandal has said in his unusually “They hope to see them punished by the law, which would help when asked about Bergdahl. “Yes. It would be an exchange. Then spirited courtroom defense against corruption charges. The case them vent that anger.” step by step, we want to build bridges of confidence to go forward.” of Lei Zhengfu, former party chief of a district in the southern city The court said it would issue a verdict at a later, unspecified Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry was expected in of Chongqing, has riveted the Chinese public since video clips date. Yesterday, those accused of running the extortion ring Doha ahead of tomorrow’s conference on the Syrian civil war. He went viral of the portly 55-year-old having sex with a woman stood trial in a closed hearing. Wednesday’s proceedings involv- was not expected to meet with the Taleban although other US offi- hired by property developers allegedly in an elaborate extortion ing Lei were in stark contrast to the corruption trial of China’s for- cials might in coming days. On Wednesday in Washington, State scheme. In a country where corruption trials of high-level officials mer railways minister Liu Zhijun earlier this month, a much bigger Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US had “never con- typically look like the scripted outcome of backdoor bargaining, case involving bribery amounting to 64 million yuan ($10.5 mil- firmed” any specific meeting schedule with Taleban representatives Lei’s case has offered a rare look at what happens when a lower- lion) spanning more than two decades. in Doha.—AP level official is caught in a high-profile crackdown - with few polit- The railways minister’s trial was a smoothly orchestrated affair ical cards to play. of just a few hours, concluding before lunchtime. He pleaded Lei is accused of accepting more than 3 million yuan guilty and showed remorse, thanking the Communist Party for ($500,000) in bribes from a developer to pay off a businessman the years it nvested in him. Only the official Xinhua News Agency who was allegedly using the tape to blackmail him. Lei rejects the and state broadcaster CCTV were allowed inside the courtroom charge of bribery, saying the money was a loan. “Although I’m and media reports were uniformly similar and lacking in the sala- quite lecherous, I’m not greedy for money,” he said in a cious detail that has featured in Lei’s case. The trials of high-level Chongqing court Wednesday, reading out a personal statement. officials accused of corruption are often seen as foregone conclu- Public anger and disgust over official corruption found an easy sions hammered out by politicians and the party’s graft investiga- target in the images of his jowly, pop-eyed face in the throes of tors and announced by a court. There is usually little dispute aired passion. Lei was soon fired from his post, and in ensuing weeks, during proceedings, and most of it is kept out of the public eye. In more tapes were found, felling 11 other Chongqing officials. the railways minister’s case, the two sides were so in tandem that The scandal has exposed in lurid detail the shady intertwining even prosecutors were making a case for the court to show of sex, business and politics in Chinese society at a time when a leniency for Liu. newly installed generation of Communist Party leadership has As a district party chief, Lei is probably at the lowest rung of vowed to crack down on widespread graft. It also tapped into the party ladder in terms of officials who matter - and his case public outrage over what is seen as the moral degradation of the comes during a big political shakeup in the city of Chongqing country’s leaders. after the downfall of its party chief in a major scandal. Lei “The people’s hatred of official corruption is not only because appears to have been left to fend for himself and has sought to of their illegal behavior but because of resentment that they make the case that he was the victim of a heinous extortion This file image shows a frame grab from a video released by enjoy a special status that is higher than others and lets them gang that preyed on his weakness for women who were not his the Taleban containing footage of a man believed to be Bowe enjoy more social resources,” said Liu Shanying, a politics wife.—AP Bergdahl (left). — AP Korea talks should focus on denuclearization: Ban

BEIJING: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday A visiting North Korean official expressed willingness through dialogue between South and North Korea, who are that talks regarding the Korean peninsula should be first and Wednesday to rejoin long-stalled talks aimed at the country’s the directly concerned parties,” he said. foremost about ending North Korea’s nuclear programme. denuclearisation, China’s foreign ministry said, the second Tempers have cooled in recent months amid indications Ban said he had noted Pyongyang’s calls for dialogue, but time in a month Pyongyang has told Beijing it is ready for Pyongyang may be adopting a less confrontational stance. added that “any meaningful dialogue should be firmly such dialogue. The North’s first vice foreign minister Kim Kye- North Korea on Sunday offered to hold talks with the US, anchored in the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula”, in Gwan made the remark on a trip to Beijing on Wednesday, who replied that preconditions for such talks have not been comments released by the UN during a trip to China. the ministry said in a statement, but offered no concrete met. Pyongyang, however, abruptly cancelled a planned He urged North Korean authorities “to fully comply with details. meeting with South Korea shortly before reaching out to the relevant Security Council resolutions with the aim of real- Tensions have run high on the peninsula since the North’s Washington. Ban has met with high-ranking officials includ- ising the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula”. North third nuclear test in February which triggered new UN sanc- ing President Xi Jinping during his trip to China. “I expressed Korea, which has carried out three underground nuclear tests tions that ignited an angry response from Pyongyang, my sincere appreciation to the Chinese president and also since 2006 and has also defied the international community including threats of nuclear attacks on Seoul and asked him to continue to play a constructive role and to first with rocket launches, is under heavy UN-sponsored sanc- Washington. Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, of all reduce tension and facilitate a dialogue between South tions. repeated calls for discussions on the issue, “particularly and North Korea,” Ban said. — AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

India sets up complex system India may have to to tap phone calls, e-mails wait to join sensitive nuclear export body India’s 900m phone subscribers under scrutiny VIENNA: Some states still appear to be sceptical about letting nuclear-armed India into an influential body reg- NEW DELHI: India has launched a The government started to quietly of the sensitivity of the subject. ulating sensitive atomic trade, diplomats said yester- wide-ranging surveillance programme roll the system out state by state in day, suggesting Indian membership may not be immi- that will give its security agencies and April this year, according to govern- No independent oversight nent. The United States, Britain, France are among even income tax officials the ability to ment officials. Eventually it will be The new system will allow the gov- countries pushing for allowing India - a growing market tap directly into e-mails and phone able to target any of India’s 900 mil- ernment to listen to and tape phone for such commerce - to join the 48-nation Nuclear calls without oversight by courts or lion landline and mobile phone sub- conversations, read e-mails and text Suppliers Group (NSG), a move that would boost the parliament, several sources said. The scribers and 120 million Internet users. messages, monitor posts on Asian nation’s status as an atomic power. expanded surveillance in the world’s Interior ministry spokesman KS Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn and But others worry about the implications for wider most populous democracy, which the Dhatwalia said he did not have details track searches on Google of selected efforts to prevent the spread of atomic bombs if a government says will help safeguard of CMS and therefore could not com- targets, according to interviews with country that has refused to sign a global anti-nuclear national security, has alarmed privacy ment on the privacy concerns. A two other officials involved in setting weapons pact were to enter a group which has a key advocates at a time when allegations spokeswoman for the telecommuni- up the new surveillance programme, role in countering proliferation of these arms. If India of massive US digital snooping cations ministry, which will oversee human rights activists and cyber joined the group, set up in 1975 to ensure that civilian beyond American shores has set off a CMS, did not respond to queries. experts. In 2012, India sent in 4,750 nuclear technology exports are not diverted to make global furore. Indian officials said making details requests to Google Inc for user data, atomic arms, it would be the only member that is out- “If India doesn’t want to look like an of the project public would limit its the highest in the world after the side the 189-nation nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty authoritarian regime, it needs to be effectiveness as a clandestine intelli- United States. Security agencies will (NPT). “There are concerns that still need to be transparent about who will be author- gence-gathering tool. “Security of the no longer need to seek a court order addressed,” one diplomat said. Like others, he declined ized to collect data, what data will be country is very important. All coun- for surveillance or depend, as they do to be identified in view of the confidential discussions collected, how it will be used, and tries have these surveillance pro- now, on Internet or telephone service in the consensus-based NSG. A Western diplomat, from how the right to privacy will be programmes,” said a senior telecommuni- providers to give them the data, the a country which like several others has yet to take a tected,” said Cynthia Wong, an cations ministry official, defending the government officials said. clear position on the issue, said: “It is not a done deal. Internet researcher at New York-based need for a large-scale eavesdropping Government intercept data servers We have to continue the discussions.” They were speak- Human Rights Watch. The Central system like CMS. “You can see terror- are being built on the premises of pri- ing after the NSG’s annual meeting last week, where Monitoring System (CMS) was ists getting caught, you see crimes vate telecommunications firms. These Britain argued in a paper that India qualifies given the announced in 2011 but there has being stopped. You need surveillance. will allow the government to tap into size of its civilian atomic industry and commitment to been no public debate and the gov- This is to protect you and your coun- communications at will without stopping the spread of military material. Western pow- ernment has said little about how it try,” said the official, who is directly telling the service providers, accord- ers have taken a strong interest in the nuclear emer- will work or how it will ensure that the involved in setting up the project. He ing to the officials and public docu- gence of India - particularly its ambition to expand its system is not abused. did not want to be identified because ments. —Reuters capacity in the next 20 years by adding nearly 30 reac- tors, making it an attractive market for technology exporters.

Kids suffer as Pakistan Asian rivalries Proponents say it is better to have India, expected to become a big nuclear supplier itself, inside than outside battles measles epidemic the NSG as it would ensure that it adheres to the group’s guidelines for sales of nuclear and nuclear- LAHORE: In the intensive-care ward of related goods. “There are good reasons for having it in Lahore’s Mayo hospital, pale, spotty the club,” the Western diplomat said. He added, howev- children cry in the intense heat of the er, that getting there could be a “slow process”. The Pakistani summer-victims of a devas- diplomats said they did not believe the issue would be tating measles outbreak. Punjab, decided already at next year’s NSG meeting. India is Pakistan’s most populous province of only expected to apply when it is confident it will be let which Lahore is the capital, has borne in. the brunt of the epidemic. It has Critics warn it would undermine the credibility of the 18,000 of the 25,000 cases reported NSG. Trying to “shoehorn India’s entry” could trigger around the country by provincial lobbying on the part of nuclear-armed, non-NPT mem- health authorities and more than 150 bers Pakistan and Israel to allow them to also join, said — all children-of the 495 deaths. Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association, a US The province is the country’s rich- research and advocacy group. Washington sealed a est and most developed, but health civilian nuclear supply deal with India in 2008 that experts say ineffective vaccination China and others found questionable because Delhi is programmes and poor monitoring of not part of the NPT. This ended India’s nuclear isolation the disease have led to the contagious and could mean billions of dollars in business for US disease running rampant. “Initially firms. Britain is also exploring a nuclear cooperation people were unaware about this epi- deal with India. India - Asia’s third-largest economy - demic, so they tried to treat the dis- LAHORE: A Pakistani nurse treats young children suffering from measles would need the support of all NSG members to join the ease at home and using local street at a hospital in Lahore. — AFP secretive body. The diplomats declined to comment on doctors,” doctor Iftikhar Mirza, a er,” he said. “Then he started vomiting January by a health ministry official as which countries remained sceptical. After an informal spokesman for Mayo, Lahore’s main and his energy vanished. When we “a record high”. The WHO uses a more meeting in March in Vienna, participants said Ireland, public hospital, told AFP. brought him here, he was about to die. conservative count of cases and the Netherlands and Switzerland seemed to be among “They were even unaware about But after treatment over here, he is deaths, but even by its measure 2013 is those still having doubts. the vaccination. So, when they came to okay now.” Doctor Muhammad on track to be far worse than 2012. China is also believed to have reservations, influ- us, the children were in a critical condi- Younas, an official from the Directorate Since the start of the year the WHO has enced by its ties to its ally Pakistan, India’s arch geo- tion and many had already died.” Asad General of Health in Punjab, told AFP recorded 12,951 measles cases and 290 political rival, which has also tested atomic bombs, ana- Abbas, a labourer, tried to treat the dis- the province had seen 17,985 measles deaths across Pakistan-compared to lysts say. India and Pakistan - which have fought three ease, spread by droplets from the nose cases this year, with 158 deaths. “This is 14,984 cases and 310 deaths in the wars - are both outside the NPT, which would oblige or mouth of infected people, with tra- the worst situation in five years and we whole of last year. The WHO says three them to scrap nuclear weapons. Five world powers - ditional methods and sought proper can confidently say that the number of consecutive years of severe flooding, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - in medical treatment only just in time. these cases is much higher than during which put Pakistan’s health system the NSG have nuclear arsenals but were allowed to “The red spots appeared on my six- the previous five years,” he said. Last under severe strain, have helped keep them under the NPT because they predated the year-old grandson’s body some days year there were 310 measles deaths in measles cases rocket from 4,321 in 1970 treaty, although they committed to disarming back. We took it lightly and got him Pakistan, according to the World 2010 to the current alarming fig- eventually. — Reuters treated from a homeopathic practition- Health Organization, described in ure.—AFP International FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Rough honeymoon for Chavez’s successor in Venezuela

CARACAS: Wearing sports gear in the the poor and thus continue Chavez’s poor. We put him there and we can dent to Venezuelans. Yet opposition national colors and sitting on a sofa in legacy. The avuncular images that remove him.” Far from enjoying a leader Henrique Capriles’ formal chal- a modest family home, Venezuelan Maduro, 50, has been promoting, newly elected president’s customary lenge to Maduro’s election win is run- President Nicolas Maduro holds a however, cannot hide the tough reali- honeymoon, Maduro’s ratings have ning out of steam: The election board microphone, chats with locals and ties he has inherited: an economy stayed stuck around the level of his ratified his loss after an audit and the expounds on the benefits of social- verging on recession, a ruling April 14 victory - by 50.6 percent to Supreme Court is also likely to give ism. Variations of the scene - on a fac- Socialist Party (PSUV) under some 49.1 against the opposition - or have short shrift to his allegations. Though tory floor, playing soccer in the presi- strains from within, and an impatient even dropped, according to some the United States has been lukewarm, dential palace or walking the plains populace. pollsters. Latin American neighbors have with farmers - play daily on national Such pressures make him vulnera- He has struggled, sometimes awk- embraced Maduro as president. TV as Hugo Chavez’s successor makes ble going forward, both to a newly wardly, to replicate Chavez’s famous “Gobierno en la Calle,” or “Street confident opposition and potential charisma and connection with the Opposition waiting game Government,” the chosen slogan of rivals inside the PSUV, though there is masses. Maduro argues that his men- So Capriles, 40, appears to be bid- his rule. Almost constantly on the no formal mechanism to challenge tor’s old foes in the private media and ing his time and is casting local elec- road since being elected in April, Maduro before a recall referendum Venezuela’s “fascist” right wing are tions in December as a referendum Maduro has launched a plethora of allowed three years into his presiden- doing their best to sabotage his gov- on Maduro. Right now, though, most new schemes, from raising the mini- cy. “We’re behind him, but he has to ernment, from plotting to assassinate Venezuelans are more concerned mum wage to sending soldiers into be behind us too, like Chavez was,” him to ignoring his flagship policies with day-to-day economic realities city slums to fight crime. said Eglis Rodriguez, a 39-year-old such as the drive against crime. than big-picture politics. Trumpeting his modest back- housewife and mother of three wait- The opposition, delighted at win- Shortages of basic goods ranging ground as a bus driver and union ing to see Maduro at a “Street ning nearly half the votes in April yet from toilet paper to flour have been activist, he continually reminds Government” event in the poor bitter at being deprived of the prize an embarrassment to the govern- Venezuelans he is the South Macarao neighborhood on the edge by what they claim was electoral ment, while monthly price increases American nation’s first “worker presi- of Caracas. “He must not forget that fraud, says Maduro’s incompetence hit a 17-year high in May at more dent,” guaranteed to empathize with he got in thanks to the votes of the and illegitimacy are ever more evi- than 6 percent. —Reuters

Obama confuses Brit Brazil officials minister with singer LONDON: US President Barack Obama repeatedly called reverse fare hike British finance minister George Osborne “Jeffrey” at the G8 summit, media reported yesterday. The US president said three times that he agreed fully with “Jeffrey” during his Protesters demand better education, healthcare presentation on G8 host Britain’s plans to crack down on tax avoidance, leaving Osborne red-faced. Realising his SAO PAULO: Leaders in Brazil’s two blunder afterwards, Obama joked that he had mistaken biggest cities said Wednesday that Britain’s chancellor for the US soul singer Jeffrey Osborne, The Sun and the Financial Times reported. “I’m they reversed an increase in bus and sorry, man. I must have confused you with my favourite R subway fares that ignited anti-govern- and B singer,” Obama was quoted as saying. The chancel- ment protests that have spread across lor, 42, bears little resemblance to Jeffrey Osborne, a 65- the nation in the past week. Many year-old African-American hit singer-songwriter known for people doubted the move would qui- his 1982 classic “On the Wings of Love”. et the demonstrations, which have Jeffrey Osborne told Sky News television: “I was really moved well beyond outrage over the delighted actually. I was really not aware that (Obama) fare hikes into communal cries against was that much of a fan that he would call the chancellor poor public services in Latin America’s Jeffrey Osborne. “Tell the chancellor when I come over I biggest nation. “It’s not really about will have to hook up with him and we will do a duet of ‘On the price anymore,” said Camila Sena, The Wings Of Love’.” —AFP an 18-year-old university student at a protest in Rio de Janeiro’s sister city of Niteroi. “People are so disgusted with the system, so fed up that now we’re Obama making plans to demanding change.” tackle global warming Sena added that seeing money poured into soccer stadiums for the WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is planning a current Confederations Cup and next NITEROI: Demonstrators overturn a bus late on June 19, 2013 in the center major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution year’s World Cup only added fuel to of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. — AFP blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on the people’s anger. “It’s not that we’re they receive in exchange for high tax- before Brazil’s game with Mexico in promises he made at the start of his second term. “We against the World Cup, not at all. It will es and rising prices. Small groups of the Confederations Cup soccer tour- know we have to do more - and we will do more,” Obama bring good things for Brazil. It’s just protesters clashed with police in nament. Riot police used gas bombs said Wednesday in Berlin. Obama’s senior energy and cli- that we’re against the corruption that Niteroi late Wednesday, while demon- and pepper spray to keep protesters mate adviser, Heather Zichal, said the plan would boost the World Cup has become an excuse strators staged a large march in the from advancing past a barrier some 3 energy efficiency of appliances and buildings, expand for,” she said. At a press conference in capital of Brasilia that included a new kilometers (1.8 miles) from the stadi- renewable energy and use the Environmental Protection Sao Paulo to announce the reversal of demand that the government provide um. A police car was burned by Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate the public transport fare hike, Sao free transit services. demonstrators, who also threw rocks heat-trapping pollution from coal-fired power plants. Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad said it Earlier in the day, about 200 people and other objects at officers. Zichal, speaking at a forum hosted by The New Republic “will represent a big sacrifice and we blocked the Anchieta Highway that The protest disrupted fans’ efforts in Washington, said that none of the proposals would will have to reduce investments in links Sao Paulo, the country’s biggest to get in the stadium for Brazil’s sec- require new funding or action from Congress. It has shown other areas.” He didn’t give details on city, and the port of Santos before ond match at the World Cup warm-up no appetite for legislation that would put a price on car- where other cuts would occur. heading to the industrial suburb of tournament. “We are against a gov- bon dioxide after a White House-backed bill to set up a Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes Sao Bernardo do Campo on Sao ernment that spends billions in stadi- market-based system died in Obama’s first term with also confirmed that the fare increase Paulo’s outskirts. Another group of ums while people are suffering across Democrats in charge. The plan, with details expected to be would be rescinded in that city. protesters later obstructed the high- the country,” said Natalia Querino, a revealed in coming weeks, comes as Obama has been Scattered street demonstrations con- way again. In the northeastern city of 22-year-old student participating in under increasing pressure from environmental groups and tinued in some parts of Brazil, includ- Fortaleza, 15,000 protesters clashed the protest. “We want better educa- lawmakers from states harmed by Superstorm Sandy to ing Niteroi, as protesters demand with police trying to prevent them tion, more security and a better health cut pollution from existing power plants, the largest improvements of the public services from reaching the Castelao stadium system.” —AP source of climate-altering gases. —AP Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Airbus, Boeing shine Bahrain between rock and hard place in bond decision at Paris Air Show Page 22 Page 20

MUMBAI: Onlookers standing outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) react as they watch share prices on the digital broadcast on the facade of the BSE yesterday. — AP India’s rupee hits new low against dollar India pushes for energy security in Iraq summit

