KUWAIT: LightningstrikesintheskyoverKuwaitCityduringathunderstormyesterday.—PhotobyYasserAl-Zayyat oilfield services lifeline to spending throws Middle East strikes againstthe HouthisasRiyadhassuming themantle escalation infighting.ManySaudis havecharacterizedthe ism isagrowingdangerandcould leadtoadangerous Yemeni analystshaverepeatedly warnedthatsectarian- dominated byfrictionbetween SunnisandShiites, extremism thattheysayispropagated byRiyadh. defenders ofalocalreligious traditionagainstSunni in aconflictwheretheHouthispresentthemselvesas even byprivateindividuals,carriesrisksforthekingdom derogatory term“rejectionists”.Theuseofsuchlanguage, strikes wereannounceddescribedShiitesusingthe Omar tohis1.64millionTwitterfollowersthedayafterair shown nosuchrestraint. but manyclerics,journalistsandsocialmediausershave describe theHouthis,whoadheretoaYemeniShiitesect, have avoidedusingovertlysectarianlanguageto ing withitasharpsectarianedge.TheSaudiauthorities sweeping theconservativeSunniMuslimkingdom,bring- militia entersitsthirdweek,asurgeofnationalistfervoris RIYADH:

S SUBSCRIPTION Y While Yemen’scomplexinternal conflictisnotyet A TweetfromhardlineSunniclericSheikhNasserAl- and sectarianism audi nationalism emen As SaudiArabia’swaragainstYemen’sHouthi 4 150 Fils AUDY PI 1 05 JMD LHN 2 46A No:16487 SATURDAY, 1436 AH JAMADA ALTHANIAPRIL 11, 22, 2015 ‘He threatenedtokillmeandburyinthedesert’ Filipina maidrescuedafter Facebook pleagoesviral w ar boosts Continued onPage 13 involved inanational sportscompetition. Ministry ofYouth andSportsthatwere young athletesandofficials fromthe Le360.ma newssite,thebuswas carrying According todetailsprovided bythe destroyed -inableakdesertlandscape. tened andapparentlycompletely frame ofthebus-truckhas been flat- bons. fied asatankertruckcarryinghydrocar- after hittingwhatthenewspaperidenti- age ofthetourbus,whichcaughtfire L’Economiste showstheflamingwreck- French-language economicdaily of Tan-Tan.Avideopostedbythe of Chbika,nearthesoutherndesertcity just beforesunriseat7aminthedistrict authorities sayingthecrashtookplace reports. Thenewsagencyquoted the statenewsagencyandlocalmedia people andinjurednine,accordingto in southernMoroccoyesterdaykilled33 carrying adelegationofyoungathletes between asemi-trailertruckandbus RABAT: to restoreties face amidbid come faceto Obama, Castro 14 33 People wanderaroundtheflaming A fieryhead-oncollision peris Continued onPage 13 h in western Moroccan cityofTan-Tanyesterday. —AFP with atruckas itwasreturningfromaschoolchildren sportscompetition inthe on thesideof the roadafterabuscaughton firefollowingahead-oncollision TAN-TAN: Ageneralviewshows thebodiesofvictimsanaccidentlying h orrific cras she added. employer alsotoldhertohaveanabortionifshefellpregnant, two monthsofhercontractbeforeshecouldgohome.Her being rapedandbeateninsistedshefinishtheremaining pened.” Lunasaidheremployerdidnotbelieveclaimsof kill meandburyinthedesertifItellanyoneaboutwhathap- for ayear.“Aftermyemployer’ssonabusedme,hethreatenedto lize me,”saidthe28-year-old,whohadbeenworkinginBahrain hurt. Mylegisbruised.He(attacker)punchedmytoimmobi- behalf. appeal forviewerstocontactthePhilippineembassyonher er’s “drugaddict”sonofrapingher.Shealsopostedawritten been madeonawebcam,sobbingLunaaccusedheremploy- phone. Inthethree-minutelongvideo,whichappearstohave vice-consul atthePhilippineembassyinBahrain,toldAFPby assailant deniedtopolicethatheattackedher,RickyAragon, adding thatpolicewereinvestigatingtheincident.Luna’salleged ment agencypickedherupfromemployer’shouse,Josesaid, eign ministryspokesmanCharlesJosesaid. video message...Sheisnowunderthecareofourembassy,”for- 78,000 sharesand19,000likes.“Therescuewaspromptedbythe Facebook pageonThursdaymorning.Thevideoattractedabout beaten byheremployer’sson,aftershepostedthevideoon alerted totheplightofAbbyLuna,whoclaimsshewasrapedand help onherFacebookpage.StaffatthePhilippineembassywere from heremployerinBahrainaftershepostedadesperatecryfor MANILA: third place battle for ground in Valencia lose 48 “Help megetoutofhere.I’mscared.Untilnow,mygenitals Philippine embassyofficialsandstafffromLuna’semploy- The PhilippinessaidyesterdayitrescuedaFilipinamaid Continued onPage13 Max Min h 33º 24º

LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 ‘The Illogical Logic Of My Life’ launched

KUWAIT: Gathering a number of friends, family and colleagues, transcends the details of her own experiences, touching on the always light at the end of the tunnel. For those who are 70+, hopeful- Zeina Mokaddam launched her book at CAP (Contemporary Art human struggle in all of us. The book is a creative representation of ly this book will make them laugh as they reminisce over their own Platform) on the 7th of April. Published by That Al-Salasil, the Illogical human thoughts, combining a number of genres: Though it is an laughter as they were facing their struggles. It is a book of contradic- Logic Of My Life, is an autobiography with a creative twist. The book autobiography, it does not delve into the details. Though satirical, it is tions; it reveals a lot, without saying much. It tackles the most compli- narrates Zeina’s life path, summarizing her real life struggles and not a satire. Though it will make you laugh, it is not comic. It targets cated issues, in the simplest form. It is a short read, that has a far philosophical dilemmas throughout the stages of her life up until people of both genders from ages of 17 to 70+. reaching impact lasting longer than its pages. The Illogical Logic of drawing her own conclusions and coping strategies. In very simple For those who are 17, this book will hopefully make them feel that My life is now available in Kuwait in all That Al-Salasil bookstores words filled with humor and wit, equations and illustrations, Zeina they are not alone in their struggles and that, with resilience, there is including the airports.

Crime Report

Kidnap suspects nabbed

KUWAIT: Two bedoons have been accused of trying to kidnap a female citizen in Ardhiya. The citizen reported that unidentified men had tried to kidnap her - claiming to be police detectives. She said they tried to force her into their vehicle. The woman provided the suspects’ license plate number, which turned out to be of a rental car. The suspects were later identified and apprehended.

Bedoon steals police gun A bedoon has been charged with stealing a police’s gun; drug abuse; armed robbery and resisting arrest. Case papers indicate that a group of policemen had been dis- patched to investigate an armed robbery along Salmi highway. On reaching there, they apprehend two sus- pects while the third suspect managed to steal a gun from a policeman and escaped. He was later arrested in Qortuba and charged.

Two Saudis detained Two Saudi citizens who had been wanted for several criminal cases were recently arrested while attempting to drive through Nuwaiseeb land border exit. Security sources said that the sus- pects were chased and forced to stop.

Ambassador’s wife file case An ambassador’s wife recently filed a case at Bayan police station accusing someone of photographing her with mobile phone and insulting her. Security sources said that the diplomat’s wife provided the police with the suspect’s vehicle license plate number. A case has been filed.

8 arrested for gambling Five Kuwaitis, two bedoons and a GCC national were recently arrested for gambling in Jahra. Jahra detectives had been tipped off on illegal activities going on in two apartments in the area. On raiding one of the apartments, detectives arrested the eight suspects. The suspects confessed that they used to collect a KD50 fee (per gambler).

Fake doctor A fake doctor was recently arrested in Rabiya for practicing medicine without a license. Security sources said that the fake doctor had performed illegal abortions on nine women and sold medications without a prescription. LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Spain delegation woos Kuwaiti investors

KUWAIT: Desiring to enhance invest- regime but also by the logistics benefits attend its mining business in Mauritania satisfaction with all opportunities in the ment cooperation with Kuwaitis, a dele- it offers. “We are in Europe, but with and Ghana. island. She noted companies are gation from the government of Gran some tax benefits in an island that offers She stated that international institu- increasingly choosing the island for its Canaria, one of the seven islands that a natural privilege geographical loca- tions like USAID, the Red Cross or the location as a gateway to emerging mar- comprises the Spanish Archipelago tion in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean World Food Program have also settled kets in West Africa and a distribution Canary Islands has visited some Kuwaiti between Africa, Europe and America,” in the island its humanitarian hub that platform between Africa, Europe and corporations to encourage businessmen she noted. serves Africa. Although the island is a America. “Our port is the main one in to invest in the island which is under the The Gran Canaria falls under the tourist destination that receives about the Mid Atlantic with Norwegians, legal umbrella of the European Union. Special Tax Regime of Canary Islands four million visitors a year, it seeks to Germans and Americans locating their “We have met with senior officials of (REF), one of the most attractive fiscal attract Kuwaiti investors in other areas business there on repair and mainte- some Kuwaiti companies such as Agility, schemes in Europe which includes the such as clean energy, marine technolo- nance of oil rigs as well as other services Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Special Economic Zone (ZEC) that offers gy, biotechnology and logistics, for the oil-rich region of West Africa,” National Technology Enterprises only 4 percent corporate tax and incen- Delgado-Taramona said. As for the out- she made clear. “We have been in the Company (NTEC),” Jimena Delgado- tives as the Special Investment Reserve come of the visit she said: “This visit has region for almost eight years and we Taramona, head of the Society for the (RIC) that aims to further reduced taxes. past our expectations, lauding Kuwaiti feel that Spanish people and culture are Economic Promotion of Gran Canaria, The island has become a logistic hub for generosity and hospitality.” She hopes very close to Kuwaitis,” Nayra Delgado, told KUNA in an interview. international corporations that work in that Kuwaitis would come to invest in GGC’s Managing Director said. She said they are interested in invest- Africa, but live in our island, she added. the island and also to have vacation, “Therefore, it is easier for Kuwaitis to ing in the island due to its unique condi- She noted that Kinross, a large mining asserting that they will enjoy moderate establish long-term relations with our tions, adding that these companies will company in the world, has already weather there. companies in Spain and vice versa,” she be mostly attracted not only by the tax headquartered in Gran Canaria to She added Kuwaitis expressed their affirmed. — KUNA

$150,000 worth of Kuwaiti relief Waqf housing aid distributed to Syrian refugees project for the ‘low-income families’

Talks in Moscow yield no results KUWAIT: The Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation (KAPF) has always fulfilled the vision of the country’s wise leadership to support social initiatives and vital proj- ects, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yaqoub Al-Sanea has said. The KAPF has been concentrating on social partnership, encouraging civil society organizations to provide the various needs of the society, the minister on Thursday told a press conference held to announce the launch of a waqf housing project. The project is based on a KAPF initiative to help Kuwaiti low-income families that cannot afford hous- ing rent, providing them with dignified housing and living conditions, to enhance family stability and social interdependence, he added. Priority will be given to “most needy” families, he said, noting that the project also aims to foster partnership between KAPF and state institutions on one hand and charity organizations on the other. The KAPF is working on broadening its social services, developing fresh waqf ideas, to consolidate the concept of social partnership with other institu- tions, Secretary-General Dr Abdul Mohsen Al-Jarallah. He added that beneficiaries will be identified in line with criteria considering social and economic condi- tions. — KUNA

AMMAN: A Kuwaiti campaign yesterday chances were missed,” said opposition fig- distributed around $150,000 worth of ure Samir Aita said at a press conference. relief aid material to some 1,000 Syrian “By the end of the meeting the majority of refugees in Jordan. Head of the Basmat the opposition from Damascus were dis- Amal (Smile of Hope) charity team Jassem appointed that we didn’t achieve any Al-Dakhil told KUNA that the three-day results.” There was little hope for the talks campaign was distributing necessities and in Moscow-which kicked off Monday-giv- school materials for Syrian refugees. He en the absence of main Western-backed indicated that the charity’s 16th relief aid exiled Syrian opposition National campaign came in line with the Kuwaiti Coalition from the talks. Syria’s ambassa- leadership and people’s eagerness to help dor to the United Nations, Bashar Al- their Syrian brethren escaping the crisis in Jaafari, who headed the government dele- their country since 2011. gation, was due to give a press conference Meanwhile, talks in Moscow between later. The meeting in Moscow-which fol- the Syrian government and members of lowed a similar round of fruitless talks the domestic opposition tolerated by here in January-was seen by analysts as a President Bashar Al-Assad broke up yes- way for Russia, a key backer of Assad, to terday with no progress made towards bolster its influence in the region. The ending the war. Activists among the frac- opposition National Coalition accused tious opposition groups said they had Russia of seeking to use the talks to shore made steps towards agreeing a common up Assad, and declined to attend. It has position among themselves but failed to been increasingly sidelined by powerful make any headway in discussions with regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and representatives of the Assad regime. “The Egypt. — Agencies LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11 , 2015

Scuba diving in Red Sea - a dream-like experience

JEDDAH: Scuba diving in the Red Sea could be described as a dream-like experience for many divers around the world yearning to visit the watery location once highly praised by renowned explorer Jacques Cousteau. The Red Sea, mainly Mideast spending throws surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea, is visit- ed by thousands of scuba diving enthusiast every year for a chance to be mesmerized by the marine life and fantastic lifeline to oilfield services coral reefs. Speaking about the wonders of the Red Sea, scuba diving MENA states have no option but to keep spending coach Haitham Khaiyat told KUNA that divers from Saudi Arabia and around the world come to experience the Red Sea LONDON: Oil majors may have has to keep the lights on for its tomorrow, it would be two years for its wonderful marine life and beautiful underwater habi- slashed capital spending but national domestic population,” said Stewart before it took delivery: “Most of these tats, noting that some prefer to go beyond diving near the oil companies (NOCs) in the Middle Williams, vice president, Middle East downturns are over in two years, and shores for deep sea exploration. In addition to the nature, the Red Sea offers more, said Khaiyat, noting that wreckage of East and North Africa show no sign of research at Wood Mackenzie. “They there are a couple of clients out with around 300 ships and boats, some left there for over a centu- cutting investment, buoying oilfield have to keep going no matter what, enquiries right now on that very ry, had attracted many divers. Khaiyat said that for people to services that the stock market has otherwise they might have to import basis. They think they can buy in the be allowed to scuba dive in the Red Sea, they must obtain a beaten down. Investors sold in the energy. We’ve seen huge energy downturn and as such will be very license from authorities before embarking on such feat. second half of 2014 as benchmark demand growth in that region.” well-placed when things bounce On the scientific part, head of marine biology at the Jeddah fuel prices sank, expecting a dire per- As well as needing energy for back.” marine science college Dr Abdulmohsen Al-Sufiyani told formance from a sector reliant on domestic desalination and air condi- Lamprell has a solid order backlog KUNA coral reefs in the Red Sea pose as the main attraction investment in oil and gas projects for tioning, the big Middle Eastern and of $1.2 billion, with about 80 percent for some 3,518 divers registered by the authorities. Coral reefs its revenues. Names such as Saipem North African producers require oil of revenues for 2015 already covered. play an important part in protecting shores from erosion and Subsea 7 notched up double-dig- and gas for export. “Hydrocarbons Its shares are up almost 14 percent which remove soil and rocks, said Dr Al-Sufiyani, adding that it share price declines from June to might be the only way they can gen- since it announced its full year earn- the reefs also house a variety of sea life in them, making it December as oil majors put projects erate revenues,” Williams said. “Even ings. Moffat cited opportunities in the essential for their existence. According to official statements on hold or scaled back expenditure. at these low oil prices they have no UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, with the made by Saudi officials, the Red Sea, with the maximum depth But while offshore drillers and seismic choice but to keep exporting and drilling utilization in the Middle East of 2,500 meters, is home for a diverse range of sea life and also companies continue to suffer, oil reinvesting in their own oil and gas seen as pretty constant in 2015 com- houses over 200 kinds of coral reefs, a thing that attracts thou- services stocks with chunky expo- industries.” Data from Rystad Energy pared with 2014. “The NOCs are far sands of scuba divers from around the globe. — KUNA sures to Middle East spending, such show that while global investments less affected than the IOCs appear to as Petrofac, have bounced back. are expected to fall by around 20 per- be,” he said, adding that the Middle Petrofac’s order backlog was up 26 cent in 2015 versus 2014, in Gulf East benefited from a relatively low percent at the end of 2014, and its countries the reduction is likely to be lift cost. “If you’re in a harsh, deepwa- share price has risen by almost 27 just 5 percent. Saudi Arabia, where ter environment with a high lift cost percent since it reported full year investment in oil projects is expected of $70-$80 a barrel, nobody will pro- earnings on Feb 25. Recent wins to grow by 5-10 percent, is thought to ceed with that project in a $50 envi- include a contract for the first phase have ramped up the number of rigs it ronment. But in the Middle East a lot of Kuwait Oil Company’s Lower Fars employs. “You could speculate that of projects have $10 lift costs, and heavy oil development program and the country is now building capacity,” people can still make very healthy two strategic contract agreements said Espen Erlingsen, an analyst at margins on them.” with Algeria’s Sonatrach. “There is a Rystad Energy. Tim Weller, chief financial officer at building differentiation in the backlog Petrofac, also expects NOCs to contin- profiles of those companies exposed Bargain hunting ue investing through the downturn. to onshore construction in the Middle With no share prices to worry “We actually see a pretty buoyant East and those not,” said Mick Pickup, about, state producers may see the market - we anticipate about $25 bil- managing director at Barclays Capital. downturn as a chance to invest in lion of work we could bid on in 2015,” “While some of this is gas related, it projects at a lower cost. “It seems he told Reuters, saying Petrofac had signals a continued robust construc- some NOCs, like Saudi Aramco, are not seen a slowdown in orders. tion market in the region.” using this situation to position them- “While we are seeing some short In contrast, a JBC Energy analysis selves for a potential comeback in the delays to bidding processes, possibly found that ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, oil price,” said Erlingsen. “Starting as pricing is adjusted to reflect the Total, Chevron and ConocoPhillips new projects now could be very prof- lower oil price environment, oil com- had slashed capital expenditure by itable due to lower expected unit panies are trying to maintain the 12.7 percent for 2015, or almost $21 prices within the oilfield services mar- momentum of their upstream invest- billion. “The international oil compa- ket.” Jim Moffat, chief executive of ment plans,” Ayman Asfari, Petrofac’s ny (IOC) has to make good returns for rig-maker Lamprell, told Reuters that chief executive said on an analysts’ its shareholders, whereas the NOC if a company ordered a jack-up call. — Reuters

SATURDAY, ARIL 11, 2015 No sign of breakthrough Kenya starts to bury Pakistan frees Mumbai attacks at Syria talks in Moscow 9 its massacre dead 10 ‘mastermind,’ angering India 11

SANAA: Emergency medical aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross is unloaded from a plane at the international airport in Sanaa yesterday. The Red Cross and the United Nations flew medical aid into Yemen’s capital after the southern city, Aden, was battered by the heaviest night yet of Saudi-led air strikes targeting Shiite Huthi rebels. — AFP Aid fly into Yemen as raids batter south Pakistan parliament rejects Saudi call to join coalition SANAA: The Red Cross and UN flew medical than two weeks of heavy bombardment by as food supplements for 20,000 children. “The down longstanding ally Riyadh’s request for aid into Yemen’s capital yesterday after south- the Saudi-led alliance against opponents of supplies we have managed to bring in today troops, ships and warplanes. ern city Aden was battered by the heaviest exiled Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour can make the difference between life and “Parliament of Pakistan... underscores the night yet of Saudi-led air strikes targeting Hadi and fighting between rival militias death for children and their families,” said need for continued efforts by the government Shiite rebels. The United Nations also called prompted the UN call for a freeze in the vio- UNICEF Yemen Representative Julien Harneis. of Pakistan to find a peaceful resolution of the for a daily “humanitarian pause” of a few lence. crisis,” it said. hours, saying aid was desperately needed in Pakistan stands back Yesterday’s Red Cross shipment was made the conflict-ravaged country. The Aid ‘not enough’ The Saudi-led coalition says it will continue up of “drugs and surgical instruments”, said International Committee of the Red Cross said UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, its raids on Yemen until Iran-backed Huthi the ICRC. it dispatched an aircraft to Sanaa, its first aid Johannes Van Der Klaauw, told reporters in rebels, who seized control of Sanaa and cen- “These supplies will mean the difference shipment since the international campaign Geneva that an “immediate humanitarian tral areas last year, retreat to their northern between life and death for those wounded in against Shiite rebels began last month. pause in this conflict” was desperately needed. mountain stronghold. In the most direct this conflict,” said Cedric Schweizer, who “This is the first ICRC plane to have landed He insisted that the aid delivered to date American criticism yet of Tehran’s backing for leads the ICRC team in Yemen. in Sanaa. It is loaded with 16 tonnes of med- was far from enough. “The situation in Aden the rebels, Secretary of State John Kerry said On Wednesday, two aid boats arrived in ical aid,” said Marie Claire Feghali, Red Cross is extremely, extremely preoccupying if not Thursday the United States would not accept Aden carrying supplies and personnel des- spokeswoman in Yemen. catastrophic,” he said, warning that Yemen’s foreign interference in Yemen. tined for people trapped by and wounded in Residents and officials in Aden said the city second largest city had fallen prey to “urban “There have been-there are, obviously- ongoing battles. The UN refugee agency was pounded after Huthi Shiite rebels and warfare” and “uncontrollable militias”. The flights coming from Iran. Every single week UNHCR said on Friday that at least 900 renegade soldiers loyal to former president World Health Organization said nearly 650 there are flights from Iran and we’ve traced it Yemenis had fled the violence to countries in Ali Abdullah Saleh reached the city’s northern people have been killed and more than 2,000 and know this,” he told PBS television. the Horn of Africa over the past 10 days. UN entrance. injured in the fighting, but the actual number Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has chief Ban Ki-moon urged the warring factions “The raids began at around 10:00 pm (1900 of fatalities is likely to be far higher since warned that the air campaign against the to return to political talks, which were aimed GMT) on Thursday and were the most violent many people are not reaching hospitals and Huthis must end. at ending Yemen’s slide into chaos since since the start of ‘Operation Decisive Storm’,” being buried immediately, Van Der Klaauw “This move is not acceptable in the region Saleh’s 2012 ousting. a resident told AFP. said. and I would warn that they must stop these “The last thing the region and our world Residents also said coalition aircraft target- The UN’s children agency UNICEF said it criminal acts in Yemen,” he said on his web- need is more of the chaos and crimes we have ed other positions, including a city centre sta- had airlifted 16 tonnes of aid to Sanaa, includ- site. On Friday, Pakistan’s parliament rejected seen in Libya and Syria,” Ban said ahead of a dium and rebel-manned checkpoints. More ing medical supplies for 80,000 people as well calls to join the anti-Huthi coalition, turning trip to Qatar. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Israeli troops kill Palestinian at militant’s funeral in West Bank HEBRON: Israeli troops killed a Palestinian stone- The slain 27-year-old Palestinian was a relative of yesterday’s incident. The army spokeswoman said thrower and wounded several others in the occupied the Islamic Jihad militant who was being buried. the soldiers at first used non-lethal “riot-dispersal West Bank yesterday after a militant’s funeral turned Their family said the militant had died of health means” but, with the Palestinians undeterred, resort- violent, hospital officials and witnesses said. problems that were neglected during his incarcera- ed to shooting live small-calibre bullets. An army spokeswoman confirmed soldiers tion in an Israeli prison. These were aimed at the lower body of the opened fire during the incident at Beit Omar, near Israel’s Prisons Service denied this and said the Palestinians targeted, she said, and soldiers had the Palestinian city of Hebron, saying they had feared militant had been freed from custody three months reported four hits. The Israeli army had heard of a for their lives as protesters threw rocks and petrol ago. Palestinian witnesses and medical officials said Palestinian fatality in the incident and was investigat- bombs and rolled burning car tyres at them. the Israeli troops fired both live and rubber bullets in ing, she said. — Reuters

Iraqis do not want to be ‘puppets’ of Iran: US

WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that Iraqi leaders have asserted the country’s sovereignty in their war against jihadists and do not want to be “puppets” of Iran or other outside powers. In last month’s battle over the town of Tikrit, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had insist- ed that forces fighting the Islamic State group must be under Baghdad’s authority and not answer to neighboring Iran, Biden said. The vice president said media coverage had initial- ly portrayed Shiite militias backed by Iran as “running the show” in the Tikrit offensive. But after the operation stalled in Tikrit, Abadi “courageous- ly stepped in, making it absolutely clear the Iraqi government, him, as commander in chief, was in charge of this operation,” Biden said in a speech at National Defense University in Washington. At Abadi’s request, the United States carried out air strikes against the IS in Tikrit, paving the way for Iraqi secu- rity forces to seize control of the town days later, according to Biden. The events in Tikrit proved to be a crucial test of the government’s army and political leaders, showing that Baghdad could uphold its own interests, he said. Iraq for years has faced sectarian pressures from inside and outside the country but “Iraqis don’t want to be drawn into regional conflicts,” he said. “They don’t want to be owned by anybody.” He added: “They don’t want to be puppets dan- gling on a string of anyone’s puppeteering in the region.” The vice president sought to counter criticism at home and abroad of the US-led war effort, in which lawmakers have accused Obama of adopting an overly cautious stance that has created an opening for Iran. But Biden said critics overstat- BAGHDAD: People clean up the aftermath of a car bomb attack at a convenience store in the Karrada neighborhood of ed Iran’s role and the IS group’s strength on the battlefield. Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. Iraqi officials say the blast in the downtown district killed several people and wounded a “The claims do not reflect the circumstances on the dozen. —AP ground,” he said. Iraq’s new government under Abadi had tak- en “promising” steps to reach out to Sunnis while Iraqi and Kurdish forces had rolled back the IS group across the country, Iraq troops hunt for bombs backed up by US-led air power, he said. “The jury is still out,” he said. “But the momentum is in the right direction.” in search for massacre dead IS ‘united’ Iraqis Soldiers search for traps, bombs and explosives Biden delivered a defense of President Barack Obama’s strategy against the IS group before Iraq’s prime minister pays a visit to Washington next week. TIKRIT: Iraqi soldiers use detectors to ly and by hand, says Haiwa Ali the complex, churned dirt and discarded In appeal to Baghdad, Biden said Iraq’s leaders had to con- slowly sweep a grass field dotted with Mohammed, who was earlier digging rubber surgical gloves mark a site where tinue to pursue reconciliation among the country’s Sunni, dirt mounds for explosives to ensure the through the dirt mound. No explosives bodies have been exhumed. Kurdish and Shiite communities. “The entire region is watch- search for people massacred by jihadists have been found so far, he says. Two Small white candles and plastic flow- ing this closely. And Iraqi leaders can’t afford to lose that does not leave more dead. Another digs more soldiers wearing gas masks arrive ers have been left in the area and flags sense of political urgency that brought them to this point,” he into one of the dozens of mounds in for- later to test for chemicals such as chlo- of Shiite paramilitary groups fighting said. “They must continue to compromise. And it is hard,” said mer president Saddam Hussein’s Tikrit rine, which IS has rigged to explosives in alongside Iraqi government forces are Biden, citing years of bloodshed fueled by sectarian violence. palace complex with a shovel, but finds the past. The palace complex has lost planted in the ground. But he said that ironically the IS group’s brutal tactics and nothing, after which a yellow backhoe much of its splendour since Saddam’s While the candles and flowers give it massacres had helped rally rival leaders to form a new govern- slowly scrapes it away entirely. overthrow in 2003, especially after the the feel of a memorial, the area is also ment under Abadi. He said “the very outfit that intended to The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group area was seized in an IS-led offensive littered with water bottles and other tear Iraq apart and establish a caliphate, it actually united the executed hundreds of mostly Shiite that overran large areas north and west trash. Across the road, yellow caution Iraqis.” The Sunnis realized they preferred a new Iraqi govern- recruits last June in what is known as the of Baghdad last June. The hulking tape and fluttering Iraqi flags flying from ment to being at “the mercy” of the IS or “dependent upon Speicher massacre, named for the mili- wrecks of palaces smashed by shelling thin poles mark another mass grave. The the other Sunni states,” he said. tary base near which they were cap- or air strikes loom near the dusty field large area has yet to be excavated, but The Kurds concluded that pulling out of Iraq was not viable tured. where the soldiers are searching, while holes dug at the site reveal the dusty and would mean having a “terrorist state” on its doorstep. Mass graves containing the remains other buildings are pockmarked by bul- remains of clothing and bones. And the Shiites did not want to confront the IS jihadists alone of dozens of people believed to have lets. “This grave is one of the worst graves or “become a vassal of a neighboring state,” he said. been slain in the massacre have already Haider Majid, an employee of Prime located in the presidential palaces area,” The Tikrit offensive exposed growing tensions between been discovered in the sprawling palace Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office working Majid says. Iranian-backed militias-which are the largest and most effec- complex, and there are more to come. on the Speicher issue, says the remains IS documented the killing of the tive of the volunteer units-and the US-led coalition. IS planted hundreds of bombs in of more than 60 people have been recruits in photos and videos posted US officials were irked that Baghdad initially had sought to Tikrit, a city north of Baghdad that Iraqi exhumed so far. online, stoking widespread anger and rely on artillery and advice supplied by Iran without inviting forces recaptured last week, and areas helping to rally support for the battle the Americans to take part in the Tikrit operation. must first be checked for explosives Churned dirt, rubber gloves against the jihadists. Some of the execu- Washington made clear that it did not want Iranian-backed before they can be searched for bodies. Thirteen grave sites have been found tions were carried out along the Tigris, groups involved in taking back Tikrit. And the same militias Soldiers are working “to search for — 10 in the palace complex and three and streams of dried blood still stain the said they wanted no part of an operation with the US military traps... and bombs and explosives,” outside, he says. Closer to the Tigris front of a concrete platform at the edge playing a prominent role. — AFP using detection devices as well as visual- River, which runs along the east side of of the river.—AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Lebanon forces kill ‘militants’, arrest cleric: Security source

