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THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 12, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Two dead, Messi on target 24 hurt as as Barcelona NY buildings eliminate collapse13 Man20 City Egypt claims Brotherhood Max 26º Min 16º member arrested in Kuwait High Tide 11:03 & 21:33 Low Tide Saudi ban on Islamist group complicates Gulf ties 04:46 & 16:05 40 PAGES NO: 16103 150 FILS

CAIRO: The office of Egypt’s top prosecutor yesterday conspiracy theories said it has been informed that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait arrested two members of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group after Cairo put out an international Wasta and warrant on them. The prosecutor’s statement said it was told by Interpol that ex-parliamentarian Akram El-Shaer was arrested in Saudi Arabia and Mohammed El- destruction Qabouti was arrested in Kuwait. The statement said the two were wanted for inciting violence in their home- town, the port city of Port Said, last summer. Saudi and Kuwait authorities could not be reached for comment. An Interpol spokeswoman said the group had no public notices for those names, but in some cas- es countries ask that they not be public. Saudi Arabia’s By Badrya Darwish fierce campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood, already on the run in its Egyptian birthplace, has divid- ed the Gulf Arab bloc, causing discomfort in some member states where the Islamist group is embedded in daily politics. Feuding with Qatar over Islam’s place in [email protected] a turbulent Arab world, Riyadh recalled its ambassador from Doha last week and branded the Brotherhood, a Qatari ally, a terrorist group. ooking at photos of this shabby building, I Saudi Arabia has swung firmly behind the Egyptian thought: Where is that? Is this somewhere in a military, which deposed President Mohamed Morsi last Lremote part of the world where there is no year after mass protests against the Brotherhood leader. culture, no rules, no regulation, no Municipality, no Continued on Page 13 one checking what and how you build? It looks like KUWAIT: Central bank governors of the Gulf Cooperation Council pose for a group photo before a meet- an old jail in a jungle somewhere. Believe me, it’s ing yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat not. To my disappointment, it’s a building some- Syria to close where in a residential area in Kuwait. Would you see something like this here? Let’s Gulf chief bankers meet not travel too far, let’s stay in our neighborhood embassies in among our brother Khaleeji countries. Would you see this in the UAE? Would you see this in Qatar? Of amid tense political row Kuwait, Saudi course not, I’m answering on your behalf. Because I always consider Kuwait a modern, advanced KUWAIT: Central bank governors of the energy-rich Cooperation Council (GCC), established in 1981, along DAMASCUS: Syria has decided to close its Khaleeji country. So what’s wrong with us? Why Gulf met yesterday in Kuwait to discuss combating ter- with Kuwait and Oman which did not follow the Saudi- embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia because they have we deteriorated in every aspect so much? ror funding and boosting cooperation, despite a tense led move. “The row did not impact the meeting where have refused to accept the accreditations of its What’s this appalling situation? What is the land- diplomatic row between its member states. “We are a all members were present and contributed effectively envoys, diplomats posted in Damascus said yester- lord trying to do, for God’s sake? Is the landlord technical committee which does not interfere in poli- to the meeting which was very normal,” Hashel said. day. “Syria’s embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia unaware that there are rules and regulations since tics,” Kuwait’s Central Bank Governor Mohammad Al- Central bank governors from the six states, including are to close because these countries have been Kuwait became an independent state in 1961 and Hashel told reporters. Saudi Arabia, United Arab that of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al-Thani, refusing to accredit the diplomats sent by Damascus there are permissions required for building or Emirates and Bahrain last week recalled their ambassa- attended the meeting. The governors sat together for since the start of the crisis,” one of the sources said. extending or changing buildings and apartments. dors from Qatar for allegedly interfering in their inter- breakfast and the Saudi and Qatari central bank gover- The Arab monarchies of the Gulf, especially Saudi I don’t blame the landlord, in all honesty. I blame nal affairs. Qatar categorically denied the accusation nors walked out of the meeting together for lunch with Arabia and Qatar, have supported the three-year-old the government represented in the Municipality. It and did not recall its envoys.1 no sign of the tension between their two countries. armed revolt in Syria and called for the overthrow of is their responsibility to look at buildings and struc- The four nations are members of the Gulf Continued on Page 13 President Bashar Al-Assad. — AFP tures, streets, flyovers, sewage, etc, etc. So where is our army of municipality officers and inspectors? Or are they only concentrating on salons and restau- rants? Are they only active in chasing bedoons sell- Rouhani visits Oman ing benak (traditional seeds which people in the Gulf snack on). By the way guys, benak taste good. Or some children selling videos and trinkets in front to boost trade, ties of the jamia (co-op). I know this is their job, and I MUSCAT: Iranian President Hassan Gulf, a key gateway for global oil sup- thank them. Rouhani met Oman’s leaders in Muscat plies. But still the buildings and infrastructure and yesterday during a visit aimed at boost- Sultan Qaboos welcomed the Iranian streets in Kuwait are important, if not more impor- ing ties and easing tension with other leader at the Al-Alam palace, according tant. I know we have a Municipality which has all Gulf states, including regional heavy- to ONA. The colorfully decorated com- the measures required for the infrastructure of a weight Saudi Arabia. Starting his two- plex is nestled near the capital Muscat’s city with all its needs - streets, buildings, shops, day visit to Iran’s long-time Gulf ally, mountain-ringed harbor on the edge of pavements, etc, etc. But unfortunately, we have Rouhani went straight into a meeting the Gulf of Oman. Omani Foreign something called wasta (connections) in Kuwait with Sultan Qaboos, who has acted as an Minister Yusuf bin Alawi said Rouhani’s that kills every aspect of inspections or obedience intermediary between Western countries visit “reflects the confidence” that exists to regulations or respect for the rules and laws of and the Islamic republic. The two leaders between Muscat and Tehran, who are the country. discussed “bilateral cooperation” and both “convinced that the top priority is Once we grow out of this wasta system, which is “building good relations”, Oman’s official achieving real stability in the region”. “We killing every aspect of my country, then we will ONA news agency said. seek to strengthen this cooperation to advance. Then we might someday challenge Dubai. Before leaving Tehran for Muscat, serve and bring closer together all (coun- Rouhani had called the visit “of great tries) in the region,” the Oman daily quot- importance to strengthen relations ed Alawi as saying. KUWAIT: Huge clouds of dust are seen bearing down on Kuwait yesterday. — Photo between Iran and Islamic countries, Rouhani has pledged to improve rela- by Fouad Al-Shaikh especially those neighbouring Iran”. “The tions with Iran’s Arab neighbours in the Strait of Hormuz gives countries south of Gulf since his election last year. His for- the...Gulf and the Arabian Sea great eign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oppn meeting moved importance,” Iran’s official news agency visited four Gulf states in December and IRNA cited him as saying. Iran’s elite voiced readiness to visit Saudi Arabia, Revolutionary Guards unit is tasked with which however remains cool to the idea. to Saadoun diwaniya protecting the country’s waters in the Relations between Shiite-majority Iran strategic strait, at the entrance to the Continued on Page 13 Minister’s immunity lifted By B Izzak doors for members to join. The group includes a number of leading former KUWAIT: The Popular Action Movement MPs like Musallam Al-Barrak, Khaled Al- Walls are being erected in the foyer of a building to has decided to hold its foundation Tahous, Mohammad Al-Khalifa and oth- make illegal rooms for rent. (More pics on Page 3) meeting at the diwaniya of its leader ers. Ahmad Al-Saadoun two days after the In a related development, the court Kuwait Regency Hotel prevented the of appeals yesterday suspended the Floods kill 7 opposition group from holding the hearing of the case against 70 opposi- meeting. Saadoun told a press confer- tion activists and former MPs accused of in Saudi Arabia ence late Tuesday night that the venue storming the National Assembly more was changed after the hotel cancelled than two years ago. The court said it will RIYADH: Seven people have died in floods that hit the booking under pressure from the resume the trial only after it has decided northern Hail province of mainly desert Saudi Arabia, interior ministry. The ministry had cate- on a lawsuit by some of the defendants local media reported yesterday. The floods were trig- gorically denied it had any hand in the who are demanding changing the gered by heavy downpours that struck the region on cancellation, insisting the decision was judge Nasr Al-Haid over his political Tuesday. The victims had either drowned or were killed taken by the hotel alone. views expressed on his Twitter account. in car accidents caused by the floods. The authorities The meeting is to officially announce Several defendants argued that the ordered schools in the region to close and blocked that the Popular Action Movement, pre- judge must be changed after express- access to wadis to prevent further drownings. In viously operating as the Popular Action ing views seen hostile to those who November, 11 people died in floods that hit various Bloc, has now become a full-fledged entered the Assembly building in Nov MUSCAT: Omani leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said (right) welcomes Iranian areas of Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s driest coun- political group which has opened its Continued on Page 13 tries.— AFP President Hassan Rouhani upon his arrival yesterday. — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 LOCAL

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other dignitaries attend the graduation ceremony of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) faculties and institutes yesterday. Amir sponsors PAAET graduation ceremony

KUWAIT: Under the aegis of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and in presence of His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, a graduation ceremony of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) faculties and institutes for the academic year 2012/2013 was held yesterday. The ceremony, which took place at the Basic Education Faculty theatre, in Ardhiya suburb in northern Kuwait City, was attended by National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, former National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, senior sheikhs, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali tion as a milestone for development, Kuwait has dents, and jobs for young graduates. improve the professional levels of teaching staff at to preparing a rich and diversified interactive atmos- Jarrah Al-Sabah and senior state officials. established several vocational training colleges and The minister of education congratulated the the PAAET’s colleges. phere that can serve the educational process, the Addressing the event, Minister of Education and institutes, he said. well-achieves of Public Authority for Applied The authority has over 42,000 students and PAAET director-general remarked. Minister of Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi Education and Training (PAAET) faculties and insti- trainees and 2,850 teaching staff members as well as On behalf of her brilliant colleagues, Hanan appreciated His Highness the Amir’s sponsorship of Significant role tutes for the academic year 2012/2013 on their suc- 1,890 employees, he said. He pointed to his authori- Ahmad addressed the graduation ceremony by thank- the PAAET graduation ceremony as a sign of his However, the minister emphasized that the State cess and excellence. ty’s keenness on providing training courses for stu- ing His Highness the Amir for sponsoring the ceremo- much interest in the educational process. is required to take further steps to push forward On his part, the director-general of the PAAET, dents in order to help young people find jobs, espe- ny and His Highness the Crown Prince for attending The minister, who also doubles as the PAAET education in the training field by means of separat- Ahmad Al-Meleifi, boasted that the graduation cere- cially in the private sector. the event. She said His Highness the Amir’s sponsor- board chairman, boasted that since early 1950s, ing applied education from training in the near mony came while the country has just marked its Great role ship of the ceremony reflected the fact that he attach- Kuwait has been seeking to achieve educational future. national festivals and eight years since His Highness The PAAET launched e-learning in December 2013 es much significance to the educational process in the advancement, especially in technical and vocational He highly commended the significant role of the Amir assumed power. as part of its strategy to introduce technology in the country. She also spoke highly of the great role played training. non-governmental organizations and the private He elaborated on the PAAET’s holistic blueprint educational process with a view to creating a genera- by the PAAET and its teaching staff in the provision of Out of its firm belief in the significance of educa- sector in the provision of training courses for stu- to absorb the growing number of students and to tion who can handle state-of-the-art technology and a good atmosphere for learning. —KUNA Kuwait’s new curriculum to be ready in two years

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: For the past two years now, the World Bank has test-piloted a new curricu- lum in 48 Kuwait schools. The curriculum is to be implemented in the next two or three years. The development of the new compe- tency and standard-based curriculum in Kuwait is being done as planned by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to make sure of its success. Kuwait’s current national curriculum was formulated by the Ministry of Education under the strict guidelines and supervision of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Kuwait was ranked 63rd on the Human KUWAIT: World Bank Education Manager Hana Brixi and WB Development Index (HDI) report for 2011 by Education Specialist Dr Ahmed Dewidar at the roundtable discus- UNDP, or above the regional average. In sion yesterday at their headquarters in Baitak Tower. 2005, the literacy rate of Kuwait was 94 per- cent, it said. —Photo by Joseph Shagra Speaking at a media roundtable discus- assessment of teachers. “This is for the bene- the Arab World. “What is interesting is that sion yesterday at the WB Education fit of students. We have created assessment governments here put lots of emphasis on Headquarters at Baitak Tower, World Bank tools for teachers. We also have standards on policy reforms - they have commitment to Education Specialist Dr Ahmed Dewidar school leaderships, and standard exams, and improve the quality of education and when underscored that most important factor in we are going to focus on the quality of edu- you see their budgets, you will see they are the development of the new curriculum is cation and teaching methods,” he added. spending quite a lot on education. The that it’s not done by an international body. The roundtable discussion yesterday problem seems to be was that policies are “We are here as facilitators to work with was attended by World Bank Education not transmitted into practice. Often the Kuwait’s Ministry of Education cadres - main- Sector Manager Hana Brixi where she pre- policies are well developed, but if you visit ly teachers, educators, specialists, manage- sented a report entitled ‘Strategic Choices the schools, they are not being implement- ment and administrators - all education Reform in Arab countries’. She mentioned ed,” she said. stakeholders are well represented. We have that one of the most important subjects in “So in our analysis, we see in depth - the been working with them, designing for the the region is the strong quest for jobs and first level is teachers: Probably they are not last two years what is now known as the services. “The unemployment rate within motivated, so it’s transmitted to the stu- ‘National Curriculum Framework’ on all sub- the young people here is very high. So peo- dents, and the result is absenteeism. The jects,” Dewidar revealed. ple here perceived that connections in the number one problem here in the Arab According to Dewindar, the new curricu- government or high ranking people in the world is absenteeism of students,” she lum touches primary from grades 1 to 5 with government are very important. To get the explained. She mentioned several other ele- learning standards, then at the end of June, job, you need to know someone - this is also ments that contribute to the growing prob- grades 6 to 8 will be ready. “We are currently a fact in Kuwait and the rest of the Arab lems in education and unemployment in world,” she said. the region, but assured reforms are under- working on the intermediate level. We have Relatively speaking, according to Brixi, way in Kuwait and in some other countries also trained 130 master teachers to train skills and education seem to be very low in in the Arab world. trainers who will train teachers,” he added. “In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we are now subjecting 48 Suicide attempt foiled schools in Kuwait for testing. Each region in Kuwait is well represented. We train princi- By Hanan Al-Saadoun pals not just as day-to-day managers of the schools, but as instructional leaders. Each of KUWAIT: A group of firefighters and security forces succeeded in foiling a citi- the 48 schools participating has individual zen’s suicide attempt in Farwaniya, said security sources, noting that the team plans. We regularly visit the 48 schools to succeeded in talking the man out of the idea. monitor their progress and they have pre- l A sudden inspection campaign targeting illegal residents in various gover- sentations on their achievements and norates led to the arrest of 170 expats including 67 women for violating resi- progress,” he said. dency laws, said security sources, noting that the arrested people included “We are also concerned on the relation- wanted people, absconders, marginal laborers, domestic laborers working for ship between the schools and parents, and others and people without residency. the relationship between the schools and l Farwaniya detectives raided what they described as the largest home-made the community. Those are areas we are look- liquor factory in Khaitan, said security sources, noting that 6 Asians were arrested ing at. Then in June, we are going to increase in the raid in addition to confiscating large quantities of liquor. the test schools to 100 - this number is ideal l A citizen was arrested in Hawally with possession of drugs, said security until we achieve our goals. We are regularly sources. Case papers indicate that the suspect was stopped at a routine check- collecting data too,” Dewidar mentioned. point because his windshield was cracked. Noticing his confusion, the police- In addition, Dewidar also emphasized men searched the vehicle and found hashish joints and psychotropic pills. A that along with the new standard curricu- case was filed. lum being introduced was the continuous THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 LOCAL Obama sends ‘positive signals’ to the Gulf KUWAIT: United States President Barack much as they are a show of commitment Obama is set to meet Gulf leaders near the from the US president to the Gulf states end of the month for talks during which he that ‘Washington is with you’, according to is expected to reiterate America’s commit- the sources. “The US administration is ment to its ties with its strategic allies in the telling Gulf states that they do not plan to region. This was reported yesterday by Al- abandon them, and that rapprochement Qabas that said that the US-Gulf summit with Iran will not happen on the expense of will take place in Riyadh on March 28 and Washington’s ties with the Gulf states,” the 29 after the Arab Summit that Kuwait hosts sources said. on the 25th and 26th of the same month. In addition to leaders of Saudi Arabia, The US president will seize the opportu- Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab nity to ‘send positive signals’ to Gulf Emirates and Oman, earlier reports sug- Cooperation Council members, according gested that leaders of Egypt and Jordan to ‘high-level Gulf sources’ quoted in the could also attend the summit. report. “There is high optimism that the Riyadh summit will see notable positions,” Syrian embassy the sources said. In other news, Syrian diplomatic sources KUWAIT: (Left) Permanent makeup of eyebrows done for a customer in one of the salons. (Right) A salon staff doing tattoo. Speaking on the condition of anonymi- denied recent rumors that the Syrian gov- ty, the sources said that Obama will make ernment plans to close its embassy in ‘clear positions’ during the summit, which Kuwait by the end of March. Several Syrians include reiterating the United States’ com- in Kuwait reportedly received text mes- Beauty salons provide mitment to Gulf security, insisting that sages notifying those with passports near- there will be no change in the US policy in ing expiry to apply for renewal before the the region, pointing out that the strategic end of the month ‘after which all proce- partnership between the US and Gulf dures will have to be carried out at the unauthorized services states will not be changed and indicating Syrian embassy in Bahrain because the that US forces in the region will not be embassy in Kuwait will be closed’. reduced. “There are no directions from Damascus These positions are not reactions to to close the embassy in Kuwait,” said the Seeking cheap services ‘risky’ developments in the region including the embassy sources who spoke to Annahar advancements in the Western-Iranian daily on the condition of anonymity. They By Nawara Fattahova high. I asked at a popular beauty center that is alyzed from wrongly injected Botox. Now she is negotiations over its nuclear program, as described the text messages as ‘baseless’. licensed for this activity and they informed me not leaving the house and is getting medical KUWAIT: Beauty salons are not authorized to pro- the price is KD 200 for the eyebrows, which I can’t treatment. The salon is also doing piercing that vide medical services such as Botox injections, afford. I heard about some women who were vic- should be licensed from the Ministry of Health,” fillers, permanent makeup or tattoos, which is for- tims of unlicensed services and that the colors Rabab added. bidden. But many salons provide these services changed, as the woman used real tattoo colors According to Abu Abdullah, an inspector from illegally, and some individuals even offer home and not semi-permanent ones, but I haven’t met the Ministry of Commerce, tattooing is forbidden services. such people,” added Ibtisam. in Kuwait and no licenses are issued for this activi- Ibtisam, 38, had her eyebrows done with per- Rabab, 25, had a small butterfly tattoo done at ty by any authority. “Our inspectors go to salons manent makeup at home. “My friend did her eye- a salon in Salmiya. “The Asian woman doing the and if they find such activities, they will ticket the brows and I liked it. She recommended an Asian tattoo is the partner of the salon and she claimed salon. It’s not necessary to find staff actually woman who provides this service cheaply com- she is licensed to do so. I was satisfied with her doing a tattoo - it’s enough if we find the tools pared to the market. I called her and did it with a work. Once when I went to her salon for some- used for this forbidden activity,” he stated. correction after three weeks for KD 30. I’m happy thing else, I saw two women complaining from “If a customer is harmed or suffers health with the result, and would recommend her. When their eyebrows being spoiled due to the radical problems as a result of any of these activities, she came, I asked her about the colors she uses, change of color. I think this is maybe from their then she can file a case at the Customer and she showed me the packet, but I’m not good skin accepting the color in a different way. The Protection Department (CPD) of the Ministry of in English so I didn’t understand much. The most salon owner refused returning the money and Commerce after providing a bill of the salon or important thing is word-of-mouth recommenda- offered to do it again as a correction. When they center where she did the beauty procedures tion,” she told the Kuwait Times. threatened her they were going to complain, she along with a medical report of the hospital prov- But seeking cheap services may lead to expen- told them she doesn’t care, as they can’t prove it. I ing the damage. Then inspectors from both CPD sive losses and serious health damages. When don’t know what happened next,” she pointed and Ministry of Health will go to the place. But if somebody seeks unlicensed services, he or she out. the customer got these services done by an indi- cannot later demand any compensation, as there “I also know salons and beauty centers that do vidual and not a licensed shop, then we won’t be is no warranty on the quality and safety of the even more dangerous medical activities such as able to help her. In case a salon is found doing service. injecting Botox and fillers for customers with unli- this illegal activity, then it may be closed and will “I think it’s a risk, but the price outside is very censed materials. I met a lady whose face got par- definitely be ticketed,” explained Abu Abdullah. 500,000 people banned from travelling KUWAIT: Around 12.5 percent of Kuwait’s residents cannot leave the coun- people with visit visas issued before Feb 16, saying that an exemption that try due to a travel ban issued by authorities for multiple reasons including allows them to issue work permits expires at the end of the month. “No unpaid dues, a parliament member said in a recent press statement. “The exemption will be given to any visa transfer transaction after March 31,” number of people facing travel bans which has reached 500,000 Kuwaitis said Jamal Al-Dousary, the Assistant Undersecretary for the Labor and expatriates is a very serious issue that requires action to help debtors Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. who struggle to pay the cumulative interests on their debts,” MP Jamal Al- The ministry plans to announce new regulations for visa transfers that Omar told Al-Rai, who published his statement yesterday. includes “new conditions” for the transfer process, according to Dousary. The senior official further revealed “an ongoing coordination with the Visa transfer Interior Ministry” to help legalize the status of workers with expired visas “ In other news, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor reiterated calls to who want to transfer to the private sector”.

KUWAIT: Walls are being erected in the foyer of a building to make illegal rooms for rent. More efforts needed to attract visitors KUWAIT: (Left) A group of the American Academy for Girls’ students having a discussion about the module that was presented during the ‘Learn Money Week’ initiative. (Right) Kuwait National English School students discussing their understanding of the KUWAIT: The general manager of Leaders February festival should have been pro- ‘Learn Money Week’ module presented during the session. Group Company for Consultancy and moted months earlier by a convoy touring Development (Leaders Group) Nabila Al- various countries. “Unfortunately, this Anjeri stressed the importance of recre- year’s festival only attracted 100,000 visi- Gulf Bank implements ‘Learn Money Week’ in schools ational, cultural, art and tors to Kuwait and 50,000 sport festivals for tourism. GCC nationals entered KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced that it is tional and entertaining money game “Nevertheless, Kuwait Kuwait on the first ten implementing a global financial initia- that can also be enjoyed by the family at seems to be far from such days but the numbers tive for the first time across schools in home. The primary lesson plan is a two Court upholds a concept and we only dropped during the rest of Kuwait. Entitled ‘Learn Money Week’, the hour session for students aged from 9 to have one festival, which is the month, while neigh- program is taking place from March 10 14. The session teaches them to set per- woman’s right the Hala February festi- boring countries’ festivals to 17, and is designed to educate young sonal goals and how to differentiate val,” she lamented. attract millions,” explained people about the importance of between spending, saving, donating in property In this regard, Leaders the report, noting that employment, pursuing a career, and and investing money. Group monthly report outbound flights were ful- how to develop their entrepreneurial The secondary lesson plan is a 100 KUWAIT: The Appeals Court upheld a stressed that this year’s ly booked, especially on skills. minute long session for 11-16 year olds. Court of First Instance ruling which ordered festival was not much dif- the national anniversary The ‘Learn Money Week’ program is It explores saving and borrowing and the sale of a real estate owned by a Kuwaiti ferent compared to earli- holidays when Kuwaitis part of a global financial education ini- explains the concept of interest and the man in an auction based on a case filed by er ones. “The festival has fully occupied hotels in tiative led by Young Global Leaders and flow of money in the banking system. his ex-wife. Lawyer Mohammad Kamal had become limited to the Dubai, Lebanon and the Global Shapers of the World In the longer term and in line with the presented documents to the court which opening carnival, some London. Economic Forum (WEF). Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility prove that his clients owned 50 percent of concerts and very few The report blamed both Gulf Bank is assigning staff members strategy, it aims to reinforce its belief in the property. The auction was opened at sport activities,” said the Nabila Al-Anjeri the government and law- to conduct the program across three the importance of equipping young peo- KD320,000, and was eventually sold for KD report, attributing this to a lack of support makers who continue to fail to utilize schools in Kuwait; American Academy ple with the knowledge and insight into 489,000. The court also ordered the man to to the tourism sector at the ministry of tourism as a non-oil source of national for Girls, Kuwait National English School the business world. Gulf Bank is commit- pay KD 49,408 to his ex-wife who demand- commerce. The report also underlined income that would provide endless job and Indian Central School. ted to leading by example, making real ed compensation for not being able to use Mohammad that closing visa applications a few days opportunities. “We only have this festival The program comprises two lesson and tangible contributions to the Kuwait the property for five years since the divorce Kamal before the festival was very strange. while a neighboring country has 46 every plans - a primary lesson plan and a sec- community and specifically to the young happened. The report added that the Hala year”, added the report. ondary lesson plan along with an educa- people of Kuwait.

KUWAIT: Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs, Maj Gen Abdul Fattah Al-Ali yesterday received at his office the GCC traffic delegations taking part in the GCC Traffic Week currently held in Kuwait. Notably, the delegations had visited Al-Razi hospital where they visited road accidents’ victims and listened to their stories. The delegations had also visited the traffic department central operations room. LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Duo in police custody for multiple car thefts Domestic workers charged with robbery

KUWAIT: Jahra police arrested two men who inside a Hawally apartment rented by a then stole his cell phone as well as KD 360 in admitted responsibility for multiple car thefts domestic workers’ recruitment office after cash and escaped. A case was filed for inves- reported around Kuwait. The suspects had they were returned by their employers. tigations. raised suspicions at a checkpoint in Saad Al- However, the two were able to break the Abdullah when police noticed that the driver apartment’s door and escape after stealing Family feud was wearing thick cotton gloves. Police KD 1,000 they found inside. This was report- A man faces charges after he destroyed decided to search the car after the two ed at the area’s police station by a Sri Lankan his brother-in-law’s car in revenge after his became nervous and couldn’t answer queries woman who works at the recruitment office. sister complained of her husband’s repeated KUWAIT: Isam Jasem Al-Sager, NBK Group Chief Executive Officer, and Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar, NBK Deputy Group CEO, receiving their walkathon number from about where they came from and where they She pressed theft charges against the abuse. The incident took place in Bayan NBK Public Relations Executive Manager Manal Al-Mattar and NBK Public Relations were heading. The driver, a 19-year-old domestic workers, and a search is on for where a Kuwaiti man told police that a per- Manager Abdul Mohsen Al-Rushaid. bedoon man, and his companion were them. son blocked his way in the area then beat apprehended after police searched the car him up, attacked his car and fired gunshots Stage set for NBK Walkathon and found 16 spare keys of several car Attempted murder at his car. Investigations later revealed that brands, a hammer, a toolkit, a fake gun and A bedoon man was hospitalized with four the assailant is the man’s brother-in-law who KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) annu- importance of leading a healthy life.” drug paraphernalia. The two revealed during stab wounds following a fight in Sulaibiya. wanted to seek revenge for his sister who the al Walkathon registration ends today. The Al-Bahar on the other hand said “We are questioning the locations where they kept According to the police report, the man ran complainant reportedly abused. Detectives Registration Center next to the Scientific satisfied to note that the annual Walkathon, several cars that they had stolen. They were across two persons he had unfinished business reportedly ruled out murder intentions, Centre will be open for its last day, from 9am to which constitutes a major component of NBK’s referred to the authorities to face charges. with, and a fight ensued. The suspects eventu- believing that the man only fired warning 8pm in addition to the registration online corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, ally ran away leaving the man behind bleeding, shots at his brother-in-law. Investigations are through NBK.com. has over the years garnered huge success and Officer’s car stolen before an ambulance arrived at the scene in ongoing in search for the armed man. Isam Jasem Al-Sager, NBK Group Chief support from the public. It is one of Kuwait’s A senior police officer reported the rob- response to a passersby’s emergency call. The Executive Officer and Shaikha Khaled Al-Bahar, favorite health, sports and entertainment- bery of an SUV that was rented by the Interior man was admitted inside the intensive care Khaitan fight NBK Deputy Group CEO signed up to take part related activities.” Ministry for his personal use. The lieutenant unit of Farwaniya Hospital. Investigations are Three men were critically wounded during in the Walkathon. NBK Public Relations NBK Walkathon 2014 will hold great sur- colonel told officers at the Ahmadi police sta- ongoing in search for the two suspects who a fight in Khaitan over a parking spot. Executive Manager Manal Al-Mattar and NBK prises.120 participants will be awarded with tion that the car disappeared from outside his face attempted murder charges. According to the police report, the fight took Public relations Manager Abdul Mohsen Al- valuable prizes in addition to giving away house, while preliminary investigations indi- Meanwhile, a pedestrian was hospitalized place between 3 Syrian nationals and 3 Rushaid presented both CEOs with their three brand new Citreon cars as the grand cate that the suspect used a spare key to after he was mugged by six persons in a Palestinians who feuded over a parking Walkathon number. Several NBK top execu- prize alongside the ten winners in the first open the car, start the engine and drive away. street in the area, according to his testi- space outside their apartment building. The tives as well as other public figures will be par- draw of NBK’s campaign to win a trip for two to Investigations are ongoing to locate the car monies. The Egyptian national had told men reportedly resumed their fight inside ticipating in the event that will be held on attend one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup match- as well as identify and arrest the suspect. police that he had stopped to take his med- the Farwaniya Hospital before police were Saturday. “The amazing and steady growth in es in Brazil in association with Visa that will be ication when six men approached him and called. Two Syrian men and one Palestinian the number of participants each year is evi- announced live during the Walkathon. Robbery case told him to hand over his money. When he man were admitted in the intensive care unit dence of the huge public recognition for this NBK’s 2014 Walkathon aims to encourage event,” Al-Sager said. “NBK Walkathon is part of each individual to believe in their ability A driver and a housemaid were locked refused, the men attacked him with knives with stab wounds. A case was filed. an all-inclusive drive initiated by the bank to towards making a change “If We Can make a build awareness in our community on the change ... So Can You”. Campaign promoting Chemistry conference ‘success’ KUWAIT: The Third Kuwait Conference of ommended increasing the participation of tolerance attracts youth Chemistry has called, in its final statement, young Kuwaiti chemistry researchers in the for boosting cooperation among scientific coming fourth edition of the conference. The and academic entities as well as public and conference discussed a number of topics, KUWAIT: “Rekaaz” campaign to promote toler- study showed that verbal and social violence and in addition to expanding the ethics campaigns in private sectors to develop chemistry notably the importance of scientific research ance in society which kicked off last week attract- family disintegration constituted the major prob- the Kingdom to reach out to other regions and researches. for achieving optimal benefits of oil as a ed many citizens of various sectors of society, lems facing the youth leading to irresponsible different sections of the population in our socie- Head of the Scientific Committee of the source of energy and as a raw material for especially the young. behavior.” The study revealed that 51 percent of ty.” “Rekaaz aims to promote religious and human Conference Dr Hassan Al-Rabia said that the the petrochemical industry, as well the role The campaign, launched under the slogan “A the youth suffer from lack of acceptance by oth- values to improve the quality of social life for conference was a great success. of chemistry in protecting environment from Tolerant Person is a Winner,” aims to promote tol- ers and intolerance while 31 percent said that the young people of both sexes. It is also engaged He noted that the three-day event has pollutions and contaminants. The fourth edi- erance among youth in face of challenges they negative social problems include intolerance, with civil society and government organizations touched upon the latest developments in tion of the conference will be hosted by may face in the society, Public Relations Director bad behavior and disrespecting seniors and the to strengthen understanding, dialogue, accept- petroleum, environment and green chem- Kuwait Chemical Society (KCS) in 2016. of the Foundation Abdullah Al-Majed said. elderly,” he said. ance of others, and ties between society mem- istry and their role in securing a better life for The conference entitled “Petroleum The program was initiated following findings He further said that their campaign targets bers,” he added. Al-Majed said that the campaign coming generations. Industry and Environment” was organized by of a specialized study conducted in the GCC by youth of both genders aged between 15 and 25 activities will took place in Souk Sharq next Al-Rabia stated that the final statement of Kuwait Chemical Society (KCS) together with the conference recommended expanding Kuwait University (KU), Kuwait Institute of “Rekaaz” on social problems in the society, he with innovative and educational activities at Friday evening with participation of Dr. cooperation between academic institutions, Scientific Research (KISR) and Public added. “We chose the topic of the campaign on gyms and shopping malls to promote healthy Mohammed Al-Awadhi, Sheikh Suleiman Al- scientific centers and businesses to give Authority for Applied Education and Training the basis of a study conducted by “Rekaaz” on interaction between society and the youth. Jubailan and Othman Al-Ibrahim also Maher impetus to chemistry researches. It also rec- (PAAET). —KUNA youth’s social problems in the GCC, where the “We are open to new ideas and partnerships, Zain, the famous singer. — KUNA THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 LOCAL Women indispensable partners in social development: Kuwait Progress in area of political empowerment

NEW YORK: “Women play an integral and indis- expertise and stress on good practices within a percent women Parliamentarians. Lebanon is rat- pensable part in social development and mod- collective desire to overcome challenge,” she said. ed 139, Oman 143 and Qatar 147. ernization,” and it is vital the international com- “We need support from top, but we also sup- munity finds solutions for women’s causes, “and Public awareness port from the bottom,” he stressed, adding “we particularly address their economic concerns, Meanwhile, Anders B. Johnsson, Secretary need much diligence, many public discussions through special programs executed in partner- General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), on around this, explaining to people why they need ship between the rich and the less fortunate Tuesday said growing public awareness of the to support women to do this job.” countries of the world,” a Kuwaiti official told a UN need to elect women Parliamentarians in Kuwait On women Parliamentarians in the Middle meeting on Tuesday. is very important for the country’s welfare. East, Johnsson said there is a “growing awareness The remark was made in the Kuwaiti delega- Johnsson told KUNA in the margins of the that we need more women in public and political tion’s speech at the 58th session of the launch by IPU and UN Women of the “Global decision making. We see this not only in North KUWAIT: Bangladesh Ambassador Maj Gen Mohammad Ashab Uddin met Commission on Status of Women in New York, Map of Women in Politics” that public aware- African states, but also in Gulf States.” Labour and Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs Hind March 10-20. The Kuwaiti speaker was head of a ness should build up in Kuwait before He noted that the Middle East is the region Subaih Barak Al-Sabeeh on Monday. During the meeting they discussed delegation and Chairwoman of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary elections. What is at stake here is that has progressed the fastest, because of the matters of mutual interest with special focus on recruitment of manpower Council of Ministers’ Women Affairs Committee, from Bangladesh and ensuring welfare of the Bangladeshi expatriates serv- Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah. ing in Kuwait. Kuwait started its efforts to create a society with instilled human rights values started in its earliest days, she said, and the country is now Arab ministers discuss health supporting all efforts towards realizing the mil- lennium goals and stressing gender equality, conditions of displaced Syrians “and this is even labeled ‘a priority’ in both the short and long term development plans of the CAIRO: The Executive Office of the will be forwarded to the summit includ- country.” Council of Arab Health Ministers, headed ing Kuwait’s proposal for the establish- As to actual achievements, she said Kuwait is by Kuwaiti Minister of Health, Dr Ali Al- ment of an Arab center for patients’ making good progress in the areas of education Obeidi, wrapped up its deliberations here rights. and reduction of illiteracy, in provision of compre- yesterday by approving the draft agenda Al-Obeidi in this context stressed the hensive healthcare for women, bringing down in preparation for refering it to the 41st need for these issues to be subjected to fatalities among infants, and in the areas of equal round of the Council of Arab Health the requirements and standards, espe- opportunity in employment in both state and pri- Ministers to be held today. cially with regard to funding sources for vate sector positions. The minister said that the meeting dis- these projects, after being approved by There was also progress in the area of political cussed several items, including projects the Economic and Social Council. empowerment of women, she stressed, through and decisions on the agenda for discus- He said the meeting also discussed appointing suitably qualified women in leading sion during the meeting of the Council of the report of the Preparatory Committee positions and of economic empowerment Arab Ministers of Health tomorrow at the for the meeting which will be held in through encouragement of small businesses. headquarters of the General Secretariat Peru between the Health Ministers of of the Arab League. Arab States and the countries of South Main goal He added that most critical of these America, where it was stressed the need Sheikha Latifa said the world realizes fully the items was the issue of health and human- for participation of Arab countries in NEW YORK: Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah attending the 58th session of scale of the challenge and the seriousness of the itarian conditions for the displaced those meetings to exchange experiences the Commission on Status of Women. impediments hindering progress on the main Syrians, noting that members of the and approve the recommendations that goal for the coming phase, which is developmen- the welfare of Kuwait.” political will and political push from the people in Executive Office discussed the situation are in favor of the two groups. tal empowerment of women. He said experience has amply proven that “if those countries. not only in the neighboring countries of The Kuwaiti minister said the meeting This particular goal requires a concentration of you have much larger women in Parliament, you “Saudi Arabia went from not having a single Syria, but in all Arab countries states. also dealt with the subject of Arab inte- effort on protecting women rights and eliminat- get better decisions. That includes an under- woman member in Parliament to 20 percent He said that the Executive Office has gration in the Arab countries, praising ing all forms of violence against women, both standing and experience which are not the same women appointed by the King. Jordan intro- adopted the final draft of the Arab strate- the role played by different teams in this essential if women are to be able to assume their as that of men. We would be foolish not to take duced quota by which women did better than gy to combat AIDS and expressed his sin- aspect especially the establishment of proper role and be able to develop themselves that into account, that’s why we need them hoped for. Tunisia has now enshrined in its consti- cere thanks to the team which set up this two blogs where the first deals with drug and their society. (women Parliamentarians), besides the fact that it tution that all decision making representative Arab achievement, adding that technical vigilance while the other is concerned While this is more or less the plan on local is also their right.” bodies will be represented equally by men and committees have been formed to look with the vital interdependence. national level, on international level there is a He said “Kuwait has struggled with this issue women,” he said. into the possibility of forming a strategy He said the meeting also dealt with need for greater cooperation and partnership over many years. It had progresses and had set- The message is “very clear. We need them dealing with maternal health. chronic non-communicable diseases, between the world’s rich and poor nations, she backs. It is at very, very low rate (number of (women Parliamentarians) because we need He explained that the meeting also stressing the need for the commitment of noted, if this goal is to be met. women Parliamentarians.) It needs to do a lot their contribution. They have something to discussed preparations for the Arab eco- all Arab countries to the document of the “We have great hopes for the outcomes and better,” adding that Kuwait has “very committed bring to the public decision-making. It would be nomic and developmental summit which State of Kuwait in this regard for the con- recommendations after this session, and we are women.” foolish to ignore this. If that is true for Saudi will be held in Tunisia in 2015, noting sequences of these diseases of negative hopeful for solutions and mechanisms that Kuwait is rated 135 out 149 countries listed on Arabia, I think it is true for all other countries as that there are a number of projects that effects on citizens in particular. —KUNA would empower women through exchange of the map. Rwanda is listed number one, with 63.8 well,” he said. —KUNA

Al-Sheikh puts finishing touches to ‘The Clusters of Light’ melodies

SHARJAH: The great Bahraini musician Al-Sheikh added that this art theater requirements too, of course, with many and composer Khalid Al-Sheikh has epic “combines three different art gener- staff participating in the preparation and announced the completion of the musi- ations, including artists Lotfi Bouchnak specialists in representation of supposed cal and theatrical epic “The Clusters of and Ali Hajjar of one generation, artists historical scenes, using techniques Light” - the largest of its kind about Hussein Al-Jasmi and Mohammed Assaf unprecedented in the Arab world and Islam, involving more than 200 actors of another, and different generations of more than 200 actors. and four of the top Arabs stars, Hussein the audience”. “The Clusters of Light” will be shown Al-Jasmi, Lotfi Bouchnak, Ali Hajjar and Khalid Al-Sheikh emphasizes that on Al- Majaz Island’s Open Theatre, the Mohammed Assaf. each and every one of the four artists cov- official residence of Sharajah’s celebra- He says that this international piece ers a very large area of the musical spec- tions for its award of Capital of Islamic of art, which will be presented on the trum, from the bass voice of Ali Hajjar to Culture. The theatre is semicircular and stage of the Al-Majaz island in Sharjah, Mohammed Assaf at the top, covering 20 can accommodate about 4,500 specta- tors. It is also equipped with world class audio equipment and includes a bridge connecting Khalid Lake Street and the Island.

Creative minds ‘Clusters of Light’ has been inspired by the desire for a high-ranking artistic work providing a true picture about Islam - the human values and message that pro- mote peace, justice, tolerance and love - to be recorded by history and engraved in the memory of future generations. More than 300 actors will participle in the performance of the ‘Clusters of Light’, from Arab and foreign countries, includ- ing the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and many others. The display will last 1 hour and 42 minutes, with the entire team - including actors, musicians, composers, directors, produc- SHARJAH: Bahraini musician and composer Khalid Al-Sheikh dur- ers, designers and innovators - compris- ing the musical recordings of the musical and theatrical epic “The ing some 750 people. This global epic has Clusters of Light” - the largest of its kind about Islam. been fully composed by the esteemed Bahraini artist Khalid Al-Sheikh, and more from March 26 to April 4, will present a tones of the musical scale in total. than 70 musicians from the renowned new and unique type of artistic perform- He added that this work represents German Film Orchestra have recorded ance. Stressing that Sharjah is always at another way that music can be used, the sound track. Among the participants the forefront of cultural and artistic ini- beyond daily songs, including telling the in this landmark work are creative minds tiatives in the region, he says it is the tale of the Prophet, beace be upon him. He from all across the Middle East, including message carried by “The Clusters of expressed his confidence that the German the Emirati artist Hussein Al Jasmi, the Light” which is the biggest motivation artist Christian Steinhauser will present Tunisian singer Lutfi Bushnaq, the young behind its creation that the public will beautiful music for an expectant public. Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf, and see live and on television. The production has high technical Egyptian artist Ali Hajjar. Child Evaluation Center best serves slow learners

KUWAIT: The Center for Child Evaluation fering from “Dyslexia” - difficulty of reading, were recommended. On returning to and Teaching (CCET) received yesterday a “Dysgraphia”- difficulty of writing and Kuwait, they decided to set up a center so group of 50 directors of governmental “Dyscalculia”- learning difficulty in mathe- that children could be assessed and receive schools that enroll students suffering from matics, CCET Assistant Executive Director remedial teaching without having to leave learning difficulties, They will look at servic- Abeer Al-Sharhan said. the country. es offered by CCET evening programs to The center was established in 1984 in The Morning Educational Program get briefed on educational difficulties, as response to the needs of a group of (MEP) is CCET’s primary learning difficulties part of the educational integration pro- Kuwaiti mothers who realized that their (LDs) intervention program, launched in gram CCET, organized in cooperation with children were having difficulty with school 1994. It is open to Kuwaiti students from the Ministry of education. work. As they were unable to find advice government schools that have had a psy- The visiting school directors attended locally, they traveled to the UK and, subse- chological/educational assessment from an introductory lecture on educational dif- quently, to the US, where their children CCET indicating that they have a learning ficulties, and dangers facing students suf- were assessed and intervention programs disability. —KUNA THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 LOCAL

kuwait digest In my view Talk alone is Democratic not enough knowledge

By Dr Wael Al-Hasawi By Larbi Sadiki

ome people ask us whether it is politically wise to adopt he mass protests that have swept the world, from [the housing] files and bear responsibility of failure in North Africa to Ukraine, display people’s verve and Sfront of the public, or gamble with our political careers Tpassion for a return to the basic tenets of democracy by taking up an issue that MPs failed to resolve in the parlia- — rule by the people, for the people. What is striking ment,” National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said about this historic moment, for the Arab world in particu- during the Kuwait Housing Conference’s inauguration. lar, is the unraveling of the usual dichotomies that have Organizers of the conference deserve credit for trans- for so long plagued Arabs, namely the coloniser- parency by hosting an event where experts in the field, repre- colonised power relations at the root of Arab-Western sentatives of the people and senior government officials can geo-strategy. address the housing issue and discuss possible solutions. But To borrow an “Orientalist” term, the “East” is no longer the question is — can the conference solve a complicated a workshop or a laboratory for experimentation with issue such as this one? ideas and theories invented by the “West”. The participants gave full diagnoses and explanations for the problem, while the majority of the information they gave The polarities that litter the narration of democracy’s is already common knowledge. Some interesting details were global travel should not be framed in either Orientalist or mentioned, however, such as Khalid Al-Essa’s declaration that Occidentalist terms. I see a new journey that calls for syn- the government uses help of companies outside Kuwait ergy, partnership and co-learning. The democratic while the private sector continues to be marginalized. moment North African revolutions have heralded has Meanwhile, Minister of Electricity and Water Abdulaziz Al- necessitated cross-pollination: The ethos of pluralism, Ibrahim said that the current electricity production rate good government, and democratic identity defy being needs to be doubled in order to accommodate the housing boxed into a single location, paradigm of knowledge, eth- applications on the waiting list. This is a concerning detail if nicity, region, religion or civilisation. we consider the fact that Kuwait needed 30 years to increase I think we can all bid farewell to the “clash of civilisa- daily power production from 2,13,000 megawatts in 1978 to tions”. Today, this region pulsates with the ethics and val- 11,600,00 megawatts in 2008. ues of democratising civilisations. Democracy itself con- We can only imagine how long it will take to produce an tinues to be contested, making room for temporal, spatial extra daily capacity of 14,000 megawatts, which is the current and cultural difference and specificity as well as for shared daily production rate, if we take into account that building a kuwait digest spaces and commonality. power plant with a maximum production capacity of 2,400 Indeed, these newly emerging spaces spell out “in- megawatts per day takes five years and costs at least KD 2 bil- between-ness”, negating democratic mentoring from the lion. Not to mention the fact that electricity subsidization Our ‘brotherly’ West to the rest, singular and top-down democratic reaches KD 3 billion a year, which takes up 10 percent of oil knowing and “civilising” from without. production - a rate that is expected to reach 20 percent by Democracy is intrinsically pluralist: It negates surren- 2030 according to Ibrahim. der to singular thinking, or single authors. It is a value sys- Former housing minister Dr Adel Al-Subaih said that disagreements tem that opens up ways to map out democratic routes, Kuwait has seen 14 housing ministers, including elected ones, reify democratic identities and build democratic institu- since the state’s independence, in addition to four directors of tions in a multicultural fashion. the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, yet all of them failed By Dr Mutlaq Al-Qarawi to resolve the housing crisis. Other information he revealed The historic moment - as far as the Arab Spring is con- cerned - may be labelled “the moment of agency”. We all include the fact that the housing law was amended numerous n its cover page of the issue published in should be tackled with civilized debate among broth- times, the waiting period for receiving a government house in recall the iconic cries of the Arab public squares: “Al-shaab August 1993, London’s Al-Dostour magazine ers - debates full of affection, cooperation, self-denial yureed” [The people want] some cases reached 21 years, and that Kuwaitis pay an aver- published Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini’s will in and sacrifices in order to support and strengthen age of KD 115,000 in rents while waiting for a house. In gener- O Thus agency is repositioned in public consciousness as which he recommended that “Whenever the war with bonds amongst GCC states, achieve their goals and not simply the mantra of the still unfurling Arab Spring - al, the conference repeated what has already been said about Iraq ends, we will have to wage another war”, and said step forward instead of going backwards or standing problems in the state’s housing welfare program, and pro- with all its fluidity, bright and dark spots - but also as an posed a number of solutions to end the crisis. But we have to that he dreamt of “seeing Iran’s flag hoisted high in idle. Therefore, brothers’ disagreements should all be ethos. This underpins the normative dimension which be honest with ourselves and admit the following: First, there Amman, Riyadh, Damascus, Cairo and Kuwait”. solved through roundtable debates to correct paths, comes to the fore, hinting at the democratic futures and are no immediate solutions for the housing problem, and we Since Iraq is already divided, Syria collapsed, straighten courses, achieve progress and prosperity communities being re-imagined across the vast Arab cannot deceive the people by claiming that the conference Lebanon is burning with conflicts and Egypt glowing and solve problems. geography. can come up with fast and easy answers. with tension, such a will surely has its shadows over I believe that the current differences in viewpoints Second, the main causes of the problem is not land scarci- today’s incidents. It seems that it is GCC states’ turn amongst GCC states is hopefully but a phenomenon Deluge of agency ty or shortage of funds. Instead, it is the government’s failure now starting with a rift in this great body because dif- reflecting GCC states’ integrity and solidarity, which is Through the Arab Spring, bridges are being built to to allow the private sector to play its role in resolving the ferences in viewpoints and opinions over some issues quite evident in the attitude taken by Kuwait, the pas- reach the West, this time, however, on Arab terms: issue, in addition to allowing influential people to obstruct that should never spoil our amiability. This resulted in sionate soft-hearted sister country that will surely Seeking democratic futures is no longer the figment of freeing lands so that land prices continue to be high. recalling ambassadors and suspending diplomatic show others how consolidated GCC states are, which is remote policy-making communities detached from Third, the challenge to provide electricity and water for relations, which is new and strange amongst the gov- a bond Kuwait has never spared an effort to maintain. unfolding events, struggles, and communities. new housing projects could be more serious than providing ernments of these countries. So many people will surely benefit from this inci- The Arab Middle East (AME) has historically featured as lands. Unless of course the government expects people to go Who would ever believe that a GCC state does not dent in a way that rhymes with the aforementioned a contributor to Euro-Med cultures and civilisations. back to using candles and fans instead of lights and air-con- have an embassy in another?! Who would have will. Some have made statements, others are waiting The deluge of agency in the context of the Arab Spring ditioners. Fourth, the current housing philosophy must be believed that the achievements made and GCC peo- for the outcomes while a third party awaits to seize has yielded democratic voluntarism. Arabs willingly seek changed in order to have more flexibility to provide lands democratic futures - discarding the need for systematic and houses for 108,000 people on the housing list and count- ples’ gains over 30 years might go with the wind?! Will opportunities. However, we hope and pray to classroom-type induction such as through the now ing. Electricity and water subsidization should at least be par- we possibly go back in time to when we had to get a almighty Allah to bestow security and stability on tially lifted, which requires new policies from the government visa to enter Oman or stand in long queues at pass- our countries, never divide them and inspire their defunct “Greater Middle East Initiative”, itself the by-prod- that includes spreading public awareness about the need to port lounges in a GCC state’s border exit?! leaders enough wisdom to keep the council and uct of power relations engineered after the 2003 invasion ‘tighten the belt’. — Al-Rai Though a main characteristic of life, differences have it prosper! — Al-Anbaa of Iraq. In other words, the time has never been more ripe for partnering voluntarily with the rest of the world on the basis of mutuality, reciprocity and equality. Today an arch of possibilities is emerging within the democratic stories and struggles that accompany agency. kuwait digest Democracy exists in a fluid sense requiring constant renewals and, more importantly, in the Arab context refer- Life is not an ence to the Arab youths whose inventiveness and cries for freedom and dignity have opened up such an arch of pos- emergency! sibilities in the first place. Integral to this is the didactic. Therefore, south-south democratic co-learning cannot ignore the demography of By Dr Sajed Al-Abdeli the Arab Spring and primary citizenry - which, in this regard differs from transitions in the 1990s in Eastern ome people deal with life as if it is a state of emer- Europe, for instance. Plus, we all know that transition in gency. They are always busy and complaining Eastern Europe was from one ideology to another. about lack of time, which is for them, always over- S The Arab Spring was not catalysed by the quest for crowded with errands and responsibilities to tend to. unhinging hegemonic ideologies - but more appropriate- They no sooner finish doing something and mark it out ly dynastic republics in whose hands conflated the means of their to-do-list than another one pops up. They are and resources of political, economic, informational, and constantly busy-minded and can never limit their think- coercive prowess. The Arab Middle East (AME) has histori- ing to the present alone. They are always preoccupied cally featured as a contributor to Euro-Med cultures and with thinking about the future at each and every civilisations. Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Phoenicia all at moment. one point in time or another mediated processes of infu- They feel responsible for most, if not all, incidents sion, inclusion and diffusion of learning. The flow was not going on around them. They believe they are physically one-way. The travel of ideas left lasting inscriptions on and emotionally responsible for everybody around AME’s cultural map. As the Arab Middle East enters its them. They never stop trying to please everybody, even democratic and revolutionary moment, it is apt to address at their own expense. No matter how hard to keep try- the question of democratic knowledge and trans-democ- ing to meet all deadlines, finish all errands and please ratic exchange. This question is noted by glaring omission everybody, they are doomed to fail, which is usually in most accounts of the Arab region since the eruption of reflected on them in the form of distress and concerns. the 2011 uprisings. People say that ‘life is too short to worry’ (worries cut life shorter), which is true enough because too many Democratic learning worries and stress will surely get to man’s psychological This moment registers continuity as much as rupture. ‘immunity’ and soon pain and ailments start attacking It is a moment opportune for a break, encouraging the his various organs. Such people always feel uncomfort- unshackling of the region from postcolonial histories of able, dizzy with headaches and their muscles will some- tutelage from without. Yet, at the same time, it renews the times cramp and tear. They will suffer appetite disor- ethos of exchange, remaking North Africa as a shared ders, nausea, heartburns, gastric and intestine disor- space of democratising ferment, democratic exchange, ders, sleep deprivation and many other symptoms and and diffusion of democratic knowledge. ailments. They live endlessly in this till they become The idea that south-south exchange could bring physically, mentally and psychologically unhealthy and together students and teachers to share learning, experi- end up collapsing or dead! ences, stories, struggles and even triumphs of democracy I admit that I have so many times fallen into this must not preclude the possibility of Arabs learning from state that once started, cannot be stopped easily. At each other. The idea here is that those who cannot learn that time, I felt like being torn and uselessly divided. from within, will not be able to learn from without. These Going through strive and struggles to catch up with didactic processes must work in tandem. everything and everybody, I realized how helpless I was There are always highs and lows on any learning jour- when it comes to determining final results and des- ney. However, it is the peoples we encounter through co- tinies. learning, dialogues, discussions, class-rooms, which create I tried, every now and then, to escape on a relaxing the greatest memories - and hopefully intellectual sparks. vacation to catch my breath and pull myself together. Examples attesting to a local repertoire of potentially use- Yet, my mind has always refused resting, which made it ful democratic learning, include Kuwait’s parliament, hard for my soul to enjoy serenity or tranquility. It was Tunisia’s trade unions and Jordan’s charity and local devel- as if I packed my worries and concerns in the same suit- opment exercises. One must underscore the importance case as my clothes! of contingent and contextual variables in accounting for Now, at this very moment, I realized that breaking divergent trajectories of transitions within the Arab away and escaping this state is not necessarily done by Spring, as scholars such as Laurence Whitehead of Oxford running away from it — it is rather done by facing the keep reminding students of democratisation. problem with a completely different mental approach. This is why when framing south-south democratic co- Me and my likes need to be always reminded that we learning, specificity (understood in positive terms not as are not responsible for everybody around us and our an autarchic device) must still be accounted for - as one responsibility for those close to us is limited because means of knowing where to locate good practices that nobody is responsible for somebody forever or for transcend locality. The Arab Spring states and peoples’ everything. We need to realize that we are only as engagement must address the civic, the economic, the responsible as we can physical and emotionally take. legal, the institutional and the attitudinal (e.g. compro- Our souls must always come first because if nothing will mise, dialogue, acceptance of defeat, free inquiry, etc). do us good if we become physically and psychologically This must be realised through the creation of shared unhealthy. spaces and interlocking publics for the dissemination of Facing this can be rationally and reasonably done democratic know-how: State-to-state, elite-to-elite and starting with sound diagnosis before we move to appli- people-to-people. This presents the region’s peoples with cations, practices and behaviors. This is how things will opportunities and challenges for exchanging ideas with be from now on! — Al-Jarida other regions - dialogically and interactively. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Pope sees banner World powers warn Russia against Crimea ‘annexation’ first year