MUMBAI: India’s rupee hit a new record low against the dollar yes- rupee),” said Abhishek Goenka, chairman of advisory firm India “In India’s growth story, we need energy security and Iraq is terday, on concerns the US Federal Reserve would scale back its Forex. Goenka feared the rupee would weaken further, to 61 levels intrinsic to India’s strategic positioning for purposes of energy secu- stimulus programme that has pumped billions of dollars into global in the near-term, but said intervention from India’s central bank rity,” Khurshid told AFP on the first visit to Iraq by an Indian foreign markets. The rupee hit 59.93 in morning trade, well below its previ- was unlikely. Analysts say the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cannot minister since 1990. Asked if ties with Iraq had taken on renewed ous record low of 58.98 reached last week, prompting the Indian intervene heavily to buttress the currency as it must retain enough urgency as India looks to reduce its dependency on oil from Iran, government to move to allay investor concerns over the currency. foreign reserves for imports. It only has sufficient reserves for seven which has been hit by sanctions tied to its controversial nuclear “The markets may be over-reacting as they tend to do in such months of imports-the lowest cover in 13 years. programme, Khurshid replied: “That would be a very Machiavellian times,” the finance ministry’s chief economic adviser Raghuram Officials confirmed last week that the RBI had intervened to halt and a calculating way of looking at it.” Rajan said. “We are not short of action or instruments as and when the slide after it reached the previous record low on June 11. The But, he acknowledged, “those are all relevant factors”. Iraq, the need arises,” Rajan told reporters in New Delhi. The rupee has RBI has a policy of not commenting on movements in the foreign which currently exports around 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of been hard hit recently, in part on concerns about Asia’s third largest exchange market and of intervening only to curb volatility. The oil, is looking to dramatically boost its energy output in the coming economy, which has been growing at a decade low of 5.0 percent, weaker currency makes imports costlier, especially of foreign oil on years, with energy officials targeting overall production capacity of as well as worsening public finances and political turmoil. which India heavily relies, and will stoke already high consumer 9 million bpd by 2017. Baghdad is almost entirely dependent on oil India’s benchmark Sensex index also fell more than two percent inflation. sales for income, and while efforts to boost energy production have to 18,856.83 points, on fears of overseas fund outflows from India. Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid met with resulted in a significant increase in production, efforts to diversify Trading in Indian government bonds also halted briefly yesterday, senior Iraqi officials yesterday as part of New Delhi’s push for the country’s economy have sputtered. Iran’s oil industry, mean- after yields breached set limits, but resumed later. Federal Reserve greater energy security as it looks to ensure sustained economic while, is struggling to cope with biting international sanctions. The chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday that the bank could growth. Khurshid met with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari Islamic Republic has been slapped with successive rounds of UN begin to wind down its key stimulus programme later this year, sig- and was to hold talks with Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and Deputy Security Council sanctions and also unilateral measures by the nalling a growing confidence in the US economy. By noon, the Prime Minister responsible for energy affairs Hussein al-Shahristani United States and the European Union. Tehran’s Economy Minister rupee recovered marginally to 59.82 on reports that India’s central with a range of topics to be discussed, though securing critical oil Shamseddin Hosseini said this month that Iran’s oil revenue bank possibly intervened to prop up the currency by selling dollars. supplies for Asia’s third largest economy was at the top of the dropped by “50 percent” in the past year and warned that “the situ- “The verdict is clear, we are likely to enter a new territory (for the agenda. ation will not improve in the near future”. — Agencies Business FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

China, euro-zone threaten economic recovery Chinese factory output weakest in nine months

LONDON: Factory output in China, the world’s second Managers’ Index due later on Thursday expected to about the year ahead. Markit, however, said the latest largest economy, weakened to a nine-month low this show a rise. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sent financial PMI data suggested the economy would contract 0.2 month, combining with a continued recession in the markets reeling on Wednesday when he said the US percent in the current quarter. The European Central euro-zone to threaten a global recovery led by the economy is expanding strongly enough for the central Bank has come under growing heat to take more United States. A day after the Federal Reserve suggest- bank to begin slowing the pace of its bond-buying action to help bring a quicker end to the bloc’s longest ed the US economy was firmly on a recovery path - programme later this year. “There’s a way to go - a recession, but economists polled by Reuters last enough so to withdraw some monetary stimulus - data slowdown in the Chinese economy doesn’t help the month did not predict any easing of policy in coming showed China’s economy was stuttering. outlook for the US particularly, but American growth months. Faltering demand pushed the flash China HSBC isn’t entirely dependent on what happens in China,” Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) down to 48.3 in June said Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec. Fragile China from 49.2, increasing pressure on the People’s Bank of “The euro-zone flash PMIs are encouraging, they Despite China’s economy showing signs of falter- China to loosen the monetary reins. Meanwhile, are consistent with the view that we will see a stabili- ing, adding to the pressure on the central bank to take Markit’s Flash Eurozone Composite PMI, which makes sation over the next few months.” The euro-zone PMI steps to ease policy, the chances of a hard landing up around 85 percent of the final reading and is seen was at its highest since March 2012, and beat forecasts remain small. “The chance of economic growth slip- as a reliable economic growth indicator for the bloc, in a Reuters poll of 23 economists for a more modest ping below 7 percent is quite low, because existing remained below the dividing line between growth and upturn to 48.1. But the index has been below the 50 measures are still effective in helping stabilise the contraction. It did, however, rise to 48.9 in June from mark dividing growth from contraction for all apart economy,” said Wang Jin, analyst at Guotai Junan May’s 47.7, suggesting the decay has eased across the from one of the last 22 months. Securities in Shanghai. In a sign that there would be a 17-nation bloc. A PMI covering services firms, which make up the wait before any sharp pick up both the Chinese and China’s economy grew at its slowest pace for 13 bulk of the bloc’s economy, jumped to 48.6 last month euro-zone PMIs saw a continued fall in new orders. years in 2012 and data so far this year has been weaker from 47.2, its highest since January but its 17th New orders in the bloc fell for the 23rd month, than forecast, bringing warnings the country could straight month below 50. Still, that was above even although at a shallower pace. “It’s suggesting that miss its 7.5 percent growth target, though possibly not the most optimistic of forecasts in a Reuters poll and things are moving in the right direction but it’s not by much. It stands in contrast with U.S. data, which has smashed the median expectation for a rise to 47.5. The going to happen fast. It’s still a weak picture,” Markit’s been generally positive. Markit’s flash US Purchasing survey also showed firms were increasingly optimistic chief economist Chris Williamson said. — Reuters Gulf markets retreat on Fed but still outperform Kuwait not worried by looming elections

DUBAI: Gulf stock markets retreated yesterday However, its index continues to consolidate in after the US Federal Reserve said it would start a symmetrical triangle that does not so far indi- cutting back its bond-buying stimulus this year, cate any downtrend. Despite the start of the sum- but the region reacted more calmly to the Fed mer, which tends to reduce trading activity as than most of the world. MSCI’s benchmark local investors take holidays, turnover in Dubai emerging markets index was down 3.3 percent in remains much higher than it was last year, before the late Gulf afternoon. But Gulf markets per- the bull run started. Kuwait’s index slipped 0.2 formed much better, with Dubai closing only 1.4 percent, easing slightly for a third straight session percent lower and Qatar dropping 1.0 percent. following an early-week rally, but leaving it up Saudi Arabia was shut for the weekend. 35.8 percent year-to-date. Budget and current account surpluses in the The market rose on Monday after a constitu- Gulf, as well as its currency pegs to the US dollar tional court ruling dissolved parliament and and solid economic growth backed by strong called for fresh elections within two months, and consumer spending as well as high oil prices, are prices have generally held up since then, show- shielding the region from the worst of the global ing investors believe the polls will produce a par- turmoil, fund managers said. liament that is willing to cooperate with the cabi- PARIS: Visitors walk in the rain during the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport yes- “Our growth drivers are local and we’re not net on economic development. After the close, terday. — AP relying on international finances,” said Rami Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA said the elec- Sidani, Schroders Middle East head of invest- tion would be held on July 25. In Egypt, the mar- ment. “I don’t expect the outlook for our region ket fell 1.2 percent as local investors continued to Airbus and Boeing shine to change as fundamentals are strong and valua- sell because of political tensions and the Egyptian tions continue to be compelling.” Dubai’s drop pound’s drop below 7.00 to the dollar on the offi- bright at Paris Air Show cut its 2013 gains to 45.5 percent. Since the tur- cial market for the first time on Wednesday. moil in emerging markets worsened about three However, Egyptian Exchange data showed Arab weeks ago, Dubai’s rally has halted and trading and non-Arab foreign investors were net buyers LE BOURGET: Aerospace heavyweights Airbus AFP: “The Paris Air Show 2013 has been a great turnover has dropped. of stocks. — Reuters and Boeing slugged it out yesterday for the lead show for Embraer, with the launch of the E2” fam- in total orders at the 50th Paris Air Show, while ily of regional jets. “This show is the best one for Embraer of Brazil hailed its best showing in 10 us in 10 years,” Silva added, as the company said years. Airbus was the first to release figures on it had taken firm orders worth $5.29 billion and Swiss central bank holds forex firm orders and total deals that included memo- now accounted for 40 percent of its short-haul randums of understanding (MOU), announcing market, compared with 29 percent for Canadian floor, warns of economy threat $39.3 billion (29.6 billion euros) in confirmed pur- rival Bombardier. Yesterday saw a slew of new chases. Boeing was to unveil its own numbers lat- orders for Airbus, while Boeing appeared to be ZURICH: The Swiss central bank insisted on euro in September 2011, as fears of an immi- er in the day, but based on deals announced so keeping its powder dry as rain drenched this Thursday it will continue defending the floor nent euro implosion coupled with concerns far, it has already booked firm orders worth $41.6 business airport north of Paris where the air show rate of the Swiss franc against the euro, a policy about soaring US debt levels, pushing billion. takes place every two years. which could come under increasing strain if investors to seek cover in the safe Swiss franc. Both airlines have found buyers for longer- Trade professionals looked forward to an more investment funds flow into the currency While the Swiss economy has remained a range aircraft that consume less fuel, such as the appearance Friday by the A350 after it made its for safety. The Swiss National Bank also rare bright spot on the European map, the Airbus A350 model that made its first test flight first test flight last week in southern France and a announced it was keeping its record low inter- surging value of the franc created headaches last week, and its US rival the Boeing 787 thundering demonstration flight by the Russian est rates intact. for exporters, which have seen margins erod- Dreamliner, grounded for several months earlier Sukhoi-35 combat jet was also in the cards. The But it warned that “an appreciation of the ed by unfavourable exchange rates. The this year owing to battery problems. Other civil- Airbus A400M military transport aircraft was Swiss franc would compromise price stability Swiss franc has fallen recently amid a rosier ian aircraft deals have focused on Airbus’ popular another new plane that drew attention as it has and would have serious consequences for the outlook for the European common currency, single-aisle A320 series and its rival, the Boeing finally resolved dogged teething problems and is Swiss economy.” The bank introduced a mini- sparking calls for the Swiss bank to remove 737 MAX model. Meanwhile, Paulo Cesar Silva, set to enter service with the French Air Force in mum exchange rate of 1.20 Swiss francs to the its floor.—Reuters president of Embraer’s civil aviation division, told the coming weeks.—AFP Business21 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Greek coalition dialogue drags on to end TV crisis Shutdown of ERT ‘brutal attack on constitution’

ATHENS: Talks between Greece’s prime min- terday for a summit of European conservative will result in the loss of 2,700 jobs and has ister and his coalition partners failed to resolve parties-the Europe People’s Party-and talks sparked national and international uproar. the political deadlock caused by the govern- with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Greece is under pressure by its EU-IMF lenders ment’s shutdown of state broadcaster ERT, before returning to Athens the same evening. to meet the terms of a massive 240 billion but will resume yesterday. Conservative Prime About 2,000 protesters, police estimated, euro ($322 billion) bailout. Those terms Minister Antonis Samaras had a three-and-a- gathered outside the Athens headquarters of include a requirement to axe 4,000 civil ser- half hour meeting Wednesday with the lead- ERT on Wednesday to show their support for vant posts by the end of the year. COLOMBO: Sri Lankan brush vendor Mohamed ers of the Socialist Pasok and the moderate the broadcaster. Alexis Tsipras, leader of the Representatives of Greece’s creditors, current- Suwais (57) drives his make-shift electric-powered left Democratic Left to try to reach agreement main opposition left-wing Syriza party, joined ly conducting a regular audit, issued a state- tricycle at the Cinnamon Gardens diplomatic quar- on ERT’s future. Both Pasok and the the protesters. “No one can fool around with ment on Wednesday saying the government ter yesterday. —AFP Democratic Left strongly oppose ERT’s sud- democracy in this country,” he told reporters. “has made important progress” in its reforms. den closure, a move that has seriously shaken Earlier in the day, Tsipras denounced the The troika of auditors added that the audit the coalition government’s cohesion. shutdown of ERT as a “brutal attack on the would be resumed by the end of the month. The two party leaders emerged from the constitution and democracy”. Samaras’s coali- Athens News Agency reported that the gov- Britain to look talks still unhappy. “It was a very difficult dis- tion partners have demanded the broadcasts ernment was working on a plan to hire a limit- cussion that will continue and will be conclud- be restored immediately: but the prime minis- ed number of journalists to produce three ed soon,” socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos ter has refused to reinstate ERT in its old form. news bulletins a day for two months, while a at RBS split said afterwards. Democratic Left leader Fotis ERT’s five TV channels and 24 radio stations new, leaner broadcaster, was prepared. LONDON: Britain is ready to start selling its shares in Lloyds Kouvelis said: “It is not just about the public remained off the air Wednesday, two days But Samaras has rejected calls to reinstate Banking Group and will examine whether to break up Royal Bank broadcaster, it is about the operation of the after the Council of State, Greece’s top admin- ERT in its previous form: he says it cost 300 of Scotland, Finance Minister George Osborne said on Wednesday, three-party coalition government. istrative court, told the government to restore million euros a year for an overall viewer rat- after acknowledging the re-privatisation of RBS remains a long “There has to be a collaboration that public broadcasts. The ruling did not however ing of four percent, less than half its private way off. The government is keen to show Britain’s part-nation- ensures common ground between the three specify if ERT should be the company manag- competitors. The government has offered to alised banks are recovering from the 2008 financial crisis and a parties.” Sources involved in Wednesday’s ing them. “One of the issues (discussed) is compensate ERT’s employees and to create a profitable sale of part of its 39 percent stake in Lloyds would allow talks indicated that they had covered the how the state broadcaster will operate again, new broadcaster with less than half the work- it to claim at least partial success ahead of the next election in wider question of how power was shared in with respect to the Council of State’s deci- force. ERT was widely seen in Greece as a gov- 2015. Royal Bank of Scotland, still lumbered with toxic loans from a the coalition. In a bid to appease his partners- sion,” said government spokesman Simos ernment mouthpiece and a haven of chronic boom-era property binge in the UK and Ireland and buffeted by its and head off early elections-Samaras held out Kedikoglou after Wednesday’s meeting. The mismanagement. But it also offered educa- role in a global interest rate-fixing scandal, remains a thorn in the the prospect of a cabinet reshuffle at the end shutdown has also blocked the local digital tional content unavailable on private televi- side of the government and the wider economy, which is strug- of the month, the sources said. Venizelos and signals of the BBC, TV5 and Deutsche Welle. sion, and a link to the homeland for the coun- gling to recover. Kouvelis were to confer with their parties Greece’s parliament channel, which had also try’s large diaspora. ERT’s closure has also pro- In his annual address to London’s financial elite, Osborne said before resuming talks with Samaras yesterday been blocked, went back on air late voked criticism from international media RBS probably should have been split into a good bank and its evening. Wednesday. organisations, who have condemned its shut- soured assets hived off into a so-called “bad bank” in 2008 when Samaras himself was in due in Vienna yes- The shock closure, announced on June 11, down as undemocratic. —AFP the lender was close to collapse. “I can tell you today that we will urgently investigate the case for taking the bad assets - those mis- takes of the past - out of RBS,” Osborne told the audience in the Mansion House, the residence of the mayor of London’s financial district. Sony chief eyes spin-off “We will judge whether this will allow the bank to focus on its future supporting the British economy. We will see whether it’s right for Britain to, in effect, see RBS broken up.” Osborne had pre- from ‘all sorts of angles’ viously dismissed splitting up RBS as too costly and disruptive. Similar “bad bank” solutions in Ireland and Spain triggered large losses that the state had to fill. TOKYO: The head of Sony told share- geted, is not believed to have been at business, while retaining his spot at holders yesterday the company’s yesterday’s meeting, which was the helm of the overall group. The US More calls for breakup board was studying from “all sorts of packed with a record attendance of investor argued that spinning off the His decision to investigate a restructuring of RBS comes after a angles” a proposed plan to spin off nearly 11,000 shareholders. Among entertainment division would make parliamentary commission he appointed to look at the UK bank- part of its profitable entertainment them was Keisuke Ohira who managers more accountable and help ing industry recommended such an analysis earlier on arm, but said it would not be rushed described Loeb’s idea as an “interest- improve profitability. He also offered Wednesday. Mervyn King, the outgoing governor of the Bank of into a decision. US billionaire Daniel ing proposal”. “It’s a good thing if his services on Sony’s board, pointing England, and Nigel Lawson, a former finance minister and fellow Loeb, who says his hedge fund Third shareholders’ voices are part of man- to his firm’s large stake in the maker of Conservative party member, also have urged a breakup to hasten Point has amassed the largest stake in agement decisions,” said the 28-year- Bravia televisions and PlayStation the privatisation of RBS. Speaking just after Osborne at the Sony, last month made the call to hive old. But another investor thought Sony game consoles. Mansion House, King welcomed the government’s plans but said off and list up to 20 percent of the unit, should avoid selling off part of a key Analysts said Loeb’s soft-touch more needed to be done to restore Britain’s banking system to which includes a music label and moneymaker. “The entertainment approach appeared to mark a dramat- full health. Hollywood movie studio. Sony CEO business has great potential,” said the ic shift from previous, mostly unsuc- Yesterday the BoE’s regulatory arm published details of how Kazuo Hirai told the firm’s annual 78-year-old man who identified him- cessful, forays by foreign investors much new capital Britain’s banks need to raise, with media reports investor meeting in Tokyo: “This is a self as Kawano, adding that “software who have tried to push through suggesting that Lloyds, RBS and Barclays will bear the brunt of a really important proposal not only for is as important as hardware”. change at Japanese firms. Shareholder previously announced 25 billion pound gap. “There is clearly some today’s Sony but for the future of Sony. Last month, Sony said it would con- activism in Japan is not firmly way to go before we can claim to have a really well-capitalised “The board will reach a decision by tinue “constructive dialogue with our entrenched like it is in Europe and the banking system,” King said, rejecting some banks’ view that higher discussing and analysing Third Point’s shareholders as we pursue our strate- United States, and the country’s clois- capital requirements are acting as a brake on their ability to sup- proposal from all sorts of angles... we gy”. But it added that the entertain- tered corporate sector remains deeply port the economy. A longer-term problem was the size of some want to take our time and get neces- ment businesses were “not for sale”. suspicious of overseas private equity British banks, which are still too large and complex to be allowed sary information from outside,” he told Hirai has resisted previous calls to firms. Sony has limped back to an to collapse without causing financial chaos, King said. the meeting at a Tokyo hotel. Sony, break up the electronics giant, which annual profit after four years in the The combined balance sheet of Britain’s largest banks is still which has reportedly sought out has struggled for years as it bled mon- red, mostly due to the weak yen and five times the size of the economy, despite years of post-crisis investment bankers to study the plan, ey from its television unit and other selling a string of assets including its down-sizing, King said. “We must restore trust in our banking sys- had been largely tight-lipped after consumer gadgets. Yesterday, Hirai Manhattan headquarters. Yesterday, tem,” he said. “It is not in our national interest to have banks that Loeb’s initial foray was detailed in a appeared to soften the firm’s position, Sony’s Tokyo-listed shares slipped are too big to fail, too big to jail, or simply too big. Solving these hand-delivered letter to Hirai in mid- but called the entertainment division 0.09 percent to 2,013 yen by the close. problems is the work of a generation.” Britain’s government said May. “a very important business for Sony’s The stock has more than doubled on Wednesday it would introduce criminal penalties for reckless The outspoken investor, who has a growth strategy”. since the start of the year after dip- bankers after a wide-ranging review into the industry by parlia- reputation for aggressively trying to Loeb has suggested Hirai serve as ping below 1,000 yen for the first time mentarians. —Reuters push change at companies he has tar- head of the board of the proposed since the era of the Walkman. —AFP Business22 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Bahrain between rock and hard place in bond decision Saudi support doesn’t completely reassure investors