TRIPOLI: Lebanese security forces killed two Mansour, nicknamed “Abu Omar,” and ISF members were “severely wounded” in perse them. suspected Islamist militants and arrested an Ahmad Nazer. the exchange of fire. The army launched a security plan in extremist cleric during a shootout in the Both men had been wanted for taking A statement published by the ISF con- April 2014 in an effort to stabilise Tripoli, north of the country, a security official said part in clashes with the army in Tripoli in firmed the details of the incident and added which has seen deadly rounds of fighting yesterday. October 2014 and were suspected of links to that Mansour “had in his possession an between Sunni residents who support the “An ambush was planned for a number of jihadist organisations in Syria. explosive belt that a military expert disman- Syrian uprising next door and pro-regime wanted men after monitoring their move- After the shootout, the ISF arrested tled.” Alawite residents. ments in Tripoli,” a northern port city, the Sheikh Khaled Hoblos, an extremist cleric Early yesterday, the army carried out Sunni gunmen in the city have often also official told AFP. accused of heading an anti-army militia patrols in Tripoli and took up positions in the clashed with the army. In October 2014, 11 He said that during the operation late based in the town of Bhannin, a few kilome- Sunni-majority neighbourhood of Bab el- soldiers were killed when clashes erupted Thursday, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) tres (miles) north of Tripoli. Tebbaneh. following the arrest of a Lebanese man intercepted two cars, and the ensuing A second man in the same car was also Protestors were seen throwing rocks at accused of recruiting fighters for jihadist exchange of fire killed militants Osama arrested with Hoblos. The official said two the soldiers, who fired into the air to dis- groups in Syria. — AFP

Syria oppn figures seek to form alternative body BEIRUT: A group of Syrian opposition figures is seeking to form an alternative to the National Coalition body and open negotiations with President Bashar al-Assad to end their coun- try’s conflict. The “National Syrian Democratic Conference” is expected to take place in Cairo in early May and bring together some 150 opposition figures living in Syria and abroad, organisers say. They want to adopt a “Syrian National Charter” and a roadmap to a resolution of the conflict, which is now in its fifth year, said organiser and veteran dissident Haytham Manna. And unlike the National Coalition, they appear flexible on Assad’s role and the nature of any transition to end the war. “The (National) Coalition has never been able to repre- sent the whole of the Syrian opposition because it declared itself as representing all of the opposition and Syrian society even though it excludes key constituents,” Manna told AFP. “Our objective, by contrast, is to set up a delegation that is balanced, representative, democratically chosen and does not exclude anyone to face a government delegation in negotia- tions,” he said. More than 215,000 people have been killed in Syria’s con- flict, which began with anti-government protests in March 2011 but spiralled into a war after a regime crackdown. It has become a complex, multi-front war, with jihadists like the Islamic State group seizing large swathes of territory and becoming important players.

Coalition divided The exiled opposition National Coalition, which is recog- nised by many in the international community, has been accused of irrelevance by rebels on the ground and has been MOSCOW: Qadri Jamil, left, former deputy prime minister representing Syria’s opposition Popular Front of Change and riven by regional interference. Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar Liberation, Samir Aita, center, a member of Syrian Democratic Forum, and Suleiman Numrud, an independent Syrian have at times had the upper hand in the body, and now its opposition member, attend a news conference in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. — AP president “Khaled Khoja is seen as Turkey’s man and as close to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood,” analyst Aron Lund wrote last month. “Like the Ankara government, Khoja has taken a hard line No sign of breakthrough on peace talks... saying that negotiations must be about how, not if, Assad should resign,” Lund wrote on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Syria in Crisis website. at Syria talks in Moscow Manna said the nascent new grouping would be more flex- ible in its approach to negotiations.—AFP More than 220,000 killed in four years of fighting

MOSCOW: Talks between representa- official now with the opposition. on the need to fight terrorism and end tives of the Syrian government and “We had no illusions that these talks foreign meddling but disagreed on some members of the opposition ended could provide solutions to all the prob- what exactly that meant. in Moscow yesterday with no sign of a lems. But we managed to agree on Another point of contention was a breakthrough to end a four-year-old some points,” Jamil said. “We should see drive by Kurds for self-rule and their conflict that has killed more than the glass as half-full, not half-empty.” refusal to disarm. Damascus says only 220,000 people. But Samir Aita, of the Syria the Syrian army should be allowed to The second such meeting this year in Democratic Forum opposition group, bear arms. The opposition said that Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar said not all opposition delegates sup- should be for the future, after a political al-Assad, was marred by friction among ported the set of principles that were transition. the opposition delegates and was boy- agreed and called for trust-building Participants also said they discussed cotted by the Syrian National Coalition, measures and humanitarian issues to be chances for returning to talks in Geneva, a Western-backed group based in addressed. which collapsed last year, but no deci- Istanbul. “Despite all the casualties in Syria, it sions were taken. The delegations managed to agree seems Bashar al-Assad still does not The first round of talks in Moscow in only on a set of principles including a understand what a political solution is. I January also ended inconclusively and HOMS CITY: Syrian residents stand next to debris follow- call for a political deal based on an think the Syrian regime missed a chance Naumkin said a pause was now likely. ing a car bomb explosion yesterday, in the government- agreement reached in Geneva in 2012 to move towards a political solution,” The Syrian National Coalition has controlled majority Alawite neighbourhood of Hay al- and an end to outside meddling in Syria, Aita said. “This document doesn’t help shunned the talks because it said it Arman, located on the outskirts of the Zahraa district in Russian mediator Vitaly Naumkin and build hope, on the contrary - it destroys wanted to take part only if they led to Homs city. — AFP Qadri Jamil, a former Syrian government it.” The delegations agreed in principle Assad’s departure. —Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Nigeria votes in key gubernatorial, state assembly polls

LAGOS: Nigerians return to the polls today for guber- most populous nation in a powerful position control- The 72-year-old campaigned on a slogan of natorial and state assembly elections, two weeks after ling the purse strings in areas such as local health, edu- “change”, breaking 16 years of unbroken PDP rule since the country’s historic first opposition victory in the cation and infrastructure projects. civilian government was restored against a backdrop of presidential race. Polling stations open from 8:00 am “The presidency is very distant from most Nigerians, mounting dissatisfaction with the government. (0700 GMT) for the regional vote, which will be so the governors are essentially the middle men “I think the APC will win more states. It’s quite com- watched closely to see whether the opposition trans- between the presidency and the people on the petitive in a number of places but with the results of lates its national success into gains at the local level. ground,” said political commentator Chris Ngwodo. the presidential election, one might expect a bandwag- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of President “The governors actually have more direct impact on on effect in certain states,” said Ngwodo. Goodluck Jonathan currently controls 21 of Nigeria’s 36 the people than the presidency,” he told AFP. “The APC will definitely do better than expected states. President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s All because they have been able to win at a national level,” Progressives Congress (APC) has 14. Key states added Dawn Dimowo, from the africapractice consul- Only 29 states will have governorship elections Buhari won the March 28 presidential election with tancy. “Knowing how Nigerian politics works, it tends because of mid-term polls held since 2011, while vot- 54 percent of the vote, securing the first win for the to align to the centre.” Both analysts pinpointed several ing for the state assembly is in all 36. opposition in the country’s history after a gripping and areas where the governorship race will be close or Stakes are high, with state governors in Africa’s largely peaceful contest. could see a shock.— AFP Kenya starts to bury its massacre dead Dozens still waiting to collect bodies of relatives

NAIROBI: The funerals began yesterday of stu- with friends without telling his parents”. The dents killed in a university massacre of almost extremists lined up non-Muslim students for 150 people, as some parents still waited to execution in what Kenyatta described as a “bar- receive the remains of their loved ones. In baric medieval slaughter”. Nairobi, hundreds of students gathered as the Kenyan warplanes this week destroyed two body of Angela Nyokabi Githakwa, known as Islamist bases, following a promise by Kenyatta Jojo, was taken amid tears and wails from the that he would retaliate “in the severest way pos- mortuary to her home village in Kiambu, some sible”. The Shebab fled their power base in 20 kilometres (15 miles) to the north. Friends Somalia’s capital Mogadishu in 2011, and con- WARSAW: Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Law and Justice party leader and twin brother of late Polish presi- and family sobbed around the white coffin, with tinue to battle the AU force, AMISOM, sent to dent Lech Kaczynski, prays at the Presidential Palace during a ceremony marking the 5th anniver- a gold cross on top. On Thursday, Kenyan drive them out that includes troops from sary of the presidential plane crash near Smolensk, Russia, yesterday, in Warsaw, Poland. The pho- President Uhuru Kenyatta signed letters to the Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. tograph at left shows Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, who also died in the crash. — AP families of those killed, expressing his “condo- The group has carried out a string of revenge lences and that of the entire country.” “I promise attacks in neighbouring countries, notably that as a nation, we shall never forget them, nor Kenya and Uganda, in response to their partici- Poland marks 5th anniversary forgive those who took her life,” Kenyatta’s let- pation in the AU force. ter to one student read. Since the attack, the Shebab have warned of of presidential plane disaster The massacre, Kenya’s deadliest attack since a “long, gruesome war” unless Kenya withdraws the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, its troops from Somalia. WARSAW: Poland is marking the fifth anniversary to be led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski. claimed the lives of 142 students, three police Shebab fighters also carried out the of the plane crash that killed President Lech The crash deepened tensions with Russia. Poles officers and three soldiers at the university in Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi in Kaczynski and 95 members of his presidential are angry that the wreckage still has not been the northeastern town of Garissa. Kenkyatta’s September 2013, a four-day siege which left at entourage on a visit to Russia, the worst catastro- returned to Poland., Russian authorities say Poland letter has been given to the families of 130 vic- least 67 people dead. A $215,000 (200,000 euro) phe to strike the Polish state since World War II and has failed to hand over evidence needed in their tims, with the remaining to be “signed after bounty has also been offered for alleged an event that deepened historical strains between investigation, but Polish officials say they are doing identification procedures are complete”, a state- Shebab commander Mohamed Mohamud, a for- the two Slavic neighbors. their best to cooperate. — AP ment from the president’s office said. mer Kenyan teacher said to be the mastermind Although the disaster briefly united the nation’s In the main mortuary in Nairobi, some bodies behind the attack and believed to now be in 38 million people in profound shock and grief, it were being collected yesterday, with more than Somalia. Authorities have named one of the has since deepened divisions within Polish society. Wallet returned 20 coffins lined up, surrounded by photographs four gunmen killed as a fellow Kenyan-a once There are some, including the president’s surviving of the victims. Dozens of people, however, are promising university law graduate called twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who believe that 14 years later still waiting to collect the bodies of their rela- Abdirahim Abdullahi, an ethnic Somali-high- the president was assassinated by Russian authori- tives over a week since attack. lighting the Shebab’s ability to recruit within the ties. They are deeply at odds with the majority of ZAGREB: A Croatian man could not believe his Jackson Kilimo waited with a sombre family country. — AFP Poles, who trust a state investigation which laid a eyes when he received a parcel containing a group to collect three victims, who all came large share of the blame on pilots who chose to wallet he misplaced 14 years ago-full of more from Kenya’s Marakwet district, 380 kilometres land in heavy fog. State investigators also put some money than he originally lost, a newspaper (235 miles) northwest of Nairobi. blame on Russian air traffic controllers for giving reported yesterday. “First I though that some- “We identified the bodies the day after the faulty guidance. one was joking with me so I went to check tragedy happened, but it took time because the The national bitterness was revived this week whether the money was real,” Ivica Jerkovic, government wanted to be 100 percent sure of with the leak of transcripts from the cockpit shortly from a village in eastern Croatia, told the 24 the identities, and the post mortem procedure before the plane crashed near Smolensk. It added sata daily. takes time,” said Kilimo. to evidence that an air force general was in the “It was the best greeting for Easter!” said ‘Barbaric medieval slaughter’ cockpit pressuring the pilots to make the danger- Jerkovic, proudly posing in a photo with the ous landing - further undermining the theory of an wallet which he received last week, and 1,500 Kenyan media have raised questions about assassination. The president’s daughter, Marta Swiss francs (1,440 euros, $1,530) that were in the exact death toll, saying that students are still Kaczynska, who also lost her mother in the disaster, it. The sender gave no indication of his identity. missing who were not included among the offi- placed flowers early Friday at her parents’ grave at Jerkovic recalled the day when he lost the wal- cial list of those killed, but the government has Wawel Cathedral in Krakow. In Warsaw, President let 14 years ago with some 2,000 German angrily rejected the claims as “unfounded Bronislaw Komorowski, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz marks (around 1,000 euros) inside that he had rumours.” But amid the gloom at the mortuary, and other leaders attended a memorial ceremony withdrawn from his bank account to repair the there was one rare piece of good news. One at the Powazki military cemetery, gathering next to roof of his house. family who had camped out for the week in a He lost the wallet either when he attended KAMPALA: Ugandan University students a memorial shaped like airplane wings entering the desperate wait, found out on Thursday that a party with friends or when he was driving with their Kenyan counterparts march in the ground. Earlier, Parliament Speaker Radek Sikorski their missing child had been staying with one of them who had fallen sick to a hospital. friends and was alive. Ugandan capital, Kampala, yesterday to and other parliamentary leaders placed wreaths in Jerkovic, in his 50s and from the village of protest the recent Al-Shabab attack in the building to remember the 18 lawmakers who “We found one people alive,” said George Garissa, Kenya that killed over 140 students. Donja Moticina, believes that the person who Williams, an event manager, helping organise were also killed in the crash on April 10, 2010. found and eventually returned the wallet was The students carrying placards and banners support for the crowds waiting. “The family had matched from Makerere University to the Many other commemorations were scheduled someone who had financial problems.—AFP throughout the day, including a memorial march been camping here but the student had gone Kenya High Commission. — AP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

India ends Yemen evacuation, rescues people from 41 countries

NEW DELHI: India has won many friends into the Yemeni capital Sanaa to evacu- about its reliance on foreign aid in the Pakistani navy and flown home, winning by evacuating nearly 1,000 nationals of ate people from the conflict there to decades following independence in a vote of thanks from Prime Minister 41 countries from warring Yemen, with Djibouti. “The bombings are still on,” the 1947. Indian media and government offi- Narendra Modi. the operation led by an irascible former former army chief of staff told reporters cials this week gleefully circulated a Three Pakistanis also made it out on general coming as a welcome moment at Delhi airport. “There was trouble in screenshot of CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer Indian transport. The Ministry of External of pride for a nation that aspires to evacuating them, yet we did our task.” talking about India’s rescue of US citi- Affairs said India had now ended the res- emerge as a global player. Along with some 4,600 Indians, zens. The evacuation from Yemen also cue effort. It will close its embassy in Foreign office minister V.K. Singh Singh’s mission rescued citizens of provided a rare chance for arch-rivals Sanaa, where Saudi Arabia has launched returned to a hero’s welcome yesterday, Britain, France and the United States, a India and Pakistan to look beyond hostil- air strikes against Iranian-allied Houthi having joined several Air India flights symbolic step in a country sensitive ities, as 11 Indians were evacuated by the rebels. —Reuters

15 killed in Afghan bombings, including attack on NATO convoy

JALALABAD: A Taleban suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least three civilians as security forces brace for a full-blown insurgent offensive in the spring fighting season. Separately, 12 civilians onboard a minivan were killed when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in the militant-infested southeast- ern province of Ghazni. The civilian fatalities come as Taleban insurgents step up attacks on government and foreign targets after Washington announced a delay in US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan last month. “In the morning today a foreign forces convoy came under a sui- cide attack near the airport in Jalalabad city,” provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal told AFP. He added that three civilians were killed and four others were wounded in the powerful explosion in Jalalabad, which is home to an important US military base. Resolute Support, the new name for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, did not officially comment on the inci- dent but in a brief Twitter posting denounced it as “yet another sense- less attack by the Taleban”. Roadside bombs-like the one in Ghazni-have been a weapon of choice for the Taleban in their 13-year war against foreign and Afghan forces, though the militants seldom admit blame for attacks resulting in civilian casualties. The Taleban, however, claimed responsibility for the NATO convoy attack in Jalalabad as Afghan forces brace for what is expected to be a bloody spring-summer push by the insurgents. MUZAFFARABAD: In this June 28, 2008 file photo, suspected Pakistani mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Zaki-ur- Yesterday’s bombings come a day after 18 people were killed when Rehman Lakhvi, center, prays with Syed Salahuddin, right, chief of Hezbul Mujahideen or United Jehad Council, at a rally Taleban insurgents mounted a six-hour gun and grenade siege on a in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Lakhvi was freed from a jail near Islamabad yesterday following a court courthouse in the usually tranquil northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The order that he be set free pending trial, his lawyer said. — AP militants said they were behind the terrifying assault, which under- scored Afghanistan’s precarious security situation as US-led foreign troops pull back from the frontlines after a 13-year war against the Pakistan frees Mumbai attacks Taleban. In a statement yesterday, President Ashraf Ghani “strongly condemned the group terrorist attack in which a number women and children were martyred and many others were wounded”. ‘mastermind,’ angering India Growing attacks The uptick in attacks in recent days has taken a heavy toll on ordi- ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have to hand over or prosecute those Pakistani analyst Hasan Askari said he nary Afghans. The number of civilians killed and wounded in freed the alleged mastermind of the accused of planning and organising the was at a loss to understand why the case Afghanistan jumped 22 percent in 2014, a recent UN report said, as 2008 Mumbai attacks on bail, officials Mumbai attacks. had not been resolved and predicted a NATO troops withdrew from combat. The United Nations Assistance said yesterday, in a move that swiftly A spokesman for India’s home min- major spat with India. “The government Mission in Afghanistan attributed the rise to an intensification in drew furious condemnation from India. istry, who asked not to be named, con- must settle this case once for all and ground fighting, resulting in a total of 10,548 civilian casualties last Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, accused over demned Lakhvi’s release. “This is a very face the international community,” he year. NATO’s combat mission formally ended in December but a small the terror siege that left 166 dead, was disappointing announcement. An insult told AFP. follow-up foreign force has stayed on to train and support the local released late on Thursday, according to to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai “It’s strange that this case has not security forces. President Barack Obama last month backpedalled on plans to an official at Adiyala Prison in attack. The global community should been decided since 2009.” The horror of shrink the US force in Afghanistan this year by nearly half, an overture Rawalpindi, close to Islamabad. take serious note of Pakistan’s double- the Mumbai carnage played out on live to the country’s new reform-minded leader, Ghani. —AFP India slammed the release as an speak on terrorism,” the spokesman television around the world as com- “insult” to the victims of the three-day said. mandos battled the heavily armed gun- onslaught on its financial capital, which Pakistan foreign ministry spokes- men, who arrived by sea on the evening was blamed on the banned Pakistani woman Tasneem Aslam hit back, blam- of November 26, 2008. militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). ing India for delaying the case. It took the authorities three days to LeT’s charitable wing, Jamaat-ud- “Inordinate delay in extending coopera- regain full control of the city and New Dawa (JuD), confirmed Lakhvi’s release. tion by India complicated the case and Delhi has long said there is evidence “Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi has been weakened the prosecution,” she said, that “official agencies” in Pakistan were released from jail. He is free now and in adding that the ministry is still “confi- involved in plotting the attack. a secure place,” a senior JuD official told dent” that justice will be served. Islamabad denies the charge but JuD, AFP. “We can’t say exactly where is he at seen as a front for the militant LeT and the moment for security reasons.” The ‘Double game’ listed as a banned terror outfit by the release comes following nearly four Lakhvi and six other suspects have United Nations, operates openly in the months of wrangling over Lakhvi’s been charged in Pakistan, but their cas- country. detention after a judge granted him bail es have made virtually no progress in Pakistan has long been accused of in December, sparking an angry more than five years. Delhi has long playing a “double game” with militants response from New Delhi. Pakistan’s accused Islamabad of prevaricating over by supporting groups it thinks it can use government slapped Lakhvi with a the trials, while Pakistan has alleged that for its own strategic ends, particularly in KABUL: Afghan security personnel gather at the site of a series of detention orders but judges India failed to give it crucial evidence. disputed Kashmir. suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. In the repeatedly cancelled them. Lakhvi’s initial bail order in December Pakistan and India both control part capital, Kabul, a suicide bomber in a car targeted armored On Thursday the Lahore High Court prompted an angry response from of Kashmir but claim the whole of the vehicles, wounding two civilians, according to Farid Afzali ordered his release, conditional on a two Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, territory and have fought two of their Kabul, the head of the Kabul police’s criminal investiga- million rupee ($20,000) bond. India has who said it came as “a shock to all those three wars over it since independence tion unit. The Taleban claimed responsibility. — AP long seethed at Pakistan’s failure either who believe in humanity”. from Britain in 1947. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Malaysia PM under fire over tougher sedition laws

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s parliament yesterday Malaysia’s ruling coalition had already sparked outcry on Ibrahim for five years on a sodomy conviction he says was approved tougher penalties for sedition in a move criticised Tuesday when it passed an anti-terrorism law that allows fabricated in a bid to silence him. by the United Nations and described by the opposition as “a authorities to detain people indefinitely without charge. black day” for democracy and free expression. The changes come as Najib is facing mounting calls for PM defends himself Prime Minister Najib Razak defended the amendments- him to step down after a slew of corruption scandals and a Najib promised in 2011 to create “the greatest democra- which extend the maximum jail term to 20 years from three crackdown on civil liberties since the ruling government cy” and launched tentative political liberalisation moves, but years and establish a minimum three-year jail term for cer- saw voter support slide in Malaysia’s last election. has done an about-face since his party suffered its worst tain cases-as essential to maintaining stability. Opponents of the Muslim-controlled government say it result in almost 60 years in subsequent elections. But rights groups said the revised act could be used to is increasingly falling back on “protecting Islam” as an argu- Before the 2013 poll he had promised to scrap the censor the Internet by making it illegal to propagate sedi- ment to curb speech by members of the religiously diverse Sedition Act-viewed as a relic of the British colonial era and a tion online, and the hazy definition of “sedition” remains opposition. tool to gag free speech-but has since announced the law open to abuse by the government. “This is a black day for democracy in Malaysia. There is no would be retained and “strengthened”. Dozens of govern- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al freedom of speech under this abusive law,” opposition law- ment critics, including opposition politicians, academics, Hussein called Thursday for the law to be repealed, saying maker N. Surendran said. activists and journalists, have been hit with sedition or other that “it is very disappointing that the Malaysian government Besides the blitz of sedition charges against its critics, the charges in what political analysts view as a campaign to is now proposing to make a bad law worse”. government in February jailed opposition leader Anwar pressure and harass opponents.—AFP