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PUTRAJAYA: A relative of a passenger onboard missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 cries as she arrives at the Everly hotel yesterday. — AFP Conspiracy theories float about MH370 Malaysia under fire over ‘chaotic’ search for missing jet

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia denied yesterday jet’s course. There were 153 Chinese nationals passengers and crew are being kept in the dark,” 27, along with a fellow pilot violated airline hunt. Army deputy chief of staff Vo Van that the hunt for a missing jet was in disarray, on the flight. India’s coastguard joined the aerial said Learmount, Flightglobal’s operations and rules in 2011 by allowing two young South Tuan told AFP that after Malaysia had after the search veered far from the planned search off the remote Andaman and Nicobar safety editor. One new detail did emerge - the African women into their cockpit during a denied reports the plane was picked up on route and China said that conflicting informa- Islands yesterday and the Indian Air Force was words of MH370’s final radio transmission. flight. Vietnam initially suspended its air radar in the Malacca Strait “we decided to tion about its course was “pretty chaotic”. put on standby. Malaysia’s ambassador to China, Iskandar and sea search yesterday as it waited for send two aircrafts and nine boats to Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Sarudin, said one of the pilots said “alright, good Malaysia to clarify the new direction of the search”. — AFP Malaysia would “never give up hope” of finding Mystery object night” as the flight switched from Malaysian to the plane’s 239 passengers and crew, dismissing Malaysian air force chief General Rodzali Vietnamese airspace, according to Singapore’s allegations that efforts were mired in confusion Daud attempted to explain why the search zone Straits Times newspaper. Azharuddin Abdul after a series of false alarms, rumors and contra- had been expanded, telling the press confer- Rahman, Malaysia’s civil aviation chief, later con- dictory statements. ence that military radar detected an unidenti- firmed to AFP that those were the last words “I don’t think so. It’s far from it. It’s only con- fied object early Saturday north of the Malacca from the cockpit. fusion if you want it to be seen as confusion,” he Strait off Malaysia’s west coast. He said that the said at a press conference, where military and reading, taken less than an hour after the plane Public anger civilian officials faced a grilling from a combat- lost contact over the South China Sea, was still Frustrations boiled over in Malaysia, with the ive crowd of journalists. “I think it’s not a matter being investigated and they were not able to country’s active social media and some press of chaos. There are a lot of speculations (sic) confirm it was MH370. The confusion has fuelled outlets turning from sympathy for the families that we have answered in the last few days,” he perceptions that Malaysian authorities are of relatives to anger over the fruitless search. said. The hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 unable to handle a crisis on this scale, and infu- “The mood among Malaysians now is moving now encompasses nearly 27,000 nautical miles riated relatives. from patience... to embarrassment and anger (over 90,000 square kilometers) — roughly the Analysts said there were burning questions over discrepancies about passengers, offloaded size of Portugal and involves the navies and air over what information-if any Malaysia has baggage and concealed information about its forces of multiple nations. gleaned from both military and civilian radar, last known position,” Malaysian Insider, a lead- The search focus had been on an area off and the Boeing 777’s transponders, and over ing news portal, said in a commentary. Vietnam’s South China Sea coast, where it last discounted reports it was later detected near Twitter users took aim at the web of contra- made contact Saturday on a journey from Kuala Indonesia. “It’s bad enough for a wide-body jet dictory information that has fuelled conspiracy Lumpur to Beijing. But Malaysian authorities to go missing with 239 people on board, but theories. “If the Malaysian military did not see said yesterday they were expanding it to the then for the responsible country’s government MH370 turn toward the Malacca Strait, then Andaman Sea, north of Indonesia, hundreds of and aviation agencies to handle the associated why the search? Who decided to look there and miles away. information with total incompetence is unfor- why?” one comment said. The anger was com- “So right now there is a lot of information, givable,” said David Learmount from industry pounded by a report aired on Australian televi- and it’s pretty chaotic, so up to this point we too magazine Flightglobal. sion of a past cockpit security breach involving have had difficulty confirming whether it is “There are so many information sources that the co-pilot of the missing jet. accurate or not,” China’s foreign ministry do not appear to have been used effectively in Malaysia Airlines said it was “shocked” over spokesman Qin Gang said of accounts of the this case. As a result the families of the missing allegations that First Officer Fariq Abdul Hamid, ‘Who’s in charge?’ Malaysians ask KUALA LUMPUR: Five days after flight MH370 vanished without trace, Malaysians were losing patience with the fruit- less search effort yesterday, saying it was a national embar- rassment and demanding to know who would take responsi- bility. With the world watching, the mood in the Southeast Asian nation was rapidly turning to anger at a torrent of mis- information, mis-steps and contradictions from the flag carri- er and officials who appeared no closer to solving the mys- tery. “It’s world news, hello! Who is in charge here?,” said Yvonne Ho, 42, an event organiser from the eastern state of Pahang. The Malaysia Airlines aircraft disappeared early Saturday on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 passengers and crew on board. Despite an ever-expanding search coordinated by Malaysia, dozens of aircraft and ves- sels from different countries, including the US Navy, have failed to find a shred of evidence pointing to the plane’s fate. “The mood among Malaysians now is moving from patience in the search for the 239 people aboard the missing flight MH370 to embarrassment and anger,” local news web- site Malaysian Insider said in a commentary. “The whole world is watching Malaysia now because an aircraft with a wingspan of 61 meters (200 feet) does not fall off the sky or disappear into thin air just like that.” — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 INTERNATIONAL

Palestinian shepherds bitter at rise in Israeli demolitions EIN EL HILWE: Palestinian shepherd Mahmoud more than 180 people uprooted since the Israel describes shepherds such as civilians it administers. live along the length of the valley. Palestinians Kaabneh has squeezed his family of 12 into a beginning of the year by what they say is an Kaabneh as nomads and squatters. It says Last year, according to human rights groups, want the Jordan Valley to be the eastern border neighbor’s hut on a hilly desert oasis since an upsurge in Israeli demolitions in the Jordan their ramshackle dwellings, built without per- Israel demolished 663 Palestinian dwellings and of the state they seek to establish in the West Israeli bulldozer turned his own flimsy dwelling Valley, a hotly contested part of the occupied mits and often located near Israeli military farming structures, the highest number in five Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, noting its into a pile of stones and twisted metal. “They West Bank. This increase comes against a back- bases, are torn down in accordance with years. About 60 percent of the demolitions were breadbasket potential and easy access to Arab showed up at dawn and threatened to arrest me drop of US-brokered peace talks between the court orders. International aid officials who carried out in the Jordan Valley. The valley covers markets and underground water supplies. Israel, if I didn’t vacate the house immediately. They Israelis and the Palestinians, which remain stuck help the Palestinians find themselves increas- about a third of the West Bank and is home to which captured those areas in the 1967 Middle wouldn’t give me time to remove our personal on various issues, including the fate of the sun- ingly at loggerheads with Israel, and accuse it some 10,000 Palestinians, among them 2,700 East war but quit the Gaza Strip in 2005, seeks in belongings,” Kaabneh, 43, said. scorched valley, home to more than two dozen of violating international law that calls for an shepherds or Bedouin, the Israeli human rights any peace deal a long-term security presence in Palestinian officials say Kaabneh is one of Jewish settlements. occupying power to ensure the welfare of the group B’tselem says. An estimated 6,000 settlers the strategic valley abutting Jordan. —Reuters World powers warn Russia against Crimea ‘annexation’ Ukraine accuses Russia of military buildup KIEV: Leading world powers in the Group of agreement with Ukraine as soon as possible, the message it intends to send to Russia with the Seven warned yesterday against Russia’s “annexa- probably at the next EU summit,” Merkel said. visit of Yatsenyuk-a premier Moscow considers tion” of Crimea as the Ukrainian premier prepared Washington said Moscow could still avoid illegitimate. He will be greeted by Obama in the to seek US President Barack Obama’s help against punishments if it showed a willingness to soften Oval Office-a symbol of US power-like any other the Kremlin’s expansionist threat. The first meet- its stance on Crimea during talks in London on foreign leader and also meet Vice President Joe ing between Obama and Ukrainian Prime Friday between US Secretary of State John Kerry Biden who rushed back from a trip to South Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk comes with the nation and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “We America to join the talks. on the EU’s eastern border in danger of breaking will offer certain choices to Foreign Minister Washington said Yatsenyuk’s reception was apart when the predominantly ethnic Russian Lavrov and through him President Putin in the intended to show that it believed that Kiev’s region holds a Moscow-backed referendum hopes, and I think the hopes of the world, that we interim government has been playing a respon- Sunday on switching over to Kremlin rule. will be able to find a way forward,” Kerry told law- sible role in the crisis. “We strongly support Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr makers. Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and the legitima- Turchynov said his heavily outnumbered army Russia’s first military involvement in a neigh- cy of the new Ukrainian government,” White would never try to seize back the Black Sea penin- boring nation since its brief 2008 war with House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. sula from Russian troops who made their land Georgia has sparked an explosive security crisis Yatsenyuk will also use the chance to iron out grab days after the February 22 ouster in Kiev of and exposed previous rifts between Western details of a $35-billion (25-billion-euro) aid pack- pro-Kremlin leader Viktor Yanukovych. “We can- allies over ways to deal with Putin’s undisguised age he says his nation’s teetering economy not launch a military operation in Crimea, as we efforts to rebuild vestiges of the Soviet state. needs to stay afloat over the coming two years would expose the eastern border and Ukraine Washington has already imposed travel bans and after being mismanaged by Yanukovych-now liv- DAMASCUS: A picture uploaded on the official Facebook page of the Syrian would not be protected,” Turchynov said in an asset freezes on Russians held responsible for vio- ing in self-imposed exile in Russia. Presidency shows Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad (left) visiting the Dweir interview with AFP. lating the territorial integrity of the culturally shelter for the displaced people in Adra, northeast of Damascus. Assad is But Turchynov also said Russian President splintered nation of 46 million people. Ukraine ‘will not attack’ making a rare trip outside the capital to meet people displaced by the coun- Vladimir Putin had so far resisted intense interna- But the European Union-its financial and ener- Ukraine’s soldiers and marines have won try’s three-year-old civil war, state media reported. —AFP tional pressure and refused all contacts with Kiev gy sectors much more dependent on Russia than plaudits from Western leaders for refusing to aimed at resolving the worst breakdown in East- those of the United States-has only threatened open fire against Russian troops and Kremlin- West relations since the Cold War. Putin’s growing tougher measures after taking the lighter step of backed militia who have encircled their bases Jordanian teen gives birth diplomatic isolation intensified when the Group suspending free travel and broad economic treaty and kept their ships from going out to sea. of Seven (G7) industrialized nations issued a joint talks. French President Francois Hollande told Turchynov said that as commander in chief he after rape by dad, brother call on Russia “to cease all efforts to change the Putin in a phone conversation that any annexa- understood fully the futility of launching an all- status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in tion of Crimea would be “unacceptable” but said out war against a much larger invading force AMMAN: Jordanian prosecutors yesterday Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl was beat- violation of international law”. there was still time to prevent a “dangerous” esca- that had nuclear weapons and tens of thousands charged a teenage girl’s 40-year-old father en to death by her father after teachers “The annexation of Crimea could have grave lation. of additional troops stationed just inside Russia. and 16-year-old brother with rape after she accused her of stealing from school, a secu- implications for the legal order that protects the Yet the international community’s almost “Significant tank units are massed near Ukraine’s gave birth to a baby girl, a judicial official rity official said yesterday. “The father, in his unity and sovereignty of all states,” said the state- unanimous rejection of the referendum’s legiti- eastern border,” Turchynov told AFP. said. The 17-year-old girl gave birth last forties, brutally beat his daughter last night ment from countries accounting for more than 60 macy has done little to slow Russia’s attempt to “They’re provoking us to have a pretext to month at a hospital in Amman. “She said after teachers accused her of stealing percent of global wealth. EU foreign ministers are redraw Europe’s post-war borders by absorbing a intervene on the Ukrainian mainland... (but) we that her father and her brother repeatedly things from school,” in Zarqa, northeastern now expected to discuss punitive measures region that was handed to Ukraine as a “gift” cannot follow the scenario written by the raped her,” the official told AFP. “The two Amman, he told AFP. “After he calmed against senior Russian officials at a meeting in when it was still a Soviet republic in 1954. Russia’s Kremlin.” Ukraine’s National Security and suspects confessed to the crime. DNA tests down, he went to check on the girl. She Brussels on Monday. parliament is due on March 21 to consider legisla- Defense Council chief Andriy Parubiy added to proved that the baby girl was the daughter was in coma. He rushed her to hospital but The 28-nation bloc’s leaders will then meet for tion to simplify the procedure under which the tinderbox atmosphere by noting that of the victim’s brother.” The suspects face she died.” The official said the suspect and a March 20-21 summit that German Chancellor Moscow can annex a part of another country that Russia’s forces stood “just a few hours away from up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Official his family initially claimed that the girl fell Angela Merkel said could witness the signing of has proclaimed independence-as Crimean law- Kiev”. Putin has accused Turchynov and statistics last year showed that one-third of down the stairs. “But investigations proved an historic EU-Ukraine accord whose rejection by makers did Tuesday. Yatsenyuk of rising to power through an “uncon- Jordan’s three million schoolchildren had what really happened. The suspect was ousted president Viktor Yanukovych in November stitutional coup” that came at the apex of last suffered sexual abuse and around 80 per- charged with beating the girl to death,” he sparked the deadly protests against his rule. “We Oval Office handshake month’s street unrest in Kiev in which nearly 100 cent had experienced some form of physi- added. The man faces up to 15 years in agreed to sign the political part of the association The White House is leaving no doubt about people died. —AFP cal violence. prison if convicted. —AFP Clashes in Turkey over teen’s death

ISTANBUL: Riot police fired tear gas spokesman Bulent Arinc said Turkey up with this government of murder- and water cannon at protesters in had been in mourning since Elvan’s ers,” she told AFP. President Abdullah Ankara and Istanbul yesterday as tens death. “It is very sad that a child has Gul expressed his sadness Tuesday at of thousands took to the streets to died in an incident that occurred on the boy’s death and appealed for calm, mourn a teenage boy who died from the street,” he said. urging everyone “to do everything to injuries suffered in last year’s anti-gov- The protests of June last year start- prevent this from happening again”. ernment protests. In the Turkish capi- ed as a relatively small environmental- But several political parties and tal, police clashed with demonstrators ist movement to save Istanbul’s Gezi trade unions called for mass demon- as they tried to stop traffic, making a Park but evolved into a nationwide strations after Elvan’s funeral. “Their number of arrests and leaving several wave of protests against Erdogan, children steal millions and our children injured. seen as increasingly authoritarian. An are killed when they go to buy bread,” In Istanbul, large crowds shouting estimated 2.5 million people took to said the Disk union. The union was anti-government slogans lit a huge fire the streets across Turkey over three referring to the sons of three govern- as they made their way to a cemetery weeks in June to demand Erdogan’s ment ministers who were arrested in for the burial of 15-year-old Berkin resignation. More than 8,000 people December as part of a high-level Elvan. Scuffles broke out when police tried to prevent a group of protesters from gathering on the city’s Taksim Square, the epicenter of last June’s mass protests. In the western city of Izmir, one woman was left with a bro- ken leg and several others were hospi- talized after police tried to stop crowds marching towards local gov- ernment buildings, news channel NTV reported. Elvan, who died in an Istanbul hos- pital on Tuesday after 269 days in a coma, was hit on the head by a tear gas canister while going to buy bread during the protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that gripped Turkey in June. “Berkin’s mur- derers are the AKP police,” protesters shouted in Istanbul, referring to Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). “The rage of mothers will suffocate the killers,” screamed others as they marched through the streets after ANKARA: An anti-government protester is detained by riot Elvan’s funeral. The renewed unrest, policemen during a protest rally to mark the funeral of Berkin following clashes in at least 32 cities Elvan yesterday. —AFP on Tuesday, adds to mounting pres- sure on Erdogan, whose government were injured and eight killed, accord- investigation into bribery and corrup- has been rocked by a corruption scan- ing to medics. tion allegations. dal ahead of elections that could The premier himself has been decide his fate. ‘Enough is enough’ implicated in the scandal, with leaked Elvan’s story became a symbol for The boy’s mother, Gulsum Elvan, recordings surfacing online in which many Turks of the heavy-handed has lashed out at Erdogan, who he purportedly can be heard talking to police tactics against mass anti-gov- praised police “heroism” during the his son about hiding millions of euros ernment demonstrators in June, a protests. “It’s not God who took my in cash. In the wake of the corruption major challenge to Erdogan’s 11-year- son away but Prime Minister Erdogan,” controversy, the AKP-dominated par- rule. The prime minister has vowed to the tearful mother told reporters on liament passed new legislation tight- step down if the AKP, in power since Tuesday. Protestors hung “wanted” ening state control over the Internet 2002, loses local elections on March 30 posters featuring pictures of Erdogan and the judiciary, attracting wide- that are seen as a key test of his popu- on bus stops in Ankara’s Kizilay square. spread criticism and raising questions larity after last year’s unrest and an Others carried banners warning: about the state of democracy in ongoing graft probe that has ensnared “Murderer state, you will be held Turkey. Yesterday, the European key AKP allies. accountable!” Parliament warned that the new laws “How many young people have to “Erdogan’s police killed this guy. He could hinder Turkey’s bid to enter the die for Erdogan to resign? My only should be ashamed but he didn’t even bloc. The measures “derail Turkey’s wish is for this fascism to end without send his condolences to the family,” progress towards achieving the crite- spilling more blood,” said retired work- said a student who gave her name as ria” for EU accession, the lawmakers er Atilla Izmirlioglu. Government Ayse. “Enough is enough, we are fed said in a resolution. —AFP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Hollande govt knew of Pope sees banner first year Sarkozy phone-tapping PARIS: A political row over revelations that who has dropped hints he is preparing to Now the hard work starts for superstar pope French investigators had tapped the phone run against for president in 2017 after being of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy took a new ousted by Hollande in 2012, has denied all VATICAN CITY: From his simple sound bites to his breaking of Vatican rules, turn yesterday after Francois Hollande’s wrongdoing. Pope Francis has made being Catholic cool in his first year. He might not like his government acknowledged it knew of the Separately, Paris chief state prosecutor superstar status, but he certainly knows how to work a crowd and he has surveillance. Sarkozy’s opposition conserva- Francois Falletti confirmed that investiga- endeared himself to the public for looking out for the poor and radically shift- tives, torn by in-fighting and facing allega- tors had informed the government of “cer- ing the church’s focus to mercy rather than moralizing. tions over irregular party funding, jumped tain elements” of the inquiry, without speci- “Now, people are happy to say ‘Well, actually I am a Catholic,’ and sometimes on the news to accuse Hollande of political fying whether that also included details they’re quite keen to let themselves be known as a Catholic,” British Cardinal dirty tricks to discredit them ahead of local picked up by the phone-tapping. Vincent Nichols said. “And I think that’s the effect of Pope Francis. There is credi- elections later this month. “Prosecutors escalate up to the justice min- bility around the Catholic project.” But not everyone is thrilled and expectations Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault con- istry all the important elements,” Faletti told are high for his second year, with high-profile travel, Vatican reform and discus- firmed a report in satirical newspaper Le Europe 1 radio. Interior Minister Manuel sion on hot-button issues like family and sex on the agenda. With today’s Canard enchaine that both he and Justice Valls told RTL radio he understood that a anniversary looming, here’s a look at some key moments in Francis’ first year Minister Christiane Taubira had been made report in le Parisien newspaper that that give insight to what the future may hold for the 1.2-billion strong Catholic aware of the phone-tapping on Feb. 26. Hollande himself had been made aware of Church. Taubira said on Monday she was not aware the phone-tapping was correct. of the surveillance before it was leaked to The inquiry is still at a stage that remains Francis the rule-breaker local media last week. “The justice minister secret under French legal procedure, pre- Francis believes the church has too many “small-minded” rules and hasn’t received the information, subsequently cluding comment from investigating been shy about breaking them. Just two weeks after being elected, he washed passed on to me, that a new investigation judges. No details of the conversations the feet of a woman and Muslim during a Holy Thursday ceremony reenacting had been opened regarding extremely seri- between Sarkozy and his lawyer that were Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet. Vatican rules state it should be performed ous matters. That’s when I learnt of it (the under surveillance have been made public. on men only. “People were reacting, ‘God, he’s breaking the rules!’” noted phone-tapping),” he told France 2 television French voters go to the polls on March 23 Monsignor Paul Tighe, No. 2 in the Vatican’s social communications office. “But late Tuesday. and 30 to elect new city mayors in the first in a sense he was bringing us back to the radicality of the choice of Jesus.” Ayrault stressed however that neither he major mid-term test of Hollande’s populari- Francis has declared at least two saints without going through the Vatican’s nor Taubira had seen transcripts from the ty since he came to office in May 2012. His miracle-confirmation protocol, not to mention his decision to shun the papal phone-tapping, which investigators poll ratings are at record lows for failing to apartments for the Vatican hotel. Will Francis break another rule barring launched last year after allegations that late tackle unemployment and start turning divorced and civilly remarried Catholics from receiving Communion? He has Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi funded around the euro zone’s second largest econ- called a church-wide, two-year debate on the issue starting in October. But Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy, omy. —Reuters even proponents of a more merciful approach endorsed by Francis insist core doctrine won’t change. ‘Amazon’ warriors At the Copa-Copacabana Francis’ flouting of rules has extended to security: He ditched the armored ROME: In this file photo, Pope Francis kisses the foot of an inmate at popemobile for his first foreign trip to Brazil, and was swarmed by adoring the juvenile detention center of Casal del Marmo, Rome. — AP defend island haven crowds in Rio de Janeiro when his motorcade took a wrong turn. The Rio trip was also a watershed because he uttered the now-famous words “Who am I to and given him an increasingly public role in the church, believing that he BANGUI: Yollande Bravo wasted no time attacks. While both sides brandish machetes, judge” about gays on the flight home. It set the stage for a radical shift in tone shouldn’t be packed away in a museum like a “statue.” Benedict recently joined before joining a vigilante group after her or balakas, the mainly Christian vigilantes are about church teaching on homosexuality and opened the debate on whether Francis for the elevation of 19 new cardinals, was interviewed for an upcoming brother was killed three months ago in the known as “anti-balakas”. the church could endorse civil unions - another issue that will come up at the book on Pope John Paul II and took time to write to an Italian journalist insisting Central African Republic’s brutal inter-reli- October synod. Not everyone is pleased. Traditionalist and some conservative he hadn’t been pressured to resign. He’ll likely have a cameo at John Paul’s April gious conflict. She is among eight women ‘Treated us like animals’ Catholics have ranted about the pope’s actions, saying it confuses the faithful 27 canonization. who have shaved their heads and taken up The rapid spiral of inter-religious violence and undermines church teaching. “Pope Francis has begun a revolution, and With Benedict increasingly back in the spotlight, comparisons to his more arms along with three men to defend an led France to deploy troops in its chronically like every revolution there are groups who are opposed to the reformers,” crowd-pleasing successor will likely come to the fore, for better or worse. “To island community in the middle of the unstable former colony to back an African Vatican commentator Marco Politi noted. “This is only the tip of an iceberg of put it very simply, to understand Benedict, you’ve got to read what he writes,” Oubangui River near the capital Bangui. The Union force already on the ground. The opposition and resistance.” said Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster. “To understand Francis, you have women, dubbed “the Amazons” by a local United Nations has launched a probe in to look at what he does.” farmer, take turns keeping watch from their response to warnings by relief agencies and A Jesuit Franciscan or a Franciscan Jesuit? earthen observation post on Monkey Island, foreign powers of the potential for genocide, If there ever was an indication the Jesuit from Argentina would be a very dif- Looking ahead whose population of 1,000 has swelled with and investigators set off on a two-week mis- ferent kind of pope, it was his decision to name himself after St Francis of Assisi, Francis has a high-profile trip to the Holy Land in May and a visit to South refugees from the violence. After her brother sion to the country on Monday. Joanna the 13th-century friar who gave up his wealth to minister to the poor. The “slum Korea in August where he will likely make an impassioned plea for peace on the was killed, “I was compelled to join,” said Indien, 20, wearing an orange tanktop and pope,” who is the first pontiff to name himself Francis, has made cold-calls to divided peninsula. In between, he must forge ahead with the unsettling Bravo, 19, sporting khaki combat trousers. shorts, says the Seleka killed her husband, the sick, elderly and unemployed, and took to heart the saint’s call to “rebuild reforms of the Vatican bureaucracy, where he has created a new finance secre- “We are all victims of the Seleka one way leaving her with their three children, whom my church” through a process of radical reforms of the Vatican bureaucracy. tariat to parallel the secretariat of state and where an overhaul of the scandal- or another,” she said, noting that her 12-year- she has entrusted with her mother in the “He is a Jesuit, but he’s very Franciscan in his attitude,” said the Rev. Murray marred Vatican bank looms large. old nephew was beaten with the butt of a Bangui district of Bimbo. Bodo, author of nearly two dozen books on Franciscan spirituality. “Every October will see the synod on the family. Surveys sent to ordinary Catholics rifle. The Seleka rebel movement installed “I miss them, but naturally I must defend opportunity that he has he’ll call attention to inequality in the economy, to the around the world show the vast majority reject church teaching on contracep- the impoverished country’s first minority my country. In Bimbo, it’s safe. I’m here injustice in economic systems.” But he is still very much a Jesuit, with the Society tion, divorce and homosexuality. With expectations so high, it seems almost fit- Muslim president after mounting a coup in because it’s dangerous,” Indien says as she of Jesus’ trademark missionary zeal and collaborative but authoritarian style of ting that Francis marked the anniversary of his historic election on a weeklong March 2013, then failed to disband, its fight- makes her way through a flock of geese clus- governance. silent retreat away from the Vatican. But a friend, Claudio Epelman, an ers continuing a campaign of atrocities tered on the dusty ground. Under the benign Argentine Jew who joined Francis for Christmas dinner for seven years while he against civilians. In response, vigilante groups gaze of their chief, who has taken the name Two popes was archbishop of Buenos Aires, said Francis was up to the task. “He will surprise have sprung up around the largely lawless “Golf” and sports a red cap, the eight women When Pope Benedict XVI abdicated, he insisted he would remain “hidden us. Don’t ask me how because I don’t know,” Edelman said. “But he will go even country, targetting Muslims in vicious reprisal fighters claim to be fearless.—AFP from the world” in prayer. But Francis has slowly coaxed him out of retirement farther than the expectations.” — AP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Senator’s spy claims chill CIA-Congress relations

WASHINGTON: A top US lawmaker’s hotly disput- and now defunct agency interrogation program monitoring and investigating our nation’s intelli- The staffers reviewed 6.2 million documents ed charge that the CIA illegally spied on Senate that used “enhanced interrogation techniques” gence activities, or whether our work can be and at no point did they seek to retrieve files that staff has roiled the intelligence community, fraying against detainees. “I have asked for an apology thwarted by those we oversee.” President Barack were marked classified or legally off-limits, she ties between the agency and its overseers in and a recognition that this CIA search of comput- Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney dodged repeated said. Feinstein said 870 documents were removed Congress. Senator Dianne Feinstein brought what ers... was inappropriate,” the California Democrat questions about the row, saying the case had been by the CIA in February 2010, while 50 others were had been a behind-the-scenes spat into the public said. “I have received neither.” referred to the Justice Department. “I can’t com- withdrawn without committee knowledge. The glare Tuesday with her furious broadside against The reverberations shuddered across ment on allegations that are under review,” he said, interrogation report was completed in December the Central Intelligence Agency, saying its agents Washington, as lawmakers voiced concern about a adding that the White House took the concerns of 2012, when the committee approved a 6,300-page searched computers used by staffers investigating steady infringement on their duty to keep the CIA Feinstein seriously-but also saying that Obama study that has yet to be released publicly. its interrogation methods. “I have grave concerns and National Security Agency in check.”Today the had full confidence in Brennan. Feinstein said a CIA internal review of the inter- that the CIA’s search may well have violated the debate goes right to the heart of the question of rogation program was among the documents pro- separation of powers principles embodied in the how Congress can do effective oversight (of) the Rare rift vided to her staff, but that CIA officials demanded United States Constitution,” Feinstein said on the modern intelligence apparatus,” Senator Ron Feinstein’s extraordinary speech marked a to know how staffers obtained the review. Analysts Senate floor. Wyden, an intelligence committee panel who has break from her usually cordial relations with the say the Congress-CIA rift is the worst since the She alleged the CIA may have breached federal long argued that the spy agencies abuse their intelligence community, which she has often 1970s, when lawmakers uncovered illegal abuses law as well as the executive order that bars it from authority, told reporters. defended against accusations of overstepping its and introduced legal reforms to restrict the power domestic spying, but the agency’s director John Senator Lindsey Graham went as far as to authority. Her comments came after unnamed of the spy services. But the intelligence communi- Brennan quickly denied the allegations. “Nothing declare the actions reminiscent of president administration officials alleged to news media that ty today faces rising public anger over shock reve- could be further from the truth,” Brennan said at a Richard Nixon’s misdeeds. “Heads should roll, peo- Senate staffers took sensitive documents without lations that the NSA scoops up telephone data Washington event. “The matter is being dealt with ple should go to jail if it’s true,” Graham told authority, triggering an investigation. Feinstein from most Americans. Fugitive former security in an appropriate way, being looked at by the right reporters. “If it is, the legislative branch should rejected those accounts. She said the CIA and the contractor Edward Snowden told NBC News that authorities, and the facts will come out.” declare war on the CIA.” Feinstein herself described committee had agreed years ago to set up a “the CIA was trying to play ‘keep away’ with docu- Feinstein said the CIA searched a computer the CIA interference as a defining moment. secure site in Virginia for Senate staff to review ments relevant to an investigation by their over- drive used by staffers on the intelligence commit- “How this will be resolved will show whether documents, as well as a computer drive separate seers in Congress.” “That’s a serious constitutional tee to prepare a major report into a controversial the intelligence committee can be effective in from the agency’s network. concern,” he said. — AFP

Cold, snow returns after Al-Qaeda convict flew into brief period of warmth Britain wearing shoe-bomb CHICAGO: The Midwest and the Eastern In Missouri, high temperatures were to reach Seaboard are bracing for another blast of well into the 70s Tuesday in much of the below-normal temperatures and heavy state. They are being replaced with windy snowfall after a few days of temperatures conditions and temperatures in the low 30s Qaeda tests poison on animals called ‘Clinton’, ‘Bush’ that moved slightly above normal for this by Wednesday morning, but then are to time of year. The National Weather Service rebound to the 50s on Thursday, weather says a storm developing over the middle officials said. NEW YORK: A British terror convict flew from gets to attack in South Africa and handed a shoe ers, in which he crossed out the Twin Towers. Mississippi Valley as rain late Tuesday will The sharp changes in temperatures, with Pakistan to London wearing a shoe-bomb that bomb to Malaysian plotters in December 2001. A change to snow and move northeastward to Chicago falling to the teens late Wednesday he was supposed to detonate on a US passenger polyglot fluent in four languages, he also said he California targeted the Gulf of Maine by Thursday. It is expected after moving above 50 Tuesday, has caused jet, a New York trial heard Tuesday. Star prosecu- translated bin Laden’s speeches and sermons Looking at California, he quoted Mohammed to dump up to 8 inches of snow in the some confusion. “I had a guy in here yester- tion witness Saajid Badat, testifying at the trial of from Arabic so they could reach the English- as saying: “It might be an idea to now target the Chicago area and northern Indiana and more day asking for salt and right after him a guy Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, revealed he flew speaking world. West coast.” Badat says he met four to five Al- along the Great Lakes in Ohio, Pennsylvania wanted mulch. Only in Chicago,” said Richard via the Netherlands wearing the bomb. Once Qaeda recruits of Western origin, “mostly British” and upstate New York before dissipating Schauer, owner of Schauer’s Hardware in back in Britain in December 2001 he was sup- Code-name ‘Van Damme’ but also one from Australia and one from France. over Canada. Forest Park. posed to fly across the Atlantic and bomb a Badat revealed British shoe bomber Richard Two fellow students on an urban warfare course, Chicago has already been buried by 75.5 Schauer said his store, like so many others, domestic US flight, but a reunion with his par- Reid had the Al-Qaeda code name “Van Damme” a son of bin Laden and a man who “ended up as inches of snow this winter - fourth most on is out of salt. And he’s not about to buy more ents, after three years in Afghanistan, changed because a Pakistani thought he looked like the one of the 9/11 hijackers” were awarded prizes, record dating back to 1884-1885, according just to cover one more - hopefully - snow his mind. Belgian film star Jean-Claude Van Damme. The he testified. On the course they did a night drill to the weather service. The snowfall expect- storm. “I don’t want to be stuck with it. It costs ed into Wednesday could push the seasonal a lot of money and takes up a lot of space,” he “It was then I decided to back out of the mis- 34-year-old saw a potential life sentence in firing at three targets identified as Bush, Blair total into third place, ahead of the 77.0 inch said. He did say there are still a few shovels, sion,” said Badat. He emailed his handler in Britain reduced to 6.5 years in exchange for and Sharon after the then leaders of the United total from 1969-1970. Southeastern though the selection is pretty thin. Jeff Karachi to withdraw, but kept the bomb. “I cooperating with British and US officials. Called States, Britain and Israel. He said he went to Michigan, where up to 9 inches is forecast, Gatewood, who owns Allisonville Nursery in hadn’t relinquished my views so there may come by prosecutors in the trial of Suleiman Abu Pakistan to do Internet research on potential may come close to breaking a 133 year-old the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, said the a time when I would need it again,” added Badat. Ghaith, he appeared by video link from Britain Jewish targets in South Africa. In September snowfall record. The storm will likely move months of snow and cold cut down on winter He said he met bin Laden one-on-one to discuss because he faces arrest and life imprisonment in 2001, he was sent to Belgium to make contact the Detroit area close to the seasonal snow customers, but in recent weeks many visitors the plot and admitted that he “envied” the 9/11 the United States. with a man in connection with an Al-Qaeda plot. total of 93.6 inches set in 1880-1881, accord- confided that their yearning for spring drove hijackers. The revelation came as Badat provided Wearing a well-cut grey suit, he articulated in Returning to Afghanistan after the success of ing to the weather service. them to stop by the business and take in its striking insights into a string of plots and Al- precise English how a dog and rabbit were poi- the 9/11 attacks, Al-Qaeda leaders ordered him Indianapolis was expecting a tempera- house plants and cheery garden items. Qaeda training activities in Afghanistan in 2001. soned to death on an Al-Qaeda explosives to a blast a US airliner out of the sky with bombs ture drop of about 40 degrees over a 24-hour “Everybody’s got so much pent-up energy, it’s He also told the court how Al-Qaeda opera- course. “The instructor would shout out this is hidden in his shoes. To that end he said he had a period overlapping Tuesday and Wednesday, going to make for a crazy spring,” Gatewood tives had tested poison on animals named Clinton, or Bush or Sharon,” he said in reference 30-minute one-on-one with bin Laden in the said Chad Swain, a meteorologist at the said. “Spring fever is really going to be pretty Clinton, Bush and Sharon before watching them to the then and former US leaders and the late Afghan capital Kabul. “America is like a chain,” he National Weather Service. “We’re 68 for the high this year. “And we all know the weather’s die. Badat revealed how he met at least two of Israeli prime minister. Badat said Khalid Sheikh said bin Laden told him. “He drew out a chain high right now,” Swain said late Tuesday going to hiccup and do this a few times the 9/11 hijackers, went to Belgium in connec- Mohammed, the 9/11 planner held in and said if you break one link you’ll break down afternoon. “That’s going to quickly change.” before it straightens out.” — AP tion with a thwarted plot, researched Jewish tar- Guantanamo Bay, had an almanac of skyscrap- the (American) economy,” he added. —AFP Republican David Jolly wins Florida congressional race

CLEARWATER BEACH: A Republican won a special election in a Florida Congressional district where President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul got its first test ahead of November’s midterm elections and Democrats and Republicans spent millions of dollars auditioning national strategies for the rest of the year. With almost all votes counted Tuesday night, David Jolly had 48.5 percent of the vote to Democrat Alex Sink’s 46.7 per- cent. Libertarian Lucas Overby had 4.8 percent. The Tampa-area election was to replace 42-year Republican Rep. CW Bill Young, who died in October of cancer. The implications of the dueling messages for the midterm elections inspired both parties to call in star advocates like President Bill Clinton and former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, in addi- tion to blanketing the district with ads, calls and mailings. More than $11 million has been spent on the race, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks government informa- tion. The battle for Florida’s 13th District CLEARWATER BEACH: Republican David Jolly heads to the stage to thank his seat was a prequel of sorts to the national supporters at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, in Clearwater Beach, Fla. — AP fight this year over who controls Congress in the last two years of Obama’s Medicare. “The Republican Party thinks to their own supporters on her behalf. final presidential term. The House is they are hurting President Obama,” said More than a third of Jolly’s campaign con- expected to remain under Republican George Nassif, an 82 year-old Republican tributions came from members of control. But in the Senate, Republicans who voted for Sink. “They are not. They Congress. are hoping to leverage Obama’s unpopu- are hurting the people.” Meanwhile, Ryan joined Jolly on a larity and his health care law’s wobbly In a sign that the Republican Party conference call with voters. While start to gain the six seats required to con- was concerned about losing votes to the Republicans held the congressional seat trol the 100-member chamber. Libertarian candidate, Kentucky for four decades until Young’s death last That made the race in Florida a pricey Republican Sen. Rand Paul recorded a year, the district’s voters favored Obama proving ground for both parties heading phone message for Jolly last week aimed in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elec- into November elections. Jolly, a former at Overby’s Libertarian supporters. Both tions. The district is 37 percent Young aide backed by Republicans and major political parties made a last-minute Republican, 35 percent Democrat and 24 outside groups, campaigned on repeal- drive for voters over the last week. percent independent. Sink outspent Jolly ing the health care law, saying in one ad Clinton recorded a phone call last week by more than 3 to 1 on television adver- that Sink would undermine Medicare seeking local volunteers to help with tising, though outside groups aligned because of Democratic-passed cuts to Sink’s campaign, and a half dozen House with the Republican helped narrow the programs under “Obamacare.” Democrats emailed fundraising appeals overall Democratic advantage. — AP The message is a rallying cry for Republican voters. “No more big govern- ment. We’ve got to stop,” said Irene SF firefighters stop big blaze Wilcox, a 78-year-old retired waitress and Republican from Largo who voted for SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco fire- some front windows. Fire Capt Jolly. Others described Sink as a clone of fighters prevented a five-alarm fire Matthew McNaughton said that the Obama and House Democratic Leader from spreading from a condominium roof of a UCSF research building, a Nancy Pelosi, a key argument of Jolly and construction site to nearby buildings block away from the construction site, national Republicans. on Tuesday. The fast-moving blaze, briefly caught fire. San Francisco Fire “As bad as Bush may have been, he which sent an enormous plume of Chief Joanne Hayes-White told the was a saint compared to the guy we have black smoke into the sky, began Chronicle that that the fire was the in Washington,” said Rich Castellani, a around 5 pm in the city’s Mission Bay city’s largest in several years. retired treasury agent who supported neighborhood, a onetime industrial The burning building was part of a Jolly. Meanwhile, Sink, Florida’s former area that lies along the San Francisco residential development project with chief financial officer and the Democratic Bay and is home to a University of 172 units, according to BRE nominee for governor in 2010, painted California, San Francisco campus. Properties, the building’s owner. Fire- Jolly as an extremist who wants to “take Nearby buildings were evacuated suppression systems had not yet been us back” to when people were denied as more than 150 firefighters battled installed in the building, making the health coverage due to existing condi- the flames, using about 90 fire trucks, battle more difficult, fire officials said. tions. She pledged to “to keep what’s the San Francisco Chronicle One of the six-story structure’s walls right and fix what’s wrong” in the health (http://bit.ly/1cSlq6y) reported. collapsed about an hour after the fire care law. Others compared the botched rollout Residents of Strata at Mission Bay, a began, and the rest of the building to the beginnings of popular government building across the street, told the was not expected to remain standing, programs like Social Security and paper that heat from the fire blew out officials said. —AP THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 INTERNATIONAL

Avalanches, heavy snow kill 14 across Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Unusually heavy snowfall has of Control. the past three days, said Farooq Ahmed Khan of tolls for the Indian and Pakistani armies camped unleashed avalanches and collapsed homes in the Another five people were killed when dozens of Indian Kashmirís Meteorological Department. near the de-facto frontier dividing their territories. Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing at least 14 homes crumpled under the weight of snow in the The last similar late-season snowfall was in 2007, In 2012, a massive avalanche on the Pakistan-con- people on both sides of the de facto border southern Kulgam and Shopian areas on the Indian- when about 2 feet fell during a short time in March. trolled part of the Siachen glacier killed 140 peo- between India and Pakistan, officials said. Ten controlled side, police officer Imtiyaz Hussain said. ìItís definitely unprecedented to have such heavy ple, including 129 soldiers. That same year, a wave died in the Indian-controlled portion of the terri- Pakistanís military said an avalanche killed four sol- snowfall in one single spell for three days,î Khan of snow also buried an Indian army camp and tory, police said, while Pakistanís military reported diers late Tuesday near the northern district of said. The snow disrupted power and communica- killed 16 soldiers in another place along the Line of another four dead in an avalanche on that side of Astore, while another 22 troops had been rescued tion lines in Indian-held Kashmir, while cutting Control. Siachen is located on the northern tip of the border. On the Indian side, dozens were evac- after ìheroic effortsî by the army. Avalanches are some areas off from the rest of India. Authorities Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and uated from high-risk areas yesterday, after ava- common in the mountainous region, especially in issued a ìhigh danger avalancheî warning in many India and claimed by both in its entirety. In 2010, lanches killed two Indian army soldiers camped in spring when the air has more moisture and snow is parts of the region, government official Amir Ali another 17 Indian soldiers died when a wall of the Kargil region and another three Nepalese heavier. But the region has seen an unusually said. snow slammed into the armyís High Altitude laborers working near the heavily militarized Line heavy snowfall for March, with 2 Ω feet falling in Avalanches have caused some of the heaviest Warfare School. — AP

Existing Afghan deal 16 dead as two rival to cover US post-2014 WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has White House account of their meeting, Rice gangs clash in Karachi threatened to withdraw all American forces told Karzai that “without a prompt signature, from Afghanistan if a new security agreement the US would have no choice but to initiate is not signed by the end of the year, but there planning for a post-2014 future in which there is no legal reason the US has to resort to the would be no US or NATO troop presence in ‘Worst violence’ injures schoolchildren “zero option,” as administration officials have Afghanistan.” Last month, Gen Martin repeatedly claimed. Legally, the 33,600 US Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, KARACHI: Street battles between two rival gangs forces still deployed are covered by an existing told reporters traveling with him in armed with RPGs and machine guns killed at least status-of-forces document that took effect Afghanistan that while the US remains com- 16 people-including four women-in Pakistan’s shortly after 9/11 and the start of America’s mitted to helping Afghanistan after this year, “I Karachi yesterday, officials said. The clash, which according to police also injured 39 people, mainly engagement in Afghanistan. The existing can’t ask the young men and women to serve schoolchildren, was the worst outbreak of criminal- agreement has no expiration date and pre- in a country without the protections afforded related violence to plague the troubled city in vents US military personnel from being prose- by a bilateral security agreement.” recent months. It “erupted this morning when two cuted under Afghan law - a must-have for sta- Daoud Yaqub, a former official at gangs exchanged heavy gunfire” in the Lyari tus-of-forces agreements the US signs with Afghanistan’s National Security Council, said neighborhood, senior police official Faisal Bashir countries around the world. there is no legal foundation for that argument said, adding that school pupils had been hurt in “Unless the Afghans or the United States because the existing status-of-forces agree- the crossfire. cancel the existing SOFA, it remains in effect,” ment would remain in effect. “To state that “Later they fired RPGs and lobbed hand said retired Col. Manuel Supervielle, who was there is no legal cover for US troops in grenades at each other,” he added, saying the the lead lawyer for US forces in Afghanistan in Afghanistan beyond 2014 is not accurate, in death toll was expected to rise. Major Sibtain Rizvi, 2005 and 2006, worked on such agreements my view,” Yaqub said. “Whoever is making such a spokesman for paramilitary troops, added that for US troops stationed across the globe and an assumption is not motivated by legal issues, two gangsters had been killed and one had been advised on the drafting of the current bilateral but by other things - perhaps politics.” arrested. Dr Seemi Jamali of the Jinnah security agreement that Afghan President Both the existing status-of-forces agree- Postgraduate Medical Centre, where some of the Hamid Karzai says he won’t sign. ment and the new bilateral agreement give injured were taken, said three paramilitary rangers The new security agreement is likely to be the US criminal jurisdiction over American per- and two police were wounded. Bashir, the police addressed by US Gen Joseph Dunford, a top sonnel and troops accused of crimes while officer, said one of the gangs suspected the other KARACHI: Pakistani mourners react at a hospital after the killing of their relatives in a clash commander in Afghanistan, when he testifies they are in Afghanistan, preventing them from of providing a tip to police that led to the killing of between two rival gangs yesterday. — AFP Wednesday on Capitol Hill. US officials private- being subject to Afghan prosecution. a top leader. ly acknowledge that there is no legal reason Over the years, both the US and was bleeding and I could not stand up, I remained ed by ethnic Baluch linked to the Pakistan People’s that would force Obama to withdraw all troops Afghanistan have expressed a need for a more Bleeding and screaming there for around twenty minutes and then local Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari which rules if the new security agreement is not signed by formal status-of-forces agreement to replace According to police the firing began around people came and brought us here,” he said. An AFP the southern Sindh province. Local police said yes- Dec 31, when the international combat mis- what currently is in the form of a diplomatic 4:00 am (1100 GMT) while major blasts were heard reporter at the hospital said that some people, terday’s fight was believed to involve two splinter sion ends. Yet even though a full troop exodus note. The two sides agreed on the language of at noon. Din Muhammad, a 43-year-old resident who were accompanying the wounded, started organisations-the “Uzair Baloch” and “Ghaffar Zikri” is not the administration’s preferred option, the new bilateral security pact in November who was being treated at Karachi Civil Hospital for chanting slogans against security forces before gangs-which grew out of the once-dominant Baba a gun-shot wound in his right leg, said he was sit- blunt rhetoric coming from US officials has after about a year of tense on-again, off-again briefly clashing with them. By yesterday afternoon, Ladla group. ting at the shop when he heard explosions. “There continued to put the onus on Afghanistan: negotiations. The agreement is set to remain in some 200 police commandos had arrived on the An operation launched by police and paramili- was a big bang and then people were shouting Sign the new bilateral security agreement or force until the end of 2024 and beyond, unless scene to conduct a search operation after the clash tary government rangers in the city’s tangled maze and crying, I closed the shutter of my shop to run had ended, senior police official Shah Nawaz told of streets last September had appeared to be hav- every US service member will be forced to terminated by mutual agreement or by either home but I saw people fallen into the ground, AFP. ing a positive effect, until this latest incident. But leave. party with two years’ written notice. It pledges bleeding and screaming,” he said. ‘Police inaction’ Tauseef Ahmed Khan, an analyst, said there was a National Security Adviser Susan Rice con- US backing for Afghanistan and its security “I was running towards a group of people lying Lyari, one of the poorest and most violent nexus between the PPP and Lyari gangs which pre- veyed that message to Karzai when she was in forces for many years to come and also allows on the ground a few yards away and then I fell to neighborhoods of Karachi, is known for frequent vented authorities from arresting suspected crimi- Afghanistan in November. According to the the US to use bases across the country. — AFP the ground,” after being shot, he added. “My leg violence between rival gangs. It is largely dominat- nals and confiscating their weapons. — AFP Afghan forces kill 3 attackers

KANDAHAR: Three heavily armed insurgents tried to storm a In a Pashtu language text message received by the AP, former intelligence headquarters in southern Afghanistan Taleban spokesman Qari Yusuf said their young fighters killed yesterday, prompting a fierce gun battle that left the attackers four intelligence commandos and five policemen. Their dead. The Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack in the claims are often exaggerated. city of Kandahar, which provided a test for Afghan security The three insurgents were killed, their mangled corpses forces as US and allied combat troops have handed over the left on the street and displayed to journalists, after a gunbat- lead in preparation for their withdrawal by the end of the year. tle that lasted about an hour, with security forces running The three attackers - young men wielding hand grenades, through nearby streets in search of the attackers. One com- automatic rifles and smaller weapons - entered Kandahar mando and a woman who lived in the area were wounded, undetected in a white Corolla sedan, then got out and according to police. opened fire on guards deployed outside the former head- Kandahar, the capital of the province with the same name, quarters. The guards retreated inside while the insurgents is the birthplace of the hard-line Islamic militant movement took rooftop positions nearby, police said. that held power in the country for five years until it was oust- The police response was quick. They rushed to the site in ed in a 2001 US-led invasion following the Sept 11 terror green pick-up trucks and cordoned off the road. Soon attacks in the United States. It has been the site of some of armored vehicles mounted with machine guns rushed to the the deadliest battles between insurgents and international old intelligence headquarters and fanned out on nearby troops, but Afghan forces have assumed responsibility for streets. Commandos with the intelligence service, which had securing the area and only receive help from NATO forces recently moved to a new building, moved in from a second when they request it. direction, wearing body armor and helmets, their faces hid- Atrafi said police did not ask for help in yesterday’s den behind scarves to protect their identities. attack. He said the attackers were likely in their early 20s. “They must not have known that the intelligence head- “These young boys don’t know any better. They can easily quarters had relocated,” deputy police chief Rehmatullah be manipulated into carrying out a suicide attack like this Atrafi told The Associated Press at the scene of the firefight. one,” he said. -— AP Govt vows Maoist rebels won’t ruin India election

NEW DELHI: Maoist insurgents will not be allowed to spoil next month’s Indian elections with violent attacks, the home minister said yesterday, a day after rebels killed 16 people in their dead- liest raid in almost a year. About 200 rebels had ambushed a group of 44 troops and police guarding construction workers in the south of central Chhattisgarh state on Tuesday, police inspec- tor general Mukesh Gupta said. He initially said 20 troops died but revised it to 16 early yesterday, 15 law enforcement officers and one civilian. Surviving troops engaged in a three-hour gunbattle with the rebels, who eventually escaped into nearby jungles within Sukma district. No casualties were reported for the rebels, who common- ly take their dead and wounded back to their hideouts. Two weeks earlier, the rebels had killed five security personnel in nearby Dantewada district. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the national government had issued warnings to leaders in 20 of the 28 Indian states where rebels operate, and that authorities “would provide adequate security and will not allow the polls to be dis- rupted in any manner.” Tuesday’s rebel attack was the deadliest since May 2013, when the Maoists killed 27 people in the same Jiram Ghati valley, includ- NEW DELHI: Chief Minister of West Bengal state and ing several state politicians from the nationally ruling Congress Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Bannerjee address- party. Another attack in the area in 2010 left 76 policemen dead. es an election rally yesterday. — AP Shinde said the rebels were trying “to frighten people before the national elections.” But he said, without specifying where the est internal security threat. Thousands have died on both sides, information was coming from, that “support for the rebels is wan- but little has changed in the struggle, with politicians still debat- ing” and the rebels “are afraid their organizational strength is ing whether a military operation to flush the rebels out of their declining.” Schinde vowed to hunt down those involved in jungle hideouts is preferable to offering better economic oppor- Tuesday’s attack. “We will definitely take revenge,” he said in tunities to assuage the rebel fury. Many Indians have grown weary nationally televised comments from Jagdalpur, a city in southern of the conflict. Chhattisgarh near where the attack took place. “We know where The rebels have called for a boycott of elections, which are they are.” He did not elaborate. being held nationwide over nine days in April and May so that The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary security forces have time to move between polling districts. The leader Mao Zedong, have been fighting for more than three rebels say they represent the poor living close to the land, includ- decades, staging hit-and-run attacks against Indian authorities as ing farmers and members of tribal groups who depend on forests they demand a greater share of wealth from the area’s natural for food, fuel and building materials for their thatched huts. They resources and more jobs for farmers and the poor. oppose efforts to open up the area for more mining, fearing it Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called them India’s great- would degrade forests and pollute water sources. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 9 arrested for attacking HK journalist