DUBAI: Bahrain faces a dilemma in coming highest level since last August and up 133 relies on an oil field it shares with Saudi days as it decides whether to issue a sover- basis points since the end of May. By con- Arabia for some 70 percent of its budget eign bond at a time of extreme volatility in trast, yields on Middle East sovereign bonds revenue, and investors expect Riyadh to global markets. It is a dilemma which have risen 28 bps on average since the start extend more financial aid if necessary. issuers confront around the world - but in of this month, according to the HSBC However, the extent of Bahrain bonds’ slide Bahrain’s case it looks particularly acute. Nasdaq Dubai Middle East Conventional this month suggests investors do not The island kingdom, which is alone among Sovereign US Dollar Bond Index. attach a 100 percent probability to unlimit- the six oil exporters of the Gulf Cooperation Bahrain has underperformed countries ed Saudi financial support. HONG KONG: Floor traders study stock price in the Council in running a sizeable budget deficit such as Turkey, which is in the middle of its “For Bahrain to successfully issue bonds, Hong Kong Stock Exchange yesterday. —AP relative to its economy, this week complet- biggest political crisis in a decade. The yield the key debate is how much a $120 fiscal ed investor roadshows in the United States, on Turkey’s $1 billion sovereign bond break-even oil price and unresolved Asian markets tumble as Middle East and Europe for a potential maturing in 2022 is up 107 bps since end- domestic political divisions are offset by bond issue of at least $500 million. Since May. Behind the concern about Bahrain is support from Saudi, and the desire among Fed eyes end to stimulus then, the rout in global debt markets has its rising state budget deficit; in May the international investors to regain lost worsened, after US Federal Reserve International Monetary Fund forecast a fis- ground and hunt for yield,” said Dubai- HONG KONG: Asian markets sank yesterday, following a sell- Chairman Ben Bernanke said on cal shortfall of 4.2 percent of gross domes- based Hasnain Malik at Frontier Alpha, an off on Wall Street, after the Federal Reserve indicated it would Wednesday that the US economy was tic product or roughly $1.2 billion this year, independent research provider. start easing back on its multi-billion-dollar stimulus drive this strong enough for the Fed to begin slowing up from the 2.6 percent deficit reported by year. Adding to selling pressure was preliminary data on the pace of its bond-buying stimulus this the Bahraini government for 2012. Pricing Chinese manufacturing from HSBC, which showed activity con- year. He signalled an end to the pro- The country has succeeded in keeping Raza Agha, chief economist for Middle tracted again in June and was at a nine-month low. Tokyo shed gramme by the middle of 2014. If Bahrain its economy growing during political East and Africa at VTB Capital in London, puts its issue on hold, as most borrowers unrest and street protests by its Shi’ite said that if Bahrain did go ahead and issue 1.74 percent, or 230.64 points, to end at 13,014.58, Seoul tum- around the world are doing, it will risk hav- majority that have continued since 2011. in coming days, it would be reasonable to bled 2.00 percent, or 37.82 points, to close at 1,850.49 and ing to pay much more when budget pres- But while many investors were willing to expect a new 10-year issue to price at a Sydney sank 2.12 percent, or 103.0 points, to 4,758.4. Hong sures eventually force it to come to market; ignore the political risk just a few months spread of at least 350 bps over bench- Kong sank 2.9 percent, or 604.02 points, to 20,382.87 and it has no certainty the market turmoil will ago as they searched for yield in a global marks, considering where the 2022 bond Shanghai fell 2.77 percent, or 59.43 points, to 2,084.02 as deal- ease in coming months. environment of loose liquidity and falling was now trading. He noted that with such ers digested the manufacturing figures. The 10-year US Treasury yield is at 2.38 interest rates, they may become less willing pricing, Bahrain would still pay less than it The Fed’s policy-making committee said Wednesday the percent after Bernanke’s statement; in the against a background of rising rates. The did to issue its 2022 bond in July last year. economy continued to grow at a “moderate” pace but would long term it may be heading to around 4.0 long-term economic outlook may be more Other options could be considered. Islamic maintain its $85-billion-a-month bond-buying programme, cit- percent, which some consider a “normal” of a concern than the political outlook, bonds are generally less volatile because of ing high unemployment and the negative impact of govern- level historically. But if Bahrain goes ahead because trends in oil prices and govern- the buy-to-hold nature of their traditional ment spending cuts. However, chairman Ben Bernanke said and issues its bond now, it will leave itself ment spending appear to be moving the investor base, and would appeal to region- afterwards “the committee currently anticipates that it would open to investor speculation that it is sim- wrong way for Bahrain. It needs to spend al, and especially Saudi, investors. be appropriate to moderate the monthly pace of purchases ply unable to wait as it needs the money heavily to support the economy during the “Some could also argue that instead of a later this year” if the economic outlook continues to improve. urgently. Because of its weak state finances, unrest, but its small oil reserves are expen- regular dollar-denominated issue, a sukuk Stressing that “our purchases are tied to what happens in the that speculation could be damaging. sive to exploit. or a euro-denominated issue may help “Looking to issue in such conditions will Moody’s Investors Service cited these improve pricing even further,” Agha said. economy”, he said most members of the committee foresaw raise questions about how desperately trends last Thursday when it put its Baa1 Saudi markets are closed for the weekend tapering in the coming months. Bahrain needs to raise funds from bond rating of Bahrain on review for a possible on Thursday and Friday, so a Bahraini sover- The announcement sent US stocks tumbling-the Dow fell markets right now,” said Chavan Bhogaita, downgrade, with the result to be eign deal looks unlikely to print on those 1.35 percent, the S&P 500 lost 1.39 percent and the Nasdaq head of markets strategy at National Bank announced in three months. Moody’s now days. Market sources said Bahrain might tumbled 1.12 percent-while the yield on US Treasuries jumped. of Abu Dhabi. He added that Bahrain would rates Bahrain one notch above the other proceed next week, once markets had fully “The Fed’s result was not out of line with expectations,” said still be able to get a deal away in current two agencies; Moody’s analyst Steffen Dyck digested Bernanke’s statement. Even a SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi market conditions, if the pricing met told IFR, a Thomson Reuters service, that smooth issue could prove expensive for Nishi. “Some transparency as to the possible end of US easing investor expectations. any downgrade could be by one notch or both Bahrain’s finances and its profile is the biggest takeaway. Players can now factor this into invest- two. “The IMF estimates Bahrain’s fiscal among investors, however. “If they go ment strategies. Wall Street’s fall will act as a short-term nega- Underperformance break-even oil price close to $120 per bar- ahead, it will be out of necessity. Primary tive against the larger beneficial effect of a weaker yen.” The acuteness of Bahrain’s dilemma is at rel. Under the current forecasts for global markets will struggle, especially a Bahrain In currency dealing, the dollar jumped back towards 100 least partly responsible for the underperfor- oil prices of just over $100, Bahrain will con- bond,” a regional fixed income trader said. yen, with likely Fed tightening meaning there is less cash being mance of its debt since the bout of market tinue to run a fiscal deficit for the foresee- Bahrain has mandated BNP Paribas, pumped into the system, which in turn lifts demand. In New instability began. Its $1.5 billion, 6.125 per- able future,” he said. Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co and GIB cent sovereign bond maturing in 2022, rat- Key to Bahrain’s finances is support from Capital, the investment banking arm of Gulf York Wednesday it ended at 96.39 yen, well up from 95.05 yen ed BBB by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Saudi Arabia, which is politically and eco- International Bank, to arrange any bond earlier in the day in Asia. And yesterday it rallied again, buying Ratings, is bid at a yield of 5.80 percent, its nomically close to the tiny state. Bahrain sale. —Reuters 98.23 yen. The euro bought 129.82 yen and $1.3216 in Asia compared with 128.24 yen and $1.3297. Global markets have been sent into turmoil in recent weeks Obama’s African outlook splits opinion as dealers priced in a possible end to the bond-buying, known as quantitative easing. The programme had helped fuel a rally DAKAR: Days ahead of only his third official African visit, analysts are been more shrewd in its engagement, stepping up investment in in equities since the Fed said in September it would provide split over whether Barack Obama has been overlooking a golden mining, trade, construction and infrastructure. Africa has been home goose in his ancestral continent or shrewdly dodging a white ele- to six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies in the past vast sums of cash until the world’s biggest economy showed phant. The 44th US president inspired millions when he told an audi- decade, according to a 2010 study by the McKinsey Global Institute-a signs it was back up to strength. ence in Ghana during his first year in office that he would help build number that is projected to grow. Numerous data out of the United States in the past months prosperity in a resurgent sub-Saharan region many believe will be Foreign direct investment is forecast to attain $57 billion (42.8 bil- have pointed to a healthy recovery. In China, British banking the world’s next economic powerhouse. When he returns on June 26 lion euros) this year from $50 billion last year, with the sub-Saharan giant HSBC said its preliminary purchasing managers’ index for a tour of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, however, he will region likely to receive the majority, according to the African (PMI) came in at 48.3, worse than May’s final reading of 49.2 encounter a continent where his influence has largely been usurped Development Bank. Yet just one percent of US investment abroad and its lowest since September. A reading below 50 indicates by the billions of dollars invested by the world’s emerging goes to Africa and many analysts believe China has surpassed contraction, while anything above signals expansion. The news economies. America as its largest partner, with African governments preferring adds to growing concerns about the strength of the world’s “As he travels to Africa, he will see a definite different Africa that an approach that does not link trade to human rights or corruption. number two economy, which is a major driver of growth for enthusiastically celebrated his election and re-election but an Africa US companies are “leaving money on the table” in mineral- and the region. Zhang Zhiwei, economist at Nomura International that is asking: What have you done for me, not lately but ever?” Chika oil-rich Africa, industrialist Tribert Ayabatwa Rujugiro, who has busi- in Hong Kong, said in a report that “the fall reinforces our con- Onyeani, editor of the US-based African Sun-Times, wrote in a recent nesses in eight countries across the continent, said in a recent com- cerns over the downside risks to the economy”. Oil prices commentary. Obama’s detractors concede that he has led the way in mentary for the US-based Global Post. A 2012 study by Russian eased, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for African conflict resolution, particularly with the peaceful creation of investment bank Renaissance Capital underlines the point, arguing delivery in July, down $1.28 at $96.96 a barrel on its last day of South Sudan after decades of fighting between Sudan’s Muslim that Africa will be the “most exciting and rewarding continent for the trading, while Brent North Sea crude for August shed $1.36 to north and Christian and animist south. next 30 years”, producing more GDP in 2050 than the United States sit at $104.76. Gold was at $1,303.35 at 1110 GMT from But critics argue that while the US plays global referee, China has and Europe combined today. —AFP $1,367.80 late Wednesday. —AFP FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 THEY ARE THE 99!

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www.the99.org The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2013, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Media Group, Inc. Teshkeel The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2013, Opinion FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 26 Glasnost on the Potomac? Dual govt: US operates in sunshine and in shadow

By Calvin Woodward surveillance state,” said Rep John Conyers of Michigan, the top classified, there’s no lawyer countering the government’s case for Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Some other authority and the decisions are rarely made public. In one step t’s as if the United States has two governments, one open and Democrats, too, are proving hostile to the administration on this. toward openness, the Obama administration has disclosed some one very much not. President Barack Obama leads both, trying Sens Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mark Udall of Colorado have secret legal opinions, but only those from the previous adminis- Inot to butt heads with himself. Since becoming president, dogged the administration to back off what they see as an assault tration, regarding the treatment of terrorist detainees and some Obama has churned out an impressive stream of directives flowing on civil liberties and challenged its claims that the telephone and other matters specific to the Bush years. from his promise to deliver “the most transparent administration in email monitoring programs helped stop specific acts of terrorism. history.” He established a center devoted to declassifying records The debate places them and some other congressional critics in Loose Lips Sink Ships and making them public. He announced an open government ini- an awkward spot. Intelligence committee members are briefed on The Obama administration has pursued an unprecedented tiative. Dizzying quantities of information poured into public data- certain national security secrets but not allowed to talk about them. number of investigations of those who leak government secrets bases. New ways were devised to show taxpayers how their money That has left Udall, for one, champing at the bit. He told The Denver and taken extraordinary steps in doing so. Among them are the is spent. Allegiance was pledged to the rule of law. Then there’s the Post he was well aware of the monitoring programs that shocked secret seizure by the Justice Department of two months of phone other government. lawmakers who hadn’t been clued in and did “everything short of records for more than 20 Associated Press telephone lines and It prosecutes leakers like no administration before it. It exercises leaking classified information” to bring it to light. As a candidate, the gathering of emails of Fox News journalist James Rosen, in state-secrets privileges to quash court cases against it. It hides a Obama criticized Bush for putting forward a ‘false choice between both cases to try to identify sources of stories. At the same time, a vast array of directives and legal opinions underpinning govern- the liberties we cherish and the security we provide.” Now he says, 2012 law signed by Obama improved protections for whistle- ment actions - not just intelligence and not all of it about national “You can’t have 100 percent security and also then have 100 per- blowers, generally understood to be those in government who security. Now it’s known to conduct sweeping phone-records and cent privacy and zero inconvenience,” and, “We’re going to have to expose waste, fraud or abuse. Spillers of national security secrets Internet surveillance of ordinary people in programs kept on the lowdown until an employee of a National Security Agency contractor revealed them. Dick Cheney said this would happen. Known as the master manipulator of power behind the scenes as George W Bush’s vice president, Cheney predicted at the dawn of Obama’s presidency that the relentless campaign criticism of shadowed government would not come to much. “My guess is, once they get here and they’re faced with the same problems we deal with every day, that they will appreciate some of the things we’ve put in place,” he said. “They’ll need all the authority they can muster.” The empire of secrets lives on. Steven Aftergood, director of the Project on Government Secrecy for the Federation of American Scientists, says the US has both the most open government in the world and arguably the most closed. Daily it publishes an unmatched avalanche of information. But daily its national security secrets also grow by staggering amounts. Early on, there were signs Obama would not upend the fundamental balance of this parallel universe despite his pledges to take the government in a new, open direction. Glasnost on the Potomac would have to wait. One sign: Obama’s 2009 marching orders for classifying documents closely resembled those of his predecessors at least back to Ronald Reagan. Also, a 2011 review of the Obama administration’s handling of public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act noted the many positive words from the president and his people about striving for a culture of disclosure. This included an executive order on his first day in office. But the review came to this jar- ring conclusion when actions were measured against words: “Most indicators of openness have not even returned to the average for the Bush years, a period known for secrecy.” The report was by OMB Watch, now called the Center for Effective Government. On the bright side, Aftergood says, the government puts more and better information online than ever before. But at the core, “Classification activity is very high. Secrecy has become an obstacle Stephen Aftergood, director of the Project on Government Secrecy for the Federation of American in many areas of public policy. And we still are living with a classifi- Scientists, poses in his office in Washington. — AP cation system that is a legacy of the Cold War era.” If President Dwight Eisenhower were around today, he says, “he would have no make some choices as a society.” needn’t apply. All governments always have kept secrets on the trouble understanding how the classification system works. He grounds that sensitive information cannot fall into the hands of would feel quite at home. The rest of us feel like we’re living in a Secret Directives and Privileges adversaries and that frank discussions among nations and inside ‘Flintstones’ episode”. The secret side of government has many pil- These tools have been used just as vigorously as in the Bush the government must stay confidential until they no longer mat- lars, some fashioned with a compliant Congress, others raised from years, watchdogs say, despite modest steps toward accountabili- ter. But history is rife with secrets kept for political purposes, to within. A look at some, and the weird politics swirling around them: ty. The state-secrets privilege helps the government withhold conceal corruption and simply to avoid inconvenience or embar- sensitive national security records in court proceedings. But in its rassment. The sensational leak of the classified Pentagon Papers Which Side are You on Again? 2013 review of Obama’s first term, the Center for Effective in 1971 revealed pernicious efforts to mislead the public on the In the suddenly unfolding debate over secrecy in government, it Government says both the Bush and Obama administrations used depth of US involvement in Southeast Asia. Cascading revelations takes a spreadsheet to know who stands where. The normal parti- the privilege to dismiss entire cases against the government, not in that time laid bare domestic spying to disrupt civil rights and san divide that cleaves almost everything else in Washington is no just protect specific records. The government also operates with a anti-Vietnam War protests, assassination plots against foreign guide. Obama at times seems to be on both sides at once. In one range of regulations, legal opinions and policy directives that leaders and a campaign of character assassination against Martin corner, there’s Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California, who leads never see the light of day. Luther King Jr. the Senate Intelligence Committee, tag-teaming with Republican Targeted drone killings, the recently leaked phone and email Now the court martial of Army Pfc Bradley Manning is address- John Boehner of Ohio, the House speaker. Both are steaming over surveillance programs, and a former Bush program of warrantless ing how grave were the secrets he revealed when he supplied the actions of Edward Snowden, the NSA contractor who leaked wiretapping came from these shadows. “The administration has WikiLeaks with more than 700,000 classified battlefield reports, the surveillance programs. “Treason,” said Feinstein. “Traitor,” said continued to use secret ‘laws’ to make controversial decisions diplomatic cables and video clips while working as an intelligence Boehner. National security hawks in both parties agree. without oversight, to disallow legal challenge, and to withhold analyst in Iraq. His lawyers contend damage was minimal. The In the other corner, an unusual collection of liberals, civil liber- key decisions and memoranda that have the force of law from government argues the revelations included extraordinarily sensi- tarians and conservatives suspicious of government’s reach is public scrutiny,” the center says. tive information that endangered lives - revealing troop move- aligned against Big Brother. The American Civil Liberties Union, tea Certain actions are subject to court scrutiny but it’s a court like ments, code words, the names of suspects under investigation party favorites and dyed-in-the-wool progressives are these odd none other. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court hears and much more - and that some of it ended up in the hands of bedfellows. “It’s my fear that we are on the verge of becoming a cases inside vaults in a federal courthouse. Legal justifications are Osama bin Laden.—AP FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 www.kuwaittimes.net June 19,2013. — AP ing inAscot,England, Wednesday, of theRoyalAscothorserace meet- feather basedhatonthesecond day Ashleigh Johnswearsanornate Food FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