Suu Kyi’s political skills tested in pre-election

NAYPYITAW: With an historic general election just seven months away, Myanmar opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is locked in a high-stakes showdown with a military-backed government she says isn’t interested in reform. Some of her supporters within Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement have begun to question whether the country’s most popular politician has the political ability to prevail. They say she has already been outmanoeuvred. “At a grassroots level she is hugely popular. But people worry about her politi- cal manoeuvring and strategy,” said Aung Zaw, a former polit- ical exile and 1980s student activist who now edits Myanmar’s leading independent news agency. Aung Zaw and others, including some current student activists, say Suu Kyi made a critical mistake when she stood SEOUL: US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, gestures while he answers reporters’ question as his South Korean counterpart for parliament three years ago in a Han Min Koo listens during a joint news conference at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. — AP by-election, becoming a lawmaker in a system that remains far from fully democratic. Pentagon chief vows to deploy “She lent a whole undeserved legitimacy to the regime,” Aung Zaw ‘best’ US weaponry to Asia said. Critics say Suu Kyi has received little in return for that move, which ‘North is intent on continued provocation’ contributed to the United States and the European Union’s suspending SEOUL: Defence Secretary Ashton Carter promised yesterday that The FBI has accused the North of being behind a devastating sanctions and burnished President the US would deploy state of the art weaponry in Asia, including cyber attack on Sony Pictures, the studio behind the Hollywood Thein Sein’s reformist image as the latest stealth bombers and cyber warfare units, to counter film “The Interview”-a comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate “Myanmar’s Gorbachev”. “She has Aung San Suu Kyi threats posed by the likes of North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. been outsmarted to some extent,” said “Our newest and best things are being deployed to this part of At the same time, he said his talks in Seoul had not touched on Maung Moccy, a student activist, for- the world,” Carter said in Seoul-the second leg of a visit to the two the sensitive issue of a missile defence system, known as THAAD, mer political prisoner and a leader in the All Burma Federation key US military allies in the region, Japan and South Korea. that Washington is looking to deploy in South Korea. of Student Unions. “... She hasn’t got back in return anything The Pentagon chief said his talks with South Korean Defence China and Russia are both vocally opposed to the THAAD that is worth what she gave,” he added. Minister Han Min-Koo had included a “candid assessment” of the deployment, warning that it would undermine regional peace and threat posed to the Korean peninsula-”and the US homeland”-by stability. It’s a tricky issue for Seoul which must weigh the priorities Express support North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. of its most important military ally, the US, against its largest trade Arakan National Party leader Aye Maung, who represents “As it demonstrated once again with the recent missile launch- partner, China. Carter insisted THAAD was not discussed in Seoul the es, North Korea is intent on continued provocation,” he told because the system was still in production. “We’re not at the point nation’s ethnic groups at reform talks between Myanmar’s reporters. The North fired two surface-to-air missiles off its west yet where we would begin discussing its deployment with any- most powerful politicians, says Suu Kyi was pushing hard for coast on Tuesday, just as Carter arrived in Japan on the first leg of body,” he said. the military-drafted constitution to be changed so that she his tour. Earlier, it had test fired a series of short range ballistic mis- could become eligible for the presidency after the election. siles to express its anger with annual South Korean-US military Tokyo-Seoul rift The charter effectively bars her from the top office. exercises which Pyongyang condemns as rehearsals for invasion. Carter’s two-nation trip was partly aimed at underlining “I think she’s playing her game very smartly,” he said, The United States has close to 30,000 troops permanently sta- President Barack Obama’s commitment to a US strategic shift to pointing to a round of talks due to take place on the constitu- tioned in South Korea and would assume operational command of Asia-a move complicated by tensions between its allies in Seoul tion yesterday. Those talks include Suu Kyi, the president and both armed forces in the event of a conflict with the North. and Tokyo. Washington has pushed hard for the two neighbours to the head of the armed forces. The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-53 put simmering territorial and historical disputes behind them, and “That’s why today’s talks came up very quickly. I wouldn’t Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty. Obama even hosted a strained three-way leadership summit in agree if someone said she’s outmanoeuvred,” he added. March last year. But relations remain extremely frosty, and Carter Suu Kyi shrugged off the criticism in an interview with Tailor-made weaponry said there was only so much the US could do. Reuters on April 3. When asked if contesting the 2012 by- Stressing that military deterrence and readiness were “at a pre- “We hope for healing and reconciliation, but it is not for the election was a half measure that ultimately stymied reform, mium” on the divided peninsula, Carter said the US was investing in United States to interpose itself between the parties,” he said. Suu Kyi replied, “No, I don’t think so. It was a very good idea “advanced capabilities .... tailored to this dynamic security environ- After the press conference, Carter visited a memorial to the 46 because we were able to move and operate as a political par- ment.” Asked to expand, he cited new stealth bombers, F-35 stealth seamen who died in the 2010 sinking of the South Korean naval ty.” Suu Kyi and 43 other members of the NLD entered parlia- fighters and highly developed cyber warfare systems that could be corvette Cheonan. A South Korean-led investigation involving a ment after winning the by-election by a landslide. Despite rotationally deployed in the Asian theatre. North Korea has an team of international experts concluded the ship was sunk by a being a small opposition, they had been “quite effective” in advanced cyber warfare capability which it has wielded in damag- North Korean submarine torpedo, but Pyongyang has always forcing constitutional change onto the political agenda, she ing hacking assaults on South Korean financial institutions. denied involvement. — AFP said. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Yemen war boosts Saudi... Continued from Page 1 tory. “If they (Shiites) manage to win and con- trol the state, they ravage Sunnis: clerics, of Sunni leadership in what they see as a women, children, the rulers and the ruled. long-overdue response to a perceived They attack just like the lion attacks his prey,” decade of Iranian aggression in Arab coun- said Farid Al-Ghamdi, a cleric at Makkah’s tries using Shiite proxies. Local press report- Umm Al-Qura seminary in a sermon visible on ing on the military campaign, officially known YouTube. That kind of scare-mongering has as “Operation Decisive Storm” has over- been evident in the Saudi press as well. A whelmingly portrayed it as successful, largely report in the daily Al-Medina newspaper last ignoring reports of civilian casualties while week cited “military experts” as saying the lavishing praise on the kingdom’s rulers. Houthis wanted to turn Yemen’s capital National identity in Saudi Arabia is closely Sanaa into “an entirely Shiite city by 2017” bound up with the strict Wahhabi Sunni and that the air strikes would thwart “this school, which views Shiism as heretical, and Iranian plan”. whose leading clerics sometimes publicly Sunni social media users and clerics often cast doubt on whether Shiites are truly align Shiites with Tehran by using the term Muslim. The government has in recent years Safavid, the 16th century Persian dynasty that striven to avoid openly sectarian language popularized Shiism in Iran, which plays on itself, and sent princes and senior officials to both sectarian and Arab nationalist senti- attend the funeral of Shiites killed by Sunni ment. Yemen’s Zaydi Shiite sect is very differ- militants in an attack in November. Last year ent to the Shiite school followed in Iran, and it detained a cleric who had posted Tweets while the Houthis have clear links to Tehran, celebrating the killing of Houthis by Al-Qaeda they appear to be more independent of members in Yemen using explicitly sectarian Tehran than its proxies elsewhere in the language. region. But in the fevered atmosphere of a military campaign, such distinctions have a ‘Like lion attacks his prey’ habit of disappearing. “Decisive Storm came However, members of the Shiite minority to sever any ambition of the Safavids to TAIZ: Supporters of the Shiite Houthi militia shout slogans in Yemen’s second largest city complain of systematic discrimination. besiege Muslims in their own homes,” wrote of Taiz yesterday during a protest against the Saudi-led coalition’s Operation Decisive Riyadh denies this but Saudi Arabia’s state- cleric Saad Al-Breik to his 1.15 million Twitter Storm. — AFP appointed religious establishment makes fre- followers after the air strikes began last quent attacks on the sect’s doctrines and his- month. — Reuters 33 perish in horrific crash Continued from Page 1 in Morocco. Although there are modern high- Filipina maid rescued after... ways between the main cities, the rest of the Continued from Page 1 year, a Filipina maid, Nargelene Mendez, was The Les Ecos newspaper reported on its country is served by two lane roads, often in rescued from a house in Saudi Arabia after post- website that the athletes were from the poor condition and reckless driving habits, Luna is among an estimated 10 million ing a video on her Facebook page claiming her northern town of Bouznika and from such as overtaking on curves, are quite com- Filipinos working overseas to escape poverty employer had abused her. Maids working in the Laayoune, a city further to the south in the mon. According to the World Health and high levels of unemployment in the Middle East frequently suffer abuse. Human annexed Western Sahara territory. Organization, some 5,217 people died in 2010 Philippines. Many overseas Filipino workers, Rights Watch has called on the United Arab It added that celebrated 10-kilometer run- from road accidents. New stricter laws have who account for a tenth of the country’s popu- Emirates to reform a restrictive visa system and ner Hassan Issengar, 31, was among the dead. been put in place, however, to make up for lation of 100 million, work in menial jobs and pass a labor law to stop domestic workers are According to the US State Department web- historically light enforcement of traffic endure dangerous working conditions. Last not exploited. — AFP site, traffic accidents are a “significant hazard” rules.— Agencies INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Homes destroyed in Illinois town after tornado

FAIRDALE: A tornado brought chaos to a tiny north- Salvation Army established a shelter at a high school. DeKalb, Sheriff Brian Van Vickle said, adding no ern Illinois town, killing one person, injuring eight Matt Friedlein, a meteorologist with the National deaths or significant injuries were reported there. more and sweeping homes off their foundations, as Weather Service, said Friday that at least two torna- Van Vickle said 12 people were trapped in the storm large storm system rumbled across much of the does swept through six north-central Illinois coun- cellar beneath a restaurant that collapsed in the country. ties, and that damage survey teams would visit the storm in Rochelle, about 20 miles southwest of DeKalb County Sheriff Roger A. Scott said in a area to determine how long they stayed on the Fairdale. news release early yesterday that 15 to 20 homes in ground, their strength and the extent of the damage. One of those rescued from the Grubsteakers Fairdale were destroyed by the twister that hit the After raking Illinois, Thursday’s storm and cold restaurant, Raymond Kramer, 81, told Chicago’s WLS- ground around 7 pm Thursday. Matthew Knott, divi- front headed northeast, dumping snow in Michigan’s TV they were trapped for 90 minutes before emer- sion chief for the Rockford Fire Department, told The Upper Peninsula and sweeping across the Ohio gency crews were able to rescue them, unscathed. Associated Press that just about every building in the Valley overnight, Friedlein said. The system was “No sooner did we get down there, when it hit the town about 80 miles northwest of Chicago “sus- headed into the Appalachian region yesterday morn- building and laid a whole metal wall on top of the tained damage of some sort.” ing with the potential for severe thunderstorms but doors where we went into the storm cellar,” Kramer A 67-year-old woman was found dead inside her “not anywhere near the threat” that it packed in the said. “When the tornado hit, we all got a dust home, DeKalb County coroner Dennis Miller told Midwest, he said. bath. Everyone in there got shattered with dust reporters early Friday. Scott said of the 150 Fairdale and debris falling out of the rafters.” The severe residents, another eight were taken to hospitals after Trapped weather, the region’s first widespread bout, forced the storm hit. Kirkland Community Fire District Chief Chad the cancellation of more than 850 flights at Chicago’s Authorities expressed confidence that there Connell said he watched the tornado move toward O’Hare International Airport on Thursday and dozens would be no more victims found in the devastated Fairdale from his porch. “I’ve never seen anything of others at the city’s Midway International Airport. town but that they would be working to account for like it in my life,” he said, almost lost for words. The outlook was much improved Friday, although every resident Friday. All homes were evacuated and Some 20 additional homes were severely dam- about 90 flights at the city’s two airports were can- power was out across the area. The Red Cross and aged or destroyed in Ogle County, adjacent to celled and dozens of delays were expected.—AP

Clinton to announce presidential bid WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton is expected tomorrow to announce, via video and social media, her intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, a party offi- cial told Reuters yesterday. Following the announcement, the former secretary of state will travel to the key primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, said the source, who is close to Clinton. “She’s expected to make her intention to run known on Sunday,” the source said. In her previous presidential run in 2008, Clinton lost to the current president, Barack Obama, in part because of the Obama campaign’s clever use of social media to draw attention to his candidacy and raise huge sums through small donations. Her use of social media is also an appeal to young voters, whom Clinton needs to become American’s first woman president. In 2012, young politi- cal staffers made the now 67-year-old former first lady an Internet sensation with the blog “Texts from Hillary.” Also on Friday, Clinton released an update to her mem- oir, “Hard Choices,” in which she described her final days PANAMA CITY: US President Barack Obama tours the Miraflores section of the Panama Canal yesterday in Panama City. as secretary of state and her feelings about her first grand- US President Barack Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro will break bread with other Americas leaders at a historic summit child, as her campaign is expected to concentrate on mak- yesterday, a potent symbol of their efforts to end decades of animosity. — AFP ing her relatable to ordinary Americans. “Becoming a grandmother has made me think deeply about the responsibility we all share as stewards of the world we Obama, Castro speak by phone inherit and will one day pass on. Rather than make me want to slow down, it has spurred me to speed up,” she amid bid to restore Cuba ties wrote. — Reuters US and Cuba to start their relationship anew

PANAMA CITY: The presidents of the He provided no additional details. The in Panama, Obama announced he was United States and Cuba have spoken by conversation was confirmed by another close to a decision about removing Cuba phone for only the second time in more diplomat, who requested anonymity to from the US list of state sponsors of ter- than 50 years, setting the stage for a his- discuss private presidential communica- rorism, a major impediment to warmer toric encounter between the two leaders tions. ties as far as Havana is concerned. at a regional summit yesterday in The White House declined to com- The U.S. has long since stopped Panama. ment. In another major step on Thursday, actively accusing Cuba of supporting ter- The extraordinary, late-night call the US and Cuba held their highest-level rorism, and Obama has hinted at his will- between President Barack Obama and diplomatic meeting since cutting off ingness to take Cuba off the list ever Cuban President Raul Castro came short- relations more than half a century ago. since he and Castro announced a thaw in ly after both leaders arrived in Panama US Secretary of State John Kerry and relations in December. Yet Obama has City for the Summit of the Americas, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stopped short of the formal decision which begins on Friday. The two leaders met behind closed doors in Panama City amid indications that the White House have been working to restore diplomatic for a session that the State Department was reluctant to grant Cuba’s request ties, a move that sent shockwaves described as lengthy and productive. until other thorny issues - such as restric- through Latin America when Obama and The flurry of diplomacy was likely to tions on US diplomats in Havana - were Castro announced it in tandem in reinvigorate ongoing efforts by the US resolved. December. and Cuba to start their relationship anew “We don’t want to be imprisoned by Jorge Leganoa, the deputy director of after five decades of American presidents the past,” Obama said on Thursday. Cuba’s state-run National Information either isolating or working to overthrow “When something doesn’t work for 50 Agency, said in a Facebook post that the government of Fidel Castro or his years, you don’t just keep on doing it. Hillary Rodham Clinton Obama and Castro had spoken by phone. brother, Raul Castro. Ahead of his arrival You try something new.”—AP Swedes face higher taxes, Kuwait looks to improve Oil edges up towards $57, govt weak to reverse years business environment heads for weekly gain Businessof market reforms 1617 19 SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 All eyes on major jet deal as Modi meets Hollande 18

FRANKFURT: Traders watch their screens at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. The German stock index DAX reached an all time high with more than 12 300 points. — AP Europe’s stocks shoot to record highs

LONDON: European stock markets shot to record highs yester- While last week’s US jobs data “was a big disappointment, the day as a weaker single currency boosted companies’ exports from minutes from the Fed’s last meeting suggest that they remain in the eurozone. London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index shot up 1.06 hiking mode and may hike rates at some point this year, even if GE pares off percent on the day to close at 7,089.77 points, having risen as June now seems like a long shot”, said Forex.com analyst high as 7,095.36 during the session. Kathleen Brooks. financial unit Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index jumped 1.71 percent to 12,374.37 This week has meanwhile also seen improved optimism over points, moving as high as 12,390.75 points during the day. Greece after the embattled eurozone nation made a scheduled WASHINGTON: General Electric is getting out of the lend- Meanwhile the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.60 percent to 5,240.46 459 million euro ($495 million) loan repayment to the IMF on ing business, a major profit generator, as it focuses more on points, a seven-year high. Thursday. its industrial business and sheds a massive financial unit “It’s been a day of multi-year and new record highs today, fol- that had its own set of risks. lowing on from the Japanese Nikkei nudging against the 20,000 GE, Apple help Wall Street The company will buy back as much as $50 billion of its level, its highest level in fifteen years,” said Michael Hewson, chief In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei dipped 0.15 percent to 19,907.63 points own stock, sending shares up more than 9 percent before market analyst at CMC Markets UK. after earlier breaking 20,000 — a level not seen since April 2000. the opening bell yesterday and toward a new high for the “The German DAX and FTSE100 have also made new record Hong Kong extended its rally by adding 1.22 percent, putting year. In addition to the sale of GE Capital, the company will highs today as the tumbling euro continues to push broader the gain over the past three days at more than eight percent. sell most of its GE Capital Real Estate to funds managed by European markets higher, with the CAC40, and FTSEMib also hit- Shanghai, which has almost doubled over the past year on Blackstone, and Wells Fargo will buy a portion of the per- ting new multi-year highs.” hopes for fresh stimulus, rallied 1.94 percent to end at 4,034.31, its forming loans at closing. The company also plans to sell In foreign exchange, the European single currency slid to best close since March 2008. additional commercial real estate assets that will bring the $1.0606 from $1.0659 late in New York on Thursday. A weaker Meanwhile in the United States, General Electric’s announce- total value of the deal to around $26.5 billion. euro makes eurozone exports cheaper for buyers outside of the ment that it will largely exit financial services helped lift Wall The company said market conditions were favorable to single currency bloc. Street. sell most GE Capital over the next two years. The financial The dollar has fought back against the euro in recent weeks as The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.50 percent to division generates almost half of the company’s profit, but markets bet on rises to US interest rates later this year despite a stand at 18,049.3 points. The broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.46 per- is also is a huge regulatory burden and has caused some clouded outlook. The US central bank’s last policy meeting cent to 2,100.73, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index anxiety for investors. showed a split over when interest rates should again start rising advanced 0.30 percent to 4,989.47. The company said that, “the business model for large, in the world’s biggest economy. GE surged 7.6 percent after announcing it had reached deals wholesale-funded financial companies has changed, mak- Minutes from the March meeting published earlier this week to sell $26.5 billion in real estate assets as part of a plan to pare off ing it increasingly difficult to generate acceptable returns showed that “several (Fed) participants” thought conditions were most GE Capital assets over the next 24 months. going forward.” right for a June hike in the federal funds rate, which has been The industrial conglomerate also announced a new $50 billion GE Capital Chairman and CEO Keith Sherin said in a printed statement that the successful initial public offering stuck near zero since late 2008. share buyback program. of GE’s retail finance business, Synchrony Financial, helped Others deemed the economy would not be able to weather a Apple added 0.18 percent as the tech giant began taking show that the company’s financial assets “can be more hike until later in the year, while “a couple” said liftoff would orders for the Apple Watch. First deliveries will begin in nine valuable to others.” —AP remain unlikely until 2016. countries on April 24. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Panama’s Copa buys 61 Boeing 737s for $6.6bn PANAMA CITY: Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines signed ers together to discuss trade, job creation and a host of bone for our fleet today, and our order for the 737 MAX a deal worth an estimated $6.6 billion to buy 61 Boeing political issues. shows our continued commitment for the future,” said 737 aircraft yesterday, during President Barack Obama’s The US president was expected to attend a ceremony Heilbron. Copa has pursued an aggressive bid to make visit to the country. to mark the deal, alongside Panamanian President Juan Panama the “hub of the Americas” and is one of the The companies said the deal was the “largest com- Carlos Varela, Boeing Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney region’s largest airlines. mercial transaction between a Panamanian and a US- and Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron. The time frame for the purchase was not immediately based company ever.” Obama is in Panama to take part Copa will in total buy 61 of Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 and clear, but Boeing says it has 2,715 orders for the 737 MAX in a Summit of the Americas, which brings regional lead- MAX 9 airplanes. “The Next-Generation 737 is the back- planes from 57 customers around the world. — AFP

Cuba invites companies to talk about doing business

PANAMA CITY: Cuba’s economy needs foreign capital to diversify, the island’s foreign trade minister said on Thursday, as he made an unusually open invitation to North and South American companies to talk to the Communist government about doing business there. Business interest in Cuba has boomed since the historic announcement on Dec. 17, when US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro said they would restore diplomatic relations and seek to end more than five decades of hostili- ty. “We recognize the importance of international insertion into our economy to diversify our foreign trade, increase access to foreign financing and increasing the participation of foreign capital in the Cuban economy,” Rodrigo Malmierca told a meeting of business leaders from across the Americas who met in Panama on Thursday. “We are convinced the countries of the region will accompany Cuba in these endeavors.” Cuba typically is more reserved about recruiting foreign investors and operates behind the scenes with companies that have good enough connections to schedule meetings with government officials. Whether large numbers of investors truly find open doors in Cuba remains to be seen, but the gesture should be welcomed by companies looking to crack the Cuban market. Cuba is still cut off from US investment by a com- TURIN: People attend the inauguration of the Intesa Sanpaolo tower, head office of the bank, in the presence of Italian prehensive trade embargo. Obama, a Democrat, has asked architect Renzo Piano yesterday in Turin. The 166 meters high tower is divided by infrastructure into 3 levels of park- the Republican-controlled Congress to work toward dis- ing garages, one of utility rooms and a low garden around which are laid out the company restaurant and kinder- garten, while above ground it consists of 26 floors of offices and a floor for training which includes spaces and services mantling the embargo, which had been a pillar of foreign open to the public. — AFP policy for nine previous presidents. Malmierca spoke a day ahead of the Summit of the Americas bringing together leaders of the region, includ- Swedes face higher taxes, govt weak ing Obama and Castro, who will meet in person for the first time since a brief handshake at Nelson Mandela’s funeral to reverse years of market reforms in December 2013. Cuba approved a new foreign invest- ment law a year ago that aims to bring badly needed capi- tal to the communist economy by offering steep tax cuts Govt has limited room to purse leftist agenda and promising a climate of investment security. Areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, sugar, nickel STOCKHOLM: Swedes face tax rises in this Agreement a betrayal and some opposition Sodertorn University. Policy deadlock, howev- mining, building renovation and real estate development month’s budget, but the coalition’s fragile politicians want it scrapped now. er, could leave disenchanted voters with are considered ripe for investment. hold on power will limit scope for a more rad- “How can I explain a policy to my voters nowhere to turn but the political fringes. Malmierca reiterated Cuba wants $2.5 billion in foreign ical shift to the left and the potential unravel- that I don’t believe in?” said Finn Bengtsson, a “This could be a gift situation for the direct investment. Cuba does not publish figures on FDI, ling of years of market-oriented reforms. lawmaker from the Alliance’s biggest party, Sweden Democrats,” said Aylott, referring to Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in his elec- the Moderates. the anti-immigration party that more than which economists estimate to be several hundred million tion campaign last year pledged sweeping doubled its support in last September’s elec- dollars a year at most. — Reuters change after eight years of income tax cuts Public finances tion and wants to cut the annual number of that were widely seen as undermining the During the election campaign Magdalena asylum seekers by 90 percent. Lofven could country’s welfare safety net. But just months Andersson, now finance minister, said the tax even be forced to call an election later this into office, his minority government’s first take could rise by around 1 percent of gross year if the December Agreement falls apart, budget - watered down after coalition partner domestic product under a government led by although analysts see another vote as unlike- the Greens opposed some tax hikes - was vot- Lofven’s Social Democrats. ly. A new election, in any case, would proba- ed down by parliament. “It is not about cutting taxes for those who bly give neither bloc a majority and all parties The revised budget on April 15 will hike make the most, it is about investing for the are worried it would lead to further gains for energy taxes and remove tax breaks for firms future,” Andersson told Reuters this week. The the Sweden Democrats. While Sweden’s hiring young workers, to raise around 28 bil- National Institute of Economic Research fore- triple-A rated economy is outpacing most of lion crowns ($3.25 billion) for spending on casts the deficit in public finances will narrow Europe, there are risks to what could be years welfare, schools and housing, the govern- to 1.5 percent of GDP this year, from 2.1 per- of relative stasis. The OECD has pointed to a ment says. It will be passed after Lofven cut a cent last year, helped by expected economic slowdown in productivity growth, falling edu- deal late last year, known as the December growth of 3.1 percent. This month’s budget cational standards and labour market rigidi- Agreement, in which centre-right opposition will also raise taxes on savings funds and chip ties which have kept unemployment high. parties agreed not to block future budgets. away at middle-class perks including a tax Integrating record numbers of asylum But his election promise to partially break for home renovation, but with a minori- seekers - up to 105,000 this year - is also cre- reverse income tax cuts introduced by the ty of seats in parliament, the coalition has lim- ating problems, while some economists previous Alliance coalition, which could come ited room for a more sweeping policy shift. argue historically low borrowing costs are a in a finance bill in the autumn, will be much chance to invest in future growth. But with all harder to squeeze through. Without further Economic agenda parties engaged in an armed truce, little tax hikes Lofven will be short of the funds to “There will be moves to a more redistribu- progress is likely. “The whole of the political WASHINGTON: In this Feb. 5, 2015 file photo, Treasury restore the country’s welfare state and cut tive and a slightly more left-wing economic establishment is trapped in a deadlock. Right Secretary Jacob Lew testifies on Capitol Hill in unemployment from around 8 percent to agenda, but I can’t really see any lurches to now it is tough to govern,” said Magnus Washington. The Treasury Department released federal below Germany’s 4.8 percent. Right-wing the left in the pipeline,” said Nicholas Aylott, Blomgren, professor of political science at budget data for March yesterday. — AP columnists are already calling the December associate political science professor at Umea University. — Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11 , 2015 Russian middle class slowly stirred to action by economic crisis

MOSCOW: It was when her nine-year-old son policies, scared of what they see as their indi- Her wage, which averaged 40,000-47,000 disappointed,” he said. “But now it is more said he wanted to be ill to keep her home that vidual battles against the system becoming roubles ($790-930 at the current rate) a dangerous because the crisis is hitting people Ekaterina Chatskaya knew the cuts at her “political”. month last year, is stretched by a food bill that in their pockets.” Moscow clinic had gone too far and she was “It was simply because of the increasing has almost doubled to 10,000 roubles every A decline in real wages, a weak rouble and working too many hours. burden. At first it was more or less tolerable, one or two weeks. Still she sees herself as “far high interest rates have hurt middle-class The 33-year-old Russian gynaecologist said then it snowballed,” Chatskaya said, listing removed from politics”. people more than most, striking at their abili- her work burden became unbearable when the rise in responsibilities and patients, and ty to travel abroad, invest in housing and in management announced new job losses in cuts in jobs, at her clinic on the outskirts of Shy of politics their health and children’s education. November. Unable to cope, she and dozens of Moscow that accelerated over the last six It is a stance many of Russia’s teachers, Anna, the head of a computer systems other doctors in Moscow started a “work-to- months as the government cut spending. doctors, business owners and IT experts share company, said that out of 600 projects she rule” action - refusing to work beyond their When her own health suffered - she was - leave politics to the politicians, or as doctor was involved in at the beginning of the year, official contract hours - to try to protect a diagnosed with high blood pressure due to Maria Gubareva, who is also participating in only 250 are left. health service they say is being driven to ruin. stress - and her son clung to her one morning the work-to-rule action, puts it: “What should Natalia, whose husband oversaw the con- Their action is a rare display of discontent after not seeing her for days, Chatskaya did the government do? That’s a question for version of a Moscow garage into a commer- in Russia, where resurgent patriotism over the something out of character: she got in touch government leaders.” cial space, said there were few takers in a mar- annexation of Crimea last year has largely with a union and agreed to work to rule. For Vladimir Petukhov, head of the centre ket where office vacancy rates have reached eclipsed frustration over job cuts, rising prices But sitting over a cup of tea in one of for social research at the Russian Academy of 17.5 percent from 12 percent a year ago. “The and lower wages in an economic crisis deep- Moscow’s identikit suburbs of row upon row the Sciences, it means that any protests are market is bad now. Have you seen how many ened by Western sanctions over Moscow’s of grey apartment blocks, Chatskaya is reluc- easily extinguished, making any repeat of office buildings and shops are for rent or role in Ukraine and a weak oil price. tant to be drawn on whether the economic mass demonstrations in 2011-2012 that shook sale?” Natalia asked. Neither Anna nor Natalia But despite feeling the squeeze more than crisis threatens the gains made by the people Putin unlikely. wanted to give her full name, a sign of con- most, Russia’s nascent middle class is reluc- who became Russia’s middle class after the “Those who thought the middle class cern that they could face retribution if they tant to blame President Vladimir Putin and his Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. would be the driver of change ... have been speak out. —Reuters Kuwait looks to improve business environment

NBK’s Economic Report

KUWAIT: Kuwait has been pushing ahead Kuwait’s plans are very much in line with the well as Special Purpose vehicles (SPVs). The giant IBM is the first company to be granted a with reforms aimed at improving the overall development goals being pursued by its law also made drastic changes to company license under the new structure. business environment in the country. Laws neighbors in the GCC. All are looking to management schemes, separating chairman- For the authorities, stimulating FDI is a key pertaining to public-private partnerships diversify their economies, stimulate non-oil ship from executive roles and mandating strategic objective; the country’s need for FDI (PPP), foreign direct investment (FDI) and activity and investment and boost employ- boards to hold at least six meetings annually is primarily in relation to the innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) ment of nationals in the private sector. and Sharia Compliant companies to have a technology dividend that foreign investment have recently gone into effect at a time In Kuwait, the passage of legislative Sharia board. However, potentially the most could offer for the domestic economy rather when the government is seriously looking at reforms has eased considerably since 2012; a significant addition concerns the protection than capital per se, which the country is not ways to reduce its dependence on oil as the permanent government committee for this of minority investors, where shareholders short of. According to the World Investment main source of state revenue. purpose has been set up and key reforms now have the right to view corporate docu- Report 2014, published by the United Moreover, the current environment of relating to PPPs, FDI, and SMEs have been ments and appoint outside auditors to Nations Conference on Trade and low oil prices might provide just the right introduced. The government has also bene- review company activities. The World Bank Development (UNCTAD), Kuwait ranks as the incentive to accelerate efforts even though fitted from closer links with the World Bank viewed this positively in last year’s Doing top exporter of FDI among GCC nations, Kuwait, with sufficient financial reserves and and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Business report. investing over $8.4 billion abroad in one of the lowest breakeven oil prices whose advisors have been looking at ways to Challenges remain, however, with setting 2013.Over the last 10 years, Kuwait has man- among oil exporters, is in a more comfort- improve Kuwait’s business environment, to up the ‘one-stop shop’ and dealing with all aged to attract only 3.3% of all FDI inflows to able position than some of its OPEC peers, diversify its economy and to reduce its tradi- the issues associated with starting a business the GCC. And in 2013, the most recent year for example, to weather the downturn. tional reliance on the oil sector. such as issuing permits, securing electricity for which there is full year data, FDI inflows and registering property. declined, to $2.3 billion from $4 billion the year before. As per its mandate, KDIPA is Kuwait is looking to its new FDI tasked with reversing the equation i.e. law to turn things around attracting more FDI towards Kuwait while In an effort to improve the attractiveness keeping domestic capital inside the country. of Kuwait as a destination for FDI, the author- ities unveiled in 2013 new draft regulations Kuwait to lure the private sector to supersede the previous set of FDI regula- with a KD 8 billion promise of PPPs tions dating from 2001.Law no 116/2013 Since the rollout of Kuwait’s first 5-year regarding the promotion of direct invest- plan in 2009, the government has been ment, establishes a fully autonomous entity, promising to increase the participation of the the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion private sector in economic development, Authority (KDIPA), to oversee the entire particularly through public-private partner- process of approving and licensing foreign ships (PPPs). Kuwait claimed its first success- investments in the country. Through the ful PPP in 2013 with the launch of phase 1 of establishment of a ‘one-stop shop’ within the KD 2.4 billion Al-Zour North Independent KDIPA, the authorities hope to cut red tape Water and Power Producer (IWPP) project. and make the entire FDI licensing process Following its launch, officials drafted a more less time consuming and more efficient. comprehensive law regulating the sector, Under the new law, KDIPA will now be dealing with many of the issues that arose obliged to respond to investors’ requests for from the original PPP. Prior to 2014, Kuwait FDI licenses within 30 days; the previous law only had the 2008 BOT law, which was limit- Government pushes ahead New companies law aims to had granted the authorities a turnaround ed in scope. However, the new law establish- with needed reforms overhaul business practices time of up to 8 months. es a public authority to handle all PPP The government recently passed its sec- In 2012, the government passed a new law Moreover, in an attempt to minimize schemes. The Kuwait Authority for ond 5-year development plan (2015- for companies to replace the previous law of uncertainty and confusion about which sec- Partnership Projects (KAPP) has already 2020).According to the plan, Kuwait has set 1960. Seen as a complete overhaul of the way tors of the economy are open to or off limits announced that Al-Khairan IWPP and phase 2 three major economic goals: to increase the business is done in Kuwait, the new law man- to foreign investment, the authorities have of the Al-Zour North IWPP will be their next contribution of the non-oil sector to overall dates the ministry of commerce to establish a introduced a “negative list” to replace the projects. KAPP will also be handling the economic output (GDP) to 55% by 2020, ‘one-stop shop’ unit for all government agen- “positive” list that was operating under the Kuwait metro and railroad projects that have from a current 37%; to increase the contribu- cies relating to starting a business. This should old law. Now, as well as theoretically opening been reinstated. According to the new five- tion of the private sector to overall GDP from in theory help speed up the process of start- up more sectors of the economy to FDI, for- year plan (2015-2020), Kuwait has 22 PPP the current average of 25% to 34%; and to ing a business. Some key reforms in the new eign investors will be able to clearly identify projects (including Al-Zour North IWPP Phase increase the number of Kuwaitis employed law include the introduction of professional, the sectors in which FDI is not permitted. 1) with a combined value of KD 8 billion in in the private sector above the current 21%. non-profit and single person companies as According to press reports, US technology the projects pipeline. BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Clean energy investment hits lowest level in first quarter