HONG KONG: Nine men have been arrested in con- mainland police had made the arrests in Dongguan, was seeking to tighten control over the semi- the mastermind. Then we should know [if] the case nection with the brutal attack on a veteran Hong some 100 kilometres away from the semi- autonomous region. is linked to his journalism,” she told reporters. The Kong journalist that sparked concerns for press free- autonomous region.“The two suspected assailants, Tsang said yesterday that a motive had yet to be city’s journalists’ association issued a statement say- dom in the Chinese city, police said yesterday. Kevin both aged 37, are Hong Kong residents and are established and that no link had so far been made ing it was “surprised” at the police distancing the Lau, a former editor of the liberal Ming Pao newspa- believed to have a triad background,” he said. Tsang between Lau’s journalism and the attack. He added attack from journalism. The Hong Kong Journalists per, was hacked with a cleaver in broad daylight last did not say when the arrests in China were made, that an investigation was ongoing and that a Association said: “The remarks [by Tsang] risk mis- month by two men who then escaped on a motor- but said he was informed of them on March 9. The request will be made to mainland authorities to leading the public into believing that the attack is bike. Hong Kong police commissioner Andy Tsang seven in Hong Kong were arrested yesterday. Lau return the two suspects to Hong Kong for question- for a personal cause, [for] which the Commissioner said two triad-connected suspects were arrested on remains in hospital following the assault on ing and trial. “We will not rule out any motive. In this has offered no explanation,” the statement read. In a the Chinese mainland, while seven “accomplices” February 26 in which he was struck six times on the investigation, we will leave no stone unturned,” he video clip posted on the internet before the arrest were arrested by his force in several locations across back and legs with a cleaver, leaving wounds includ- told a press conference, adding that “further arrests announcement, Lau called on the authorities to the territory. ing a 16-centimetre-long (six-inch) gash. may be made”. He said he believed that whoever solve his case quickly in order to “restore confidence “We have been informed (that) two had been The attack came just weeks after Lau was committed the crime may have been hired. Lau’s over rule of law” in Hong Kong. “So journalists can arrested in Guangdong (province)... by the mainland removed from his position at the helm of radical wife Vivian Chan said following the police have no fear for violence threat,” Lau said. Lau was authorities,” Tsang told reporters, adding that some Ming Pao and replaced with an editor deemed to be announcement that she still believed the attack was moved out of intensive care and onto a private ward of the seven arrested by Hong Kong police were also pro-Beijing. The ouster triggered protests over linked to her husband’s work. “If the truth is to be earlier this month. He remains in hospital and is cur- connected to triads. Tsang said he believed that media freedom with mounting concerns that Beijing revealed as soon as possible I hope police can arrest rently unable to walk. — AFP Abe seeks trilateral summit with Korea, US Japan-Korea history clouds ties

TOKYO: Japan is trying to arrange a trilateral summit with South Korea and the United States for this month, a government official said yester- day, in a bid to thaw Tokyo’s frozen relations with Seoul. But Seoul appears cool to the idea of a meeting of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of a global nuclear-security summit in the Hague, Netherlands, on March 24-25. BEIJING: Chinese security personnel march outside the Great Hall of the People Japan hopes that with mutual ally Obama in where the closing ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative the room, Park would be willing to sit down Conference was held yesterday. — AP face-to-face with Abe, something the Japanese leader has sought unsuccessfully since he took Manila air-drops supplies office 15 months ago. Abe has visited the leaders of all 10 Southeast Asian nations and met five to troops on disputed shoal times with Russia’s president but has yet to meet one-on-one with the leaders of South Korea or MANILA: The Philippines air-dropped food the blockade “a clear and urgent threat to China. and water to soldiers stationed on a the rights and interests of the Philippines”. Japan’s ties with both neighbors have wors- grounded transport ship on the disputed Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin ened over bilateral territorial disputes and a feel- ing in Seoul and Beijing that Tokyo has not Second Thomas Shoal, after China blocked Gang said China had called in Philippine SEOUL: Akitaka Saiki (right), Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, talks with his South two Filipino supply ships from reaching the diplomats in Beijing to lodge a protest in atoned for its wartime aggression. A Japanese official, who was briefed on the trilateral summit Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yong (left) during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry yester- troops, a senior navy official said yesterday. response. “The Philippines’ motive in trying day. — AFP Chinese ships patrolling waters around to illegally occupy Ren’ai reef and create strategy, said it was unclear whether Seoul Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as incidents in the South China Sea is abun- would respond to the push for a three-way to reduce tensions. The summit idea was authorities were involved in procuring them for the Ren’ai reef, on Sunday ordered the dantly clear. China calls on the Philippines meeting. A South Korean government official believed to have to come up in a meeting yes- military brothels. Philippine ships carrying construction to stop all its provocative actions,” he added. indicated no progress was likely unless Japan terday in Seoul between Japan’s Deputy Foreign But Japan sparked outrage recently by materials to leave the area. Beijing claims The United States said yesterday it was trou- makes further efforts to resolve frictions stem- Minister Akitaka Saiki and South Korea’s First announcing it would review the circumstances Manila is trying to start construction on the bled by China’s blockage of the Philippines ming from Japan’s world time past. Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong. The agenda behind the 1993 apology - known as the Kono disputed reef after it ran aground an old ships at the outpost, calling it “a provocative “As long as there is no change to Japan’s view for the meeting is bilateral relations and North statement after Yohei Kono, the official who transport ship in 1999 to mark its territory move that raises tensions.” on the question of history, there is no considera- Korea, the two countries’ foreign ministries said. announced it. and stationed marines on the ship. Manila “Pending resolution of competing claims tion for any kind of summit with Japan,” the offi- Officials declined to comment afterwards. In Japanese nationalists despise the document, claims the Shoal is part of the Philippine’s in the South China Sea, there should be no cial said. America is spear heading the summit addition to Abe’s December visit to a shrine that claiming there is no evidence Japan was continental shelf. interference with the efforts of claimants to effort, worried that the worsening of relations Asian countries say glorifies Japan’s World War involved in coercing the women. Chief Cabinet “We only intend to improve the condi- maintain the status quo,” US State between its two key Asian allies could affect US Two aggression, a flashpoint with Seoul has Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that despite the tions there, we have no plans to expand or Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in strategy in the region, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper been the issue of wartime “comfort women,” a review, the government will not rescind the build permanent structures on the shoal,” a statement. She added that “freedom of said. White House and U.S. State Department euphemism for women, mostly Korean, who statement. “I’ve said repeatedly ... that the Abe said a Philippines navy official, who navigation” in the area “must be main- officials did not immediately respond to were pressed into service as prostitutes for government will uphold the Kono statement. declined to be identified because he was tained.” Beijing’s claim over islands, reefs requests for comment. Japanese soldiers. Abe has repeatedly stuck by a Japan would like to continue explaining that not authorized to speak to the press. “On and atolls that form the Spratlys, a group of Washington’s top East Asia diplomat called 1993 government apology for the treatment of point to countries concerned,” he told reporters Monday, we sent a navy Islander plane to 250 uninhabitable islets spread over last week for Tokyo and Seoul to work urgently the women and admission that Japanese on Tuesday. — Reuters drop food and water but it will only last a 165,000 square miles, has set it directly few days. We really have to send back the against US allies Vietnam and the civilian boats. Since last year, we’ve been Philippines, while Brunei, Malaysia and From Red Book to classics: Chinese resupplying our troops using civilian ships Taiwan also lay claim to parts of the South to avoid confrontation and this was the first China Sea. The South China Sea provides 10 time China blocked them.” percent of the global fish catch, carries $5 don recalls pioneering French visit On Tuesday, Manila summoned the sec- trillion in ship borne trade a year and its ond highest Chinese embassy official to seabed is believed to be rich with energy RENNES: Fifty years ago, Paris made the brought an end to the chaos. handover its strong-worded protest, calling reserves. — Reuters momentous decision to launch full diplomatic Yves Merrien, one of the professors in Rennes ties with Beijing, prompting Chinese leader Mao at the time, remembers the students as being Zedong to dispatch a group of eager and spiffy totally wedded to Mao’s teachings and philoso- students to France for a pioneering sojourn. Just phy and closely following events in their coun- Furor over army sexual over two years later, wearing dowdy Mao suits try. “They were all total Maoists and very critical and carrying little red books full of their leader’s of what they saw in France,” he said. “I remember assaults far from over revered quotations, they departed in haste to one student who began a paper on Le Nouvel take part in the decade of bloodshed and chaos Observateur (a left-leaning French news maga- WASHINGTON: The turmoil over how to end An Associated Press investigation last that was the Cultural Revolution. But for some, zine started in 1964) by describing it as a ‘little an epidemic of sexual assaults in the US mili- month into more than 1,000 reports of sex the trip would have a lasting impact on their bourgeois intellectual newspaper of the left’,” he tary is far from over as Congress haggles over crimes found a pattern of inconsistent judg- lives and careers. said. legislative remedies and new details emerge ments and light penalties at US bases in “I have very happy memories,” said Li Yumin, “Whatever the subject, they always harked about a high-profile case involving an Army Japan. In two rape cases, commanders over- who was then 25 and later went on to translate back to the thoughts of Mao,” Merrien said. general and a female captain under his com- ruled recommendations to court-martial and into Chinese famous French novels such as When they left in January 1967 to join the mand. In a rare display of bipartisanship, the dropped the charges instead. Even when mil- Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables”. “The French were Cultural Revolution, Herve remembers the group Senate unanimously approved legislation this itary authorities agreed a crime had been very curious about China and about Chinese stu- labeled their teachers as “bourgeois.” When week to better protect victims within the committed, the suspect was unlikely to serve dents. For our part, we were extremely polite.” Li asked why he was leaving, one of the students at ranks and ban the “good soldier defense” to time, according to reports involving US mili- was one of around 100 Chinese students who the time took out Mao’s Little Red Book-a must- make sure a defendant’s fate is determined tary personnel in Japan between 2005 and arrived in the northwestern city of Rennes in the read tome for Chinese Communists at the time- solely by evidence. early 2013. autumn of 1964 after France became the first and read out a citation by the leader. But on But the House has signaled it won’t take Nearly two-thirds of 244 service members Western power to recognize Mao’s communist their return to China, many were considered as up the bill immediately despite the momen- whose punishments were detailed in the government in January, paving the way for having been contaminated by their exposure to tum generated by the Senate’s 97-0 vote. The records were not incarcerated. Instead they Beijing’s global recognition. Fifty years on, the the West and suffered. Li was herded off to a re- trial at Fort Bragg, NC, of Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A were fined, demoted, restricted to their bases number of Chinese students in France has bal- education school in the countryside and had to Sinclair also may act as a referendum of sorts or removed from the military. In more than An undated picture shows professor Li looned to 30,000, but for Li and his friends, the remain there until 1978. “Twelve years, it’s really on whether more dramatic changes in the 30 cases, a letter of reprimand was the only Yumin. — AFP military justice system are necessary. The punishment. trip was a novelty. very long,” he said. — AFP Senate last week defeated a bill by Sen. The Pentagon’s top brass is firmly Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, that would have opposed to removing sexual assault cases Cold War, language shock stripped commanders of their authority to from the chain of command, arguing that Speaking on the phone from Beijing, Li N Korea adept at prosecute sexual assault cases, placing that officers should have more responsibility, not recalled that for all their eagerness, the students power with military lawyers instead. less, for the conduct of the troops they lead. were also on their guard as their trip came in the But a recent ruling in the Sinclair case by Military officials said Tuesday that the fact midst of the Cold War. “We were a little tense,” he dodging sanctions: UN the judge, Col James Pohl, could aid that the Sinclair case went to trial shows the said. “We had be on guard: in Rennes, there were Gillibrand and her supporters in their efforts Gillibrand legislation to take control out of Taiwanese and Americans. It was during the UNITED NATIONS: North Korea is becoming tiple and tiered circumvention techniques,” it to revive the bill. Sinclair, the former deputy the hands of commanders isn’t necessary. Vietnam war and there were people who could more and more adept at dodging internation- added. commander of the 82nd Airborne Division at Two officials familiar with the case said it harm us.” There was a language shock as well. “I al sanctions, a panel of experts said in a report The panel said the case of the North Korean Fort Bragg, is accused of twice forcing a went to trial because the commander had been chosen by the Chinese government presented Tuesday to the United Nations. The cargo ship Chong Chon Gang provided key female captain to perform oral sex on him in ordered the court-martial. The lead prosecu- because I had studied French for six years at commission of eight experts told the UN insight into some of those techniques. The Afghanistan in 2011 during a three-year tor had urged the most serious charges be Beijing University. But after coming to Rennes, I Security Council that it reached this conclusion ship was stopped by the Panamanian authori- extramarital affair. He has admitted to the dropped against Sinclair because of ques- realised that I could barely speak,” he said, laugh- on the basis of recent inspections and seizures ties in July 2013 carrying undeclared weapons affair but denied assaulting the woman. tions about the victim’s statements. ing. Former Rennes mayor Edmond Herve, who of banned cargo. that had been hidden under 10,000 tons of After reviewing a series of emails connect- They said the case illustrates that while was a young university professor at the time, The council has adopted resolutions calling sugar from Cuba. An investigation showed ed to Sinclair’s case, Pohl said a decision by prosecutors may make decisions based on remembers the students as a lot “that kept to for increasingly tough sanctions aimed at that the North Korean crew had used secret military officials at Fort Bragg to reject a plea whether they can win or lose a case, com- themselves and only went out as a group”. Li con- thwarting Pyongyang’s financial and technical codes in communications. bargain with the general may have been manders will push to pursue a case if they ability to build weapons of mass destruction. The crew also falsified the ship’s logs and improperly influenced by political concerns. believe a subordinate behaved improperly. firmed that the students were very “disciplined”- and had to be. “We had no freedom to do any- This came after a series of nuclear and long- turned off an electronic system that would In the emails, military officials warned that The officials spoke on condition of anonymity range ballistic missile tests by North Korea otherwise have provided real-time information allowing the general to plea bargain, and because they were not authorized to publicly thing. I couldn’t go out alone, there was always at over the past decade. The new report posted on the ship’s location to international maritime avoid trial, would “send the wrong signal,” discuss an ongoing legal matter. least one comrade who accompanied me.” Pohl said. On Tuesday Pohl dismissed the jury Glen Caplin, a spokesman for Gillibrand, on the UN website Tuesday said North Korea authorities, the panel said. The North Korean to allow the defense time to work out a new said Tuesday that an independent military ‘Total Maoists and critical’ has continued to defy those sanctions-by embassies in Cuba and Singapore are suspect- plea deal with the military. justice system “is not only the right thing to Then in the spring of 1966, Mao set in motion pushing ahead with its nuclear and ballistic ed of helping to arrange the arms shipment, Sinclair’s attorneys said the Army pressed do for our men and women in uniform, but the Cultural Revolution, aimed at violently missile programs and engaging in illegal arms the panel said. Cuba has said that it was send- ahead with a weak case for fear of the politi- would also mitigate issues of undue com- removing “bourgeois” elements he claimed had trade. ing obsolete Soviet-era weapons to be cal blowback if they had dropped charges mand influence” in military legal proceedings. infiltrated the government and society at large-a “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea repaired in North Korea. This case helped con- against such a high-profile defendant. “This Gillibrand has vowed to seek another vote on “catastrophe” according to Li. Millions were per- presents a stiff challenge to Member States,” firm that one of North Korea’s best sources of case is Exhibit A for why the Senate should her legislation, most likely in the late spring secuted, there were flagrant rights abuses and a the report said. “It is experienced in actions it revenue was weapons exports, and technical pass the Gillibrand bill when they next have when the Senate begins work on a sweeping large part of the population was forcibly dis- takes to evade sanctions. From the incidents support to manufacture and refurbish arms an opportunity,” said Eugene R. Fidell, who defense policy bill for the 2015 fiscal year that placed, while Mao’s personality cult grew to analysed in the period under review, the Panel produced in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and teaches military justice at Yale Law School. begins Oct 1. —AP immense proportions until his death in 1976 has found that it makes increasing use of mul- 1970s, the panel said. — AFP NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Oppn meeting moved to Saadoun diwaniya Continued from Page 1 was found that the immunity had been lifted. This was the first time that the immunity of a minister has been 2011 to press for the resignation of former prime lifted. Kandari is also an elected MP. minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah. The The Assembly also voted to extend the duration for criminal court had acquitted all the 70 defendants on completing the Shaddadiya university, currently under the basis that they had no criminal intent while entering construction, for five more years after MPs voted to ask the Assembly building, especially since no damage was the Audit Bureau to investigate why the construction done. was delayed. MPs voted to approve a new law on com- In another development, the Assembly yesterday rec- pulsory education to emphasize that primary and inter- tified the result of voting on lifting the immunity of mediate education is compulsory and must be com- Communications Minister Essa Al-Kandari so he could be pletely free. interrogated over a lawsuit filed by former Kuwait During the Assembly debate, MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji Airways chairman Sami Al-Nisf. During the parliamentary criticized the appointment of two Iranians at the com- session on Tuesday, Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem puter department in the interior ministry, saying this is a announced that the vote on lifting Kandari’s immunity highly sensitive place and called for action to cancel the failed by just one vote. But in yesterday’s session, appointments. Ghanem then adjourned the Assembly Ghanem announced there was an error in counting the until April 1 because of the Arab Summit which Kuwait votes the previous day, and after recounting the votes, it will host on March 25-26. Egypt claims Brotherhood member... Continued from Page 1 GCC countries,” Dallal said, noting that Gulf groups sym- pathetic to the Brotherhood have not adopted its name. Riyadh has since pumped billions of dollars into Political Islamists in the Gulf are puzzling over what Egypt’s creaking economy. Punishing Qatar for its pro- the Saudi decree means in practical terms, at a time NEW YORK: Firefighters work the scene of an explosion that leveled two apartment buildings in the East Brotherhood stance shows a new Saudi confidence in when the kingdom is toughening penalties for terror- Harlem neighborhood yesterday. — AP pushing its agenda, even if it means splits in the six- ism. The decree forbids anyone from supporting organi- nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a US-aligned sations ... “or showing their affiliation, or sympathy or alliance which usually keeps any internal tensions pri- holding meetings under its umbrella, whether within Two dead, 24 hurt as vate. the kingdom or abroad”. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have followed Saud Al-Sarhan, director of research at King Faisal Riyadh’s lead in recalling their envoys from Qatar. But Centre for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, said NY buildings collapse Kuwait, home to an active community of political the edict was unlikely to affect Saudi relations with Gulf Islamists integrated into the political and business elite, neighbours where the Brotherhood is part of political has voiced disquiet and offered to mediate in the dis- life “as long as they (the Brotherhood) are not trying to NEW YORK: A major explosion caused by a gas leak flat- ings. The explosion was based on a gas leak,” de Blasio said. tened two residential buildings in Manhattan yesterday, It is the first deadly disaster of its kind to strike the city of pute. Oman, which has opposed plans for a closer Gulf interfere the Saudi internal policy or trying to create killing two women and injuring 24 people as thick white eight million since the Democrat took office in January and union, appeared to downplay the seriousness of the rift instability in the region”. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the smoke billowed into the sky. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will raise concerns about safety in less affluent neighbor- yesterday. “What happened is nothing more than differ- UAE said they had acted against Qatar because it had called the incident “a tragedy of the worst kind” and raised hoods. “There was no indication in time to save people. We ences and friendly reproach between brothers ... what reneged on a GCC agreement not to meddle in the concerns about a number of people still unaccounted for know we have lost two people already,” the mayor said. happened is not a divorce,” the Arabic-language Oman internal affairs of member states. Qatar denies this, say- after the disaster in East Harlem. The explosion sparked “There is a tremendous amount of anxiety, but suffice it to Daily cited the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs ing the dispute is rooted in wider Middle East disagree- inevitable reminders for some New Yorkers of the 9/11 terror say that every effort is being expended to locate each and Youssef bin Alawi bin Abdullah as saying. ments, such as its policy on Egypt. attacks in 2001 that brought down the Twin Towers. Other every one of these (missing) individuals,” he added. De Blasio The UAE shares Saudi Arabia’s view that the witnesses said it felt like an earthquake. was careful to caution that some of those missing could sim- Brotherhood, with its taste for populist electoral politics, Catch-22 There were 15 apartments in the two buildings that col- ply be safe elsewhere and out of contact. poses a threat to dynastic rule and to Gulf security, but All the GCC members may be uneasy about a rift that lapsed, de Blasio and city officials told reporters near the A spokesman for New York Fire Department told AFP that no other GCC member has yet declared it a terrorist violates their cherished goal of political and security sol- scene at 116th Street and Park Avenue, a mainly Latino com- firefighters were still putting out pockets of fire five and a organisation. Bahrain may be politically close to Riyadh, idarity, but Bahrain appears to be in the most awkward munity. Around 15 minutes before the blast, energy compa- half hours after first arriving on scene. Twenty-four people but Islamist sympathisers are among those who sup- position. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have helped Bahrain ny Con Edison received a call from an adjoining apartment were injured he said, raising an earlier number of 22 given port its own Sunni ruling family against challenges from combat Shiite-led protest and demands for more building alerting maintenance staff to the smell of gas. The by police. A police spokesman said that two patients were in the island’s Shiite majority. democracy since 2011. Bahrain’s Sunni Islamist groups, explosion struck at around 9:30 am and New York Fire critical condition and five others were serious. Witnesses Kuwait must also tread carefully if it is to avoid such as Al-Minbar and Al-Fateh, have mostly sided with Department said firefighters were on the scene two minutes compared the scene of twisted metal, thick column of white fuelling chronic strife pitting its hereditary rulers against the government against the Shiite opposition. “Bahrain later. “There was a major explosion that destroyed two build- smoke and dusty rubble to a war zone.— AFP political opponents who include conservative tribal is in a very complicated Catch-22,” said IISS’s Alsayed, leaders and Islamists. “The Saudi announcement is likely arguing that its rulers had a special relationship with Rouhani visits Oman to boost trade, ties to complicate relations with Gulf allies, especially Saudi Arabia, but also relied on political support from against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Qatar,” their Sunni constituency. “Which one matters more?” Continued from Page 1 despite repeated denials. Talks are continuing between Iran said research analyst Wafa Alsayed of the Bahrain-based A Bahraini lawmaker, who declined to be named, crit- and the major powers aimed at hammering out a lasting International Institute for Strategic Studies. “(The terror- icised the Saudi designation of the Brotherhood as a and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia have long been strained as nuclear accord that satisfies all sides. “Oman and Iran are sat- ist listing) really complicates things because it means terrorist group. “So are the Brotherhood now going to the two countries vie for regional dominance. Alawi said his isfied with the progress in negotiations,” Alawi told reporters anyone could be directly or indirectly subjected to be treated like Al-Qaeda? Despite our differences with government is “in contact with both sides and we are not after meeting his Iranian counterpart and Rouhani. these laws, and someone could be arrested so easily,” the Brotherhood .... this comparison is unfair,” said the biased towards one party or another” in the Syrian conflict, Rouhani, who also met Oman’s top cleric Ahmad Al- she said. lawmaker, who belongs not to the Brotherhood but to which “does not directly affect us”. The sultanate’s circum- Khalil, is scheduled to meet members of the business com- Saudi wariness of the Brotherhood dates back at the ultra-orthodox Salafi trend. “I think in Bahrain it spection has earned it respect as a mediator, highlighted by munity on Thursday. “During this trip, we want to imple- least to the 1990s when some Saudi leaders accused it would be very difficult to give the group this designa- its hosting of secret talks between Tehran and Washington ment contracts in the field of trade and economy, especially of inspiring the Sahwa opposition movement agitating tion because there is no evidence that the Brotherhood before the signing in Geneva last November of an accord those linked to oil and gas,” as well as in finance, banking, for democracy in the kingdom. in Bahrain is tied to terrorism. They are citizens who between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program. and culture, IRNA quoted him as saying. Tehran’s ambassa- denounce terrorism,” he said. Alawi said Oman had “played a role in the rapprochement dor in Muscat, Ali Akbar Sibeveih, said Oman and Iran are Ballot Box Islamists in Kuwait who share the Brotherhood’s ide- between the West and Iran”, adding that his country had seeking to expand trade, which reached $1 billion last year, The Saudis are fuming over the pro-Brotherhood ology, such as members of the Islamic Constitutional helped “reduce distrust”. He expressed confidence that as well as bilateral investments which they expect will top sympathies of Qatar, which appears happy to act as a Movement, often write in leading newspapers and “both parties will continue” talking until they resolve their $10 billion by the end of this year. The two sides signed an catalyst in the rapid changes shaking up Arab politics appear on television channels. Also active in the pri- differences. “initial agreement” to construct an undersea pipeline ship- since the uprisings of 2011. The Brotherhood’s accept- vate sector and the law, they form an important oppo- World powers suspect Iran’s uranium enrichment pro- ping gas from Iran to Oman, oil minister Mohammad Al- ance of the ballot box challenges the Gulf tradition of sition group, though their influence has waned since gram has the ultimate aim of developing a nuclear weapon, Ramahi said. — Agencies dynastic rule, offering an alternative interpretation of late 2012 when most of them boycotted a parliamen- the role of Islam in politics. Many Gulf states also place tary election over changes to the voting system. It is an Gulf chief bankers meet amid tense... little credence in Brotherhood protestations that it is a open question whether Kuwaitis and Bahrainis who non-violent movement. belong to groups tolerated at home would run the risk Continued from Page 1 not discussed because UAE and Oman are not part of the All of which makes political Islamists in the Gulf of arrest if they travel to Saudi Arabia or beyond. union after having withdrawn. uneasy. It was not possible to reach any Saudi Dallal said the Saudi decree would make it diffi- GCC central bank governors hold regular meetings Hashel said GCC states were still facing key economic Brotherhood figures who generally keep a low profile. cult for individuals to speak favourably of the and Kuwait’s session was their 59th. It was also the first challenges despite huge wealth from oil, particularly the But sympathisers elsewhere in the region expressed Brotherhood for fear of retribution. It might even GCC meeting since the unprecedented diplomatic dis- “increasing dependence on oil income to finance budg- apprehension. Mohammad Al-Dallal, a Kuwaiti Islamist exclude people seen as linked to Brotherhood from pute. Hashel said the one-day meeting discussed the ets and the rise in current spending,” a term normally and former lawmaker, said he believed the Saudi going on pilgrimages to Makkah in the kingdom. efforts of member states individually and collectively to used for wages, subsidies and defence spending. The actions were part of a coordinated policy with Egypt to “You cannot even speak with human rights organiza- combat money laundering and terror funding and to conservative Gulf monarchies, which sit on 40 percent of eradicate the 86-year-old Brotherhood. “It is a strange tions, according to this decision,” the Kuwaiti Islamist comply with international standards, as well as an agree- the world’s oil and a quarter of its natural gas, pump thing, because the Muslim Brotherhood is not a terror said. “You cannot really participate in any confer- ment on debit card use in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. A around 17.5 million barrels of oil per day, or a fifth of the group and they are not a violent group, especially in the ence, internationally.” — Agencies long-delayed monetary union and single currency were world’s consumption. — Agencies THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

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Issues Putin hears no Crimea dissent

By Elizabeth Piper

urrounded by faithful aides, President Vladimir Putin hears no opposition to his plans in Crimea, allowing him Sto drive Russia’s bid to reclaim Ukraine’s southern region guided by little more than his “inner voice”. Former and current officials paint a picture of a leader who counts on the unswerv- ing loyalty of a handful of advisers from his administration and security services to draft policy that has plunged relations with the West to a new post-Cold War low. That the seizure of Crimea, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, could tip a faltering economy into recession, spark visa bans and asset freezes on top officials and isolate Russia in ways not seen since Soviet times have not been considerations. Those who disagree with his policies, fearing Putin may be ushering in a period of economic stagnation, have not yet spo- Broken north undermines Keita’s pledge ken out against a leader who has successfully whipped up nationalist fervour over the “brotherly nation” next door. For the time being, Putin can rely on a system of control he has By Emma Farge Close to 200,000 people are still displaced within official mediator President Blaise Compaore of the parliamentary defence commission. Karim’s honed and cultivated since he first came to power 14 years Mali after the conflict, with a further 150,000 Malians Burkina Faso and the U.N. mission in Mali (MINUSMA). father-in-law Issaka Sidibe is the head of the National ago. It is a closely marshalled hierarchy of loyalty where even resident Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won power scattered in refugee camps in neighbouring coun- Politicians in Bamako vaguely refer to “deep Assembly, Mali’s second most powerful job. On the debate and disagreements are often choreographed for the with a pledge to resurrect a “strong and united” tries. According to Oxfam, 800,000 in the north need decentralisation” as the most acceptable form of gov- streets of Bamako, people openly mock Keita’s elec- benefit of state television stations which film government PMali from the ashes of a war against Islamists food assistance. In Bamako’s slums, many of those ernance for the north, but there is no consensus on tion slogan “Mali first”, replacing it with “family first”. meetings. militants yet six months later he has done little to heal who fled Mali’s north blame the government for how this would work. Bruce Whitehouse, a Mali spe- Ministers say they are determined to tackle corrup- But the Crimea move has led to mutterings of discontent, the wounds of the conflict. Elected with a reputation abandoning them. Mahamadou Cisse went back to cialist at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, said tion. Some donors have taken initiatives to improve mostly among the financial and economic ministries, who as a strongman, Keita has focused on restoring con- his village near the town of Timbuktu two months Tuareg leaders may struggle to win support from the surveillance: France has created a website to boost were cut out of the meeting when it was decided to act over a trol over Mali’s army after a March 2012 coup. The ago but left again, fearing for his life. “In cities, the rank and file for any such compromise: “They don’t transparency in aid projects. region Putin felt might be lost forever if Kiev’s new leaders putsch plunged Mali into chaos that allowed Islamists army is there but they don’t control other areas,” said want regional autonomy. They want independence.” However, 85 percent of the $4.5 billion in prom- were successful in taking Ukraine into the European Union. “His to seize the north, forcing France to intervene in its Cisse, who fled his home in 2012 after it was looted ised aid is due to flow directly to the government, the closest adviser is his inner voice,” said a source who is close to ex-colony. But the conservative 69-year-old, known by Tuaregs from the National Movement for the Government Reticence International Monetary Fund say, making it more dif- the Kremlin. “He had to act. He had no choice.” by his initials IBK, has not addressed the grievances of Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) - the name separatists Any concessions to the Tuaregs, who have led ficult to tackle graft. “For 20 years, Mali has been like a Sources say Putin took the decision on Crimea with his clos- Tuareg separatists whose uprising sparked the con- give to northern Mali. four rebellions since independence from France in cow from which everyone cuts off a slice,” said est advisers: Sergei Ivanov, head of the presidential administra- flict nor to salve the ethnic hatred it left behind. 1960, would be deeply unpopular with the black Moussa Mara, town planning minister. He sees poten- tion, Kremlin strategist Vyacheslav Volodin, Kremlin aide Restoring stability to north Mali is a crucial step in UN Underfunded, French Stuck African majority. Tuaregs comprise less than 10 per- tial for change, pointing to a draft law that makes Vladislav Surkov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the heads stamping out Al-Qaeda cells and traffickers operating With Mali’s army only slowly rebuilding, France cent of Mali’s 12 million people. “All Tuaregs are the elected officials declare their wealth to the Supreme of the security services. The response was unanimously in in the arid Sahel belt south of the Sahara. With $4 bil- has been forced to delay its troop withdrawal. It had same. They are bandits,” said Diarha Dyetteye, 40, a Court. Others are less optimistic for a country ranking favour of action. Within days, Russian forces had occupied the lion in Western aid flowing into Mali for reconstruc- aimed to reach 1,000 soldiers by December but still black woman who fled Timbuktu during the war. With 127 out of 177 on Transparency’s International global peninsula and a new Russian separatist leadership was placed tion, France and its allies have a lot at stake. “If north- has 1,600 there. Meanwhile, a UN mission meant to ethnic tensions running high, armed groups are con- corruption index. “There are a handful of people in in charge, preparing for a referendum to secede from Ukraine ern Mali is missing, the Sahel puzzle won’t be com- guarantee security is running at around half its 12,000 ducting feuds in the lawless north with little fear of charge of a system with good intentions and heaps of and join Russia. pleted,” said Jean-Baptiste Bouzard, Africa analyst at capacity, starved of funds from major contributors facing justice. Some 30 Tuaregs were killed near Gao people who have the incentive to play the same risk consultancy Maplecroft. He said that, despite con- like the United States. Islamist groups operate in last month. Yet many analysts say resolving the games they have always played,” said one diplomat. Good Excuse cern among Western donors, they are reluctant to put desert spaces outside northern towns. The north’s grievances is simply not a priority for Keita. Putin has since said Russia has not been acting in Crimea pressure on Keita. “The international community Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa “IBK was elected on a strong man political platform. Economic Woes but allowing local self-defence units to act spontaneously, an doesn’t want to undermine IBK, as one of the justifica- (MUJWA) claimed mortar attacks recently on He wants to avoid making concessions. Stalling the Keita faces a delicate task as Malians clamour for assertion derided as “Putin’s fiction” by Washington. There was tions for intervention was restoring a strong govern- Timbuktu and Gao. peace talks is a way to avoid that,” said Bouzard. better living standards. The challenge has been made little he had to do, former officials and analysts said. Russian ment.” Achieving a peace deal with separatists is key to Before the war, anger in north Mali was stoked by col- steeper by a slump in the price of gold, Mali’s eco- forces already based there, with the help of special forces, On the surface, life in the southern capital restoring security but negotiations have stalled. A lusion between northern leaders and Bamako offi- nomic lifeblood. The gold sector employs 10,000 mobilised to seize the peninsula, a favourite summertime Bamako has returned to normal after a French-led deal was reached to confine rebel fighters to barracks cials in illegal activities such as trafficking and Malians and accounts for one third of state revenues resort for Russians. In Russia, the action is widely seen as a campaign defeated the Islamists a year ago. at preparatory talks in Bamako last month - which hostage-taking. Yet to strengthen his grip on power, yet the IMF predicts sales this year will slump by a legitimate response to Western support for the demonstrators Policemen direct traffic at busy junctions while started three months late - but with no-one to Keita is repeating the mistakes of the past, critics say. fifth from 2012 levels to $1.7 billion. Ageing mines who toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich last women wash laundry on the muddy banks of the enforce it, it may fall simply by the wayside. A lack of His party has recruited several ex-rebels, one of them mean output will decline steadily from 2015, the IMF month. “It’s like if you’re watching television with a neighbour Niger river. However, thick blast walls around the cohesion within the array of separatist groups and accused by a prosecutor last year of war crimes and said. “We are in a very difficult situation,” Mines and the program’s finished but then they try to run off with the French embassy and trucks carrying blue-helmeted the plethora of mediators is complicating talks. trafficking before charges were dropped. Minister Boubou Cisse told Reuters. “The sector is television. You cannot let them get away with it, can you?” said UN peacekeepers testify to the ongoing security risk Regional powers Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania Other observers criticise the appointments of making redundancies in waves. Mali is not going to the source. in the West African country. have all begun consultations with rebels, adding to family members, such as Keita’s son Karim as head of escape that.” —Reuters The tough response showed a type of behaviour that has marked Putin’s long rule but has been seen more often in recent years as the more liberal thinkers who once influenced him have been pushed out of his closest circle. By excluding Biden Ukraine role risks political future the finance and economy ministries, he deliberately shut out advisers who might have urged caution. Russia’s economy was By Matt Spetalnick White House’s more cautious approach and made her look tough on Gore, the last Democrat to hold the office. But Biden has also steered already in danger: growth has dropped and should fall further Russia as she considers a possible presidential campaign. clear of the behind-the-scenes power games of his immediate prede- this year, and investment flows are paltry. Finances are still s the bloodiest day of anti-government protests in Ukraine was cessor, Republican Dick Cheney. “Biden has found a way to be influen- dependent on oil prices more than 20 years after the fall of the drawing to a close last month, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Getting it Mostly Wrong - or Not tial on foreign policy without feeling the need to claim his own turf,” Soviet Union. Acalled President Viktor Yanukovich for the second time in three Biden made a name for himself early in his Senate career as a cen- said Warshaw, author of the book “The Co-Presidency of Bush and Just the threat of Western sanctions has already hurt: the days and delivered a blunt message. Pull back your security forces now trist Democrat calling on his party to be more willing to back diploma- Cheney.” After five years, Biden’s role appears to be that of tending to central bank was forced to hike interest rates and burn through and accept a European-brokered settlement or you will be held cy with power. But since taking office, Biden, mindful of Americans’ some of Obama’s toughest problems - going to “places that he doesn’t billions to prop up the rouble. But Crimea may also help accountable, Biden warned the pro-Russian leader. “It WILL catch up war-weariness, has often been in sync with Obama’s reluctance to want to go,” as the vice president told a Munich security conference change the subject from economic troubles that would have with you.” Initially defiant, Yanukovich sounded subdued by the end of commit to new armed entanglements. Former Defense Secretary Bob only half-jokingly in 2013. But some supporters privately wonder been inevitable anyway, and shift blame to the West. “He the hour-long call, according to a senior US official knowledgeable of Gates put Biden on the spot when he wrote in his memoir released in whether, as he gets closer to a decision on 2016, he may want to start knows he cannot do anything about the economy ... Crimea is the conversation. Within hours, Yanukovich signed a deal with the January that the vice president, over the past four decades, had been easing himself out of Obama’s shadow, especially on foreign policy. a very good excuse for Putin,” the source said. opposition and then fled to Russia. “wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security For now, Biden’s fortunes could hinge to an extent on what hap- Nevertheless, those who guide economic policy are worried Whether Biden’s 11th-hour warning was decisive or merely served issue” - areas long viewed as his strengths. pens with Ukraine and its former Cold War master, Russia. It was Biden, that Crimea could turn tough times into a full-blown recession. in a supporting role to European Union negotiators, his intensive tele- Republican Senator John McCain said Gates’ critique had merit, in fact, who was credited with coining the phrase “push the reset but- “It’s a little bit frightening thinking about what will happen. I do phone diplomacy illustrates the kind of troubleshooting that has telling CNN that Biden “has been wrong on a lot of these issues.” ton,” the administration’s early - and since abandoned - approach to not see the whole picture and can only judge on fragments. It become integral to his portfolio in President Barack Obama’s second McCain has since blamed the administration’s “feckless” foreign policy Russia. Republican critics point to Crimea as final proof that the “reset” seems to me that this is high stakes poker when both side bluffs term. However, given the United States’ limited for inviting the Ukraine crisis. Biden’s supporters see Gates’ accusa- was naive, and they can be expected to try to use it as ammunition big time,” one well-placed official said. “The risks, in my opinion, options in the Ukraine crisis after Russia tion as an attempt to settle scores. “The vice president against Democrats in this year’s mid-term elections and against Biden if are big and the losses could also be large too.” seized the Crimea peninsula, Biden’s role argued that we shouldn’t put as many troops in he seeks the presidency two years later. as a loyal Obama adviser on foreign pol- Afghanistan as they (the Pentagon) wanted,” said Ted But Clinton might also be vulnerable as she too promoted the reset Villas in Nice vs Court in The Hague icy poses risks to his political future if Kaufman, Biden’s longtime chief aide before being policy, which did yield a nuclear arms control pact, a deal for US forces The European Union and United States have viewed sanc- he runs for president in 2016. appointed to serve out his term as Delaware’s US to use Russian territory going to and from Afghanistan and Russian tions against Russia with some reluctance, especially in Europe, Biden would be unable to sepa- senator. “Joe was right.” cooperation on Iran sanctions. In any presidential campaign, Clinton which depends on Russian natural gas. So far, measures dis- rate himself from the administration’s As Biden eyes a possible White House bid, anoth- would also face questions about how she handled the 2012 killing of cussed are aimed mainly at the elite, in the hope of prodding record on Ukraine if the West comes er unpopular war could still weigh on his decision. four Americans, including the US ambassador, in a militant attack in those close to Putin to change policy without fundamentally out on the losing end of its worst Though he spearheaded administration policy that Benghazi, Libya. altering trade. Washington has ordered visa bans and assets standoff with Moscow since the Cold brought about the US withdrawal from Iraq, he freezes on an as-yet-unpublished list of individuals it blames War. “He’s tied to Ukraine policy, no failed to secure a deal to keep a modest troop pres- Tasked With Crisis Management for threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty. Brussels is threatening matter how it comes out, said Shirley ence there. Even years later, an issue that would Tony Blinken, Biden’s national security adviser during the first term, asset freezes, travel bans and other sanctions. —Reuters Anne Warshaw, a presidential scholar likely resurface in a presidential campaign is an insisted the vice president was “always clear-eyed” about the “reset” out- at Gettysburg College in often-ridiculed proposal he made as head of the reach to Moscow and rejected from the outset any Russian “sphere of Pennsylvania. “So he could be vul- Senate Foreign Relations Committee that essen- influence” encompassing ex-Soviet republics. As protests erupted in nerable.” Republican critics can also tially advocated splitting Iraq in three along sec- Ukraine in November after Yanukovich spurned a free trade deal with be expected to keep the heat on tarian lines. the EU for closer ties with Russia, Obama tasked Biden to be his main All articles appearing on these the administration - and by exten- Biden could also have to answer questions point of contact with the Ukrainian leader. Biden had first met pages are the personal opinion of sion, Biden - for what they say is a about the advice he famously gave to Obama in 2011 Yanukovich, then opposition leader, during a visit to Ukraine in 2009. foreign policy that has exposed US not to go ahead with the raid in Pakistan that killed Osama Speaking to Yanukovich half a dozen times as the crisis escalated, the writers. Kuwait Times takes no weakness in issues like the Syrian civil bin Laden. The vice president has admitted he thought the Biden urged him not to make “the classic mistake of coming in with too responsibility for views expressed war, Iran nuclear talks, Afghanistan and special forces operation was too risky. The ability to act as out- little, too late” to meet protesters’ grievances, the senior administration therein. Kuwait Times invites read- the growing military challenge from spoken contrarian in the inner circle was one of Obama’s chief official said. In their final call on Feb 20, with dozens already killed in ers to voice their opinions. Please China. reasons for picking Biden. He also brought vast congressional Kiev’s Maidan square, Biden warned Yanukovich that if he went ahead Possible 2016 Democratic rival Hillary experience in foreign policy and personal relationships with with an even more violent response, “it won’t just be history that judges send submissions via email to: opin- Clinton decided to stake out a hawkish stance a who’s who of world leaders. you” but the Ukrainian people. Russia’s operation in Crimea began with- [email protected] or via snail on Russian President Vladimir Putin last week. In con- Biden’s old-school, back-slapping style - and occasional in days of Yanukovich’s flight. Even as Secretary of State John Kerry has mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. demning Moscow’s Crimea incursion, she invoked verbal gaffes - makes him the opposite of the cool, delibera- taken the role of trying to get Russia to back down, Biden remains a key Adolf Hitler’s actions leading up to World War Two. tive Obama. But what he won from Obama was a promise to player. He cut short a trip to Latin America to attend Obama’s talks on The editor reserves the right to edit Though Clinton said she was not making a direct allow him to be the last voice in the room, associates say. Wednesday with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk. “He has any submission as necessary. comparison between the two men, the former sec- Biden has leveraged his role to avoid the vice presidential been and will be at the center of our policy,” said Blinken, now Obama’s retary of state’s line of attack was at odds with the curse of irrelevance, which was widely seen as the plight of Al deputy national security adviser. —Reuters THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 SPORTS

Carter eyes Crusaders return Malawi quits Johnson ponders backs options WELLINGTON: New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter is hoping to bring an end to his LONDON: Scotland coach Scott Johnson yesterday announced a 13-man shortlist sabbatical and make his Super Rugby return for the Canterbury Crusaders in July. Nations Cup of backs from which he will select seven for his side’s final Six Nations game against The 32-year-old, the highest points scorer in test rugby, is hoping the six-month Wales on Saturday. With several of his backs having sustained injuries in last week- end’s 19-17 loss to France, Johnson will run the rule over his players in training yes- rest will help extend his international career through New Zealand’s defence of the BLANTYRE: Cash-strapped Malawi have withdrawn from the World Cup in 2015. terday and today before confirming his starting XV. Carter last played against England at Twickenham in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition, the national The only change in the pack for the trip to Cardiff sees Ryan November and is looking to return after the All Blacks host football association said yesterday. Wilson drafted into the back row to cover for the injured the same opponents for three tests in June. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Johnnie Beattie. “We’re obviously already without Sean “I’m pretty keen to play a couple of Crusaders games Nyamilandu told reporters in commercial capital Blantyre that a Lamont in the backs after the knee problem he picked up after the test series so that’s what I’ll be working towards against France,” Johnson explained. shortage of government funding meant the country could enter “We’ve also got some concerns about our wingers, (and) potentially a club game or two before then,” Carter only one CAF competition. Tommy (Seymour) and Max (Evans), and we’re going to told the New Zealand Herald newspaper. The seven- And FAM chose the African youth championship over the Cup wait until tomorrow (Thursday) to see how they are.” times champion Crusaders have made a poor start to The experienced Alasdair Strokosch returns to the their Super Rugby campaign with two defeats in their of Nations following a government request to prioritise develop- ment. “We prioritised the youth championship over the Cup of bench, with prop Alasdair Dickinson also named among first three matches but Carter expects them to the replacements after overcoming a calf injury that he be in a much better position by the time he Nations because our government has stressed the need for foot- picked up in last month’s 21-20 loss to Italy in Rome. is available again. ball development,” explained Nyamilandu. Among the backs hoping to start are the Edinburgh “It’s a pretty stock standard start by Malawi were not among 21 countries exempt from a three- trio of Jack Cuthbert, Dougie Fife and Lee Jones. the Crusaders, to be honest - typically round qualifying competition ahead of the final group phase to Full-back Cuthbert, 26, won his only cap to slow,” he said. “They’ll be fine, I’m sure decide which teams advance to the 2015 tournament in date in a 2011 World Cup warm-up match they’ll get a lot better as the competition against Ireland, while 23-year-old wing Fife goes on.”—Reuters Morocco. — AFP is uncapped.—AFP Stars shine over Blues

ST. LOUIS: Jamie Benn scored 3:42 into over- time on Tuesday, giving the Dallas Stars a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues one night after teammate Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench. Defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Roman Polak ended lengthy goal droughts for the Blues, who lost for the first time in five games with new goalie Ryan Miller. Colton Sceviour scored a power-play goal for Dallas in the first period. Sceviour and Chris Mueller were promoted after Peverley was sidelined indefinitely and teammate Alex Chiasson also was hospitalized due to emo- tional distress after his teammate’s “cardiac FRANCE: Netherlands’ Tom Jelte Slagter celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead event.” of Britain’s Geraint Thomas (right) at the end of the fourth stage of the 72nd edition Miller robbed Mueller with a glove save of the Paris-Nice cycling race. — AFP from point-blank range with 2:16 to go in the third. But he couldn’t corral a shot by Stars captain Benn that gave Dallas its fourth win in Slagter wins Paris-Nice stage five games. The Stars’ home game against Columbus BELLEVILLE: Dutchman Tom-Jelte Slagter climb. “I was even asking myself what I was on Monday night was postponed after won a sprint finish to win the fourth stage of doing there! “Paris-Nice is a great fixture on the Paris-Nice yesterday but breakaway com- the calendar after the big tours. Last Friday Peverley fell ill with a heart problem. Peverley panion Geraint Thomas is the new overall I’d have never dreamed of wearing the yellow remained hospitalized in stable condition on leader. jersey.” Tuesday while undergoing tests. Garmin’s Slagter edged out Britain’s The day began with a four-man breakaway Thomas in a sprint finish at the end of the featuring Italy’s Valerio Agnoli, Spaniard Jesus PENGUINS 2, CAPITALS 0 201.5km stage from Nevers to Belleville, with Herrada, Luxembourg’s Laurent Didier and Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves for his Dutchman Wilco Kelderman coming home Frenchman Perrig Quemeneur, but they were ST. LOUIS: Steve Ott No. 29 of the St. Louis Blues looks to pass the puck against Brenden Dillon third five seconds later. caught with 18km left. fifth shutout of the season, leading Pittsburgh No. 4 of the Dallas Stars at the Scottrade Center. — AFP “I thought I’d be in good shape for this Soon afterwards, former Tour Down Under to the win. Jussi Jokinen and Sidney Crosby stage, but not that good,” said a beaming winner Slagter made his move on the tough scored for the Penguins, who swept the Jeff Petry got the Oilers on the scoreboard game for the first time since Nov. 27 and Dec. Slagter. “The aim is still the overall standings. Mont Brouilly with Thomas eventually joining teams’ home-and-home series one night after about 90 seconds after the Wild’s flurry, and 3. Florida has lost 10 of 13. The Panthers have It’s the first day where it moved, now there him on the technical, winding descent just beating the Capitals 3-2 in Washington. David Perron and Jordan Eberle scored in the only six goals in the last four games. — AP are four more.” after the summit. Pittsburgh has won three in a row and picked third period to tie it. Andrew Ference had two Sky’s Thomas now leads the overall stand- The pair held off a disorganised 30-strong up at least a point in eight of its last 10 games. ings by three seconds from previous leader chase group-despite the best efforts of Giro assists. John Degenkolb of Giant-Shimano, continu- d’Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali and The Penguins also have beaten their long- NHL results/standings ing the British team’s recent domination of Frenchman Romain Bardet-all the way to the time rivals a franchise-record eight straight DEVILS 2, FLYERS 1 this race. finish while German Degenkolb dropped into times. Jaroslav Halak stopped 32 shots in his Jaromir Jagr scored a tiebreaking goal in Nashville 4, Buffalo 1; New Jersey 2, Bradley Wiggins won the 2012 edition the second chase group. third start for Washington. Alexander the third period, leading the Devils to the vic- Philadelphia 1; Carolina 3, NY Rangers 1; before going on to win the Tour de France That proved crucial as he came home Ovechkin was held without a point for the tory. Travis Zajac had the other goal for New while Richie Porte triumphed last year. Porte 18sec behind and lost his grip on the leader’s Columbus 4, Detroit 1; Phoenix 3, Florida 1; fourth consecutive game as the Capitals lost Jersey (29-24-13), which won for the fifth in would have led Sky this time around as well jersey. Nibali now finds himself 19sec off the Pittsburgh 2, Washington 0; Dallas 3, St. Louis for the fourth time in their last five. Fleury tied seven games to move within two points of but was shifted over to the Tirreno-Adriatico overall lead, alongsaide world champion Rui 2 (OT); Edmonton 4, Minnesota 3 (SO); San race at the last moment when current Tour de Costa, who struggled on the Brouilly climb his career high for shutouts in a season while the third-place Flyers in the tightly bunched France holder Chris Froome had to pull out of but managed to hang on to the coat-tails of winning his sixth straight start against the Metropolitan Division. Jose 6, Toronto 2. that race due to a bad back, meaning Thomas the 30-strong chase group. Capitals. Adam Henrique was held in check by the was promoted to team leader in the ‘Race to The big loser of the day, though, was Flyers, and his six-game goal streak was Western Conference the sun’. “It’s incredible, I didn’t know I’d be Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, who came BLUE JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 1 snapped. Henrique had nine goals and two Pacific Division team leader until Friday, after Richie pulled home 57sec down, effectively seeing his over- Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky out,” said a delighted Thomas. all hopes go up in smoke. Today’s fifth stage is assists during that run. W L OTL GF GA PTS scored 40 seconds apart in the third period Nicklas Grossman scored for the Flyers (33- “I trained really well but to be honest, I a hilly 153km from Creches-sur-Saone to Anaheim 43 15 7 208 160 93 hadn’t planned on attacking on the final Rive-de-Gier. — AFP and Sergei Bobrovsky had 39 saves, leading 25-7), who are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Columbus to the victory. Philadelphia had a potential tying goal by San Jose 42 17 7 205 159 91 Nick Foligno and Derek MacKenzie also Scott Hartnell disallowed by officials with 40.1 Los Angeles 38 22 6 162 139 82 scored and Nathan Horton had two assists for seconds remaining because it was deter- Phoenix 31 24 11 184 189 73 Wheels of S African the Blue Jackets, who have won five of six. mined that Hartnell pushed goalie Martin Vancouver 29 28 10 157 181 68 Columbus was playing one night after its Brodeur into the net. Calgary 25 33 7 152 194 57 game at Dallas was postponed in the first justice grind slowly Edmonton 23 35 8 166 215 54 period when the Stars’ Rich Peverley collapsed HURRICANES 3, RANGERS 1 on the bench. Jordan Staal and Jiri Tlusty both had a goal JOHANNESBURG: Courtroom number will show the crucial link to the Pakistani’s The Blue Jackets and Red Wings came in to and an assist as the Hurricanes snapped a 10- Central Division twenty three in South Africa’s Johannesburg murder, but the police laboratory is buckling this game tied with 71 points in the East and St. Louis 44 14 7 213 148 95 Regional Magistrate’s Court only has six peo- under a severe backlog. game losing streak against the Rangers. battling for playoff position. Danny DeKeyser ple in the gallery, no throng of world media According to the latest police data avail- Elias Lindholm added an insurance goal for Chicago 38 13 14 223 172 90 and proceedings take place at a snail’s pace. able, the police’s DNA facility received about scored for the Red Wings, who went to third- Carolina late in the third period. Cam Ward Colorado 42 18 5 199 172 89 string goalie Petr Mrazek when Jimmy The overburdened magistrate spends the 200,000 requests over six-month period in made 24 saves for his first win since Dec. 31. Minnesota 34 22 9 161 161 77 morning briefly hearing then swiftly post- 2012, a 67 percent increase from the previ- Howard couldn’t play because of the flu. Kevin Klein had the Rangers’ goal, scoring Dallas 32 23 10 188 181 74 poning trial work on a number of cases, after ous year. Mrazek stopped 33 shots. for the first time since being acquired from a barrage of procedural requests from prose- Another obstacle is the unavailability of a Nashville on Jan. 22. Henrik Lundqvist Winnipeg 30 28 8 182 192 68 cutors. key state witness who has relocated to SHARKS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 2 Nashville 28 28 10 160 195 66 Here, murders attract little attention and another town. Phetoe has already made stopped 32 shots. illicit few tears, in stark contrast to the trial of nearly ten court appearances since 2012. Joe Pavelski had two goals and an assist The Rangers had outscored the Hurricanes Olympics hero Oscar Pistorius for the murder And after a quick exchange between the and passed the 400-point milestone for his 40-19 in the teams’ previous 10 meetings, Eastern Conference of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a short prosecutor, Phetoe’s harried state-appointed career to lead San Jose to its third straight vic- including a 4-2 road victory on Friday. Atlantic Division distance away in Pretoria. On this particular lawyer and the magistrate, the case gets hit tory, topping Toronto. Carolina also snapped New York’s six-game Boston 42 17 5 204 143 89 day, 35-year-old Kagisho Phetoe, dressed in with yet another delay, this time because a Tommy Wingels also scored, had a second winning streak in Raleigh. simple trousers and a shirt, has been accused pathologist is across town giving evidence at Toronto 35 24 8 198 205 78 goal waved off, delivered a bone-crushing The Rangers, 8-4-1 in their past 13 games, of murder, just like Pistorius. another trial. check, and got into a fight for the Sharks, who Montreal 35 24 7 166 166 77 And like Pistorius, he has pleaded not remained one point ahead of Philadelphia for Tampa Bay 34 24 7 186 171 75 guilty and has been granted bail. But there TIME PRESSED LAWYERS moved within two points of Anaheim for first second place in the Metropolitan Division. the similarities end. The crime involving At the Pistorius trial, the celebrity defen- place in the Pacific Division. Brent Burns, Detroit 29 23 13 172 183 71 Pistorius took place on Valentine’s Day last dant is relying on a hand-picked team of lead Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Marty Havlat added PREDATORS 4, SABRES 1 Ottawa 28 25 12 185 213 68 year. The trial began a week ago, is already lawyers, cross-examiners and experts to goals. Antti Niemi made 19 saves. Shea Weber had a goal and an assist as the Florida 24 34 7 157 209 55 half way through, and is expected to con- mount a multi-pronged defence. Jake Gardiner scored twice for the Maple Predators earned their second straight road Buffalo 19 38 8 129 192 46 clude next week. His team includes a forensic geologist, Leafs, who looked worn down one night after Phetoe meanwhile is accused of a mur- gun experts and even an animation firm win. Nick Spaling, Craig Smith and Paul an emotional 3-1 win over the Ducks in coach der, the killing of Pakistani shop-keeper called The Evidence Room from Cleveland, Gaustad also scored for Nashville, which got Metropolitan Division Ashok Kapur, that took place three months Ohio to digitally recreate the crime scene. Randy Carlyle’s return to Anaheim. James 24 saves from Carter Hutton. before the Pistorius events, and after many The state is also unleashing its best, includ- Reimer made 42 saves. Pavelski scored San Drew Stafford scored for Buffalo, which Pittsburgh 44 17 4 206 159 92 delays, the hopes of a speedy trial have evap- ing lead prosecutor Gerrie Nel who once Jose’s final two goals to give him 34 for the has lost three in a row. Hutton staved off a NY Rangers 35 27 4 172 165 74 orated. sent an ex-Interpol chief to jail. season. Buffalo attack that controlled possession and Columbus 34 26 5 190 179 73 In contrast, most trials in South Africa are outshot Nashville 11-5 in the second period Philadelphia 33 25 7 184 190 73 LONG WAIT run with the just a minimum of forensic evi- OILERS 4, WILD 3 Phetoe, an unemployed father from a dence, perhaps a post-mortem report and a on the way to a 25-24 advantage for the New Jersey 29 24 13 163 168 71 Taylor Hall scored in the fourth round of game. rundown Johannesburg suburb, stood in the few photos, said criminal law professor Washington 30 27 10 193 202 70 courtroom alone, waiting his turn before the Stephen Tuson of the University of the shootout to lift Edmonton to the win. Hall judge. Witwatersrand. And even once his case does beat Darcy Kuemper with a forehand after COYOTES 3, PANTHERS 1 Carolina 28 28 9 163 185 65 “The longest wait has been over DNA get going, Phetoe, like most South Africans, each team scored in the first two rounds of Radim Vrbata had a goal and two assists, NY Islanders 25 33 9 188 228 59 results,” he told AFP. “Everytime I come here will find himself without a dream team of the the shootout. Viktor Fasth stopped two powering Phoenix to the road win. Oliver I’m told that they are not ready.” The key to country’s best lawyers. straight shots before Hall slipped the game- Ekman-Larsson and Mike Ribeiro also scored Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one the prosecution case is a bloodied shirt For his case, Phetoe relies solely on an winner between Kuemper’s pads. found in Phetoe’s possession when he was overburdened state-sponsored lawyer, who for the Coyotes. Mike Smith made 31 saves. point in the standings and are not included in Zach Parise, Jared Spurgeon, and Jason Brandon Pirri scored and Roberto Luongo stopped by police near the scene. he says has little time and is often in a rush to the loss column (L). Prosecutors are betting DNA evidence move on to other cases.—AFP Pominville scored in a 4-minute, 16-second stopped 23 shots for the Panthers. span of the first period to put the Wild up 3-0. Phoenix won its second consecutive road THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 SPORTS Spurs stop Bulls charge

CHICAGO: Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and Tony Parker had 20 as the league-leading San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 104-96 on Tuesday. Kawhi Leonard added 16 for San Antonio, which won its seventh straight and 10th in its last 11. The Spurs (47-16) maintained their hold on the NBA’s best record, staying ahead of Oklahoma City and Indiana, who both started play Tuesday a half-game behind the Spurs. San Antonio jumped out to a big lead early, taking a 61-33 advantage into half- time, including 18 from Parker. That helped them improve to 24-6 on the road, the NBA’s best mark away from home. DJ Augustin led the Bulls with 24 points and Jimmy Butler had 23.