By Russ Parsons 1 clove garlic brush generously with the garlic olive oil. Grill over a mod- 1 teaspoon salt erate fire until browned on one side, 4 to 5 minutes. nce many years ago I came across a fish vendor at the 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed thoroughly if salted 7. Brush with more olive oil and use a spatula to turn to the farmers market with a whole tray full of beautiful fresh 1cup mixed green herbs, at least half parsley other side and brush that with oil as well. Continue cook- Oanchovies. On a sudden impulse, I bought them all. 6 tablespoons olive oil ing until the eggplant is browned on both sides and ten- Real anchovies - the ones that have been packed in salt to last 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or lemon juice der, about 3 to 4 minutes. - are an essential flavoring, the garlic of the sea. And then I 1. Rinse the anchovies under running water to remove 8. Remove to a platter, brush with any remaining oil and repented at leisure, trying to figure out what I was going to do excess salt and then soak in water to cover in small bowl serve. with all of them. Apparently preparing your own salted until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the fillets, discard anchovies is something that had not occurred to many cook- the skeletons and soak another 5 minutes until flexible. book writers. I searched through a dozen books trying to find Chop coarsely. a method before I came to a rough description of a poor Greek 2. With a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic with the salt to fisherman preparing them in one of my favorite cookbooks, a smooth paste. Add the capers and chopped anchovy, Patience Gray’s “Honey From a Weed.” and pound to a coarse paste. Add the herbs and pound to “Assisted by his children, he pulled the heads off the fish a paste. Starting with just a little at a time, add the olive oil, which at the same time removed the guts, and laid the fish stirring with the pestle to make a smooth emulsion. Stir in neatly in the petrol cans, alternating each layer with a layer of the red wine vinegar. Taste and adjust salt and vinegar. salt and finally putting a weighted board on top. In this way he To make salsa verde in the blender or food processor, pulse provided himself and his large family with supper throughout the anchovies, garlic, capers and herbs to a coarse paste. With the winter.” the machine running, slowly stream in the olive oil. Stir in the Thus inspired, I spent the next couple of hours carefully vinegar and add salt to taste. pulling the heads and guts out of several pounds of 2-inch fish and arranging them neatly between layers of kosher salt. In the end, I had enough salted anchovies to last a year, but I promise you it made the $10 or so you’ll spend for a pound of the store-bought ones feel like a grand bargain. Though there are dishes in which salted anchovies star, such as the Piedmontese anchovy-garlic dip bagna cauda, most often they’re happy to stay in the background, lending a deep savoriness that is absolutely necessary to the success of the recipe even if its source remains anonymous. EACH OF 6 SERVINGS One of my favorite ways to use anchovies is in roast lamb: Calories: 377 Stud the leg with a bouquet of anchovy, garlic and rosemary, Protein: 3 grams and the flavors melt into the meat. The other night I was fixing Carbohydrates: 13 grams eggplant for the grill and wondered about doing the same Fiber: 5 grams thing. I cut slits into thick slabs of eggplant and inserted thinly Fat: 37 grams sliced garlic, a little slip of salted anchovy and a sprig of rose- Saturated fat: 5 grams mary. Yowza. Cholesterol: 2 mg Salted anchovies are also the foundation for salsa verde. Or Sugar: 6 grams should I say “salsas verde,” because there is no single recipe Sodium: 79 mg for it. Rather, it’s a varied mash of anchovies, garlic, capers and green herbs thinned with olive oil. Think of it as pesto’s rowdy TIPS ON BUYING, STORING AND USING SALTED ANCHOVIES cousin, coarse, big-flavored and untamed by the mellowing of Maybe the hardest thing about cooking with salted cheese or nuts. EACH OF 6 SERVINGS anchovies is finding them in the first place. Check your local Calories: 124 Italian deli or the deli or cheese department of a local fine gro- Protein: 0 cery. You can also order them online. Carbohydrates: 1 grams Salted anchovies are most often sold in the cans in which Fiber: 0 they come, which means massive quantities, 1 pound or more. Fat: 14 grams Though you can store them in the refrigerator in that can, I Saturated fat: 2 grams prefer to transfer them to a tightly sealed glass or plastic con- Cholesterol: 1 mg tainer. They will last months, even years stored this way. Just Sugar: 0 make sure they stay covered in salt. And this way you can Sodium: 301 mg spread a little anchovy love among your friends by making them little jars too. GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH ANCHOVIES, When they come straight out of the salt, anchovies look GARLIC AND ROSEMARY unpromising. They take a little preparation. Rinse off any 45 minutes. 4 to 6 servings excess salt under running water and then soak the anchovies 3 salted anchovies (6 fillets) in a small bowl covered with more water. When they are flexi- 6 cloves garlic ble, after about 5 minutes, use your thumbnail to peel off the 1 cup olive oil, plus more if necessary two fillets, discarding the spine, tail and any innards or finny 2 large round eggplants bits that remain. Return them to soak for another 5 minutes to 2 long branches fresh rosemary finish softening. — MCT Within that broad framework of ingredients, there is much Salt room to play. You can thicken salsa verde with soaked bread 1. Rinse the anchovies under running water to remove or boiled potato to make a smoother, more cosmopolitan excess salt and then soak in water to cover in small bowl sauce. Some recipes call for mustard or hard-cooked egg, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the fillets, discard some for cornichons or green olives. I like to add green onion the skeletons and soak another 5 minutes until flexible. and sometimes even fennel seed (amazing with grilled sword- Cut into approximately half-inch crosswise pieces. fish). 2. Using a very sharp knife, slice the garlic crosswise as thin Parsley is the main herb, but it’s augmented by whatever as you can. Reserve the tops, bottoms and odd-shaped seems good at the time. Basil, tarragon, fresh oregano, sorrel, pieces in a bowl and cover with olive oil. rosemary, watercress and even nasturtiums can be used. I just 3. Trim the tops and bottoms of the eggplants, and cut the found a description of salsa verde made with celery leaves, eggplants into 1-inch-thick crosswise slices. and that sounds perfect. 4. Working with one slice at a time, use a paring knife to cut 5 The sauce comes together in seconds in a blender or food shallow slits into the eggplant - four at the compass points processor, but I like to make it with a mortar and pestle. The and one in the center; they should be about one-half-inch pounding releases the herb’s oils, making a more fragrant mix- deep and should not go all the way through. ture. And then when you taste it, there’s that wild savory tang 5. Insert a garlic slice in each of the slits (if necessary, widen of anchovies underneath. You can’t quite put your finger on it, the slit by wiggling the paring knife in it). Insert a piece of but you know it’s there. anchovy in each slit. Finally, insert a tuft of rosemary in each slit. The fillings should be as close to flush with the SALSA VERDE surface as you can make them. Repeat with the remaining 10 minutes. 4 to 6 servings eggplant slices. 1 anchovy (2 fillets) 6. Sprinkle both sides of each eggplant slice with salt and Food FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

large bowl of steamed clams, some parsley pota- FUL HINTS bowls. Discard any clams that do not open. toes and a chilled glass of white wine bring back Mussels can be substituted for the clams Meanwhile, bring the liquid to a boil and reduce rap- Amemories of sitting on a deck overlooking the Red or yellow potatoes cut into 2-inch pieces can be idly by half. Serve the broth with all of the vegetables. sparkling water in Connecticut. Clams are easy and used instead of creamers. Leave about 1\2 inch of the broth in the pan. This may quick to make, but are rarely made at home. Here are have some sand from the clams in it. Makes 2 servings. some buying and storing tips: COUNTDOWN Per serving: 270 calories (26 percent from fat), 7.7 g Ask for steamers. They are considered soft shell Start potatoes fat (0.7 g saturated, 4.3 g monounsaturated), 20 choles- clams (although their shell is hard to the touch.) Store Saute vegetables for clams terol, 11.7 g protein, 18.3 g carbohydrates, 3.6 g fiber, them in a bowl in the refrigerator. Wash them under Finish potatoes. 508 mg sodium. cold water with a stiff brush. Discard any that you can Finish clams. easily open or the shell moves easily. Little Neck clams PARSLEY POTATOES can also be used. These are considered hard shell clams. NEW ENGLAND STEAMED CLAMS 1 pound creamer or new potatoes, washed but not They should be stored in the refrigerator in salted water 1 tablespoon canola oil peeled with a couple of handfuls of cornmeal. When ready to 1 cup sliced onion 1 tablespoon canola oil use, rinse them under cold water and scrub with a 1 cup sliced carrot 1/2 cup chopped parsley brush. Throw away any with a loose or open shell. 1 cup sliced celery Salt and freshly ground black pepper This meal contains 454 calories with 29 calories from 1 cup dry white wine Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add cold water to fat. Freshly ground black pepper cover potatoes. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. 2 pounds clams Simmer about 15 minutes, until cooked through. Drain, Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. place in a bowl. Toss with oil, parsley and salt and pep- HELP- Add the onion, carrots and celery. Saute until they start per to taste. to shrivel but are not brown, about 10 minutes. Add Makes 2 servings. clams and cover tightly. Bring the liquid to the Per serving: 185 calories (35 percent from fat), 7.1 g boil. Let boil about 3 minutes. As soon as fat (0.6 g saturated, 4.3 g monounsaturated), no choles- they are open, remove from the terol, 3.7 g protein, 28.0 g carbohydrates, 3.4 g fiber 39 heat. With a slotted spoon mg sodium. lift the clams out of the pan and place SHOPPING LIST in two large Here are the ingredients you’ll need for tonight’s soup Dinner in Minutes. To buy: 1 onion,1 small bunch carrot, 1 small bunch celery, 2 pounds clams, 1 pound creamers or new potatoes, 1 small bunch parsley. Staples: Canola oil, salt and black peppercorns. — MCT Travel FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 50th ’versary of Kennedy visit in Berlin reminiscent of divided Germany

t was 50 years ago, an old man’s memory. than anywhere else,” said Yaro Turek, who But Berliners haven’t forgotten the escaped from behind the Iron Curtain by hik- IAmerican president’s visit in 1963, nor the ing with his family over the mountains into speech that offered so much hope. It provid- Austria. “We didn’t have it so bad in ed a promise of support for West Germans liv- Czechoslovakia. If you said you were a mem- ing in Berlin’s free but beleaguered American ber of the party you’d have a job and enough sector after they were heard around the food. But communism in East Germany was world. “Ich bin ein Berliner,” said President much harsher, more repressive. When there John F Kennedy, addressing 10,000 cheering were food shortages, it was the East Germans West Berliners jammed into the square not who starved. If you tried to leave, you’d be far from the Berlin Wall. Those broad shot.” Bostonian vowels gave the words an extra Touring the Mauer Museum recently, I zing. But the crowd, intent on the message, remembered my parents’ experience in 1970, knew what it meant. It meant that America when they applied for a permit to enter East was one of them, and that they were true Germany to visit cousins in Leipzig. They allies who wouldn’t forget their plight. waited at the border crossing, being eyed by

The Mauer Museum, of Wall Museum, is best known as the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Tours of Charlottenburg Palace and Garden are popular with visitors. their entry permit and passports and confis- This summer, Berlin remembers the 50th cating newspapers, magazines and books. anniversary of Kennedy’s visit with a half a “He found the gift box of chocolates we’d dozen special exhibits exploring Germany’s bought for Gert and Johanna and opened it,” unique relationship with the United States said my mother, still incensed after 45 years. and the Cold War politics that pitted Soviet- “He took off the wrapping and lifted the tis- run East Germany - also known as the sue paper, and he even had the nerve to eat a German Democratic Republic - against West couple of them. As if I’d hide something in a Germany. And nothing tells the story better bonbon.” The questions were predictable, the than the Mauer (Wall) Museum, a few steps rules inflexible. Why did the Americans want away from the Checkpoint Charlie border to enter the GDR? Who were they visiting? gate that once stood between the East and Had anyone asked them to deliver packages? West. Were they aware that spying was a capital This gate was important because Berlin crime? Did they know that they had to wasn’t on the border between the GDR and change American dollars for East German West Germany -the two countries that were a marks, register at the police station upon result of the country’s division. The city was arrival, and stay in a government-approved an island encircled by Soviet-controlled East motel? Germany, making it an easy target for a hos- This is where my parents - brave, or more tile takeover. And the East Berliners who fled likely, innocent - balked. “Henry put his foot “west” weren’t home free; they were still in down,” said my mother. “Johanna had a bed- Berlin, but in the free American sector. Thus, room waiting for us and he wasn’t going to before the Wall was built in 1961, crossing disappoint them. So we went straight to their over was a risky walk. Afterwards, the Berlin, Germany, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of US President John F Kennedy’s house and never heard another word about Checkpoint Charlie border crossing remained visit and speech supporting the city in the time of the Berlin Wall. The small portion of the it.” Today, Berlin is new, alive and moving for- one of the few places where a fleeing East wall that remains is now a tourist attraction. — MCT photos ward, but remembering the country’s rough German didn’t have to scale the wall or the past isn’t easy. Even the Checkpoint Charlie “death zone” beside it. If you were clever suspicious guards. They were detained at the the guards checked under the spare tire, guard shack - still in the middle of the street - enough, you might have been able to drive guard shack while armed soldiers searched knocked on the side panels and removed the has been reduced to a tourist attraction. A across. their car, a routine that anyone trying to cross rear seat cushions. Inside the shack, a stony- nearby photo exhibit, with grainy black-and- “Communism in East Germany was worse over could expect. Pulling out the luggage, faced officer spent long minutes examining Travel FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Tourists pose with pretend guards at the Checkpoint Charlie station. white photos, shows some of Germany’s escapees were shot and left to bleed to death years, snap a photo with the guards, and move worst moments in history, including when - two men in phony guard uniforms charge on to the Mauer Museum - more popularly IF YOU GO Soviet tanks faced off with American soldiers, tourists $10 for a photo. Behind them, under called the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. rom now through August, the and the instances when the Cold War threat- familiar golden arches, a McDonalds serves Privately-owned and operated, the museum “Kennedy In Berlin - Germany Trip ened to become more than lukewarm. At the hamburgers and fries. houses a huge collection of artifacts and pho- F 1963,” exhibit will be at the Willy-Brandt- shack itself - the spot where German To experience the country’s darker, divided tos recording not just the city’s most awful Haus, Berlin, which includes many never- days, but man’s unquenchable desire for free- before-seen photographs of the presi- dom. The exhibits, documenting the years dent by photographer Ulrich Mack, who between 1961 and 1989, are located in two old accompanied Kennedy during his his- buildings. We spent the morning roaming toric visit. inside, but it was not enough to take it all in. Through June and beyond, the The museum space itself is epitome of the era Kennedy Museum in Berlin remembers and sets the disheartening, suffocating tone the President’s visit with an exhibit that through the small rooms, narrow hallways and explores its purpose and political goals winding staircases. beyond the purely historical significance. In each little room, the walls are covered On June 23, a public picnic sponsored with black-and-white photos of wounded men by the Militarhistorisches Museum in crawling toward freedom, jubilant couples Berlin (Museum of Military History) being reunited, yellowing letters between fam- invites guests to experience the past by ilies separated by the wall, false birth certifi- learning about the history of Berlin dur- cates used to escape and real documents ing the allied occupation and viewing detailing persecution by the Stasi, the GDR’s the classic cars of the era. There is also a secret police. Other compelling things to see chance to meet and speak with eyewit- are the dozens of ingenious solutions that East nesses and veterans. The guest of honor Germans dreamed up to escape. They folded will be Gail S Halvorsen, Berlin airlift pilot themselves into miniscule spaces in cars and who earned the nickname “the cement trucks, boxed and loaded themselves Chocolate Pilot.” onto delivery vans and lay under hay bales. From June 24-26, eyewitnesses of They forged passports and produced false Kennedy’s visit and speech are invited to identification papers. One bold man walked join the celebration at the Schoneberg across the border, past armed East German City Hall (Rathaus Schoneberg). More guards, wearing the look-alike American mili- than 10,000 Berliners still remember his tary uniform that his fiancee, waiting in the speech, preserved by the Memory of the Western sector, had sewn for him. The Mauer Nation Association (Das Gedachtnis der Museum’s small theater space shows a variety Nation). If you’re were present at the of films and newsreels, including one of speech or remember seeing Kennedy on President Kennedy’s West Berlin speech. When a broadcast, you’re invited to record you arrive, check the day’s schedule. For more your memory of the event in a video about this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations, interview. All interviews will be made check out other exhibits, readings and special available in an online archive. — MCT Tourists can toast the city at Maximillian’s, a Bavarian-style pub. city tours planned in Berlin. Health FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Summer hair care is the mane point

hat sun. Those waves. This warm weather. If “You’ll probably need one in August, but everyone’s good chance it will be green by the end of the sum- there’s ever a time for shiny, vibrant, luscious at the beach,” he says. “Just stretch it a few more mer, he says. Thair, it’s summer. But your locks may actually weeks, let the ocean beat it up and then come in for Brush carefully. Since hair is most fragile when it’s take a hit over the next few months. Sun and water a conditioning treatment, and we’ll refresh it and fix wet, don’t rip a brush through it after swimming. can be damaging, leading to faded color, split ends it up.” Spray some detangler on it, and then use a wide- and a brittle, dry texture. “A lot can go wrong,” says Start in the shower. If you’ve been out in the sun tooth comb to minimize breakage. Gregory Patterson, a stylist and instructor at Blow, and forgot to protect your hair, you can still give it Choose strong hair bands. Summer heat practi- the New York Blow Dry Bar. “Hair color is such an the nourishment it needs. Opt for a hydrating sham- cally demands we throw our hair back, and a pony- investment, and keratin treatments are super expen- poo and conditioner, Patterson says. At Blow, such tail with no part can even protect the scalp from sive. Hopping in the chlorine or salt water can just products provide “intense hydration” - largely thanks exposure to the sun. The problem is that pulling it strip them right out of the hair and cause it to look to a combination of soy and corn protein. Make sure too tight can cause hair to break-or just “snap the dull and dehydrated.” products don’t contain harsh sulfates, parabens or hair off,” as Patterson says, particularly if it’s already Not exactly the look you were going for, right? sodium chlorine, which will weigh down your locks. dry. Pulling your hair back when it’s wet is even more Fear not: There are plenty of tricks to protect your Use UV-shielding products. You slap sunscreen damaging. Aim for loose buns and ponytails, and let hair this summer. That way, you can enjoy the warm on your skin to prevent burns. And likewise, an array your hair down before going to sleep at night. weather without having to spend the fall and winter of products are specifically designed to protect your Alternate the way you put it up, too - tie it low one repairing the damage. Patterson and other hair care hair from UV rays. These can help prevent highlight- day, high another and to the side the next. That way, experts shared their favorite tips: ed hair from lightening too quickly and looking fried, you’re not always stressing the same strands. Consider your geography. If you’re close to the and they can keep dark hair from turning brassy or Wear a hat-or something cuter. It’s one of the equator, the sun will be much more intense. That red. Most are finishing products such as UV-based best ways to protect your hair from the sun’s rays. means it’s more likely to dry out your locks and oxi- hairspray or leave-in conditioner. “Some of them And if that baseball cap is killing your look? Get a tur- dize your color. “I’m a guy, and my hair is pretty sim- really do work,” Lospalluto says. “I mean, it’s not ban. Patterson just spent a month in Sweden and ple,” says Chris Lospalluto, a stylist at Sally pushing the sun back into the solar system, but they says they’re all the rage. “I guarantee it’s going to Hershberger in New York. “But I was down in can make a difference.” Keep in mind that products pop up over here,” he says. “Cool, printed turbans Barbados a couple weeks ago, and it’s close to the always need to be applied to damp hair. Otherwise, are very fashion forward, and they make you look equator. The texture of my hair was almost com- they’ll sit on the surface and won’t sink into the hair. effortless and chic.” You could also opt for a scarf, a pletely different. It created a little bit of a wave.” In Dampen your locks. Spray some water on your wide-brim floppy hat or a cowboy hat. Keep in mind those situations, it’s smart to take extra precautions, hair before you go into the pool or ocean. It adds an that the sun can shine through certain straw hats, so Lospalluto says. extra layer of coating, so when you go swimming, it’s still smart to wear a protective product under- Get a haircut. It’s always best to get a trim before your hair isn’t as likely to absorb 100 percent of the neath. summer. The sun will do extra damage to hair that’s chlorinated water. “You won’t have this huge con- already dry, so if you remove those dead ends, you’ll centration of chlorine or salt water blast your hair www.huffingtonpost.com be in better shape. Though experts generally recom- and dry your hair out,” Lospalluto says. “It’ll be dilut- mend getting a trim every six to eight weeks, ed because your hair is already wet.” Otherwise, if Lospalluto suggests holding off during the summer. you’re starting out with dry blonde hair, there’s a Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Armenia’s Yezidi begin to question dated customs s she hangs up washing on branches mono-ethnic country where some 98 percent outside her family’s stone home, Liana of the roughly 3.3 million population are eth- Atalks wistfully about her curtailed nic Armenians and the country’s Christian childhood which ended with marriage at the Apostolic Church dominates. tender age of 14. Liana belongs to Armenia’s Fierce guardians of their traditions, the roughly 40,000-strong Yezidi community, a Yezidi do not allow outsiders to convert to livestock-herding people who follow their their faith and ban the eating of lettuce or own ancient religion that involves the wor- wearing of anything blue. Although they ship of a peacock angel called Satan. Their speak a form of Kurdish, Armenia’s Yezidi customs are strict and sometimes at odds fiercely reject being labelled Kurds and their with the values and practices of the modern religion-which has seen them regarded as world, most notably the tradition of marrying “devil-worshippers” by Muslims-is thought by women while they are still in their early teens. some to have its origins in the Zoroastrianism Some within the community, especially of ancient Persia. The Yezidis do not believe in heaven or hell, and do not regard Satan as evil. In fact, they worship him in the guise of a peacock angel whose name they are forbid- den from saying out loud. Found in Armenia’s western valleys close to Mount Ararat, as well as in their spiritual home in nearby Iraq, along with Syria, Turkey and Georgia, the strongly patriarchal Yezidi forbid girls from talking in the presence of male eld- ers or eating with male relatives. As was the Women of Yezidi community put the dinner on at their home in the Armenian vil- case with Liana, they have commonly married lage of Zovuny. off their daughters when they are in their early not everyone in the Yezidi community many children, herd livestock or wear tradi- teens, sometimes as young as 12 or 13. thought that an exception should be made tional clothing. Although the number is still for them. Many in the younger generations small-just around 100 — Yezidi students are ‘A spinster at 18’ are increasingly turning their backs on their now studying at Armenian universities, said Last year when Armenia moved to revise ancestors’ way of life by refusing to have Khdr Hajoyan, the editor of a Yezidi newspaper named after their fabled homeland, Yezidkhana. “Young Yezidi boys and girls want to go to school, receive higher education and rise up the career ladder,” Hajoyan said. “Why can’t someone from the Yezidi community here become a member of parliament or a minister?” he asked. For a growing number of younger Yezidi though, the dream of a better future lies outside the country-and the strict cultural codes A young woman, member of Yezidi community, kisses of their closed society. Many have already a figure peacock, used as an object of worship by the emigrated to Europe or Russia and ever more Yezidis. are looking to follow them-including Liana and her young family. “We don’t have a problem with Armenia but I don’t want my daughters to have the same life as their mother has had,” said Aziz, Liana’s husband. “I don’t want them just to be working with cattle all their lives,” he said. “Whatever they want to be, that is for them to A member of Yezidi community shows photos of his ancestors. decide. I don’t want to interfere.” — AFP its law on marriage, raising the minimum age of marriage for both boys and girls to 18, representatives of the Yezidi community erupted in protest at what they claimed was an assault on a cornerstone of their culture. “This Aziz Tamoyan, the director of the is an ancient tradition,” said Aziz Tamoyan, Yezidi Union in Armenia, speaks dur- the director of the Yezidi Union in Armenia. “If ing his interview with AFP in the vil- a girl is not already married by the time she is lage of Zovuny, some15 km outside 18 then she is already considered a spinster.” Yerevan. — AFP photos In the end, in the face of possible street protests, Armenia’s parliament compromised and the minimum age that girls in the Yezidi the young, are now wanting to break out of community could marry was set at 16. the limits of tradition and forge normal lives “When we brought in changes to the law and careers. “When I was 14 my parents we had to deal with the realities of life,” said refused to let me go to school anymore and lawmaker Agvan Vardanyan, a member of married me off instead,” Liana, now 23, said, parliament’s commission for human rights her olive green eyes flickering timidly to the that drew up the law. ground. “But I want my daughters to get an “The Yezidi community guards its tradi- education, become experts in something and tions very jealously and they have families at live in better conditions,” she said, watching a very young age whatever the current laws as her six-year-old daughter continued with are at any given time,” Vardanyan said. the household chores. The Yezidi are the “Not to take into account their traditions biggest minority group in Armenia-a largely or their rhythm of life would not be right.” But Liana Amaryan hangs up washing outside her family’s stone home. Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