LONDON: Global clean energy invest- ment in the first quarter of this year fell to its lowest quarterly level for two years, as large deals slowed in China, Europe and Brazil, research showed yesterday. Investment in renewable energy such as wind and solar power and biomass fell to $50.5 billion in January to March com- pared with $59.3 billion in same quarter last year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) said in a report. PARIS: French president Francois Hollande (3rd R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L) at the Elysee Palace in Paris yester- The last quarter to show weaker day. India’s prime minister kicked off his maiden trip to Europe with all eyes on a potential multi-billion-euro fighter jet deal with France, hailed as the “contract of the century.” — AFP investment was the first quarter of 2013 at $43.1 billion. The first quarter tends to be the weakest in terms of clean energy investment as banks and equity investors All eyes on major jet deal pause after a busy year-end and as proj- ect developers digest any changes in renewable energy support mechanisms. as Modi meets Hollande But this year the strengthening of the US dollar against many currencies also impacted financing and there were fewer Modi aims to woo investors to his fast-growing economy large-scale wind investments compared PARIS: India’s prime minister kicked off yesterday talks in Paris with the Modi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist, was effectively blacklisted by the with the first quarter of 2014. French president with all eyes on a potential multi-billion-euro fighter jet European Union for years, accused of encouraging deadly communal riots Asset finance of utility-scale renew- deal hailed as the “contract of the century.” in 2002 in the western state of Gujarat, which he governed for over a able projects fell 19 percent in the first Once persona non grata in the European Union, Narendra Modi was decade. But after his landslide victory in a general election last year, and quarter from a year earlier to $27.9 bil- welcomed with open arms by President Francois Hollande as he aims to with India’s economy now growing faster than even China’s, France and lion, while venture capital and private woo investors to his fast-growing economy on the first leg of his maiden Germany are rolling out the red carpet for the one-time outcast. equity investment in clean energy fell by trip to the continent. 21 percent to $1 billion, the report Ahead of the visit, fevered speculation has centred on whether Modi Progress on nuclear deal? and Hollande will achieve a breakthrough in long-blocked talks over 126 “It’s not a coincidence that France is the first country that I am visiting showed. French Rafale fighter jets. The deal, dubbed the “contract of the century” as part of my first official trip to Europe,” Modi told French daily Le Figaro “There’s a lot of ground still to cover in the French media, could be worth billions, but has been bogged down before his arrival, pointing to cooperation in a number of sectors such as this year. No one knows whether the oil over cost and New Delhi’s insistence on assembling a portion of the high- space, nuclear energy and defence. “Just like in the nuclear sector, defence price is going to bounce back or collapse tech planes in India. Hollande said ahead of his meeting with Modi at his cooperation is a key part of our traditional ties with France,” he added. further. There is good momentum Elysee Palace presidential office-where the two shook hands before step- French nuclear giant Areva is still awaiting the go-ahead to install six towards some sort of climate deal in Paris ping inside for talks-that he wanted to make “progress” on the thorny, reactors in India’s western state of Maharashtra, five years after a bilateral in December,” said Michael Liebreich, long-standing issue. civil nuclear accord. A French diplomatic source said agreements would be chairman of the advisory board at BNEF. signed in the “renewable energy, sustainable cities, transport and cultural Rafale talks ‘ongoing’ Friday sectors”. After a two-day whistlestop tour that will take him from northern Geographically, clean energy invest- In a bid to get things moving, New Delhi is considering buying a first to southern France-with a short breather to take in the Paris sights from a ment in Brazil slumped by 62 percent to tranche of a smaller number of planes to replace its creaking air force fleet, boat ride on the Seine-Modi will jet off to Germany. He will end his trip fur- $1.1 billion compared with the first quar- Indian media reported. The Hindustan Times said the government was ther afield in Canada, home to a large Indian diaspora. Modi is seeking to ter of last year, while investment in “seriously considering (the) strategic purchase of up to 40 Rafales for the attract investors as he tries to rewrite India’s reputation as a tricky place to Europe fell by 30 percent to $9.7 billion Indian Air Force” due to “operational necessity”, with further purchases lat- do business-beset by bureaucracy, corruption and a stringent tax regime. and China investment was down 24 per- er. The government has already relaxed rules for foreign investors, eager cent to $11 billion. It quoted an unnamed source as saying a new deal could be worked to create work for the millions who enter India’s job market each year. On the other hand, clean energy out this year, with the exact number of planes depending on the final “Our main challenge is to create jobs for the young — 800 million Indians price. A French government source, who did not wish to be named, con- are less than 35 years old,” he told Le Figaro. While Modi was quick to investment in South Africa surged to firmed that talks were “ongoing” on Friday over the jets, but declined to meet US President Barack Obama and Asia’s top leaders after his election $3.1 billion from almost nothing in the give further details. Indian defence analyst Saurabh Joshi said the coun- last May, it has taken him nearly a year to travel to Europe. Still, trade first quarter last year, and investment try’s air force urgently needed new jets in the face of antagonistic neigh- between India and the EU as a whole has grown from 28.6 billion euros in India rose by 59 percent to $1.6 bil- bours Pakistan and China, but cautioned that buying a smaller number ($30.5 billion) in 2003 to 72.7 billion euros in 2013, and both sides are keen lion. — Reuters was not cost effective. for the upswing to continue. — AFP

Burgan Bank to announce new winner of Al Thuraya Salary account draw

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank will conduct the Al Thuraya The Al Thuraya Account was re-launched in 2014 salary Account draw on Sunday April 12th in which in response to the increasing market demand for the winner will be granted a luxurious Audi R8 car. highly innovative offerings which provide a higher Al Thuraya is the only salary account in Kuwait frequency and incentive of winning for account offering a quarterly draw for a chance to win 4 new holders. Audi R8 cars in a year. Customers’ wishing to open an Al Thuraya Burgan Bank’s Al Thuraya Account is a salary account can do so by simply visiting the nearest account that provides multiple features. Every K.D Burgan Bank branch and obtain all the necessary 10 available in the account is a chance for cus- details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center FOREST-SUR-MARQUE: An employee of the Pocheco paper company works in the tomers to enter the much-anticipated draw every 1804080. For further information, customers can factory on April 7, 2015 in Forest-sur-Marque, northern France. — AFP quarter. also visit the bank’s website on www.burgan.com. BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11 , 2015 Pakistan gets $1.2bn offers for HBL shares

KARACHI: The Pakistani government has vatised in 2003, with the Agha Khan Zubair, Pakistan’s Minister for Privatisation Analyst Mohammad Sohail, the head of had offers of more than $1.2 billion for its Foundation buying the bulk of the shares. told AFP by telephone from London. Topline Securities, said he was surprised by remaining stake in the country’s largest pri- The government Privatisation The government had planned to offer 250 the level of international interest. vate bank HBL, exceeding expectations, a Commission recommended divesting the million base shares, with an option of selling “The offers are quite astounding and that minister said yesterday. remaining shares earlier this year and offer- 390 million more depending on the shows that international investors are keen The deal to offload the goverment’s 41.5 ings were made at stock markets in London, response. to invest in Pakistan-not only in the stock percent share in HBL, likely to be approved New York, Singapore and Dubai. The minister said the cabinet committee market but other sectors as well,” he told today, would be the country’s largest privati- “This is an absolutely outstanding on privatisation would meet to approve the AFP. HBL, which opened in 1947, has 1,425 sation deal in the past decade. HBL, formerly response from international investors and it share price and green-shoe sale today in branches in Pakistan. Its foreign network is known as Habib Bank Limited, was part-pri- was beyond our expectations,” Mohammad Islamabad. spread over 26 countries. — AFP Oil edges up towards $57, heads for weekly gain Jump in US crude stocks weigh on prices

LONDON: Oil edged higher towards many had feared,” said Harry still pointing to lower prices,” said Eugen $57 a barrel yesterday, heading for a Tchilinguirian, head of commodity mar- Weinberg, analyst at Commerzbank. “At weekly gain, supported by an easing of kets strategy and oil strategy at BNP the moment, we have an oversupply of concerns that the interim accord over Paribas. more than 1 million barrels per day.” Iran’s nuclear work will lead to a rapid World powers and Iran announced While some OPEC members are urg- rise in Iranian oil supplies. the interim accord last week. But on ing output cuts to boost prices, Saudi Evidence this week of ample global Thursday, Iranian supreme leader Arabia has shown no sign of a rethink. HANNOVER: A banner lettering “Make in India” is pictured supplies, including the biggest jump in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded all Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters at the booth of India prior to the opening of the Hannover US inventories since 2001, a glut of sanctions on Iran be lifted on the same on Tuesday that Riyadh had boosted its Messe industrial trade fair yesterday, in Hanover, central unsold Nigerian crude and Saudi day as any final agreement, while the US crude production to 10.3 million bpd, Germany. India is the partner country of this year’s trade Arabian output reaching a record high, maintains that sanctions would be lifted the highest rate on record. fair running from April 13 to 17, 2015. — AFP limited the rally. gradually. Further pressuring prices, a US gov- Brent crude was up 23 cents at The price of Brent has halved from ernment report on Wednesday said $56.80 a barrel by 1125 GMT, remaining $115 hit last June, a drop that deepened domestic crude stocks surged by nearly Mitsubishi sets sights on on track for its third weekly gain in four after OPEC in November decided not to 11 million barrels last week, the biggest weeks. US crude was down 15 cents at cut output, choosing to defend market gain in 14 years. A glut of unsold niche in aircraft sector $50.64 a barrel. share instead. Top exporter Saudi Arabia Nigerian crude is building up too, “The latest agreement with Iran does was the driving force behind the policy traders say. This is particularly bearish NAGOYA: At a tightly guarded factory in central Japan, not open the floodgates for a significant shift. for Brent, because Nigerian crude is Mitsubishi, a maker of the Zero fighter planes of World War II, is return of Iranian oil on the market as “Most of the fundamental factors are priced against it. —Reuters launching its MRJ regional jet and aiming to fulfill Japan’s long- cherished ambitions to regain status as a major aviation power. The company said yesterday that a recent decision to push back the jet’s maiden flight from this spring to a few months later would not delay its commercial deliveries. Workers were con- Gulf Bank announces winners ducting hydraulic and other tests on two of the test jets in a cav- ernous assembly facility; another jet had been sent out for paint- of Al Danah daily draws ing. Nobuo Kishi, a vice president of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp., said the latest delay could speed things along because it is intended to allow for modifications that otherwise would be needed later. KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al Danah daily prizes and simultaneously encourages their chances of becoming an Al Danah “We don’t see the change in the test flight as a delay, but as an draws on April 5th, 2015, announcing the them to save. Each KD 100 gives the cus- winner. Gulf Bank’s Al Danah account is improvement,” Kishi told visiting reporters. “We want to continue names of its winners for the week of tomer 1 chance daily which accumulates open to Kuwaitis and all residents of the test flights without interrupting them for modifications.” Still, March 29th to April 2nd. The Al Danah dai- day by day. The more money saved and Kuwait. Customers who open an account company executives are emphatic about their determination and ly draws include draws each working day the longer it is in the account, the more and/ or deposit more will enter the draw urgency to get the job done. for two prizes of KD1000 per winner. chances individuals stand to win. Every Al within two days. To take part in the Al “This is the last chance to get into real aircraft manufacturing. Danah prize draws will automatically be Danah 2015 upcoming yearly draw, cus- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has a long-term vision to get into the The winners were: deposited into the winner’s account with- tomers must have an Al Danah account aircraft assembly industry,” Hideyuki Kamiya, head of marketing (Sunday 29/3): Huda Hussain Alwaan, in two working days. containing at least KD 200. To be part of for Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. said in an earlier briefing. Adel Abdulrazaq Al-Hunayan. Open an account and deposit now to the Al Danah draws, customers can visit “We think we have a lot of potential to give this industry. This (Monday 30/3): Abdulmohsen Abdullah Win Big, Live big, with Al Danah 2015. one of Gulf Bank’s 59 branches, transfer on is very high tech work requiring skilled workers and engineers. Ali Ramadhan, Mansour Abdullah Al Danah also offers a number of line, or call the Customer Contact Center We can compete in this area,” he said. Khamees Al-Khashti. unique services including the Al Danah on 1805805 for assistance and guidance. The quest reflects a yearning to translate Japan’s engineering (Tuesday 31/3): Abdulaziz Mosa Deposit Only ATM card which helps Customers can also log on to www.e-gulf- and manufacturing prowess into a first-tier aircraft industry with Abdulaziz, Souad Abdulaziz Hussain. account holders deposit their money at bank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out global reach, an ambition subsumed for decades after Japan’s (Wednesday 1/4): Ali Mohammed Ali their convenience; as well as the Al Danah more about Al Danah and who the win- 1945 defeat. The plan dovetails with a national blueprint for turn- Hashem, Soud Mohammed Yousef Al- calculator to help customers calculate ners are. ing the area near Nagoya into an aerospace hub on par with Nasralla. Boeing’s manufacturing base near Seattle, Washington. (Thursday 2/4): Ahmad Abdulrazzad Rashed Al-Rashid, Abdulla Mohammed Government support Rashad Al-Ahmar. It also fits Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s vision for restoring the Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2015 draw lineup country’s manufacturing tradition of “monozukuri,” or “making includes daily draws (2 winners per work- things,” that roughly translates into the craft of making excellent ing day each receive KD 1000). Al Danah’s products through continuous improvement. 2nd Quarterly draw will be held on 25 Developed partly with government support, the 70- to 90-seat June (KD 250,000, KD 125,000, and KD jet project also parlays previous work by Mitsubishi on the Boeing 25,000), 3rd Quarter - 17 September (KD 787 Dreamliner. 500,000, KD 125,000, and KD 25,000). The But years of delays are adding to the challenge of competing final Al Danah draw for the Million Dinars with Brazil’s Embraer, which dominates the difficult regional jet will be held on 7 January, 2016 whereby market, making the project a risky one. the Al Danah Millionaire will be “It’s easier to put a man on the moon than to build an airliner announced alongside winners of KD that airlines want to buy,” said Greg Waldron, Asian managing 250,000 and KD 50,000. editor at Flightglobal in Singapore. —AP Al Danah allows customers to win cash BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Asia shares mostly higher, Hong Kong extends rally Analysts warn of a snap-back

HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks contin- ued their surge yesterday, rallying for a third straight session as mainland investors flooded into the market, while Tokyo dipped after breaching the 20,000 point mark for the first time in 15 years. Regional markets were mostly higher after a positive lead from Wall Street, while better-than-forecast Chinese inflation fig- ures also provided strong support. Tokyo’s Nikkei dipped 0.15 percent after earlier breaking 20,000 — a level not seen since April 2000. The index finished 30.09 points down at 19,907.63 Hong Kong added 1.22 percent, or 328.00 points, to 27,272.39. The index climbed VIVA to launch more than eight percent over the past three days. Shanghai, which has almost Samsung Galaxy S6 and doubled over the past year on hopes for fresh stimulus, rallied 1.94 percent, or Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 76.78 points, to end at 4,034.31, its best TOKYO: A man looks at an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo close since March 2008. yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei retreated from the highest level in 15 years yester- KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most developed tele- Sydney added 0.61 percent, or 36.15 day while other markets in the region advanced ahead of key data news from com operator, announced that it has launched the highly anticipated points, to 5,968.37 and Seoul surged 1.40 China. — AP Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in the market. The percent, or 28.89 points, to 2,087.76. Hong to intervene and sell the local currency. Tw$147.0 while smartphone maker HTC device is available for customers at all VIVA’s branches, authorized Kong’s Hang Seng Index has rocketed In China the National Bureau of fell 1.11 percent to Tw$133.5. dealers and on VIVA’s E-Store. since reopening Wednesday after the long Statistics said inflation came in at 1.4 per- Wellington was flat, nudging up 0.19 VIVA’s postpaid customers interested in obtaining the latest holiday weekend, with traders in the main- cent in March, the same as February and points to 5,847.35. Fletcher Building was Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge can do so by sub- land making the most of a link-up scribing to one of the many packages on offer, starting with KD 30, better than the 1.3 percent forecast in a up 0.12 percent at NZ$8.25 with Contact between the index and Shanghai’s KD 40 and KD 55 to get the device for free depending on the package Bloomberg survey. Energy down 0.17 percent at NZ$5.94. that best suits their needs. exchange. Turnover hit record highs on The figures will be welcomed after Manila added 0.93 percent, or 74.79 Existing and new customers who subscribe to VIVA’s KD 30, KD 40 each of the past two days as investors January’s five-year low as authorities points, to 8,127.48. Philippine Long or KD 55 postpaid plan can upgrade their packages and share unlim- north of the border sought out relatively struggle to kick-start economic growth Distance Telephone gained 0.82 percent ited internet with a new extra data SIM card and FREE 4G LTE router, cheap stocks after a surge in Shanghai that and fend off a painful spiral of deflation. to 2,964 pesos and Ayala Land was up 1.75 as well as getting a second device, either one of the latest tablets or a has been fuelled by hopes for stimulus to On Wall Street the three main indexes percent at 40.70 pesos, while Universal new Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. the world’s number two economy. ended higher after the Labor Department Robina retreated 2.37 percent to 222 The Samsung Galaxy S6 is powered by Android 5.0.2 and the lat- While the stock connect programme said the number of first-time unemploy- pesos. Singapore rose 0.35 percent, or est version of the TouchWiz UI, and features a 5.1-inch screen and was initially met with little interest, main- ment claims filed in the past four weeks 12.08 points, to close at 3,472.38. button placements, but is made of a solid metal frame with Gorilla land authorities’ decision last month to fell to a nearly 15-year low. The Dow rose Singapore Telecom climbed 0.92 percent Glass 4 on both sides giving it a completely different look and feel. expand the number of fund-management 0.31 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.45 per- to Sg$4.41 while Asian commodity trading The display is QHD (2560x1440), and the internals have been firms allowed to buy in Hong Kong has cent and the Nasdaq advanced 0.48 per- giant Noble Group rebounded from sharp increased to support it with an Exynos octa-core processor, 3GB of seen activity surge. cent. In currency exchange the dollar was losses the previous say add 3.5 percent to RAM and 32/64/128GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has But analysts have warned of a snap- at 120.36 yen against 120.59 yen in New 89 Singapore cents. very similar features, with the main differentiator being the sloping back. “This phenomenon of a large York but up from 120.28 yen in Tokyo ear- Jakarta ended down 0.17 percent, or sides of its screen. amount of money pushing into a space in lier Thursday as the US data revived talk of 9.56 points, at 5,491.34. Pharmaceutical To find out more about VIVA’s Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung the market in such a short period of time a summer interest rate hike by the Federal company Kalbe Farma gained 1.65 percent Galaxy S6 Edge, visit one of the 64 VIVA branches, or the VIVA web- is exaggerating moves,” Tim Schroeders, a site at www.viva.com.kw, or call VIVA’s 24 hour call center on 102. Reserve. The euro bought $1.0617 and to 1,850 rupiah, while cigarette maker portfolio manager at Pengana Capital in 127.77 yen on Friday against $1.0659 and Gudang Garam slipped 2.10 percent to Melbourne, told Bloomberg News. 128.55 yen in US trade. US benchmark 53,500 rupiah. Bangkok added 0.18 per- “It looks highly speculative and prone West Texas Intermediate for delivery in cent, or 2.72 points, to close at 1,547.83. to a correction at some stage. There seems May was down 64 cents at $50.15 in Coal producer Banpu slipped 0.83 percent, to be a lot of speculation fuelling fund volatile morning trade and Brent crude for or 0.25 baht, to close at 30.00 baht while flows in terms of policy stimulus from May eased 24 cents to $56.33. Gold Bangkok Bank gained 0.26 percent, or 0.50 China which may or may not happen.” fetched $1,202.92 against $1,199.20 late baht to close at 190.50 baht. Thursday. Kuala Lumpur lost 0.27 percent, or 5.08 China inflation points, to 1,844.31. Public Bank dropped The surge in demand for Hong Kong In other markets: 0.31 percent to 19.06 ringgit, Malayan stocks also pushed the city’s dollar up Taipei rose 0.52 percent, or 49.66 Banking went down 1.26 percent to 9.37 Al-Tijari credit MasterCard against the greenback, testing its 32-year points, to 9,617.70. Taiwan Semiconductor ringgit while Telekom Malaysia gained peg and forcing the de facto central bank Manufacturing Co. rose 2.8 percent to 1.35 percent to 7.49 ringgit. — AFP holders receive up to 15% discount from Emirates Airlines Tokyo investors cautious amid KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait is making air travel more affordable for credit cardholders to create a memorable experience, the bank has announced in partnership with full earnings season next week MasterCard and Emirates Airlines a special discount up to 15% to TOKYO: Tokyo investors will be cautious next week with a The Topix index of all first-section issues shed 0.29 percent, all his credit card holders on all Emirates Airlines destinations. sense of achievement after the benchmark Nikkei index or 4.65 points, to close at 1,589.54. Over the week it rose 1.62 The offer is valid for online booking on business and economy topped the 20,000 level and as the full-fledged corporate percent. “The market had a sense of achievement as it broke class tickets where booking period is from 10th April up to 28th earnings season approaches. through the major line of 20,000. Profit taking emerged, April 2015 and travel period is between 30th of April till 30th of Yesterday, Tokyo stocks closed down 0.15 percent, after pressuring the market today,” said Kenji Shiomura, senior November 2015, for more details and coupon code customers are the benchmark Nikkei index briefly broke through the strategist at Daiwa Securities. requested to visit the promotion page on the bank website 20,000 level last seen 15 years ago. The Nikkei 225 reached “As for the coming week, it is hard to imagine that (the www.cbk.com 20,006.00 in opening trade, prompting joyful traders at bro- Nikkei) will surge ahead rapidly given the strong sense of The Commercial Bank of Kuwait is always keen on giving the kerage houses to break into applause. But the cheer was achievement for now.” He also noted the earnings season best offers to its customers and chooses the finest partners to short-lived and the index lost 30.09 points to close at was going into a top gear, which can invite “caution” among partner with in offering good deals that are beneficial and match- 19,907.63. Over the week the index advanced 2.43 percent. investors. —AP es the clients demands and needs. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Hit ABBA musical ‘Mamma Mia’! to close on Broadway after 14 years Page 27

This 2012 photo provided by Boneau/Bryan-Brown shows, Judy McLane as Donna Sheridan, in Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ hit musi- cal, Mamma Mia!.—AFP SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Katy Perry bribes her tour crew

he ‘Dark Horse’ hitmaker tries to eat healthily on the even though she doesn’t keep conventional hours. She told Troad but can’t resist the lure of her favorite foods Britain’s OK! magazine: “I sleep a lot. That’s where I get my when she sees other people tucking in. She said: “At strength and rejuvenation. My operating hours are very the beginning I brought someone out to make food that strange. “I’m a nine-to-five girl but not in a Dolly Parton way didn’t have any dairy and very little gluten. But after a hun- - I’m a 9pm to 5am girl. I start my day about noon and end dred shows I was like, ‘Let’s get pizza’. “I try and keep it my day about 3am. “I press snooze for about an hour [when healthy on the road but the crew always have pizza around I wake up] - I’m such a horrible snoozer. “I usually do so I’m like, ‘Give me a slice bro, I’ll give you an extra hour’s acupuncture or some kind of alignment and then I stretch sleep if you give me a slice.’ “The 30-year-old pop star finds and work out. I do my shower and my regimen, all my her backstage rider “boring” because it only features lotions and my potions.” healthy treats. She said: “We have healthy snacks. It’s so bor- ing. We have a lot of kale and a lot of dried fruits and probi- otics.” Katy credits her high energy levels in her performanc- es to the fact she always makes sure she gets a lot of sleep,