PACERS 94, CELTICS 83 David West scored 24 points and Andrew Bynum grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds in his Pacers debut, helping suddenly struggling Indiana pull away late for a win over Boston. Indiana (47-17) ended its longest los- ing streak of the season at four. Paul George added 12 points as the Pacers extended their Eastern Conference lead CHICAGO: Carlos Boozer No. 5 of the Chicago Bulls fouls Tiago Splitter No. 22 of the San Antonio Spurs at the to 11/2 games over two-time defending United Center. — AFP champion Miami in the East. Boston (22-42) was led by Jared Sullinger with 17 points and Kris NBA results/standings Humphries with 15 as its two-game win- ning streak ended. Bynum played just 15 CHELTENHAM: Sire de Grugy ridden by Jamie Moore on their way Indiana 94, Boston 83; Detroit 99, Sacramento 89; San Antonio 104, Chicago 96; Memphis 109, Portland 99; minutes but his first basket gave Indiana Minnesota 112, Milwaukee 101; Oklahoma City 106, Houston 98; Golden State 108, Dallas 85. to victory in the Queen Mother Champion chase during day two of a 16-14 lead and the Pacers never trailed the Cheltenham Festival. — AP again. Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Northwest Division Sire de Grugy wins THUNDER 106, ROCKETS 98 W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 47 17 .734 - Kevin Durant scored 42 points to help Toronto 35 27 .565 - Portland 42 22 .656 5 the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Brooklyn 32 30 .516 3 Minnesota 32 31 .508 14.5 Champion Chase Houston Rockets. Oklahoma City’s Russell NY Knicks 25 40 .385 11.5 Denver 27 36 .429 19.5 Westbrook scored 24 points and got the Boston 22 42 .344 14 Utah 22 42 .344 25 CHELTENHAM: Sire de Grugy Moore, whose highly successful best of nemesis Patrick Beverley. During Philadelphia 15 48 .238 20.5 Pacific Division recorded a fairytale win on the sec- flat racing jockey brother Ryan was last year’s playoffs, Beverley dived for the Central Division LA Clippers 45 20 .692 - ond day of the Cheltenham Festival present to watch him, was given ball and ran into Westbrook’s right knee Indiana 47 17 .734 - yesterday as he landed the feature the rare accolade as he returned on Golden State 41 24 .631 4 as a timeout was being called, causing Chicago 35 29 .547 12 race Queen Mother Champion the winner as all his fellow jockeys the injury that ended Westbrook’s season Detroit 25 39 .391 22 Phoenix 36 27 .571 8 Chase, giving jockey Jamie Moore were there to greet him and and cost him about half of this season. It LA Lakers 22 42 .344 22.5 his first ever win at the meeting. applaud his win. Cleveland 24 40 .375 23 was their first meeting since the incident. Milwaukee 13 51 .203 34 Sacramento 22 42 .344 22.5 The winner-trained by Moore’s “I love this horse passionately, I Southwest Division father Gary-rewarded the hairdress- have such a good rapport with Serge Ibaka had 12 points and 16 Southeast Division ing sons of chief owner Steve him,” said the jockey. “It’s all down rebounds for the Thunder, who had lost Miami 44 17 .721 - San Antonio 47 16 .746 - Preston, who had clubbed together to him, he is tremendous. It is two straight. Former Thunder guard Washington 33 30 .524 12 Houston 44 20 .688 3.5 to raise money to buy a horse for amazing he hates Cheltenham and James Harden scored 28 points. Charlotte 30 34 .469 15.5 Memphis 37 26 .587 10 him on his 50th birthday five years he hates fast ground but he carries Atlanta 27 35 .435 17.5 Dallas 38 27 .585 10 ago. In winning, the eight-year-old on winning,” he added. PISTONS 99, KINGS 89 Orlando 19 46 .292 27 New Orleans 26 37 .413 21 took his winnings for the season Preston, who had chosen the Josh Smith scored 24 points and alone to £300,000 ($500,000, colors of his favorite football club Rodney Stuckey added 23 to lift the 360,000 euros). Crystal Palace, while adding white Detroit Pistons over the Sacramento With last year’s champion stars on the sleeves for each of his Kings. Andre Drummond added 15 points Sprinter Sacre out because of a sons, said that he was delighted to and eight rebounds for Detroit, outscor- Hafeez wants Pakistan to heart scare earlier in the season, have proved wrong those who had ing DeMarcus Cousins in a matchup of Sire de Grugy was the class horse in questioned the talent of horse, two of the NBA’s top young big men. the race and he was always travel- trainer and rider. Cousins had 13 points and 14 rebounds take-off with India match ling well under Moore. “I don’t know what to say, he’s but shot 5 of 15 from the field. While all his main rivals dropped just proven that he is really classy Detroit trailed 54-52 at halftime but LAHORE: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez yesterday Hafeez hopes dashing allrounder Shahid Afridi will away-trainer Nicky Henderson’s and put in their place those people outscored the Kings 20-11 in the third said he hoped his team get a much-needed lift from their regain fitness and join the team on March 17. “Afridi is hopes of a third successive win in who have been saying for weeks quarter. Rudy Gay scored 20 points and match against arch-rivals India, which opens the main going through rehab, I as a captain, need a fit Afridi that’s the race disappearing when that he wouldn’t win and even Isaiah Thomas added 19 points and eight round of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. The fifth edi- why we have given him time,” said Hafeez of the dashing Captain Conan was pulled up early some who said they didn’t want tion of the World Twenty20 with 16 teams in competition hitter who hurt his groin during the Asia Cup. on-Moore waited until just before him to win,” said Preston. assists for Sacramento. The Pistons snapped a three-game los- will be held from March 16 to April 6. The 34-year-old Afridi hit two last over sixes to help the last fence to deliver his chal- Gary Moore, whose last winner Bangladesh, ranked 10th in the world, have been drawn Pakistan beat India and then smashed a whirwind 25-ball ing streak and pulled to within three lenge. at the Festival was in 2004, was with Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong in group A of the 59 to steer a difficult 327-run chase against hosts Jumping it perfectly he pulled ecstatic. “He couldn’t do any more games of Atlanta for the final playoff spot first round. Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. away from veteran Somersby- than that could he. He is class per- in the Eastern Conference. The other group comprises Zimbabwe, Ireland, the Hafeez said Pakistan team received good support from trained by former England interna- sonified. I am so happy for every- United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. The top team Bangladeshi fans. “After a very long time we felt in tional striker Mick Channon-to win one involved. I just play a small TIMBERWOLVES 112, BUCKS 101 from each group advances to the main tournament. They Bangladesh that crowd is supporting us, although we play at 11/4. role!” he said. — AFP Kevin Love had 27 points, 10 rebounds will join the eight seeded teams in the second, which our home matches in UAE (United Arab Emirates) we didn’t and six assists and J.J. Barea broke out of opens with Indo-Pak match on March 21. get that much support as we got in Bangladesh, it’s a good a horrid shooting slump to score 19 Hafeez wants his team to get the ideal start by beating sign for Pakistan that wherever we are going we are get- points to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves India. “India-Pakistan match is always a pressure match, as ting crowd support.” — AFP French players eager to over the Milwaukee Bucks. After going 5 for 25 in his previous deliver, says Medard three games, Barea hit 7 of 10 shots to help wake the sluggish Wolves up and India moves Kevin Martin scored 26 points to help MARCOUSSIS: France’s players are the best team in the tournament them finish a four-game homestand at 2- determined to prove their growing there will be a huge amount of IPL offshore number of critics wrong and pro- pressure. “We know that if we lose a 2. duce a good performance against lot of people will hammer us. Brandon Knight scored 21 points for Six Nations leaders Ireland in the Therefore we are really eager to do the Bucks (13-51), who led at halftime NEW DELHI: The United Arab Emirates will host the final match of the tournament, said something good.” and were looking for their first set of first leg of this year’s Indian Premier League cricket Maxime Medard. The Irish-who Medard, though, expressed his back-to-back victories this season. But (IPL), the organisers said yesterday. Medard described as ‘the best team consternation at the perversity of after scoring 61 points in the first half and The lucrative Twenty20 tournament this year clash- in the tournament’-enter the final the reactions over their present leading by 11 points in the second quar- es with the parliamentary election in the world’s round of matches level on six record in the championship com- ter, the Bucks were outscored 19-4 to biggest democracy. A staggering 814 million Indians points with England and France pared to last year. start the fourth quarter. will be eligible to vote from April 7 in what would be but with a significantly superior “When we win, a lot of ques- the biggest election the world has ever seen. Voting will be held in nine stages to May 12, and points difference. tions are asked,” he said. “When we GRIZZLIES 109, TRAIL BLAZERS 99 However, while both Ireland lose the same thing happens and results are due to be announced on May 16. With poll Marc Gasol scored 19 points, Zach security being the Indian government’s priority, UAE and England have been highly- when we draw even more ques- Randolph added 18 points and 12 praised for their performances in tions are asked of us. would host at least 16 IPL matches from April 16-30, rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies solidi- the Indian cricket board said in a statement without this season’s competition, the “We are wondering when that fied their hold on the final Western English inflicting the only defeat on will stop and we can say to all those naming the venues. Conference playoff spot with a victory the Irish 13-10, France have been people: ‘That’s terrific and now we Local media claimed Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah slammed by ex-players, coaches can have a beer together’.” Veteran over the Portland Trail Blazers. would host those matches. The Board of Control for and the media alike. hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, who Mike Conley added 17 points and Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the interior Not even the fact that the didn’t play in the win over Scotland Courtney Lee finished with 16, including FATULLAH: Bangladeshi cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim plays a ministry for permission to host the May 1-12 matches French have won more matches as he was injured, was in more com- helping the Grizzlies extend their lead in shot during a warm-up cricket match against United Arab in states where polling would be over, but has kept (three) than they did in the whole bative mood and harangued the the third quarter. Mike Miller had 14 for Emirates ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup Cricket. — AP Bangladesh as a standby in case the government can- of last year-they won two (against media and the former “rugbymen”, Memphis, which won its third straight. not provide security. Scotland and Tonga), drew one and who are now pundits, for their Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with a player as a captain I am very happy that our first match is “BCCI will abide by the decision of the authorities lost eight-including a thrilling late downbeat assessments of the team. 32 points. against India and from there we will, Insha’Allah get a good in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India dur- victory over England has placated “A short time ago they were in take off and will perform better in all the matches during ing this period, IPL matches will be held in the tournament,” Hafeez told reporters. the critics of head coach Philippe the same position but they have WARRIORS 108, MAVERICKS 85 Bangladesh,” the board said. The Pakistan team flies off on Thursday and will play Saint-Andre and his squad. forgotten that very quickly,” said Jordan Crawford scored 19 points, and The last set of matches culminating in the June 1 While several of the players the 31-year-old, 78-times capped two warm-up matches, against New Zealand on March 17 final would be held in India, the board said, promising Andrew Bogut had 15 points and 10 and South Africa two days later. have bristled at this sense of injus- Racing-Metro star. “They have rebounds as the surging Golden State to share tournament schedules soon. Pakistan are placed in Group Two in the second round South Africa hosted the second IPL in 2009 when tice that they can’t win whatever developed amnesia.” Warriors routed the Dallas Mavericks for they do, having lost last year on Szarzewski, a member of the alongwith India, Australia, the West Indies and one qualifier the cash-awash tournament clashed with the multi- their fifth straight win. from the first round. Hafeez believed Pakistan had the phased election that year. several occasions despite playing France side that lost 8-7 to hosts Klay Thompson added 14 points to well and now winning in ugly fash- New Zealand in the 2011 World momentum with a win over India in the Asia Cup. The Dubai-headquartered International Crickt ion, like the 19-17 success over Cup final, called on the criticism to help the Warriors go ahead by 24 points “I think we will have that momentum of our win against Council (ICC) hailed the decision, saying IPL matches Scotland last Saturday, Medard be transformed into support.“I early in the fourth quarter and create India in the Asia Cup,” said Hafeez of the one wicket win in in UAE would raise the game’s profile in the Gulf accepted not all was going would prefer that you the media be more space behind them in the crowded the Asia Cup earlier this month. nation which has qualified for this year’s World smoothly. “People’s expectations a bit more behind the France team Western Conference standings. Golden “We have advantage that where we are going Twenty20 and next year’s 50-over World Cup. were high because they felt that and stop criticising. State (41-24) is sixth in the West, three (Bangladesh) we have played one-day cricket there recent- ICC chief David Richardson called it “great news” there was quality in this team,” said “We need you and your support games ahead of Dallas (38-27) and ly. We have one week to get back into Twenty20 mould, and pledged the governing body’s support to the the 27-year-old, who can play at as we are all in the same boat.” Memphis (37-26). expectations should be always positive and we all need to event. “Recognising the importance of the integrity of both wing and fullback. Contrary to the general impression, Former Warriors fan favorite Monta move in one direction.” the competition, the ICC will provide its full support “But we have not been able to the hooker said that things were Ellis scored 15 points, and Dirk Nowitzki Hafeez said no team will be easy in the event. “Lots of for the matches in the UAE, including through the pro- live up to that billing. That must moving in the right direction just had 12 points and six rebounds in a dis- teams are playing Twenty20 now and you can’t take any vision of anti-corruption services,” Richardson said in a annoy a lot of people and it has over a year ahead of the 2015 appointing display by Dallas. The Warriors team easy, you have to be positive in your thinking against statement. “It will also be a good opportunity for both been frustrating for us as well. World Cup, a tournament the outshot the Mavericks 51.2 percent to all the teams. I think two things are very important in a big the BCCI and the ICC to share knowledge and experi- “On Saturday in front of our French have never won despite 36.6 percent and outrebounded Dallas 46 tournament, one is momentum which you have to carry ence as we both strive to deliver memorable events to and the second is luck and with the prayers of countrymen public and our families and against appearing in three finals.—AFP to 40, showing no signs of slowing down cricket fans around the world.” — Reuters the luck factor will also be with us.” anytime soon. — AP SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Photo of the day Djokovic and Li advance

INDIAN WELLS: Normal service resumed at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Tuesday when Novak Djokovic safely booked his place in the fourth round of the men’s draw and Li Na moved into the women’s quarter- finals. Djokovic had a little hiccup when he dropped the sec- ond set of his match with Colombia’s Alejandro Gonzalez but was otherwise untroubled in winning 6-1 3-6 6-1. “I thought I played really well from the start,” said Djokovic, a two-time champion at Indian Wells. “Then sud- denly I just had a big loss of concentration and allowed him to win the second set for no reason. I bounced back better in the third.” While the Serbian was not at his best, Djokovic did at least survive to fight another day in the Californian desert after the shock losses of world number one Rafa Nadal and Maria Sharapova on Monday. Djokovic’s next opponent is the big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic, who recorded his 20th win this season with a 6-4 6-3 over Spain’s Tommy Robredo. “I obviously cannot allow myself to have these particu- lar concentration lapses in the match at this level especially in the next match when I’m playing Cilic, a guy who is in really good form and I think has gotten better in last cou- ple of months working with (Goran) Ivanisevic.” Li, promoted to the women’s top seed after winning the Australian Open and in the absence of Serena Williams, A competitor performs at the Langlands Yard Sessions in Cambridge, New Zealand beat Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1 6-4 but only after a on February 22, 2014 — www.redbullcontentpool.com extraordinary final game where she struggled to close out the match. Li raced through the opening set in just over half an hour then recovered from 3-0 down to serve for the match at 5-4 when she suddenly got the wobbles. All change as Formula The final game lasted 20 minutes as Li squandered 10 match points and took her tally of double-faults for the match to nine before she finally sealed the win. “I only can say: Welcome to the crazy women’s tennis tour,” she told One enters new era the crowd in a courtside interview. “I think all the match I was feeling pretty good, except the last game,” Li was quot- SYDNEY: The prospect of seeing Sebastian Vettel beaten for the can’t wait to get started,” added the Briton, whose win in Hungary ed as saying on the WTA website (www.wtatennis.com). first time since last July is just one of the many novelties Sunday’s last July was the last by anyone other than Vettel. Ferrari will be “The funny thing was that in the beginning of the game season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix promises to hoping to challenge with their new lineup of champions follow- I was feeling tight, nervous, and then I was like, “What’s deliver. Just how much trouble Vettel’s Red Bull team might be in ing the return of Finland’s 2007 title winner Kimi Raikkonen - tri- going on? Why can’t I finish the match?” and she wasn’t INDIAN WELLS: Li Na, of China, smiles after defeating is one of the questions waiting for an answer as the sport’s umphant in Melbourne for Lotus last year - to partner Fernando giving up, and was defending so well. It was really tough. Aleksandra Wozniak, of Canada, 6-1, 6-4 at the BNP unpredictable new turbo era whooshes into action at Alonso. The cars will sound different without the old V8 engines “All I can say is wow, she saved a lot of match points. Paribas Open tennis tournament. — AP Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit. The quadruple world champion and will also be far less reliable at first, with any repairs likely to She’s pretty good.” While Robredo lost to the towering Cilic, won the last nine races of 2013 but the 26-year-old German take far longer due to the complexity of the power units. three of his compatriots all advanced with Fernando Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the second seed, spent much of his time during the pre-season tests in Spain and How many cars will start from the grid, let alone finish the Verdasco upsetting world number nine Richard Gasquet of breezed past Alize Cornet of France 7-5 6-3 while Slovakia’s Bahrain watching the car being worked on in the garage. race now that fuel economy is a big factor, is another uncertainty. France 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 to leave Djokovic as the only top-10 Dominika Cibulkova brushed aside the challenge of Petra Red Bull are braced for a reality check as they and partners Some insiders have predicted that Sunday evening could see less player left in the bottom half of the men’s draw. Roberto Kvitova, beating the Czech 6-3 6-2. Renault work against the clock to fix the troublesome 1.6 litre V6 than half the field reach the chequered flag. In 1996, when Bautista Agut held his nerve to beat Finland’s Jarkko Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi came back to Earth with a hybrid turbo engine and its complicated new energy recovery Melbourne first hosted the grand prix, only 11 cars made it to the Nieminen 6-2 4-6 7-6 (8-6) to move on before Feliciano thud when she was thrashed 6-2 6-1 by compatriot Flavia systems. Rivals Mercedes, under new leadership following the finish in a race won by Britain’s Damon Hill in a Williams. Lopez joined the Spanish Armada with a 1-6 6-3 6-4 defeat Pennetta less than 24 hours after she stunned Sharapova. departure of Ross Brawn, have been racking up the laps with far That team had a nightmare season last year, the former cham- of Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan. Romania’s Simona Halep qualified for the last eight with less hassle. “Mercedes have got a bit of a march on people. They pions taking only a meagre five points and finishing ninth overall, In the women’s draw, Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic ended her a hard-fought 6-2 1-6 6-4 win over Canada’s Eugenie invested more, they invested earlier. They’ve got themselves into but they are more optimistic now they have switched Renault five-match losing streak to Denmark’s Carolina Wozniacki Bouchard after trailling 4-3 in the deciding set. a good position,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told power for Mercedes. Brazilian Felipe Massa, who has joined when she reeled off 10 consecutive games to win 6-3 6-1 “It wasn’t my best tennis today, but I was fighting a lot,” reporters. “If Mercedes were to finish two laps ahead of the oppo- Williams from Ferrari, lapped faster than anyone in Bahrain test- and advance to the quarter-finals. “At 3-1, I kind of found said Halep, ranked seventh in the world. “I did well. I think I sition in Melbourne, that wouldn’t be a surprise, based on what ing and was able to put in plenty of laps. my way, found my rhythm, and I was striking the ball very came back in the third set very well.” we’ve seen in pre-season testing. It’s massive. “The new car we have is really well built, good quality... it is well out there and took control of the points,” said Jankovic. Halep’s next match will be against Australian qualifier “From what we can see at the moment, all the Mercedes pow- very reliable and not slow either so it’s going to be an exciting “I just did not let her play what she plays. That was very Casey Dellacqua, who got a walkover to the quarter-finals ered teams are in pretty decent shape and we’re not. season,” Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas told Reuters. important. So I was pretty pleased with the way I played after her American Lauren Davis retired with gastrointesti- “We’re on the back foot, and have a lot of ground to catch up,” “Like I’ve kept saying for a couple of years now, I really think and how composed I stayed throughout the whole match.” nal illness. — Reuters added the Briton, who now has Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the the future of Williams is going to be good and hopefully this can lineup following compatriot Mark Webber’s retirement. be a step forward from other years.” McLaren, starting their last season with Mercedes before the HAMILTON CONFIDENT switch to Honda, are also looking for a strong start after failing Horner’s words may be a part of the pre-season mind games, to step on the podium at all last year and ousting principal repositioning Red Bull as underdogs but Mercedes drivers Lewis Martin Whitmarsh. Jenson Button, who spoke movingly last Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have sounded quietly confident week of how much he will miss his father in the first race since about a car that is sleeker than many of its ‘ugly’ new-look rivals. his death in January, has an exciting new team mate in 21-year- “With all the changes within the sport and the hard work old Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen. “We’re not the quickest,” that’s been going on within the team, I believe this can be our said the 2009 champion, who has won in Australia three times year to really show what we’re capable of,” said Hamilton, the in the last five years. “We’re looking at Q3 (qualifying in the top 2008 world champion with McLaren. 10) and then a very good points finish at the end, if we can get “I feel like I’m equipped with the tools I need to succeed. I to the end.” — Reuters Hoefl-Riesch crashes, loses World Cup lead

LENZERHEIDE: Germany’s Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed Lenzerheide, in-form Fenninger has an ideal opportunity to heavily and was taken to hospital at the World Cup finals in clinch the overall World Cup for the first time. Lenzerheide yesterday, jeopardising her chances of win- She holds a solid 235-point lead over third-placed Gut ning the overall title. who won the last downhill of the season in one minute Hoefl-Riesch, the overall champion in 2011, was sent to 32.31 seconds. Austria’s Elisabeth Goergl was second, 0.05 hospital in nearby Chur with a suspected shoulder injury behind and Swiss Fraenzi Aufdenblatten was third. after crashing in the downhill which was won by Swiss Lara In the men’s downhill, Olympic champion Matthias Gut. Mayer validated his gold medal with his maiden World Cup More details about her condition were not immediately victory. “It’s a great way to end the winter,” the 23-year-old available but the German all rounder had been unable to Austrian, unexpectedly crowned in Sochi, said. take part in the downhill training because of a bad cold. “To win today is something unique for me because it’s Anna Fenninger was trailing Olympic super combined my first World Cup victory. I achieved in a few months my gold medallist Hoefl-Riesch by 29 points in the overall goals for my whole career. INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a forehand volley to Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia dur- World Cup standings before the start but the Austrian fin- The demanding profile of the Swiss piste favoured tech- ing the BNP Paribas Open. — AFP ished sixth in the downhill and now leads by 11 points. nical skiers and allowed giant slalom Olympic and world Hoefl-Riesch had already clinched the World Cup down- champion Ted Ligety to clinch his first downhill podium. hill title but was unable to receive her crystal globe at the The American was tied for second place with Olympic medal ceremony after the day’s race. silver-medallist Christof Innerhofer of Italy, 0.11 seconds Henman believes doping “It was a strange feeling to do the ceremony without behind Mayer. Maria,” Fenninger, who won the super-G title at the Sochi A rather disappointing fifth, 0.20 adrift, was Norway’s Olympics, said. “We don’t like it to end this way. Aksel Lund Svindal who collected 45 points and claimed not significant in tennis “I hope she’ll recover soon and return. I don’t think back the overall World Cup lead on 1,091 points, 41 more about the overall. I ski my races and try to keep cool. I than Austria’s World Cup holder Marcel Hirscher. “In terms know that Maria could not be back and that Tina (Maze) of the overall title, it’s almost too exciting right now. We’re LONDON: Tennis must guard against doping even if don’t think it will. I don’t think there’s a culture of drug- needs to win the next three races to beat me but I don’t both at the same place right now and I have to say it’s defi- performance enhancing drugs have not been a major taking,” said Henman. want to think about it.” nitely 50-50,” said the Norwegian, who already won the problem in the sport, former world number four Tim Cycling has been plagued by doping scandals in With Hoefl-Riesch a major doubt for the final races in downhill crystal globe. — Reuters Henman warned yesterday. recent years, with the sport reaching a new low when “People have cheated, we’ve had positive drugs tests U.S. rider Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven in tennis and we’ve got to be absolutely at the forefront Tour de France wins and handed a lifetime ban in 2012. of testing to make sure that the deterrent is great Henman said tennis was different: “I can’t honestly say enough to put people off,” the Briton told The Tennis I’ve looked at any or many players and said: ‘are they Space website. taking performance enhancing drugs?’,” he said. High-profile men’s players Marin Cilic of Croatia and “When you understand and play the sport and you Serbia’s Viktor Troicki both fell foul of anti-doping regu- see them hitting the shots, you’ve got to be a great lations last year. Cilic served a four-month ban for taking player. That’s where I was always grateful to be in a a banned stimulant while Troicki is still off the Tour after sport like that. his 18-month ban for failing to provide a blood sample “I think I would have found it very difficult if I was was cut to 12. involved in a sport where I was always looking at com- The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is introduc- petitors and being sceptical, if there were people test- ing a biological passport system, following calls for ing positive on a continuous basis.” more anti-doping procedures from leading players like Henman said he had some sympathy for players Roger Federer, but Henman doubts whether doping can these days with the amount of health supplements on even help tennis players. the market. “It’s a very physically demanding sport but I still clas- “I remember the ATP did a survey on nutritional sup- sify it as a skill sport. If you’ve got a very bad backhand, plements. They tested 643 or whatever the number was it doesn’t matter what you’re going to take, it’s not and they said 24 percent of them were contaminated,” going to get better,” the four-times Wimbledon semi- he said. finalist said. “When I stopped playing, I almost felt a sort of relief “But we’ve got to make sure the testing is often, and that I didn’t have to be so diligent. “I think the testing out of competition testing is very important to make has got more severe and having to give an hour, every sure we have a clean sport. Because to our audience, to day, of where you are, is really hard, especially in a glob- the fans, to the sponsors, it has to be a level-playing al sport, where you’re travelling and you don’t know field. whether you’re going to be in the first round or a final.” “When you see what’s happened in cycling, for In 2013 the ITF carried out 2,752 blood and urine SWITZERLAND: Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany speeds down the course during the women’s downhill race at example, it’s a catastrophe for the sport. We’ve got to tests (in and out of competition) compared to 2,185 in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup finals. — AP make sure that isn’t going to happen in tennis and I 2012. — Reuters SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Al-Hammadi chairs ASF technical committee

Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah awarding the winning medals to the 10 meter rifle, women indi- Engr Duaij Al-Otaibi (right) during the playing of the DRK national anthem. viduals. — Photos by Sherif Ismail N Korean shooter hits bulls-eye

Abdulla Ali Al-Mutawaa Al-Hammadi

By Sherif Ismail

KUWAIT: In an exclusive interview with Kuwait Times on the sidelines of the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed 3rd Annual International Shooting and the 7th Asian Air Gun Shooting Championships in Kuwait, Qatar’s Shooting & Archery Association (QSAA) secretary and the chairman of the Arab Shooting Federation’s (ASF) technical com- mittee Abdulla Ali Al-Mutawwa Al-Hammadi highly commended Kuwait and KSF’s efforts in organizing such international championships. Hammadi, who is a well- known international shooting referee and lecturer who was recently selected chairman of ASF’s technical com- mittee, also said that the next comprehensive shooting championship would be held in Qatar in November.

Engr Mohammad Al-Ghurba awards the 10 m air rifle winners. 10m air rifle winners during the playing of the national anthem. Q: What do you think of this year’s championship? A: Kuwait is special for us in Qatar where we are fully confident that both Kuwait and its shooting federa- By Abdellatif Sharaa has so far 9 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze tion (KSF) have all the expertise needed to organize medals, while India has 3 gold, 4 silver and 5 such an important annual championship that KUWAIT: North Korean shooter Hye Gyong bronze. Mongolia has one gold, one silver matches and surpasses other international shooting Chae , who won the bronze medal in 2006, and one bronze medals. Uzbekistan and events. won the gold medal on the third day of the Singapore have a gold medal each while Amir International Grand Prix in Kuwait. Taiwan and South Korea have one silver and Q: You have been unanimously recommended to chair ASF’s technical committee. Can you tell us Meanwhile Scotland’s Niven Sharon won sil- one bronze medal while Saudi Arabia and about that? ver and the bronze was claimed by Ray Oman have one bronze medal each. A: Thanks be to Allah, after consolations with member Bassil. Kuwait still heads the tournament Head of the Egyptian delegation at the state federations to recommend the best nominee standings with one gold medal, one silver championship Mohammad Abdelraziq laud- for the post, the president of ASF Duaij Al-Otaibi and two bronze, followed by Qatar, Egypt ed the good organization which made the and chairmen of the Egyptian, Tunisian and most grand prix a success. He said that Egypt’s par- and North Korea with one gold each, and other countries’ shooting federations all recom- finally Thailand and Lebanon with a bronze ticipation was effective, especially that mended me. medal each. shooter Mohammad Azmi won the skeet The 7th Asian Airgun Championship saw gold medal. He said that Egypt always aims Q: Do you have any new suggestions for ASF? China on top of the medals table in addition at winning the gold or good scores despite A: Along with other colleagues, we are all making pro- to breaking two world records in the youth the extraordinary circumstances the country posals and suggestions all the time that are usually and junior categories. Uzbekistan’s is going through now. He described sports reviewed by the technical committee, then the Skorovarov Vadim won the youth 10 m air relations between Egypt and Kuwait as his- board of directors pending discussion and approval. rifle with 206 points beating China’s Yang toric and great that reflect the closeness Engr Duaij Al-Otaibi, second right, with Zimbabwean sporting team and Adel bin Haoran who scored 205.6 points and Wang between the two sides. Hussein. Q: The next shooting championship will be held in Ce with 185.3. in the teams event, China Saudi Arabia’s Shooting Federation presi- Qatar. What are your preparations for it? won gold followed by India and South Korea. dent and head of the participating delega- A: After the Asian Shotgun Shooting Championship In the 10 m rifle women’s youth category, tion in the championship Brig Riyadh Al- due to be held in Al-Ain, UAE, Qatar is scheduled to Singapore’s Veloso Martina Lindsay won the Rashid said he was happy with the results of organize the comprehensive shooting champi- gold medal with 208.7 points followed by the Saudi shooters, as they won the air pistol onship from November 8-17, 2014, and we are Iran’s Najmeh Khedmati with a score of 207 bronze medal for the first time in the history already in the process of preparing for it. Many points and Mongolia’s Nergui Angirmaa with of Arab and Gulf participations. Rashid laud- shooting ranges have been upgraded, adding new 186 points. In the team event, Mongolia was ed the care given by the Higher Organizing camping areas and places where shooters and tech- first followed by South Korea and Iran. Committee and its Chairman President of nicians can relax at very low prices that are In the 10 m junior air rifle, Iran’s Amir Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Duaij designed in a way to help them concentrate on the Hossein Goleasand won the gold medal with Al-Otaibi and Secretary General Obaid Al- competitions. We, in Qatar have great experience in world record score of 206.3 points, breaking Osaimi. He said the good organization and organizing sport championships. In addition to cel- the record of Germany’s Maxmillian Dalinger arrangements makes it easy for the shooters ebrating our National Day anniversary, we have recorded 10 days earlier in Moscow of to concentrate on training. been annually holding what we call ‘the State’s 205.7points. Meanwhile, India’s Ekambir President of the Tajik Shooting Federation Sports Day’ on the second Monday of February. Singh Mandi was second with 205.8 and Behzod Fayezallahov said his federation is China’s Liu Lilong was third with 184.8. In the keen on maintaining contacts with Kuwait Q: Tell us something about state support to sports team event, China was first followed by Iran Shooting Federation, pointing to the distin- in Qatar. and India. guished care Kuwait gives to shooting which A: Upon direct instructions from Sheikh Tamim bin In the 10 m junior women air rifle, China’s is reflected on the general status of the sport Hamad Al-Thani during the International Shotgun Ding Ting Ting won the gold medal with the in the continent under the presidency of Shooting Championship when Qatar hosted over score of 207.3 followed her compatriot Qiu Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah of 300 shooters, very generous financial awards have Yehan with 206.5 and India’s Anjum Moudgil the Asian Shooting Confederation. He appre- been set for the winners of the first six places with a with 183.7 points. In the team event, China ciated the efforts of the organizers who pro- total of $123,000. Unlike other championships that Abdelaziz Al-Muhaiteeb Indian coach making notes about her won gold followed by Iran and India. China vided the best atmosphere to compete. only award the first three winners, he ordered shooters. granting the first six male winners $7,000, $6,000, $5,000 and $4,000 in addition to $1,000 for the fifth and sixth winners in order to encourage and sup- port shooting. he also ordered granting female shooters $6,000, $5,000, $4,000, $3,000 and $1,000 for the fifth and sixth winners. Furthermore, he ordered increasing the number of local and interna- tional shooting championships in order to help pro- mote the sport amongst Qatari youth and the world.

KSSC Engineer Khalid Al-Mansour with one of the referees on one of the ranges.

Abdulaziz Mohammad, Egyptian shooter Istabraq from Kuwait One of the fans concentrates on the per- Shooting Club Manager Ayman Atif with Ahmad Talaat, South Korean shooters recording results of their team- Radio formance of her team. the tournament secretary. mates. SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Diamanti comes to Guangzhou’s rescue

DOHA: Alessandro Diamanti came to Guangzhou Evergrande’s rescue once again yesterday as his first-half equaliser gave the AFC Champions League title-holders a 1-1 draw against Yokohama F. Marinos. The 30-year-old Italian international, who inspired a stunning fightback from two goals down against Melbourne Victory in his tournament debut, buried a superbly struck free-kick to cancel out Jin Hanato’s opener. New recruit Diamanti playing under ex-Italy manager Marcello Lippi, now has three goals in two appearances in the Asian competition, doing no harm to his chances of selection for the World Cup later this year. However, the defending champions dropped their first points and they currently lie second in Group G on goal dif- ference. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are narrowly ahead fol- lowing their 2-2 draw with Victory. Elsewhere, 2011 champions Al Sadd of Qatar were also held by the UAE’s Al Ahli in their Group D match Dubai, with Ecuadorian Grafite clinching a 68th minute equaliser off an Ismaeel al-Hamadi assist. Earlier Nadir Belhadj had put Al Sadd ahead in the 24th minute off a pass from Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness Rodrigo Tabata. In another Group D match, Iran’s Foolad Sepahan edged Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-2, thanks to a stop- page time strike by Albanian Xhevahir Sukaj. Bayern boss Sukaj’s compatriot Ervin Bulku had put the Iranian side ahead in the 17th minute, but Al Hilal scored twice in five minutes through Segundo Castillo and Thiago Neves to Hoeness could entertain hopes of a win. However, after Mehdi Sharifi scored the equaliser in the 72nd minute, Sukaj put paid to face jail today Al Hilal’s hopes with his late winner. In Group C Qatar’s Lekhwiya also dropped points, draw- ing with Iranian side Tractorsazi in Doha ending in a goal- MUNICH: German football legend Uli Hoeness, less draw, while Saudi Arabia’s Al Itthad beat Al Ain 2-1 with head of powerhouse club Bayern Munich, faces a Mukhtar Fallatah scoring both goals for the winners in YOKOHAMA: Guangzhou Evergrande forward Elkeson (bottom) and Yokohama F Marinos defender Fabio (top) fall verdict and possible jail term today after he Mecca. Earlier, Ulsan Hyundai extended their tournament- on the pitch during their AFC Champions League 2014 Group G football match. — AFP admitted in court to having evaded millions in record winning streak to 11 matches, and Australia’s ghosted into the box to meet a cross from the right with a League team held on for the win. taxes. Western Sydney Wanderers celebrated their first ever victo- well-directed header which sailed into the back of the net. Earlier, in Melbourne, a first-half header from Nick Ansell “If tomorrow there are no more applications to ry in the competition. Kim Shin-Wook ensured it finished 2-0 when he got gave Victory a barely deserved half-time lead but they Ulsan’s run dates back to 2012, when they won the com- submit new evidence, then final summaries can Ulsan’s second in stoppage time following a poor clearance went behind in three second-half minutes after a brace petition before failing to qualify for 2013, and Japan’s by Kawasaki goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe. from Jeonbuk skipper Lee Dong-Gook. But with eight min- be heard and the verdict handed down,” Munich Kawasaki Frontale came close to halting it when the game Newcomers Western Sydney beat China’s Guizhou utes left, New Zealander Kosta Barbarouses fired between regional court spokeswoman Andrea Titz said was goalless deep into the second half. Renhe 1-0, after striker Mark Bridge turned the ball in dur- the legs of Jeonbuk goalkeeper Choi Eun-Sung to snatch a yesterday. But with just six minutes left, substitute Yoo Jun-Soo ing a goalmouth scramble in the 10th minute and the A- point against the 2006 champions. — AFP Football-obsessed Germany has been gripped by the high-profile trial this week of Hoeness, 62, a former star player then team manager and cur- Atletico savor returns rent club president who is also a successful busi- Preview nessman. The public image of the stocky, folksy Bavarian, to Europe’s elite known also as a conservative TV talk-show regu- Spurs under pressure lar, has taken a beating since the scandal around MADRID: Atletico Madrid yesterday savored Calderon crowd could certainly play a big his secret Swiss bank accounts broke early last ahead of Benfica clash their rise from the ashes under the guidance part if the Atletico bandwagon is to roll into year. Things have taken a turn for the worse since of Diego Simeone after thrashing seven-time the semi-finals. Nearly 50,000 were crammed he entered the dock Monday, ruefully confessing PARIS: The pressure is on Tottenham visitors’ starting line-up after a back European champions AC Milan. in the stadium waving red and white flags “Greats of Europe” said the Marca sports and drowning out the Champions League to large-scale tax fraud and admitting to a years- Hotspur to perform in the first leg of injury but Serbian international mid- their Europa League last-16 tie against fielder Ljubomir Fejsa will miss the daily after Atletico hammered Milan 4-1 on music as the teams emerged with a chorus long obsession with stocks and currency “gam- Tuesday night-with two goals from new hero of the club’s anthem. bling”. Benfica today, while there are two entic- game. ing derbies on the cards elsewhere. This Meanwhile, one of the great rivalries Diego Costa-to ensure a 5-1 aggregate win “The fans were incredible,” said Simeone. His vow of full disclosure was contradicted by a is a big week for Tim Sherwood’s in the Italian game will be translated to and a Champions League quarter-final place “Things went how we and they wanted them tax officer who testified in court Tuesday that Tottenham side as they look to bounce the European stage as Juventus take on for the first time since Simeone played for to. “When we walked out onto the field and Hoeness had in fact cheated the state out of 27.2 back from a thumping 4-0 defeat at Fiorentina in Turin. the club in 1997. saw all the flags, we had the chance to savor million euros ($37.6 million). Chelsea, the meeting with the The form guide suggests Antonio When the Argentine arrived back in the an extraordinary football moment.” The star That figure was a hefty jump from the 18.5 mil- Portuguese league leaders at White Conte’s Juve are the clear favourites — Spanish capital in December 2011, Atletico of the show from then on was Diego Costa as Hart Lane coming ahead of Sunday’s they beat La Viola 1-0 in Serie A at the were an underachieving mid-table side bur- the new Spanish international continued his lion euros Hoeness had spectacularly confessed dened by a huge debt. In his first 17 months claim to be Vicente del Bosque’s primary to at the trial’s opening, which was itself almost north London derby against Arsenal in weekend to go 14 points clear at the the Premier League. top of the table and leave Fiorentina in charge Simeone delivered Europa League, striking option at the World Cup by scoring five times more than prosecutors had assumed. Spurs capitulated in the second half with just one win in six games. European Supercup and Copa del Rey titles. twice to take his tally for the campaign to 29 The maximum punishment for major tax fraud at Stamford Bridge and the defeat dam- “Obviously I’d have preferred to play Despite having to sell Radamel Falcao to goals in all competitions. under German law is 10 years jail, although sen- aged their prospects of qualifying for another team in Europe but it’s motivat- Monaco last year for 60 million euros ($83 Costa’s rise to prominence has mirrored tences are usually shorter and can be suspended next season’s Champions League while ing for us. We’ll have to dig deep and million) to balance the books, this season that of his team. The Brazilian-born striker if there are mitigating circumstances. also turning up the pressure on their perhaps even raise our game,” Atletico have become serious challengers to spent the first six months of Simeone’s reign rookie manager. It has been suggested Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella perpetual Spanish giants Real Madrid and on-loan at relegation threaten Rayo Barcelona as well as the rest of Europe. Vallecano, one of four loan spells he was ‘LAST CHEER?’ that Tottenham will look to replace told his club’s website ahead of what is a repeat of the 1990 UEFA Cup final, With just 11 games to go in La Liga, farmed out on before returning to strike up a Sitting in court, joined by his wife Susi in the Sherwood with experienced Dutchman Louis van Gaal in the summer, but a which Juve won. Atletico are in front of Barcelona and just deadly partnership with Falcao last season. visitors gallery, Hoeness could be seen clenching good result against an in-form Benfica There is also a derby in store in three points adrift of leaders Real. They have In the Colombian’s absence he has moved up his jaw and, as the damning testimony was deliv- would help the current incumbent’s Spain, with bitter city rivals Sevilla and now won seven and drawn one of their eight another level, becoming the focal point of ered, cupping his hands over his flushed face. cause. Betis meeting at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Champions League games on their return to the team with his aggressive style of play Yesterday, his lawyer Hanns Feigen confirmed “We have to keep showing huge Unai Emery’s team are seventh in La the competition for the first time in four that symbolises Atletico’s approach as a years. Simeone insisted his side will remain group. “He can still improve. He has great the 27.2 million euro amount, telling the court character when we’ve lost in the way Liga and won their last two home we have,” captain Michael Dawson, who games against Betis by four-goal mar- “humble” whoever they are paired with in physical and psychological strength and I am that “the defence considers the figures accurate, the last eight. But for a club that has in the sure there is still plenty more to come from we do not challenge them”. suffered a hamstring injury during the gins, while Betis lie bottom of their Chelsea debacle, told the Tottenham domestic league. past excelled in shooting itself in the foot, he him,” insisted Simeone. “His participation He denied that the defence had been taken by website. “We will have our 12th man behind has created an extraordinary belief among with the Spanish national team will help him surprise by the ballooning amount, adding “Now it’s Benfica over two legs and us at home and in front of our own sup- players and fans alike. improve because they have a different style brusquely that “we’re not stupid”, while insisting we’ve got it all to play for. “We’ve got to port Sevilla are favorites,” insisted Sevilla “We have not been in this competition for of play and he adapts well to any style. “He is his client had not withheld any evidence. bounce back then it’s Arsenal, and that goalkeeper Beto. a few years and we were desperate to make destined for great things and everything that an impression,” said Raul Garcia, who scored happens to him is thanks to his humility. No The media response to Hoeness’ fiscal mis- needs no building up, we know what it Elsewhere, the 2011 Europa League means to everyone, the club, the sup- winners Porto, who recently sacked Atletico’s third goal on Tuesday. one has gifted him anything, he has done it deeds and courtroom performance has been “That is what we are doing day by day himself and everything he does has its base largely damning, with the Berliner Tagesspiegel porters.” Benfica travel to England on a coach Paulo Fonseca in response to run of 23 matches undefeated in all their unsatisfactory form in the and we will see how far we can go.” The in his work rate and desire.”— AFP daily mocking him as a “confession professional”. competitions. Last season’s Europa Portuguese Super League, could find Top-selling Bild printed a front page picture of League finalists have won eight consec- life tough against Napoli. The Italians Hoeness, throwing up his arms Tuesday to cheer utive games, all without conceding a are third in Serie A and their coach on his team against Arsenal, under the headline goal, and are currently seven points Rafael Benitez is looking to again tri- Ozil’s vanishing act a “Is Hoeness cheering for the last time?” clear at the top of their domestic Super umph in the competition he won last Several politicians have challenged Hoeness to League. season with Chelsea. real worry for Arsenal quickly step down as club president and chair- “Tottenham are a top-level English Benitez also won the UEFA Cup in team. It’s going to be difficult, but they 2004 with Valencia, the Spanish club LONDON: When Arsenal paid a club record 42 has not scored in the Premier League since man of its supervisory board, while players, fans must also look at Benfica with respect who go to Bulgaria this week to face million pounds ($69.84 million) for Mesut Ozil before Christmas and, more tellingly, his ability and veterans voiced continued loyalty and sup- because they will be coming up against surprise package Ludogorets Razgrad, last August it was with nights like Tuesday in to influence games with a range of passing that port. an excellent team,” said coach Jorge who have already beaten PSV Munich in mind. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg of made him “king of the assists” earlier in the “He is Bayern Munich personified, and that’s Jesus after his side beat PAOK of Greece Eindhoven and Lazio this season. Lyon the Champions League last 16 tie against hold- campaign has waned. in the last round. host Czech champions Viktoria Pilsen, why he belongs here,” honorary club president ers Bayern, it was the perfect stage for His penalty miss against Bayern in the first The tie evokes memories of the AZ Alkmaar face Anzhi Makhachkala, Franz Beckenbauer told Sky TV about Hoeness Germany playmaker Ozil to deliver a grand- leg at the Emirates appeared to drain his clubs’ meeting in the semi-finals of the and Swiss champions Basel, semi-final- attending the game and wearing the club’s red- stand performance. already fragile confidence and the way he was European Cup in 1962, when the late ists last season, take on Salzburg, who What transpired, however, was a brief jeered by Bayern’s fans on Tuesday summed up and-white fan scarf. Beckenbauer added that Eusebio’s Benfica prevailed en route to have won 14 consecutive games, cameo as Ozil vanished at halftime with a ham- a horror tie for the former Real Madrid man. “matches are won in the defence. I hope the lifting the trophy. including beating Ajax over two legs in string niggle after being virtually invisible for Paying so much money for Ozil was always defence will be strong enough to disprove the Oscar Cardozo could return to the the last round. — AFP the opening 45 minutes in the Allianz. going to be something of a gamble but when indictment.” Arsenal eventually bowed out after a bat- he began the season in scintillating form it Hoeness turned himself in to tax authorities Michael Dawson tling 1-1 draw - Lukas Podolski equalising with looked as though the investment could spur and paid 10 million euros in back taxes in January a rocket shot after Bastian Schweinsteiger had Arsenal to silverware. However, with injuries last year, at a time when tax authorities and jour- put Bayern 3-0 up on aggregate - and there taking their toll and Ozil struggling to maintain nalists were already pursuing his case. season is in danger of fizzling out. his form, Arsenal’s failure to bolster their ranks, In March, police raided his lakeside villa and After setting the pace in the Premier League particularly in attack, during the January trans- briefly arrested him, then released him on five Arsenal are now seven points behind leaders fer window could ultimately prove to be their undoing yet again. million euros bail, developments which were only Chelsea with a game in hand after registering only one league win in their last four. Their best The addition of the injured Kim Kallstrom reported in the media weeks later. bet of ending a nine-year wait for silverware on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow was Hoeness has said he originally wanted to ben- rests with the FA Cup where they face second hardly a statement of intent from the Gunners efit from a tax deal Germany was negotiating tier Wigan Athletic in the semi-finals. who at the time were going toe-to-toe with with Switzerland, which would have guaranteed Manager Arsene Wenger will point to long- Chelsea and Manchester City. With a tough- immunity for tax dodgers who come clean volun- term injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Theo looking run of fixtures to come, they are now tarily. However, the amnesty deal was torpedoed Walcott, while Jack Wilshere is now also side- behind a free-scoring Liverpool side and defeat by the German centre-left political opposition of lined with a broken foot sustained on England in the north London derby at fifth-placed duty. He also highlighted keeper Wojciech Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would leave the time, which argued that wealthy tax criminals Szczesny’s red card in the first leg against them looking anxiously over their shoulders. should not be let off the hook so easily. — AFP Bayern as a turning point in the tie. Ozil’s worry- “We want to finish the season strongly now ing loss of form will be as perplexing for the and achieve something,” German defender Per Frenchman as his likely three-week lay-off. He Mertesacker told UEFA.—Reuters Spurs stop Hoefl-Riesch Bulls charge crashes, loses World Cup lead

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 16 17

Spurs under pressure ahead of Benfica clash Page 19

SPAIN: Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior (right) falls as he vies with Manchester City’s English defender Joleon Lescott (left) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match. — AFP Barcelona eliminate Man City