This March 9, 2003 file photo shows US actor James Gandolfini accepting the award for This undated publicity image released by HBO shows, from left, Tony Sirico, Steven Van Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series for his role in ‘The Sopranos’ at the 9th Annual Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli and Vicint Pastore,from the HBO drama series Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, CA. — AP/AFP photos ‘The Sopranos.’ ‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini dies at 51 ward-winning US actor James Kidman as war correspondent Martha Gandolfini, the burly star of classic TV Gellhorn. Gandolfini is survived by his wife, Amafia drama “The Sopranos,” died Deborah Lin, whom he married in 2008, and Wednesday aged 51 in Italy, triggering a flood their nine-month old daughter, Liliana, of tributes from the acting world and beyond. according to the Los Angeles Times. He also The New Jersey-born actor, who won three has a teenage son, Michael, with his first wife, Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Marcy Wudarski. Tributes poured in from fel- troubled mob boss Tony Soprano on the pop- low actors and colleagues, including “The ular cable TV series, suffered a heart attack or a Sopranos” creator David Chase, who called stroke, HBO network officials said. “It is with Gandolfini a “genius.”“Anyone who saw him immense sorrow that we report our client, even in the smallest of his performances James Gandolfini, passed away today while on knows that,” he said. “He is one of the greatest holiday in Rome, Italy,” said a joint statement actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.” From the acting world Steve Carell, who starred with Gandolfini in this year’s com- edy “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” said it was “unbelievably sad news.”Susan Sarandon called him “one of the sweetest, funniest, most generous actors I’ve ever worked with,” Jonah Hill said it was a “tragic loss,” and Mia Farrow called him “a great actor. Just great.” This 2007 file photo originally supplied by HBO, shows James Gandolfini, left, HBO managers praised the actor as “a spe- Steven Van Zandt and Tony Sirico, right, members of the cast of the HBO cable tele- cial man, a great talent, but more importantly vision mob drama “The Sopranos. a gentle and loving person who treated every- before lending his heavy stature and big grin winning Osama bin Laden manhunt movie one no matter their title or position with equal to play a depressed mafioso in “The “Zero Dark Thirty,” while his last big-screen respect.” Sopranos,” the celebrated series that ran from movie was “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” “He touched so many of us over the years 1999 to 2007. He was also a television producer for HBO, with his humor, his warmth and his humility. The series about the suburban mafia family notably making the TV movie “Hemingway & Our hearts go out to his wife and children dur- was so popular it helped transform HBO into Gellhorn” last year, a romantic drama with ing this terrible time. He will be deeply missed an powerhouse for quality original programs. Clive Owen as Ernest Hemingway and Nicole by all of us,” their statement added. — AFP This in turn led rival cable networks to produce their own edgy original series like “The Shield” on FX, and “Mad Men” on AMC. Gandolfini was born on September 18, 1961. His parents were Italian immigrants-his father File photo shows actor James Gandolfini with his was a bricklayer, and later a high school custo- award for outstanding lead in a drama series for his dian, while his mother worked in a cafeteria at work in ‘The Sopranos’. the same school. His parents insisted that he go to college, and after some initial resistance from his California-based managers, Mark Gandolfini graduated with a degree in com- Armstrong and Nancy Sanders. munications from Rutgers University in 1983. Gandolfini was in Italy for the Taormina The future Tony Soprano began acting in Film Fest in Sicily, where he was expected to the New York theater, making his Broadway participate in a roundtable discussion with debut in the 1992 revival of “A Streetcar Italian director Gabriele Muccino this week- Named Desire” with Jessica Lange and Alec end, according to celebrity website TMZ. HBO, Baldwin. His breakthrough role came as a hit- the cable TV channel on which “The Sopranos” man in Tony Scott’s 1993 “True Romance,” aired, issued a statement saying: “We’re all in which he followed with “She’s So Lovely” shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at (1997), “8MM” (1999), “The Mexican” (2001), “The Man Who Wasn’t There” (2001) and “In the loss of a beloved member of our family.” TV crews and media set up outside the Exedra hotel where actor James Gandolfini The actor had a long film and stage career the Loop” (2009). Last year, Gandolfini played former CIA director Leon Panetta in the Oscar- was staying while vacationing in Rome. Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 AEG trial hears Paris Jackson video testimony

aris Jackson recalled how her celebrity news website TMZ, as well as father’s ex-nanny would sneak CNN. “That’s what he told us. Yeah, it’s Pinto his bed, in testimony played kinda freaky,” she told the lawyers. at the trial between the late King of Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Pop’s family and the promoters of his and his three children Prince, Paris and last doomed tour. Michael Jackson’s “Blanket” are suing AEG Live alleging daughter, who tried to commit suicide that it negligently hired doctor Conrad earlier this month, recorded a video Murray to care for the star as he pre- deposition in March ahead of the start pared for his doomed “This is It” tour. of the trial between the Jacksons and Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from promoter AEG Live. The 15-year-old, an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, who is a party to the trial along with which Murray was giving him to help her grandmother Katherine and two the singer with chronic insomnia. siblings, was originally on the witness Murray was convicted of involuntary list for the trial, but is now unlikely to manslaughter in 2011, and jailed for take the stand. four years. Instead, lawyers began playing clips Paris Jackson was rushed to hospital Tuesday from the teenager’s pre- on June 5 after trying to commit sui- recorded deposition, including one in cide, reportedly by cutting a wrist and which she recounts how a former nan- taking 20 Motrin (ibuprofen) pills at the ny, Grace Rwaramba, was obsessed File photo shows, from left, Blanket Jackson, Paris Jackson, and Prince family home in Calabasas, northwest of with Jackson. “My dad didn’t like her, Michael Jackson at the opening night of the Michael Jackson The Immortal Los Angeles. The teenager, whose so he tried to keep him away from us,” World Tour in Los Angeles. — AP father died in 2009, was put on a 72- Paris Jackson told lawyers, giving testi- hour psychiatric hold in hospital, a mony under oath on March 21. “He going to freak you out,” she recounted: with him. “She’d call and say that she family source said, adding that Paris said she was sneaky, she wasn’t an “When he’d stay in a hotel or whatever, was his wife, and they’d let her in, and suffered from depression and had pre- honest person and she lied a lot.” she would call like the hotel and say he’d wake up and she’d be like in his viously reported suicidal thoughts. The Prefacing the story by saying “This is that she was his wife-she was obsessed bed,” she said in the video shown by trial continued Wednesday. —AFP ‘Letters to Jackie’ opens US documentary film festival

ne of America’s premier documen- gy of condolence letters and telegrams to much wisdom, it makes you so proud to be tary film festivals got underway late the former first lady compiled by Ellen a human being, and in some cases to be an OWednesday with a fresh look back Fitzpatrick, published two years ago. American,” added the filmmaker, an Oscar on the life and times of John F. Kennedy Reading off-camera the selected two winner in 1990 for his AIDS film “Common based on moving condolence messages to dozen or so letters from grief-stricken Threads: Stories from the Quilt.” his widow. “Letters to Jackie: Remembering Americans from all walks of life is a constel- “These letters had a way of trying to President Kennedy” marries archival lation of Hollywood stars from Betty White, show there is so much more that brings us footage with poignant words of sympathy 91, to Hailee Steinfeld, 16. “When this together than pulls us apart.” With lots of from the 800,000 letters sent to Jacqueline tragedy struck, I felt like Peter Pan when mood music plus home movies from the Kennedy in the two months after JFK’s Tinker Bell was dying,” wrote one letter- Kennedy clan’s Cape Cod summer holidays, assassination 50 years ago this November. writer gripped by a sense of helplessness. the film at times feels hagiographic, before It set the tone of the American Film Another declared by way of a postscript: “I Martin Luther King appears to remind view- Institute’s AFI Docs festival, which over five wish I could get my hands on that assassi- ers how Kennedy sometimes wavered on days will unspool 53 documentaries, many nator.” Others in the film’s largely female civil rights. of them with a distinct political flavor, in cast of voices include Berenice Bejo, Jessica Couturie also prudently makes a point theaters in Washington and surburban Chastain, Zooey Deschanel, Kirsten Dunst, of underscoring JFK’s role in escalating the Silver Spring, Maryland. Anne Hathaway, Melissa Leo and-convey- United States’ fateful involvement in the Highlights include “Herblock: The Black ing the words of a US army lieutenant in Vietnam war, as well as poignant references and The White,” a biopic of the iconic Berlin-Channing Tatum. to the Cuban missile crisis and the Bay of Washington Post political cartoonist, and “What I find so amazing is that common Pigs fiasco. Supporting the project was “Documented,” in which journalist Jose people sit down and they spill their heart Steven Spielberg’s production house Antonio Vargas describes his life after out- out,” said Couturie prior to a gala evening Amblin Entertainment and the TLC cable ing himself as an illegal migrant. Directed screening at the Newseum, a museum in channel, which plans to air it this autumn by Oscar winner Bill Couturie, “Letters to downtown Washington dedicated to jour- when the United States alongside com- Jackie” grew out of an eponymous antholo- nalism. “There is so much compassion, so memorations of Kennedy’s death. — AP

This photo shows South Korean actors Sol Kyung-gu, Indian Bollywood film actors Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush Jun-Ho, Han pose during the promotion of upcoming Hindi film Hyo-joo and ‘Raanjhanaa’ on the set of television reality show ‘Jhalak Jung Woo-sung Dikhla Jaa’ in Mumbai . — AFP attending a ‘Cold Eyes’ film premiere in Seoul. —AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 French couturier Jean-Louis Scherrer dies

(Above) A file photo taken on March 1, 1987 in Paris shows French fashion designer Jean-Louis Scherrer and an assistant adjusting a top in his workshop. rench couturier Jean-Louis to the small group of fashion design- Scherrer has died in Paris at the ers entitled to call their work “haute Fage of 78, an employee said yes- couture”. But after years of success, in terday. Scherrer, who started out 1992 he was sacked by shareholders working with Christian Dior and later and his label disappeared in 2008. Yves Saint-Laurent, launched his own Guillaume Feugeas, an employee for label in 1962 and his first collection of 14 years, said Scherrer, who died yes- cocktail dresses was famously held in terday morning, had been in hospital a wine cellar. In 1971 he was admitted for 10 months. —AFP French fashion designer Jean Louis Scherrer walks with a model in Paris on July 27, 1992 during the presentation of (Right) German model Claudia Schiffer presents a creation by French cou- his fall/winter 1992/93 haute couture collection. — AP/AFP turier Jean-Louis Scherrer as part of his ready-to-wear collection on photos October 11, 1993 in Paris. Dolce and Gabbana sentenced to jail for tax dodge n Italian court on Wednesday the most insidious,” Pedio said, was “an artificial construction the aim of around one billion euros, the court sentenced celebrated fashion describing Gado as “a sort of cloud of which was to get a tax advantage”. ruled that just 200 million euros of Ahouse duo Domenico Dolce with the consistency of gas”. Fellow Although Dolce and Gabbana had that sum was relevant. Four other peo- and Stefano Gabbana to one year and prosecutor Gaetano Ruta said Gado originally been accused of tax evasion ple, including Dolce’s brother Alfonso, eight months in prison for avoiding were given suspended jail sentences. taxes totaling 200 million euros ($268 Investigators completed a probe million). The pair were also ordered by into the designers and five other peo- the court in Milan to pay a fine of ple in 2010. The case was dismissed in 500,000 euros ($670,000) to Italy’s April 2011 but reopened in November national tax agency. Lawyers for Dolce last year and went to trial. “All that I and Gabbana, whose celebrity clients care about is making clothes, that’s all. include Beyonce and Madonna, imme- Let them do and say whatever they diately said they would appeal. Under want,” Gabbana tweeted about the tri- Italian law the sentence will be sus- al in April. “To be accused of some- pended in the meantime. thing that’s not true is not a pretty The pair were accused of having thing, but the heart of the matter is, transferred control of their brands to a who cares, we’ll all end up in the shell company in Luxembourg in 2004 ground in the end,” he said. Already in and 2005 to avoid paying Italian taxes. March, a civil court in Milan found the Prosecutors had argued that setting pair guilty of tax evasion and fined up the Luxembourg company Gado- them 343 million euros. That ruling is an acronym of the surnames of the currently subject to an appeal. two designers-while the company was Founded in 1985, Dolce & Gabbana operating out of Italy was a bid to employs more than 3,000 people and defraud the state. They had called in has 250 shops in 40 countries around May for the pair to be sent down for the world. Italy has been cracking two years and six months. In her clos- down on widespread tax evasion in an ing speech at the trial, prosecutor effort to raise government revenues Laura Pedio said there was “rock-solid following the global economic crisis. proof” that the duo had committed Picture shows Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana Tax evasion is estimated to cost Italy “sophisticated tax fraud”. acknowledge the applause after presenting their Dolce & Gabbana 2008 between 120 billion and 150 billion “Cases as complex as this one are spring/summer men’s collection at Milan’s fashion week. — AFP euros ($160-200 billion) a year. — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 t en Ev n Fashio Men

Models present creations by Spencer Hart during the Spring/Summer 2014 London Collections: Men fashion event in London. —AFP photos

A fluffy male cow named Texas Tornado at Lautner Farms in Adel, Iowa. —AP Fluffy cows: Old beauty practice gains attention rooming cows so they look like unusu- sell livestock for breeding or harvesting. ally large poodles is a well-known The cattle go through a beauty pageant Gbeautification practice in the show cat- regiment: They’re washed, brushed and blow tle industry. But although it may be decades dried. Special oils add an extra fluff. The bull’s old, it’s just now getting attention on the owner, Matt Lautner of Lautner Farms in Internet. It started with a photo of a male cow Iowa, helps raise many fluffy cows. He’s using named Texas Tornado who had a particularly social media to run with the overwhelming fluffy coat. “Fluffy cow” photos are now mak- response, and hopes it brings more attention ing the rounds. The practice is meant to help to the industry. — AP FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

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Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/06/2013 TO 26/06/2013)

SHARQIA-1 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 1:30 PM AVENUES-2 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 1:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 3:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 2:15 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 3:45 PM MUHALAB-3 LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 6:00 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 4:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 6:15 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 1:00 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 8:00 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 7:15 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 8:15 PM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 10:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 9:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 10:45 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 12:45 AM SCENARIO (DIG) 12:15 AM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:45 AM TATTAH (DIG) 7:30 PM TATTAH (DIG) 9:45 PM MARINA-2 AVENUES-3 SHARQIA-2 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) 1:45 PM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 12:45 PM FANAR-1 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 2:45 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 4:15 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:30 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 5:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) 6:45 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 4:45 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 3:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 7:45 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 9:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG-3D) 7:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 5:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 11:45 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG-3D) 9:45 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 8:00 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 12:15 AM MAN OF STEEL (DIG-3D) 12:30 AM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:30 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED 360º- 1 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 1:00 AM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 12:30 PM SHARQIA-3 MARINA-3 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 3:00 PM TATTAH (DIG) 2:00 PM FANAR-2 THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 1:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 5:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 4:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 1:00 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 1:15 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 8:00 PM TATTAH (DIG) 7:15 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 3:15 PM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 10:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 9:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) 5:30 PM MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 1:00 AM TATTAH (DIG) 12:05 AM SCENARIO (DIG) 7:45 PM TATTAH (DIG) 7:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 10:15 PM TATTAH (DIG) 9:45 PM 360º- 2 MUHALAB-1 TATTAH (DIG) 12:45 AM TATTAH (DIG) 12:15 AM SCENARIO (DIG) 1:15 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 1:30 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 3:45 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 4:15 PM FANAR-3 AVENUES-1 SCENARIO (DIG) 6:15 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 7:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 1:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 1:15 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 8:45 PM MAN OF STEEL (DIG) 9:30 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 3:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 3:15 PM SCENARIO (DIG) 11:15 PM NOW YOU SEE ME (DIG) 5:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 5:15 PM MUHALAB-2 LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 8:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 7:15 PM 360º- 3 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 1:30 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 10:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 9:15 PM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 1:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 3:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 12:05 AM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 11:15 PM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 3:00 PM WORLD WAR Z (DIG) 5:45 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 1:15 AM THE LEGEND OF SARILA (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) 8:00 PM MARINA-1 WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) 7:00 PM Stars FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