Dwayne Johnson eats seven meals a day he ‘Fast and Furious’ star is known for his great physique but it doesn’t Tcome without a lot of hard work as it has been revealed the star con- sumes 36 ounces of cod a day and starts exercising at four in the morn- ing. Revealing his diet and exercise plan to Muscle and Fitness, Dwayne starts the day with a cardio workout between four and five in the morning before enjoying a meal of cod, eggs and oatmeal. He then works out for a further 90 minutes and then enjoys his six other meals spread throughout the day. His other meals contain a mixture of fish, rice, vegetables with the former wrestler having an 8 oz steak alongside a baked potato and spinach for meal five. Meanwhile, the 42-year-old actor previously revealed he changes his diet to suit which role he is playing. He said: “For different roles my condition and training and diet does alter. Depending on the role, it will really dictate the type of training I do. “For ‘Hercules,’ it was a 22-week diet, while for ‘GI Joe: Retaliation’ it was about a 14-week diet, and for ‘Pain & Gain’ I wanted to come out looking bulky, big, and dangerous, so we adjusted accordingly.” Rancic hasn’t spoken to Kelly Osbourne he 40-year-old television personality hasn’t talked to her for- Tmer ‘Fashion Police’ co-host since she was blasted by the 30-year-old star for making “outrageously offensive” com- ments about Disney star Zendaya Coleman on the E! show. Guiliana said: “I haven’t talked to [Kelly or Kathy Griffin] since the incident. “There’s nothing good that can come of trying to speak for them, [or guess] what they meant by their comments.” The star also admitted things on the show hadn’t been the same since producers tried to reinvent the wheel following the death of Joan Rivers in September 2014. She added to HuffPost Live: “When ‘Fashion Police’ came back on after Joan’s death, it was the exact same format that they had created for Joan, but it couldn’t suc- ceed. She was so unique in the way she delivered comedy - the format was built around her.” The loss of Joan also hit Guiliana herself very hard and the star has previously admitted she “wept” for days after losing the star. Writing in her new book ‘Going Off Script’, she said: “I wept myself to sleep. “I spent the entire next day in bed, buried beneath the covers, crying until there were no tears left.” SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Sheeran performs secret Cyrus and Schwarzenegger gig at primary school he British singer performed a selection fiancee Courteney Cox. He quipped: “He land- ‘balance each other’ Tof his hits and took part in a Q+A ses- ed on his feet.” After the gig, the ‘Drunk’ hit- sion with pupils at Redcliff School in maker revealed how much he had enjoyed Christchurch, New Zealand after they won a the experience. He tweeted: “Spent the after- radio competition by being renamed Edcliff noon singing with primary school kids. My School for two weeks, hosting a Dress Up Ed face hurts from smiling, so much fun.” day, where the children donned red wigs and — Bangshowbiz fake tattoos to impersonate the star and sub- mitted a reworked version of his single ‘Thinking Out Loud’, with the lyrics changed to an impassioned plea to save their school, which is under threat and currently based at the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre due to earthquake-induced rockfall danger at the old site. Deputy principal Rose McInerney said they entered More Fm’s competition to pro- vide the children with a “positive distraction”. She said: “With the proposed closure hanging over us we want to keep the children in a nor- mal teaching environment. “I think the com- petition is lovely and the kids have been hilar- ious. We’ve tried to give them a positive dis- traction to get them busy doing this. It’s a he ‘Wrecking Ball’ hitmaker has got the seal of approval from her sister strong community. We have encouraged the TBrandi, 27, who thinks the star’s boyfriend is a “good dude”. Brandi said: children to follow our example and get on “I think she met him through her mutual friend, but we’ve hung out with with the job.” During the diverse Q+A session, him a ton since. He’s been great. He’s such a nice guy. He’s easy to hang out Ed revealed he gives his guitars male names with and be around. He has great friends. He’s a good dude. “I like that they such as Cyril and James because he “beats balance each other out. Miley is like a big personality, high energy, and he’s them up” too much to give them female per- super laid-back and easygoing. And they are a good team.” And Brandi thinks sonas, and confirmed he plans to work with the loved-up couple are perfect for each other because they come from simi- friend Taylor Swift again. He admitted he lar backgrounds. She added: “He comes from a big family too. He’s got a sister sometimes finds fame tough but added:”It’s and I think he fits in so well because he kind of comes from the same life we still the best job in the world”. The 24-year- did. “He has a famous dad [Arnold Schwarzenegger] and stuff. I mean he gets old singer also recalled introducing Snow it.” The pair’s relationship was rumored to have hit the rocks recently after Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid to his now- Patrick, 21, was seen getting close to his ex-girlfriend but whilst Brandi thinks it’s hard to “keep up” with their relationship, she believes things are most like- ly OK between the couple. She told Us Weekly magazine: “As far as I know yes, [they’re doing OK]. “But you know you never know. Things change every day with everybody. It’s hard to keep up.” Hamm depressed after ‘Mad Men’ wrapped

he 44-year-old actor said goodbye to his Tcharacter Don Draper as the show wrapped up filming the last series and Jon has admitted he went through all the stages of losing something or someone you care deeply about. He said: “It’s a loss. You go through the five steps of grief and whoever invented those, was a genius. It’s so true. “You he 66-year-old rocker - who relapsed in 2013 after seven years sober - can write them down and that’s how you do concealed his habit from wife Sharon and their kids Aimee, Kelly and it. Whatever it is - anger, bargaining, accept- T ance and all the other things, that’s kind of Jack and knew stashing his narcotics in the kitchen meant they would never be discovered. Asked if she would consider working on a cook book how, for me, it was.” Filming for the AMC with Sharon, Kelly said: “Absolutely not! There’s a reason my dad hid his show ended last summer, something which drugs in the oven, it’s because none of us can cook.” Sharon and Kelly are Jon says has been “nice” for him and the “best friends” and love nothing more than nights at home watching movies. cast. He added: “It was eight months ago in Kelly said during a Q+A session on ‘The Talk’s Facebook page: “We’ve never July [filming ended], and so there was a used to hide his not been close. My mom has always been my best friend. “My favorite thing process and we all kind of did our own to do with my mum is just get in bed, put our pajamas on and just watch thing. Between then and now, people have movies.(sic)” Sharon added: “Kelly does impersonations and dresses up for done movies and plays, and moving on with me...always makes me laugh. “We love to go shopping together and watch their lives. Then we do this, and it’s kind of a movies.” While they always have a good time together, Sharon, 62, doesn’t nice revisiting with a little time under your think their “favorite moment” has happened yet. Asked what their favorite belt.” And Jon has admitted he felt rather upset when the show wrapped and says it felt drugs in the oven moment together is, she replied: “I haven’t had it yet. We have so many great times together...probably it will be on her wedding day.” Sharon and weird revisiting the empty set. He told Good Ozzy dote on their two-year-old granddaughter Pearl - Jack’s child with wife Morning America: “Yes, saying goodbye was a Lisa - and love being able to “spoil” her. Sharon said: “[The best thing about real thing. “It was very much a process of being a grandparent is] that you don’t have to discipline and you can spoil, walking into a set I’ve walked into for eight Ozzy and you can say yes to everything. “[Ozzy] is a doting Papa and he’s a proud years and you go, ‘Oh crap, it’s gone. The Papa.” whole office is gone.’” SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Uganda’s ‘Wakaliwood’ looks to challenge international studios

Ramon Film Productions and founder of “Wakaliwood” Isaac Nabwana, directs and films a scene. t’s a searing hot day, and a group of com- Cow blood and condoms mandos are attempting a daring prison Cow blood was initially used as a special Ibreak. “Stop, get them!” General Placdo, a effect until it made the actors sick. Condoms drunkard and an invincible Kung Fu master in full of red food colouring are now stuck to khaki fatigues, shouts in the local Luganda their chests for the gloriously graphic death “I loved the film so much that I moved into shillings (less than 20 US cents),” said language. “You will never succeed, we will scenes. “We need good cameras, software,” a third world slum to be part of it,” recalled Hofmanis. After the films are made, the pro- destroy the world! You will see!” screams a said Nabwana. “The biggest challenge is mon- Alan Hofmanis, 45, who had worked in the duction staff and actors, who usually have to recurring villain in a black balaclava, who is ey.” But despite the hurdles, the married film industry in New York. Inspired after see- supply their own wardrobe and do their own the leader of the Tiger Mafia, before a fistfight father of three, who founded Ramon in 2005, ing some of Nabwana’s work in 2011, he makeup, peddle them door-to-door across ensues. has produced about 46 feature length films. came to Uganda shortly after to track him Uganda for up to 3,000 shillings a film, or This is no real-life jailbreak, rather a scene The most successful, “Who Killed Captain down and has since become a key promoter. around a dollar. from “Operation Kakongoliro” (“Ugandan Alex”, was shot in one month in 2010 for He said the Ramon films remind him of when Expendables”), an action film due for release about only $200. It’s the story of the Tiger he acted out the Indiana Jones films when he Exploding heads in Indonesia later this year. It is being filmed in a scrap yard Mafia and the recurring villain in Nabwana’s was a child-providing for a uniquely endear- Hofmanis, who has now made Uganda his in Wakaliga, a slum in Uganda’s capital films, who rules Kampala with an iron fist but ing cinema experience. home, has taken up the role as Wakaliwood’s Kampala now baptized “Wakaliwood”. has gone on the run. Captain Alex is sent to But he said the key hurdle is that Uganda’s “bridge to the West”. He is currently helping “It is going to be as big as Nollywood, hunt him down, but is mysteriously mur- film industry is “massively pirated”. “He thinks promote an Internet crowdfunding campaign Bollywood or even Hollywood - there’s no dered. Set during the present day, it was he has six days to make money,” Hofmanis to raise money for equipment and, hopefully, reason why not,” writer, director, editor and inspired by the era of Uganda’s late dictator said of Nabwana, who he described as “like a proper studio. producer Isaac Nabwana boasted of Uganda’s Idi Amin, which Nabwana grew up under. Martin Scorsese but also trying to figure out He is also crowdsourcing movie scenes, informal film industry-boldly insisting studios Released internationally a few weeks ago on how to distribute the films and do publicity”. with film buffs from anywhere around the in Nigeria, India and the United States will get YouTube, the trailer has been viewed more “It’s getting harder to sell the movies, with US world being offered scenes in an upcoming a run for their money. than two million times. pirated movies going for as little as 500 Ramon production- “Tebaatusasula: EBOLA”- “We think Hollywood people will come about a new strain of the virus that causes here,” he said. Raised by his grandparents in sufferers’ heads to explode when they cough Wakaliga, which today has a population of three times. In the film, the Ugandan army is just under 2,000 people, Nabwana’s family racing to stop a global pandemic, so foreign didn’t buy a television until 1984. Before that scenes are needed. Nabwana would listen to descriptions of the “(People) give us 50 bucks or something movies watched by his older brothers at local and if they want to, say, die in a car accident, video halls, the shacks where the majority of they shoot themselves where they are, Isaac Ugandans still watch movies in local lan- will direct them from there,” Hofmanis said. guages. Footage has so far been “donated” by a family “They would tell you and I would imagine in Indonesia, and there’s also been interest what was in that movie,” Nabwana said. from Germany, South Korea and the United When he finished school, he began making States. Hofmanis also said he now has direc- and selling bricks to get by. Over nine years tors of “major US festivals” calling him about Nabwana, 42, built Ramon Film Productions, Nabwana’s movies, which has excited the Uganda’s first action-film company, fulfilling actors. “I’m going to be like Arnold his childhood dream of making movies. Schwarzenegger, like Bruce Willis,” bragged Today he is still building. “We don’t have Dauda Bisaso, a Wakaliwood action star. enough props, we build them ourselves,” said Nabwana also dreams that he or his perform- Nabwana, explaining that the rocket launch- ers will one day be famous in Hollywood. “I ers in his movies are made from frying pans want someone to bring Ugandan stories to and plastic tubes. Co-producer of “Wakaliwood” Alan ‘Ssali’ Hofmanis. — AFP photos the world,” he said. — AFP SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 What happens to Hollywood’s push for diversity after Oscars?

he “Fast & Furious” series is often cited as an example of how diversity can work Tin Hollywood. With its multicultural casts and international settings, the franchise has generated more than $2.4 billion in global earnings. The latest installment, “Furious 7,” set box-office records last weekend with its $147-million domestic opening. “Usually, big studio tent-pole films are all very whitewashed,” says “Furious 7” director James Wan. “People need to learn from this because this is the way of the future.” Wan says the “Furious” films play well globally “because they have people from that part of the world in the movies and they’re not treat- ed like second-class citizens.” The dearth of diversity in Hollywood was heavy on the entertainment industry’s mind during awards season, when the #OscarSoWhite hashtag went viral and host Neil Patrick Harris joked about honoring the “best and whitest - sorry - brightest” at the Academy Awards. Yet despite the success of

Freida Pinto (left) and Reece Ritchie participate in AOL’s BUILD Speaker Series to discuss their new film “Desert Dancer” at AOL Studios. — AP photos

approach they’ve had for generations and tive to discussions about increasing diversity, social responsibility to make sure the public ignoring where America is.” Hunt and Schulman each said. They’ve sepa- has their stories accurately reflected in the His team’s ongoing study of the entertain- rately met with studio heads to talk about the media.” But change is slow and profit is king. ment industry aims to quantify the relation- disparity and how to fix it. “Let’s put it this way: Money talks,” Wan said. ship between diversity and profitability. Their “Hollywood is not this monolithic beast,” “Hollywood is all about money. If having second annual Hollywood diversity report, Hunt said. “There are people in Hollywood diversity equals box-office receipts around released in February, shows that while who are very committed to diversity, who the world, they’ll listen to it. That’s the bot- women and minorities are underrepresented recognize its good business sense or have a tom line.” — AP Freida Pinto across entertainment relative to the U.S. pop- ulation, movies and TV shows with diverse films like “Furious 7” and increased awareness casts tend to perform well in ratings and at of the industry’s white, male status quo, the box office. change won’t be seen onscreen anytime “There’s a myth of people of color not A long-awaited glimpse at soon. being viable internationally when the rest of the world is diverse,” Hunt said. Film and TV ‘Recognizing a problem’ studio heads - found by the UCLA study to be ‘Fantastic Four’s’ The Thing A survey by The Associated Press shows overwhelmingly white and male - usually hire that of about 170 films scheduled for release people they’ve worked with before, which through the end of the year, 32 feature actors reproduces the dismal ethnic and gender of color in prominent roles. True, this year’s ratios. A recent study by USC and the advoca- movies were made before the Oscar outcry. cy group Women in Film shows women have This image But whether onscreen diversity improves over represented fewer than 5 percent of directors courtesy of time as production catches up to new aware- of top films during the past two decades. Twentieth ness remains to be seen. One thing’s for cer- Century Fox via tain, though: Much work lies ahead. Profit is king Empire shows a Studies by researchers at UCLA and USC People of color have made incremental screenshot of show vast underrepresentation of women progress recently in some areas of the enter- ‘Fantastic and minorities in every aspect of filmmaking. tainment business, the UCLA study found. Four’s’ The “Recognizing a problem and changing it are Lead roles for non-white actors in film and TV Thing. two very different beasts,” said Cathy increased by about 11/2 percent in 2013 over Schulman, the Oscar-winning producer of the previous year. But even with the success hose fearing that the Thing might not way, and you want that character to have “Crash” and president of Women in Film. In of minority-led TV series such as “The Mindy be looking his most fantastic in the that warmth and that strength.” Many fans insular, high-risk, high-profit Hollywood, Project,” ‘’Scandal” and “How to Get Away upcoming reboot of “Fantastic Four” were unsatisfied with the brief glimpse of the change has to be insistent and intentional, T With Murder,” non-white show-runners may find solace in the first image of the char- Thing offered in the film’s first trailer. The said Darnell Hunt, director of the Ralph J account for less than 6 percent of all broad- acter, shared via Empire on Thursday. The hubbub continued when an international Bunche Center for African American Studies cast scripted fare, the study found. still shows off the rocky frame of Ben Grimm billboard showing the Thing leaked online, at UCLA. An AP analysis of Fall 2014 prime-time net- (Jamie Bell) post-transformation. For Josh prompting backlash from fans who feared “It’s not going to correct itself naturally,” work programming found that three of the Trank’s retooling of the superhero saga, Bell’s the new look didn’t do the character justice, said the sociology professor, co-author of four networks were whiter than the U.S. pop- Thing was achieved through motion capture wreaking havoc on 20th Century Fox’s plans UCLA’s annual report on minority representa- ulation and that three of the four also had a and CGI. to carefully control the film’s marketing tion in the industry. “I suspect we’ll have more higher percentage of blacks in leading or sup- “Jamie in real life is a tough guy,” Trank imagery. “Fantastic Four,” starring Miles and more dysfunction and lack of alignment porting roles - but that other minorities told Empire. “He exudes this strength. Ben is Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Bell, of people in the industry holding onto an lagged far behind. Industry leaders are recep- Reed’s best friend in the archetypal, spiritual will bow in theaters August 7. — Reuters SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Man charged with stalking Sandra Bullock stands trial man clutching a love letter when he was arrested Ain Sandra Bullock’s home as the actress cowered in a closet and called police for help was ordered Thursday to stand trial on stalking and weapons charges. Evidence showed that Joshua James Corbett stalked the Oscar-winning actress, broke into her home and had an arsenal of illegal assault weapons, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry A. Bork ruled. Bork said a 911 call in which a panicked Bullock described seeing a man in her home showed that Corbett was a danger. “I’m in my closet. I have a safe door,” Bullock, breath- ing heavily, is heard telling the dispatcher in the record- ing played in court. “I’m locked in the closet right now.” Corbett was clutching a black notebook with a two-page letter to Bullock and magazine photos of the actress when he was arrested. “He said, ‘I’m sorry. I love you Sandy,’ “Los Angeles police Officer Jose Bermudez testi- fied. A defense lawyer argued unsuccessfully to have stalk- ing and burglary charges thrown out because Corbett was suffering from a delusion that he was married to the actress and was only trying to deliver a love letter. “The love letter that Mr Corbett carried with him professed nothing but love and admiration,” attorney Paul Takakjian said. “There is nothing in there about harming her. The people are trying to make more of the case than there is.”

Repeatedly and maliciously Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall said Corbett had appeared at Bullock’s house three nights in a row and had broken into the home in the middle of the night. “It’s clear that he was stalking her repeatedly and maliciously,” Segall said. “There is not a more clear-cut case of stalking than this one.” The judge said graphic entries in the notebook, com- bined with photos of the actress wearing sheer clothing ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ with a low neckline supported an inference that there was a sexual motivation. “You are so hot and intelligent and lithesome and taut,” the judge read from the notebook, followed by an entry with sexual expletives. “One sees there is more than merely eyes $200m-plus debut a desire for connubial bliss, however misplaced,” Bork said. Corbett also is charged with having an arsenal of illegal hen “Avengers: Age of Ultron” opens in May, it will also outpaces the amount of conversation that surrounded weapons, including assault weapons, tracer ammunition likely have either the top-grossing or second-highest the first “Avengers” by 400% and last summer’s “Guardians of and machine guns that were found when authorities W grossing debut in movie history. Three years after the Galaxy” by 165%. Those are heady numbers given that searched his home. Corbett was not armed when he was they first stormed theaters, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are still Disney and Marvel only started to advertise heavily these arrested at Bullock’s residence, police have said. looking pretty muscular with most industry observers predict- weeks. Initial teasers for the film were lapped up and heavily Bullock did not testify during Corbett’s preliminary hear- ing a debut north of $200 million. That means the movie will shared, breaking records on YouTube and Facebook. It helps ing. Bork heard from several police officers who testified likely bypass “Iron Man 3’s” $175 million debut to become at that the studios didn’t deviate from a winning formula, bring- about responding to Bullock’s home, as well as a Los least the second biggest of all time, though it’s the first ing back stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Angeles police weapons expert who testified about the “Avengers’” record-setting $207.4 million kick-off that is the Evans and persuading Joss Whedon to take another spin in assault weapons and machine guns found at Corbett’s barrier that Disney and Marvel would like to cross. the director’s chair. home. Corbett, 39, who is being held on more than $2 mil- “It’s a movie that people are going to definitely go see,” Even without a lot of television spots or posters, pre-sales lion bail, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at for the film have been robust. A spokesman for Fandango scheduled to be arraigned again April 23 on all 26 felony BoxOffice.com. “There’s almost nothing major opening declined to give specific numbers, but said the film is out- counts. Bullock told police during the 911 call that she was between ‘Furious 7’ and when the film comes out, so there’s a selling the first “Avengers” by a significant percentage, and not armed and her son was not home at the time. Bullock lot of pent-up demand and a ton of goodwill from the first MovieTickets.com reports that US advance ticket sales for gave officers instructions on how to find her bedroom. movie.” The picture formally went on tracking Thursday, with “Avengers: Age of Ultron” are six times greater than they were When they got there, Bullock, who sounded like she was in services predicting a debut of between $190 million to $200 for the first film at the same point. Already there are hundreds tears, thanked the dispatcher. — AP million, roughly $70 million more than the first film was pre- of sold-out showtimes across the country, Fandango said. The dicted to make when it first went on tracking. Other analysts, problem with tracking is that for a film franchise that’s as such as BoxOffice.com, are projecting the film will make more widely known and enjoyed as “Avengers” it can be hard to than $210 million in its inaugural weekend. pin-point what percentage of the population will turn out on opening weekend. Projections for recent hits such as “Furious Expectations are gargantuan 7” and “Fifty Shades of Grey,” for instance, missed the mark by It’s easy to see why box office cognoscenti are feeling bull- tens of millions of dollars. ish. Online expectations for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” are gar- So the question is not whether “Avengers: Age of Ultron” gantuan, with fans on Twitter and Facebook enthusing over a will be huge. It’s can it grow to Hulk-like proportions. “The second chance to watch Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and others buzz is through the roof and the trailers look fantastic,” said assemble. “It’s a beast in social,” said Ben Carlson, president Eric Handler, an analyst with MKM Partners. “It should do just and co-creator of the social media tracking firm, Fizziology. as much if not more than the first ‘Avengers.’ I see no reason “When we look at the conversations people are having, it’s why it couldn’t be the largest opening ever.” — Reuters everything from people saying they’ve bought tickets to mak- ing plans with friends.” In this file photo, Sandra Bullock speaks at the 42nd AFI Eleven percent of the social media chatter indicates that Lifetime Achievement Award Tribute Gala in Los people intend to see the film, which Fizziology notes is high Angeles. — AP given that the volume for a typical blockbuster film is between 5% to 10% at a similar point in the build up to its release. It SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Hit ABBA musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ to close on Broadway after 14 years amma Mia!,” Broadway’s danc- ‘Ming queen, will close in September after a 14-year run that included two theaters and made it the eighth-longest running show on the Great White Way. Producers said Thursday that the frothy musical that uses ABBA songs will close Sept 5 after 5,765 performances. It has grossed more than $600 million - quite a lot of “Money, Money, Money” - and outlasted over 500 other Broadway productions. A hit in London, the show opened in New York in dark times, just a few weeks after the 2001 terror attacks. The New York reception turned out to be much like everywhere else. The feel-good show - featuring more than 20 classic ABBA hits, including “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” - has been a hit in dozens of countries, including South Korea, Italy, Denmark, South Africa and Spain. Producer Judy Craymer conceived of the show in the 1980s and approached members of ABBA. Instead of doing a This 2012 photo provided by Boneau/Bryan-Brown shows, (from left) Felicia musical about the band, she insisted their Finley, Judy McLane and Lauren Cohn, in Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ songs help tell an original story. “I love hit musical, ‘Mamma Mia!,” on Broadway. musicals and I loved ABBA’s songs and I sung onstage by a woman. That is the produce a movie version starring Meryl genuinely believe that those songs were ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.’ And that’s Streep that boosted the show’s box very theatrical,” Craymer explained in where it started.” Craymer teamed up office. The musical has resonated so 2013 when the show left the Winter with playwright Catherine Johnson and a much that it has in some ways become Garden Theatre after 12 years to its cur- story set on a Greek island was born: A better known than the people who creat- rent home at the Broadhurst Theatre. young woman who is about to be mar- ed the songs. “People hear ABBA and “To me, ‘The Winner Takes It All’ was ried wants her father to give her away. they go, ‘That’s “Mamma Mia!” said the big 11 o’clock number. That has to be The musical also prompted Craymer to Craymer. — AP Cross-dressing singer wins hearts in macho Bosnia hat night, Bozo Vreco risked old cross-dressing singer is one of everything. After seducing the Bosnia’s most beloved stars, his voice Taudience with his crystal clear described by fans as “mesmerizing” voice, Vreco disappeared from the and “magical.” stage and returned moments later to Vreco’s honesty and his emotional- continue his concert - dressed as a ly charged interpretations of woman. In notoriously macho Bosnia, “Sevdalinka” - Bosnian folk songs where gays mostly stay in the closet, it about lovesickness - have often left the took some time for people to realize audience, and himself, in tears. His pas- what had happened. But when the sion and artistry force even hardened truth sank in, the audience roared its conservatives to forget their preju- approval. dices, sometimes for good. Vreco “I was not afraid,” Vreco remem- expresses his feminine side on stage bers. “I wanted to see their reaction to wearing dresses, long tunics or floating who I am. To see whether it is enough coats which he whirls around on stage. to be honest for people to love you, Born in the eastern town of Foca, and it is.” Two years later, the 31 year- Vreco lost his father when he was 5 and grew up poor with a mother and two sisters. He was also bullied for coming across as effeminate in a con- Ground breaking Bosnian Serb singer Bozo Vreco, (second left) performs during a concert in Sarajevo. servative culture. “I swallowed my por- tion of torture, disapproval and dark Sevdalinka music - where he had no sing in a cafe. In no time, Vreco was ever wished anything for myself, it’s moments while growing up,” Vreco friends and no family, and where he part of a band and recorded his first this.” Hamida Besic, a 76-year-old said. “I was a child and did not learn to could have faced another layer of prej- CD. Then he embraced his identity for Sarajevan, saw Vreco in concert last make what is ugly bounce off me.” udice because of memories of Serbian everyone to see at that fateful concert. week. “People love courage,” said aggression during the Balkan wars. “I am happy now, Vreco said. “I am Besic. “Not only has he crushed all the ‘An angel in his throat’ A few days later, alone in his hostel who I am, both in private and profes- prejudice, but he has completely As he studied archaeology in room, Vreco opened the window and sionally.” defeated all of the provincial primi- neighboring Serbia, Vreco realized that watched the snowflakes falling on the His eyes glow when he talks about tivism of this society ... He also broke his real passion was Sevdalinka. One city’s rooftops - an image of fleeting his music - and his fans. “I am sur- national barriers. He crushed every- day, the ethnic Serb gathered courage beauty that gave him courage. “That’s rounded with so much love,” he said. thing.” “And the voice,” she said. “It is and traveled to Sarajevo - the heart of when I told myself, I will make it here,” “All the messages people are sending, as if God had placed an angel into his traditionally Bosnian Muslim he recalled. A local musician heard him all the stuff they say on the street. If I throat.” — AP SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

France’s president steps back in time at giant cave replica

French President Francois Hollande looks at replicas of cave paintings as Pascal Terrasse, President of the Cavern of Pont-d’Arc Grand Project, explains (unseen) during its inauguration visit in Vallon Pont d’Arc. — AFP

rench President Francois Hollande yesterday stepped the replica, entering a darkened, cool and humid place that hope that the giant replica will attract some 350,000 visitors a 36,000 years back in time into a darkened, cool cave to mirrors conditions in the grotto. Then just like in the real cave, year. Fadmire the earliest known figurative paintings of hands, people stick to a walkway that takes them past replica bones “The path through the replica is exactly the same as in the bears, rhinos and panthers. But he was actually above ground, and the skull of an Alpine ibex, a species of wild goat. original cave, for the very reason that the original cave is laid inaugurating a giant, millimeter-by-millimeter exact replica of The drawings reveal themselves as the visitors walk further out with a sort of progression,” Archeologist Jean-Michel the closely guarded Grotte Chauvet in southern France, into the fake cave, a total of 1,000 paintings including 425 ani- Geneste said. “The visitor to the replica gets the same impres- unearthed by chance in 1994 by a group of speleologists who mals-including bears, rhinos, big cats and owls. These have sions and in the same order.” In June, UNESCO awarded the discovered hundreds of paintings by the our prehistoric ances- been reproduced using charcoal, just like our Aurignacian cave its prestigious World Heritage Status, saying it contained tors. ancestors did some 36,000 years ago. “the earliest and best-preserved expressions of artistic creation Nestled deep in a limestone cliff that hangs over the mean- of the Aurignacian people, which are also the earliest known dering Ardeche River, the cave is closed to the public so scien- ‘Earliest known drawings’ figurative drawings in the world.” The opening of the cave, tists and artists toiled for years to build the 55-million-euro The paintings are more than twice as old as those in the located about 25 meters underground, was closed off by a replica down to cloning even the stalactites and stalagmites famed Lascaux caves also in southern France and more discov- rockfall 23,000 years ago. It lay undisturbed until it was found that pepper the real cavern. eries could be found in remote parts of the cave as yet unex- by three French cave experts and almost immediately The giant cave reproduction, which from the sky is shaped plored. Using ultra-modern techniques such as 3D imaging, declared a protected heritage site in France. “Its state of like a bear’s paw, stands on a lush hill close to the small town engineers, sculptors, painters and visual artists faithfully repro- preservation and authenticity is exceptional as a result of its of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, just one kilometer from the real deal, duced the paintings. A team of 10 people in Paris also worked concealment over 23 millennia,” UNESCO said. —AFP which last year became a UNESCO World Heritage site. The vis- for four years to reproduce stalactites, stalagmites and other itor walks down a long ramp to get into the building housing formations present in the Grotte Chauvet itself. Authorities

Amber Tamblyn writes book of poetry about dead actresses ctress Amber Tamblyn writes about dead Hollywood AP: Why did you focus on this dark topic? actresses in her new book of poems. But “Dark Sparkler” Tamblyn: If anything, I wanted other young women to see Ais more than that. “The book is about the lives and how much (of) our interior pains are the same and at the end of deaths of celebrity women in a certain way, but it’s also about the day what you feel is what I feel and it’s very similar, but voyeurism, it’s also about projection, it’s also (about) ... what it’s often times actors don’t really get to express that in a true man- ner because of the way in which we are promoted or the way like to be an object for a living,” Tamblyn, 31, said in a recent we promote ourselves. interview. Each poem is about a female celebrity who died before the age of 40, including Marilyn Monroe, Jayne AP: Was any story particularly hard? Mansfield and Rebecca Shaeffer. It took Tamblyn six years to Tamblyn: Dana Plato (who starred in TV’s “Diff’rent Strokes” write, with a year off when it became too much for her. She and died in 1999 at 34 from an overdose) was really difficult for said it began with a poem she wrote for actress Brittany me. ... I was like, ‘I’ve got to step back.’ ... That was a really hard Murphy, who died in 2009 from a combination of pneumonia, one and kind of the moment I went, ‘I just need to take five. anemia and multiple drug intoxication. Tamblyn said she Need to take a minute and remember I’m still alive.’ focused on women because “that’s what I know. ... I under- AP: There’s a page for Lindsay Lohan with just her name stood the lives of these women more personally and in a deep- and the rest is blank. Why did you do that? er way.” “Dark Sparkler” is the third book of poetry by Tamblyn, Tamblyn: I think that she is sort of categorically one of the who starred in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” films largest pop objects we have that we talk (about) and we proj- and on TV in “House” and “Joan of Arcadia.” She talked about ect our own fears onto and project our own beliefs and judg- the book, published by Harper Perennial, her “Sisterhood” ments onto her and her life. It was my way of putting a blank friends and actress Lindsay Lohan in a recent interview. page both for the media and people who have treated her in that way, but also it’s a page ... where I get to say, ‘You know, AP: What impact did writing this book have on you? I’m not gonna write this poem for you. I’m not gonna put you Tamblyn: Studying your dead peers will get to you. Plain in the category where everyone else puts you among these women. I’m putting you here because this is a poem about and simple. Reading autopsy report after autopsy report and voyeurism and it’s a book about people who also were subject- listening to interviews. ... It’s hard not to get obsessed and ed to that, but I’m not going to actually write the words the absorbed into that into the point where you start to lose your way other people do about your life and your future.’ That’s the File photo shows Amber Tamblyn at the Writers Guild mind a little bit. way that I see it. — AP Awards, in Los Angeles. — AP SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Festival goers attend the 2014 Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. Coachella festival goers take pictures of themselves in front of the “Escape Velocity,” moving sculpture. —AP photos Fashion and music to share spotlight at Coachella fest

estival fashion” is a thing, and Coachella is the place. The So for our industry to harness that was just a natural evolution.” “FCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, held in the The festival has even inspired its own namesake clothing line: Southern California desert on two consecutive weekends H&M introduced its sunny H&M Loves Coachella collection world- beginning yesterday, is a style destination as much as a musical wide last month. The Swedish retailer, a Coachella sponsor for the one - this year more than ever. Besides the ever-growing array of past six years, will host an interactive installation on the festival off-site parties and sponsored suites, there are now runway shows grounds this year that includes a “360-degree Selfie Station” and a and a pop-up fashion store on festival grounds. temporary store selling exclusive, festival-only products. So what is the Coachella look? Think hippie meets hipster: lots “We always thought that Coachella is as much about fashion as of fringe and crochet, with a requisite floral headband or floppy sun it is about music,” said H&M spokeswoman Marybeth Schmitt. The hat. Just google “Vanessa Hudgens Coachella.” And it goes way collection is available at 3,000 H&M stores around the world, she beyond the festival, which started humbly in the grunge days of said. General admission tickets to the festival cost $375 and VIP 1999. Because the event comes so early in the spring, when much passes sold for $899. All are sold out. — AP of the country is still defrosting from winter, “festival fashion” informs spring, summer and resort styles. Lana Del Ray ‘Millennials love experiences’ performs at the 2014 Fashionistas say a convergence of cool elements make Coachella Coachella a haute spot: It boasts an eclectic lineup of musicians Music and Arts (AC/DC, Jack White and Drake are headliners this year); its proximi- Festival. ty to Los Angeles means a high celebrity quotient; and its audience is plugged into Instagram, so images of the festival and its fashion span the world in real time. “Social media has had a huge influence on everyone getting involved,” said Lisa Sugar, founder of lifestyle site POPSUGAR.com, which is hosting three days of fashion events in nearby Palm Springs, California. Brands are seizing the opportunity to be part of the Coachella conversation and see the festival as a place to con- nect directly with young consumers, she said. “Millennials love experiences, and Coachella is just one great, big party. It’s a huge experience for this audience to really get excit- ed about,” Sugar said. “They plan for days what they’ll be wearing... So if a brand can offer them something organic, they’re engaged.” Among the brands getting in on the action: Pandora Jewelry, which is hosting a three-day “Fashion Experience” of runway shows by designers Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, WHiT and Siwy Denim. Other fashion and accessories companies are offering new designs aimed at festival-goers. For Love and Lemons, a maker of high-end clothing and lingerie, collaborated with jewelry designer Jackie Aiche on a capsule collection for Coachella: Sheer, lace and floral pieces to pair with specially created jewelry pieces that sell for $275 to $2,625.