BARCELONA: Second-half goals from Lionel Messi and City captain Vincent Kompany looked to have salvaged one had to be alert seconds later to prevent Xavi prodding goal at the back post. Dani Alves booked Barcelona’s place in the Champions at least a draw on the night when he tapped home a home on the stretch from Messi’s cross. The opener finally arrived when Cesc Fabregas’s intend- League quarter-finals for a seventh consecutive year as they minute from time, but Alves restored Barca’s lead from Nasri then had a fantastic chance to give City hope as a ed through ball bounced off Lescott into the path of Messi beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Camp Nou yesterday to Andres Iniesta’s cut-back in stoppage time. With a huge fantastic move involving Yaya Toure and David Silva fell to and he gave Hart no chance with a nonchalant finish off the progress 4-1 on aggregate. mountain to climb, City started on the front foot but they the Frenchman, but his low effort was straight at Valdes. outside of his left foot. There was still more controversy to City were looking to become the first side to come back were lucky not to concede a penalty on eight minutes With City still needing two goals to even force extra come, though, as Dzeko appeared to have been felled by from losing the first leg 2-0 at home in the Champions when Messi went down under a challenge from Joleon time, the injured Sergio Aguero was replaced by Dzeko at Gerard Pique inside the area. League era and they had chances to reduce the deficit as Lescott. The visitors’ first opening arrived on 16 minutes the break. Lannoy was again unmoved and Zabaleta was dismissed Victor Valdes denied Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko either side when James Milner could only direct Aleksandar Kolarov’s However, the Bosnian nearly made an instant impact as for taking his protests too far as a host of City players sur- of half-time. However, Messi killed the tie as a contest with driven cross wide of the target. his low drive was smothered by Valdes. Messi came within rounded the referee. 23 minutes remaining as he pounced on a loose ball inside City were then handed another break by the officials as inches of sealing the tie with another wonderful solo run The English side did manage a consolation a minute the area to flick home his eighth Champions League goal of Neymar had a goal controversially ruled out for offside as on 50 minutes as he teased Lescott before passing the ball from time when Kompany tapped home Dzeko’s knock- the season. Jordi Alba was deemed to have been offside when he off the inside of the post. down from a corner. The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Pablo crossed for the Brazilian to finish. City then had a couple of great chances to get back into However, Barca weren’t to be denied victory on the Zabaleta was shown a second yellow card for dissent after Joe Hart was called into his most strenuous save of the the tie as Valdes produced a magnificent save to turn night as with their next attack Iniesta rounded Hart and Dzeko looked to have a legitimate penalty claim waved first-half six minutes before the break as he turned Dzeko’s towering header over the bar before Zabaleta kept his head to set up Alves to hammer home from close away by French referee Stephane Lannoy. Neymar’s near post effort behind and the England number skewed wildly wide when presented with a clear sight of range. — AFP

PSG stroll Raonic topples Murray

INDIAN WELLS: Two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray was into q-finals searching for answers yesterday after an inexplicable third-set fade against Milos Raonic in the fourth round at Indian Wells. Scotland’s Murray, the world number six who is seeded fifth in the first PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain advanced safely off the most improbable of comebacks, then into the quarter-finals of the Champions those hopes were short-lived, as the equaliser ATP Masters of the year, appeared to be in control after breaking the League yesterday, beating Bayer Leverkusen 2- on the night came just seven minutes later. mighty Raonic serve for a 2-1 lead in the third set. 1 at the Parc des Princes in their last 16, second After Bernd Leno saved from Zlatan But the Scot was broken to love in the next game, and broken again to leg to take the tie 6-1 on aggregate. Trailing 4- Ibrahimovic, Yohan Cabaye’s resulting corner fall 4-2 down amid a plethora of unforced errors, finally succumbing 4-6, 7- 0 from the first leg in Germany three weeks from the right was met by a thumping 5, 6-3. ago, the Germans took an early lead on the Marquinhos header that the German ‘keeper “It was poor,” Murray said. “To get broken two consecutive times in that night through Sidney Sam, but Marquinhos could only help on its way into the net. situation isn’t good enough. I played poor tennis at that stage. equalised soon after. “I didn’t make enough balls, missed easy shots-really easy shots. There Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes had a DENIED BY BAR were some where he was standing in the net and I just had to hit it to the penalty saved before Ezequiel Lavezzi put PSG It was the young Brazilian defender’s third other side. Missing shots like that.” in front eight minutes into the second period, goal in this season’s Champions League, and Murray, 26, has yet to reach a final since having back surgery in and the sending-off of Emre Can saw the the hosts almost went on to take the lead September. But he said he played good matches in losing to Roger Bundesliga club bow out with 10 men. No shortly after, but Ibrahimovic clipped his shot Federer in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January and to in- team had ever been eliminated from a against the crossbar after a Cavani pass left form Croatian Marin Cilic in the quarters at Rotterdam. European knock-out tie after winning 4-0 him with just the ‘keeper to beat. away in the first leg and PSG coach Laurent Leverkusen had lost five and drawn one of He arrived in the California desert off a semi-final run in Acapulco, Blanc made the most of his side’s comfortable their previous six games in all competitions to encouraged that at last he felt truly match fit. But he had to dig deep in cushion by rotating his squad, as Thiago Motta increase the pressure on coach Sami Hyypia, each of his first two matches here, losing the first set against both Lukas and Alex dropped to the bench. but they played some nice football in the first Rosol and Jiri Vesely. Blaise Matuidi was rested altogether to period and were handed the opportunity to “It was clearly patchy,” Murray said of his performance in a tournament avoid the risk of incurring a suspension for the retake the lead in the 28th minute. in which he hasn’t made it past the quarter-finals since his runner-up fin- next round. It was still a strong PSG line-up, When Christophe Jallet pulled back Eren ish in 2009. with Edinson Cavani starting for the first time Derdiyok inside the area, Croatian referee Ivan Against a player like 10th-seeded Raonic, any lapses are more costly, in over a month after injury but, perhaps Bebek did not hesitate in pointing to the spot, Murray said, because the Canadian can win so many easy points with his understandably, there was an air of compla- and yet Rolfes saw his effort from 12 yards serve. cency about the hosts early on, and kept out as Sirigu made a great save diving “I’ll need to have a think about it and have a look at what happened,” Leverkusen took full advantage. low to his left. said Murray, who will try to turn things around at the Miami Masters start- A low long-range strike by Can that was Leno saved from Cavani at the other end ing next week. pushed around the post by Salvatore Sirigu shortly before the interval, and PSG then took “But, you know, there wasn’t a huge explanation for it, because the served as a warning to the Ligue 1 leaders, the lead eight minutes into the second period although it was not heeded, and the visitors as Lucas Digne’s low ball from the left was fired shots I was missing, it wasn’t like one shot in particular when I’d miss every opened the scoring in the sixth minute. A love- low into the net by Lavezzi, for whom it was a shot. ly move started by Rolfes on the left saw fifth goal in his last six games. “First-serve percentage dropped, missed a lot of backhands, missed a Gonzalo Castro spread the play to Giulio The visitors were reduced to 10 men when few easy forehand passes as well.” With his back feeling fine, Murray mused that such a sudden drop in form at the crucial point of the match was due Donati on the right flank, and the Italian’s cross Can was shown a second yellow card for div- PARIS: PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) jumps in the air for a high ball to something more intangible. “It’s going to come down to confidence,” was headed home by Sam at the back post. ing midway through the second half, but they while Leverkusen’s Philipp Wollscheid (center) looks on during a If that raised hopes among the boisterous were spared greater punishment in the closing Murray said. “There’s no other explanation for missing those shots.” —AFP Champions League last 16 second leg soccer match. —AP travelling support that their team could pull stages. — AFP Poundland share price jumps in market debut

Page 25 Business Gulf shares tumble amid global sell-off THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Page 25 Strikes hit Greece as austerity deal Sanctions could destroy Russian economy proves elusive Page 22 Page 23

NEW DELHI: An aircraft of Indian airline Spicejet lands at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. — AFP SpiceJet places $4.4bn order with Boeing

in the Deal sends airline’s shares soaring news NEW DELHI: India’s SpiceJet placed an by Europe’s biggest aerospace manufac- has been named by analysts as a poten- has received over 1,800 orders, he said. IATA cuts profit forecast order worth $4.4 billion for 42 737 MAX turer Airbus. Fourth-place SpiceJet has tial investment target after India’s govern- With the latest announcement, SpiceJet GENEVA: Global airlines expect to make $1 billion less Boeing jets yesterday, sending the air- been battling to improve passenger ment eased airline foreign ownership has ordered 90 planes directly from profit this year than previously hoped, denting a US-led line’s shares soaring on hopes the deal share in a ferociously competitive market barriers in 2012 and the jet purchase is Boeing, including the 737-800, 737-900ER recovery, as the Ukraine crisis pushes up the industry’s would make the loss-making carrier and its shares have been trading at mul- seen as possibly enhancing its appeal. and now the 737 MAX, and has taken fuel bills, the International Air Transport Association more attractive to investors. Shares of ti-year lows. “SpiceJet has reportedly signed a terms delivery of 31. said yesterday. Higher oil prices driven by tensions in budget airline SpiceJet rocketed by near- “The rise in SpiceJet (shares) is com- (of investment) sheet with a UAE-based The jets have a list price of $4.4 billion Crimea are expected to add $3 billion in unexpected ly 7.5 percent after it signed the memo- forting” as “it has been down so much”, investor. However, the ongoing chal- but normally airlines get big discounts on costs in 2014, partially offset by a $2 billion upward randum of understanding with Boeing at Churiwala Securities’ managing director lenges in the market may make it difficult bulk orders and SpiceJet gave no pricing revision in cargo revenue. The Geneva-based organiza- an air show in the southern city of Alok Churiwala said. But big questions to close this deal,” said CAPA. Low-cost details. SpiceJet currently has close to 60 tion now expects airlines to make a profit of $18.7 bil- Hyderabad. The top-selling Boeing remained about how SpiceJet would carriers, including IndiGo, SpiceJet and planes and runs 350 flights a day. The lion this year, down from $19.7 billion in its previous planes, which have greater fuel savings, fund the purchase as well as how it will Go Air dominate with a near 65-percent SpiceJet order is expected to be one of forecast in December. But the industry remains on a bigger windows and roomier carry-on fare with entry of rivals such as no-frills market share. Abu Dhabi-based carrier many in 2014. CAPA has said it expects cyclical upswing after a $12.9 billion profit in 2013. luggage space, are an upgraded version AirAsia expected later this year, Churiwala Etihad Airways recently tied up with a over 350 planes to be ordered by India’s “The situation in Ukraine is causing instability that is of the Chicago-based company’s widely added. Aviation consultancy CAPA India leading Indian airline, Jet Airways. airlines by the end of 2015. Airbus, which pushing up the price of oil and that was the main neg- used single-aisle 737s. forecasts SpiceJet, controlled by billion- Boeing senior vice president Dinesh makes the competing A320neo planes, ative driver of today’s downwards revision,” IATA The 737 MAX “will further modernize aire Kalanithi Maran, will post a record Keskar said in the statement the 737 said Monday there would be “several Director General Tony Tyler told a news conference. our fleet, improve customer experience loss this financial year. India’s aviation MAX’s fuel efficiency “supports Spice Jet’s announcements” at the Hyderabad show Economic weakness in Argentina and Brazil is also and ensure we operate the most efficient market has been reeling from high fuel mission to become India’s preferred low- but did not say whether they would clouding profits. Latin American airlines are expected cost airline”. Boeing said the 737 MAX will include Airbus orders. The 737 MAX and to post a profit of $1 billion this year, a third less than fleet well into the future,” SL Narayanan, costs and an economy that grew at a previously projected. IATA, which represents about 200 chief financial officer of SpiceJet’s parent decade low of 4.5 percent last year. offer eight percent lower operating costs the A320neos, which are smaller planes airlines and runs the industry’s settlements system for Sun Group said in a statement. The But experts see tremendous longer- than “future competition”. Keskar added in the Boeing and Airbus range, are key to ticket sales, warned some airlines could stop flying to announcement is a boost for Boeing in term potential as the number of people the 737 Max’s development is on sched- the companies’ hopes of fending off com- Venezuela amid a row over the freezing of $3.7 billion India where many carriers, including taking flights in India is still very low com- ule with the first flight slated for 2016 and petition from other planemakers from of cash owed to foreign airlines. market leader IndiGo, use planes made pared with developed markets. SpiceJet deliveries to begin in 2017. The 737 MAX countries like Russia and China. — AFP India output picks up MUMBAI: India’s industrial production showed an Obama in NY shopping unexpected, if slight, uptick of 0.1 percent last month, ending a three-month fall, as elections loom in the world’s most populous democracy. Figures released spree to push wage plan yesterday also showed consumer inflation eased to 8.1 NEW YORK: US President Barack congratulate the Gap for doing the percent in February, still considered high but a wel- Obama Tuesday launched a New right thing.” Before leaving, Obama come relief from the double-digit levels of a few York shopping spree-to treat his couldn’t resist teasing the pool of months ago. Both trends were welcome news for Asia’s wife and daughters-and to praise reporters traveling with him. third-largest economy. India’s lowest economic growth top clothing retailor Gap Inc for When he got out his credit card rates in a decade have coincided with soaring prices raising its minimum wage. Obama to pay, he was told to sign his over the past year, making it difficult for the central halted his motorcade at the store at name on a screen. “Oh wow. So, bank to try to stimulate growth by cutting interest East 42nd and Third Avenue as he you can sign the machine?” he said, rates. Still, the sputtering economy is likely to hurt the hit the Big Apple on a fundraising before telling journalists he was ruling coalition government led by the Congress party swing. The president selected joking. “They had these around the heading into elections beginning April 7. The opposi- sweaters for his daughters Malia last time I shopped,” he said, tion Bharatiya Janata Party, a pro-business, Hindu and Sasha and a blue workout jack- according to a pool reporter nationalist bloc led by Narendra Modi, has the momen- et for his wife Michelle, before recording his remarks. The quip tum. While the February industrial output data beat delivering a glowing assessment of recalled an incident when then analysts’ prediction of a contraction, the level of Gap bosses, who recently decided president George HW Bush was growth was still decidedly weak. Expansion of 6.5 per- to hike the store’s minimum wage reported to have expressed amaze- cent in the electricity sector led the overall numbers, to $10 dollars. ment at a supermarket scanner while mining production grew by 0.7 percent over the The president, who is calling on machine during his campaign for previous year and manufacturing fell by 0.7 percent. Congress to lift the federal mini- reelection against then Arkansas The small expansion is unlikely to add much steam to mum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, governor Bill Clinton in 1992. The India’s economy. Growth decelerated to 4.7 percent in said the move would help thou- incident, which was disputed by the most recent quarter, far below the 8 percent the sands of Gap employees. “It’s not Bush’s campaign, was used by his country had averaged for a decade. NEW YORK: US President Barack Obama holds up a shirt as he shops for clothing for his family only good for them and their fami- opponents to portray him as out of alongside store employee Susan Panariello during a visit to a Gap clothing store in New York City. lies, it’s also good for the entire touch with the economic woes of — AFP economy,” Obama said. “I want to everyday Americans. — AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 BUSINESS Sanctions could destroy Russian economy

BERLIN: A trade conflict between Russia and Europe would be life-threatening.” forces have consolidated their hold on Ukraine’s Crimea Ukraine if Moscow does not show signs of backing over Ukraine would hurt German business but it would Europe’s trade volume with Russia accounts for peninsula ahead of a Russian-backed referendum on down by the weekend. The German public and business be life-threatening for the Russian economy, Germany’s about 1 percent of European Union gross domestic the region’s future on Sunday. The new government in have little appetite for sanctions on Russia in the most main trade body said yesterday, making its forecasts product (GDP) and 15 percent of Russian GDP, BGA said. Kiev and its Western backers have denounced the serious East-West confrontation since the end of the conditional on the crisis in Crimea. “All in all, we are opti- The trade association expects German exports to grow planned vote as illegal. Cold War. Chancellor Angela Merkel has played a promi- mistic about foreign business with large parts of the by 3 percent this year and imports to expand by 2 per- US lawmakers are preparing sanctions against Russia nent role in the quest for a diplomatic solution, giving world. Unfortunately, that is not true for business with cent. “But these forecasts could very quickly become and EU leaders could impose penalties, such as bans on her coalition a boost in a new poll. Russia is Germany’s Russia,” said Anton Boerner, president of the BGA waste paper if the crisis in Crimea escalates further,” visas for key officials, as early as Monday. On Tuesday, 11th-biggest trade partner, with some 6,200 German exporters’ lobby. “A trade conflict would be painful for Boerner said. Since the fall of Ukraine’s president follow- Germany’s foreign minister said the EU would start companies active there and bilateral trade worth more the German economy, but for the Russian economy it ing protests led by pro-Western reformers, Russian preparing further responses to Russia’s actions in than 76 billion euros, the BGA said. — Reuters Japan’s firms Facing weak home demand, raise wages Japan’s refiners eye exports TOKYO: Big Japanese companies such as Toyota Motor Corp offered the most generous pay raises in years yesterday, a victory for the government’s efforts to defeat deflation, but workers will still struggle to Domestic demand seen dropping 1.9% offset a looming sales tax increase. Under heavy pres- sure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help kick-start TOKYO: Japan’s top refiners are aiming to increase oil in its domestic demand. If JX’s exports hold close to that vious year. TonenGeneral Sekiyu and Showa Shell Sekiyu a durable recovery with hefty pay increases, major product exports a second year in a row to offset weaken- pace for the last quarter of the fiscal year to March 31, the also expect to increase export volumes this year and next. firms like Toyota, Hitachi Ltd and Panasonic Corp ing domestic demand, an aggressive move that threatens shipments will exceed the company’s annual record of responded more generously than some experts had to pressure Asian fuel prices and further undercut regional 177,000 bpd hit in 2009/2010. Capacity surplus narrows expected to union wage demands. Still, this first batch refining margins. Profits in Asia for turning crude into fuel But analysts said capacity cuts and reduced runs make of companies in Japan’s annual “spring labor offensive” are already expected to fall this year as new refineries in Export plans it hard to keep raising Japan’s exports. Some have even represent the bluest of the blue chips; the vast majori- the Middle East, China and elsewhere flood the market. Japan’s oil product exports fell in 2009-2012 due to said that with the capacity cuts Japan might need to ty of Japanese employees work for smaller companies With Japan’s refiners also set to ramp up exports whenev- plant capacity cuts, weak refining margins and massive import diesel and gasoline during periods of heavy main- that haven’t benefited as much from “Abenomics.” er they see good returns overseas, there is little chance of refinery shutdowns after the March 2011 earthquake. Last tenance. Others said overseas sales volumes would Japanese companies are enjoying bumper profits any sustained recovery in the margins. year, a weak yen - which maximizes the value of exports depend on the margins and currency rates. “Export vol- thanks to Abe’s massive stimulus policies and the Japan boosted oil exports by 17 percent to a three-year and the restart of Cosmo Oil’s Chiba refinery, lifted exports umes depend on whether it’s profitable ... If they are turn- resulting weak yen. But this year the companies had high of 491,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2013, the first rise the first time in five years despite run cuts in the fourth ing a profit, each company has a very aggressive stance to take on not only their unions but also the ostensi- in the daily export average since 2008, when overseas quarter amid mild winter weather, said Reiji Ogino, senior towards exports,” said the analyst Ogino. “Last year’s bly pro-business Abe administration. sales climbed more than a fifth to hit a record 584,000 analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. exports were also supported by a weak yen.” Economy Minister Akira Amari, who on Tuesday bpd. “Cutting the volumes processed and increasing Refiners are now looking for a second year of increase, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ said last month Japan’s oil had threatened unspecified action against “uncooper- exports is the best way to combat weak domestic especially in middle distillates, which made up 69 percent exports would decline 5 percent in the year starting in ative” companies, said yesterday that “the manage- demand,” said JX Holdings Senior Vice President Akira of Japan’s total oil product exports in 2013, split evenly April, and by 4 percent in the two following business ment side responded above expectations” and that Omachi, who added that the company intends to raise between gas oil and jet fuel. years, as Asian oil demand growth eases and Japan’s spare their pay offers would become “a big driving force for export volumes in the current quarter and in the business “Gas oil margins have been comparatively good and we refinery capacity falls. Japan’s refining capacity is set to escaping deflation and reviving the economy.” year starting in April. have some hopes for gas oil exports,” said Cosmo Oil’s shrink to about 80 percent of 2007 levels by March 31. By Increases in base pay and seniority increases amount Last year’s hike in fuel exports, though, came even as Senior Executive Officer Muneyuki Sano. In 2008, robust the end of 2014 the world’s fourth largest crude buyer will to 2.2-2.3 percent for major firms, while small and refiners cut runs and shut crude units due to the shrinking demand lifted Asia’s gas oil margins to a $25-a-barrel aver- have about 650,000 bpd of spare capacity, down from mid-size companies are offering over 2 percent, reck- home market and a government efficiency mandate, and age, the highest in data going back to 2004. Asia’s gasoil about 1 million bpd last year. Japan’s refining capacity will oned Hisashi Yamada, chief economist at the Japan some analysts say it will be hard to keep boosting the out- cracks now stand at about $18 a barrel, having dropped drop to 3.92 million bpd by March 31 this year, compared Research Institute. ward shipments. Japan’s top refiner JX controls more than from a 2-1/2-month high of $18.77 hit in February amid to estimated consumption of 3.28 million bpd in the 2014 That won’t cover the 3 percentage-point increase a third of the local market and increased its product ample supply and lacklustre regional spot demand. Cosmo calendar year. Oil consumption in Japan is expected to fall in the sales tax, taking effect on April 1, but some big exports by 17 percent in the nine months to end- Oil plans to increase its exports to about 22,000 bpd in the 1.9 percent a year out to 2030, according to the Ministry of firms were generous with bonuses, putting workers December to 200,000 bpd, offsetting most of the decline year ending March 31, up from less than 1,000 bpd the pre- Economy, Trade and Industry. — Reuters comfortably ahead, at least for now. As recently as February, a Reuters survey of big companies found more than 80 percent were not planning to raise base pay and most would not offer enough total compen- Growing iron sation increases to offset the sales tax hike. Government spending and the Bank of Japan’s enor- output boosts mous asset purchases have made a start in dragging the world’s third-biggest economy out of 15 years of deflation and uncertain growth, but a durable recov- Ukraine miner ery needs a cycle of rising profits, wages and prices. Toyota, a benchmark on pay raises, will give its LONDON: Ukraine-focused iron ore miner Ferrexpo said it Japan-based workers their biggest raise in monthly is on track to complete its expansion program as it posted pay in 21 years in the business year starting in April. an increase in annual earnings, helped by higher iron ore Base pay, a critical component that is hard for compa- output offsetting weaker prices for the steelmaking ingre- nies to reverse during downturns, will rise by 2,700 dient. Core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depre- yen ($26.20) a month, the first increase in six years but ciation and amortization (EBITDA), at $506 million was up less than its union’s demand for a 4,000 yen increase. 25 percent from the previous year and ahead of a consen- Including bonuses, total compensation will rise 7.6 sus forecast of almost $477 million, according to Thomson percent. The world’s biggest carmaker clearly felt it Reuters I/B/E/S. had to fall in line. “There is a certain role that (our) The company also said it will pay a special dividend of labor and management are expected to fulfill in order 6.6 cents per share, reflecting progress made in 2013, in for the Japanese economy to step out of deflation and addition to a final dividend of 3.3 cents per share, in line attain a virtuous cycle,” Toyota Senior Managing with the previous year. Like other iron ore miners, Ferrexpo Officer Naoki Miyazaki told reporters at the auto mak- is grappling with weakening iron ore prices, compressed er’s headquarters in Toyota City, central Japan. “We by growing supply and slower demand growth. Spot iron feel that we have fulfilled our role and we hope that ore prices fell the most since 2009 on Tuesday amid the salary hike trend would spread to various areas.” mounting signs of an economic slowdown in top con- But while Nissan Motor Co, Japan’s No 2 carmaker sumer China, with Citigroup saying it expects prices to by global sales volume, met workers’ demands for a remain at lower levels given the high supplies. The Swiss- 3,500 yen raise in monthly base pay and a hefty headquartered miner, though, is pressing ahead with his bonus, small-car specialist Daihatsu Motor Co offered plans to hit an annualized run rate of 12 million tons in just 800 yen, citing increased competition in Japan 2014 as it ramps up operations at its new Yeristovo mine in and a slowdown in Indonesia. Many Japanese firms Ukraine. remain wary of raising base pay due to doubts about In 2013 Ferrexpo produced 10.8 million tons of iron ore over the recovery’s sustainability and concern about pellets and exported all its production to Europe and Asia. higher fixed personnel costs, which are hard to shed Ferrexpo hopes it will benefit from stricter environmental during downturns. Honda Motor Co raised base pay regulation in China, which should boost sales of higher- 2,200 yen, below the union’s demand of 3,500 yen, ISLAMABAD: Money dealers count Pakistani rupees and US dollars at a currency exchange in Islamabad yesterday. grade iron products such as its pellets. A weaker hryvnia in saying business was improving but “we are still mid- Pakistanís finance minister Ishaq Dar yesterday said he was optimistic about an economic recovery after the rupee Ukraine should help the company to control costs in 2014. way through structural reform and making our breached the psychologically important 100 to the dollar mark. The currency had been losing its value against the Average cash costs of production rose to $59.8 per ton in domestic operations more independent.”— Reuters greenback since Sharifís PML-N government came to power in June last year, sliding from 97 rupees to the dollar 2013, from $59.6 a year earlier, despite efforts to increase out- to a low of 108 in December. — AFP put to offset the impact of high fixed charges. The miner said political tension between Ukraine and Russia has caused no disruptions to its operations in Ukraine. — Reuters EXCHANGE RATES

Philippine Peso 0.006358 0.006638 Syrian Pound 2.955 Sierra Leone 0.000062 0.000068 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Nepalese Rupees 3.900 Singapore Dollar 0.219262 0.22562 Malaysian Ringgit 86.850 South African Rand 0.020184 0.028884 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Chinese Yuan Renminbi 46.335 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001865 0.002445 Japanese Yen 2.732 Australian Dollar 259.05 256.05 Thai Bhat 9.690 Taiwan 0.009189 0.009369 Indian Rupees 4.632 Canadian Dollar 257.62 258.62 Turkish Lira 127.050 Pakistani Rupees 2.729 Swiss Franc 326.02 324.02 Thai Baht 0.008381 0.008931 Srilankan Rupees 2.158 Euro 394.72 395.72 Bahrain Exchange Company Nepali Rupees 2.896 US Dollar 281.40 284.40 Arab Singapore Dollar 223.180 Sterling Pound 473.05 476.05 Bahraini Dinar 0.741953 0.749953 Hongkong Dollar 36.351 Japanese Yen 2.78 2.80 CURRENCY BUY SELL Egyptian Pound 0.036772 0.039872 Bangladesh Taka 3.623 Bangladesh Taka 3.622 3.892 Europe Iranian Riyal 0.000078 0.000079 Philippine Peso 6.355 Indian Rupee 4.607 4.907 Belgian Franc 0.007332 0.008332 Iraqi Dinar 0.000181 0.000241 Thai Baht 8.754 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.157 2.592 British Pound 0.462277 0.471277 Jordanian Dinar 0.393730 0.401230 Irani Riyal transfer 0.271 Nepali Rupee 2.894 3.429 Czech Korune 0.006264 0.018264 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000 Irani Riyal cash 0.273 Pakistani Rupee 2.788 2.790 Danish Krone 0.048291 0.053291 Lebanese Pound 0.000137 0.000237 Euro 0.385259 0.393259 Moroccan Dirhams 0.024316 0.048316 GCC COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 76.68 77.15 Bahraini Dinar 748.97 751.04 Norwegian Krone 0.043228 0.048428 Nigerian Naira 0.001114 0.001749 Saudi Riyal 75.257 Omani Riyal 0.726824 0.732504 Qatari Riyal 77.543 Egyptian Pound 40.42 41.02 Romanian Leu 0.086667 0.86667 Jordanian Dinar 400.50 406.15 Slovakia 0.008066 0.018066 Qatar Riyal 0.076790 0.078003 Omani Riyal 733.110 Saudi Riyal 0.074603 0.075303 Bahraini Dinar 749.570 Omani Riyal 731.82 739.12 Swedish Krona 0.040128 0.045128 Syrian Pound 0.002162 0.002382 UAE Dirham 76.856 Qatari Riyal 77.71 78.26 Swiss Franc 0.314266 0.324466 Saudi Riyal 75.17 75.57 Turkish Lira 0.125432 0.132432 Tunisian Dinar 0.175706 0.183706 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.125432 0.132432 Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.250 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia UAE Dirhams 0.075837 0.076986 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.089 Australian Dollar 0.246149 0.257649 Yemeni Riyal 0.001281 0.001361 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.318 New Zealand Dollar 0.232670 0.241170 Tunisian Dinar 180.370 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Jordanian Dinar 398.530 US Dollar 281.900 America Al Mulla Exchange Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.893 Canadian Dollar 256.355 Canadian Dollar 0.248103 0.256603 Syrian Lira 2.011 Sterling Pound 470.375 US Dollars 0.278050 0.282400 Morocco Dirham 35.709 Euro 392.508 US Dollars Mint 0.278550 0.282400 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Swiss Frank 321.250 US Dollar 281.600 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Bahrain Dinar 744.350 Asia Euro 391.900 US Dollar Transfer 282.100 UAE Dirhams 76.730 Bangladesh Taka 0.003293 0.003893 Pound Sterling 469.750 Euro 394.940 Qatari Riyals 78.280 Chinese Yuan 0.044791 0.048291 Canadian Dollar 254.850 Sterling Pound 475.200 Saudi Riyals 76.040 Hong Kong Dollar 0.034266 0.037016 Indian Rupee 4.633 Canadian dollar 256.450 Jordanian Dinar 397.280 Indian Rupee 0.004372 0.004773 Egyptian Pound 40.090 Turkish lira 127.970 Egyptian Pound 40.444 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.157 Swiss Franc 714.180 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000019 0.000025 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.157 Japanese Yen 0.002646 0.002828 Bangladesh Taka 3.625 Australian Dollar 258.250 Indian Rupees 4.648 Philippines Peso 6.330 US Dollar Buying 280.900 Kenyan Shilling 0.003256 0.003256 Pakistani Rupees 2.819 Korean Won 0.000254 0.000269 Pakistan Rupee 2.810 Bangladesh Taka 3.621 Malaysian Ringgit 0.082334 0.088334 Bahraini Dinar 749.850 GOLD Philippines Pesso 6.330 UAE Dirham 76.700 Nepalese Rupee 0.002842 0.003012 20 Gram 240.000 Cyprus pound 692.400 Saudi Riyal 75.200 Pakistan Rupee 0.002570 0.002850 10 Gram 121.000 Japanese Yen 3.725 *Rates are subject to change 5 Gram 62.500 BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Agency suing American Airlines over tax incentives

CHICAGO: The agency that oversees public trans- bankruptcy protection, something that happened in ey and not pay the appropriate taxes.” RTA alleges ruling in November strengthens the RTA’s lawsuits. portation in Chicago is suing American Airlines for December. As it said when it sued United, the RTA that under the arrangement between Sycamore and The court found in a case involving a fuel oil retailer falsely claiming to buy “vast amounts of jet fuel” said American or its subsidiary, American Aviation American, the city reimburses the airline for a por- that sales taxes must be paid by companies in com- from a small office in a rural community to avoid Supply, could not possibly conduct the business of tion of the sales tax it pays on the fuel. According to munities where most of their business is conducted. paying tens of millions of dollars in taxes in the buying fuel for jets at one of the largest airports in the RTA, the Sycamore office cost the Chicago, Cook “The major point was these sham offices do not nation’s third-largest city, where the actual work is the world, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, County and RTA a total of more than $23 million last work and you’ve got to pay taxes ... where you are done. The lawsuit comes a year after the same out of an office that’s less than 1,000 square feet (93 year. American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Frances actually conducting the business of selling.” Cook agency - the Regional Transportation Authority - square meters) where one or two employees work. Fagan said in an emailed statement that the compa- County Commissioner Larry Suffredin agreed, say- accused United Airlines in a lawsuit of doing the The office is in City Hall in the town of Sycamore. ny believes it is “still paying the proper” tax amount ing he hopes the ruling will persuade companies same thing in the same small town. The RTA filed its “We’re saying whatever work is being done there and that it’s “in compliance” with the law. Sycamore’s that have such offices to reconsider because, while lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court late Tuesday is a sham,” Jordan Matyas, the RTA’s chief of staff, said city manager declined to comment. The litigation is the court decided that the companies should not afternoon. ahead of the lawsuit be filed. Matyas said that while part of a barrage of lawsuits filed by the RTA, the city be forced to pay Cook County for taxes they avoid- The RTA oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, the lawsuit also names American Aviation Supply, of Chicago and Cook County against communities ed before the ruling, it was clear in warning them the region’s Metra commuter line and the Pace sub- American Airlines is responsible for what is being outside Cook County that allege those communities’ that they will be on the hook for those taxes from urban bus service. The agency has been making the done - or not being done - in Sycamore. “This is tax incentive programs are costing other govern- now on. “I think they’re going to be nervous, allegations against American for more than a year clearly American Airlines doing the deal,” he said. ment agencies millions of dollars. absolutely because the court was saying ... don’t do but said it was waiting for the airline to emerge from “They set up a subsidiary in order to funnel the mon- Matyas said he believes an Illinois Supreme Court it again,” he said. — AP Strikes rock Greece Austerity deal proves elusive

ATHENS: Thousands of striking public sector workers marched through Athens yesterday to protest against planned job cuts demanded by foreign lenders as unemployment in the country holds near record highs. Teachers, municipal workers and pensioners joined the 24-hour walk- out by the country’s biggest public sector union ADEDY, which shut schools and left hospitals staffed by emergency workers while lawmakers debated a bill on public sector reforms. “They won’t stop unless we stop them,” ADEDY said in a statement attacking the reforms as “an assault on workers’ rights”. ROME: A man rides a bicycle in front of giant sunglasess as part of an advertising Raising mops and brooms in the air, dozens of campaign in Rome. — AFP cleaning ladies protested outside parliament, the focal point of anti-austerity protests, and high school teachers chained themselves to the metal Spanish consumer barriers barricading the assembly. “Traitors out of our country!” read one placard. Anti-austerity sen- timent remains high in Greece, where repeated prices creep higher bouts of belt-tightening since it was rescued from bankruptcy in 2010 have left three times as many Greeks jobless, pushed up homelessness and Euro-zone industrial output falls eroded living standards. Labor unions fear Greece will have to impose ATHENS: Protesting cleaning staff fired by the Finance Ministry marched holding up buckets MADRID: Spanish consumer prices crept managing director told an economic confer- even more wage and pension cuts in the coming and mops during a rally outside the Greek parliament in central Athens. — AP barely higher in February, official data ence in Bilbao, northern Spain. This “could years to meet the targets of its 240 billion euro lic sector layoffs this year, the fifth straight year of European Parliament elections in May, according showed yesterday, as deflationary concerns derail the recovery”, she warned, adding that bailout deal with the European Union and IMF. job cuts in the sector. Unemployment stood at to opinion polls. ADEDY and private sector union dogged sluggish euro-zone economies. the Fund believed the European Central But the minister tasked with overhauling a state 27.5 percent in December, little changed from a GSEE have brought people onto the streets Prices climbed at an annual rate of just 0.1 Bank still had “room to maneuver” to raise sector long criticized as a hotbed of patronage record high 27.7 percent in October, despite signs repeatedly since the crisis erupted, with as many percent in February after edging up by 0.3 inflation closer to its target. jobs and overspending defended his job, brand- of an economic recovery. “We want our lives as 100,000 taking part in some demonstrations. percent in January, according to Spain’s ing the public sector “the sick child which, to a back,” Maria Portelanou, a 58-year-old school- But turnout has been low in the last year as a National Statistics Institute. The inflation fig- Euro-zone industrial output large degree, led us to today’s (economic) crisis.” teacher and mother of two unemployed children, growing sense of resignation sets in among Greek ures, calculated in the same way across the Meanwhile, Euro-zone industrial output “We will not back down,” Administrative Reform told Reuters at the rally. “The government should workers. Greece’s economy has shrunk by almost European Union, showed that Spanish continued weaker in January, official data Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament. “We pack up and leave.” 24 percent over the past six years in the deepest prices were held down by the falling cost of showed yesterday, but the underlying trend will take the skeletons out of the closet.” Parties opposing austerity from across the and most protracted peacetime recession in its transport because of cheaper fuel. appears consistent with a very modest eco- Greece’s lenders have demanded 11,400 pub- political spectrum are expected to do well in history, data showed on Tuesday. — Reuters February’s inflation rate was the lowest since nomic recovery in the single-currency bloc. October 2013 when consumer prices were Industrial output in the 18-nation euro-zone flat. The inflation rate in Spain, which fell 0.2 percent in January after a sharper Rajoy plans tax reform to crawled out of a two-year economic down- drop of 0.4 percent in December when it turn in the second half of 2013, remains well had 17 members, the Eurostat statistics below the European Central Bank’s target for agency said. However, in the full 28-country the euro-zone of about 2.0 percent. While European Union, industrial output was up revive Spanish economy consumers may welcome low inflation, a 0.1 percent, returning to positive territory broad, sustained decline in prices can lead after a drop of 0.4 percent in December, shoppers and businesses to postpone pur- Eurostat said. Compared with January 2013, chases as they wait for prices to tumble even euro-zone industrial output was up 2.1 per- Reform seeks to boost competitiveness, jobs further. cent while the EU gained 2.4 percent. At the same time, it becomes harder to Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, saw a finance existing debts. The result can push rise of 0.4 percent in January, more than MADRID: Spain’s economy is growing again and looking for. If implemented now, the steps could an economy into a downward spiral. IMF reversing a fall of 0.1 percent in December exports are flourishing, but with a quarter of the allow Rajoy to fulfill his promise of ending his term chief Christine Lagarde urged the euro-zone while struggling France was down 0.3 percent, workforce unemployed, the government now hopes next year with less unemployment than when he this month to fight persistently low inflation, still better than the previous month’s drop of to revive the austerity-weary nation by a new means took office in December 2011. Spain had 4.8 million warning that it presents a looming threat to 0.5 percent. Non-euro Britain was up 0.1 per- - a major tax reform. If it works, the overhaul will registered jobless in February, an increase of 390,000 economic recovery in the region. Euro-zone cent after a gain of 0.5 percent in December. boost economic growth, create hundreds of thou- since Rajoy was elected, although other data show inflation was 0.8 percent in February, The euro-zone escaped a record 18-month sands of new jobs and halt relentless downward that a total of six million people, or 26 percent of the unchanged from January, according to the recession in the second quarter with overall pressure on Spaniards’ wages. But Prime Minister workforce, are actually unemployed. official statistics agency Eurostat. “We see economic growth of 0.3 percent but this Mariano Rajoy must still gamble with his chances of the risk of prolonged low inflation way slowed to a marginal 0.1 percent in the third re-election, as the plan will probably also demand DEPRESSING CONSUMPTION below targets-targets being as you know before picking up again to 0.3 percent in the an early leap in tax on goods and services that won’t The government, which raised its economic just below two percent-looming,” the IMF last three months of the year. — Agencies be popular with voters. Rajoy’s centre-right cabinet growth forecast for 2014 and hopes to reduce unem- is expected to discuss the plan on Friday. The goal is ployment below 25 percent by the year-end, is hop- to shift the tax burden from jobs to consumption, ing fiscal devaluation will have two economic effects, CNNC seeking IPO to while ensuring enough tax revenue to cut one of the even in a watered down version. Firstly, cutting back highest budget deficits in the European Union. social contributions would lower unit labor costs fur- Government sources have said value-added tax ther, boosting Spain’s competitiveness. As in other raise up to $3 billion (VAT) on products and services is likely to rise to southern European economies, Spanish labor costs Spain’s standard rate of 21 percent from reduced have fallen from a peak in 2009. However, this has rates of 4 and 10 percent imposed now. Property been achieved largely by pushing down real wages, China to beat 2020 nuclear targets and fuel levies are also expected to increase. depressing consumption and internal demand, Simultaneously, corporate tax and income tax for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy which accounts for two third of GDP. By relying BEIJING: China is set to beat its 2020 targets for tricity from 17 nuclear reactors. Thirty-one addi- lower earners will be slashed and Rajoy has also additional discount on contributions, are also instead on lower employers’ taxes to continue the fall nuclear power, the chairman of the country’s top tional units are under construction, including a announced a 75 percent average cut in the amount expected to be signed this year. In a research paper in labour costs, pressure on salaries would be eased, nuclear firm said, after getting back on track with pair of AP1000 reactors located at Sanmen in of social contributions - such as for health insurance published last year, BBVA bank said a cut of 3.5 per- helping to offset a hit on consumption caused by the projects that had been halted after Japan’s Zhejiang province. CNNC is building the two and pensions - that companies pay on top of their centage points in social contributions coupled with higher VAT. Labor costs rose 0.2 percent in the third Fukushima disaster. Beijing is undertaking the reactors there with US-based Westinghouse - employees’ salaries. This last step, although due to a 2 percentage point increase in consumer taxes quarter of 2013, the first quarterly increase since ear- world’s biggest expansion of civilian nuclear pow- owned by Japan’s Toshiba Corp - and they are expire at the end of the year and limited to new would add 0.74 percent to gross domestic product ly 2012, as a 0.7 percent rise in social contributions er as the government aims to increase its use of expected to be operational by next year. recruits, aims to lower Spain’s labor costs further and offset a 0.2 percent drop in wages. Secondly, lower cleaner energy. At the same time, China is seek- The CNNC chairman said that the Zhejiang and create more than 200,000 jobs in two years. make it cheaper for companies to hire. The effect would be equivalent to an exchange social contributions combined with higher consumer ing to expand its power grid by as much as 80 power project, which was originally scheduled to This mix of tax measures - known by economists taxes favor Spanish producers over their foreign percent over this decade. The expansion plans start up last year, was delayed due to equipment rate depreciation of about 10 percent, BBVA said. A as fiscal devaluation - is one of the latest examples competitors, which have the same VAT applied to were suspended in 2011 following the earth- and design issues. “If these two reactors go similar study from the European Commission also quake and nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan, smoothly, we will follow with more,” Sun said. of how southern European countries are trying to pointed at the high short-term impact on both eco- their products in Spain without benefiting from the but are now back on track as construction on CNNC has also relaunched preparation on inland buoy their economies beyond the wage and price- nomic output and jobs that the Spanish premier is reduced labor costs. —Reuter new plants is expected to resume with approvals projects, which were halted following Japan’s cut recipe that the EU has been encouraging the granted in the coming months. “Nuclear plants Fukushima disaster and that will still need anoth- region to adopt for several years. Spain, as a mem- will play an important role in reaching the gov- er two or three years before the government will ber of the euro-zone monetary union, cannot rely ernment’s 2020 goal of raising the proportion of grant approvals for them, according to Sun. on currency devaluation and the European Central Australia first banknote energy produced by non-fossil fuel to 15 percent,” China is expected to approve 4 to 6 nuclear Bank has shown no appetite for engineering a weak- said Sun Qin, chairman of China National Nuclear power units during the current five-year plan er euro. Thus the country has undergone an internal going under a hammer Corp (CNNC), in an interview on the sidelines of ended in 2015, followed by 6 to 8 units per year in devaluation, pushing down wages and prices to China’s National People’s Congress. the 2015-2020 plan. CNNC, which was carved out become more competitive. But the move is now SYDNEY: The only known specimen of the first thought to have taken it there. It was later China will surpass its goal of having 58 of the country’s old nuclear ministry, is one of the threatening to mutate into deflation, a more dan- official banknote issued in Australia, uncov- bought by a private collector who is now sell- gigawatts (GW) of installed nuclear power capaci- country’s biggest central-government controlled gerous phase in which consumers put off buying ered in Scotland, is expected to fetch at least ing it. “It is a very significant item, a wonderful ty by the end of the decade, said Sun, adding that conglomerates and maintains strong military goods as they expect prices to drop, bringing the Aus$250,000 (US$224,000) at an auction in historical item,” he said. Macquarie arrived in the country may build 20 or more nuclear reac- links. The group, alongside state-owned China economy to a halt. Sydney this month, officials said yesterday. The Sydney at the end of 1809 to be confronted by tors in the next six years. In 2013, non-fossil fuel General Nuclear Power Group (CNPG), has been ten shilling note, issued on the order of New a colony in crisis with no stable monetary sys- accounted for nearly 10 percent of China’s pri- looking to internationalize its technologies and Political bet South Wales governor Lachlan Macquarie in tem since the First Fleet landed in 1788. mary energy consumption. CNNC, which has list- designs, many of which were developed with For Rajoy, the reform is a political bet. Support for 1817 by the Bank of New South Wales (now As the new governor, he was given exten- ed its uranium resources arm CNNC International Westinghouse and Areva SA. his People’s Party has plummeted over the last two Ltd in Hong Kong, is also preparing to raise as Last year, CNNC was contracted to build two called Westpac) on the day it opened, is sive powers to reshape the colony, but despite years as he made tough spending cuts. A recent much as $3 billion for its expansion plans through reactors for the Karachi Coastal Nuclear Power expected to attract bids from collectors this his first request to London to establish a Metroscopia poll showed 76 percent of Spaniards an initial public offer in Shanghai, as other media Project in Pakistan. Beijing has committed $6.5 around the world. “We have put a conservative bank was rejected. In 1812, to alleviate the has reported. “The amount of money raised will billion to finance construction of the $9.59 billion disapprove of his policies and only 6 percent believe estimate of a quarter of a million dollars on it shortage of currency, he imported £10,000 in depend on market conditions,” said Sun. “I hope it undertaking. the economic situation will improve in the short in the catalogue,” said Jim Noble of Noble Spanish coins from India and in 1813 manufac- can be done this year.” In December, CGNP and CNNC jointly took a term. While some of the new tax increases may Numismatics, which is handling the sale. tured and issued the “Holey Dollar”, one of minority stake in the 16 billion pound ($26.60 bil- prove unpopular in a country sick of austerity, the “But there has been such excitement over which sold at auction for a world-record Expansion plans lion) Hinkley Point project in Great Britain in a boost for business and hiring that the steps aim to its condition, rarity and major historical signifi- Aus$495,000 last year. But it was not sufficient China’s premier Li Keqiang said last week that consortium led by French utility EDF. Sun dis- deliver may eventually persuade voters that Rajoy cance that it’s impossible to guess what it will and in 1816 he revived his plan for a bank, this China will start construction of a number of missed concerns about CNNC’s government ori- deserves a new four-year term. make. “Even Westpac itself doesn’t have one time getting London’s approval, and on April 8, hydropower and nuclear power projects in his gins and military links. According to business bodies’ estimates, about and all the experts believed none had sur- 1817 the Bank of New South Wales opened for first government work report delivered to the “I think Chinese nuclear power going overseas 300,000 self-employed who are working in the black vived.” Noble told AFP that the note was dis- business. One hundred ten shillings notes annual meeting of the country’s mostly rubber- is purely commercial behavior,” he said. “Foreign economy could be lured back into the tax system by covered in a private collection in Scotland in were issued on the first day, with sample 55 stamp parliament. nuclear firms have come to China, and Chinese the lower contributions. Tens of thousands of part- 2005, with Macquarie or one of his staff the only survivor. — AFP China now gets less than 2 percent of its elec- firms also go abroad.” — Reuters time employment contracts, which benefit from an BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 China worries chill markets, copper slumps Stocks tumble in Europe as jitters catch up with equity markets LONDON: A dizzying fall in copper to a near four- tumbled in early deals and safe-haven German bubble burst last year and not everyone noticed.” able falls, while the Australian dollar and the growth slips below 7.5 percent, and would year low compounded increasing concern in China government bonds were in demand as the jitters Copper’s plunge comes in the wake of China’s first Chilean peso and South Africa’s rand, curren- come on top of money market operations over its economic slowdown yesterday to send a compounded the geopolitical tug-of-war between domestic bond default which has sparked con- cies highly sensitive to commodities, all buck- and currency intervention via state banks wave of unease sweeping through world markets. Russia and Kiev and the West over Crimea. cerns about the potential unraveling of loan deals led. The aussie was last down 0.25 percent at that traders say has already loosened mone- World shares fell for fourth day, but it was copper, “Markets are watching what is happening in where the industrial metal has been used as collat- $0.8960 though traders said it could have tary conditions overall. often seen as a proxy for China’s fortunes, that copper, with awe and trepidation,” said Societe eral. been a lot more had it not been for demand In the meantime, caution was the watch- grabbed the headlines as Shanghai futures fell by Generale head of currency strategy Kit Juckes. “It’s The metal has been in freefall for the last three created by a big AUD$7 billion bond sale. word as concerns about the state of Chinese their 5 percent daily limit again and benchmark partly ongoing concern about Chinese growth (or days but the worries finally appeared to be catch- Japan’s Nikkei retreated 2.6 percent, continu- demand continued to pressure industrial prices of the metal slumped to their lowest since lack thereof) and nagging worries about the ing up with other parts of the market. Stocks across ing the see-saw pattern of the last couple of commodities. At least one US scrap copper 2010. In Europe, bourses from London to Lisbon Ukraine. And partly it is just that the commodity Asia, although ironically not China, had seen siz- months, while Australian stocks shed 0.6 per- trader has suffered “large” losses after a buyer cent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific in China defaulted on a deal in the past week, shares outside Japan fell 1.2 percent. That one of the first signs that sinking prices and mirrored a lackluster performance on Wall tightening credit are taking a toll on the phys- Street, where soft data left investors no wiser ical market. “Copper prices continue to slide on whether the US economy’s troubles were on concerns that the cyclical metal may face merely weather-related or something more tough times as China slows and rebalances worrisome. away from investment into consumption,” said analysts from Barclays in a note. China chill Economists worry that recent moves by Confidence wobble China to stamp out speculation on its rising With the jitters starting to eat into broader currency and overly easy lending may have confidence, US government bonds began to overshot, adding to the broader strains on gain after days of treading water. The dollar emerging markets. The FTSEurofirst 300 eased a touch on the yen to 102.97 as the index of top European shares was down 0.9 Japanese currency also benefited. Gold, percent at 1,308.74 points by 0930 GMT, also another traditional favorite of risk adverse dragged down by a 1.7 percent drop in investors climbed to its highest in 5-1/2 European basic resources stocks dominated months as it reached $1,362.25 an ounce. Oil by mining firms. prices extended their pullback with Brent Investors were hoping Chinese data on crude off 65 cents to $107.20 a barrel, while industrial output, retail sales and urban US oil lost $1.34 to $98.69, it’s lowest in a investment might offer some clarity on month and a half. “The question in every- where the economy is heading. One poten- body’s mind is - what is the biggest risk to oil? tial positive was a Reuters report that China’s And it is China slowing down,” said Jonathan central bank is prepared to re-loosen mone- Barratt, chief executive of commodity tary policy if economic growth slows further research firm Barratt’s Bulletin in Sydney. by cutting the amount of cash that banks “People have figured out that what happens must keep as reserves. Citing sources in Ukraine doesn’t matter to oil markets so involved in internal policy discussions, the much. It may impact other commodities, but report said an easing would be triggered if not so much oil.” — Reuters

TOKYO: Office workers wearing collapsible helmets walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo. — AP Gold extends gains

LONDON: Gold climbed to a 5-1/2 month efforts to annex Ukraine’s Crimea region in a high yesterday, geopolitical tug-of-war statement to be issued later. Bullion has between Russia and Kiev and the West over gained 13 percent this year following a 28 Crimea and fears of more corporate defaults percent drop in 2013, benefiting from wor- in China hurt equity markets, increasing the ries about signs of soft economic growth in metal’s appeal as an insurance against risk. the United States and China. The market Spot gold touched its highest since Sept 20 was now awaiting the US Federal Reserve’s at $1,362.24 an ounce in earlier trading and policy meeting on March 18-19. The central was up 0.6 percent at $1,357.30 an ounce bank is most likely to announce another by 1106 GMT. $10 billion cut to its bond-buying stimulus US gold futures rose over 1 percent to after a series of US economic data showing their 5-1/2 month high of $1,364.10 an that growth has been hurt by severe cold ounce, before trading at $1,356.70, up 0.7 weather. percent. “The increase in Asian physical gold “With the Chinese New Year and the US demand over the past ten years has been weather we have been in a bit of a data vac- largely due to the huge rise in wealth in that uum and events (like Ukraine, China) have region, so you would think anything that become much more important for gold and disrupts growth would negatively affect those have been on the bullish side,” Turner gold demand,” Macquarie analyst Matthew said. “The following month will be crucial to Turner said. “However, until we see that an assess if the US economy is really accelerat- element of western safe-haven buying ing and to see what the Fed new outlook is because of the knock-on effect it is having and also how the Chinese demand is going on equities and currencies seem to be the to hold up.” In a sign of investor confidence dominant driver.” in bullion, gold-backed exchange-traded European equities tumbled on worries products saw inflows of $500 million in over global growth, while the dollar was lit- February, a reversal from 13 consecutive tle changed against a basket of main cur- months of outflows, according to rencies and yields on 10-year US treasuries BlackRock. moved lower at around 2.7 percent. China’s Physical markets first bond default and weak data on exports Demand for physical bullion and jewelry have stoked concerns about the health of has fallen due to the jump in prices. In the world’s second-biggest economy, send- China, the world’s biggest gold consumer, ing London copper prices to their lowest in local prices are at a discount to spot prices 44 months. Copper is often put up as collat- of about $3 an ounce. Demand has waned eral for lending. Tensions between Ukraine since the Lunar New Year holiday, before and Russia are also weighing on appetite which prices were at a premium of $20. for risk globally on a growing chance of Platinum was up 0.5 percent at $1,462.99 an western sanctions over Crimea. ounce, while palladium fell 0.5 percent to The Group of Seven advanced $760.70 an ounce. Silver gained 0.4 percent economies will demand that Russia halt to $20.91 an ounce. — Reuters Oil slips towards $108

SINGAPORE: Brent futures fell towards oil markets so much. It may impact other $108 a barrel yesterday as demand growth commodities, but not so much oil.” Markets concerns at the world’s two biggest oil con- are awaiting a slew of data from China on sumers overshadowed fears of supply dis- Thursday, including industrial output, retail ruption with geopolitical tensions over sales and urban investment to get some Ukraine worsening. US benchmark WTI clarity on where the economy is heading. dropped below the crucial $100 a barrel China’s economic uncertainty is weigh- mark for a second day on expectations US ing across risk assets such as Asian shares, crude inventories rose higher than forecast, with industrial commodities, particularly indicating a slowdown in demand as the copper and iron ore, the hardest hit. Given weather improved. Investors are now await- the amount of data that is due, it is diffi- ing fresh economic data from China to cult to clearly point to a direction for oil gauge the country’s oil consumption out- markets, Barratt said. For a longer term look after surprisingly weak trade numbers. outlook, oil above $100 a barrel is expen- Brent crude lost 19 cents to $108.36 a sive and cheap at around the $85 mark, barrel by 0301 GMT, after ending 47 cents he said. Still, concerns over the unfolding higher. US oil declined 47 cents to $99.56, crisis in Ukraine worsening is holding oil after settling down $1.09 at $100.03, its from sliding further as markets worry lowest since Feb 11. “The question in about an escalation in tensions. Ukraine’s everybody’s mind is - what is the biggest government appealed for Western help risk to oil? And it is China slowing down,” on Tuesday to stop Moscow annexing said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of Crimea but the Black Sea peninsula, over- commodity research firm Barratt’s Bulletin run by Russian troops, seemed fixed on a in Sydney. “People have figured out that course that could formalize rule from what happens in Ukraine doesn’t matter to Moscow within days. — Reuters THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 BUSINESS