COUNTRY CODES Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22) Many people find that you are a fine teacher, regardless of Afghanistan 0093 Kuwait 00965 where or what type of teaching is needed. You are innovative, friendly You naturally are a giving person, sacrificing your own Albania 00355 Kyrgyzstan 00996 and effective. You find ways to gain important ideas and resources that interests for the sake of an inner vision--what you feel is right. A born psy- Algeria 00213 Laos 00856 help you develop a motivating program. This may mean that you teach chologist, you may find you enjoy counseling and caring for the mental Andorra 00376 Latvia 00371 in an educational system or as a professional advisor. Of course, you are needs of others. Your lack of seriousness, however, may undermine any Angola 00244 Lebanon 00961 excellent in setting an example when an example is needed. You may valid attempts to form a base. This is the beginning of a better time for Anguilla 001264 Liberia 00231 find that you enjoy your job more than usual. Your ideal dream is a pri- you to begin something new with the help of a calendar and a list. The Antiga 001268 Libya 00218 Argentina 0054 Lithuania 00370 vate one and heaven is as close as work and family. You help find more often you check your list and calendar, the easier it will be to begin Armenia 00374 Luxembourg 00352 answers to the problems and temptations children face when unsuper- a new habit or system of working. You have a natural sense of that which pleases, knowing the mood of the crowd or perhaps authority figures-- Australia 0061 Macau 00853 vised. The romantic in you struggles against the frontier spirit that often Austria 0043 Macedonia 00389 moves you into action. tonight is your turn to entertain. You always manage to end up in the limelight, with the support of those around you. Bahamas 001242 Madagascar 00261 Bahrain 00973 Majorca 0034 Bangladesh 00880 Malawi 00265 Barbados 001246 Malaysia 0060 Belarus 00375 Maldives 00960 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belgium 0032 Mali 00223 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belize 00501 Malta 00356 You may be more focused on your goals now than ever Benin 00229 Marshall Islands 00692 before. You may be able to create plans for putting them into effect. You You could be busy outlining some goals in order Bermuda 001441 Martinique 00596 may have noticed that you are more focused and more interested in to make a presentation or in presenting a request for funding a particular Bhutan 00975 Mauritania 00222 seeking satisfaction from your hard work. You respond well to responsi- project. You may be working with new styles of communication; such as Bolivia 00591 Mauritius 00230 Bosnia 00387 Mayotte 00269 bility and enjoy your work; you also have an inclination to break free from e-mail or fax, or you could just mail a letter. Others are open to your Botswana 00267 Mexico 0052 any stresses by doing fun things for others from time to time. This activity ideas. You encourage a structured use of time when you say no to invita- tions that might take away from the time you have to spend with the Brazil 0055 Micronesia 00691 of helping others could soon create a charitable business with others to Brunei 00673 Moldova 00373 help you. A balance in your life is soon to be realized. You put your whole young people in your life. This could mean a weekly get-together with a nephew, a neighbor or your own children. Consider teaching the impor- Bulgaria 00359 Monaco 00377 heart into making your dreams and ideals a reality and you are happy to Burkina 00226 Mongolia 00976 help others do the same. This is a high-energy day and much can be tance of family to these children. Allow laughter to encompass your afternoon. You are very generous and you know just where or with whom to Burundi 00257 Montserrat 001664 accomplished. Hug a friend this evening. Cambodia 00855 Morocco 00212 share the extras you do not need. You are a good friend. Cameroon 00237 Mozambique 00258 Canada 001 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Cape Verde 00238 Namibia 00264 Cayman Islands 001345 Nepal 00977 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Central African Republic 00236 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Chad 00235 Netherlands Antilles 00599 You enjoy working hard and you exercise skill and disci- Chile 0056 New Caledonia 00687 You will make career gains by your ability to China 0086 New Zealand 0064 pline in anything that affects your career and reputation. You have the sense quality and choose accordingly. It is easy for you to cut through the Colombia 0057 Nicaragua 00505 perfect combination for an excellent manager position. This could be the fluff and get down to your most practical. Careful, this afternoon a friend Comoros 00269 Nigar 00227 time to push any changes you may want to make in your career. You can may want to borrow money--you might not be repaid. Perhaps before Congo 00242 Nigeria 00234 find new ways to relate and may be creative in marriage and social you loan the money out, you could negotiate for some trade of work-- Cook Islands 00682 Niue 00683 amenities as well. You have good opportunities coming soon that will like yard work or a cleaning job they could do before you give them Costa Rica 00506 Norfolk Island 00672 allow you to network and let your professional desires be known. You money or as a contract. A pleasant surprise comes to you later this Croatia 00385 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 like to facilitate compromise and otherwise show your breadth of scope-- evening because of a neighbor that invites you and your family to join in Cuba 0053 North Korea 00850 like a coat of many colors. Obtaining and exchanging information takes creating a neighborhood garden. You may want to join with them and Cyprus 00357 Norway 0047 on more emotional significance around the neighborhood. There is help- make some plans for an herb garden as well. You may spend a bit of time Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Oman 00968 ful information at a city council meeting tonight. in research before you give a final answer. Czech Republic 00420 Pakistan 0092 Denmark 0045 Palau 00680 Diego Garcia 00246 Panama 00507 Djibouti 00253 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dominica 001767 Paraguay 00595 Dominican Republic 001809 Peru 0051 Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Ecuador 00593 Philippines 0063 Egypt 0020 Poland 0048 Your career could assume a much more determined and It is important not to become distracted while working El Salvador 00503 Portugal 00351 solid form. This is a real time to buckle down and firm up your career today. There is a sense of emotional coolness or detachment at the per- England (UK) 0044 Puerto Rico 001787 goals. Your own ambition and drive are strong. You are able to use good sonal level. It's ideas that count for you now, more than narrowly person- Equatorial Guinea 00240 Qatar 00974 common sense and can feel the trends in order to make the right moves. al concerns--and you may have little tolerance for people who do not Eritrea 00291 Romania 0040 Your ideas open up a window for theories and progress. This is a time to operate at this level--careful. Take time to be specific so that others will Estonia 00372 Russian Federation 007 get ahead by taking action. Your spontaneity and unpredictability in your understand any instructions you may have. Take care of every last detail Ethiopia 00251 Rwanda 00250 personal life make you the adventurer. If you can see any opening for by proofing or if possible exchanging your work with someone and Falkland Islands 00500 Saint Helena 00290 travel or for volunteer service to test new space or survival gear, you will proofing each other's work. You may decide to submit a detailed docu- Faroe Islands 00298 Saint Kitts 001869 jump to it. You have a lot to say and love to hear about new inventions mentation of basic business procedures and the related methods for Fiji 00679 Saint Lucia 001758 and possibilities, which is probably why your friends and family can usu- teaching this next semester. Homemade ice cream takes center stage Finland 00358 Saint Pierre 00508 ally find you sitting in on science or book lectures.. this evening. There could be competition with recipes--yum! France 0033 Saint Vincent 001784 French Guiana 00594 Samoa US 00684 French Polynesia 00689 Samoa West 00685 Gabon 00241 San Marino 00378 Gambia 00220 Sao Tone 00239 Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Georgia 00995 Saudi Arabia 00966 Leo (July 23-August 22) Germany 0049 Scotland (UK) 0044 There are options today for you to discover new ways to Ghana 00233 Senegal 00221 In the workplace today, you may find that a particular proj- Gibraltar 00350 Seychelles 00284 ect is just not exactly where you excel. Determination wins out and you relate in marriage and social affairs. You are very tolerant and accepting of differences and have good insights into any problems. You are inde- Greece 0030 Sierra Leone 00232 will find yourself succeeding at what others need you to accomplish. Greenland 00299 Singapore 0065 Your ability to cut through the superficial and get to the real heart of pendent. Today is a good time to promote, compromise and otherwise show your abilities to understand others. You may be unconventional in Grenada 001473 Slovakia 00421 things comes through loud and clear you can sometimes surprise your- Guadeloupe 00590 Slovenia 00386 matters of philosophy and religion--finding new ways to get past the self with your accomplishments. If you are not moving soon, you may Guam 001671 Solomon Islands 00677 have a relative or friend that will be moving. It can be a time for cleaning fluff. You seek to understand and improve situations. You are happy in Guatemala 00502 Somalia 00252 and clearing away things of the past. This may include your work as well finding new and secure ways to better conditions. You may even Guinea 00224 South Africa 0027 as your home surroundings. If young people are involved, encourage become involved with positive activities that include helping young peo- Guyana 00592 South Korea 0082 them to keep the sentimental things, but consider making a little extra ple with character education, community service, career awareness, con- Haiti 00509 Spain 0034 money by selling a few things that they no longer need. flict resolution, peer mediation and involvement with others. Holland (Netherlands)0031 Sri Lanka 0094 Honduras 00504 Sudan 00249 Hong Kong 00852 Suriname 00597 Hungary 0036 Swaziland 00268 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sweden 0046 Iceland 00354 Switzerland 0041 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) India 0091 Syria 00963 Indian Ocean 00873 Taiwan 00886 Today you spend a great deal of time exchanging informa- This is a time of good fortune when opportunities open up Indonesia 0062 Tanzania 00255 tion with one group of people in order to keep a different group of peo- for you. Circumstances present themselves this day and it is easy to see Iran 0098 Thailand 0066 ple up-to-date on new developments in or on some project. This could which path is the one you will want to take. This is a time during which Iraq 00964 Toga 00228 mean some legal work, news reporting or progress reports. Higher-ups conditions bend to your will and things have a way of working out Ireland 00353 Tonga 00676 are impressed with your ability to communicate well so that many peo- smoothly. Here are real opportunities to complete and work out difficul- Italy 0039 Tokelau 00690 ple understand what you say. This is a great time to work in groups of ties and projects that require both long-term effort and a high degree of Ivory Coast 00225 Trinidad 001868 people. You could come up with new solutions to old problems. You discipline. This is a very good day for job-related events. You could repre- Jamaica 001876 Tunisia 00216 probably do not realize that one key to your success is your ability to read sent or speak for your company or speak about your skills. Any personal Japan 0081 Turkey 0090 the emotions of other people. You are very intuitive and should trust matters you want to accomplish or business matters that need tending to Jordan 00962 Tuvalu 00688 your insights more and more. Family matters are easy to solve this will have positive results. Any recent difficulties that are personal or pro- Kazakhstan 007 Uganda 00256 evening. Tonight, you may enjoy expressing yourself in music. fessional, will find a new path direction; patience. Kenya 00254 Ukraine 00380 Kiribati 00686 United Arab Emirates00976 Stars FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Word Search 4. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper. 5. A broad flat muscle on either side of the back. CROSSWORD227 6. The sciences concerned with gathering and manipulating and storing and retriev- ing and classifying recorded information. 7. East Indian evergreen tree bearing very acid fruit. 8. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology. 9. Given or having a specified name. 10. Liquid excretory product. 11. Type genus of the family Myacidae. 12. Tropical woody herb with showy yellow flowers and flat pods. 13. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum. 14. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld. 19. Used as a Hindi courtesy title. 23. Being one more than fifty. 24. An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions. 26. Any of several related languages of the Celts in Ireland and Scotland. 29. A man who serves as a sailor. 30. A single splash. 32. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series). 34. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Acular and Toradol) that is administered only intramuscularly. 35. A winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple. 36. Pertaining to or resembling amoebae. 39. A pilgrimage to Mecca. 40. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 41. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 42. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment. 45. Any member of a Siouan people speaking one of the Dhegiha languages. 49. Not treated with lead. 50. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood. ACROSS 54. French cabaret singer (1915-1963). 1. An elegantly dressed man (often with affected manners). 56. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun. 4. An aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees. 57. An associate degree in applied science. 12. The syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization. 59. The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another. 15. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum 60. A genus of Pyralidae. toward your retirement. 62. Burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud. 16. Of or relating to precious stones or the art of working with them. 64. A white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum. 17. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all. 65. An island in Indonesia east of Java. 18. A midnight meeting of witches to practice witchcraft and sorcery. 67. Fail to do something. 20. (folklore) A corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living. 68. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga having pinnate leaves and showy usually 21. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld. white flowers. 22. The content of cognition. 69. A city of central China. 25. Make difficult to perceive by sight. 71. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to 27. Mother goddess. another. 28. An ancient Assyrian city on the River Tigris and traditional capital of Assyria. 72. The syllable naming the fifth (dominant) note of any musical scale in solmiza- 31. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. tion. 33. An independent group of closely related Chadic languages spoken in the area 74. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid. between the Biu-Mandara and East Chadic languages. 78. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group. 37. Informal abbreviation of `representative'. 38. Edible east Asian mushroom having a golden or dark brown to blackish cap and an inedible stipe. 43. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion. 44. Ground snakes. Yesterdayʼs Solution 46. Strip of honors, possessions, or attributes. 47. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. 48. A loose cloak with a hood. 51. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research. Yesterdayʼs Solution 52. The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on. 53. Tropical starchy tuberous root. 55. A state in east central United States. 58. A theocratic republic in the Middle East in western Asia. 61. A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex. 63. Block consisting of a thick piece of something. 66. A linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form v 1. 70. A pair of shoes with cleats on the soles. 73. Either of two large African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus having short spi- rally twisted horns in both sexes. 75. Black tropical American cuckoo. 76. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots. 77. Having to do with a consul or his office or duties. 79. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins. 80. A doctor's degree in dental medicine. 81. In some classifications considered a suborder of Orthoptera. 82. A local computer network for communication between computers.

DOWN 1. Not final or absolute. 2. Toward the mouth or oral region. 3. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Giants see off Padres DETROIT: Rick SAN FRANCISCO: Gregor Blanco had a pinch hit, two-run triple in Porcello No. 21 of the seventh inning, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 vic- the Detroit Tigers tory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. pitches against the Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro also drove in runs and the Baltimore Orioles Giants won their second straight following a three-game slide. Scutaro and Hunter Pence each had two hits. in the second Will Venable and Jesus Guzman each hit home runs for the inning at Comerica Padres, who have lost two straight after a seven-game winning Park. —AFP streak. Madison Bumgarner (7-4) won his third straight start after allowing two runs and three hits over seven innings. He walked four and struck out eight. Padres starter Eric Stults gave up two runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Luke Gregerson (4-3) did not retire a batter, giving up two runs and four hits. He took over for Stults after Tony Abreu singled with one out in the seventh.

NATIONALS 6, PHILLIES 2 In Philadelphia, Ian Desmond hit a grand slam in the 11th inning and Washington beat Philadelphia to avoid a three-game sweep. Jayson Werth’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth tied it off Jonathan Papelbon, who blew a save for the second time in three nights after starting the season 13 for 13. Starters Kyle Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez both were outstanding, but wound up with no-decisions. Kendrick allowed one run and two hits, striking out six in 7 2-3 innings. Gonzalez gave up two runs and two hits, tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. He didn’t allow a hit after the second batter. Ryan Zimmerman hit a one-out double off Mike Stutes (2-1) in the 11th. After Adam LaRoche was intentionally walked, Werth walked to load the bases. Desmond Orioles whip Tigers took a close 1-2 pitch that had manager Charlie Manuel screaming at plate umpire Alfonso Marquez from the dugout. Desmond drove the next pitch out to left-center. Drew Storen (2-1) tossed a DETROIT: Chris Davis cleared the fences Bourn scored twice for Cleveland. Saunders (5-7). Scott Downs pitched a perfect scoreless 10th to earn the win. twice, giving him a major league leading 26 Unable to get a hit for four innings off Luis eighth for the Angels and Ernesto Frieri did homers, to help the Baltimore Orioles beat Mendoza (2-4), Brantley homered in the fifth likewise in the ninth for his 16th save in 17 BRAVES 5, METS 3 the Detroit Tigers 13-3 Wednesday. and the Indians added three runs in the sixth. attempts. In Atlanta, Chris Johnson homered for the first time in more Davis hit a two-run homer and Taylor Brantley connected again in the eighth. than a month, Kris Medlen overcame a defensive blunder and Teagarden followed with a three-run home INTERLEAGUE Atlanta bounced back from a doubleheader sweep by beating run in Baltimore’s six-run fourth. Against RANGERS 9, ATHLETICS 4 YANKEES 6, DODGERS 4 New York. Johnson hit a three-run homer in the fourth, his first embattled reliever Jose Valverde, Davis hit In Arlington, David Murphy had three hits In New York, Hanley Ramirez capped a six- time going deep since May 13. Jordan Schafer put the Braves another two-run shot for his second multi- and scored twice to snap out of a long slump hit day with a pair of RBI singles, Yasiel Puig ahead to stay with some gutsy baserunning in the fifth, scoring on homer game of the season and the fifth of his to help Texas beat AL West-leading Oakland. homered to complete a dazzling debut in a wild pitch that didn’t even roll off the dirt around home plate. career. Justin Grimm (6-5) trailed when he threw New York and Los Angeles earned a split of Medlen (4-7) pitched seven-plus innings for his third win in The Orioles improved to a season-high 11 his last pitch, but the Rangers scored twice in the day-night doubleheader. four starts this month, even though he cost himself two unearned games over .500 after beating the AL Central- the bottom of the fifth to go ahead and make The Dodgers salvaged manager Don runs with an errant throw. leading Tigers twice in the three-game series. him the first Texas starter this month to get a Mattingly’s return to the Bronx after the loss Shawn Marcum (0-9) took another loss, becoming just the Chris Tillman (8-2) gave up three runs and victory. Rangers starters had gone 17 consec- in the opener. Chris Capuano (2-5) pitched third pitcher in Mets history to start a season dropping nine seven hits over five-plus innings. He became utive games without a win since Derek three-hit ball for six innings in his comeback straight decisions. the third pitcher in franchise history to win Holland beat Kansas City on May 31. The from the disabled list. The Dodgers rebound- his first six decisions on the road, joining Jeff team’s previous longest such stretch was 16 ed from a sloppy loss in the opener to former DIAMONDBACKS 3, MARLINS 1 Ballard (1989) and Hoyt Wilhelm (1959). Rick in a row in 1975. Ian Kinsler had a sacrifice fly teammate Hiroki Kuroda (7-5) in a matchup In Phoenix, Cody Ross hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run for Porcello (4-4) allowed six runs on nine hits, off Tommy Milone (6-7) that tied the game in between injury-ravaged teams with $200 mil- Arizona in the eighth inning to spoil an outstanding outing by giving up a pair of homers for the third time the fifth before Leonys Martin raced home on lion payrolls. In the first matchup between young Miami starter Jose Fernandez. this year. a grounder with the go-ahead run. the teams in New York since the Dodgers Fernandez (4-4) retired 14 in a row before walking two of the clinched the 1981 World Series title with a three batters he faced in the eighth. He was relieved by left-han- RAYS 6, RED SOX 2 TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 4 Game 6 victory at old Yankee Stadium, Ichiro der Mike Dunn, who gave up the home run to Ross on a 1-2 pitch. In Boston, Desmond Jennings homered, In Mineapolis, Justin Morneau homered Suzuki homered, drove in three runs and Arizona starter Trevor Cahill left after a line drive bruised his right Jeremy Hellickson pitched six strong innings for the first time in almost two months and made a spectacular catch on the warning hip in the first. Josh Collmenter allowed one hit in six innings of and Tampa Bay Rays ended its drought at the two-run shot helped Minnesota send track for the Yankees. relief and David Hernandez (4-4) pitched a scoreless eighth to get Fenway Park. Chicago to its sixth loss in seven games. New York got help from reliever Ronald the victory. Justin Ruggiano homered off Heath Bell to start the The Rays had scored a total of five runs in Morneau’s third homer of the season fol- Belisario’s two errors on the same play in a ninth. Bell held on to get his 13th save in 15 tries. losing their first five games this season at the lowed an RBI single by Josh Willingham in the three-run seventh. In the night game, the ballpark, including a doubleheader sweep on sixth off Deunte Heath after ace Chris Sale’s Dodgers started out quickly against Phil REDS 2, PIRATES 1 Tuesday during which they managed a pair night ended after five shaky innings. Hughes (3-6), who allowed a season-high 10 In Cincinnati, Jay Bruce ended Jason Grilli’s saves streak with a of runs on 10 combined hits. Jose Molina and Morneau last went deep on April 28. The hits in six innings. solo homer in the ninth, and Brandon Philips singled with the Evan Longoria each had three of Tampa Bay’s 2006 AL MVP has three seasons of 30-plus bases loaded in the 13th inning to rally Cincinnati past Pittsburgh. 15 hits and the Rays ended a three-game los- homers. His teammates teased him in the BLUE JAYS 5, ROCKIES 2 Derrick Robinson and Shin-Soo Choo singled off Vin Mazzaro ing streak with their second win in eight dugout after he rounded the bases, pretend- In Toronto, Adam Lind hit a three-run (3-2) with one out in the 13th and Joey Votto was walked inten- games. Top prospect Wil Myers delivered a ing to ignore him. So Morneau gave out a home run, Mark Buehrle won his second tionally. Phillips singled up the middle to end it. two-run double during Tampa Bay’s three- bunch of air high-fives, a light moment on a straight start and Toronto earned its eighth The Pirates were two outs away from a second straight run seventh that broke the game open. night when several Twins enjoyed fine per- consecutive victory, beating Colorado to shutout. Grilli started the ninth needing one save to tie a club Hellickson (5-3) surrendered two runs on formances. Brian Dozier reached base four complete a three-game sweep. The streak is record. He had converted all of his 25 chances this season, one shy seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks. times, including a three-run homer in the sec- Toronto’s longest since a 10-game run in late of Joel Hanrahan’s 2011 club record to open a season. Ryan Dempster (4-8) gave up three runs on ond against Sale (5-6). 2008. Carlos Gonzalez hit his NL-leading 21st Bruce connected on the first pitch he saw for his fourth homer eight hits over six innings. Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for home run for the Rockies, who lost for the in his last six games. It was the first homer Grilli had allowed this the second game in a row, recording his 18th sixth time in eight games. Buehrle (4-4) season. Cincinnati hadn’t scored in its last 17 innings since Bruce INDIANS 6, ROYALS 3 save in 20 tries, after Kevin Correia (6-4) allowed two runs and eight hits in five hit a solo homer during a 4-1 win on Monday night. Manny Parra In Cleveland, Justin Masterson managed pitched into the seventh. innings of the interleague game. (1-1) pitched the 13th for the win. to hang around for 6 1-3 innings and win for Neil Wagner pitched the sixth, Brett Cecil the sixth time at home, leading Cleveland ANGELS 1, MARINERS 0 worked the seventh, Steve Delabar handled CARDINALS 4, CUBS 1 over Kansas City. In Anaheim, CJ Wilson pitched two-hit ball the eighth and Casey Janssen finished for his In St. Louis, Yadier Molina hit his fifth home run and Jake Masterson (9-5) sidestepped some early for seven innings, Mike Trout scored the only 16th save in 17 chances. Westbrook pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in St. Louis’ victo- trouble without giving up any runs and run on a wild pitch by Joe Saunders and Los Juan Nicasio (4-3) allowed four runs, two ry over Chicago. Westbrook (3-2) worked around trouble almost improved to 6-1 with a 2.29 ERA in nine starts Angeles edged Seattle. earned, and four hits in five innings. The the entire night in his second start since coming off the disabled at Progressive Field. The right-hander struck Wilson (6-5) struck out three, walked two right-hander has not won in six starts. list with a sore elbow. He gave up no earned runs, striking out two out eight while allowing two runs and nine and allowed only two runners as far as sec- and walking three. Edward Mujica pitched a perfect ninth inning hits. ond base en route to his fifth straight victory BREWERS 3, ASTROS 1 for his 21st save in 21 attempts. Edwin Jackson (3-9) was pulled Michael Brantley hit a pair of solo homers over the Mariners. In Houston, Rickie Weeks hit a two-run after he hit Jon Jay following Molina’s blast to left field. He pitched for the Indians, who moved within 31/2 Trout legged out a leadoff double in the homer in the eighth inning and Aramis 5 1-3 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits. He struck out games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. sixth and moved to third on a flyout. He Ramirez added a solo shot in the ninth to lift one and walked two. — AP Mike Aviles drove in two runs and Michael scored on the first pitch wild of the season by Milwaukee past Houston. —AP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Will to trump skill in opening Lions test