Fashion week for the people “Coachella has almost become fashion week for people in California and LA,” said Kari Feinstein, a publicist sponsoring a “style lounge” in Los Angeles this week to connect brands with festival- bound celebrities. “It’s become sort of an outdoor runway, but not for high fashion. It’s more for lifestyle-driven brands.” The Council of Fashion Designers of America is adding the festi- val to its calendar for the first time this year. CFDA chief Steven Kolb said Coachella shapes today’s fashion much like the Woodstock fes- tival did in the early 1970s. “It’s the curation of artists and diversity of music that worked,” he said. “That’s always been true with music and fashion. Music has always influenced fashion and vice versa... TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Google anti-trust foes see friend in new EU chief BRUSSELS: After waiting more than four years for Brussels to resolve his anti-trust complaint against Google while traffic to his website plunged by 80 percent, Michael Weber of German online mapping service Hot- Map.com held out little hope of success. Until now. He says a meeting with the new competition chief of the European Commission has left him with newfound hope that Brussels will take action at last to curb behavior by the US Internet giant, which he blames for hurting his business. Danish politician Margrethe Vestager, who took over the EU competition portfolio in November, inherited an anti-trust complaint by more than a dozen companies against Google, left unresolved by her Spanish predeces- sor Joaquin Almunia. Almunia launched an investigation in 2010 and initial- ly concluded that Google may have hurt competitors by favouring its own products and services in search results HONG KONG: A customer picks up an Apple Watch at an Apple Store in Hong Kong yesterday. From Beijing to Paris to and blocking advertisers from moving their campaigns to San Francisco, the Apple Watch made its debut yesterday. Customers were invited to try them on in stores and order rival platforms. them online. — AP Since then, Google has offered three settlement pro- posals to resolve the case. Most recently, just over a year ago, it offered to give competing products and services Strong turnout as shoppers bigger visibility on its website, let content providers decide what material it can use for its own services and make it easier for advertisers to move their campaigns to get to try on Apple Watch rivals. Almunia initially accepted that deal, only to reverse his decision six months later and demand more concessions, Customers can test watches, order online leaving the ultimate decision to his successor. PARIS/SYDNEY: Consumers flocked to Earlier yesterday, Apple’s flagship store apps.. Sales estimates for 2015 vary widely. So far, Vestager has said nothing in public that would Apple Inc’s stores around the world yester- in Sydney’s financial district was packed Piper Jaffray predicts 8 million units and explicitly signal what course she is considering. She has day to get the first close-up look at the with those hoping to get the first peek at Global Securities Research forecasts 40 also indicated that she will not rush into a decision. Asked tech giant’s smartwatch, which the com- the device, although just around 20 die- million. By comparison, Apple sold nearly whether enforcement regulators should emphasise quick pany expects will be its next runaway hit. hard fans queued out front, modest by the 200 million iPhones last year. action in cases involving fast-moving technologies, The Apple Watch, CEO Tim Cook’s first standards of a major Apple launch. Apple’s watch is widely expected to Vestager told Reuters: “I don’t think that speed should be new major product and the company’s Based on recent customer interest at its outsell those by Samsung, Sony Corp and the priority. We should be even handed and open mind- first foray into the personal luxury goods stores, Apple expects demand for the Fitbit, that have attracted modest interest ed in interpretation of the facts. Of course it is better to market, was available for pre-order online watch, which allows users to check email, from consumers. It will likely account for be fast than slow but it’s even better to be just.” and to try out in stores- but not to take listen to music and make phone calls 55 percent of global smartwatch ship- Nevertheless, executives from some of the companies home. On April 24, consumers will be able when paired with an iPhone, to exceed ments this year, according to Societe that brought the complaint against Google say they are to buy it online or by appointment in availability at launch. Generale. more optimistic now than they have been for years, and shops including trendy fashion boutiques Reviewers this week praised the watch, “Apple will outsell its wearable rivals by that they believe action is finally coming soon. “With in Paris, London and Tokyo, part of Apple’s which also helps users monitor their a very wide margin but it will do this on Almunia, there was no real dialogue. With Vestager, it is strategy of positioning the wearable com- health and exercise, as “beautiful” and the power of its brand and its design different. The questions she asked us show that she puter as a must-have accessory. “stylish” but gave it poor marks for rela- alone,” independent technology analyst understands the complainants’ problems,” said Weber. Testing Apple’s mastery of consumer tively low battery life and slow-loading Richard Windsor said. — Reuters Another of the complainants, who spoke on condition trends, the watch is an untried concept for of anonymity because a meeting with Vestager was confi- the California-based company. It straddles dential, said: “The first thing she said at the meeting was a technology market accustomed to rapid In China, Apple Watches that she understands the harm we have suffered.” obsolescence and luxury goods whose The European Commission declined to comment on appeal lies in their enduring value. have their own consumers the case. Asked to discuss anti-trust issues, Google Before the Paris Apple store opened at SHENZHEN/HONG KONG: Lining the died in 2011. Customers in China and spokesman Al Verney declined to comment. 0900 local time, about 100 people were queuing outside. Staff cheered and glass display cases of Shenzhen’s giant elsewhere will be able to buy it from April tech malls, knock-off versions of Apple 24. HIGH STAKES applauded the first customers, most of Inc’s smartwatch were on sale at many In Hong Kong, the official Apple Store The stakes are high for Google which faces a fine of as them men aged under 30. stalls, with some Chinese consumers preview of the Watch was quiet. No much as $6.6 billion if found guilty of anti-competitive “I have everything from Apple so now I eager to snap them up for a fraction of queues stretched down the street as they behaviour. Even more disruptive, it may have to modify need to get the watch,” said 19-year-old the cost of the original. normally do for Apple product launches. its business practices. Jeremy Dugue wearing an Armani leather “It came on sale in mid-March and has A handful of people waited at the door, Google’s dominant positions in markets like online jacket after ordering the stainless steel been constantly out of stock,” said one outnumbered by Apple staff whose search, advertising and smartphone operating systems model at 1,149 euros. imitation Apple Watch seller who cheers lasted a handful of seconds. have drawn regulatory scrutiny in various jurisdictions The Apple Watch sport starts at $349 declined to give his name. “On average Most of the shoppers from mainland around the globe. while the standard version comes in at we sell around 40 a day. Some customers China, who commonly cross the border Its longstanding position is that competition is “just a $549 in the US High-end “Edition” watches just came and bought five or more at a to pick up the latest Apple must-have, click away” - a phrase meant to indicate that users have with 18-karat gold alloys are priced from time.” were there for other gadgets. easy access to use rival services - and that its products are $10,000 and go as high as $17,000. The mimic Watches, built on Google “I’m here to buy an iPad,” said a shop- popular because people find them useful. Vestager, 46, Within the first hour in Paris, many cus- Inc’s operating system, don’t need a sep- per from the southwestern city of was a free-trading economy minister in Denmark who tomers had pre-ordered their watch, and arate smartphone to work, said one mer- Chongqing, who gave her surname as jolted Danes with deep cuts to the social welfare system, several went for the entry-level model chant. At her store, one was retailing for Jian and said she didn’t know the pre- earning a reputation as a firm negotiator before coming with a black plastic bracelet. High demand 360 yuan ($58) — around one eighth of views launched that day. to Brussels. She has spoken in general terms of the need means some shoppers in Paris will have to the cost of Apple’s cheaper Watch mod- “I will take a look at the Watch later ... to keep fast-changing industries open and contestable wait 4-6 weeks before their watch arrives. els. none of my friends have talked about the and said both large and small players should be able to MIXED REVIEWS One version used a SIM card, could Watch back home.” But the technology compete on the merits of their products, comments that “It was comfortable, I didn’t think it make calls, send messages, browse the bazaars in the southern Chinese boom- some of the Google complainants have interpreted as would be that comfortable. It’s an easy Internet and take pictures, she said. town of Shenzhen were chaotic on sympathetic towards their case. way of managing your busy life,” said 19- Yesterday, Apple, the world’s most valu- Thursday. Merchants hawked their goods They also note that she met some of the complainants year old student Omar Alborno, one of the able technology company, started pre- to Chinese and foreign shoppers, show- before seeing Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt first to try on the watch at London’s luxury viewing the Apple Watch, its first new ing off different smartwatches’ various and general counsel Kent Walker last month. —Reuters Selfridges department store. gadget line since former CEO Steve Jobs colours and models. — Reuters TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Computer users face hard choice — pay ransom or lose files

NEW YORK: It’s a chilling moment: A cated process of paying cybercriminals. Anyone can be hit: individuals, big SecureWorks, a security arm of the com- message appears on a computer screen, Salter thought he was prepared for and small companies, even government puter maker. Many don’t have secure saying the files are encrypted and the such an invasion. Most of his files were agencies. The Durham, New Hampshire, backup systems that will allow them to only way to access them is by paying a backed up in a place hackers couldn’t police department was attacked by ran- retrieve uninfected files. Hackers can ransom. access, and he was able to restore his somware in June when an employee invade computers at large companies, as It happened at Jeff Salter’s home information. But one machine wasn’t; it clicked on a legitimate-looking email. seen in attacks at companies like retailer health care business last December. The contained marketing materials for his The department’s 20 computers were Target Corp. that stole customer infor- network of nearly 30 computers at San Antonio-based franchise chain with cleared of the ransomware and files were mation. Big companies’ risks from ran- Caring Senior Service was infected with 55 locations. Salter paid a $500 ransom. restored from a backup system. The somware are relatively low; they have ransomware, malicious software that “It would have cost us $50,000 to try Swansea, Massachusetts, police depart- backups and separate computers for hackers use to try to extort money from to spend the time to recreate the stuff,” ment, meanwhile, had to pay a $750 ran- departments like sales or accounting, people and businesses by preventing Salter says. “It would have been pretty som after it was attacked. Jarvis says. An email click in one depart- them from opening or using documents, devastating if we’d lost all that.” “We certainly are seeing ransomware ment could infect one or more comput- pictures, spreadsheets and other files. If as a common threat out there,” says FBI ers, but likely wouldn’t spread elsewhere. computer users don’t pay, there’s no way EVERYONE’S AT RISK Special Agent Thomas Grasso, who is Cyber criminals are starting to target they can access their files. Like many hackers’ tools, ransomware part of the government’s efforts to fight small businesses more than in the past Ransomware is one of the fastest- can arrive in emails with links or attach- malicious software including ran- because they’re vulnerable, says Liam growing forms of hacking, cybersecurity ments that, when clicked on, unleash somware. O’Murchu, a security executive at experts say. Anyone from a home com- software into files. Attacks can also occur Attacks are generally random, but antivirus software maker Symantec Corp. puter user to a Fortune 500 company can when users visit websites; cybercriminals specific companies and people can be Symantec and other companies involved be infected. It can also attack smart- can attach computer code even to well- targeted. Many small businesses and in cybersecurity work with the govern- phones. The smaller the users, the more known sites operated by tech-savvy individuals are at risk because they lack ment to try to identify hackers. One way vulnerable they are to losing their files - companies, says technology consultant technology teams and sophisticated hackers fool small businesses is by unless they have a secure backup for Greg Miller of CMIT Solutions of Goshen, software to protect them from hackers, attaching realistic-looking invoices to their system or go through the compli- New York. says Keith Jarvis, a vice president at Dell emails, O’Murchu says. — AP MacBook brings iPad’s minimalism to laptop

NEW YORK: From the moment I took it out of the box, Apple’s new MacBook looked and felt like an iPad. The laptop is Apple’s lightest and thinnest yet and borrows many of the iPad’s designs, including the lack of a fan. The result is a 2-pound (0.92 kilogram) laptop that feels almost non-existent on my lap. Yet it packs in a lot of power, including a high-reso- lution display and a sturdier keyboard. The new MacBook goes on sale Friday starting at $1,299 in silver, gold or gray (the same choices as the iPad). Its box even resem- bles the iPad’s.

SEOUL: Journalists hold a Samsung Electronics Co.’s NEW KEYBOARD Galaxy S6 (left) and Galaxy S6 Edge (right) smartphones To make the MacBook as thin as it is - a half- during its launch event at company’s headquarter. — AP inch (13.1 millimeters) at the thickest point - Apple had to redesign the keyboard. Traditional Samsung hopes to reverse keys need to be tall to properly strike the mech- anism that records the keystroke. Otherwise, fortunes with Galaxy S6 you’d need to strike at the center, which many SAN FRANCISCO: In this March 9, 2015 file photo, members of the media and SEOUL: When Samsung dubbed development of its latest smart- people don’t do. With the redesign, you can Apple guests get a look at the new MacBook in the demo room after an Apple phones “Project Zero,” it was sounding a note of desperation as strike shorter keys from the edge. event. —AP sales tumbled and it lost pole position in the crucial Chinese mar- Those shorter keys help keep the laptop ket to rivals Xiaomi and Apple. thin. The new keyboard takes getting used to, so you can get the same response anywhere. put. It uses a new standard called USB-C. The results of its overhaul, the flagship Galaxy S6 smartphone even after a week of testing. I feel as though I There’s also a second sensor now to The problem is most gadgets still use old- and the S6 Edge, went on sale in 20 countries yesterday. Samsung, need to press more firmly. But taller, old-style record the amount of pressure you’re apply- er USB ports, so you’ll need a $19 adapter for which said “Project Zero” signified starting from scratch, is hoping keys on some keyboards have started to feel ing. A click followed by a firm press activates a a single device. It’s likely outside parties will a revamped design, a more intuitive interface and less clutter will flimsy by comparison, as though about to number of features. Press on a document soon make adapters to connect multiple USB help claw back lost market share. come off their springs. The new keyboard icon, and a preview pops out. Press on an devices simultaneously, but if you use USB They are Samsung’s first flagship products to hit shelves since does get more comfortable over time- just address in an email, and a map opens up. On regularly, you might consider getting an Air or its mobile business suffered a 40 percent slump in earnings last don’t expect to write a novel on Day One. some video apps, the pressure determines Pro model instead. year. It retained its position as the world’s top selling smartphone Although it’s small, the new MacBook how quickly you forward or rewind. These A $79 adapter gives you video output, maker last year, but was the only top-five smartphone maker to retains a full-size keyboard. In fact, that’s why gestures primarily work with Apple apps for with a USB port thrown in. You also might sell fewer phones. In the final quarter of 2014 it slipped marginally the screen is 12 inches - it matches how much now, but other app developers can incorpo- need a $19 extender for the power cord, as behind Apple in sales, according to Gartner, a market research space the keyboard needs. (The screen, inci- rate the functionality. the box no longer comes with it. I find the firm. dentally, is stunning - compared with The MacBook does all this magically with- included cord too short. Cord extenders from Consumers and media were head over heels over Apple’s new MacBook Air’s lower-resolution screen. The out the touchpad actually moving. Apple older MacBooks will work, too. iPhones with bigger screens, while the plastic foundation of fish in “Finding Nemo” look colorful and added a haptic engine to replicate the feeling Speaking of power, I got eight to 11 hours Samsung’s Galaxy models was increasingly derided as looking sharp.) of clicking and pressing. It isn’t needed tech- of battery life on a single charge, which is cheap. In China, Samsung was unprepared for the sudden popular- nologically, but will help keep things familiar impressive given that the high-resolution ity of cheaper smartphones made by local manufacturer Xiaomi. NEW TOUCHPAD for users. Apple also updated its high-resolu- screen requires more power than regular As part of its rethink, Samsung replaced executives in its mobile Also contributing to thinness is a new tion, 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro with screens. Apple saved energy by having indi- team while keeping the CEO and streamlined its various moving touchpad that Apple calls Force Touch. On this new touchpad. I imagine future models vidual pixels on the screen let through more parts. So far the changes seem to be paying off. earlier MacBooks, the touchpad acts like a getting it, too. light. It also squeezed in more battery by Pre-launch reviews praised Samsung’s decision to ditch a plastic springboard. When you press it, you’re physi- shrinking the circuit board and using odd body and replace it with glass and metal for the new phones. The cally moving it to activate the sensor. You also MINIMALISM shapes to fit into all remaining space. The bat- company also seemed to finally heed persistent complaints that its have to press harder toward the back, near Most of the expansion ports have disap- tery life isn’t as good as what you get on a 13- phones are too complicated and it trimmed the dauntingly long the springboard’s hinge, than you do in front. peared. In its place is a single charging port inch Air, but it should be adequate for most list of apps that cluttered screens. — -AP In the new MacBook, sensors are embedded, that’s also used for accessories and video out- days. —AP TV listings SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

12:40 Survive That! 21:35 Strangest Weather On Earth 22:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 07:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:45 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 13:30 Survive That! 22:00 Weird Or What? 22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 07:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:00 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night 14:20 Survive That! 22:50 How It’s Made: Dream Cars Witch 08:00 Chopped Takeaway 15:10 Survive That! 23:15 How It’s Made: Dream Cars 22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 09:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 20:05 Mr Selfridge 16:00 Gold Rush 23:40 How It’s Made Witch 10:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 21:00 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 00:15 My Family 16:50 Gold Divers 23:10 Wolfblood Basics 21:45 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 00:45 Doctors 17:40 Alaska: The Last Frontier 23:35 Wolfblood 10:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 23:00 Coronation Street 01:10 Casualty 18:30 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell Basics 23:25 Coronation Street 02:00 Pramface 19:20 Tethered 11:00 Siba’s Table 23:50 Coronation Street 02:30 Silent Witness 20:10 Edge Of Alaska 11:30 Siba’s Table 04:15 The Weakest Link 21:00 Storage Wars Canada 12:00 Guy’s Big Bite 05:00 Show Me Show Me 21:25 Storage Wars Canada 12:30 Chopped 05:25 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n Roll 21:50 Storage Wars Canada 00:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 13:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:45 Nina And The Neurons: In The 22:15 Storage Wars Canada 00:00 Violetta 00:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Lab 22:40 Storage Wars Canada 00:45 The Hive 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:00 America The Wild 06:00 Gigglebiz 23:05 Treehouse Masters 00:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 01:25 THS 15:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 06:15 Show Me Show Me 23:55 The Pool Master Witch 02:20 E! News 15:30 Chopped 02:00 Banged Up Abroad 06:40 Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock n Roll 01:15 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 03:15 Keeping Up With The 16:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 03:00 Convoy: War For The Atlantic 07:00 Nina And The Neurons: In The Witch Kardashians Basics 04:00 Armageddon Outfitters Lab 01:40 Wolfblood 04:10 Beyond Candid With Giuliana 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 05:00 Animal Mega Moves 07:15 The Weakest Link 02:05 Wolfblood 05:05 The E! True Hollywood Story Basics 06:00 Wild Russia 08:00 Mr Stink 02:30 Violetta 06:00 Keeping Up With The 17:30 Guy’s Big Bite 07:00 Family Guns 08:55 BBC Proms 2011: Film Music 03:15 The Hive Kardashians 18:00 Guy’s Big Bite 08:00 America The Wild Night 00:05 How It’s Made 03:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 06:55 Keeping Up With The 18:30 Guy’s Big Bite 09:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 10:50 The Weakest Link 00:30 How The Universe Works Witch Kardashians 19:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:00 Banged Up Abroad 11:35 The Vicar Of Dibley 01:20 How Do They Do It? 03:45 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 07:50 Style Star 19:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 11:00 Science of Stupid 12:15 Mr Stink 01:45 How Do They Do It? Witch 08:20 E! News 20:00 Chopped 11:30 Science of Stupid 13:10 Casualty 02:10 Through The Wormhole With 04:10 Wolfblood 09:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 21:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 12:00 Crash Science 14:00 Eastenders Morgan Freeman 04:35 Wolfblood 09:45 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills Basics 13:00 Megastructures 14:30 Eastenders 03:00 Food Factory 05:00 Violetta 10:15 E!ES 21:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 14:00 Doomsday Preppers 15:00 Eastenders 03:24 Food Factory 05:45 The Hive 11:10 E!ES Basics 15:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 15:30 Eastenders 03:48 How It’s Made: Dream Cars 05:50 Mouk 12:05 E! News 22:00 BBQ Crawl 16:00 Dogtown 16:00 The Weakest Link 04:12 How It’s Made: Dream Cars 06:00 Dog With A Blog 13:05 Giuliana & Bill 22:30 BBQ Crawl 17:00 Beyond Magic with DMC 16:45 Hebburn 04:36 Sport Science 06:25 Girl Meets World 14:05 Christina Milian Turned Up 23:00 Fast Foods Gone Global 18:00 Is It Real? 17:15 A Farmer’s Life For Me 05:24 How The Universe Works 06:50 Binny And The Ghost 14:30 Christina Milian Turned Up 19:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 18:05 Hustle 06:12 How It’s Made 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water 15:00 Fashion Bloggers 20:00 Dogtown 18:55 Doctor Who 06:36 How It’s Made 07:40 Jessie 15:30 Fashion Bloggers 21:00 Beyond Magic with DMC 20:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 07:00 How Do They Do It? 08:05 Liv And Maddie 16:00 House Of DVF 22:00 Is It Real? 20:45 Pramface 07:25 How Do They Do It? 08:30 Binny And The Ghost 17:00 House Of DVF 23:00 Science of Stupid 00:35 Midsomer Murders 21:15 Him & Her 07:50 How Do They Do It? 08:55 Hank Zipzer 18:00 E! News 23:30 Science of Stupid 21:45 Live At The Apollo 08:15 How Do They Do It? 09:20 Dog With A Blog 19:00 Who Wore It Better? 02:00 The Chase: Celebrity Specials 22:30 Ideal 08:40 How Do They Do It? 09:45 Gravity Falls 19:30 Who Wore It Better? 02:55 Emmerdale 23:00 Hebburn 09:05 How Do They Do It? 10:10 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Keeping Up With The 03:20 Emmerdale 23:30 The Weakest Link 09:30 How It’s Made 10:35 Geek Charming Kardashians 03:55 Emmerdale 09:55 How It’s Made 12:15 Hank Zipzer 21:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 04:20 Emmerdale 10:20 How It’s Made 12:40 Gravity Falls 21:30 Christina Milian Turned Up 04:45 Emmerdale 10:45 How It’s Made 13:05 Binny And The Ghost 22:00 E! News 05:00 Coronation Street 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 11:10 How It’s Made 13:30 Girl Meets World 23:00 The Soup 05:25 Coronation Street Stewart 11:35 How It’s Made 13:55 Dog With A Blog 23:30 THS 05:50 Coronation Street 01:00 Hot In Cleveland 12:00 Food Factory 14:20 H2O: Just Add Water 06:15 Coronation Street 01:30 You’re The Worst 14:55 Hank Zipzer 06:40 Coronation Street 02:00 You’re The Worst 00:40 Nigellissima 12:25 Food Factory 15:20 Binny And The Ghost 07:05 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night 02:30 Friends With Better Lives 01:10 Masterchef: The Professionals 12:50 Food Factory 15:45 Jessie Takeaway 03:00 Last Man Standing 02:00 Bargain Hunt 13:15 Food Factory 16:10 Spooksville 08:15 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 03:30 New Girl 02:45 Come Dine With Me 13:40 Food Factory 16:35 Girl Meets World 09:00 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 04:00 Two And A Half Men 03:10 DIY SOS: The Big Build 14:05 Food Factory 17:00 Liv And Maddie 09:55 Vera 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 04:05 Come Dine With Me: South 14:30 Through The Wormhole With 17:25 Dog With A Blog 11:35 Coach Trip Jimmy Fallon Africa Morgan Freeman 00:30 Guy’s Big Bite 17:50 Hank Zipzer 12:00 Coach Trip 06:30 My Boys 04:55 Nigellissima 15:20 Moon Machines 01:00 BBQ Crawl 18:15 Jessie 12:25 Coach Trip 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:20 Masterchef: The Professionals 16:10 The World’s Strangest UFO 01:30 BBQ Crawl 18:40 Binny And The Ghost 12:50 Coach Trip 08:00 Two And A Half Men 06:15 Bargain Hunt Stories 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:05 H2O: Just Add Water 13:15 Coach Trip 09:00 Last Man Standing 07:00 Masterchef: The Professionals 17:00 Space Pioneer 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:30 H2O: Just Add Water 13:35 Coach Trip 09:30 Black-Ish 07:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 17:50 Alien Encounters 03:00 Guy’s Big Bite 19:55 H2O: Just Add Water 14:05 The Jonathan Ross Show 10:00 Parks And Recreation 08:20 Masterchef: The Professionals 18:40 How The Universe Works 03:30 Guy’s Grocery Games 20:20 H2O: Just Add Water 15:00 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night 10:30 My Boys 09:10 Masterchef: The Professionals 19:30 Invent It Rich 04:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 20:45 H2O: Just Add Water Takeaway 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 09:35 Masterchef: The Professionals 20:20 Superhuman Science 05:00 Chopped 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 16:05 Mr Selfridge Jimmy Fallon 10:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 20:45 Superhuman Science 06:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 21:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 17:00 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 12:30 Two And A Half Men 11:20 New Scandinavian Cooking 21:10 Strangest Weather On Earth 06:30 Siba’s Table 13:00 My Boys 11:45 Come Dine With Me 13:30 My Boys 12:15 Come Dine With Me 14:00 New Girl 12:40 Come Dine With Me 14:30 Black-Ish 13:05 Come Dine With Me 15:00 Parks And Recreation 13:30 Come Dine With Me 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 14:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Stewart Edition Specials 16:00 Hot In Cleveland 15:15 Bargain Hunt 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 16:00 Bargain Hunt 18:00 Last Man Standing 16:45 Bargain Hunt 18:30 New Girl 17:30 Come Dine With Me: South 19:00 2 Broke Girls Africa 19:30 Cougar Town 18:20 Extreme Makeover: Home 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring Edition Specials Jimmy Fallon 19:35 Extreme Makeover: Home 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition Edition 21:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:15 Masterchef: The Professionals 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:00 Friends With Better Lives 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