Lebanon’s snow-free ski resorts push economy downhill Ski slopes empty, hotels vacant, shops closed

FARAYA: The mountains north of Beirut, put. “This is the first time the slopes have around 30 cm of white powder in Faraya. Woeful winter “In Lebanon, we always said we don’t usually a snowy winter playground for not opened at all,” said Joost Komen, gen- Many thought it was a harbinger of a long Lack of precipitation and mild temper- have to worry about the vines because we skiers and other tourists vital for Lebanon’s eral manager of Intercontinental Mzaar, a and cold winter to come. Aid agencies atures are creating problems for vineyards have perfect weather...but we have to services-based economy, are brown, mud- large hotel and ski lodge in one of worried about hundreds of thousands of and farms across Lebanon. Government worry about other issues. This year, in dy and completely empty this season. Lebanon’s main resorts. “That there is limit- Syrian refugees living in crude shelters at observations put rainfall through the addition to the geopolitical issues, we Hotel rooms lie vacant and winter sports ed snow, it happens. But that there is high altitudes. beginning of March at less than half the have to worry about the vines,” said rental shops are idle, with the lack of snow absolutely no snow? No, this has never But that first snowfall was not enough average for this time of year. Massaya Ghosn. Farmers of other crops are already deterring even the keenest visitors. An happened.” to open the slopes. There has been almost vineyard, spread out over 40 hectares in feeling the effects of the abnormal winter unseasonably warm and dry winter - the Komen said revenues were down more no precipitation since. Though it could still the Bekaa valley, is one of several strug- weather. Hassan Mheish, a farmer in the mildest in decades by most accounts - has than 80 percent, directly affecting around snow in March or even April, the damage gling to cope. Ramzi Ghosn, the winemak- northern region of Tripoli, said the lack of also endangered the harvest of vineyards 600 families dependent on hotel jobs. Ski has been done. “What happened in er at Massaya, said the lack of moisture rain had drastically reduced his almond which export prize-winning Lebanese instructors, rental shops and other busi- January and February is gone. This is mon- would cut volumes of wine production crop and threatened to destroy the olive wines around the world. nesses that benefit from seasonal activity ey unrecoverable,” Komen said. Marwan significantly, although it might not jeop- and lemon harvests. Standing on dry, Along with worsening security prob- have also taken a severe blow. “God forbid Barakat, chief economist at Bank Audi, said ardize the quality. “The more the vines suf- cracked soil in an olive grove he manages, lems and political gridlock, the fickle we have another year like this. If it happens those two months witnessed a decline in fer, the better the wine usually,” he said. he said the government should build weather has exacerbated a three-year drop again, you’ll see many shops shutting arrivals at Beirut airport, one of few metrics But the mild winter will make vines start dams and take other steps to alleviate the in tourism in this small Mediterranean down,” said one vendor, sitting in a parking available for analyzing the tourism sector. growing again and sprouting earlier than impact of dwindling water resources on country. Before the conflict in neighbour- lot full of idle all-terrain vehicles. An early “This is probably due to some tourism usual, meaning that a late winter storm or farmers. “The wells are drying up. Now ing Syria erupted in 2011, the sector gener- snowstorm in December battered the foregone because of the adverse winter even just a brief cold spell could devastate they’re mostly giving only mud and soil,” ated about 10 percent of economic out- Middle East with high winds and dropped conditions,” he said. the harvest. the farmer sighed. —Reuters Poundland share price jumps in market debut Shares list at 300 pence, rise up to 33% LONDON: Shares in discount retailer Poundland talization of 1.225 billion pounds. Its shares hit a would be freely tradable. Yesterday’s flotations made a strong debut on the London Stock high of 256.25 pence, up 4.6 percent. The firm, follow last month’s listing in London of AO Exchange yesterday, with the price jumping 33 which had set a price range of 210-260 pence World, the online domestic appliances retailer, percent to nearly four times the one-pound last month, is raising 280 million pounds, with which saw a surge in its share price above its price tag it puts on all its merchandise, valuing major shareholder KKR , the US private equity offer level on debut. Several other British retail- the business at 998 million pounds ($1.7 billion). Shares in the company, one of several British retailers looking to list in London this year and KUWAIT: A general view shows central bank governors of the Gulf capitalize on the country’s gradually improving Cooperation Council (GCC) attending a meeting in Kuwait City to discuss com- economy, were trading at 396.6 pence at 1243 GMT, well above the 300 pence flotation price bating terror funding and boosting cooperation. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat which had valued the firm at 750 million pounds. Last month Poundland had set the price range for the share offer at 625-750 pence. Gulf shares tumble Private equity firm Warburg Pincus reduced its 76 percent stake in the operator of over 500 stores, which sells items for 1 pound, to 37.9 per- amid global sell-off cent, or 30.4 percent if an over-allotment is exer- DUBAI: Dubai’s shares slid yesterday, lead- ing to further downside. cised. ing a Middle East retreat as a gloomy global “Each UAE market is likely to see Some 50 percent of the firm’s equity will be backdrop worsened a local lull and sparked increased supply on bounces as investors freely tradable. Poundland’s management led by profit-taking. Copper, a proxy for China’s look to lock in profits or diminish losses as Chief Executive Jim McCarthy, a 30-year veteran economic wealth, plunged to a four-year the near-term sentiment turns bearish - of the retail sector, reduced their holdings from low, worsening fears about slowing thereby suppressing the extent of short- about 24 percent to 10.2 percent. Poundland, Chinese economy and triggered selling term rallies,” said Bruce Powers, technical the first British discount retailer to seek a public across global equities. “Global selling is analyst and president at WideVision. Qatar’s listing, did not issue any new shares to investors affecting sentiment to a certain extent but measure fell 1.4 percent in its third consec- in the offer, which raised gross proceeds of 375 the correction is a result of a strong early- utive loss. Sentiment has been weak in million pounds. A source familiar with the matter year performance and a lack of catalysts,” Qatar partly because of its diplomatic dis- said the offer was covered over 15 times and LONDON: A Poundland store is pictured in south London. —AFP Marwan Shurrab, fund manager and head pute with some other Gulf countries. Qatar that Warburg Pincus, which bought Poundland of trading at Vision Investments said of UAE has dismissed calls by its Gulf neighbors to for 200 million pounds in 2010, saw an internal group, other shareholders and members of the ers are seeking listings as consumer confidence markets. With fourth-quarter earnings change its foreign policy, which has rate of return (IRR) of over 50 percent, and a management team receiving 210 million improves, including Fat Face, B&M and House of mostly out of the way, investors have little involved backing Egypt’s Muslim money multiple of 4.5 times on the flotation. pounds. Fraser expected to come to market. JP Morgan to trade on. A string of companies going Brotherhood. Last week Saudi Arabia, the Pets at home Following the listing KKR will hold 46.2 per- and Credit Suisse were bookrunners on the ex-dividend has hurt regional markets in United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recalled Separately on Wednesday Britain’s biggest cent of the equity, while management led by Poundland sale, while Bank of America Merrill the last few days; their ambassadors from Qatar over the pet shop group Pets at Home priced its share Chief Executive Nick Wood will hold 4.3 percent. Lynch, Goldman Sachs and KKR Capital Markets Dubai Financial Market, the only listed issue. offer at 245 pence, giving a debut market capi- Some 40 percent of its issued share capital led the Pets at Home offer. —Reuters Gulf bourse, dropped 6.7 percent as it went Egypt’s bourse gave in to the weak senti- past the date when shareholders are eligi- ment and the benchmark index slipped 0.2 ble to receive dividends. Dubai’s index percent despite upbeat earnings. Shares in nosedived 3.8 percent in its biggest one- Telecom Egypt, the landline monopoly, Small companies pound day drop in more than six months to cut its bucked the trend and gained 0.7 percent to 2014 gains to 16.8 percent. The measure hit a two-year high. The firm posted consol- fell to 3,936 points, breaking key technical idated net profits of 2.96 billion Egyptian support at the late February low of 4,026 pounds ($425.27 million) in 2013, compared pavement to get big deals points; this triggered a double top formed to 2.62 billion pounds in 2012, according to by the February peaks - a classic sign of the a financial report published in a newspaper NEW YORK: When a small business To get its pints into Whole Foods, Arctic Zero also pitched Wal-Mart and Boasmond connect with purchasing end of an uptrend - which points down to yesterday. The company’s chief executive can boast having big clients like Wal- Arctic Zero visited many individual grocery chain Kroger. In 2011, Kroger executives. 3,810 points. Abu Dhabi’s measure lost 2.8 said he expected the newly formed govern- Mart and Procter & Gamble, their peers stores. Although big retail chains buy not only said yes, it decided to imme- She also attends events and confer- percent, breaching for the first time in 17 ment to grant it a license to provide mobile often want to know how they did it. nationally or regionally, sometimes diately stock all its 2,200 stores. Arctic ences held by the Women’s Business weeks the low of a prior week, likely point- services this month or the next. —Reuters The truth is there’s no magic that gets local store managers can buy some Zero had to sign up more manufactur- Development Center, a program to a small business a deal with big com- products on their own. “We literally ers to handle the demand. After Arctic help women-owned businesses, and panies. It takes good old-fashioned had to go store by store, region by Zero’s success with Kroger, Wal-Mart the National Minority Supplier Syria’s economy devastated pavement pounding. The makers of region,” says CEO Pandhi, whose com- followed, putting the frozen dessert in Development Council, an industry Arctic Zero started small, selling their pany is based in San Diego. Finally, in 2,300 stores and then expanding to group that links minority firms with by war, propped up by allies no-fat, ice cream-like frozen dessert to about a year, Arctic Zero made it to a 2,500, Pandhi says. big corporations. She attends about natural food stores and independent Whole Foods’ freezer case. Pandhi’s 100 events a year. “People are still BEIRUT: Syria’s civil war has ravaged the plunge this year to $34 billion from $60 billion grocers in Southern California. pitch includes bringing samples and Networking works going to want to put a face on a com- country’s economy, causing damage that in 2010. But they wanted to get in national showing off his sales figures. Usually, it Linda Boasmond networked her pany, especially when we’re talking could take years to repair, and people have The United Nations says the unemploy- chains. It took a year and a lot of travel- takes two to three conversations way into contracts with Procter & about a multimillion-dollar contract,” been forced to focus on finding basic necessi- ment rate is nearly 50 percent and that half ing to get into Whole Foods. It took before a manager says yes. After their Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Citgo Boasmond says. And even then it takes ties, like food and fuel, experts say. Gross Syria’s population of 23 million is now living four years to get on Wal-Mart’s shelves. first Whole Foods win, Pandhi and oth- for her company, Cedar Concepts. The patience. It took three years for Cedar domestic product has plunged nearly 40 per- below the poverty line, with 4.4 million lan- Concepts to get its own contract with cent since 2010, the year before the war guishing in “extreme poverty.” The dire econom- Procter & Gamble. It landed that deal began, as production has seized up, the ic straits have forced Syria’s residents to adjust, after first being a subcontractor to a regime been rocked by international sanc- as people focusing on securing such basic company that had a direct contract tions and oil fields lost to rebels. But so far, the needs as bread, tea and sugar. with the consumer products company. economy has avoided total collapse, with the According to official Syrian estimates, currency stabilizing of late despite a massive tourism sector has lost $1.5 billion and manu- Using a middleman loss in value, and crucial financial support facturing has lost $2.2 billion since the war Supermarket beer aisles are domi- forthcoming from key allies Russia and Iran. began. Oil production has fallen by 96 percent, nated by megabrands like Budweiser “The Syrian economy has transformed dra- from 385,000 barrels a day to just 14,000. The and Miller. There are hundreds of craft matically... the economy that we used to industry has been doubly buffeted, first by beers vying for a place on the shelves know has been destroyed to a large extent,” European sanctions and then by the gradual including Back Forty Beer Co, a said economist Jihad Yazigi, author of The loss to rebels of the country’s biggest oil fields, Gadsden, Ala-based brewer that got its Syria Report, an economic news site. “There in the east. Europe once bought 90 percent of start in local restaurants and bars. To are vast segments of the Syrian economy that Syria’s oil, but now production is too meagre to get into Wal-Mart and big supermar- have stopped production and many economy even meet domestic needs of around 150,000 kets like Publix, Back Forty linked up players have left the country,” he said. “The barrels a day. That has forced Syria to make up with 18 wholesalers that have good war has produced a new economy, which is the shortfall by importing some $400 million of relationships with large retailers. what we call a war economy.” “Robbery, kid- oil a month from key ally Iran. During a sales call, Wilson shows Back nappings, checkpoints and control over oil Forty’s sales figures. Later, the whole- fields... have become the sources of income.” Help from Iran, Russia saler follows up. “We’ve found our- “Both the informal economy and the war Tehran has proved key in propping up selves in the unique position to open economy are on the rise. There are some busi- Syria’s economy, extending the regime a $3.6 doors because of our wholesalers,” nessmen who have benefited from the war, billion credit line in July. And Syria’s other key president Jason Wilson says. and new institutions and networks have foreign backer, Russia, has played its part in sup- It took about two years from its grown with it,” he added. The conflict began in porting the country’s flailing economy. In founding for Back Forty to make it into March 2011, when the regime cracked down December, with Moscow’s backing, Damascus some Publix and Wal-Mart stores in CALIFORNIA: Workers at Arctic Zero cap the finished product at the company’s factory in Pomona, Alabama. In another year, it expanded brutally on peaceful anti-government protests. signed a deal authorizing a Russian firm to Calif. —AP The opposition took up arms and the country explore its territorial waters for oil and gas. into more stores in the South. But once spiraled into a civil war that has killed more “Syria is still on its feet economically speaking, “It was just a lot of hustling, a lot of er Arctic Zero executives got the Chicago-based business makes chemi- in, it’s not always smooth sailing. than 140,000 people and displaced nearly half thanks to the support of its allies,” Irsheid said. hard work, pitching, going in and talk- dessert into about 250 stores. cals used in consumer products like Sometimes stores carried Back Forty the population internally or externally. “As a result, we can’t expect that it will collapse ing,” CEO Amit Pandhi says. Many small Whole Foods is looking for prod- shampoos and conditioners and in oil beer and then stopped ordering. Poor economically anytime soon.” Other factors have business owners dream of selling to ucts that meet its standards for natural drilling and the manufacture of air- sales figures can lead to rejections. But ‘Extreme poverty’ also kept the economy from the brink, includ- big companies. But the competition is ingredients and that stand out from plane parts. When large companies Back Forty has weathered the chal- “Syria’s economy has become a war econ- ing the exodus of some 2.5 million citizens- fierce. Rivals can include entrenched the pack in their food category, says need small batches of chemicals, typi- lenges and is now in Target, Kroger and omy because Syria is a battleground where turned-refugees, government spending cuts national players or fast-growing Elly Truesdell, the company’s Northeast cally several million pounds, they turn Winn-Dixie, another grocery chain. And there are multiple, complex fronts,” according and some international aid, experts say. Irsheid upstarts. Corporate buying depart- regional buyer. Companies also have to businesses like Cedar Concepts this winter, Wilson got a call from a to Mazen Irsheid of Jordan’s United Financial said the regime’s recent military advances, ments often aren’t interested in a to be willing to help promote their rather than massive producers. wholesaler who had good news: Sam’s Investment Co. The effects on the economy backed by Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah move- product without a successful track products - for example, with in-store Belonging to networking and industry Club wanted Back Forty, and in time for have been devastating. The Economist ment, had also helped to stabilize some eco- record. To get in, small businesses have demonstrations - so shoppers will groups like the Women’s Business the Super Bowl. “We had a lot of high- Intelligence Unit (EIU) estimated GDP will nomic indicators. —AFP to convince big companies to give know there’s a new product on the Enterprise National Council and the fives, handshakes and hugs - and then them a chance. shelf. While they courted Whole Foods, American Cleaning Institute helps back to work,” Wilson says. —AP BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Brazil economy faces trouble after World Cup, election Govt to address growing financial imbalances BRASILIA: With the World Cup in June and July even in a best-case scenario, the measures will Foundation, a Brazilian business school. “The and a presidential election in October, many smother domestic demand in the short term - incoming government will have to hold the line Brazilians aren’t thinking beyond 2014. But next perhaps not quite enough to cause a recession, on fiscal austerity to bring credibility back,” year is likely to be memorable for all the wrong officials and economists say, but enough to result Campelo said. reasons in Latin America’s biggest economy. in another lost year in terms of GDP growth. President Dilma Rousseff, or whoever wins the “2015 is going to be the big year of adjustment,” Waiting for election election, will have to make deep budget cuts, said Marcelo Salomon, chief Brazil economist for Budget cuts in the first year of a presidential raise taxes and take other painful steps to address Barclays in New York. “What needs to happen is a term have become part of the economic cycle Brazil’s growing financial imbalances. credibility shock so that the government shows it here. Rousseff made relatively minor adjustments The fallout will likely be more damaging than isn’t just thinking in the short term.” in 2011, while her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da many investors anticipate, resulting in a fourth Silva made a big austerity push in 2003. The size straight year of disappointing growth - a big fall Country stuck in traffic of next year’s cuts will depend in part on who back to earth for a country that last decade was The seeds of Brazil’s current predicament were wins the election. Rousseff, who must cope with one of the world’s most dynamic emerging mar- sown during the good years. Thanks to strong an unwieldy coalition of resource-hungry political All New Cadillac CTS wins kets. Economists currently expect Brazil’s gross demand for its soy and iron ore from China, plus parties, is seen wielding the budget ax with the domestic product to grow 1.68 percent this year, smart fiscal management and social welfare poli- lightest touch. But her two opponents - Senator and 2 percent in 2015, according to a weekly sur- cies under Rousseff’s predecessors, Brazil has Aecio Neves and Eduardo Campos, a state gover- 2014 Motor Trend Award vey by the central bank. Yet the latter forecast is managed to pull some 35 million people out of nor - are running to her right, and have suggested somewhat misleading, because many economists poverty since the mid-1990s. It also became a top in courting business leaders they would slash KUWAIT: Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons eight-inch high-resolution touch screen that admit their estimates are based on computer market for foreign automakers, retailers and tele- spending deeply. Felipe Salto, an economist for Automotive, the exclusive distributor of is seamlessly integrated into the instrument models that don’t fully account for what politi- com companies. But economists say that, gener- Tendencias consultancy, said that to recover cred- Cadillac in Kuwait, is proud to announce that panel center stack. The CUE system also cians will do after the election. ally speaking, Brazil sold too many cars during the ibility while accounting for what’s politically pos- the All-New 2014 Cadillac CTS has won the includes a 3D navigation system, an updated “No matter who wins (the election), it’s going boom while not building enough roads. That is, it sible, the government will likely need to target a 2014 Car of the Year Award from the presti- colored DIC, a reflection of the meter on the to be a difficult year, worse than many believe,” channeled too much of the windfall toward con- primary budget surplus of about 2.5 percent of gious Motor Trend Car Magazine. The crafted front window and many other features. said Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who was presi- sumption and not enough on investment. The GDP in 2015. design, thrilling performance & sophisticated dent from 1995 to 2003 and still retains consider- result is an economy now plagued by infrastruc- By comparison, that goal, which excludes debt technology of this futuristic icon has raised Safety - Center of Attention able influence in financial circles as a leader of the ture bottlenecks and low productivity - and, thus, payments from the fiscal balance, is set for 1.9 the bar high for the mid-size luxury vehicles. The All-New 2014 Cadillac CTS is using the main opposition party. An official close to high inflation and slow growth. percent in 2014. However, most analysts said in a well-known high performing Brembo brakes Rousseff, speaking on condition of anonymity, Rousseff, who took office in 2011 just as the Reuters poll last month that they expect the gov- Passionate Innovation and it’s the first Cadillac to offer Automatic broadly concurred: “Few people are talking about economy was slowing, reacted by making a ernment to miss that target as it ramps up elec- Larger, leaner, lower and with a stronger Parking Assist, which enables the car to park build, the All-New 2014 Cadillac CTS has the itself in parallel spaces. It uses ultrasonic sen- 2015 right now. But it will be hard, no doubt.” The series of targeted tax cuts worth approximately tion-year spending, making the 2015 adjustment upper hand when it comes to luxurious, mid- sors to locate a suitable space and manoeu- biggest and most disruptive task will be trimming 1.5 percent of GDP, while also keeping fiscal that much more traumatic. Meanwhile, there are sized sedans. The exterior exudes a beautiful- vre the car into the space, with the driver only Brazil’s fiscal deficit, which investors and ratings spending robust to stimulate the economy. Her other distortions waiting to be fixed. Rousseff’s ly strong, sporty spirit with its youthful grille required to engage reverse and apply the agencies say has been too high in recent years. actions may have prevented a sharper slump. policy of keeping fuel prices artificially low has and new elegantly lit LED headlamps. The accelerator and brake pedals. A Driver No one expects Rousseff, a pragmatic leftist, to The economy grew 2.3 percent in 2013, and helped subdue inflation, but it can’t last forever. rich interior illustrates Cadillac’s attention to Awareness Package includes Cadillac’s make painful budget cuts while campaigning for defied predictions of a minor recession during The gap between local gasoline prices and those handmade details that include the carbon patented Safety Alert Seat technology. It uses re-election. As a result, the cuts will need to be the second half of the year. But priming the fis- abroad has hovered at about 11 percent, with a fiber & refined wood and aluminum, an ele- vibrating pulses in the driver’s seat to alert even deeper when the next presidential term cal pump has carried a cost: The budget deficit 19 percent gap for diesel. That has caused huge ment that beautifies each corner of the allur- the driver to an imminent collision or to vehi- begins on Jan 1, 2015 - especially if Brazil’s sover- is expected to hit nearly 4 percent of GDP in losses for Petroleo Brasileiro SA, the state-run ing vehicle. The Cadillac’s interior is further cles in the car’s blind spot. The seat vibrates eign credit is downgraded in the interim by 2014, a percentage point above the past energy company known as Petrobras. enhanced with the leather stitching, a factor on the left or right side, or both sides simulta- Standard & Poor’s to its lowest investment-grade decade’s average. For Petrobras to be able to afford its ambitious that reflects Cadillac’s dedication to applying neously, depending on the direction of the rating, as many in Brasilia now anticipate. Tax That’s not a huge budget gap by global stan- investment plan to develop offshore oil reserves skillful, handmade touches on everything it risk. hikes are also likely. So are adjustments to bus dards. But investors hold Brazil to a tighter stan- over the next decade, which the company recent- offers. fares, gasoline costs and other prices adminis- dard than most countries because of its history of ly scaled back because of its struggles, the next Cadillac Premium Care tered by the government, which Rousseff has runaway spending that resulted in hyperinflation president must raise fuel prices. That would take Leading Power, Performance As with all Cadillac vehicles, the 2014 held in check to prevent inflation, running around in the 1980s and early 1990s. At the slightest sign money out of consumers’ pockets. Other pent-up The All-New third-generation Cadillac is Cadillac CTS comes with the most compre- 6 percent, from rising even higher. of fiscal slippage or an uptick in inflation, it’s not pressures are coming from a severe drought pres- distinguished by a 6-cylinder, 3.6-liter engine, hensive suite of owner benefits to give luxury If done properly, belt-tightening policies could just ratings agencies that get worried. Anyone suring electricity prices; a freeze on bus fares in an element that positions the Cadillac as one owners everything they need including free restore balance to the economy and rebuild over age 40 or so remembers watching their place since nationwide street protests last June; of the top ten engines according to Ward’s service and maintenance for 4 years or Brazil’s tattered credibility with the private sector. salary get decimated. “There’s been a very large and the growing tax burden posed by Brazil’s Auto World, due to its ferocious power that 100,000 km, warranty for 4 years or 100,000 goes up to 321 HP.The Cadillac CTS is also km,24-hour roadside assistance for 4 years or That, in turn, could set the stage for an eventual worsening in expectations” among businesses generous pension system. None of those issues available with a 4-cylinder, 2.0 -liter Turbo unlimited mileage, and courtesy transporta- return to the good old days last decade when and consumers alike, said Aloisio Campelo, who are expected to be fully dealt with until after the charged engine that generates best in class tion and replacement vehicle. Adding to the GDP often grew better than 4 percent a year. Yet, runs economic surveys for the Getulio Vargas election is over. — Reuters 272 HP. The new 8-speed automatic transmis- luxury that Cadillac offers its customers Yusuf sion debut on the 2014 Cadillac CTS delivers A Alghanim& Sons Automotive’ s is distin- improved fuel efficiency and the 2014 All guished by its continuous and successful Ten-day shopping bonanza Cadillac CTS is further heightened with its efforts in providing the highest quality of lightweight nature, a factor that positions it services. The service center is equipped with a at Jolly Silks; KD10 voucher as the lightest vehicle in its class. large variety of the most advanced equip- ment operated by a team of skilled profes- KUWAIT: Jolly Silks, the one stop be valid across all the items available Advanced Technology sionals and effective consultants who ensure destination for silks and fashion has at the Jolly Silks so that every shop- The Cadillac sedan’s driving experience is timely service. If you are interested in test announced an exciting ten-day per benefits from this promotion,” complemented with CUE, Cadillac’s compre- driving the All-New 2014 Cadillac CTS, visit us bonanza for shoppers from 13 March said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive hensive, in-vehicle experience that merges at Cadillac Alghanim’ s showroom to become to 22 March, 2014. Every shopper Director, Joyalukkas Group. intuitive design with smartphone-influenced acquainted with this luxury ride and to know purchasing KD30 worth of material Jolly Silks hosts one of the largest controls and commands for information and more about its exceptional features and from Jolly Silks during the promotion collections of fashion and silks mate- entertainment data. The heart of CUE is the remarkable performance. period will get a free KD10 Voucher, rial that are brought together from which can be redeemed at Jolly Silks the best sources and designers to up to 30 June, 2014. The offer is valid offer shoppers a choice that meets across the wide range of fashion and all their fashion and budget expecta- silks choices, such as Sarees, tions. The showroom currently has a Churidars, Kurtas, Shirts, and refreshed collection of wedding and Trousers, which are available at the spring collection for women and Jolly Silks outlet located at Panasonic men. Jolly Silks is a preferred destina- Tower in Kuwait City. “Our ten-day tion of shoppers for fashion and silks bonanza has been timed to cater to because its offers the best combina- families who will shop for their short tion of unlimited choice, latest fash- trips during the upcoming school ion and trends, best price and is a break. The attractive ‘Spend KD30 convenient one stop destination for and get free KD10 Voucher’ offer will shopping for the entire family.

Ogilvy & Mather acquire the major stake in Memac Ogilvy

KUWAIT: Ogilvy & Mather yesterday Worldwide Board. “When I started the announced that it has acquired a business in 1984 we had one office, majority stake in Memac Ogilvy. one client and four staff. Three Founded in 1984 by Eddie Moutran in decades later we are the leading inte- Bahrain, Memac Ogilvy has been asso- grated marketing communications ciated with Ogilvy & Mather since network in the Middle East and North 1986. Ogilvy & Mather became a Africa. I’d like to thank our clients, staff minority shareholder in the leading and my family for their support and marketing services company covering trust. This agreement continues the markets throughout the Middle East deep integration with Ogilvy & Mather and North Africa (MENA) region over we have enjoyed since our partnership eighteen years ago. began. The values and spirit of Memac Al Mazaya Holding announces “For nearly thirty years, we have and Ogilvy are a natural match. enjoyed a long, creative and successful We are one network offering clients final sale of The Villa project relationship with Memac Ogilvy. In in the region the full slate of integrated that time Eddie has built a fabulous marketing communications services,” agency which is doing leading-edge said Eddie Moutran, CEO Memac IKEA Kuwait wins DUBAI: Al Mazaya Holding Company has building excellence. work for many local, regional and Ogilvy. “It is a testament to the quality finalized the sale of The Villa residential In total, The Villa spans some 29m international brands. The Middle East of the agency Eddie has built, his own project in Dubailand. The homes, which square feet and comprises more than 700 Service Hero Award for and North Africa are areas of unique leadership, his unstinting passion and together cover more than 88 thousand luxury homes. Al Mazaya Holding Company opportunity in the marketing commu- the award-winning work we do for square feet, will be delivered to new own- was the single largest property owner dur- 4th consecutive year nications business; this is the right clients that he was honored with the ers in the second and third quarter of the ing the development stages. Al Mazaya time for us to recognize that, and joint- Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the year. Al Mazaya Holding Company worked Holding Company Chief Executive Officer KUWAIT: IKEA Kuwait has been voted Kuwait competing against 12 other ly and aggressively execute our plans Year 2014 award,” continued Young. closely with master developer Dubai Engineer Ibrahim Al Saqabi said: “We are as the best brand in Home Furniture similar companies this year. The report to build the network here,” said Miles Memac Ogilvy serves over 150 interna- Properties Company, a Dubai Holding sub- very pleased to have sold our last remain- for the 4th year in a row at the recently has reinforced the certainty that the Young, Worldwide Chairman and CEO tional, regional and local brands sidiary, during the construction process of ing properties at the Villa in Dubailand, one concluded 2013 Service Hero Award. customer should always come first of Ogilvy & Mather. including IBM, Coca-Cola, Arab Bank, the homes to ensure high standards of of Dubai’s most sought after residential Over 300 brands within 17 different and this will ensure customer loyalty Miles Young also announced that Almarai and American Express and spaces. private industry categories were and the success of a business. Eddie Moutran has been elected to be employs over 570 people in its 14 “We have seen strong investor appetite ranked by customers to determine IKEA Kuwait continues to focus all a member of the Ogilvy & Mather offices throughout the region. for The Villa project, an indication of their preference on the Service Hero efforts on ensuring the shopping renewed confidence in the Dubai real Customer Satisfaction Index (SHCSI) experience exceeds customer expec- estate story that is good news for both buy- for 2013, with the home furnishings tations supported by a dedicated ers and sellers. “Al Mazaya Holding sector being one of highest scoring team of co-workers that love and take Company is proud of its tradition of invest- services again this year. pride of working for the leading ing in innovative and ambitious real estate Customers rated the companies Home Furnishing brand in Kuwait. projects. The Villa is one of the most impor- based on a 10-point scoring system IKEA is the Swedish leading home fur- tant projects we have been involved in that measures customer expectations nishings company with 345 stores because of the level of investment of all versus actual customer satisfaction worldwide that employs 151,000 co- equity partners. “We look forward to work- across eight service dimensions. The workers in 42 countries. IKEA offers ing on all of our other real estate projects in eight dimensions were: reliability, well designed, good quality home Dubai over the coming months and years.” speed, product quality, value for mon- furnishings solutions at prices so low The Villa, which was inspired by pictur- ey, location of offering, staff quality, that as many people as possible can esque rural Spanish residential develop- call center and website. The Recent afford them. Simply put, IKEA home ments, offers owners plentiful green report has indicated that the Home furnishings make it possible to turn spaces, play areas for children and shaded furnishing sector is rapidly expanding dreams into reality and create homes Ibrahim Al Saqabi pedestrian walkways. Miles Young and Edmond Moutran pictured during an event with a sharp rise in demand with IKEA to love living in. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 technology

Cybercriminals entrenched in ‘Dark Web’: Researchers WASHINGTON: Cybercriminals are settling into a these attacks,” the security firm said. Weafer added that the attacks “represent a com- “Thieves can pay for the stolen credit cards comfortable place in the “Dark Web” where they The report pointed out that the attackers who ing of age for both Cybercrime-as-a-Service and using one of the many anonymous virtual currency test, refine and distribute malware for online thiev- stole the data have also found a market-offering the ‘Dark Web’ overall.” The “Dark Web” actors mechanisms, such as Bitcoin,” McAfee said. “We ery. That’s the conclusion of researchers at McAfee, some of the 40 million credit card numbers report- appear to be operating with ease, like other kinds believe these breaches will have long-lasting reper- the US Internet security specialist, who noted that ed stolen in batches of between one million and of online businesses, McAfee said. cussions. We expect to see changes to security a huge data breach that affected as many as 110 four million at a time. “We must recognize that this class of attack is far approaches and compliance mandates and, of million customers of the US retailer Target may be “The fourth quarter of 2013 will be remembered from ‘advanced,’” it added. “The BlackPOS malware course, lawsuits. just the tip of the iceberg. as the period when cybercrime became ‘real’ for family is an ‘off-the-shelf’ exploit kit for sale that “But the big lesson is that we face a healthy and In its quarterly threat assessment released yes- more people than ever before,” said Vincent Weafer, can easily be modified and redistributed with little growing cybercrime industry which played a key terday, McAfee Labs noted the relative ease with senior vice president for McAfee Labs. programming skill or knowledge of malware func- role in enabling and monetizing the results of which this type of malware is bought and sold in “These cyber thefts occurred at a time when tionality.” these attacks.” “Dark Web” marketplaces. McAfee researchers con- most people were focused on their holiday shop- The thieves who employ the malware can easily McAfee’s report also noted a surge in mobile cluded that the malware for the Target attacks used ping and when the industry wanted people to feel turn to a popular credit card black market like malware as more people use smartphones. It “relatively unsophisticated technologies likely pur- secure and confident in their purchases. The Lampeduza Republic, which McAfee said had a collected 2.47 million new mobile malware sam- chased ‘off the shelf’ from the Cybercrime-as-a- impact of these attacks will be felt both at the “well-organized hierarchy” which allows for a “disci- ples in 2013, with 744,000 in the fourth quarter Service community, and customized specifically for kitchen table as well as the boardroom table.” plined and functional marketplace.” alone. —AF Candy Crush At tech fest: 3D printers, empire worth up to $7.6bn bitcoin and ‘Titanfall’ LONDON: King Digital Entertainment, the British developer behind the wildly-addictive mobile game AUSTIN: Bitcoin, 3-D printed candy and say, a video game conference for the Candy Crush, said yesterday that it could be valued George Takei, the Star Trek-actor-turned- launch party? at up to $7.6 billion in its eagerly-awaited upcoming Facebook-phenomenon, are among the “Just knowing there are a lot of fans flotation. attractions this week at the South By here, and (that) there’s a crossover of social, The planned listing on the New York Stock Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, where pop culture, gaming and technology here. Exchange, unveiled last month, is the latest in a the geek set is slowly filing out to make That just makes it a really fun place to do it,” series by Internet and gaming firms over the past room for hordes of musicians descending says David Dennis, a spokesman for three years-the most high-profile being Facebook on the city. Microsoft. and Twitter. Known as the launching pad of Twitter King said on Wednesday that it was planning an and home to Foursquare’s coming out par- Bio-reactive dance party initial public offering of 22.2 million shares each ty just a few years ago, the annual tech con- Some 150 sweaty people jammed in a priced at between $21 and $24 a share. fab also attracts big tech companies that plastic igloo Monday night, wearing special That could give the company a market capitalisa- are eager to test out new ideas or simply bracelets that measured their movement, tion of between $6.6 billion and $7.6 billion (4.75 show that they’re still “with it.” body temperature and excitement level. A- billion-5.5 billion euros). Here’s a sampling of what you missed - Trak, the popular Canadian DJ known for “We estimate that we will receive net proceeds other than waiting in long lines - if you did- his work with Kanye West and the Yeah from this offering of $326 million,” King said in a n’t make it to Austin this year: Yeah Yeahs, took stage just as the crowd’s statement. “We intend to use the net proceeds from excitement level - as measured by their this offering for working capital and other general Microsoft’s ‘Titanfall’ launch wristbands - reached its peak. Lightwave, corporate purposes, which may include acquisi- The line to get in to Microsoft Corp.’s 9 the startup behind the technology, sees tions.” pm launch party for the eagerly anticipated broad potential for the bands, not just at King outlined its pricing in a statement issued by video game “Titanfall” started forming concerts but also at movies, sporting around 10 am on Monday. By 8 pm that events or political rallies. The DJ had an the US regulatory body SEC for the New York listing. BERLIN: A file photo shows a woman using a Sony 3D viewer during the IFA, one of night it was around the block and not mov- iPad in front of him that showed the Candy Crush-King’s top-seller-started life as a the world’s largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appli- ing much. crowd’s real-time excitement level during Facebook game in 2012 but can also be played ances in Berlin, Germany. — AP online and on smartphones. Joseph Cook, 12, rode down with his the event. He could adjust the music to Millions of commuters, teenagers-even pension- uncle from nearby Round Rock to get his guide the dancers’ mood. Cocktail waitress- Ehrsam says, pointing out that if you spoke Tuesday about growing up in ers-worldwide clock in daily to test their skills at the hands on the game, which went on sale at es served drinks with glowing plastic ice stopped someone on the street and asked Japanese internment camps in the 1940s, game, which basically involves moving brightly midnight. They’d been waiting since 6:40 cubes when the excitement level reached a them who created STMP (that’s Simple Mail political activism and using humor to grow coloured sweets around a grid to get at least three pm. crescendo, and bottles of cold water when Transfer Protocol, the technology standard his social media fan base. He played down of a kind in a row. “I have been looking at this game since body temperatures started rising from all behind email), they probably couldn’t tell the stereotype that people of his genera- The highly-addictive game is free, but players it was launched,” Cook says. the dancing. you - even though they likely use email. tion are technophobes, while admitting can pay for extras to smooth their passage through So what’s so great about it? “Parkour, While acknowledging that only 5 per- that there are some who might be afraid to its more than 500 levels. titans and guns,” he says, summing it up. Bitcoin ATM, Bitcoin future? cent of his own net worth is in the form of “go where no man has gone before,” as the Candy Crush records some 700 million sessions a “Titanfall,” from the creators of “Call of Duty,” A bitcoin ATM on the trade show floor bitcoins, Ehrsam predicted a robust future “Star Trek” quote goes. day and racks up daily sales of $850,000, according is a shooter game that can only be played asks for your phone number, government- for the cyber currency. Take his sister, for example. Takei said his to the IDATE digital research and consultancy firm. with others online - there’s no single-player issued photo ID and palm print before it “One of the common missteps is talking sister doesn’t own a computer. Though he’s A quarter of players said they had spent money mode. lets you buy bitcoins using cold hard cash. about bitcoin as a currency first and fore- convinced her to buy an iPhone, “but on the game, according to market research firm Ask You play either as a pilot or a titan, wear- On Tuesday afternoon, a dollar amounted most, rather than the technology,” he says, whenever she leaves the house, she leaves Your Target. Despite its 1.1 billion users, Facebook ing a giant, Transformers-like robot suit. to exactly 0.00149158 bitcoin. adding that first and foremost, bitcoin is the iPhone at home.” had a rocky debut after it went public in May 2012, Microsoft has a lot riding on “Titanfall.” The The news-making digital currency was network that lets people transfer owner- raising $16 billion in the biggest tech IPO on record. company’s Xbox One console is trailing also the subject of several panels at the ship. Though it’s being used in commerce Baby steps Its shares fell by more than half in the ensuing Sony’s PlayStation 4 in sales. Yusuf Mehdi, conference, where people debated its right now, the implications are broader. It can’t get any more SXSW than this. months, but have since recovered thanks to strong chief marketing and strategy officer at future, viability and usefulness. Fred Bitcoin today, Ehrsam says, is “analogous to Festival attendees waited in long lines, gains in mobile ad revenues. Microsoft, though, notes that it’s early in Ehrsam, the 25-year-old co-founder of bit- the early days of the Internet.” even in the rain, Twitter’s IPO raised $1.8 billion in November the game. coin wallet service Coinbase, told an audi- to get a chance to create and print out 2013 — although shares later tumbled on warnings “We are maybe 10 million units in,” he ence Monday that he “highly doubts” that Takei’s Take customized Oreo cookies, based on Twitter the short message network was overvalued. says, citing sales figures for the newest gen- Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto, the George Takei counts three generations trends and using a 3-D printer. Users could Online gamemaker Zynga-behind the hit eration of game consoles from Sony and man identified in a Newsweek cover story of “Star Trek” fans among his 6 million pick from 12 “trending flavors” and colors Facebook game FarmVille-was valued at $7 billion Microsoft. Analysts expect some 350 mil- as the founder of bitcoin, is the currency’s Facebook fans and 1 million Twitter follow- for the cookies, watch as the printer creat- when it made its play on the stock market in lion consoles to be sold in the coming years creator. (Nakamoto denies that he’s the ers. It’s the 76-year-old actor’s first foray ed their cookies and wash them down with December 2011, but it has been on a losing streak before the next console cycle comes man behind bitcoin). But in the end, it into South By Southwest, where he’s film- a cup of milk. Besides Oreos, 3-D printed since then. — AFP around. might not matter. ing the second season of his YouTube show, candy and chocolate also made an appear- So why South By Southwest and not, “All that matters is the technology,” the AARP-sponsored “Takei’s Take.” He ance at the festival. — AP California pushes to finish driverless car rules LOS ANGELES: California is trying to do something unusual in this age of rapidly evolving technology - get ahead of a big new development before it goes public. By the end of the year, the Department of Motor Vehicles must write rules to regulate cars that rely on computers - not the owner - to do the driving. That process began Tuesday, when the DMV held an initial public hearing in Sacramento to puzzle over how to regulate the vehicles that haven’t been fully developed yet. Among the complex questions offi- cials sought to unravel: How will the state know the cars are safe? Does a driver even need to be behind the BEIJING: This photo illustration taken yesterday shows the logo of Chinese instant messaging platform called wheel? Can manufacturers mine data CALIFORNIA: In this Sept. 25, 2012 file photo, Google co-founder Sergey WeChat on a mobile device which has taken the country by storm in just three years. WeChat has taken China by from onboard computers to make Brin gestures after riding in a driverless car with California Gov Edmund G storm in just three years, allowing its more than 300 million users to send text, photos, videos and voice messages product pitches based on where the Brown Jr, left, and state Senator Alex Padilla, second from left, to a bill over smartphones, find each other by shaking their devices — a common dating technique — and even book and car goes or set insurance rates based signing for driverless cars at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. pay for taxis. — AFP on how it is driven? The California Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday, held a public Do owners get docked points on hearing to solicit ideas on how to integrate driverless cars, sometimes their license if they send a car to park called “autonomous vehicles,” onto public roads. — AP itself and it slams into another vehi- WeChat revolution: China’s cle? Once the stuff of science fiction, array of sensors including radar and when it pushed the 2012 legislation driverless cars could be commercially lasers, hundreds of thousands of miles mandating rules on testing and public available by decade’s end. Under a in California. Major automakers also operation. ‘killer app’ speaks to masses California law passed in 2012, the have tested their own models. Seated across from Simpson at the Now, the DMV is scrambling to reg- hearing’s head tables was a represen- SHANGHAI: When condom maker Durex wants to send an ed Tencent’s shares have risen 9.4 percent, giving it a market DMV must decide by the end of this year how to integrate the cars - often ulate the broader use of the cars. With tative from Google, who offered no intimate message to customers in China, it uses a home- capitalisation of $150 billion, approaching Facebook’s monu- the federal government apparently comment on the data privacy issue. grown instant messaging platform called WeChat which has mental $180 billion. called autonomous vehicles - onto public roads. years away from developing regula- Discussion also touched on how to taken the country by storm in just three years. “WeChat is an extremely people-friendly platform, some- tions, California’s rules could effective- know a car is safe, and whether an WeChat-known as “weixin”, or micro-message in Chinese- thing consumers frequently use every day,” said Fay Zhao, That means the regulation’s writers will post draft language regulations ly become the national standard. owner knows how to properly operate has similarities to WhatsApp, the Silicon Valley start-up that senior brand manager for Durex, which has asked its 200,000 it. Ron Medford, Google’s director of Facebook bought for $19 billion last month. followers to transmit “love stories” over WeChat in its latest around June, then alter the rules in response to public comment by fall in Privacy concerns safety for its “self-driving car” project, Now the CEO of its parent company hopes the service can campaign. Analysts say WeChat has eroded the popularity of Much of the initial discussion suggested that manufacturers should go global, branding it China’s “most hopeful product for inter- another form of Chinese social media-microblogs or “weibo”, order to get them finalized by the end of 2014. Tuesday focused on privacy concerns. be able to self-certify that their cars nationalisation”-but concerns about cybersecurity could the equivalent of Twitter-which have been hurt by a govern- California’s law requires autonomous are safe. He cautioned that it would hamper its ambitions. ment crackdown on content and users. Three other states have passed dri- verless car laws, but those rules most- vehicles to log records of operation so get complicated quickly if the state WeChat is more versatile than WhatsApp, allowing its WeChat is now the country’s second most popular instant the data can be used to reconstruct tried to assume that role. more than 300 million users to send text, photos, videos and messaging tool on mobile devices, according to consultancy ly focus on testing. California has mandated rules on testing and public an accident. In initial iterations, human drivers voice messages over smartphones, find each other by shak- Analysys International-behind the venerable QQ platform, But the cars “must not become would be expected to take control in ing their devices-a common dating technique-and even launched in 1999 and also owned by Tencent-and is unlikely operation, and the DMV expects with- in weeks to finalize regulations dictat- another way to track us in our daily an instant if the computer systems fail. book and pay for taxis. to be dislodged. lives,” John M. Simpson of the non- Unlike current technology - which can Its popularity has gone beyond individuals, with corpora- “WeChat, as a ‘killer app’ of Tencent on mobile Internet, ing what companies must do to test the technology on public roads. profit Consumer Watchdog said at the help park a car or keep it in its freeway tions and even the government using the application devel- has experienced a rapid increase in its user base since it com- hearing. Simpson called out Google, lane - owners might eventually be able oped by Chinese Internet giant Tencent for their internal and mercialised in 2013,” consultancy Analysys International said Those rules came after Google Inc. had already sent its fleet of Toyota saying the Internet giant rebuffed to read, daydream or even sleep while public communications. in a research report in February, referring to when it started attempts to add privacy guarantees the car did the work. — AP Since the WhatsApp deal was announced, Hong Kong-list- charging for some services. — AFP Priuses and Lexuses, fitted with an THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Attitudes and laws against pit bulls soften

KANSAS CITY: For much of the past three aggressive or dangerous unless they are Titan or move out of town. had lived with their owner since soon after bulls, making breed-specific bans hard to decades, pit bulls have been widely regarded made to be that way by irresponsible owners. “I think of him like my son,” she said. “He’s they were born, were well-cared for and had enforce. And because fatal pit bull attacks are as America’s most dangerous dog - the The dogs’ foes complain that their mes- my dog-son, I guess you could say. He’s at my no history of aggressive behavior, he said. a rarity compared with other causes of death favorite breed of thugs, drug dealers and sage is being drowned out by a well-fund- hip all the time. He’s just a big baby that Both had been spayed or neutered. such as auto accidents, dog advocates argue dog-fighting rings, with a fearsome reputa- ed, well-organized lobbying effort in state wouldn’t hurt a fly.” That contradicts the contention that only that breed-specific bans amount to legisla- tion for unprovoked, sometimes deadly capitols. The debate puts millions of pit bull Freeman was forced to leave Titan at a mistreated, neglected or abused pit bulls tive overkill. “All communities deserve com- attacks.Hostility toward “pits” grew so intense owners up against a relatively small number shelter in Lawrence for nine months until she attack people. Colleen Lynn, founder of prehensive dog laws that demand responsi- that some cities began treating them as the of people who have been victimized by the successfully fought to overturn the law in DogsBite.org, pointed to a friend-of-the- ble dog ownership and that hold reckless canine equivalent of assault rifles and pro- dogs. January. For dog owners and pit bull oppo- court brief her organization submitted in a owners accountable when their poor deci- hibited residents from owning them. nents alike, the battle is as deeply personal as 2012 case in which the Maryland Court of sions wind up getting other dogs or other But attitudes have softened considerably Dangerous dogs banned any gun-control or religious issue. Each side Appeals declared pit bulls “inherently dan- people hurt,” said Ledy Vankavage, a top lob- since then as animal activists and even televi- Ron Hicks, who sponsored a bill in the accuses the other of lying, exploiting emo- gerous.” byist for the Best Friends Animal Society. sion shows cast the dogs in a more positive Missouri House to forbid breed-specific legis- tions and using bullying tactics. “Appellate courts agree with us. Doctors Don Bauermeister, assistant city attorney light. The image makeover has prompted lation, said he was surprised when nobody Pit bull owners insist their dogs are harm- and surgeons agree with us. That is credibili- for Council Bluffs, Iowa, led the effort to pass many states to pass new laws that forbid spoke against his proposal last month at a less, loving family members that shouldn’t be ty right there,” Lynn said. “We also have the a local pit bull ban that took effect in 2005. communities from banning specific breeds. committee hearing. “I figured a few parents blamed for something they didn’t do. To support of three divisions of the US military, He recalled first reading about the issue in And it illustrates the power and persistence would be there who would bring tears to my opponents, they are a volatile breed whose huge, massive bodies in the US government.” the July 27, 1987, issue of Sports Illustrated, of dog-advocacy groups that have worked to eyes,” the Republican said. “Would it have genetics drive them to kill more than two The Marines, Army and Air Force all have which carried a full-cover shot of an angry pit fend off pit bull restrictions with much the changed my opinion or what I believe in? dozen people in the US each year, many of banned dangerous dogs - including pit bulls bull baring its teeth. Across the top, it said same zeal as gun-rights groups have defeat- No.” them young children. Popular television and rottweilers - from their bases because of “BEWARE OF THIS DOG.” ed gun-control measures. A version of Hicks’ legislation was shows such as “Pit Boss” and “Pit Bulls and the “unreasonable risk” they pose to safety, After the Council Bluffs ban went into “Lawmakers are realizing that targeting endorsed by a House committee last month Parolees” on cable television’s Animal Planet Lynn said. place, the number of pit bull attacks that dogs based on their breed or what they look and needs to clear another committee channel glorify the animals and minimize the resulted in hospitalization plummeted from like is not a solution to dealing with danger- before a full House vote. The state Senate is tragedies that occur when pit bulls turn on Three main breeds 29 in 2004 to zero the past few years - proof, ous dogs,” said Lisa Peterson, a spokes- considering a comparable bill, as are law- humans, pit bull opponents say. On the other side stand the American Bar Bauermeister said, that breed-specific bans woman for the American Kennel Club. makers in Utah, South Dakota, Washington “Everything is telling us these animals are Association and National Animal Control work. The opposition to pit bull bans, he Eighteen states now have laws that pro- state, Vermont and Maryland. safe if you raise them right,” said Jeff Association, which oppose breed-specific added, is a sign that many American pet hibit communities from adopting breed-spe- In Kansas, the communities of Bonner Borchardt, an East Troy, Wisconsin, man laws because they are discriminatory against owners have lost touch with reality. “Fifty cific bans. Lawmakers in six more states are Springs and Garden City repealed their pit- whose 14-month-old son was mauled to a type of dog that isn’t really a single breed. years ago, you could take a sick animal considering similar measures, and some bull bans earlier this year. Summer Freeman death a year ago by two pit bulls that tore Three main breeds - Staffordshire bull ter- behind a barn and put it out of its misery,” cities are reviewing local policies that classify did not know there was a ban when she the child from the arms of their owner, who rier, American pit bull terrier and American he said. “That’s just the way it was done. pit bulls as dangerous animals. moved to Bonner Springs last year after a was baby-sitting. “My son’s dead because of a Staffordshire terrier - along with mixes of Now they would investigate you for doing Pit bull advocates hail the changes as divorce. She panicked when an animal-con- lie, because of a myth. My life will never be those breeds are generally considered pit that. The emotional irrationality of recognition that breed-specific laws discrimi- trol officer discovered her pet and told her the same.” bulls. But many muscular, square-jawed, box- Americans and their dogs has never been nate against dogs that are not inherently she had 15 days to get rid of the dog named The two dogs that killed Borchardt’s son er-type dogs often are misidentified as pit worse than it is today.” —AP

US drugmaker to give US gene mapping study unapproved medicine to dying Virginia boy shows promise, challenges VIRGINIA: A dying seven-year-old boy who is suffering from a viral infection could receive an unapproved treat- ment as early as yesterday after a drugmaker struck a deal with US regulators to provide the medicine. New technology will be widely used for patients Pharmaceutical company Chimerix Inc, lobbied by supporters of Josh Hardy in a campaign that has gained CHICAGO: These days, it’s faster and cheaper than ever to and figuring out which variants are important and which a genetic variant strongly linked with those diseases. That national attention, will make him the first patient in a decipher a person’s entire DNA. But a small US study sug- ones can be ignored. That takes days of sophisticated fol- finding led to surgery to remove her ovaries and increased 20-patient pilot trial of open-label brincidofovir gests that looking for disease risks that way may not be low-up lab tests and interpretation to reveal potentially breast cancer screening. (CMX001). ready for the masses. meaningful genetic information, the researchers said. The cost per patient was about $17,000 plus hundreds The drug, used to treat adenovirus infections in For one thing, the research found that gene variants of dollars in follow-up tests. Some centers charge less and patients with weakened immune systems, has not been most likely linked with significant disease were the least Inherited disease genes the cost is expected to drop considerably as the technique approved by the US Food and Drug Administration likely to be accurately identified. And analyzing the mass of Dr Euan Ashley, a senior co-author and Stanford associ- is improved. (FDA) and was initially withheld by the Durham, North data from the DNA scan is a daunting task, researchers ate professor of medicine and genetics, likened the tech- The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the Carolina-based company. said. nology to “an unruly teenager who has grown up very fast. American Medical Association. Ashley and several co- “Being unable to fulfill requests for compassionate Some experts think more targeted gene-mapping is a There’s huge potential.” authors have financial ties to a genome interpretation use is excruciating, and not a decision any one of us better approach. But while whole genome sequencing is “This paper is like parental tough love - we have to be company and receive royalties for patents related to ever wants to have to make,” Chimerix President and mostly done for research, it has far-reaching potential for really honest about where we are in order to bring it up to genome sequencing. One of the authors has received Chief Executive Kenneth Moch said in a statement on diagnosing and treating genetic diseases, even in people clinical standards,” he said. For the test, they used two com- speaker fees from the maker of one of the machines used. Tuesday. with no known risks. The new results show its promise and mercially available instruments to sequence the DNA - the The research and previous studies “provide a glimpse of “It is essential that each individual in a health crisis its challenges. second one to validate the initial findings. But less than what is possible” for technology that eventually will be be treated with equal gravity and value.” Hardy remains Stanford University researchers performed whole one-third of variants in inherited disease genes were con- widely used for patients, a JAMA editorial said. in a critical condition in intensive care at St. Jude genome sequencing in 12 healthy people. Most of the mil- firmed. “Like the personal computer, Internet, smartphones, Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, lions of genetic variants they found were of uncertain sig- Several specialists including medical geneticists, genet- and electronic health records, turning back now from the after a bone marrow transplant left him with the aden- nificance, although one woman was found to have a high ic counselors and a pathologist examined the findings and use of genomic technologies in health care is inconceiv- ovirus. —Reuters genetic risk for cancer. recommended follow-up tests. Medical intervention was able,” wrote contributing JAMA editor Dr. William Gregory DNA is recovered by a simple blood test and deciphered considered appropriate for one participant, a woman with Feero, former special adviser to the director of the National by machines. The difficulty lies in interpreting the findings no family history of breast or ovarian cancer found to have Human Genome Research Institute. —AP News Steady health care sign-ups may miss goal in brief