BRISBANE: The phoney war is Australia coach Robbie Deans, ACT Brumbies on Tuesday. a disadvantage to go into a test of almost over, the 46 protagonists whose job may well depend on the “Tuesday night was a bit of blip the intensity expected on Saturday have been named and the Brisbane outcome of the series suggested the for us, given the conditions we’ve without recent match practice. stage is set as Australia braces for first test would be won as much by probably been trying to play too “I can assure you, they’ll hit the the unique ferocity of a British and character as by brute force and skill. much rugby,” Gatland said yester- ground running,” Deans promised. Irish Lions test match. “It’s going to be a battle of wills day. “They know what’s coming, we’ve The first match of three, tomor- and obviously momentum is a big “Physically we feel we’re in great prepared as best we can and we row’s clash at Lang Park (1000GMT) part of test rugby,” he told reporters shape. We’ve come here to show the can’t do any more without playing will go a long way to deciding yesterday. “Obviously the side that Australian public that we can play to be frank.” whether Warren Gatland’s fancied can generate some momentum will good rugby and I think we’ve done Yesterday, Deans revealed his tourists can secure a first series tri- have a greater opportunity to that.” hand when he named a side led by umph anywhere since 1997 and in impose their will on the opposition. While the Lions have been tra- lock James Horwill and including for- Australia since 1989. We hope to bring some momentum versing the country playing tour mer rugby league international Australia are well aware that the to the game and build off the back matches, Wallabies coach Robbie winger Israel Folau - a gambit last time the two sides met in 2001, of that.” Deans has been able to keep his Australia hopes will prove to be the then world champion Wallabies The Lions come into the contest cards close to his chest in his train- something of a trump card. “The one were ripped asunder in the first test, battle-hardened after six tour ing camp on the Queensland coast. advantage Israel has is that they’ve only to battle back and win a matches in which they have played It is an advantage certainly in never faced him previously, they will thrilling series. some breathtaking power rugby and terms of the freshness of his players have witnessed what he is capable They will not want to give the were unbeaten until a patched up and the time they have had to work of and they’ll be wanting to limit Lions a similar start this year and second-string side went down to the on their combinations, but perhaps that,” Deans said. —Reuters Felix eyes 200m crown

DES MOINES: Olympic champion sures you that you are going in the London Olympic triumph by setting Allyson Felix isn’t worried too much right direction. the world record of 12.80sec in about the 200m world record, but the Felix has raced sparingly this sea- September, must qualify. American would love to regain the son, and seemed unconcerned after a Olympic 400m champion Sanya 200m world title. runner-up finish to Murielle Ahoure of Richards-Ross is fighting to regain her Felix will try to take another step Ivory Coast in Rome. “I’ll stay patient,” racing form after a belated return toward regaining the world crown she Felix said. “It’s what happens down from surgery on her big right toe in won three times, in 2005, 2007 and the season that counts.” Carmelita September. 2009, at the US athletics champi- Jeter anchored that record-setting US She was last in her first race back at onships, selection meeting for the relay, some consolation for falling in the Eugene Diamond League meeting World Championships in Moscow the 100m final in London to Jamaican on June 1, although she voiced confi- August 10-18. The American surren- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. dence that she’d be able to make the dered the world title to Jamaican Jeter, preparing to defend her team for Moscow and be at full Veronica Campbell-Brown in Daegu in 100m world title, suffered a scare at strength by August. 2011, when Felix attempted an ambi- the Diamond League meeting in LaShawn Merritt, who has strug- tious 200m-400m double and came Shanghai in May, where she finished gled back from a doping ban since away with bronze in the 200m and sil- third in the 100m but pulled up at the winning 2008 Olympic 400m gold, will ver in the 400m. end with an apparent leg injury. be gunning for a fourth national 400m Justin Gatlin “By having that year when I did the The bye that comes with her cur- title and a chance to take on London 200 and 400, I definitely learned what rent world title means she doesn’t Olympic champ Kirani James of Gatlin says win over it did to my 200 and I didn’t really like have to finish in the top three at the Grenada in Moscow. Merritt, who was it,” said Felix, who this year has her US trials in order to defend her crown, injured in the heats in London, has Bolt prelude to sights set on the 100m and 200m. “I although she does have to compete at won four of his five 400m races this didn’t have the same pop and the the championships to make the US season. bigger things same sprint that I always had.” team. In the 110m hurdles, Jason Jeremy Wariner, the 2004 Olympic At the 2012 London Olympics, Felix Richardson enjoys a bye as the reign- 400m gold medallist, will need luck IOWA: Olympic bronze medallist Justin Gatlin is not will- at last added 200m Games gold to her ing world champion, so arrives at trials and a quick boost in form to secure a ing to call his surprising 100 metres victory over world resume, and also earned gold in the under less pressure to perform, while berth. He hasn’t broken the 45-second record holder Usain Bolt a fluke. The American sprinter 4x100m and 4x400m relays. She was Aries Merritt, who followed up his barrier since April of last year. —AFP prefers to think of last month’s triumph as the opening act part of the US team that smashed one of journey that will bring him and Bolt together again on a of the oldest world records in London, much larger stage later this year, he said on Wednesday. when they won the 4x100m relay in “I would not consider it a fluke,” the 2004 Olympic 100m 40.82sec. The American quartet sliced gold medallist and London Games third-place finisher told more than half a second off the 27- a news conference ahead of late yesterday’s start of the year-old record of 41.37sec set by the U.S. championships in Des Moines, Iowa. former East Germany in 1985, four “I would consider it a prelude to something better and years before the Berlin Wall fell. greater. I want to have faster, greater competitions against Felix is pleased to have been part him.” The 31-year-old burst past Bolt in their Diamond of that achievement, but it doesn’t League race in Rome last month and hung on for his first give her much encouragement that ever 100 metres victory over the Jamaican. the 200m world mark of 21.34sec, set Some have called the rare loss a blip in Bolt’s prepara- by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988, is tions for August’s world championships in Moscow, a race within her reach. soon to be forgotten. Not Gatlin. “I like racing against Usain, “It was inspiring but, in my person- (Jamaican world champion) Yohan (Blake) and Tyson,” he al opinion, when I look at the 200m said. “It is an adrenaline rush.” It is also a major challenge, and when I look at the world record, especially Bolt.At 6 feet 5 inches, the lanky Jamaican can it’s pretty far out there for me,” said rapidly gobble up metres of space, producing times in the Felix, whose personal best is 21.69. 100 and 200 metres many never thought possible. “Some “For me, I just try to improve each people probably think it is impossible to beat him when he year but it’s definitely not on top of is at his peak performance,” Gatlin said. “You just have to my mind or anything like that. “But it’s make sure you make someone like him feel as uncomfort- nice when you have a breakthrough,” able as possible in a race strategy. —Reuters she added of the relay record. “It reas- Allyson Felix Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Silverstone podium still a step too far for Button LONDON: Jenson Button could not wait visit to Silverstone. was McLaren’s worst race in years, painful it may be. “This has been a diffi- to get out of his mishandling McLaren “It was more the bouncing around at Button expressed the hope that things cult year for us, but we still hope to be after a miserable afternoon in Canada the last race,” he added of his com- would get better. “It isn’t just me trying fighting at the end of the year for race and now, less than two weeks later, he ments in Montreal about wanting to be to be positive but I think we will be wins,” he said. is impatient to step back in. out of the car. “It was painful, rather more competitive here than the last “Definitely next year we will start the British fans preparing for their annu- than anything else. It was not the (race) couple of races, the type of high-speed season looking to win the world cham- al home Grand Prix pilgrimage to position I was in, it was the constant circuit that it is,” he said. pionship. And that includes winning the Silverstone next week should not get (jolting) all the way down the straight. “We are developing the car at the British Grand Prix. their hopes up, however. “Here that shouldn’t be as much of a factory which is great. But we’re still a “We did take a gamble maybe with Button, the 2009 world champion problem, we’ve got things that can help long way behind...we’ve got to make the direction of the car, it hasn’t worked with Brawn GP, has never stood on the that.” Button and Mexican team mate sure we maximise everything. When for us this year. But we are still a great Formula One podium at his home cir- Sergio Perez, who both started the year you do that and you get a fifth place, team and we will fight back and we will cuit and does not expect to end the jinx talking of fighting for wins and titles, you’re pretty happy about it. “You still win races again.” Button said he would this time either in what has been a failed to score in Canada, ending the want to win...but when you think you’ve do his best to entertain a loyal crowd shocking season for McLaren. The 33- team’s 64-race run in the points with got everything out of it and you whose hopes of a home winner rest year-old - winner of last season’s McLaren’s first blank since 2009. couldn’t have done any more, it puts a mainly on his former team mate Lewis Brazilian season-ender - has not fin- Force India, with a McLaren gearbox smile on your face. I think that’s impor- Hamilton, now at Mercedes. Recalling ished higher than fifth in seven races and the same Mercedes engine but a tant.” the excitement of boyhood visits to but even so he is still excited to be back fraction of the budget, are fifth overall The hopes may be mainly focused Silverstone, experiencing the sight and on home soil. “I love racing, I love com- and 14 points clear of the multiple title on next year, when a new V6 engine sound and smell of Formula One cars peting and I love jumping in an F1 car,” winners who are sixth with a measly 37 comes into play, but the Briton has not for the first time, Button hoped to give he told British reporters on a midweek points from seven races. If Montreal entirely written off 2013 however something back.—Reuters Game 7 has more on the line than an NBA title

MIAMI: He is the best player in the game and this is the best moment in his sport. Game 7, NBA title on the line. “The moment is going to be grand,” LeBron James said. And it might redefine someone’s legacy. No matter what happens late yesterday, he and the Miami Heat, and Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs have already won titles and secured a place in NBA history. Now is their opportunity to elevate it. The truly memorable teams won the hard way, and that will be the case for the one celebrating at center court this time. It’s either a Heat repeat, possible only after James led them back from what seemed certain elimination in the closing seconds of Ernie Els of South Africa hits his tee shot in this file photo. —AFP Game 6, or the Spurs shaking off as gut-wrenching a loss as a team can have to become just the fourth club to win Els off to stormer Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road. “As a competitor you love it, because you know you have in Munich an opportunity and it’s up to you,” Heat guard Ray Allen said. “We have a chance in our building to make something PARIS: Ernie Els produced his lowest score in seven months great. All of our legacies are tied to this moment, this game. yesterday to storm to the front in the 25th anniversary BMW It’s something our kids will be able to talk about that they International Open in Munich. The reigning British Open were a part of. Forever will remember these moments, so we champion broke free from what he described as last week’s want to not live and have any regrets.” Allen was on the MIAMI: San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich talks US Open ‘torture chamber’ at Merion to record an eagle and court the last time the NBA’s season went down to the very with player Tim Duncan during a practice day before Game 7 seven birdies in sauna-like conditions on the Munchen last day, his Boston Celtics fading at the finish and falling 83- of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. —AFP Eichenried course. It is Els’ lowest round on either the 79 to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010. That improved the European or PGA Tour since a similar score in the second hosts to 14-3 in Game 7 of the Finals - and no road team has Wade said. “But I think this series will go down as being one round of last November’s WGC - HSBC Champions event in won that decisive game since Washington beat Seattle in of the most competitive, bizarre series that’s been seen. So China. “It was a very nice round and I haven’t shot that num- 1978. this is what you pay for to watch. You pay to watch two ber for quite a while,” said the South African. “Today was like Overcoming those odds, not to mention the NBA’s win- great teams battle to the very, very end, and that’s what walking out of the torture chamber that was last week’s US ningest team, would make this more memorable than the we’ll do (Thursday). It will be to the very last second.” Open and walking onto a nice parkland golf course. Spurs’ previous four titles, though this is a franchise that The Heat could become the NBA’s first repeat champions “Of course, you still have to hit the shots but I felt like I was never dwells too much on the past or looks too far into the since the Lakers in 2010. James and Chris Bosh moved to starting to swing the club last weekend at Merion, and I’m future. All that matters is now. Miami to join Wade a few weeks later and they are in the finals for the third time in three chances. lucky enough I could bring it here to Munich. “You know what, it’s all about just winning the title. It’s But playing for titles is more expected than celebrated “But even though I am now leading, it doesn’t really matter not about situation or what has led up to it,” Duncan said. now in Miami, and a 66-win season that included a 27-game much until Sunday, but if you get into the race, so to speak, “It’s a great story for everybody else, but we’re here for one winning streak - and perhaps the whole Big Three era - goes reason, one reason only: It’s to try to win this game early on in the tournament, it’s nice to be right in the hunt.” down as a failure if the Heat fall late yesterday. Yet James (Thursday). We have had a very good season thus far, and I Els arrived in the Bavarian capital having finished the US said he doesn’t need the victory to validate his decision to Open joint fourth at five over par behind England’s Justin think we just want to get to the game more than anything. take his talents to South Beach. Rose. And over the four rounds at Merion, Els managed 13 We just want to see what happens and be able to leave “I mean, I need it because I want it and I only came here - birdies but also 14 bogeys and two double bogeys. everything out there.” my only goal is to win championships,” he said. “I said it, this The current World No. 20 ranked Els capped his round with The teams trudged back to the arena Wednesday, some is what I came here for. This is what I wanted to be a part of a sixth hole eagle that he was playing as his 15th hole by hit- 12 hours after the Heat pulled out a 103-100 overtime victo- this team for.” James, Wade and Bosh are going for No. 2, ting a 245-yard 5-iron from the rough to just six feet. Els’s ry in Game 6 to even the series. The Spurs, five points ahead while San Antonio is getting a second shot at what would score is just one shot short of the German course record held with 28 seconds left in regulation, had to fight off fatigue be a fourth title together for Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu by six players. And Els revealed he will travel to Muirfield in and heartbreak, insisting neither would linger into yester- Ginobili. All their years together have given the Spurs’ trio eastern Scotland in the first of a handful of visits before July day. the belief they can bounce back from Tuesday’s collapse. 18 when he commences the defence of the Open By far the best game of this series, Game 6 immediately The team went to dinner after the game, Duncan figuring Championship. It was at Muirfield in 2002 that Els won his first took its place among the best finishes in finals history, with that was better than guys sitting alone with their thoughts Open crown. “My good friend, Mr Rupert and I are going up everything from James’ triple-double to Allen’s tying 3- in their rooms. Parker and Boris Diaw discussed a similar sit- next Tuesday to Muirfield to check it out,” said Els. “So I’ll go pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. uation with the French national team in the 2005 European up every week for the next three weeks and get going with It had close calls, debatable decisions, and the NBA’s best championships, when they blew a late lead against Greece my preparations.” England’s Matthew Baldwin and Sweden’s player at his very best when his team needed him most. in the semifinals but then came back to beat Spain for the Alex Noren are next best in the clubhouse on eight under par Games 2-5 in the series had been ugly, but that one was a bronze medal. “We just have to be positive and forget Game as the afternoon half of the field took to the course in the beauty. “I think - I know - that game will go down as one of 6,” Parker said. “It was a great opportunity, but that’s life. It’s European Tour event.—AFP the best finals games that’s been seen,” Heat guard Dwyane basketball and everybody will be ready.” —AP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 Blackhawks soar over Bruins in OT, tie series

BOSTON: The Blackhawks are heading back to Chicago having regained home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals and with a renewed faith in an offense that took more than 120 minutes to push a puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. “It’s time to put all those other games behind us, the games where we struggled to score,” captain Jonathan Toews said CHINA: A huge crowd gathers around football superstar David after contributing to Chicago’s most prolif- Beckham (center) at Tonji University in Shanghai. —AFP ic output of the playoffs in a 6-5 victory over Boston in Game 4 on Wednesday Seven hurt in China night. “It was fun to see the puck go in as stampede at superstar often as it did tonight. We know we can be better defensively. But we’ll use that confi- Beckham event dence and try our best to pounce on them.” SHANGHAI: Seven people were hurt in a stampede Thursday as hun- Toews’ goal was the first in 11 games dreds of fans rushed to see football superstar David Beckham at an for the center who tied for the team lead in event in China’s commercial hub Shanghai, police and local media scoring in the regular season. He also said. Beckham, who was visiting Shanghai in his role as ambassador screened Rask on Brent Seabrook’s slap to the troubled Chinese Super League (CSL), expressed hope that the shot 9:51 into overtime that sent the series BOSTON: Tuukka Rask No. 40 of the Boston Bruins attempts to clear the puck injured would recover quickly after the event had to be called off. back to Chicago tied two games apiece. against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup The stampede occurred when hundreds of students and specta- Game 5 is tomorrow night before the Final. — AFP tors tried to rush onto the grounds of the football pitch at Tongji teams return to Boston for Game 6 on University in northeastern Shanghai, the Xinmin Evening News said. Monday. he didn’t see the last shot until it was too one, recording the first seven shots and “Nearly 1,000 spectators charged to open the gate at the same “At this point of the season, it’s down to late. “I saw it at the last second,” he said. taking a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal time, causing a stampede,” the newspaper said on its microblog. best-of-three,” said Seabrook, a defense- “There was some traffic in front ... just when Oduya was off for interference early Police said seven people were injured including three police offi- man who also had the overtime goal in couldn’t make a stretch.” The Blackhawks in the first period. cers and two university security guards, all of whom suffered cuts and Game 7 of the Western Conference semifi- led 1-0, 4-2 and 5-4, but each time the Brandon Saad picked Tyler Seguin bruises. Two students, including a Japanese exchange student, also nals. “We want to win games, find a way to Bruins evened it up. The last, just 55 sec- clean in the defensive zone and brought sustained minor injuries, police said. An AFP photographer saw a win ‘em any way we can.” onds after Chicago took the lead, came the puck down the ice before flipping it woman with an injured leg and a uniformed policewoman bleeding. It was the third overtime game in the when Johnny Boychuk slapped it over a across to Michal Handzus, who rattled it in The policewoman had blood covering her face and looked dazed. matchup of Original Six franchises, but it sliding Johnny Oduya with 7:46 left in reg- off the post to make it 1-0. That snapped Among those attending to her was a man wearing a replica of bore little resemblance to the three tightly ulation. Boychuk, who had never scored Rask’s shutout streak which dated to the Beckham’s old Manchester United jersey, with the footballer’s name contested games that opened the series. more than five goals in a season, has six in first period of Game 2, but the lead didn’t and the number “7” on the back. The teams combined for five goals in the these playoffs. “It wasn’t a Bruins’ type of last for long. None of them did. In a posting on his new account on Sina Weibo, China’s equiva- second period - as many as in Games 2 and game, but at the same time you have to “I don’t think anybody expected that lent to Twitter, Beckham apologised for the event’s cancellation. The 3 combined - as Chicago bounced back get yourself back into it,” coach Claude before the game,” Rask said. “But they’re a former England captain was scheduled to play with the university’s from its first shutout of the season with its Julien said. “Our guys worked hard to score good offensive team. When you give them team and the youth team of a local football club. highest-scoring game of the playoffs. goals. Probably got ourselves out of what goals and they get the lead, obviously, you “I had an incredible response from everyone at Shanghai Tongji “I guess it was just our turn to score our normal game plan is. So we opened up have to start opening up too and creating University today. Sorry I couldn’t get out on the pitch to see the again,” said Blackhawks forward Patrick and we scored goals, but we also gave some offense. That’s what happened. I teams. It was impossible to get through the massive crowds,” he said. Kane, who had a goal and an assist in the them some goals, like the game-winning think if you take something positive out of “I heard there were a few injuries, hope the fans are ok and I wish back-and-forth game. “It was a fun game goal.” The overtime was even until the this, you’ve got to look at the fact that we them a speedy recovery,” he added. Beckham did not appear to be in to play. ... I’m sure the fans enjoyed that, Bruins failed to clear the zone, and the scored five goals.” danger at any point, though students earlier broke through a police for sure.” Bryan Bickell and Michal Rozsival Blackhawks got the puck to Seabrook at Notes: Bruins Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, line to surround his car as he approached the pitch, the AFP photog- the right point. What seemed like a harm- who also played briefly for Chicago, was in rapher said. Beckham’s appointment as ambassador to the CSL is had two assists apiece for Chicago, which had scored only five goals total in the first less shot eluded Rask, and Chicago fol- the crowd, waving a yellow towel in sup- being viewed as an ambitious attempt by authorities to improve the lowed with a subdued celebration at the port of the Bruins. ... Boston killed 29 con- battered image of the Chinese game. three games of the series and hadn’t got- end of another long night. secutive penalties dating to Game 5 of the The 38-year-old began his new role in March, before announcing ten the puck past Rask in more than 129 “If he sees the puck, he’s going to be Eastern Conference semifinals, including his retirement last month after winning the French league title with minutes coming into Game 4. Corey almost impossible to beat,” Quenneville the first 13 Chicago opportunities of the Paris Saint-Germain. China launched a high-profile crackdown on cor- Crawford made 28 saves for the said. “We want to make sure we get there ruption in football in 2009, and scores of officials, referees and play- Blackhawks, but he coughed up the lead finals. ... The Blackhawks had the first seven ers have been imprisoned. Earlier this year, authorities banned 33 three times. “They keep coming,” and make it hard on him to find it, try to go shots of the game despite a penalty that people-including league officials-from involvement with football for Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. on the second and third opportunity. Nice left them short-handed. ... Jagr assisted on life and stripped Shanghai Shenhua of their 2003 league champi- “One of those nights.” Patrice Bergeron ending with traffic in the net, Seabs having both goals by Bergeron, giving the 1999 onship title. “People questioned why I wanted to be involved in scored twice, and Zdeno Chara and a shot that tied us up.” NHL MVP 199 career postseason points. He something that, like I said, in the past had a bad name or there was Jaromir Jagr each had two assists for The Bruins had trailed for under 60 minis fifth all-time. ... Midway through the first, corruption involved,” Beckham told an earlier news conference prior Boston, which has won 11 of its last 14 utes total out of the almost 900 minutes Boston’s Shawn Thornton hit the score- to the stampede. “For me, the past is the past. I’m only interested in playoff games; the three losses have all they had played in the postseason. But the board when he lofted the puck out of the the future and it’s going to be a very bright one,” he said. —AFP been in overtime. Rask made 41 saves, but Blackhawks came out strong early in this zone. —AP Doubts over competitiveness of Asia teams at World Cup