08:00 C.S.I. 14:00 C.S.I. 00:20 Fast N’ Loud 18:00 C.S.I. 01:10 Fast N’ Loud 19:00 Unforgettable 02:00 Misfit Garage 20:00 The Blacklist 02:50 Wheeler Dealers 21:00 Resurrection 03:40 Storage Hunters 22:00 Satisfaction 04:05 Dukes Of Haggle 04:30 Storage Wars Canada 05:00 How It’s Made 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Chaos Caught On Camera 06:25 Chaos Caught On Camera 06:50 What Happened Next? 01:00 Good Morning America 07:15 What Happened Next? 03:00 Grimm 07:40 Man vs Expert 04:00 The Strain 08:30 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell 05:00 Good Morning America 09:20 Tethered 09:00 Royal Pains 10:10 Survive That! 12:00 Covert Affairs 11:00 Survive That! OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 13:00 The Fosters 11:50 Survive That! CAPTAIN AMERICA - THE WINTER SOLDIER ON 15:00 Live Good Morning America TV listings SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

16:00 Royal Pains 17:00 Covert Affairs 18:00 The Fosters 19:00 Royal Pains 20:00 Covert Affairs 21:00 The Fosters 22:00 Grimm 23:00 The Strain

00:00 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 02:15 Hansel & Gretel 04:00 Prisoners Of The Sun 06:00 Fatal Instinct 08:00 Breakout 09:45 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 12:00 Fatal Instinct 14:00 A Good Day To Die Hard 16:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange 17:45 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 20:00 Breakout 22:00 Police Story

00:15 Hansel & Gretel-PG15 02:00 Prisoners Of The Sun-PG15 04:00 Fatal Instinct-PG15 06:00 Breakout-PG15 07:45 Captain America: The Winter Soldier-PG15 10:00 Fatal Instinct-PG15 12:00 A Good Day To Die Hard-PG15 14:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange-PG 15:45 Captain America: The Winter Soldier-PG15 18:00 Breakout-PG15 20:00 Police Story-PG15 22:00 The Lone Ranger-PG15

THE LONE RANGER ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 00:00 The Hungover Games 02:00 Elektra Luxx 17:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit- PG15 14:20 Oprah’s Lifeclass 20:20 Murder Shift 15:10 Sofia The First 04:00 AmeriQua 15:10 Cake Boss 21:10 Murder Shift 15:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 06:00 The Heat 19:00 Ride Along-PG15 21:00 That Awkward Moment-PG15 15:35 Cake Boss 22:00 True CSI 16:00 Cars Toons 08:00 Struck By Lightning 04:00 Live Bellator 23:00 Seven Psychopaths-18 16:00 Cake Boss 22:50 Deadly Affairs 16:05 Lilo & Stitch 10:00 Article 99 10:30 Live NRL Premiership 16:25 Cake Boss 23:40 Deadly Affairs 16:30 Adventures Of The Gummi 12:00 Son Of Rambow 12:30 Live NRL Premiership 00:30 Evil, I Bears 14:00 Home Alone 3 16:50 Cake Boss 16:30 Top 14 Highlights 00:55 I Was Murdered 17:00 Chip n Dale Rescue 16:00 Struck By Lightning 17:15 Secrets Of The High Street 17:00 Live Top 14 01:20 I Almost Got Away With It Rangers 18:00 The World’s End 17:40 Secrets Of The High Street 19:30 Super Rugby Highlights 02:10 True CSI 17:25 Ducktales 20:00 Breathless 18:05 Oprah’s Master Class 18:00 Art Attack 20:00 Live Super Rugby 22:00 Not Suitable For Children 18:55 Say Yes To The Dress 18:30 Sofia The First 01:00 The Legend Of Sasquatch 21:00 Oprah’s Lifeclass 18:55 Calimero 02:45 Dudley Do Right 19:05 Cars Toons 04:15 Back To The Sea 21:50 Oprah’s Next Chapter 22:40 America’s Worst Tattoos 19:10 Limon And Oli 06:00 The 7th Dwarf 19:25 Jake And The Never Land 08:00 Barbie Fairytopia 23:05 90 Days To Wed 01:00 Won’t Back Down-PG15 01:30 ICC Cricket 360 Pirates 10:00 Zambezia 23:55 90 Days To Wed 19:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 03:00 Ashes-PG15 11:30 Barbie As The Island Princess 02:00 Indian Premier League H/L : 03:00 Art Attack 05:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 03:25 Julius Jr. 20:20 Sofia The First 13:00 Dudley Do Right KXIP v RR 20:50 Adventures Of The Gummi 07:00 Timer-PG15 14:30 Moshi Monsters: The Movie 13:30 Live Indian Premier League : 03:35 Calimero 09:00 Emperor-PG15 Bears 16:00 Ernest & Celestine CSK v SH 03:50 Henry Hugglemonster 11:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 04:00 Zou 21:15 Chip n Dale Rescue 18:00 Zambezia 17:00 ICC Cricket 360 Rangers 13:00 Dawn Rider-PG15 20:00 Happy Feet 04:15 Mouk 17:30 Live Indian Premier League : 21:45 Ducktales 15:00 Phantom-PG15 22:00 Moshi Monsters: The Movie 04:25 Jungle Junction 17:00 Emperor-PG15 KKR v RCB 04:35 Art Attack 22:15 Art Attack 23:30 Ernest & Celestine 22:40 Limon And Oli 19:00 Philomena-PG15 21:00 Indian Premier League H/L : 03:00 Crimes That Shook The 05:00 Julius Jr. 22:50 Henry Hugglemonster 21:00 Seeking A Friend For The End KXIP v RR World 05:10 Calimero 23:05 Zou Of The World-PG15 03:45 Dates From Hell 05:25 Henry Hugglemonster 22:00 Indian Premier League RPT : 23:20 Mouk 23:00 Trespass-PG15 04:07 Dates From Hell 05:35 Zou CSK v SH 23:35 Jungle Junction 04:30 Couples Who Kill 05:50 Mouk 23:50 Art Attack 00:00 Sacrifice-18 05:20 True Crime With Aphrodite 06:00 Jungle Junction 02:00 Peeples-PG15 Jones 06:10 Art Attack 04:00 Muppets Most Wanted-PG 06:10 On The Case With Paula 06:35 Julius Jr. 06:00 Madagascar-PG Zahn 06:45 Calimero 00:00 Little Miss Sunshine 08:00 The Grandmaster-PG15 07:00 Dates From Hell 07:00 Jungle Junction 02:00 Saturday Night Fever 10:00 Drillbit Taylor-PG15 07:25 Dates From Hell 07:15 Zou 04:30 The Portrait Of A Lady 07:50 On The Case With Paula 07:30 Calimero 12:00 Last Vegas-PG15 00:45 Breaking Amish 00:20 Ultimate Honey Badger 06:30 Annie 14:00 The Croods-PG Zahn 07:45 Loopdidoo 01:35 The Undateables 01:10 Wild Survivor 09:00 My Last Day Without You 16:00 The Grandmaster-PG15 08:40 Real Emergency Calls 08:00 Limon And Oli 11:00 Blancanieves 02:25 Tina Malone: Pregnant At 50 09:05 Real Emergency Calls 08:10 Jake And The Never Land 02:00 World’s Deadliest Killers 17:30 The Great Gatsby-PG15 02:50 Predator Battleground 13:00 Corpse Bride 20:00 Stand Up Guys-PG15 03:15 Medical Anomalies 09:30 Who On Earth... Pirates 14:30 Jobs 04:05 Driving Me Crazy 09:55 Who On Earth... 08:35 Doc McStuffins 03:45 Fur Seals: Battle For 22:00 Walk Of Shame-PG15 Survival 17:00 My Last Day Without You 05:00 Driving Me Crazy 10:20 Who On Earth... 09:05 Art Attack 10:45 Who On Earth... 09:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 04:40 Caught In The Act GPU 19:00 The Glass Man 06:00 17 Kids And Counting 11:10 The Will 10:00 Sofia The First Reversions 21:00 I, Anna 06:25 Toddlers & Tiaras 23:00 True Confessions 12:00 The Will 10:25 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 05:35 World’s Weirdest 07:15 Toddlers & Tiaras 12:50 Deadly Affairs 10:55 Zou 06:30 Hooked 03:00 Live NHL 08:05 Randy To The Rescue 13:40 Fatal Encounters 11:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:25 Monster Fish 07:30 NRL Full Time 08:55 Randy To The Rescue 14:30 Fatal Encounters 11:45 Jake And The Never Land 08:20 How Human Are You? 08:00 Live NRL Premiership 09:45 Cake Boss 15:20 Blood Relatives Pirates 09:15 World’s Wildest 10:00 Super Rugby Highlights 10:35 Kate Plus 8 16:10 Real Emergency Calls 12:00 Doc McStuffins Encounters 01:00 The Courier-PG15 10:10 Animal Superpowers 10:30 Live Super Rugby 11:25 17 Kids And Counting 16:35 Real Emergency Calls 12:15 Sofia The First 03:00 Streetdance: All Stars-PG15 12:30 Live Super Rugby 17:00 Stalked: Someone’s 12:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:05 World’s Deadliest 05:00 The Nut Job-FAM 11:50 17 Kids And Counting 12:00 Alaska Fish Wars 14:45 Live Super Rugby Watching 13:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 06:45 Saving Mr. Banks-PG15 12:15 18 Kids And Counting 17:25 Stalked: Someone’s 13:35 Zou 12:55 World’s Deadliest Killers 17:30 Super Rugby Highlights 09:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 12:40 18 Kids And Counting Watching 13:50 Jake And The Never Land 13:50 Man V. Lion 10:45 Need For Speed-PG15 18:00 Live Super Rugby 13:05 18 Kids And Counting 17:50 I Was Murdered Pirates 14:45 Wild Indonesia 13:00 Mandela: Long Walk To 21:30 This Is The President Cup 13:30 Say Yes To The Dress: The Big 18:15 I Was Murdered 14:15 Doc McStuffins 15:40 Planet Carnivore Freedom-PG15 22:00 Live The Masters Day 18:40 Murder Shift 14:45 Limon And Oli 16:35 One Ocean 15:30 Foodfight!-PG 19:30 Murder Shift 14:55 Loopdidoo 17:30 World’s Deadliest WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Dr Majed Al-Ali, Ahmadi educational zone recently organized a special ceremony to honor participants in the Charity and benevolence activity organized by the area’s social and psy- chological services supervision.

NBK organizes Omra trip for its employees

s part of its social activities that reflect its keenness on enhancing the ‘one-family spirit’ amongst all employees, NBK recently organized its annual special Omra trip for the bank employees and their families. The PR manager Ya’qoub Al-Baqer said that NBK had been organizing Omra trips for over 15 years for Abank employees from various departments along with their families. He added that during the trip, NBK pilgrims visited Makkah, Madina and other sites like Qeba’ mosque and Uhud mountain.

KUWAIT: KU’s Safety and Security manager Yousif Al-Khamees said that his department recently took part in an exhibition held at the regency Hotel under the theme ‘How Safe is Your Food’ in collaboration with MoH as they mark the World Health Day 2015. The exhibition was held under the auspices of the Health Minister Dr Ai Al-Obaidi. KU’s section dis- played the medical services provided at KU clinics as well as the safety precautions flyers, banners and booklets it publishes ot boost safety awareness within campus. WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Bhavan extends a warm welcome

havans Middle East and its institutions The principal, the vice principals and the The classrooms were decorated well in rooms. across the Middle East region have staff, were seen at the entrance exchanging advance to welcome the students. A panel of A special assembly with regard to the Bgrown tremendously over the past few pleasantries with the newcomers. The staff art teachers adjudged the most appealing opening day was conducted in the school years both in terms of quality and quantity. members were seen ushering the tiny tots to classroom. The bulletin boards were adorned hall. The minstrels of CBSE-I sang soulful IES Kuwait is one such institution in the their classrooms. The school entrance was with motivational quotes of the prominent melodies to welcome the newcomers. In the Bhavan family that has witnessed an amazing bedecked with colorful balloons. The young personalities. An array of cultural activities prevailing amiable ambience, the newly influx of quality education seekers in the children of the pre-primary and primary wing was also organized to add lustre to the cele- appointed vice principal, Suresh V recent past. It was indeed a feast for the eyes were accorded a grand welcome with wel- brations. Motivational videos were shown Balakrishnan of the CBSE-I introduced himself to capture the colors of a very vivid and come songs and by giving away balloons as with the purpose of warding off diffidence to the students and delivered a motivational vibrant welcoming ceremony organized to tokens of welcome and affection. The campus and pessimism from the hearts of the future speech. Sweets and toffees were also given paint the very first page of a new academic resonated with the laughter and frolicking of aspirants. away to the children making the welcoming year with brilliant colors of enthusiasm, ela- the students who met their classmates after a The class teachers of grade five engaged ceremony sweeter and more pleasing. The tion and gusto. scheduled hiatus. the students in a range of varied activities in adage ‘well begun is half done’ was religiously The first week of April witnessed a slew of The first and second graders were also accordance with the principles of QCT lived out in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kuwait on activities coordinated and organized to add shown cartoon movies to make them feel at (Quality Circle Time formulated by J Mosley) the first day of the academic calendar. When festivity and effervescence to the commence- ease. The teachers also played many a game The CBSE I (international) wing of IES also an institution pays utmost attention to ment of the new academic year 2015-2016 with the children. It was indeed interesting to made the reopening day of the academic year minute details nothing but fulfillment, con- and also to celebrate the reopening of the watch the young children talk about them- truly memorable. The CBSE-I arena had been tentment and gratification fill the hearts of school as the students climbed one rung selves, their likes and dislikes upon having set natural and child friendly with welcoming the educators, the students, and the parents above in their pursuit of perfection. The cam- handed over a plush toy during a game simi- greenery of indoor plants in every nook and to the brim. pus was decorated with festoons and colorful lar to musical chair. The Middle and Senior corner. Students of class 6 being the senior posters enunciating the tagline ‘welcome wings adopted a different approach towards most in the wing were vested with the onus back to school.’ welcoming the newcomers. of ushering the new entrants into their class- Bhavan affirms its preeminence in painting contests

he Kuwait Times, one of the most the sub junior category. The saga of success grade 9, Catherine Vismaya Biju, and Abu achievement. He thanked the art faculty for renowned dailies in Kuwait organized continued in other categories as well. Ibtihal Amaan Pal of grade 11 have bagged runners their painstaking efforts that helped Bhavan Tan open art contest last month namely Iftikhar and Eleena Sara Mathew of grades 5 up prize in the senior and super senior cate- gain indomitable supremacy in the inter- ‘Kuwait Beautiful and Green Students Art and 7 respectively won the runners up prize gories. T Premkumar, the principal, IES con- school art competitions. Competition.’ Over 15,000 thousand students in the junior category. Gayathri Jayakumar of gratulated the winners on their remarkable from all the schools in Kuwait represented their institutions in the interschool open art contest. Painters par excellence of Indian Educational School, Kuwait (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) once again proved their pre-emi- nence in art contests and painting by winning prizes in all the categories that they have par- taken. This astounding achievement proudly pro- claims the quality of art education at Indian Educational School. The painters par excel- lence of IES won many an interschool art com- petition yesteryears as well. The school boasts of a roomy arena set aside exclusively for training the students the various genres of art such as painting, collage, drawing, and sketching. The head of the art faculty Mukundan Pazhanimala and his team expressed happiness over winning the con- test. He said that Bhavanites had won many prizes in the art competitions organized by Kuwait Times earlier as well. The competition was held under four cate- gories on the basis of the contestants’ age ranging from 6 to 17 years. Fida Ancy , Prakha Bhandari, Abhiram Vinod Kumar of grades 3, 4 and 5 respectively bagged runners up prize in HEALTH SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

Does midlife obesity lower the risk of dementia? PARIS: People who are obese in middle age you may not live long enough to get the ben- decades, the researchers found, “the inci- obese in middle age have an increased risk of run a lower risk of developing dementia later, efit of it.” dence of dementia continued to fall for every dementia in older age.” said a large and long-term study yesterday increasing BMI category with very obese peo- Further research was needed to confirm whose findings challenge the prevailing wis- Ill-founded ple (a BMI over 40) having a 29 percent lower the link and find an explanation for it, the dom. On the other end of the scale, however, But the widely-held belief that reducing dementia risk than people of a healthy researcher added. “There are some potential being underweight in the 40-55 age bracket obesity in middle age could help prevent weight.” contenders, particularly in terms of the role was associated with a higher risk, the dementia may also be ill-founded, said the Just over 45,500 of the total study group that nutrients may play,” he said. The team researchers found. team, and required a rethink of how we iden- developed dementia. “Compared with peo- hoped their results would aid in the search While admitting they were “surprised” by tify high-risk individuals. The researchers ple of a healthy weight, underweight people for “protective factors” with a view to new the potential protective effect of obesity, the combed a British database of patient infor- (BMI under 20) had a 34 percent higher risk of treatments. team cautioned against jumping to conclu- mation recorded from 1992 to 2007, repre- dementia,” added the authors. The under- Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) sions. The reasons for the observed associa- senting some nine percent of the UK popula- weight category is a wide one, ranging from projects the number of people with demen- tion were not known, they wrote in the jour- tion. lean to skeletal, said Qizilbash, who described tia will rise from 35.6 million in 2010 to 65.7 nal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. In what they claimed was the largest-ever the increased risk as “significant”. million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050. “The message that people shouldn’t take study of any link between bodyweight and Obesity, too, is soaring, having more than away is that it’s OK to be overweight or dementia risk, the team analyzed the medical ‘We were surprised’ doubled worldwide since 1980. By 2014, obese,” study co-author Nawab Qizilbash of records of nearly two million 40-plussers. Numerous other studies, including one more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight, the OXON Epidemiology research company They compared the patients’ BMI (body carried by The Lancet Neurology in July 2014, of whom 600 million were obese, according told AFP by telephone from Madrid. “We do weight index, a ratio of weight to height) to have linked obesity to a higher risk for to the World Health Organization. In a com- know... that if you are overweight or obese how many developed dementia later on. A Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of ment also carried by The Lancet, neurology you have a high risk of (early) death, so it is BMI of 25 and higher is classified overweight, dementia. But Qizilbash said most were “fair- professor Deborah Gustafson said the find- not clear that the net benefit on dementia and 30 and over obese. ly small and statistically unreliable”. “We were ings should be interpreted “with care”. “The would be positive. “In other words, even if Anything less than 18.5 is generally con- surprised about the findings because the report by Qizilbash and colleagues is not the there were to be protective effects on sidered underweight, though for this study majority of previous studies have tended to final word on this controversial topic,” she dementia from being overweight or obese, the researchers set the bar at 20. Over two indicate that people who are overweight or wrote. — AFP Cambodia’s self-taught doctors, a Rouge legacy ‘Hundreds of unlicensed doctors treating patients’

KAMPONG SPEU: When the phone rings, former Khmer Rouge soldier Ken Mon grabs a bag stuffed full of medicine, jumps on his motorbike and heads for an impoverished Cambodian vil- lage with the haste of any diligent local doctor. Yet the 55-year-old Mon has no formal medical training. While ‘doctor’ is a self-granted title for Mon, he-and others like him are the only source to treatment for thousands of poor residents in Ang Ro Ngeang village, about 70 kilometers south of Phnom Penh. Undeterred by his lack of qualifications, Mon drives ten minutes down a bumpy track in Cambodia’s southern Kampong Speu province, arriving at the home of Chei Tana, 27, who com- plains of crippling stomach pains. “You have a lot of air inside your stomach,” he explains after examining his patient, giving him a packet of antacid pills. Mon is one of hundreds of unlicensed doctors treating patients across a country whose medical system was eviscerated under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s and is yet to build a comprehensive public system. Seventy percent of Cambodians seek healthcare from the private sector-including from pharmacies, illegal doctors or traditional healers, known as “Kru Khmer”- according to a 2012 survey by the World Health PHNOM PENH: This photo taken on February 13, 2015 shows Cambodian women with their babies in front of the Kantha Bopha Organization. hospital. — AFP But illegal doctors have fallen under intense hinterlands. Neither have they been able to ade- hold on the Thai border. Mon’s skills with official health centers often failing scrutiny after a mass outbreak of HIV at a remote quately boost the ranks of doctors, a profession There he learned his medical skills, first from to guarantee a better quality of care. village in western Cambodia last November. decimated by the Khmer Rouge who slaugh- Khmer Rouge medics and later from foreign doc- The WHO has said that 43 percent of the Authorities say the original infection was caused tered a huge proportion of the country’s educat- tors working for the Red Cross. “The first day, 11,000 health centres across Cambodia-the first by an unqualified doctor, Yem Chroeum, who ed classes. That legacy still haunts the country they gave me a syringe and medicine and asked port of call for medical treatment-are unable to has admitted he re-used needles and syringes. today. World Bank figures say Cambodia, one of me to inject a wounded soldier,” he recalls, provide full services due to a lack of physicians, More than 200 of his patients have since tested Asia’s poorest nations, has just 0.2 doctors for adding he can now deal with a myriad of proce- medicine or equipment. Meanwhile, a World positive for HIV and Chroeum faces trial on every 100,000 people, on a par with Afghanistan. dures from treating diseases such as malaria and Bank survey last year found only one in three charges of murder, deliberately infecting people Similarly impoverished Myanmar has 0.4 per typhoid to suturing wounds. official doctors in rural health centres were able with the virus and operating an illegal clinic. The 100,000, while France boasts 3.2 per 100,000. to correctly diagnose a series of illnesses. Of scandal saw the government vow to crack down For millions of Cambodians, doctors like Mon ‘We trust him’ those who could, just 17 percent were able to on unlicensed health providers. Their practice are their cheapest-and often only-option. “I Nuch Dy, a 56-year-old widow from a nearby prescribe relevant drugs. “affects the lives of the people and the reputa- learned my medical skills at the university of life,” village, has never seen a qualified doctor. “(The For the seriously ill-and the very young-a city tion of the country”, according to Sok Srun, direc- he said, adding authorities have never stopped health centre) is far and I don’t have money to pay clinic is almost always the only option. Outside a tor of the health ministry’s hospital services him practicing medicine. Ironically that educa- immediately,” she says. Instead she treats her long- children’s hospital in Phnom Penh, Heng Hen, 45, department, which oversees the licensing of tion came from the same people who destroyed time stomach problems with painkillers and waits patiently with three sick grandsons after medical staff and clinics. Cambodia’s health system. Mon joined the antacid pills bought from Mon-often on a tab. making the 80 kilometer journey at dawn. Khmer Rouge as a fighter in 1974, shortly before Neighbor Uon Sreang, 35, tells AFP that everybody “Medics in the countryside don’t have ability to Slaughter of doctors the hardline communist regime seized power. in the village is aware their doctor has no formal treat children yet,” Hen says. He admits the Despite their concerns, officials are yet to When it was finally toppled in 1979 — after caus- training. “But we trust him. He always used new recent HIV outbreak has given him pause for come up with a policy to persuade newly-trained ing the deaths of up to two million Cambodians syringes and needles when he gave injections to thought over the wisdom of continuing to seek doctors to leave the relative comforts of the through execution, starvation or overwork-he my family members,” she says, her nine-month-old treatment from unlicensed medics. “But we have cities and head into Cambodia’s remote, rural and many other cadres fled to Samlot, a strong- baby in her arms. There is a logic to their faith in no choice because we are poor,” he says. — AFP HEALTH SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