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration lion that HHS originally projected would sign Migraine prevention said Tuesday it’s making steady progress on up by the end of February. Those estimates WASHINGTON: The US Food and Drug health care sign-ups, but the White House are from a Sept. 5, 2013 departmental Administration said yesterday it approved a Belgium- needs something close to a miracle to meet memo. made nerve-stimulating headband as the first med- its goal of enrolling 6 million people by the The numbers released Tuesday still don’t ical device to prevent migraine headaches. Agency end of this month. say how many of those signing up were pre- officials said the device provides a new option for It could happen with a sustained surge in viously uninsured, which is the ultimate test patients who cannot tolerate migraine medications. consumer demand and a foolproof website. of Obama’s health care overhaul. The Cefaly device is a battery-powered plastic band But they’re not seeing it yet, and time is run- And they don’t say how many consumers worn across the forehead. Using an adhesive elec- ning out. have sealed the deal by paying their premi- trode, the band emits a low electrical current to stim- The Department of Health and Human ums. Health care industry consultant Robert ulate nerves associated with migraine pain. Users Services said more than 940,000 people Laszewski said that undercuts his confidence may feel a tingling sensation on the skin where the signed up during February for private cover- in the numbers. electrode is applied. The device is designed to be age under President Barack Obama’s health “They are still reporting numbers that are used no more than 20 minutes a day by patients 18 care law, bringing total sign-ups to 4.2 mil- inflated,” he said. years and older. A 67-person study reviewed by the lion. Separately, a Gallup survey released FDA showed patients using the device experienced With open enrollment ending March 31, Monday found that the share of Americans fewer migraines per month than patients using a that means to meet the goal, another 1.8 mil- without health insurance has been going This March 1, 2014 photo shows part of the website for HealthCare.gov as pho- placebo device. The Cefaly headband did not com- lion people would have to sign up during the down so far this year, albeit modestly. tographed in Washington. If the Obama administration’s health care plan is pletely eliminate migraine headaches or reduce the month, an average of about 60,000 a day. going to pass what amounts to its first physical, people have to sign up this intensity of migraines that occurred.About 53 percent That’s way above the daily averages for Tax credits month at a pretty speedy rate: 42 times a minute. That’s somewhere between of 2,313 patients in a separate study said they were January and February, which have ranged Enrolling for health care under Obama’s the steady rate you breathe and how fast your heart beats. —AP satisfied with the device and were willing to purchase between 33,000 and 34,000. The math seems law is still nowhere near as simple as shop- it for future use. No serious adverse events were con- to be going against the administration. ping online. Bataille said consumers make an nected with the device. If the target isn’t met, the immediate fall- average of six visits to HealthCare.gov, Sri Lanka’s baby jumbo won’t fly out will be political. Republicans will say it spending 20 to 30 minutes per visit. Nicotine patches proves their point that Obama’s signature Among the highlights of Tuesday’s federal COLOMBO: Sri Lanka stopped a baby ele- Projects minister S.M. Chandrasena told PARIS: Nicotine patches fail to help pregnant project never had the public’s support. report: Young adults seemed to be showing phant from being given as a gift to South reporters in Colombo. President Mahinda women to stop smoking, according to a study pub- Backers of the law will have to work harder to a little more interest in signing up. Of those Korea after discovering it was born on an aus- Rajapakse decided to stop the elephant being lished by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Tuesday. smooth out some of its problems and con- signing up picious day, a minister said yesterday. flown to South Korea after he was told about Researchers in France asked more than 400 women vince Americans to take a second look. in February, 27 percent were between the The baby “Dinu Daa”-meaning day of victo- it’s birth date, minister Chandrasena said. who smoked at least five cigarettes a day to try either Administration officials expect the pace to ages of 18-34. Their premiums are needed to ry — was born on May 18, 2009, the same day Dinu Daa was born at the country’s main a nicotine patch or a dummy patch called a placebo. pick up as procrastinators are forced to act. help defray the cost of caring for older gen- troops killed Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Pinnawala elephant orphanage. It shelters Only 11 women — 5.5 percent-in the nicotine patch There are no plans to extend the March 31 erations. Independent analysts have said the Prabhakaran, ending the country’s civil war. over 80 elephants, most of which were aban- group quit smoking by the time they gave birth, deadline, they emphasize. The big question is mix should be 40 percent young adults. With the killing of Prabhakaran and his doned or separated from their herds when compared with 10 women, or 5.1 percent, in the whether that will be enough to make up for But people 55-64 are the leading age entire military leadership, Colombo declared they were babies. placebo group. The average birthweight of the babies the technical troubles that paralyzed group among those signing up, cumulatively an end to 37 years of ethnic bloodshed which Many have also been born at the orphan- was about the same in both groups, but blood pres- HealthCare.gov much of last fall and the con- accounting for 30 percent of total enroll- had claimed at least 100,000 lives between age and the offspring are sometimes given as sure was significantly higher among the nicotine- tinuing challenges for several state-spon- ment. 1972 and 2009. gifts to Buddhist temples to be paraded dur- patch users. The scientists, led by Ivan Berlin, a phar- sored websites. More than four out of five who have “There is a special significance of this baby ing annual pageants or sent abroad as pres- macologist at the Pitie-Salpetriere University Hospital “Given what we know about past enroll- enrolled thus far were eligible for tax credits elephant. It is a symbol of our victory,” Special ents. —AFP in Paris, said they were disappointed. The results ment patterns for health care, we expect that to help offset the cost of premiums, and in show that drugs to help wean pregnant women off even more (people) will sign up as we some cases also to reduce their deductibles smoking do not work and “behavioural support”-help approach the March 31 deadline,” said HHS and copayments. from counsellors or quit-smoking groups-remains Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Sixty-three percent of those signing up essential, they said. picked a mid-range silver plan. Millions to sign Fifty-five percent of those signing up are New lizard discovered Julie Bataille, communications director for women, and 45 percent are men. LIMA: Scientists have discovered a new species of the health care rollout, said she expects mil- “Enrollment among women remains particu- lizard at a national park in Peru, experts said on lions more to sign up - but she wouldn’t larly strong,” Sebelius said. Tuesday. The new species, named Potamites ery- commit to a number by March 31. An AP analysis of state-by-state enroll- throcularis, was located in the upper part of Manu The goal of 6 million sign-ups is itself a ment numbers showed that 13 states are National Park in Peru’s southeast Cusco region, the lower bar than was originally set. The running ahead of their enrollment targets. environmental ministry said. The new species “differs Congressional Budget Office scaled back its Virginia, with a new Democratic governor from the others by having messy keeled scales on the original target of 7 million because of the who supports the health care law, was the back, undivided frontonasal scales, a red ring around federal website’s computer problems. latest addition to that list. Six of the top-per- the eye in males and absence of femoral pores in HealthCare.gov serves 36 states, while 14 forming states are led by Republican gover- females,” it said. The research was led by scientists states and Washington, D.C., are running nors: Florida, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, North Alessandro Catenazzi and German Chavez and a their own sites. Carolina, and Wisconsin. Some states that COLOMBO: In this photograph taken October 8, 2007, baby elephants roam with their moth- team of biologists and rangers of the Manu National The 943,000 enrolled in February fell have run into trouble have reduced their ers at the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala, some 90 kms northeast of Colombo. Sri Lanka Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The short of the target of 1.27 million that HHS enrollment goals. But based on the original stopped a baby elephant going to South Korea after discovering it was born on the same day tropical forest in the lower tiers is home to an unri- had initially set for the month. HHS enrollment targets, the five at the bot- troops declared victory over Tamil rebels, a minister said yesterday. The baby “Dinu Daa,” valed variety of animal and plant species, according And the cumulative total of 4.2 million tom are Massachusetts, Washington, D.C, meaning day of victory, and earmarked to be flown to South Korea as a gift, was born on to the United Nations. sign-ups is just three-fourths of the 5.65 mil- Oregon, New Mexico, and Nevada. —AP May 18, 2009, the same day troops killed Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. —AFP THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Dinosaur-killing impact acidified oceans

PARIS: The space rock that smashed into a storm of dust that was driven around the blast of plasma and caused a tiny piece of Earth 65 million years ago, famously wiping world on high winds, according to the main- foil, made of the heavy metal tantalum, to out the dinosaurs, unleashed acid rain that stream scenario. smash into a sample of rock. turned the ocean surface into a witches’ Between 60 and 80 percent of species on The heavy foil fragment replicated on a brew, researchers said yesterday. Earth were wiped out, according to fossil sur- miniscule scale the mass of the asteroid, Delving into the riddle of Earth’s last mass veys. Large species suffered especially: while the rock was of a similar makeup as the extinction, Japanese scientists said the dinosaurs which had roamed the land for surface where the asteroid struck. impact instantly vaporised sulphur-rich rock, some 165 million years, were replaced as the The team caused collisions ranging from creating a vast cloud of sulphur trioxide (SO3) terrestrial kings by mammals. 13 to 25 km per second (47,000-90,000 km or gas. 29,000-55,000 miles per hour), and analysed This mixed with water vapour to create Extinction riddle the gas that was released. sulphuric acid rain, which would have fallen Much speculation has been devoted to The research, reported in the journal to the planet’s surface within days, acidifying precisely how the mass die-out happened. A Nature Geoscience, showed that SO3 was by the surface levels of the ocean and killing life common theory is that a “nuclear winter” far the dominant molecule, not SO2. The therein. occurred-the dust pall prevented sunlight team also carried out a computer simulation Those species that were able to survive reaching the surface, causing vegetation to of larger silicate particles that would have beneath this lethal layer eventually inherited shrivel and die, and dooming the species that been ejected by the impact, and found they the seas, according to the study which did depended on them. too played a part. not delve into the effects on land animals. Another, fiercely debated, idea adds acid The articles rapidly bound with the poi- “Concentrated sulphuric acid rains and rain to the mix. Critics say the collision was sonous vapour to become sulphur acid intense ocean acidification by SO3-rich far likelier to have released sulphur dioxide “aerosols” that fell to the surface. Heavily impact vapours resulted in severe damage to (SO2) than SO3, the culprit chemical in acid acidic waters would explain the overwhelm- the global ecosystem and were probably rain. And, they argue, it would have lingered ing extinction among surface species of responsible for the extinction of many in the stratosphere rather than fallen back to plankton called foraminifera. species,” the study said. Earth. Foraminifera are single-celled creatures ISLAMABAD: Visiting Director General of World Health Organization Margaret The great smashup is known as the Seeking answers, a team led by Sohsuke protected by a calcium carbonate shell, Chan (R) is pictured with former Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction. It occurred Ohno of the Planetary Exploration Research which dissolves in acidic water. The “acid rain” as she speaks to media representatives after their meeting at Khan’s residence at when an object, believed to be an asteroid Centre in Chiba set up a special lab rig to scenario also helps explain other extinction some 10 kilometres (six miles) wide, whacked replicate-on a tiny scale-what happened that riddles, including why there was a surge in Bani Gala, on the outskirts of Islamabad yesteday. Pakistani President Mamnoon into the Yucatan peninsula in modern-day fateful day. the number of ferns species after the impact. Hussain conferred Hilal-i-Pakistan, a civil award, to Chan in recognition of her Mexico. It left a crater 180 kilometres (110 They used a laser beam to vaporise a Ferns love acidic, water-logged conditions outstanding and meritorious services for the people of Pakistan in the field of miles) wide, ignited a firestorm and kicked up strand of plastic, which released a high-speed such as those described in the study. —AFP public health. — AFP WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Landmark Group organizes 7th annual blood donation campaign

n line with its year-round corporate responsibility strategy Landmark Group, the donor. body, which helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, and reducing blood pres- the largest value retail shopping chain in Kuwait recently conducted its sev- Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait, expressed his sure and blood glucose. Moreover, when donating blood new and fresh blood is Ienth annual blood donation campaign. Held in association with Kuwait delight at the large number of partaking employees and customers: “We are formed in the donor’s body. Central Blood Bank (KCBB), the campaign is an initiative that reiterates very proud that our annual blood donation event has grown significantly over Staff members from all departments and branches across Kuwait were invit- Landmark Group’s commitment towards the Kuwaiti society. It kicked off with time, expanding in the number of committed donors who take just a few min- ed to participate in the blood donation drive. The campaign, which was super- 100 plus employee and customer donations on 10th March 2014 at the utes out of their busy lives to give a lifetime to someone else. The blood dona- vised by a team of specialized doctors, generated a tremendous response from Centrepoint store in The Avenues. tion drive is very important as they bring our employees together with our com- the employees. Landmark Group organizes this annual campaign for blood donation, to munity to donate the gracious gift of life.” Landmark Group strongly believes in being an integral part of the Kuwaiti emphasize that blood donation is a noble humanitarian cause, contributing to Basu added that there are many health benefits from the process of donating society, the campaign conducted for the seventh consecutive year is a part of saving the lives of thousands of patients who are in dire need of blood transfu- blood. In addition to saving lives, donors receive numerous health benefits such the Group’s continuous efforts to highlight the principles of corporate social sions, and to show that blood donation does not cause harm to the health of as preventing the accumulation of toxic quantities, lowering the iron level in the responsibility and support patients in need.

GUST PR organize staff and faculty social day

he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Public Relations Department organized a desert setting socialday for its staff and faculty. TWith the attendance of staff and faculty and their families, it was a great opportunity for the GUST employees to meet and socialize outside the work atmosphere. Dr Donald Bates, GUST President and Dr Ghassan Aouad, VP of Academic Affairs, were both in attendance to enjoy the day with the staff and faculty. The day was spent at a desert camp filled with games, entertainment and competi- tions for the kids and adults, as well as good food and ample time to get to know each other better over a live BBQ lunch, fitting of the atmosphere. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in attendance. There were games and bouncy castles for the kids’ entertainment in addition to face paint- ings, Henna and some secrets for joy, pop corn and cotton candies. As for the adults, there were soccer and volleyball fields available and they had the chance to sit and revel in the great weekend weather and meet new staff and faculty. After lunch, a DJ played music and hosted competitions for the kids and adults with characters entertaining the children. Not only kids got the chance to win games and participate in winning competitions, but adults too. The PR Dept hopes that the staff and faculty enjoyed their day out.

CRYcket 2014 tournament

riends of CRY Club (FOCC) will hold 17th CRY (Child Rights & You) cricket Ftournament for children at the GC grounds at Fahaheel Sports Club on Friday, 27th Mar 2014 from 6:30 am to 6 pm. The one day “CRYcket” tournament par- ticipated by children under 14 (born on or after 01.01.2000), is a very popular annual family event. The children are grouped into teams in two age categories and play soft- ball cricket while spectators, parents and well-wishers enjoy a carnival atmosphere. 12 teams each are set to participate in the Under-12 and Under-14 divisions initially in four groups in round robin fashion leading to 4 winners who will clash in the semifinals. The 7-over matches will be played simulta- neously on two playgrounds. Apart from the winners’ trophies, medals and certificates from CRY-India will be giv- en to each player. Experienced umpires will control the games assisted by official scor- ers. The teams will play in recognition of a much felt need among less fortunate chil- dren in the Indian subcontinent and will carry the message of compassion towards them. They will spread awareness of the he new council of IDAK (Indian Dentists’ Alliance Kuwait- affiliated to the Art of juggling work done by CRY, an international organi- Kuwait Dental Association) had a cordial meeting with the Ambassador zation, that believes that every child is of India to Kuwait, Sunil Jain on March 6 at the Ambassador’s office. Dr oyac is organizing an “Art of Juggling event” in cooperation with the French Embassy T from March 18-19. The event is free to all and kids from ages 6 can take part to learn entitled to basic rights of survival, protec- Roy Francis, Dr Devi Priya, Dr Rajesh Alexander, Dr John Joy, Dr Jitendra Ariga Lto juggle. So join us at Al Qibliya School in Kuwait City, behind Mubarakiya, adjacent tion, development, education and partici- and Dr George P Alex were in the IDAK team. to The National Library from 4 pm to 5:30 pm (ages 6 to 12) and 6 pm to 8 pm (ages 13+). pation. WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

The organizing committee pose for a picture at Visiting obstetrics and gynecology consultant Dr. Afaf Ismail and Dr. Sana’a Abdullah Al-Saif (first from right), Feryal Abdurraheem and Maha Belal with the beginning of the open day. Suleiman from management. members from the Bulgarian community.

Group photo of the organizers. Dr. Eva and Dr. Elizabeth Abdullah Al-Saif and Feryal Abdurraheem. Al-Rashid Hospital holds open day for staff

l-Rashid Hospital organized an open day for staff members and their families at the Qal’ah Camp in the Abdullah Port desert; anannual event held by management to appreciate medical and nursing Astaff efforts. Several activities took place during the event including traditional displays, competitions and a launch buffet. ‘Recognition for top spenders of Crowne Plaza Kuwait Privilege Club Membership’

he management of Crowne are valid at the restaurants of Crowne Plaza Kuwait took the opportuni- Plaza Kuwait, Holiday Inn Kuwait , Tty to recognize and thank its top Holiday Inn Downtown and Zone. The spenders on Privilege Club special feature of this card is to get up Membership. The guests were person- to 40% off on the bill. ally invited for a dinner at their own With 8 restaurants within the hotel, choice of restaurant including Sakura Crowne Plaza Kuwait offers some of Crowne Plaza hotel Kuwait and wel- scrumptious choices from wide range comed by the Director of Loyalty of cuisines. Exotic flavors from around Marketing, Nehal Desouqi and the world at Al Ahmadi International Marketing Manager, Anuradha Kavi. Buffet will leave you with more choic- The guests were equally thrilled with es than you can ingest, the steaks of the warm welcome and reiterated the West are done just the way you their continued support to the restau- like at Rib Eye Steakhouse, experience rants of their choice at Crowne Plaza the classical Persian cuisine at Kuwait. Crowne Plaza Kuwait continu- Shabestan Iranian restaurant, the ally maintains its high service stan- authentic Indian preparations can dards, importance to its guests and make you say more at Jamawar Indian attributes its success to the loyalty of restaurant, the finest of Japanese food its customers. served at the award-winning Sakura, Privilege club is a unique member- delights from the sea come alive at the ship that allows you the luxury of din- Al Noukhaza and traditional Labanese ing in elegant restaurants, while sav- is the order of the day at the Ayman ing your money! Privilege Club cards Zaman restaurant.

Blood Embassy of Cuba donation camp Tourist Visa to Cuba n a move to serve humanity, Pakistani Blood Donors in he visa to the Republic of Cuba is only for purpos- “IKuwait (PBDIK) will conduct es of tourism (Tourist visa) issued for Kuwaiti citi- their 4th blood donation camp at Tzens and foreign residents in Kuwait. It is valid for Central Blood Bank of Kuwait on 14th one single entrance into national territory for a 30-days Mar 2014 between 1:00 PM and trip and can be extend it for an additional 30 days at the 4:00PM where local as well as expatri- office in the hotel where you have accommodations or at ates are expected to come forward to the immigration authority. Children must have their own Tourist Visa even if they donate blood and support this noble cause being taken up by PBDIK.” are travelling under their parents’ passport(s). To obtain this visa in person at the Consulate, these documents are needed: Valid passport, return air ticket, accommodation in Cuba, payment required, trav- Korea el insurance, one photo. Fill application form. The Embassy is located in Rawda, scholarship Block 3, Abu Hayan Al-Tawhedy St., House No. 74, opening hours from 8:30 am to announcement 2 pm from Sunday till Thursday. he National Institute for International Education (NIIED) Embassy of India Tunder the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea offers “2014 Global t has come to our notice that a fake website Korea Scholarship: Korean Government Scholarship Program for International (www.indiavisa.co.in) was in circulation for applying Students for Graduate Courses (2014 Ithe Indian Visa for online visa seekers. Following Graduate GKS) to be conducted in Korea. points may be noted down: This scholarship is for Master’s degree 1. It is compulsory to fill the visa application online. The or PhD degree. As part of the 2014 proper website address is www.indianvisaonline.gov.in Once the online appli- Graduate GKS, the participants are pro- cation is filled, the printout is taken for submitting to the outsource visa centre vided with round-trip airfare, monthly at BLS International Sharq and Fahaheel. In case of Special and diplomatic stipend, tuition, medical insurance, set- tlement and repatriation allowances, etc. passports, the application has to be submitted to Embassy of India, Kuwait. Applicants have until March 28, 2014 2. There is no provision of online payment of visa fee. So any website asking for to submit their application. Please feel visa fee by credit/debit card is fake website. The visa fee is actually deposited free to contact Chung (Consul of the as cash in the outsourcing centre at BLS International Sharq and Fahaheel with Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the the copy of online filled application. State of Kuwait) at 2537-8621/2/3/4/5 or 3. Any such instances of fake website should be brought to the immediate notice send an email to [email protected] for of the Embassy of India by email ([email protected]) or mobile to A.K. more information about the scholar- ships. Srivastava (mob number 97229914). TV PROGRAMS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

07:50 North America 08:40 Fast N’ Loud 07:35 Wolfblood 09:30 Border Security 07:55 Gravity Falls 09:55 Auction Kings 08:20 That’s So Raven 10:20 Container Wars 08:45 Jessie 00:00 Duck Dynasty 00:10 Doctors 09:05 Good Luck Charlie 00:30 Big Bash League Highlights 00:30 Duck Dynasty 00:40 Last Of The Summer Wine 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 09:30 Shake It Up 01:30 Big Bash League Highlights 01:00 Storage Wars 01:10 The Vicar Of Dibley 09:55 Austin & Ally 02:30 Big Bash League Highlights 01:30 Storage Wars 01:40 Mistresses 11:35 Manhunt 12:25 Survive That! 10:15 A.N.T. Farm 03:30 ICC Cricket 360 02:30 Storage Wars 02:30 The Omid Djalili Show 10:40 Dog With A Blog 04:00 India v West Indies ODI 03:00 Storage Wars Texas 03:00 Stella 13:15 Yukon Men 14:05 Border Security 11:05 Suite Life On Deck Highlights 04:00 Duck Dynasty 03:45 Last Of The Summer Wine 11:25 Jessie 05:00 India v West Indies ODI 04:30 Duck Dynasty 04:15 The Weakest Link 14:30 Auction Kings 14:55 Container Wars 11:50 That’s So Raven Highlights 05:00 Storage Wars 05:00 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 12:15 Hannah Montana 06:00 New Zealand v West Indies 06:00 Pawn Stars 05:20 Balamory 15:20 Finding Bigfoot 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 12:35 Hannah Montana ODI Highlights 06:30 Storage Wars 05:40 Nina And The Neurons 13:00 Good Luck Charlie 07:00 Big Bash League Highlights 07:00 Storage Wars Texas 05:50 Me Too! 17:00 Ultimate Survival 17:50 Wheeler Dealers 13:25 Austin & Ally 08:00 Big Bash League Highlights 07:30 Counting Cars 06:10 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 13:45 A.N.T. Farm 09:00 Big Bash League Highlights 08:00 Storage Wars Texas 06:30 Balamory 18:40 You Have Been Warned 19:30 Sons Of Guns 14:10 Jessie 10:00 ICC Cricket 360 09:00 Ancient Aliens 06:50 Nina And The Neurons 14:35 Dog With A Blog 10:30 New Zealand v India ODI 10:00 Storage Wars Texas 07:05 Me Too! 20:20 How Do They Do It? 20:45 How It’s Made 15:00 Good Luck Charlie Highlights 10:30 Counting Cars 07:25 The Weakest Link 15:25 Gravity Falls 11:30 New Zealand v India ODI 11:00 Pawn Stars 08:10 Last Of The Summer Wine 21:10 Auction Kings 21:35 Container Wars 15:50 Austin & Ally Highlights 12:00 Storage Wars 08:40 The Vicar Of Dibley 16:10 Violetta 12:30 New Zealand v India ODI 12:30 Storage Wars 09:10 Eastenders 22:00 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 17:00 Liv And Maddie Highlights 13:00 Storage Wars Texas 09:40 Doctors 17:20 Liv And Maddie 13:30 New Zealand v India ODI 13:30 Storage Wars Texas 10:10 Being Erica 22:50 The Big Brain Theory 23:40 Mythbusters 17:40 Mako Mermaids Highlights 14:00 Ancient Aliens 10:55 Call The Midwife 18:10 Good Luck Charlie 14:30 New Zealand v India ODI 15:00 Storage Wars 11:45 Last Of The Summer Wine 18:30 Jessie Highlights 15:30 Storage Wars 12:15 The Vicar Of Dibley 18:55 Dog With A Blog 15:30 ICC Cricket 360 16:00 Storage Wars Texas 12:45 Eastenders 19:20 Violetta 16:00 Australia v England ODI 16:30 Storage Wars Texas 13:15 Doctors 20:05 Jessie Highlights 17:00 Storage Wars Texas 13:45 Being Erica 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 17:00 Australia v England ODI 17:30 Storage Wars Texas 00:40 Ten Ways 14:30 Call The Midwife 20:50 Dog With A Blog Highlights 18:00 Pawn Stars 01:30 Bang Goes The Theory 15:25 Last Of The Summer Wine 21:15 Gravity Falls 18:00 Big Bash League Highlights 18:30 Pawn Stars 02:00 Food Factory 15:55 The Vicar Of Dibley 21:40 Shake It Up 19:00 Big Bash League Highlights 19:00 Storage Wars 02:25 How Tech Works 16:25 The Weakest Link 22:00 Austin & Ally 20:00 Big Bash League Highlights 19:30 Storage Wars 02:50 Stuck With Hackett 17:10 Eastenders 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 21:00 ICC Cricket 360 20:00 Storage Wars Texas 03:15 Stuck With Hackett 17:40 Doctors 22:50 Good Luck Charlie 21:30 ICC Under 19 World Cup 20:30 Storage Wars Texas 03:45 Killer Robots: Robogames 18:10 Being Erica 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 2014 Highlights 21:00 Duck Dynasty 2011 19:00 One Foot In The Grave 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 22:30 ICC Under 19 World Cup 21:30 Duck Dynasty 04:35 Thunder Races 19:30 The Omid Djalili Show 2014 Highlights 22:00 Pawn Stars 05:25 Through The Wormhole With 20:00 Stella 23:30 ICC Under 19 World Cup 22:30 Storage Wars Morgan Freeman 20:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 2014 Highlights 23:00 Swamp People 21:40 Extras 06:15 Food Factory 22:10 Silk 06:40 How Tech Works 23:00 The Weakest Link 07:05 Engineered 23:45 Eastenders 08:00 Nyc: Inside Out 00:00 Chelsea Lately 08:50 Man-Made Marvels China 00:30 The Spin Crowd Stars from ‘Justified,’ 09:40 Food Factory 00:55 The Spin Crowd 10:05 How Tech Works 01:25 Style Star ‘Mad Men’ join short 10:30 Test Case 01:50 Style Star 10:55 Bigger, Better, Faster, 02:20 E!ES film ‘Winter Light’ 00:00 Homes Under The Hammer Stronger 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home 11:25 Engineered 03:40 Extreme Close-Up Edition 12:20 Thunder Races 04:10 E!ES fter their 2013 short film “Here and Now” was 02:15 Come Dine With Me 13:10 Through The Wormhole With 05:05 E!ES selected by Ron Howard as the winner of Canon’s 03:05 MasterChef Morgan Freeman 06:00 THS A“Project Imaginat10n” film contest, producers 04:05 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 14:00 Killer Robots: Robogames 07:50 Fashion Police Abigail Spencer, Josh Pence, Justin Allen and director 04:50 Extreme Makeover: Home 2011 09:15 Opening Act A HEARTBEAT AWAY ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD Julian Higgins are reteaming on a new short film titled Edition 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 10:15 Married To Jonas “Winter Light,” which will star Raymond J. Barry 06:15 Bargain Hunt 15:20 Food Factory 10:40 Chasing The Saturdays Country 05:00 Good Morning America (“Justified”), Vincent Kartheiser (“Mad Men”), Q’orianka 07:05 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 15:45 How Tech Works 11:10 The Drama Queen 05:30 Now Is Good-PG15 16:30 Endeavour 07:00 Emmerdale Kilcher (“The New World”), Michael Bofshever (“United 07:35 Food & Drink 16:10 Junkyard Wars 12:05 Fashion Police 07:15 Girl In Progress-PG15 18:20 May The Best House Win 07:30 Coronation Street 93�) and Pence (“The Social Network”). 08:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 17:00 Through The Wormhole With 13:35 E!ES 09:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 19:10 Coronation Street 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Edition Morgan Freeman 14:30 Style Star 11:00 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 Adapted by screenwriter Wei-Ning Yu from a short sto- 19:35 Trevor Mcdonalds Queen & 09:00 24 09:25 Homes Under The Hammer 17:55 Thunder Races 15:00 Keeping Up With The 13:00 Magic Journey To Africa- ry by bestselling author James Lee Burke, “Winter Light” is Country 10:00 Emmerdale 10:20 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 18:45 Engineered Kardashians PG15 a modern-day revisionist Western set against the sweep- 20:30 Endeavour 10:30 Coronation Street 10:45 Food & Drink 19:35 Test Case 16:00 Keeping Up With The 15:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy ing backdrop of the snow-covered Montana wilderness. 22:20 Coronation Street 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:15 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 20:00 Bigger, Better, Faster, Kardashians Green-PG Story follows the escalating battle of wills between reclu- 22:50 Emmerdale 12:00 Castle Notebook: London Stronger 17:00 The Wanted Life 17:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 23:45 May The Best House Win 13:00 Made In Jersey sive college professor Roger Guidry (Barry) and two 11:40 Come Dine With Me 20:30 Space Voyages 17:30 Hello Ross 19:00 Red Dawn-PG15 14:00 Live Good Morning America hunters (Kartheiser and Pence) who trespass on his prop- 12:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 21:20 Deadliest Space Weather 18:00 E! News 21:00 The Bling Ring-18 16:00 24 erty. As it becomes harder to distinguish between the 13:20 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:45 Deadliest Space Weather 19:00 Fashion Police 23:00 The Campaign-18 17:00 Castle hunter and the hunted, Roger must choose what kind of 14:05 Antiques Roadshow 22:10 Food Factory 20:30 E!ES 18:00 Made In Jersey 15:00 Homes Under The Hammer 22:35 How Tech Works 21:00 The Drama Queen man he will ultimately be. 19:00 24 15:55 Homes Under The Hammer 23:00 Space Voyages 22:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On “Winter Light” is produced by Innerlight Films, which 20:00 Castle 16:50 Bargain Hunt 23:50 Deadliest Space Weather 22:30 E! News Spencer co-founded with director/producer Duke 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 21:00 Made In Jersey 17:35 Cash In The Attic 23:30 Chelsea Lately 01:00 The Missing Lynx Johnson (“Anomalisa”). The film is financed by Prelude Stewart 22:00 Rescue Me 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 02:45 The Legend Of Sarila Pictures Chairman Mark Koch (“Lost in Space”) and his 01:00 The Colbert Report 23:00 Nip/Tuck 19:15 Homes Under The Hammer 04:30 Free Birds partner Steve Dunkle, as well as co-executive producers 01:30 The Big C 06:00 Olentzero Christmas Tale 20:10 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 02:00 South Park Julie and Chad Smith. The Montana Film Commission, 20:35 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 08:00 Emperor’s Secret 02:30 Out There 09:45 Sky Force Pasadena Arts Council, Lodger Films and Cinelicious have 21:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 00:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 03:30 Raising Hope also thrown their support behind the project, which is 21:30 Come Dine With Me 11:15 Mrs. Doubtfire 00:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 04:00 Seinfeld 13:30 The Legend Of Sarila currently in production in Missoula, Montana. 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 00:35 House Gift 00:45 Sonny With A Chance 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 00:00 Beverly Hills Cop 2-18 15:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of “Winter Light” will be shot on 35mm Kodak film by 23:15 Bargain Hunt 01:30 Emmerdale 01:05 Sonny With A Chance Jimmy Fallon 02:00 Graystone-PG15 The Ugly Duckling award-winning cinematographer Andrew Wheeler, while 02:25 Coronation Street 01:30 Suite Life On Deck 05:30 Seinfeld 04:00 Darkman-PG15 16:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas 02:55 Holiday: Heaven On Earth Erika Walters handled production design. Higgins is a Los 01:50 Suite Life On Deck 06:00 Two And A Half Men 06:00 Dragonheart-PG 18:00 Sky Force 03:25 Agatha Christie’s Marple Angeles-based filmmaker and graduate of the prestigious 02:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 06:30 Arrested Development 08:00 Twister-PG15 20:00 The Water Horse: Legend Of 05:15 Ade In Britain American Film Institute who won the 2011 Student 02:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 10:00 Justice League: Doom-PG15 The Deep 06:10 House Gift Academy Award gold medal for his thesis film “Thief.” On 03:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 08:00 Seinfeld 12:00 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider-PG15 22:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of 07:05 Holiday: Heaven On Earth 00:30 Manhunt 03:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 08:30 Seinfeld 14:00 Twister-PG15 The Ugly Duckling the strength of that film, Emmy-winning director and pro- 07:30 Agatha Christie’s Marple 01:20 Survive That! 03:45 Sonny With A Chance 09:30 The Crazy Ones 16:00 Batman: The Dark Knight 23:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas ducer Greg Yaitanes mentored Higgins during the eighth 09:20 Ade In Britain 02:10 Yukon Men 04:05 Sonny With A Chance 10:00 Trophy Wife Returns Part Two-PG15 season of Fox’s long-running drama series “House.” 10:15 May The Best House Win 03:00 You Have Been Warned 04:30 Suite Life On Deck 10:30 Arrested Development 18:00 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider-PG15 Higgins’ relationship with Yaitanes led to his television 11:10 Emmerdale 03:50 Border Security 04:50 Suite Life On Deck 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Dead Man Running-PG15 directing debut - at the age of 26 - with one of the final 12:00 Coronation Street 04:15 Auction Kings 05:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place Jimmy Fallon 22:00 Primal-18 12:30 House Gift episodes of the series. 04:40 Container Wars 05:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:00 Two And A Half Men 13:25 Ade In Britain Spencer is an actress best known for her roles in Sam 05:05 How Do They Do It? 06:00 Austin & Ally 12:30 Seinfeld 14:20 May The Best House Win 00:00 Knuckle-PG15 Raimi’s “Oz: The Great and Powerful” and the AMC series 05:30 How It’s Made 06:25 Dog With A Blog 13:00 Seinfeld 15:10 Holiday: Heaven On Earth 02:00 Gambit-PG15 “Mad Men” and “Rectify.” She’ll soon be seen in Shawn 06:00 Sons Of Guns 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 13:30 Arrested Development 15:35 Trevor Mcdonalds Queen & 04:00 Snowflake , The White 07:00 You Have Been Warned 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 14:00 Raising Hope 00:00 Jackass: Number Two-R Levy’s WB comedy “This Is Where I Leave You” and the 14:30 The Crazy Ones Gorilla-PG John Travolta movie “The Forger.”— Reuters 02:00 Revenge Of The Nerds II: 06:00 Dating Coach-PG15 15:00 Trophy Wife Nerds In Paradise-PG15 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 08:00 The Greatest Movie Ever 04:00 I Think I Do-PG15 Sold-PG15 Stewart 06:00 A Heartbeat Away-PG15 16:00 The Colbert Report 10:00 Charlotte’s Web-PG 08:00 Raising Arizona-PG15 12:00 Gambit-PG15 16:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 Hit List-PG15 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 14:00 Barnyard-PG 12:00 I Think I Do-PG15 16:00 The Greatest Movie Ever 18:00 The Simpsons 14:00 Dark Shadows-PG15 19:00 The Mindy Project Sold-PG15 16:00 Hit List-PG15 17:45 Iron Man 3-PG15 19:30 Modern Family 17:45 The Producers-PG15 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Killing Them Softly-18 20:00 Tough Guys-PG15 22:00 The Possession-PG15 Jimmy Fallon 22:00 Jackass: Number Two-R 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 23:45 Dazed And Confused-18 Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Veep 22:30 South Park 01:00 NRL Premiership 23:00 Out There 03:00 NRL Premiership 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:00 NRL Full Time 05:30 Futbol Mundial 01:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 06:00 Trans World Sport 03:00 The Twilight Saga: Breaking 07:00 Trans World Sport Dawn Pt. 2-PG15 08:00 LV Cup 05:00 Beneath Hill 60-PG15 00:00 Warehouse 13 10:00 Golfing World 07:00 Seeking Justice-PG15 01:00 Mistresses 11:00 World Golf Championship 02:00 The Killing 09:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 10:45 Quiet Flows The Don-PG15 Highlights Oprah’s Harpo Films 03:00 World Without End 12:00 Super Rugby 04:00 Grey’s Anatomy 13:45 A Woman-PG15 15:30 Courage-PG15 14:00 Super Rugby 05:00 The Fosters 16:00 NRL Premiership to adapt book 06:00 Warehouse 13 17:00 Red Lights-PG15 18:00 World Golf Championship 07:00 Drop Dead Diva 19:00 50/50-PG15 Highlights club selection ‘The 08:00 Switched At Birth 21:00 Albert Nobbs-18 09:00 The Killing 23:00 Buried-PG15 19:00 Golfing World 10:00 The Fosters 20:00 PGA European Tour Weekly Invention of Wings’ 11:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:30 Inside The PGA Tour 12:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Trans World Sport prah Winfrey’s Harpo Films has acquired the film rights 12:30 Coronation Street 22:00 LV Cup to Sue Monk Kidd’s bestselling book “The Invention of 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show OWings,” which is also the newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 14:00 Switched At Birth 01:15 Surveillance-18 selection. “The Invention of Wings” tells a remarkable fictional- 15:00 Warehouse 13 03:00 The Last King Of Scotland-18 ized story of real-life 19th century abolitionist sisters Angelina 16:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Intolerable Cruelty-PG15 00:00 Golfing World 16:30 Coronation Street 07:15 Hold Fast-PG15 and Sarah Grimke. In the novel, for her 11th birthday, Sarah is 01:00 Premier League Darts gifted with a ten year-old enslaved girl named Hetty. And 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:00 Alfie Boe: Bring Him Home 04:00 LV Cup 18:00 Switched At Birth Tour-PG15 while Sarah attempts to reject the gift, ultimately she cannot, 06:30 NRL Full Time 19:00 Twisted 10:30 Someday This Pain Will Be nor can she free Hetty or even really protect her when she 20:00 Scandal Useful To You-PG15 07:00 NRL Premiership needs it most. Sarah and Hetty’s lives remain intertwined as 21:00 House Of Cards 12:45 Earth-PG15 09:00 NRL Full Time they grow into women, each facing their own challenges with 22:00 American Horror Story: 15:00 Offline-PG15 09:30 Dubai World Cup Carnival courage and faith that they have learned from, and inspired Coven 17:00 Someday This Pain Will Be 13:00 Trans World Sport in, one another. 23:00 World Without End Useful To You-PG15 14:00 Golfing World The book, which follows the success of Kidd’s previous 19:00 L’amour C’est Mieux A Deux- 15:00 World Golf Championships PG15 novels “The Secret Life of Bees” and “The Mermaid Chair,” Highlights 21:00 Arbitrage-PG15 debuted in January atop the New York Times Bestsellers List. 23:00 Savages-18 16:00 Snooker “In her book, Sue Monk Kidd has given us such a rich narrative, 19:00 NHL compelling characters, and a rare historical perspective that 21:00 HSBC Sevens World Series we know will be the ideal foundation for a wonderful film,” 00:00 Made In Jersey 23:00 HSBC Sevens World Series said Winfrey. An exclusive interview with Oprah and Kidd will 01:00 Good Morning America Highlights 03:00 Nip/Tuck 01:15 Drift-PG15 be broadcast on “Super Soul Sunday” on Sunday, April 13 at 11 PRIMAL ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 04:00 Rescue Me 03:30 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 23:30 PGA European Tour Weekly am ET on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. — Reuters Classifieds

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (13/03/2014 TO 19/03/2014)

SHARQIA-1 RED SKY (DIG) 9:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:00 PM RED SKY (DIG) 12:05 AM AVENUES-4 LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 3:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 5:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 4:00 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 7:45 PM FANAR-4 NON-STOP (DIG) 6:15 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 9:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 8:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 11:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 10:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 4:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 1:00 AM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 6:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED SHARQIA-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 8:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 10:30 PM AVENUES-5 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:30 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 12:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 4:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 6:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 5:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 8:45 PM FANAR-5 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 7:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 10:45 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 1:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 9:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:45 AM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 3:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 11:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAST LOVE (DIG) 6:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAST LOVE (DIG) 8:15 PM SHARQIA-3 FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 10:45 PM A360°- 1 NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 12:45 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 4:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 6:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 8:15 PM MARINA-1 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 7:15 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 10:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 9:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 AM RED SKY (DIG) 4:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 11:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED RED SKY (DIG) 6:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:30 PM MUHALAB-1 LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 10:30 PM 360°- 2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 12:30 AM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 1:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 3:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 3:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 5:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 6:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 7:45 PM MARINA-2 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 8:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 9:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 11:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 3:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED MUHALAB-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 6:00 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 8:00 PM 360°- 3 RED SKY (DIG) 3:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 10:00 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 2:30 PM LAMO AKHZA ( DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 12:15 AM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 4:45 PM FOR SALE (Arabic) 6:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 7:00 PM LAMO AKHZA ( DIG) REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 9:15 PM Galant 2013, fully auto- (Arabic) 8:00 PM MARINA-3 REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 11:30 PM matic, like new, done km RED SKY (DIG) 10:00 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 1:00 PM 13,600, doctor-owned, KD NON-STOP (DIG) 3:15 PM AL-KOUT.1 MUHALAB-3 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 5:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:00 PM 3,450 (price for new 5,450). MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 1:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 7:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 4:00 PM Contact: 66572082. NON-STOP (DIG) 3:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 9:45 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 6:00 PM (C 4662) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:05 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 8:00 PM 12-3-2014 NON-STOP (DIG) 7:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 9:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:05 AM Black long leather coat, AVENUES-1 NO SUN+TUE+WED size M-L with removable FANAR-1 LAST LOVE (DIG) 2:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:45 PM LAST LOVE (DIG) 4:45 PM AL-KOUT.2 lining, made in Turkey, price KD 55. Also new white arti- NON-STOP (DIG) 3:00 PM LAST LOVE (DIG) 7:15 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:45 PM No. K7916639 change my ficial fur coat knee length, NON-STOP (DIG) 5:15 PM LAST LOVE (DIG) 9:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 4:00 PM name to Ali Haider Shaik, NON-STOP (DIG) 7:45 PM LAST LOVE (DIG) 12:15 AM LAST LOVE (DIG) 6:15 PM price KD 50 (both KD 90). my address in India is N.T.R. NON-STOP (DIG) 10:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED RED SKY (DIG) 8:30 PM Tel: 66293005. Nagar, Chitvel, K. NON-STOP (DIG) 12:15 AM LAST LOVE (DIG) 10:30 PM 10-3-2014 NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-2 RED SKY (DIG) 12:45 AM Kandulayaripalli, Kadapa FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 2:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Dist, AP, 516104. (C 4664) FANAR-2 FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 4:30 PM 13-3-2014 Mageswari. (C 4660) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 1:30 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 6:30 PM AL-KOUT.3 CHANGE OF NAME coming from landlord fami- MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 3:30 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 8:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 PM 11-3-2014 ly and working as Director LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) 5:30 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 10:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 2:45 PM I, Taza, holder of Indian I, Safia Begum, D/O Services in a company look- LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) 7:30 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 12:30 AM NON-STOP (DIG) 5:00 PM Passport No. K9682992 Murugesan holder of Indian I, Aju Kurackuva Koshy ing for Pakistani girl resid- LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) 9:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 7:15 PM have changed my name to Passport No. L0038265, Mathew Indian Passport No ing in Kuwait for immediate LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) 11:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 9:30 PM Murtaza Shabbir Husain date of birth 5-10-1969. marriage. Fintas P.O. Box NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-3 NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM H2014478 have changed RED SKY (DIG) 2:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Raswala, residing at Residing at no. 57 Tha my name to Aju Mathew. 1476, Code 51015 / zaidi- FANAR-3 RED SKY (DIG) 4:15 PM Partapur, Rajasthan. Krishnappa Vdiyar Street, [email protected] RED SKY (DIG) 12:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 6:45 PM AL-KOUT.4 (C 4663) Vandavasi Post. T.S Dist. (C 4661) RED SKY (DIG) 2:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 9:00 PM FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 12:30 PM Tamil Nadu, 604408, shall MATRIMONIAL 12-3-2014 RED SKY (DIG) 5:00 PM RED SKY (DIG) 11:30 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 2:30 PM I, Thopugunta Sudheer BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi) 7:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) 4:30 PM henceforth be known as holder of Indian Passport Murugesan Uma Pakistani Punjabi speaking

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 13/3/2014 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 13/3/2014 KNE 481 Taif 15:50 Airlines Flt Route Time KNE 472 Jeddah 14:35 Airlines Flt Route Time SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 KAC 562 Amman 14:50 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 16:05 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:30 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 AXB 490 Mangalore/Kochi 00:15 KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 TSY 501 Beirut 15:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:05 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 QTR 1084 Doha 00:55 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:45 NIA 252 Alexandria 16:50 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:30 KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:10 OMA 646 Muscat 16:55 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 NIA 251 Alexandria 15:50 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 JZR 238 Amman 16:55 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:10 JZR 535 Cairo 15:50 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 JZR 180 Dubai 16:55 THY 764 Istanbul 02:15 OMA 645 Muscat 15:55 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:20 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 JZR 555 Alexandria 02:25 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:05 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 JZR 267 Beirut 02:30 KAC 118 New York 16:35 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 UAE 854 Dubai 02:35 UAE 857 Dubai 16:40 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 UAE 858 Dubai 17:50 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 JZR 538 Cairo 17:50 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:50 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 QTR 1085 Doha 04:15 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 MSC 406 Sohag 04:45 ABY 128 Sharjah 18:05 MSC 401 Alexandria 03:45 JZR 787 Riyadh 17:00 FDB 068 Dubai 05:00 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 UAL 982 IAD 17:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:20 FDB 067 Dubai 04:20 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 JZR 560 Sohag 06:20 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 ABY 127 Sharjah 17:25 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 QTR 8650 Doha 05:45 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:45 JZR 266 Beirut 18:50 JZR 503 Luxor 05:50 JZR 135 Bahrain 18:00 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 FDB 069 Dubai 05:50 KAC 542 Cairo 18:05 THY 765 Istanbul 07:05 QTR 1081 Doha 19:40 JZR 529 Asyut 06:20 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 KAC 545 Alexandria 07:15 AXB 394 Kozhikode 20:15 BAW 157 London 06:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:40 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:45 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 QTR 8650 Dhaka 07:15 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 JZR 240 Amman 07:20 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 KAC 502 Beirut 18:50 FDB 062 Dubai 20:45 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 TAR 328 Tunis 20:50 IRA 617 Ahwaz 07:50 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:55 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:55 AXB 393 Kozhikode 19:15 BAW 156 London 08:45 KAC 382 Delhi 07:55 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 IRA 616 Ahwaz 08:50 ABY 120 Sharjah 21:00 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:30 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 TSY 502 Beirut 21:00 SVA 512 Riyadh 08:15 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 JZR 534 Cairo 09:00 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:05 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:15 KAC 104 London 19:35 IZG 4162 Mashhad 11:35 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:10 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:35 KAC 351 Kochi 21:10 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 TAR 328 Tunis/Dubai 20:00 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:50 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 MSC 404 Asyut 12:15 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 FDB 061 Dubai 20:05 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 KAC 343 Chennai 21:30 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:10 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:25 KNE 461 Riyadh 21:35 IRA 605 Esfahan 09:30 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 KAC 543 Cairo 21:40 QTR 1070 Doha 09:55 ABY 129 Sharjah 20:20 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 055 Dubai 10:15 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 FDB 072 Dubai 21:55 IZG 4161 Mashhad 10:35 KNE 480 Taif 20:50 SYR 342 Damascus 13:30 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:35 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 MSC 403 Asyut 11:15 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 FDB 071 Dubai 21:15 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 13:50 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:20 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 JZR 181 Dubai 21:30 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:35 SYR 341 Damascus 12:30 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:35 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 12:35 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 JZR 241 Amman 12:45 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 FDB 058 Dubai 14:30 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 QTR 1074 Doha 22:00 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 JZR 552 Alexandria 23:00 JZR 561 Sohag 12:55 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:05 JZR 134 Bahrain 15:00 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:10 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 QTR 1075 Doha 23:10 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 JZR 239 Amman 22:20 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 FDB 060 Dubai 23:10 FDB 057 Dubai 13:50 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:30 JZR 528 Asyut 23:25 QTR 1078 Doha 13:55 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:30 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 KAC 672 Dubai 14:00 PIA 205 Lahore 23:15 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:55 KAC 546 Alexandria 14:05 JZR 185 Dubai 23:20 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

STAR TRACK CROSSWORD 485

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

Your intuition is sharpened and may lead to new insights. Planning out the Don’t be in such a hurry to get a quick fix. Some problems are not fixed by groundwork for new projects can be quite successful. There are opportuni- pills, food, etc. Consider making a list that has a plus column and a minus ties now to apply your ideas and reap the results of your work. This is a time where relation column so that you can compare and weigh out your decision. Your professional life is on with a spouse or business partner is on solid ground. This is certainly a time when material the upswing! You could be representing your company, lecturing or leading others in things have a great deal of importance. Financial deals are quickly settled now. Your emo- some orientation process. Later this afternoon you may be attracted to a few beautiful tions are steady and nurturing during this time and you are willing to change some nega- baubles; be careful that you do not overspend or indulge too much just now, there are tive habits into positive ones. Difficult emotional energies may be prevalent-yours or oth- better opportunities later. A friend or loved one wants to celebrate some accomplishment ers’. This could be the best time to successfully sort through issues that you may have and this person longs to hear your words of praise and approval. Bring dinner home or perhaps you might cook. There are fun times with the family or loved ones this evening. thought previously had no answer-perhaps in meditation.