SEOUL: The confetti has been swept away, the hangovers plenty of work to do according to Afshin Ghotbi, former Iran bad result away from the sack. from the street parties have been slept off, and now that the coach and currently head coach of J-League club Shimizu S- “Australia was patchy at best,” Fox Sports Australia chief Asian teams for the 2014 World Cup have been decided, Pulse. commentator Simon Hill said. “For most of the campaign the observers are fretting over slipping standards and how the “Japan is head and shoulders above the other qualified team plodded through with some terrible lows but found a sides will be able to compete with powerful rivals in Brazil. teams who are close together in standard,” Ghotbi, who also bit of form just at the right time, the highlight being the disci- Australia, Iran and South Korea all sealed qualification for had two spells as assistant coach with South Korea, told The plined display in Japan. Overall though, (the team deserves) Brazil this week but in less than convincing fashion. They Associated Press. “Japan apart however, the standard of the no more than a bare pass mark.” completed the four automatic qualifying berths from Asia. top teams in Asia generally seems worse than 2010. Watching South Korea only clinched an eighth-straight World Cup Japan had earlier sealed its place in much more impressive qualification matches, the quality is below the standard of the berth on goal difference from Uzbekistan after losing 1-0 at style and looks like the only realistic Asian threat to the big top international teams.” home to Iran in the final group game. teams in Brazil. Australia struggled until the last three games - snatching a The headline in the country’s most popular newspaper Japan’s ability to mix it with the world’s best was shown at draw at Japan then winning at home against Jordan and Iraq The Chosun Ilbo summed up the feeling in the country. the Confederations Cup on Wednesday when it controlled - to take second place in Group B. The narrow win against a “We’ve qualified but this is no time for champagne.” play for long periods against Italy and led 2-0 before ultimate- second-string Iraq clinched qualification and sparked wild Korea is currently without a coach after interim manager ly losing 4-3, The performance was a terrific advertisement for celebrations but disguised a mediocre qualifying campaign in Choi Kang-hee stepped down. Choi’s tactics and selections Asian football, but the rest of the continent’s qualifiers have which coach Holger Osieck was long regarded as being one were criticized in a roller-coaster campaign. —AP Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

Serena has mental edge Photo of the day over rest at Wimbledon

LONDON: Serena Williams heads to Wimbledon to defend her title with seeds of doubt and defeatism already sown in the minds of her opponents. The psychological scars of playing the younger Williams sister run deep in the women’s game and, now that the American has dusted off the red clay from her shoes, predic- tions of an upset on southwest London’s luscious lawns are few and far between. Having bludgeoned her way to a 16th grand slam and second title at Roland Garros, Williams can now tighten her grip still further on the sport she has come to dominate by claim- ing a fourth major in five attempts. It is little wonder then that Williams’s rivals for the Wimbledon title can realistically be counted on one hand. Her opponent in the final at Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova, and Belarussian world number two Victoria Azarenka are the leading candidates to throw a spanner in the works. Confidence, however, is hardly overflowing. Sharapova was circumspect to say the least on entering the French Open final having lost 12 consecutive matches to Williams. “I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me, obviously,” the Russian said of a losing record stretching back to 2004. Defeat in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January is the Sebastien Ogier performs during the 2013 Argentinian Rally in Cordoba, rgentina.www.redbullcon- only smudge on a near-perfect year in which Williams has tentpool.com returned to the pinnacle of the rankings and re-conquered Paris, where the title had eluded her since 2002. Back then she went on to complete the “Serena Slam”, winning all four majors consecutively and few would bet against her repeating the trick. Murray out to crash Big She is on a 31-match winning streak with a 75-4 win-loss record in the past 12 months and has the added comfort of knowing that her game is ideally suited to the All England Three’s Wimbledon party Club where her huge serve and heavy hits skid through with a little extra fizz.Petra Kvitova, 2011 Wimbledon champion, is not the first to suggest that Serena’s biggest opponent is fre- LONDON: There will be an unfamiliar whiff of British success in Djokovic, 17-times grand slam champion Federer and 2008 and quently herself. “I think that the players have to play 100 per- the air at Wimbledon this year when Andy Murray, and thousands 2010 winner Nadal. cent and to play really, really well. Serena sometimes doesn’t of patriotic fans, will try to stop the party-pooping antics of cham- At 31, Federer’s silky grasscourt craft can still leave younger have a great day but she’s still able to beat the other players,” pions Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal. Tennis’s so rivals huffing and puffing, as the luckless Mischa Zverev discov- she told Reuters. World number five Sara Errani, who was on called ‘Big Three’ have lorded over Wimbledon ever since Federer ered during a 6-0 6-0 demolition in Halle last week. the receiving end of one of Williams’s most emphatic maul- won the first of his record-equalling seven titles in 2003, slam- Iron-man Djokovic, winner in 2011, relishes the challenge of ings in the semi-finals in Paris, losing 6-0 6-1, neatly summed ming the door shut on any pretender who threatened to gate- leaving his opponents gasping while Nadal will be eager to show up the sense of foreboding. “You have to have one of your crash their invitation-only, VIP party. Eleven months ago, howev- that last year’s astonishing second-round humbling was just a best days and try to think she can have one bad day,” she said. er, Murray demonstrated that peering in from the outside year blip in his glittering career. At 31, Williams is already the oldest woman to win a major after year was no longer an option as he smashed the gilded cage “The three of them have been unbelievably dominant. They’ve since Martina Navratilova claimed a ninth Wimbledon singles the trio had built around themselves by winning an Olympic gold been incredibly successful. If anything, it should be an incentive title in 1990. on the hallowed turf. to the other guys to break in to the mix. If these guys are too She needs two more to draw level with both Navratilova Murray’s euphoric triumph at the All England Club, albeit at and Chris Evert who sit above her with 18 major titles on the the London Games, offered a glimmer of hope that an end might all-time women’s list headed by Margaret Court with 24. finally be in sight for Britain’s interminable wait for a home-grown While the ultra-competitive men’s game holds few paral- men’s champion at Wimbledon. lels with the Williams-dominated women’s, the American That hope intensified tenfold when Murray hoisted the US needs one more grand slam to draw level with Roger Federer, Open trophy weeks later with a heart-pumping, nerve-jangling, often hailed as the greatest player to pick up a racket. five-set win over Serbian Djokovic at Flushing Meadows. “She’s playing the best tennis of her career, mentally she’s That win means that for the first time in 77 years a reigning in the best place I’ve ever seen her,” three-times men’s cham- British male grand-slam champion will amble in to the manicured pion John McEnroe said during a conference call organised by grounds in southwest London when the club throws open its ESPN. “She is the best player that ever lived. She’s a level immaculately-painted gates for the start of the 2013 champi- above anyone - there’s no doubt about it. “Serena is one of onships on Monday. The last time such an event occurred was the greatest athletes in the history of our sport, male or when Fred Perry showed up in 1936 to complete his hat-trick of female. She has such an intimidation factor it will be difficult Wimbledon wins before turning professional. for anyone to beat her.” Since Perry captured the last of his eight grand-slam titles at Older sister Venus, who won the last of her five Wimbledon the 1936 US Championships, 286 majors had come and gone titles in 2008, has pulled out this year with a back injury, and without a British men’s champion in sight. among the rest the title credentials are flimsy. Winners emerged from Egypt to Ecuador, from Romania to Sharapova has reached only one Wimbledon final since Mexico, from Croatia to South Africa, from Hungary to Argentina; winning it as 17-year-old in 2004 while Azarenka has fallen at 22 different nations ruled over all and sundry. the semi-final stage in the last two years and has enjoyed The country that hosts the most famous tennis tournament in grand-slam success only in Australia.—Reuters the world, however, had effectively become a laughing stock for Andy Murray failing to produce a male champion for more than three-quarters of a century. “What is it? Like, 150,000 years?,” Swiss Federer good then more power to them,” McEnroe said. quipped on the eve of beating Murray at the 2010 Melbourne “I would pick Djokovic (as number) one (for the title) and Park final. Murray finally laid those jokes to rest last September Murray two because he will be a little hungrier having not played and while he is now a bona fide member of what has turned into the French (Open, through injury). the ‘Big Four’ of tennis, experts sounded a word of caution to “Then Roger, because he’s still got such a great game for grass those expecting a glorious British finale. but it’s so tough to win it back-to-back, especially at his age. Then “Every year that he doesn’t win it, there is more and more Rafa as he can’t impose his will as easily as he can on claycourts, pressure on Andy Murray, so it depends on his nerves,” former so I would put him a close fourth.” Wimbledon champion Chris Evert said during an ESPN confer- McEnroe describes eight-times Roland Garros victor Nadal as ence call. The famous four have now won 32 of the last 33 grand the “ultimate nightmare on clay” but his presence at Wimbledon slams - it would have been all 33 if Federer had not blown a two- could also provide some sleepless nights for his main rivals. sets-to-one lead against Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 US The quartet have long become accustomed to meeting in the Open final - and so far no-one has come close to ending that last four or in the final of tournaments but with Nadal seeded fifth reign. Evert’s fellow American John McEnroe said that only the this year, behind fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, a blockbuster clash Serena Williams very brave would rule out the chances of world number one could be in the offing as early as the quarter-finals.—Reuters Sports47 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 India cruise into final

Champions Trophy CARDIFF: World champions India thrashed The Oval on Wednesday. tionals (ODIs) against their Asian rivals. Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Cardiff yester- Opener Shikhar Dhawan, dropped The course of Thursday’s match, a repeat day to set up a Champions Trophy final three times, made 68 as he extended his of the 2011 World Cup final India won by six against tournament hosts England at record as the tournament’s leading scorer wickets in Mumbai, was set in the first Edgbaston on Sunday. to 332 runs following innings of 114 against innings. After India captain Mahendra Singh India, chasing a modest target of 182, South Africa, 102 not out against the West Dhoni won the toss, his seamers exploited finished on 182 for two with 15 overs to Indies and 48 against Pakistan. Virat Kohli the helpful overcast conditions as Sri Lanka spare to set up a final against England, was 58 not out, with India now having won were restricted to 181 for eight. Ishant who beat South Africa by seven wickets at seven of their last eight one-day interna- Sharma took three wickets for 33 runs following impressive work by new-ball duo SCOREBOARD Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews top CARDIFF: Final scoreboard in the Champions Trophy semi-final scored with 51 in an innings where no other between India and Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Thursday: batsman made more than the 38 of Mahela Jayawardene, who two years ago became Sri Lanka Dhoni 4-0-17-0 (1w); Ashwin 10-1-48-3 (8w). the only man to score a hundred in a losing K. Perera c Raina b Kumar 4 Note: Dilshan retired hurt on 12 with the cause in a World Cup final. CARDIFF: India’s Shikhar Dhawan (center) plays a shot as Sri T. Dilshan not out 18 score on 17 for one and resumed his innings Sri Lanka were six for one when Kusal K. Sangakkara c Raina b I Sharma 17 at the fall of the seventh wicket. Lanka’s wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara (right) looks on during Perera edged a drive off Kumar and was the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final cricket match. —AFP L. Thirimanne c Raina b I Sharma 7 caught at second slip by Suresh Raina. They M. Jayawardene b Jadeja 38 India suffered a further setback when Tillakaratne man this tournament. skill, his bowling average of 40.88 against A. Mathews c Kumar b Ashwin 51 R. Sharma b Mathews 33 Dilshan, after playing an on-drive, pulled up That allowed Dhoni to bowl himself in India is his highest against any country. And J. Mendis st Dhoni b Ashwin 25 S. Dhawan st Sangakkara b Mendis 68 with a right leg injury. He received lengthy conditions suited to his medium-pacers. In the tone for the innings was set when left- T. Perera c Dhawan b I Sharma 0 V. Kohli not out 58 on-field treatment but, still struggling, his 222 previous ODIs, Dhoni had bowled hander Dhawan uppercut Malinga for a N. Kulasekara b Ashwin 1 S. Raina not out 7 retired hurt shortly afterwards on 12 in the only two overs, yet his decision very nearly stunning six off the last ball of the bowler’s L. Malinga not out 7 Extras (b1, lb5, w10) 16 fifth over. Ishant Sharma, with the aid of two proved a master-stroke with just his second third over. Worse followed for Sri Lanka Extras (lb2, w11) 13 Total (2 wkts, 35 overs)182 excellent second slip catches by Raina, ball yesterday. Jayawardene, on five, was giv- when Dhawan was dropped by first slip Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-77 (R Sharma), 2-142 reduced Sri Lanka to 41 for three by remov- en out leg before to Dhoni by Pakistani Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara and put Fall of wickets: 1-6 (K Perera), 2-36 (Dhawan) ing Lahiru Thirimanne and dangerman umpire Aleem Dar only for the batsman to down by wicketkeeper Sangakkara, standing (Thirimanne), 3-41 (Sangakkara), 4-119 Did not bat: D Karthik, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Kumar Sangakkara. It was a deserved reward overturn it on review. But Jayawardene was up, off the same bowler. (Jayawardene), 5-158 (Mathews), 6-160 (T Ashwin, I Sharma, B Kumar, U Yadav for Dhoni’s decision to attack the batsmen bowled by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja Dhawan cashed in with a 73-ball fifty Perera), 7-164 (Kulasekara), 8-171 (Mendis) Bowling: Kulasekara 10-0-45-0 (4w); Malinga with two slips and only two men outside the after an ugly swipe across the line. If Sri before he he was dropped by Sachitra Did not bat: R Herath 8-0-54-0 (5w); T Perera 6-0-25-0; Mathews 4-0- circle. Lanka were to have any realistic chance of Sennayake, substitute for Dilshan, at point Bowling: Kumar 9-2-18-1; Yadav 8-2-30-0; I 10-1; Herath 4-0-14-0 (1w); Mendis 3-0-28-1. The 23rd over saw Dhoni pass on wicket- winning this match, it looked as if Lasith again off Kulasekara. He was eventually Sharma 9-1-33-3 (2w); Jadeja 10-1-33-1; Result: India won by eight wickets keeping duties to Dinesh Karthik, a specialist Malinga would have to take early wickets. stumped off Jeevan Mendis but by then gloveman but mainly deployed as a bats- But for all slingshot seamer Malinga’s India were in sight of victory. —AFP Italy eliminate Japan in thriller

RECIFE: Italy booked their place in the “I think we did show we have a lot Cup since we are not going to be in their poor start, withdrawing Alberto Against an Italian side that had semi-finals of the Confederations Cup of personality but we need to accu- the semi-finals. I hope they win.” Aquilani and sending on striker before Wednesday lost only one of here Wednesday with a thrilling mulate more experience,” Zaccheroni Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he Giovinco. 23 competitive games under come-from-behind 4-3 win over Japan conceded. “I hope Italy now wins the had had to reshuffle his pack after “It was a difficult game for us, we Prandelli, they failed to find the coup that also sent Brazil into the last four. suffered. We knew Japan had one de grace. The Italians looked to be heading extra day to rest and it showed.” For And Andrea Pirlo gave Italy hope for a shock defeat after going 2-0 40 minutes Japan seemed destined when he arrowed in a corner that down to Japan midway through the to score a first ever success over the was met by a powerful De Rossi first half, with Keisuke Honda slotting Azzurri. header just before half-time for 2-1. a 21st-minute penalty before Ryoichi Maeda had almost drawn In what was turning into a superlative Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa first blood with a header on seven advert for attacking football doubled the lead for the Asian cham- minutes but Gianluigi Buffon made a Giaccherini then saw a low drive pions. smart stop. come back off the base of the post However, Italy fought back with a Kagawa then fired a left foot effort with almost the last kick of the first three-goal blast either side of half- goalwards in the 19th minute that half. The second half was no less time, courtesy of strikes from Daniele Buffon parried to safety. But two min- action packed and soon after the De Rossi, an own-goal from Atsuto utes later, Japan took the lead from restart Giaccherini beat Maya Yoshida Uchida and a Mario Balotelli spot-kick the spot as Buffon clattered into a 50- and saw his low cross turned into his to make it 3-2. Japan levelled at 3-3 50 challenge with Okazaki and refer- own net by a Uchida. courtesy of a thumping header from ee Diego Abal of Agentina ruled the Three minutes after Uchida’s faux Shinji Okazaki on 69 minutes as the Italian veteran had impeded his rival. pas Balotelli scored from the spot momentum shifted again before Italy Honda, whose penalty-taking after Makoto Hasebe handballed in substitute Sebastian Giovinco sealed a exploits earlier this month had the box. But Japanese heads did not dramatic encounter with the winner ensured qualification for next year’s drop and they made it 3-3 in the 69th four minutes from time. World Cup in Brazil, drilled his kick minute when Yasuhito Endo crossed The result saw Japan eliminated low to Buffon’s left and just inside the for Okazaki to head in. In an astonish- along with Mexico, while Brazil and post. ing finale Okazaki hit the post and, Italy will now face each other Saturday Thereafter, Japan enjoyed a pur- with Buffon stranded, Kagawa saw in Salvador in the final pool match to ple patch and after 33 minutes it was his header bounce onto the bar determine who qualifies as group 2-0, Kagawa swivelling in the box to when it seemed he must score. winners - the runners-up will likely plant a left-foot shot low past Buffon. With four minutes left of a pulsat- face world champions Spain. Italian midfielder De Rossi earned ing match Giovinco netted from It was an agonising exit for Japan, a booking for tripping Honda as the close range from Claudio Marchisio’s whose coach Alberto Zaccheroni had Japanese, their confidence suddenly cross, meaning the pressure is off for challenged his team to take the game sky-high and playing neat one- the Italains as they go on to meet fel- to his Italian countrymen after a lack- RECIFE: Italy’s defender Ignazio Abate (left) and Japan’s touch football that brought shouts low Group A qualifiers Hrazil in their lustre display in their opening defeat defender Yuto Nagatomo vie during their FIFA Confederations of ‘ole’ from the crowd, looked to go final pool match on Saturday in to Brazil. Cup Brazil 2013 Group A football match. —AFP for the kill. Salvador. —AFP India cruise into final of Champions Trophy

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FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 FRIDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

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ITALY : Khalid Al Qassimi of UEA and British co- driver Scott Martin steer their Citroen DS3 WRC during the qualifying stage of the FIA World Rally Championship of Italy. —AFP