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

Teamwork will bring success with a big project this morning. Dealings with It becomes clear that authority figures will want to see your work and check higher-ups have favorable results. Negotiations are successful. This is a good day to con- your accuracy. Make your days easier by doing your best and you will have ference with a teacher about a child’s progress. Abstract and spiritual ideas and the ability nothing about which to worry. Some are impressed at your quick results and may be con- to present or communicate these to others are present in your life. Pay attention to the cerned with accuracy. Superiors, however, are well pleased. The people that criticize you the most are the ones that will soon become your best friends. It is easy for you to commu- expectations you have of others-think about reasonable principles, especially with young nicate and gain other people’s confidence. You can be particularly witty, and this after- people. Ask each family member three things they would like to do before summer and noon you and your friends enjoy socializing. If you are not romantically involved, you express your own desires as well. Have you been neglecting your friends lately you might could meet your match through a community organization meeting, party or a club meet- contact one or two of your friends and plan to have lunch together soon-perhaps this ing later today. Enjoy new dance music. weekend. Contact with your friends is important now.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Keeping your goals in focus helps you to stay on track with what you need You may have serious doubts about the direction in which your life is head- ing right now. You are entering a period of emotional change and feeling to accomplish. Someone may try and persuade you to move in a different two ways at once without getting too deeply into either polarity. You may find yourself at direction from your objective, but with your eye on the goal, you will not be moved. You ACROSS 3. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly odds with someone in a meeting today. You may want to go against tradition in your aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true could be in the limelight today, especially with superiors in the workplace. You find you desire to prove a point. Have patience; others will have your same viewpoint soon. enjoy your job and the responsibilities that come with it. When others interrupt you, you 1. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet. stems and roots and leaves. Because of this realization, take a different approach and solve the problem before chaos are clearly able to give helpful answers. You may, however, find that an elderly person is sets in by others. This way you will be able to present another option and not a criticism. 4. A miserly person. 4. Administration of a nutritionally ade- critical of your ideas later today. Patience and perhaps a demonstration will bring him or Stay away from gossip as you have enough business to tend to today. This evening is 12. Edible tuber of any of several yams. quate solution through a catheter into the her to your way of thinking. There are some informative as well as fun conversations with marked by increased romantic aspiration. There are unexpected rewards tonight. 15. A close friend who accompanies his vena cava. the young members of your family this evening. Introduce puzzles. buddies in their activities. 5. The United Nations agency concerned 16. Fortification consisting of a strong fence with atomic energy. made of stakes driven into the ground. 6. An explanation or definition of an ) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 17. The compass point midway between obscure word in a text. Cancer (June 21-July 22 northeast and east. 7. Massive thick-skinned herbivorous ani- Check and recheck your work-you are entering a period of emotional Everyone in the workplace seems to be involved in some form of spring 18. An ugly evil-looking old woman. mal living in or around rivers of tropical change that may appear frustrating. This is a temporary state but it will be fever. The feeling of today can be best summed up by your realization that the bridge that launches you into new projects. You of all people are good at moving with you need to stop and appreciate the good times so that you will always have a memory of 19. A genus of Accipitridae. Africa. them. Don’t feel guilty about taking some time out of your busy day to have lunch and 8. Anterior pituitary hormone that stimu- the flow of energy and others will follow your lead. Where confusion could get out of con- 20. Goddess of criminal rashness and its trol, you will create a peace of mind. Be as clear as possible in what you do or say. Since take a walk around the block or building. Make a conscious effort to balance your activi- punishment. lates the function of the thyroid gland. you do so well with change, consider a job that involves consulting. You also do well in ties daily. Note on dieting: for your well being and temperament, as well as your health- 21. By bad luck. 9. Straggling shrub with narrow leaves and jobs that involve assigning jobs and encouraging others. Make sure you have complete you actually need a diet that is varied. Weighing and limiting your meals can be very frus- information before gambling with an investment that involves purchasing a precious item trating. Missing a meal can be a real mistake! Your confidence is strong and you will find 23. Of southern Europe. conspicuous red flowers in dense globular progress is successful. Your love life is improving. 24. Feeling or caused to feel uneasy and racemes. or stock. When possible, get an item appraised before obligating your money. self-conscious. 10. The clay from which adobe bricks are 26. A state in the Rocky Mountains. made. 28. Conforming to truth. 11. A mountain in south central Alaska. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 29. A Swiss patriot who lived in the early 12. Not only so, but. Your focus is strong and the efforts that you put forth in accomplishing your 14th century and who was renowned for 13. (prefix) In front of or before in space. Your mind is quite able to handle any sort of problem that might occur goals are successful. At the end of your workday, find new ways to make the today. If being involved with the personnel department was not part of transition from work to home more fun. Perhaps some book on tape or an exercise period his skill as an archer. 14. (archaic) A fitting reward. your job identification when you started, you might think it is before the completion of 30. A thick and heavy shoe. 22. Intelligence information gathered from each afternoon before traveling home will help to make the transition to home easier. You this day. You have grown beyond the job you began and you are able to handle more and may notice changes in the people around you now with regard to spirit. There seems to be 35. A resident of Iowa. communications intelligence or electronics more responsibilities of late. Changes in your job may not have been expected, but your less gossip, less crime and less frustration. Physical well-being is also heightened because 39. Of or relating to the process of hearing. intelligence or telemetry intelligence. ability to retain information and adapt to the new changes will create an opportunity for you find the attitude toward positive thinking has improved. Perhaps some work on the you to request a raise as well as new job experiences. More and more of your time will be 42. Decrease gradually or bit by bit. 25. An elevated geological formation. family history can be inspiring as well as fun for the whole family this afternoon. You want freed for people skills now. An important relationship, perhaps with a young person or to know more about the family . . . For posterity. 43. Affording unobstructed entrance and 27. A metric unit of volume or capacity someone in your near environment, may come into focus today. You are in demand. exit. equal to 10 liters. 44. Any of numerous local fertility and 31. The basic unit of money in Indonesia. nature deities worshipped by ancient 32. A port city of south central Ukraine on Virgo (August 23-September 22) Semitic peoples. an arm of the Black Sea. Pisces (February 19-March 20) 46. A genus of Mustelidae. 33. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agri- This is a great time to be with others in a working environment. A new Your frustration level may be a bit high this morning; however, in paying 47. Of or relating to or resembling a bistro. culture and patron of scribes and schools. piece of equipment may have everyone chatting at odd times. Use your talents to assuage attention to that fact you will actually bring about a focus. With a deep 49. (often followed by `of') A large number 34. United States liquid unit equal to 4 the overflow of conversation so that not too much time is wasted and work is accom- breath to stay focused, work moves along at a nice little pace. Every time you feel your or amount or extent. quarts or 3.785 liters. plished. You have a natural sense of what to say to people at the most opportune time. mind taking a little side trip, just take that deep breath and once again you will find progress is easier to accomplish. Listening to your own music or a fun radio station during 50. An associate degree in applied science. 36. A mourner who utters long loud high- Regarding financial opportunities . . . Be careful when there is a risk financially and take care not to go along with the group just for approval. This afternoon, there is not only a your break today will help to lighten your efforts. You have an unending quest to discover 51. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the pitched cries. desire for outdoor, physical activity, but there will most likely be ample opportunities to and uncover fun and exciting things about your world. You may want to visit with a friend faces. 37. A unit of weight used in some Spanish partake in the fun. Domestic tranquility could be enjoyed this evening by listening very or loved one this afternoon and plan the next big fun adventure. Some great family mem- 53. Plot of land belonging to an English speaking countries. carefully and feeding that information back to the other person for clarity. bers get your attention this evening, as well as a forgotten hobby. Happy birthday! parish church or an ecclesiastical office. 38. Put (things or places) in order. 55. God of wealth and love. 40. Arrived at without due care or effort. 58. Fill with high spirits. 41. A nucleic acid consisting of large mole- Challenging Mazes Yesterday’s Solution 60. A theocratic republic in the Middle East cules shaped like a double helix. in western Asia. 45. (Greek mythology) The god of the 61. Lower in esteem. underworld in ancient mythology. 63. Move about aimlessly or without any 48. An Italian poet famous for love lyrics destination, often in search of food or (1304-1374). employment. 52. A white metallic element that burns 65. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of with a brilliant light. the fantastic adventures he had in his voy- 54. Trace the shape of. ages. 56. One of a family of granular intrusive 72. An Arabic speaking person who lives in rocks. Arabia or North Africa. 57. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 73. Large genus of Australian evergreen from aba cloth. shrubs or small trees with large daisylike 59. Of or relating to a geological eon flowers. (longer than an era). 76. The longer of the two telegraphic sig- 62. Choose and follow. nals used in Morse code. 64. Jordan's port. 77. A unit of pressure equal to 0.001316 66. Extremely robust. atmosphere. 67. An aromatic ointment used in antiquity. 78. A tricycle (usually propelled by ped- 68. Radioactive iodine test that measures alling). the amount of radioactive iodine taken up 79. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the by the thyroid gland. faces. 69. Tropical starchy tuberous root. 80. (prefix) Within. 70. Being the one previously mentioned or 81. 1 species. spoken of. 82. A condition (mostly in boys) character- 71. (biology) Shed at an early stage of ized by behavioral and learning disorders. development. 74. Flower arrangement consisting of a cir- DOWN cular band of foliage or flowers for orna- 1. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure mental purposes. equal to about a bushel. 75. Automatic data processing by electron- 2. An official language of the Republic of ic means without the use of tabulating South Africa. cards or punched tapes.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 information

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 Al-Madeena 22418714 Al-Shuhada 22545171 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Sabhan 24742838 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Al-Helaly 22434853 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Al-Faiha 22545051 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Ahmadi 23980088 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144 Al-Jahra 25610011 Khaldiya 24848075 Al-Salmiya 25616368 Kaifan 24849807 Shamiya 24848913 INTERNATIONAL Shuwaikh 24814507 CALLS Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804 Afghanistan 0093 Iran 0098 Albania 00355 Iraq 00964 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Algeria 00213 Ireland 00353 Qadsiya 22515088 Andorra 00376 Italy 0039 Angola 00244 Ivory Coast 00225 Dasmah 22532265 Anguilla 001264 Jamaica 001876 Antiga 001268 Japan 0081 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Argentina 0054 Jordan 00962 Shaab 22518752 Armenia 00374 Kazakhstan 007 Australia 0061 Kenya 00254 Qibla 22459381 Austria 0043 Kiribati 00686 Bahamas 001242 Kuwait 00965 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Bahrain 00973 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Mirqab 22456536 Bangladesh 00880 Laos 00856 Barbados 001246 Latvia 00371 Sharq 22465401 Belarus 00375 Lebanon 00961 Belgium 0032 Liberia 00231 Salmiya 25746401 Belize 00501 Libya 00218 Jabriya 25316254 Benin 00229 Lithuania 00370 Bermuda 001441 Luxembourg 00352 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Bhutan 00975 Macau 00853 Bolivia 00591 Macedonia 00389 Bayan 25388462 Bosnia 00387 Madagascar 00261 Mishref 25381200 Botswana 00267 Majorca 0034 Brazil 0055 Malawi 00265 W Hawally 22630786 Brunei 00673 Malaysia 0060 Bulgaria 00359 Maldives 00960 Sabah 24810221 Burkina 00226 Mali 00223 Jahra 24770319 Burundi 00257 Malta 00356 Cambodia 00855 Marshall Islands 00692 New Jahra 24575755 Cameroon 00237 Martinique 00596 Canada 001 Mauritania 00222 West Jahra 24772608 Cape Verde 00238 Mauritius 00230 South Jahra 24775066 Cayman Islands 001345 Mayotte 00269 Central African 00236 Mexico 0052 North Jahra 24775992 Chad 00235 Micronesia 00691 Chile 0056 Moldova 00373 North Jleeb 24311795 China 0086 Monaco 00377 Ardhiya 24884079 Colombia 0057 Mongolia 00976 Comoros 00269 Montserrat 001664 Firdous 24892674 Congo 00242 Morocco 00212 Cook Islands 00682 Mozambique 00258 Omariya 24719048 Costa Rica 00506 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 N Khaitan 24710044 Croatia 00385 Namibia 00264 Cuba 0053 Nepal 00977 Fintas 23900322 Cyprus 00357 Netherlands (Holland) Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 0031 Czech Republic 00420 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Denmark 0045 New Caledonia 00687 Diego Garcia 00246 New Zealand 0064 PRIVATE CLINICS Djibouti 00253 Nicaragua 00505 Dominica 001767 Nigar 00227 Dominican Republic 001809 Nigeria 00234 Ecuador 00593 Niue 00683 Egypt 0020 Norfolk Island 00672 El Salvador 00503 Northern Ireland (UK) Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Ophthalmologists Endocrinologist England (UK) 0044 0044 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Equatorial Guinea 00240 North Korea 00850 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Eritrea 00291 Norway 0047 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Estonia 00372 Oman 00968 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Ethiopia 00251 Pakistan 0092 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Falkland Islands 00500 Palau 00680 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Faroe Islands 00298 Panama 00507 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Fiji 00679 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Finland 00358 Paraguay 00595 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 (1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 France 0033 Peru 0051 French Guiana 00594 Philippines 0063 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, Rheumatologists: French Polynesia 00689 Poland 0048 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 FRCS (Canada) 25655535 Gabon 00241 Portugal 00351 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dentists Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Gambia 00220 Puerto Rico 001787 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Georgia 00995 Qatar 00974 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Germany 0049 Romania 0040 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ghana 00233 Russian Federation 007 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Gibraltar 00350 Rwanda 00250 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Greece 0030 Saint Helena 00290 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Greenland 00299 Saint Kitts 001869 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Grenada 001473 Saint Lucia 001758 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Guadeloupe 00590 Saint Pierre 00508 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Guam 001671 Saint Vincent 001784 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Guatemala 00502 Samoa US 00684 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Guinea 00224 Samoa West 00685 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Guyana 00592 San Marino 00378 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Haiti 00509 Sao Tone 00239 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Saudi Arabia 00966 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Honduras 00504 Scotland (UK) 0044 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Hong Kong 00852 Senegal 00221 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Hungary 0036 Seychelles 00284 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sierra Leone 00232 Soor Center Iceland 00354 Singapore 0065 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 India 0091 Slovakia 00421 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 Indian Ocean 00873 Slovenia 00386 Indonesia 0062 Solomon Islands 00677 lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 GOSSIP Naomi Campbell wants a baby

aomi Campbell wants to have a baby. don’t want to see them put us in a line in the The 43-year-old supermodel - who split show, like we’re an act together, and it’s done... Nfrom longterm boyfriend Vladimir That’s also not very creative.” And the British Doronin last year - would love to have a family beauty also insisted the fashion industry is not and insists she doesn’t need a partner to raise responsible for models suffering from eating a child. Speaking to Diane von Furstenberg disorders, arguing people need to be “respon- during a SiriusXM Radio Town Hall show in sible” for their own actions. She said: “You New York yesterday, she said: “I do want to cannot blame our industry for the body type have children, whether I have a man or not. I of women. The food issue is a really sensitive will have it on my own.” The ‘Face’ star has long subject for me, and it makes me nervous to been a campaigner for ethnic diversity in the really talk about it because I’ve never seen a modeling industry, and though she believes designer in my whole 28 years say to some- there has been “progress”, she worries the use one, ‘Go on a diet, lose weight.’? “You have to of non-white models could just be a “trend”. be responsible for your own actions. So if you She said: “We are definitely making progress decide you don’t want to eat because you on the ad campaigns. We do not want it to be feel like you have to be like this, that’s all up a trend, we want it to be consistent... I also to you.” Lara Stone has nothing to ‘wish for’ he 30-year-old model - who has 10- month-old son Alfred with husband Baldwin’s Hamptons TDavid Walliams - is delighted with her life since getting sober in 2009 and sometimes can’t believe how lucky she has been in her career. Speaking to the April home for sale edition of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, she Lily Allen has lost said: “I have a house, a husband, a good lec Baldwin has put his job, a beautiful baby - at the moment I Hamptons home on the don’t have anything else to wish for... Amarket. The ‘30 Rock’ her wedding dress “When I stop and think about it - which I actor is planning on selling his don’t do very often - I think, ‘This doesn’t sprawling New York property, he ‘Our Time’ singer - who has daughters Ethel, two, make any sense.’ “I look around and see which comes accustomed with and Marnie, 14 months, with husband Sam Cooper - thousands of girls who could have had this an outdoor swimming pool and Thas no idea what has happened to the Chanel Couture career.” Lara checked into rehab to receive is surrounded by green. Talking gown she donned at her wedding reception in July 2011. In help for alcoholism five years ago after at the at the Guild Hall Academy an interview with Miquita Oliver - who was one of her realizing she needed to change her life. of the Arts Lifetime Achievement bridesmaids - for TV channel 4 Music, she was asked the She said: “One day I woke and thought, ‘I Awards on Monday, he said: “I most expensive item in her wardrobe and replied: “Oh you can’t live like this anymore.’ “And the Dutch have a house for sale as well!. It do not want to know! There’s two bits to this answer. One, beauty admitted alcohol used to make her has five bedrooms, a swimming it’s not in my wardrobe-it’s missing. And two, it’s my Chanel aggressive. She added: “I’ve picked a lot of pool and wood-burning fire- Couture wedding dress that’s worth about £200,000. “I don’t fights in my day, but no one ever wanted place.” The star recently con- know where it is.” Lily had two dresses for her nuptials, a to hit me back.” Lara discussed her first fessed he’s ready to leave New Delphine Manivet gown with a fishtail skirt, lace overlay and date with David, who she married in 2010, was in the cab home afterward and York and is beginning to “crave” lace sleeves teamed with an elaborate and lengthy lace saying she was “so nervous” before they thought, I should text him and thank him Los Angeles after over 30 years in have to move out of New York. I headdress with a flower detail on the side of her veil for the went out for the first time - and recalled a for dinner. When I did, he texted back, the Big Apple because he thinks just can’t live in New York any- ceremony, and the Karl Lagerfeld-custom created loose-fit- disastrous end to the evening. She said: “I ‘Who’s this?’ “ he would be able to give wife more. Everything I hated about ting gown with billowing sheer sleeves and elaborate Hilaria and their six-month-old LA I’m beginning to crave. LA is a embroidery, which she wore for the reception. It is unclear daughter Carmen a more peace- place where you live behind a whether she knows the whereabouts of her other wedding ful and private life. He said: “To gate, you get in a car, your inter- gown. be a New Yorker meant you gave everybody five feet. You gave action with the public is minimal. Jessie J struggles everybody their privacy. And I used to hate that. But New York now we don’t leave each other has changed. “I want my newest alone. Now we live in a digital child to have as normal and with the stress of fame arena, like some Roman decent a life as I can provide. he ‘Price Tag’ singer spoke candidly to Colosseum, with our thumbs up New York doesn’t seem the place the audience during her intimate gig at or thumbs down... “I probably for that anymore.” TRock Wood in New York City on Monday admitting she feels pressure to act “perfect” all the time and be on form for her fans even when she doesn’t feel like it. According to the MailOnline, she said: “Please forgive me if I get this wrong, I’ve never sung it before. It’s loves called... ‘You Don’t Really Know Me’. And it’s Brad Pitt really honest about how I felt in the last year. Fame makes you feel like you have to be hap- py all the time and people want you to be ‘teaching’ his children perfect all the time. And sometimes you don’t he 50-year-old actor - who rais- want to take a photo with someone, some- es Maddox, 12, Pax, 10, Zahara, times you don’t want to have a conversation Tnine, Shiloh, seven, and twins with someone and that’s not about being Knox and Vivienne, five, with fiance mean, that’s about being human. “And that’s Angelina Jolie - loves seeing his six the biggest thing that I struggle with - that kids respond to his encouragement sometimes people need something from me and thinks the way they share their that I don’t have to give and I pretend some- knowledge is “beautiful”. He said: “It’s times that I am OK when I’m not. It makes me fun watching our kids getting older feel like I’m going mad and so I wrote this and learning more. That’s one of the song called ‘You Don’t Really Know Me’.” Jessie great privileges of being a father - is currently in the US recording some new you get to teach them things. “All tracks, and admitted she had written the you have to do is just give them a lit- song just two days ago. The singer was tle inspiration and encouragement thrilled with the crowd’s positive reaction and voice was unreal! Made me feel so loved and and the next thing you know, they’re branded the concert one of her most “memo- hungry to give a super memorable perform- reading everything they can about a rable” to date. She enthused on Twitter: “One ance! Made me work hard! NYC I really have a subject. Then they try and show you how much they’ve learnt. It really is so of my fav shows I’ve ever done! Ever! The crush on you! Thank you @rockwoodnyc #big- beautiful.” Despite their global fame, Brad and Angelina do their best to audiences appreciation for my lyrics and whiteroom (sic)”. give their family “security and privacy”, although that means there are cer- tain places they can’t visit. Brad told OK! Magazine: “We do a pretty good job protecting our children from [paparazzi]. We do have to take detours to go to certain places - and then other places, like the park, are completely Malik wants his off-limits, so we try to find a beach where there aren’t too many people. “We like to be able to give the kids a feeling of security and privacy as much as we can. It’s easier when we’re in the countryside or France where Harry Styles own comic book no one pays much attention to us.” ayn Malik wants to create his own Williams upset Jackson comic book. The One Direction star having helicopter Zrecently visited Marvel Studios Headquarters in California to ask illustrators collaboration never happened for advice on drawing his own characters flying lessons and they have kept in touch with him to harrell Williams is upset rejected by his team and ended up give him tips. A source told The Sun news- songs he wrote for Michael being given to Justin Timberlake for he One Direction hunk has enrolled on a flying course paper: “If Zayn’s not in the studio he’s doo- Jackson never “made it” to his debut solo album ‘Justified’ - and in Orange County, California, and is hoping to become P dling on his notepad. He doesn’t think his him. The ‘Happy’ hitmaker knew the Pharrell was shocked when the a qualified pilot before the end of the year. A source T drawings are much to rave about, he says King of Pop for several years before ‘Billie Jean’ singer later sang them to told the Daily Star newspaper: “He can’t think of anything he’s the worst artist in his family. But he still he died of acute Propofol intoxica- him and he had to confess they cooler than being a helicopter pilot, so booked himself a dreams of releasing a novel and is over the tion in 2009 and had penned some were originally destined for him. He block of lessons through a company just outside of Los moon that Marvel artists are keeping in tracks for the star but they were said: “I did eight songs for him that Angeles. “With hard work and persistence, he reckons he can touch via email.” The ‘Midnight Memories’ never made it to him, that ended up be qualified by the end of the year.” The 20-year-old singer is hitmaker has a cartoon-inspired tattoo of on Justin’s record.”Later he sang me known for his womanizing ways - having previously his fiance, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, all those songs and told me they romanced TV presenter Caroline Flack and pop princess among a number of inkings, and Perrie also should have been his and I told him Taylor Swift as well as his most recent girlfriend, reality star- bought him an Incredible Hulk themed they were for him.” The ‘Get Lucky’ turned-model Kendall Jenner - and is said to be hopeful his cake in celebration of his 21st birthday in star also laughed off comparisons new hobby might score him points with the ladies. An insid- January. Meanwhile, Zayn’s “boyish expres- between himself and the late er added: “The famous girls Harry tends to date aren’t sion” has inspired a new look for crime- ‘Thriller’ singer. He told impressed with flash cars any more, so he wants to have fighter Ghost Rider, and the illustrations of News.com.au: “Well, there’s no com- something that will make their jaws drop. “Ultimately he the supernatural stunt-motorcyclist are a parison between me and Michael wants a helicopter on standby, so he can just jump in and fly spitting image of the comic book fan. Illustrator and creator, Felipe Smith: “The Jackson. He is the King of Pop, an himself - and his date - anywhere he wants. That’s something Ghost Rider - also known as Robbie Reyes - guy from One Direction’s name is Zayn incredible dancer, an incredible that would surely excite any girl.” is reported to have dis- displays chiselled cheekbones, an angry Malik. I was picturing Robbie as a beefier writer, incredible visionary, he tanced himself from his bandmates Liam Payne, Louis scowl and Zayn’s signature blonde-streaked version of him. Physically strong with a qui- changed the world in so many ways. Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik in recent months hairstyle. Editor Mark Paniccia told et, troubled, expression ... kind of boyish.” “I am just a fan who has been given because he has been spending so much time in the US. the opportunity to make music.” LIFESTYLE37 THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 GOSSIP Snoop Lion final Boadmasters 2014 headliner noop Lion has been announced as the final headline act for SBoardmasters 2014. The hip-hop star, formerly Snoop Dogg, will play at the UK’s biggest surf and music festival, which takes place in Newquay, Cornwall, from August 6 to August 10. The 42- year-old rapper will join headline acts Bastille and Chase and Status, along with Ben Pearce, The Cribs, Dan Croll, Palma Violets, George Ezra and Bipolar Sunshine, who are performing through- out the weekend. The festival, which was established in 1981, takes place at two legendary locations along the Cornish coastline, at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, and more than 150,000 visitors are expect to attend. The five- Gervais wants to host day event will also include an interna- tional surf competition featuring the biggest names in the sport. Additional the Golden Globe again artists already confirmed to take to the starting from as low at £99 and rising to to Sunday camping are £126, both stage include 2manydjs DJ set, Duke £139. A limited number of passes for including booking fees. To book tickets Friday to Sunday with camping are to Boardmasters 2014, visit boardmas- icky Gervais wants to host the Golden to front the ceremony again. Speaking after his Dumont, Roni Size, Peace and Reel Big priced at £116 and tickets for Thursday ters.co.uk. Globe awards again. The ‘Muppets Most third stint in 2012, he said: “Thank god that’s over. I Fish. Tickets are sold in five tiered bands, RWanted’ actor’s stints of fronting the ceremo- had a blast actually. It was by far my favorite of the ny in 2010 2011, and 2012 saw organizers come three hosting stints. “I’ve told my agent to never under fire for his daring gags about stars including let me be persuaded to do it again though. It’s like Ashton Kutcher, Kim Kardashian and Mel Gibson, a parachute jump. You can only really enjoy it in Richards to write so thinks it is best to wait until the controversy is retrospect when you realize you didn’t die and it completely forgotten before he takes the helm was quite an amazing thing to do.” However, in again. Asked by ‘Access Hollywood’ if he would 2011 he ruled out fronting the ceremony for a a children’s book host the show again, he said: “I wouldn’t mind. third time and later changed his mind. When Well, not yet, but, yeah. Give it a few years. Let asked that year if he would host again, he replied: eith Richards is writing a children’s book. The Rolling everything [settle].” It seems Ricky - who was “It’s doesn’t really matter because I’m not going to Stones legend has teamed up with his daughter replaced as host by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler - has do it anyway. I said I wouldn’t do it a second time Theodora to create a picture book ‘Gus and Me: The had a change of heart as he previously vowed not but I think twice is enough.” K Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar’, which will be based on his own life. The story is about the 70-year-old ennifer Lopez didn’t want to rush her new guitarist’s grandfather Theodore Augustus Dupree - also Lopez didn’t album. The 44-year-old singer is preparing known as Gus - who played in a jazz big band and intro- Jfor the release of her 10th record and has duced Keith to the world of music. Keith said: “I have just been in the studio for the past year making sure become a grandfather for the fifth time, so I know what I’m the songs are perfect. During an interview on talking about. The bond, the special bond, between kids want to and grandparents is unique and should be treasured. “This Los Angeles’ Power 106 radio station, the ‘American Idol’ judge and singer said: “I toured is a story of one of those magical moments. May I be as for the first time right after my last season of great a grandfather as Gus was to me.” Theodora, 28, who is rush album Idol, I went on a world tour for about a year and named after Gus, will be illustrating the book inspired by it was amazing, I loved it. “When I got back I got photographs of Keith’s childhood. She said: “When I found right back into the studio and this whole past out they wanted me to be a part of this project, my imme- year, I’ve been making music. “There was no diate instinct was to say yes, and I am so happy I did. To be need to rush it. Now we’re ready to start drop- able to explore my father’s relationship with his grandfa- ping little things and I started a few months ther was a gift in itself.” The picture story is being published ago.” The ‘On The Floor’ singer recently went by Little, Brown Book Group and is set for release on back to the Bronx with her friends, family and September 9. boyfriend Casper Smart to film her ‘Same Girl’ music video. Jennifer said: “We’re in the Bronx on the subway, I called a couple of my girl- friends. “It was so great, it was just me, it wasn’t like a crew to shoot a video, we went to capture the moment. “I knew people would see a cam- era and be like, ‘Who’s that?’ I knew they would come out but I didn’t expect that. I was like, ‘You wanna sing with us’, it was a lot of love, it felt very good. “I’ve been in the game a long time, but when I go back there it feels very natural to me, when I walk down the street it’s like I was Katie Price to release there yesterday.” The star, who has also had suc- another autobiography cess in acting, likes to keep busy and insists she continues to work because she loves being cre- ative and it’s not about the money for her. She continued: “I don’t know what enough is to everybody, I know everybody thinks financially, he former glamour model, who has already produced five mem- but for me I don’t really think that way, I just oirs, nine novels and two series of children’s books in the last 10 love creating. “I love being successful and con- Tyears, has just signed a publishing deal with Random House to tinuing to be able to be successful. Admittedly, create another book based on her life and four more fictional stories. sometimes I take on too much, it’s a balance, I’m She took to Twitter today to share the news with her fans, writing: “I’m learning as I go.” sooo happy and excited I’ve signed a new book deal with random house 4 novels and autobiography woooo (sic)”. The 35-year-old star established herself in the publishing industry, despite having her work ghosted by Rebecca Farnworth, after her first autobiography ‘Being Jordan’, which was released in 2004, sold 97,090 copies in just one year. The brunette beauty’s most recent memoir ‘Love, Lipstick and Lies’, Williams upset released last year, attracted a lot of attention after it referenced her highly publicized divorce from Alex Reid, romance and split with Leandro Penna, and her whirlwind marriage with Kieran Hayler. Jackson collaboration Meanwhile, one person who can’t wait for Katie’s next set of books and autobiography to be released is former Spice Girls singer Mel B. She never happened tweeted: “congrats my lovely can’t wait to read (sic)”.

harrell Williams is upset songs he wrote for Michael Jackson never “made it” to him. The P‘Happy’ hitmaker knew the King of Pop for sev- eral years before he died of acute Propofol intoxica- Chris Pine charged tion in 2009 and had penned some tracks for the star but they were rejected by his team and ended up being given to Justin Timberlake for his debut solo with drink driving album ‘Justified’ - and Pharrell was shocked when the ‘Billie Jean’ singer later sang them to him and he had hris Pine has been charged with drink driving. The ‘Star Trek’ actor was stopped by to confess they were originally destined for him. He police in a “routine operation” in Methven, Canterbury, New Zealand, on March 1 said: “I did eight songs for him that never made it to Cand was arrested after allegedly being found to be over the alcohol limit. He will him, that ended up on Justin’s record.”Later he sang appear in Ashburton district court on 17 March, and local police said no further informa- me all those songs and told me they should have tion will be released about the case yet because the matter is before the courts. The 33- been his and I told him they were for him.” The ‘Get year-old star was in the country filming ‘Z for Zachariah’ and had reportedly been out Lucky’ star also laughed off comparisons between celebrating the end of the shoot the night before he was arrested. Blue Pub Methven himself and the late ‘Thriller’ singer. He told manager Casey Crawford said around 70 cast and crew members, and local volunteers News.com.au: “Well, there’s no comparison between had hired the nightspot on February 28, with the party ending around 3am on March 1, me and Michael Jackson. He is the King of Pop, an the morning the actor was arrested. Mr Crawford told the New Zealand Herald news- incredible dancer, an incredible writer, incredible paper: “Chris Pine arrived here and had his supermodel girlfriend [Iris Bjork visionary, he changed the world in so many ways. “I Johannesdottir] with him and he spent most of his time with her, she flew in that am just a fan who has been given the opportunity to day someone told me.”You can see the photos behind the bar with our staff and make music.” he looked fine, I only ever saw him drinking tap beer and his partner she was just drinking sav wine.” He also said the cast and crew were “subdued” during the evening, and there were des- ignated drivers appointed, so he was surprised Chris Lena Dunham doesn’t took the decision to get behind the wheel. want to act any more he ‘Girls’ star, who also created the US TV show, admits she doesn’t Kim involved in a car crash love performing as much as she does standing behind the camera Tand watching other people take to the set. She said: “I don’t know if im Kardashian has been involved in a details, before sharing a hug. Both cars I’m going to want to act any more. I’m always relieved on the days I don’t car crash. The 33-year-old reality TV star reportedly suffered some damage in the acci- have to. I’d rather give parts to other women than be the woman having was caught in a collision along Sunset dent, but the police were not informed, and the parts.” Meanwhile, the 27-year-old actress - who plays unlucky in K Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, today neither parties were injured. Meanwhile, this love aspiring writer Hannah Horvath in the HBO comedy - admits her after she smashed her $100,000 Mercedes G isn’t the first time Kim has found herself in a relationship with boyfriend Jack Antonoff, who she started dating short- ly after ‘Girls’ became popular, works really well because he accepted her Wagon into another vehicle. The brunette spot of bother while driving her plush motor “baggage”. She explained in the April edition of Glamour magazine: “The beauty was reportedly turning left at an inter- as she was pulled over last November in Los dialogue around the show already existed, so it was sort of clear to him section and the other vehicle was travelling in Angeles for allegedly trying to outrun what the baggage of dating me was going to be. “And I remember talk- the opposite direction with his right indicator paparazzi. However, a law enforcement insid- ing with him on our first date and him being like, ‘God, all the articles on, but the driver failed to make the turn and er said at the time that the police were also about your nudity on the show are too much.’ It’s funny, because in carried on straight, which resulted in the colli- furious with the photographers as the inci- some ways that’s the conversation we still have when I’m upset [about sion, according to TMZ.com. Kim and the oth- dent endangered multiple lives including the stuff I read].” er driver pulled into the Beverly Hills Hotel Kim’s, other drivers on the road, and the offi- after the blunder to exchange insurance cers involved. lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Music & Movies A minute with: Catherine Deneuve on freedom and aging with grace

atherine Deneuve is now in her sixth decade making films but the French actress says she is too busy Cworking these days to grow nostalgic about her past roles or films with acclaimed directors such as Luis Bunuel and Francois Truffaut. In her latest film, “On My Way,” in US theaters on Friday, the 70-year-old Deneuve plays Bettie, a woman stuck in neutral who goes on a road trip to break free from the burden of her family’s struggling restaurant and being dumped by her lover. Behind the wheel of her old car and wearing the same clothes for days, the ex-beauty queen Bettie dances and drinks in the provincial club “Le Ranch,” smokes with strangers, falls into bed with two men and builds a loving relationship with her young grandson as the green French countryside rolls by. Many of the characters are played by non-actors. And although she is not nostalgic about her career, Deneuve spoke to Reuters about a certain nostalgia in “On My Way,” how she handles growing older and her favorite TV show from America.

Q: Director Emmanuelle Bercot wrote this film for you. How did that come about? A: I wanted to work with her; that is the main reason. I knew her as an actress and a director and I had seen her films and I thought she was very interesting. Three years ago we agreed we would do a film together and she wrote it. And I liked the story.

Q: How often do you get offers like this from film- makers? A: Well, I know directors. Andre Techine also wrote films and parts for me. It’s not often, just sometimes.

(From Left) ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ cast members Tina Fey, Constantine, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell pose together. Q: What do you like about this character that Emmanuelle Bercot created? A: I liked her freedom mostly. All of a sudden she stops in the middle of the kitchen and says, “No more.” She says, “I’ll come back,” but then she goes and disappears. It is something everyone has been dreaming to do once.

Q: Bettie has a fling with quite a younger man, Marco. Did you like that part of the story? A: Yes, I thought it was very difficult to do. Emmanuelle wanted a non-professional actor to do it, so we did some tests with different young men. And I thought it was worth it to try because it was very special.

Q: He is brutally honest with you about what it is like to be with an older woman. How did you deal with that? A: When he looks at me and he imagines the kind of beauty I was 25 or 30 years ago, I thought it was quite fun- ny.

Q: Later on, you meet an older man with whom you might have a more serious relationship. Do you think “mature love” is something accepted by movie audi- ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ cast members peer out at the crowd as they arrive in cars on Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy arrive for the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Muppets ences? the red carpet at the premiere of the film on Tuesday at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Most Wanted’. A: Maybe I think it is more accepted in Europe than in Angeles. —AP photos Hollywood because we have less convention on that sub- ject in Europe.

Q: Does the film evoke French cinema from decades ‘Ernest & Celestine’ ago? Review: a delicate delight A: Yes, I think it does. You can stop everything, take your car, go away, show the country, show people who live in Bacall, Paul Giamatti and child actress Mackenzie thievery). Even holed up in his country cabin, he delicate and lovingly hand-made “Ernest the country. It’s a very gentle and kind look at people who & Celestine” captures the whimsy and Foy. (This review is of the French original, which they don’t immediately hit it off, as Ernest still live outside of cities in France. It reminds me of films Twarmth of a dearly felt children’s picture holds the charm of hearing little children mice turns his nose up at living with an inferior mouse. maybe 25 years ago. book like few movies before. The Oscar-nominat- speaking timidly in French. Be warned: The cute- ed animated French-Belgian film is a simply ren- ness is almost unbearable.) Lovely little movie dered tale about a friendship between a mouse It’s a little story, told economically and with and a bear, painted with watercolor backgrounds ‘Fairy mouse’ graceful minimalism. Sound effects have the sim- and hand-sketched characters. In a movie land- An orphanage of mice has gathered around plicity of a Richard Bresson film. The music by jazz scape crowded with awesome digital animations Celestine (voiced by Pauline Brunner, the daugh- cellist Vincent Courtois is a sweetly melancholy ter of “Triplets of Belleville” producer Didier companion to the fairy tale, which despite its Brunner, also a producer here), a bright young cuteness, has a rascally French sense of humor, mouse who - despite the stern warnings of their too. Where did such a lovely little movie come frightful headmaster (Anne-Marie Loop) that such from? It’s based on the whimsical children’s books ideas are dangerous - imagines a bear and mouse by the Belgian author Gabrielle Vincent (the first as pals. In the world of “Ernest & Celestine,” this is “Ernest & Celestine” book dates to 1980) and tantamount to heresy. The mice live below directed by the young French animator Benjamin ground and the bears above - the car-driving, Renner, joined by co-directors Vincent Patar and shop-keeping human equivalents in this uni- StÈphane Aubier. verse. Their lone interaction is when a bear cub Together, they’ve created not just a positively loses a tooth, which the “fairy mouse” replaces charming movie, but an ode to the tactile pleas- with a coin. (This, it turns out, is a mutually bene- ures of handcrafted artistry. Moviegoers will ficial deal, since mice dentists depend on bear swear the coloring ink must have stained their teeth to fashion tooth replacements.) local theater’s movie screens. It’s very nearly the It’s when Celestine is on such a fairy mouse sweetest thing ever, a magical reminder that the mission that she’s discovered by a shrieking fami- movies just need a little heart and the resolve to ly and thrown out of the house and into the trash. be intimate when so many films would rather The next day, she’s unwittingly rescued by Ernest, boast their size. It’s a movie to share, like a cher- a grumpy and woefully unsuccessful street-musi- ished picture book or a beloved Calvin and Q: What is your secret to aging with grace? cian clad in a ragged old overcoat and hat. (When Hobbes Sunday strip, with imaginative pip- A: You have to try not to fight so hard against time, you police confiscate his one-man-band instruments, squeaks like Celestine. “Ernest & Celestine,” a know. It’s not that I enjoy it. It is just not that much of a Ernest eats the ticket.) Desperate for food, he ini- GKIDS release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture problem. Maybe because I have children and grandchil- tially tries to swallow Celestine, too, as he rum- Association of American for “some scary dren, it’s a different rhythm. It’s a different way of looking at things other than yourself. This image released by Studiocanal shows a scene from the film, ‘Ernest mages through garbage cans. Though greatly moments.” Running time: 80 minutes. Three and a outsized, she cheerfully extends her paw and half stars out of four. MPAA rating definition for and Celestine.’—AP Q: You recently did a photo shoot with the model PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material introduces herself. The plucky Celestine then Kate Moss, which is quite brave because she is younger. and forgettable big-budget cartoon block- slaps him across the nose and chastises, “Do you may not be suitable for children. — AP How do you feel so confident that you can do some- busters, “Ernest & Celestine” is a humble oasis of think a little mouse like me will fill you up?” thing like that? gentle and inventive storytelling. Though the film But after Celestine leads him to sweets, they A: It’s not that I feel confident. We met and we were in lost out to Disney’s mighty “Frozen” at the start up an unlikely friendship and, later, become Japan together. We had fun and we talked and we said we Academy Awards, children and adults will be wanted burglars on the lam. Celestine is sought would love to do photos together. And her agent said, thrilled by this meek underdog, which is being by mice police (for Celestine’s affiliation with a “Why don’t you do a shoot for Vanity Fair?” It was not like a released both in its original French and an English bear), while Ernest is pursued by bear police (for drill or a contest. It was just doing something nice. There is redubbing voiced by Forest Whitaker, Lauren his food stealing and, to help Celestine, tooth no competition.

Q: How do you choose your film work these days? O’Connell thriller ‘71’ A: It’s the same, reading scripts. The script is the major acquired by thing and the director of course. More than the part, it is the story of the film and the director. The role has to be roadside attractions, Black Label Media interesting, but it’s the whole thing that interests me. oadside Attractions and Black Label “‘71 is a thrilling debut by the major new Media have acquired all US rights to director Yann Demange, who delivers aston- Q: Does working in Hollywood again hold any inter- RYann Demange’s thriller “‘71,” which ishing action sequences and tense character est for you? stars Jack O’Connell (“300: Rise of an Empire”). drama, with Jack O’Connell giving a knockout A: Yes, it would, but I haven’t been offered interesting Story takes place over a single night in the life performance as a soldier trapped behind ene- things. of a young British soldier (O’Connell) acciden- my lines,” said Howard Cohen, co-president of tally abandoned by his unit following a riot Roadside Attractions. “Black Label Media is Q: Do you think Hollywood does not offer good roles on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell thrilled to partner with Roadside Attractions for older actresses? friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his on the acquisition of ‘71. Yann Demange is a A: I think it is more difficult than in Europe, but still own comrades, he must survive the night brilliant filmmaker who has made a gripping there are very important roles. I know a lot of people and alone and find his way to safety through a film, with an incredible performance by Jack actresses complain about that, but it seems to me a little disorientating, alien and deadly landscape. O’Connell who is set for a breakout year in the less in the last few years. Written by Gregory Burke, “‘71 is U.S,” said Black Label Media partner Trent Demange’s feature debut after directing sev- Luckinbill. The deal was negotiated by CAA Q: Is there any director in Hollywood who catches eral TV series including the award-winning on behalf of Black Label and Cohen on behalf your eye these days? “Top Boy” for Channel 4. Robin Gutch of Warp of Roadside Attractions with Mike Goodridge A: I saw the film from Wes Anderson, “Grand Budapest Films and Angus Lamont of Crab Apple are of Protagonist on behalf of the filmmakers. Hotel,” and I thought it was a great film. So original, so per- producers. ‘71 is backed by Film4, BFI Film — Reuters sonal. I like very much Paul Thomas Anderson, Christopher Fund, Screen Yorkshire, and Creative Scotland. Nolan also, and “House of Cards” director David Fincher. International sales are being handled by Protagonist Pictures. Q: What do you think of “House of Cards”? A: It’s so cynical. It’s incredible. It’s brilliant. — Reuters lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Music & Movies

British rock band Rolling Stones vocalist Mick Jagger performs with his band at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai yesterday. The Rolling Stones staged a one-off show in Shanghai as a part of their 14- On-Fire world tour. — AFP photos

Kumar’s flying visit to the set of new film

kshay Kumar’s flying visit to the set of new film the multi-tasking Akshay hopped straight aboard a chop- by AR Murugadoss (Thuppakki, Ghajini). It features a stellar reliance entertainment’s ‘Holiday’. Always the con- per and then rode his motorbike from Mumbai Airport to cast, including Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha in the Asummate professional, the super cool and talented the suburban studio in Bandra in order to reach the set by lead roles and veteran actor Govinda in a supporting role. Kumar recently undertook a mammoth feat to ensure he the next day afternoon. The film is scheduled to release on 6th June 2014 interna- arrived on the set of his forthcoming film ‘Holiday’ on time. A source explained that ‘Akshay Kumar was supposed to tionally by Reliance Entertainment. The action star and sports fanatic boarded a state-of-the- reach the studio around 4pm and he reached there on art chopper (helicopter) and then rode a customized time. The film’s director and his team were surprised to see motorbike to the awaiting production crew and his co- him ride in on the bike. They expected him to get late as he stars. was coming all the way from Pune. But the fact is that The uber-busy Akshay was in the Maharashtra metropo- Akshay often takes his bike to reach shoots on time.’ lis of Pune, where he was shooting for the film ‘Gabbar’, The delectable Akshay then made it a trio of transport when he was called to Mumbai for the next day to com- modes, as he left the ‘Holiday’ set in a car! ‘Holiday: A plete a song sequence from his upcoming action-thriller Soldier Is Never Off Duty’ is an action thriller remake of the movie ‘Holiday’. Not one to let time or tide stand in his way, 2012 hit Tamil film Thuppakki and is written and directed Akshay Kumar Akshay Iggy Pop, New Order, Patti Smith jam for Tibet

ans jumped high in their seats. “We would like to dedicate this song to Others raced to the front of the Lou’s most wonderful wife, Laurie,” Smith Fstage. The rest of the audience said. She ended with her hand in the air, yelled excitedly. Carnegie Hall is a seated saying: “Thank you, Lou.” As Smith was venue, but music lovers watching Iggy joined onstage by the night’s performers, Pop and members of New Order on she yelled to the crowd: “Don’t forget it - Tuesday night were eager and lost in the use your voice.” Smith and Pop are regular music at the 24th Annual Benefit Concert performers at the annual benefit concert for Tibet House US, a nonprofit organiza- for Tibet, which is ruled by China. The tion charged with preserving Tibetan cul- National’s Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner ture. Pop joined Bernard Sumner, Phil and Bryce Dessner performed three songs Cunningham and Tom Chapman onstage in a chilling set, and Robert Rudolph Hrithik Roshan in New York City during “Transmission” kicked off the night in a jamming mood. and “Love Will Tear Us Apart” when fans - Tibet House US founder and composer mostly older, but some teenagers - enthu- Philip Glass also impressed, performing siastically rushed out of their seats to get on piano with several artists. He, along Bollywood’s first film closer to the stage. with violinist Tim Fain, earned some of the Pop was energetic as usual, enticing night’s loudest applause. Ticket prices for Roshan the crowd with his wild dancing. He the benefit ranged from $35 to $200. superhero earned a rousing applause when he Sufjan Stevens, composer Nico Muhly and entered the stage in a black suit, and the Tibetan folk singer Techung also per- cheers grew louder when he performed formed. — AP becomes real life superhero “Sister Midnight” and “Nightclubbing.” “Good to see you! I needed this,” he told ast week, East Delhi was alight with fi blockbuster Krrish, which was produced the crowd at the 2,800-seat Stern excitement as filming got underway by Hrithik, saw its trailer receive more views Auditorium. Patti Smith and her band Lnext to the Mayur Vihar Extn Metro than Hollywood films Avengers and Thor, closed the two-hour-plus concert with station and passers-by were able to catch a with over 16 million hits. Pop, New Order, members of the National glimpse of superstars Hrithik Roshan and Hrithik Roshan also recently launched and others on “People Have the Power.” Bang Bang co-star, Katrina Kaif, as they his new fashion brand - HRx - Push Your Musicians Iggy Pop, left, and Bernard Sumner per- She opened her set paying tribute to the form together. filmed scenes from the forthcoming action Extreme to a very positive reception. HRx late Lou Reed with “Perfect Day.” thriller, which is a remake of the Hollywood represents India’s first celebrity brand Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz starrer Knight extension project of this stature and the And Day. Bang Bang is due for release in establishment of an active and sports October 2014. inspired casual wear market in India. The Whilst in Delhi, India’s first on-screen tie-up is with multi-platform entertainment superhero became a real-life superhero, as management company exceed. Bringing a he kindly offered his services to the Delhi combination of eclectic style and extreme Traffic Police, by volunteering to be part of passion, the HRx brand aims to reach out to a Road Safety Campaign. Anil Shukla, the masses with the admirable objective of Additional Commissioner of Police, con- inspiring people to be the very best that firmed this, saying: “He will talk about traffic they can be, and to conquer new heights - not jumping red light, using seat belts, every day. To further extend the brand phi- not driving drunk or rashly and other such losophy of HRx, plans are underway to things”. Both Hrithik and Katrina were spread awareness about fitness and well- based at India Gate, where they advised being through a range of grass-root cam- commuters on proactive road safety. paigning and synergies such as with Most recently, the talented Hrithik schools, government bodies and other enjoyed huge success with the internation- institutions. Co-founder of Tibet House US Robert Thurman, left, singer Patti Smith, Musicians Bryce Dessner, left, and Matt Berninger, from the band The ally-acclaimed film Krrish 3, which shot From acting and fashion to road safety, musician Iggy Pop and composer Philip Glass celebrate during the National, perform with Sufjan Stevens. straight to the top of the box office and it seems Hrithik Roshan’s hard work is never finale at the 24th Annual Tibet House US benefit concert at Carnegie cemented his status as one of India’s most complete! Hall on Tuesday in New York. — AP photos talented, versatile and in-demand stars. Sci- Bollywood to dance into final frontier: America

ollywood is promising a song-and-dance extravaganza as Vidya Balan, who will also appear at the awards. music, dancing and leading names for the main April 26 gala Republican Party. Kiran Patel, an Indian American health care Indian cinema throws its awards ceremony in the United In what may be a hopeful omen for Bollywood’s chances organizers predict will pack the 66,000-capacity home stadium mogul in Tampa who helped bring the awards to the city, said BStates for the first time, looking to tap into a mature but stateside, Vidya said she unwittingly held up the airport’s pass- of American football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The event will fea- that Bollywood played a “tremendous role” in the world by lucrative market. The International Indian Film Academy said port control line as the US officer explained to the actress her ture performances by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the Pakistani singer appealing to moviegoers regardless of religion, race or other “House of Cards” and “American Beauty” star Kevin Spacey would fondness for India’s “uplifting” films. Vidya, who is known for por- of qawwali spiritual music whose work has appeared in both dividing factors.—AFP appear in an acting workshop during the April 23-26 program in traying strong women and served last year on the Cannes Film Bollywood and Hollywood films. He is the nephew of the late Tampa, Florida, part of an effort to woo an American audience. Festival’s jury, said US audiences were beginning to ditch stock Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who gained an international audience Hoping to show Bollywood’s global appeal, the prolific indus- images of Indian cinema as just formulaic song-and-dance rou- through his collaborations with Western musicians including try’s answer to the Oscars has never been held in India since its tines. “I think some had the idea that Hindi film was esoteric or Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. inception in 2000. Instead, the awards have traveled to Britain, all a one-off spectacle,” she told AFP. “I think they are now ripe to Organizers said that Tampa had courted the Bollywood Canada and Australia but never the United States, the home turf see that Hindi cinema has far more to offer.” awards and that the industry chose the city off the Gulf of of globally dominant Hollywood. “It was high time, really. I don’t Promoting Indian culture Mexico for its record at holding major events including know what has taken us so long,” said leading Indian actress Nonetheless, the awards plan a heavy dose of glitz with American football’s Super Bowl and the 2012 convention of the Iggy Pop, New Order, Patti Smith jam for Tibet

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 39

An Indian Hindu devotee performs with fire as he participates in a procession ahead of the Holi festival in Amritsar yesterday.Holi, the popular Hindu spring festival of colors is observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month and will be celebrated on March 16 this year. — AFP Right at Home: Beyond Lego, some new building toys

uilding and construction toys have been a fixture in Toddler builders might like to start with Edushape’s stur- playrooms since, well, forever, and there are several dy foam blocks and shapes. After mastering simple tan- Breasons for their enduring appeal. “Directions aren’t grams, stacked castles and rudimentary fitted bits, kids can necessary, no rules or instructions are needed. Children are graduate to Kiddy Connects - a collection of snap-and-lock just provided space to grow,” says Judith Ellis, founder and plastic pieces that include elbows and other unusual chairwoman of the Toy Design department at New York’s shapes. K’nex has kits to make simple machines like wind- Fashion Institute of Technology. “Construction toys mills, sail carts, water mills, elevators and levers, allowing empower children. They offer a child a chance to be adven- kids to tinker at home with concepts they may have been turous - to ask, ‘what if,’ to think abstractly, developing cre- ative intelligence. Building develops strategic thinking. It provides visionary perspective and it increases attention spans,” Ellis says. While Lego and Mega Blox are category stalwarts - Lego celebrates its 82nd birthday this year and has a hit movie in theaters - there are other interesting options to consider. At the recent Toy Fair 2014 in New York, the building cate- gory was robust, according to Adrienne Apell, trends spe- cialist for the Toy Industry Association. “It’s been very hot, and that’s going to continue,” she says. “We love this trend because it speaks to the fact that classic play patterns appeal to kids, generation after generation.” Parents enjoy building stuff too, and bring their own This photo provided by Wayfair.com shows Edushape’s Textured Toy Blocks which are washable, textured foam childhood memories to the play table. Magna-Tiles are col- blocks that come in a variety of sizes and colors so young children can practice a range of early building and orful geometric tiles with embedded magnets along the designing skills. — AP photos edges. There are also translucent tile sets to make see- through creations, including “stained glass” windows. The exposed to in the classroom. ing apart broken appliances or rewiring the stereo, con- plastic is Pthalate- and Latex-free. Tegu blocks are also And targeting science-oriented young girls, Goldie sider littleBits. It offers what you need to make all kinds of magnetized but are crafted of wood, harvested by cooper- This photo provided by GoldieBlox shows Goldie Blox Blox kits offer the chance to build things like dunk tanks, electronic circuits, but without worrying about wiring, atives in Honduras certified by the Forest Stewardship and the Dunk Tank, a building kit and assembled toy. spinning machines and belt drive machines. Developed programming or soldering. The magnet-embedded mod- Council. The smooth-sided blocks, rectangles and triangles Goldie, her dog Nacho and her friends encounter situa- by Stanford engineering graduate Debbie Sterling, the ules snap together, and you can add buzzers, lights or come in soft, natural colors in both starter-set sizes (with a tions they must solve by building simple machines. The kits feature intrepid young inventor Goldie, her friends other components to create more elaborate contraptions. felt travel pouch) and larger sets of 40 to 480 pieces. There’s GoldieBlox kits are aimed at young girls, teaching early and her dog Nacho tackling various obstacles using inno- An online library offers free plans, and you can share your a car-building set, too. engineering concepts. vation and savvy. Finally, for the kids who are always tak- creations there as well. — AP Marfa: Cultural oasis in Texas desert

estled in the Texas high desert about Beyonce or edgy bands such as The XX. “Marfa an hour from the Mexican border, is a contemporary utopia, a place for thought NMarfa appears, at first glance, to be hid- and art in a landscape of wild beauty,” said den from the outside world. With a population Fabien Giraud, a French artist who works in of only 1,900, the city that began life as a rail- the Fieldwork Marfa project. road stop feels like a backwater, with fading Founded in the late 19th century, Marfa buildings, modest homes and dormant streets. developed into a thriving community that Yet the sleepy appearance is misleading. For included ranches and a military base. A devas- thousands of visitors who flock to the town tating drought decimated livestock, however, each year from around the world, Marfa is a and the end of World War II saw the military The interior of the Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas. —AFP photos cultural paradise, an El Dorado for art lovers. A base close, triggering a decline in Marfa’s for- hub of contemporary art. “Judd was sure of the visitor might struggle to locate a pharmacy or tunes. The town received a fleeting moment in quality of his own work. He knew people a supermarket, but will be able to enjoy book- the Hollywood spotlight when it was used as The exterior of the Ballroom Marfa in Marfa. would come,” said Chinati Foundation associ- stores, galleries, a theater, a radio station, two the location for the 1955 James Dean and chased a number of former military and com- ate director Rob Weiner. annual film festivals and numerous art deco Elizabeth Taylor classic “Giant,” but it would be Other organizations have also contributed treasures. nearly another two decades before Marfa’s mercial buildings in Marfa to house his giant to Marfa’s booming reputation as an artistic Every weekend, the crowds descend on a revival would begin in earnest. sculptures. He moved his family and his studio town the local tourist board markets as: to the town, and with support from the Dia Art center. The Lannan Foundation sponsors four- “Tough to get to. Tougher to explain. But once Renaissance in the desert Foundation in New York, set up the Chinati to six-week residencies in the town for writers, you get here, you get it.” “It’s like the tide,” Marfa’s renaissance can be traced back to Foundation, dedicated to the creation of a per- poets and essayists. The Ballroom Marfa center joked Valerie Arber, an artist who has lived in 1972, when Donald Judd, one of the most manent exhibit of his huge works and those of for art, music and cinema opened in 2003. the town for 16 years. The stream of visitors important minimalist artists of the 20th fellow artists such as Dan Flavin or John “We loved the idea of a creative space regularly includes luminaries from the creative Century, arrived in the town in 1972. Tired of Chamberlain. where people converge from all over the world, such as the director of the Tate Gallery, the frenetic pace of life in New York, and in Since Judd’s death in 1994, the collection The exterior of the Crowley Theater in Marfa, world,” said co-founder Fairfax Dorn. “We liked Nicholas Serota, actress Sissy Spacek, singer love with the desert landscape, Judd pur- has grown, helping Marfa establish itself as a Texas, is pictured on March 2, 2014. the idea of a new frontier.” —AFP