US clinician TB drug offers sign of hope in S Africa cured of Ebola Possible breakthrough after decades of frustration WASHINGTON: An American clinician has been cured of JOHANNESBURG: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a Ebola and was discharged major health challenge across much of Africa, but a from a hospital near the US new medicine being pioneered in South Africa could capital, officials said Thursday. be a breakthrough after decades of frustration. The man, whose identity has Bedaquiline is being made available to 3,000 people not been revealed, was sick- suffering side effects of the usual drug-resistant ened with the often deadly tuberculosis treatment, or who have developed virus while working in Sierra complete drug resistance. Leone, and was flown to the The early signs are encouraging, doctors say, United States for treatment though bedaquiline hasn’t yet been tested in large- last month. scale clinical trials. The new drug-one of the first “We’re heartened by the new tuberculosis antibiotics released in 40 years- news that our colleague is was first given to 217 South African patients as part heading home, free of Ebola, of an early access program. and making his way toward a Jennifer Hughes, a 36-year-old British doctor in full recovery,” said Sheila Cape Town, said she has seen the benefits. Already, Davis, chief of Ebola response word has spread at Hughes’s clinic in Khayelitsha, a for Partners In Health, the poor township, and people are coming from all over medical charity that employed the city requesting the new drug, developed by US- him in west Africa, which is fac- based pharmaceutical company Janssen. ing the deadliest outbreak of “Everyone has heard that this is where you get KLERKSDORP: Former tuberculosis affected patient Ashley McQuire receives his medication Ebola in history. “His commit- better treatment,” said Hughes, who recalls the from a nurse in the tuberculosis ward of Tshepong Hospital. — AFP ment to strengthening the “really, really happy day” when her first bedaquiline Drug resistance growing On a Wednesday morning in March, Black was quality of health care in some patient was declared tuberculosis-free in November Ndjeka said South Africa was paying approxi- on duty at a drug resistant tuberculosis clinic at the of the world’s poorest commu- last year. South Africa has one of the worst tubercu- mately $1,000 per six-month course of bedaquiline, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic nities is something we should losis epidemics in the world, with more than 1,000 which can run a hefty price tag of up to $30,000 in Hospital. Over 20 people were waiting for treat- all be proud of.” cases per 100,000 people and the department of developed countries. Globally, drug-resistant tuber- ment, all with white masks covering their mouths. The man was admitted to health describing the rise of drug-resistant tubercu- culosis cases are growing so fast that last year the Overhead, ultraviolet lights-light kills tuberculosis the National Institutes of losis as a “major public health problem.” WHO warned that rates were at “crisis levels.” germs-cast a purple glow on the room. Health Clinical Center in “We want to get 3,000 patients on bedaquiline Tuberculosis, a contagious bacterial infection of the Occasionally, a person let out a hacking cough. Bethesda, Maryland on March this year, and plans are in place to scale up,” said lungs, is one of the world’s most deadly diseases, While the new drug is welcome, South Africa’s 13. “The individual is no longer Norbert Ndjeka, South Africa’s director of the drug- killing 1.5 million people in 2013. ability to combat tuberculosis is held back by an contagious to the community,” resistant tuberculosis program. “The drugs are Though promising, experts point out that the overstretched health care system, said Black. the NIH said in a statement, already in a number of our facilities. Definitely these new drug is not a silver bullet and has side effects People often default in their treatment because noting that he had been drugs will reach the patients.” of its own, including liver and heart complications. they have to travel so far to a clinic and miss count- released earlier Thursday. “At The treatment is also being used in Russia and “The treatment we’ve got is not great, but we know less days of work. Still, despite the challenges, Black the request of the patient, no has received conditional guidelines from the World what the side effects are,” said Andrew Black, a pul- believes South Africa is making progress. “We further information is being Health Organization (WHO). But clinical trials aren’t monologist at the University of Witwatersrand in won’t know if we’re winning for a couple of years,” provided.” — AFP concluded, and the drug can be prohibitively expen- Johannesburg. “At the moment we don’t know he said, “but it’s not like HIV was, we’re not ignor- sive-factors that have limited its distribution. (enough) about the new drug.” ing it.” — AFP SATURDAY, APRIL 11 2015 change my name to ONONA- Kuwait CHANGE OF NAME JI CHINWEOKE IHEYINWA. KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY 1-4-2015 I, Radhakishin Tewani, (09/04/2015 TO 15/04/2015) Passport No. Z1448477, change my name to MATRIMONIAL Radhakishan Tewani. SHARQIA-1 HOME 4:30 PM Special Show “CINDERELLA” 7:30 PM (C 4965) Nair boy M.Sc (N) 30y/184 CINDERELLA 1:00 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 3:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 10:15 PM cms Avittam Sudhajathakam THE COBBLER 3:15 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 6:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:45 AM I, Marakkar working in Kuwait MOH pre- CINDERELLA 5:15 PM THU+ FRI+MON Sayedali S/o AVENUES-5 Saidalavi Kaipran, holder of ferring girls working in CINDERELLA 7:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 6:45 PM Kuwait contact: suchitku- THE COBBLER 9:45 PM NO THU+ FRI+MON CINDERELLA 12:30 PM Indian Passport No. [email protected] FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:45 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 9:30 PM CINDERELLA 3:00 PM F7810429, residing at Kaipran (C 4961) FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:30 PM CINDERELLA 5:30 PM house Valiyora P.O. 5-4-2015 SHARQIA-2 FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:30 AM Special Show “CINDERELLA” 5:15 PM Puthanangdi, Malappuram FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:45 AM CINDERELLA 8:00 PM Dist. 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(C 4963) CINDERELLA 2:45 PM CINDERELLA 7:15 PM THE COBBLER 11:45 AM A02398494 do hereby CINDERELLA 5:00 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 9:30 PM THE COBBLER 1:45 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 7:15 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 11:45 PM THE COBBLER 4:00 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 9:30 PM THE COBBLER 6:15 PM Prayer timings FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:45 PM MARINA-2 THEEB (Arabic) 8:30 PM Fajr: 04:05 FAST & FURIOUS 7 1:00 PM THE COBBLER 10:45 PM MUHALAB-2 FAST & FURIOUS 7 3:45 PM THE COBBLER 1:00 AM Shorook 05:26 FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:30 AM FAST & FURIOUS 7 6:30 PM SKIN TRADE 2:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:15 PM AVENUES-9 Duhr: 11:49 NO FRI+SAT+MON FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:05 AM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 1:00 PM Asr: 15:23 HOME 2:00 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 3:15 PM FRI+SAT+MON MARINA-3 ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 5:30 PM Maghrib: 18:12 FAST & FURIOUS 7 4:30 PM THE COBBLER 11:30 AM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 7:45 PM NO FRI THE COBBLER 1:30 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 10:00 PM Isha: 19:31 S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 4:00 PM THE COBBLER 3:30 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 12:15 AM FRI NO FRI+SAT+MON S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 7:00 PM JUNGLE MASTER 3:30 PM AVENUES-10 THU+FRI+MON JUNGLE MASTER 5:30 PM A LITTLE CHAOS 12:00 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 10:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 7:30 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 2:30 PM THU+FRI+MON THE COBBLER 10:15 PM A LITTLE CHAOS 5:00 PM Sabah Hospital 24812000 SKIN TRADE 1:00 AM THE COBBLER 12:15 AM THE LONGEST RIDE 7:30 PM Amiri Hospital 22450005 THU+FRI+MON A LITTLE CHAOS 10:15 PM SKIN TRADE 8:00 PM AVENUES-1 THE LONGEST RIDE 12:45 AM Maternity Hospital 24843100 NO THU+FRI+MON JUNGLE MASTER 12:00 PM Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 FAST & FURIOUS 7 10:00 PM JUNGLE MASTER 2:00 PM AVENUES-11 NO THU+FRI+MON S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 4:00 PM HOME 11:30 AM Chest Hospital 24849400 SKIN TRADE 12:30 AM JUNGLE MASTER 4:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 1:30 PM Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 NO THU+FRI+MON S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 7:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 4:15 PM THU+FRI+MON FAST & FURIOUS 7 7:00 PM Adan Hospital 23940620 MUHALAB-3 THE CANAL 6:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:45 PM Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 JUNGLE MASTER 11:45 AM THE CANAL 8:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:30 AM FAST & FURIOUS 7 1:45 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 10:00 PM Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 FAST & FURIOUS 7 4:15 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 10:00 PM 360º- 1 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 FAST & FURIOUS 7 6:45 PM RUN ALL NIGHT 1:00 AM FAST & FURIOUS 7 1:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 3:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:15 AM AVENUES-2 FAST & FURIOUS 7 6:30 PM SKIN TRADE 12:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 9:15 PM Kaizen center 25716707 FANAR-1 SKIN TRADE 2:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:05 AM Rawda 22517733 JUNGLE MASTER 11:30 AM HOME 4:30 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 1:15 PM HOME 6:30 PM 360º- 2 Adaliya 22517144 JUNGLE MASTER 3:45 PM SKIN TRADE 8:30 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 11:45 AM Khaldiya 24848075 ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 5:30 PM SKIN TRADE 10:30 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 2:15 PM ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 7:45 PM SKIN TRADE 12:30 AM THE LONGEST RIDE 4:45 PM Kaifan 24849807 ASWAR AL QUMAR- Arabic 10:00 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 7:15 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 12:15 AM AVENUES-3 THE LONGEST RIDE 9:45 PM Shamiya 24848913 CINDERELLA 11:30 AM THE LONGEST RIDE 12:15 AM Shuwaikh 24814507 FANAR-2 CINDERELLA 2:00 PM CINDERELLA 11:45 AM CINDERELLA 4:30 PM 36º- 3 Abdullah Salem 22549134 CINDERELLA 2:00 PM CINDERELLA 7:00 PM THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT 1:00 PM Nuzha 22526804 BROKEN HORSES 4:15 PM THE LONGEST RIDE 9:30 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 3:30 PM CINDERELLA 6:15 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 12:05 AM THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT 3:30 PM Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 CINDERELLA 8:30 PM NO FRI Qadsiya 22515088 BROKEN HORSES 10:45 PM AVENUES-4 S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 6:30 PM BROKEN HORSES 12:45 AM FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:30 AM THU+FRI+MON Dasmah 22532265 FAST & FURIOUS 7 2:00 PM THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT 6:30 PM Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 FANAR-3 FAST & FURIOUS 7 4:45 PM NO THU+FRI+MON FAST & FURIOUS 7 11:30 AM Special Show “FAST & FURIOUS 7” 5:00 PM S/O SATYAMURTHY- Telugu 9:30 PM Shaab 22518752 FAST & FURIOUS 7 2:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 7 7:30 PM THU+FRI+MON Qibla 22459381 information SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

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Arrival Flights on Saturday 11/4/2015 JZR 357 Mashhad 17:30 KAC 101 London/New York 10:00 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 FDB 056 Dubai 10:40 QTR 1084 Doha 00:05 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:50 PIA 205 Lahore 00:15 SVA 500 Jeddah 18:00 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:15 IRM 1180 Mashhad 18:10 KAC 501 Beirut 11:00 JZR 239 Amman 00:20 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 18:20 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:25 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 502 Beirut 18:35 KAC 561 Amman 11:25 DLH 637 Dammam 00:35 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:35 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 FDB 068 Dubai 00:55 CLX 856 Luxembourg 18:50 JZR 356 Mashhad 11:40 JAI 574 Mumbai 01:30 KAC 542 Cairo 18:55 KAC 541 Cairo 12:05 JZR 539 Cairo 01:30 KAC 618 Doha 18:55 UAE 874 Dubai 12:10 SAI 441 Lahore 01:35 QTR 1080 Doha 18:55 RBG 554 Alexandria 12:10 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:40 KAC 742 Dammam 19:00 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 KAC 104 London 19:00 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 KKK 6507 Istanbul 02:15 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 AGY 685 Sohag 12:40 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871 Dubai 12:45 DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 THY 773 Istanbul 02:05 FDB 064 Dubai 19:50 MRJ 4815 Mashhad 13:05 SAI 442 Lahore 02:35 QTR 1081 Doha 19:55 THY 766 Istanbul 13:10 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 02:55 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:00 JZR 779 Jeddah 13:50 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 361 Colombo 20:00 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 KKK 6508 Istanbul 03:10 CLX 856 Hong Kong 20:20 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 OMA 644 Muscat 03:35 UAE 876 Dubai 20:35 KNE 460 Riyadh 14:10 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 FDB 057 Dubai 14:20 FDB 068 Dubai 04:00 FDB 062 Dubai 20:35 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 QTR 1077 Doha 04:05 AGY 681 Alexandria 20:50 IZG 4167 Mashhad 14:30 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 KAC 1543 Cairo 20:55 KAC 540 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:50 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 KAC 543 Cairo 20:55 IZG 4161 Mashhad 14:50 PGT 861 Istanbul 04:45 OMA 648 Muscat 21:00 ABY 127 Sharjah 14:55 MSC 406 Sohag 05:00 ABY 122 Sharjah 21:00 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 15:00 THY 765 Istanbul 05:05 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:00 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00 QTR 1085 Doha 05:20 KAC 287 Dhaka 21:05 KNE 462 Madinah 15:05 GFA 050 Bahrain 06:00 KAC 351 Kochi 21:05 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 RJA 643 Amman 06:35 KNE 461 Riyadh 21:10 OMA 645 Muscat 15:50 GFA 212 Bahrain 06:50 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 RJA 640 Amman 15:55 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:15 SYR 341 Damascus 15:55 FDB 070 Dubai 07:05 MSR 607 Luxor 21:30 KNE 472 Jeddah 16:00 JZR 164 Dubai 07:15 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 535 Cairo 16:05 JZR 324 Al Najaf 07:55 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 22:05 FDB 051 Dubai 16:10 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:05 QTR 1072 Doha 16:20 JZR 778 Jeddah 08:30 FDB 074 Dubai 22:10 JZR 125 Bahrain 16:25 BAW 156 London 08:35 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 KAC 118 New York 16:30 KAC 539 Sharm el-Sheikh 08:50 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 IRC 526 Mashhad 16:30 QTR 1087 Doha 08:55 KAC 349 Kochi 22:30 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 381 Delhi 22:30 KNE 474 Jeddah 16:55 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:30 KAC 562 Amman 17:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:30 QTR 1075 Doha 22:40 IRA 669 Mashhad 17:10 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:50 UAL 982 IAD 17:25 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:00 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KNE 471 Jeddah 23:05 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

3. Having come or been brought to a conclusion. WORDSEARCH PUZZLE 4. An excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn back- CROSSWORD869 ward to move earth. 5. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 6. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off. 7. Predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin. 8. Of or like a cecum. 9. Denoting a quantity consisting of one more than eight and one less than ten. 10. A resource. 11. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily. 12. Rendered motionless for lack of wind. 13. A translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color. 14. A small cake leavened with yeast. 20. Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stair- way. 22. The fatty flesh of eel. 24. United States comedian and actor in silent films noted for his acrobatic skills and deadpan face (1895-1966). 27. The cry made by sheep. 29. Being ten more than one hundred ninety. 30. Feeling or showing extreme anger. 32. Desert shrub of Syria and Arabia having small white flowers. 33. United States swimmer who in 1926 became the first woman to swim the English Channel (1903- ). 35. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia. 36. Of or relating to the lips of the mouth. 41. Drought-tolerant herb grown for forage and for its seed which yield a gum used as a thickening agent or sizing material. 42. A mountain in the Andes in Argentina (22,047 feet high). 43. A roughly cylindrical that is vessel open at the top. 46. A medicinal drug used to evoke vomiting (especially in cases of drug overdose or poisoning). 47. One million periods per second. ACROSS 48. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh. 1. A person regarded as arrogant and annoying. 49. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth 5. Given to avoiding association with others. (born in 1934). 12. A former monetary unit in Great Britain. 55. Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field. 15. Rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos. 56. A port city of south central Ukraine on an arm of the Black Sea. 16. Inability to make purposeful movements. 57. A genus of tropical American plants have sword-shaped leaves and a fleshy com- 17. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution pound fruits composed of the fruits of several flowers (such as pineapples). and protecting the environment. 61. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds. 18. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the 63. Knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote. sale of petroleum. 64. (computer science) A graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a pro- 19. Any competition. gram or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface. 21. English statesman famous for his oratory. 65. Fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan. 23. Framework for holding objects. 68. A young woman. Yesterday’s Solution 25. The basic unit of money in Western Samoa. 69. A unit of weight used in east Asia approximately equal to 1.3 ounces. 26. (Greek mythology) The goddess of youth and spring. 70. An inactive volcano in Sicily. 28. Of or belonging to an aecium. 72. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. 31. Relating to or like or divided into areolae. 73. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning. 34. Relating to or located near the organ that produces tears. 77. A crystalline metallic element not found in nature. 37. Remove with or as if with a ladle. 38. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself). 39. Any of several tall tropical palms native to southeastern Asia having egg-shaped Yesterdayʼs Solution nuts. 40. Liquid excretory product. 44. A light touch or stroke. 45. Any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart). 50. Being one more than one hundred. 51. A high-crowned black cap (usually made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus. 52. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 53. Type genus of the Amiidae. 54. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia). 58. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite. 59. Harsh or corrosive in tone. 60. An elegantly dressed man (often with affected manners). 62. (anatomy) Of or relating to the ilium. 66. A state in the eastern United States. 67. Proceed or issue forth, as from a source. 71. A baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style. 74. Nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate. 75. Electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities. 76. The positive fractional part of the representation of a logarithm. 78. Range of what one can know or understand. 79. Adult female chicken. 80. Cause to appear in a lower class, as in sports. 81. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. DOWN 1. A coarse obnoxious person. 2. Chevrotain somewhat larger than the kanchil. CHALLENGING MAZE Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Sports SATURDAY, APRIL11, 2015 Spieth sizzles at Masters

AUGUSTA: Rory McIlroy and Tiger tricky day. The wind was swirling a lit- appearances, got to six under before Woods dominated the build-up to this tle bit. Pin positions were tough. he slipped back with a bogey at the week’s Masters but it was exciting Anything under par I felt was a pretty par-four last. “I just want to keep American Jordan Spieth who pro- good score.” grinding,” said the 45-year-old, who duced the fireworks in a gripping While McIlroy found conditions to had never previously shot under 70 in opening round at Augusta National be tricky, players such as Els, Rose, the opening round at Augusta on Thursday. Hoffman and Day went birdie hunting National. “There’s a lot of golf to be Spieth, the hottest player in the as they climbed up the leaderboard. played, but it’s a really nice start.” game over the past six months, raised “I just knew that if I could just be Bubba Watson, seeking to join Jack hopes of shooting the first 62 at a patient and give myself opportunities, Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods as major championship before he ran especially on the back nine, I could the only players to win consecutive out of steam over the closing stretch get something going,” said Day, who green jackets, bogeyed the final hole to fire an eight-under-par 64. The 21- reeled off five consecutive birdies for a 71 to finish in a large group that year-old recorded his only bogey of from the par-three 12th before he included 2011 champion Charl the day at the par-five 15th, where he bogeyed the 17th. Schwartzel of South Africa. Long-time overshot the green with his third, but “It’s good momentum going into fan favorite Phil Mickelson, a three- signed off in style by draining a 20- tomorrow.” South African Els, who has time winner at Augusta National, footer to birdie the last. recorded six top-10s in 20 Masters opened with a 70. —Reuters “I’m very pleased, it was nice to get off to a good start,” said Spieth, who birdied four of his first nine holes on a receptive, rain-softened layout at Augusta National to race to the turn in four-under 32. “The course was as get- table as I think it will be this week today. To make nine birdies out here, you know, that’s a dreamy round for me. It was a lot of fun.” Spieth finished three shots in front Marc Marquez of American Charley Hoffman, 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose of England, four-time major winner Ernie Marquez seeks Els of South Africa and Australian Jason Day. World number one McIlroy, in pur- to bounce back suit of a career grand slam of the four majors, hit a couple of poor chip shots AUSTIN: World champion Marc Marquez will be looking to on his front nine on the way to a 71 rebound tomorrow when MotoGP returns to the Circuit of the that left him seven strokes off the Americas in Texas, where the Spaniard has won the past two pace. years. Marquez and Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa both Four-times champion Woods, who qualified on the front row of the season opener in Qatar a shares the brightest glare of the spot- fortnight ago, but settled for fifth and sixth place in a race light with McIlroy this week on his won in scintillating style by nine-time world champion much anticipated return from a two- Valentino Rossi. month hiatus while retooling his Rossi is eager to build on that success, but the Italian swing, often struggled off the tee and acknowledged that the Circuit of the Americas in the Texas on the greens as he opened with a 73. state capital of Austin has never been friendly to Yamaha. “It was a good day, I felt like I hit “The race in Qatar was the best way to start the champi- the ball well enough to shoot three onship,” he said on Thursday, but noted that even a podium under par,” said Woods, who decided place has so far eluded Yamaha in two prior editions of the only six days ago to compete at Austin race-both won by Marquez. “It’s not the best track for Augusta National after struggling us,” he said. “I’ll try to do the maximum. On the track, Marc has badly with his short game in his two been very, very strong. A good target is to be in the first tournament starts this season. three.” The season’s first race was a see-saw battle that saw “I made maybe two dumb mistakes the the lead change hands numerous times before the 36- out there. The only thing I struggled year-old Rossi opened up a slight gap on the final two laps with was the pace of the greens, and held off the charging Andrea Dovizioso on his Ducati, which were much slower than we who was looking for his first win in MotoGP. expected. You know, I’m still in it. I’m It was a stunning 109th victory for the iconic Rossi and his only nine back. And we have a long 197th podium as Italy swept the board with Andrea Iannone, way to go.” also on a Ducati, coming home third. While Woods’ golfing fortunes Marquez’s mistake at the first corner dropped him to the have plummeted over the past year, back of the field, although his fight back to fifth place showed McIlroy’s have soared and he is bid- he has plenty of speed. “I’m really looking forward to getting ding to become the seventh career to Austin and putting Qatar behind us,” Marquez said. “The grand slam winner following Woods, Circuit of The Americas is one of my favorite circuits and I Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, have good memories of taking my first win in the MotoGP Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen. class, back in 2013, and also winning there last year. “We need to work hard from FP1 and then keep this SCORING CONDITIONS momentum for the whole weekend and have a ‘normal’ race.” On Thursday, however, the HRC Honda will be without Pedrosa, who has opted for a sec- Northern Irishman failed to make the ond surgery on a troublesome forearm injury. The Spaniard most of good scoring conditions as he will miss this weekend’s race in Texas as well as the Argentine mixed three birdies with two bogeys Grand Prix a week later. in front of massive galleries at a Japan’s 2009 250cc champion Hiroshi Aoyama will fill in for steamy Augusta National. Pedrosa. He is already the team’s test driver. “I’m really sorry “I just kept telling myself to be for Dani,” Marquez said. “Myself and the whole team wish him patient out there today,” said McIlroy, AUGUSTA: Jordan Spieth reacts to his chip shot to the second green dur- a speedy recovery. We welcome Hiroshi to the team and will the tournament favorite. “It was a help him how we can!” —AFP ing the second round of the Masters golf tournament. —AP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 11 , 2015

Broke India team turn to Twitter for support Fund for trip to Kuwait for tournament

MUMBAI: While India’s money-spinning cricket league Ice hockey does not get even that. The team need and other expenses, the players are left to fend for them- lavishes million-dollar deals on players for just a few about two million rupees ($32,170) to travel to Kuwait for selves. IHAI officials used their personal credit cards to weeks of competition, the national ice hockey team have the International Ice Hockey Federation Challenge Cup of book tickets to Kuwait for the players. had to go begging on social media to fund their trip to Asia Division I from April 18-24. The Twitter campaign The national team, who have nine players currently Kuwait for an international tournament. with the hashtag ‘SupportIceHockey’ has seen more than serving in the army, started participating in international Players often have to buy their own equipment and half the amount raised in the last week. tournaments from 2009. They are practising on an ice rink look for their own sources to fund trips abroad, a situation Harjinder Singh, general secretary of IHAI, told Reuters that is one-third the size of the international standard. which prompted the Ice Hockey Association of India that the decision to turn to social media for funding was a Though there are a number of outdoor rinks in (IHAI) to start a campaign on Twitter seeking donations. reflection on ice hockey lowly status in India. Northern India, there is virtually no ice to skate on in the “It is so tough to push sports like ice hockey when “We wanted to create awareness about the sport and months of March and April. The country does have an cricket takes up all sponsor budgets. We have a national what we go through to participate in international cham- indoor rink that meets international standards but that team and are begging for money,” read a Tweet from the pionships,” he said in an interview. has been closed since it hosted the IIHF Challenge Cup of association last month. “People are not aware that India actually has an ice Asia in 2012. “We hosted the Asian championship hoping While the country’s cricket board generates riches hockey team. Winter sports have not got much accept- that it would encourage the sport in the country,” Singh through lucrative television deals and sponsorship, other ance in India, be it with the government or the corpo- said. “But since 2012 no tournament has happened there sports rely largely on government funds and rare corpo- rates.” While the international governing body of the and it’s lying shut since then. “There is no one who can rate handouts for support. sport provides India with coaches and bears their travel take it up as the cost of electric supply is huge.”— Reuters Flames grab playoff berth

CALGARY: Jiri Hudler scored twice and the O’Reilly and Matt Duchene scored in the LIGHTNING 4, DEVILS 3 Hammond had 26 saves for his third shutout Calgary Flames clinched an NHL playoff berth for shootout, and Reto Berra stopped both Winnipeg Tyler Johnson scored his second goal, an over- as the Senators improved to 22-4-4 since Feb. 10. the first time in six years with a 3-1 win over Los shots. Berra finished with a season-high 41 saves, time power play effort. Johnson scored from along They have 97 points in the wild five-team race for Angeles on Thursday night that eliminated the then stymied Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd in the goal line 1:22 into the extra session. the final four playoff spots in the Eastern defending Stanley Cup champion Kings from post- the shootout. Nikita Nesterov and Steven Stamkos also Conference, and will make the postseason by season contention. Johnny Gaudreau also scored The Jets received help from Calgary to squeeze scored for the playoff-bound Lightning, who are winning in Philadelphia on Saturday. Hammond for the Flames and Jonas Hiller stopped 33 shots into the playoffs as a wild card when the Flames battling Montreal for the Atlantic Division title. has been the difference for Ottawa. The 27-year- for the win. Jonathan Quick had 22 saves in the beat Los Angeles. The last time the franchise made Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat had three assists old is 19-1-2 since taking over as the starting loss. The Flames will face the Vancouver Canucks the postseason was in 2006-07, when the team apiece. New Jersey, 1-6-3 over its last 10 games, goaltender on Feb. 8. This win over the in the first round of the playoffs. Calgary concludes was the Atlanta Thrashers. The Jets are making got two goals from Steve Bernier, while Patrik Elias Presidents’ Cup winners avenged his only loss. its regular season Saturday at Winnipeg. Los their first playoff appearance since relocating to had the other Devils goal. Scott Gomez and Adam Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored into an empty net Angeles won two of the last three Stanley Cups, Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. Ondrej Pavelec Henrique both had two assists. with 1:39 to play. Henrik Lundqvist made 24 but struggled this season to keep pace in the had another brilliant night, stopping 21 shots saves. His four-game winning streak and the Pacific Division. through overtime. But O’Reilly beat him with a CANADIENS 4, RED WINGS 3 Rangers’ five-game run ended. backhanded shot and Duchene followed with Lars Eller scored 1:21 into overtime to lift the PANTHERS 4, BRUINS 2 another. Colorado did not make the playoffs this Canadiens, giving Carey Price a team record with HURRICANES 3, FLYERS 1 Roberto Luongo earned his 401st career win season. his 43rd win of the season. Andrei Markov, Jeff Brent Bellemore and Ryan Murphy each and Jaromir Jagr got his 1,800th career point, help- Petry and Tomas Plekanec also scored for Montreal scored a goal to lead Carolina. Jordan Staal added ing the Panthers beat Boston, damaging the WILD 4, PREDATORS 2 (49-22-10), which played its final home game. The an empty-netter for the Hurricanes, who snapped Bruins’ playoff hopes. The Bruins have lost two Jason Pominville scored with 2:03 remaining in Canadiens play their final regular-season game a five-game road losing streak while taking their straight after winning their previous five games. regulation for Minnesota. Jason Zucker scored Saturday night in Toronto and lead Tampa Bay by fourth victory in five games against Philadelphia They trail Ottawa by two points and Pittsburgh by twice and Marco Scandella had the other goal for two points in the Atlantic Division. this season. Sean Couturier scored for the Flyers, one for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Minnesota, which extended its franchise-record Tomas Tatar, Pavel Datsyuk and Darren Helm while Jakub Voracek went without a point for Conference playoffs. The Bruins have the tie-break- road winning streak to 12 games. Filip Forsberg scored in regulation for the Red Wings (42-25-14), Philadelphia. Voracek entered Thursday fourth in er over the Senators and finish Saturday at Tampa and Seth Jones had the goals for Nashville, loser of who reached the postseason for a 24th consecu- the league with 81 points, two behind the NHL- Bay. Detroit and the New York Islanders clinched the last five games. When St. Louis beat Chicago, it tive season despite the defeat. Detroit qualified by leading trio of John Tavares, Jamie Benn and playoff berths when Boston lost. meant the Predators can’t win the Central Division, earning a point while Boston lost to Florida. Eller Sidney Crosby. The game pitted a pair of teams Jonathan Huberdeau scored the go-ahead which belongs to the Blues. scored on a shot from the left side that dribbled not headed for the postseason. goal, while Jimmy Hayes, Brad Boyes and Goaltender Darcy Kuemper saw his first action through goalie Jimmy Howard. Aleksander Barkov also scored for the Panthers. in the NHL since Jan. 20. After starting 39 consecu- CANUCKS 5, COYOTES 0 Luongo stopped 34 shots and is tied with Chris tive games, Devan Dubnyk finally got a rest SENATORS 3, RANGERS 0 Yannick Weber scored twice and Eddie Lack Osgood for 10th in career wins. Jagr had two Thursday. Having a playoff spot clinched, the Wild Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris scored in a made 28 saves for his second shutout of the sea- assists. The first gave him 1,799 career points and also did not dress their top three goal scorers: Zach 1:04 span late in the second period and the son. Daniel Sedin, Ronalds Kenins and Dan moved him past Ron Francis for sole possession of Parise, Nino Niederreiter, and Thomas Vanek. Senators’ continued their dazzling playoff push Hamhuis had the other goals for Vancouver, which fourth place. Jagr’s second assist gave him 1,800 Kuemper made 32 saves. behind goaltender Andrew Hammond. clinched a Western Conference playoff spot two points and he tied Adam Oates for sixth in assists nights earlier. Alexander Edler added three assists, with 1,079. while Henrik Sedin chipped in with two for the Canucks, who missed the postseason in 2013-14 BLUES 2, BLACKHAWKS 1 for the first time in six years. They have rebounded Paul Stastny scored the winner, Dmitrij Jaskin under rookie head coach Willie Desjardins. broke a 16-game scoreless string, and Jake Allen Depending on what Calgary does in its finale made 21 saves as the Blues won the Central Saturday against Winnipeg, the Canucks still might Division. The Blues clinched home-ice advantage need a victory in their home game later that for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with evening against Edmonton to lock up second their second win over Chicago in five days and a place in the Pacific Division and home-ice advan- loss by Nashville. It’s their first division title since tage in the first round of the playoffs. 2011-2012 and only the third since 1986-87. Jaskin poked a rebound past Alex Pietrangelo SHARKS 3, OILERS 1 at 17:10 of the second period to break a scoreless Bryan Lerg scored in his NHL debut in a game tie. It was the Blues’ first goal in 121 minutes, 58 between two teams out of the playoff picture. seconds. Jaskin’s last goal came March 1 in a 6-5 Patrick Marleau and Matt Nieto also scored and overtime loss to Vancouver. Andrew Shaw scored Antti Niemi made 26 saves to help the Sharks snap for Chicago, which has lost three in a row and is a two-game losing streak. guaranteed of opening the playoffs on the road, Nail Yakupov scored for Edmonton and Laurent finishing third in the division. Brossoit made 49 saves in his NHL debut. The Oilers have lost four of five games. San Jose will AVALANCHE 1, JETS 0 ALBERTA: Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley (center) celebrates with the team after an empty-net goal and victory over the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period of an NHL miss the playoffs after qualifying for postseason The Jets clinched their first playoff spot in hockey game. — AP play the last 12 seasons. The Oilers are on the out- eight seasons despite the shootout loss. Ryan side for the ninth straight year. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Indians down Astros, Yankees fall

HOUSTON: Jed Lowrie broke up a combined no-hit bid by Cleveland with a one-out home run in the ninth inning Thursday, and the Indians beat the Houston Astros 5-1. Indians starter Trevor Bauer was pulled after throwing 111 pitches through six innings. He struck out a career-high 11 and walked five. Relievers Kyle Crockett and Scott Atchison each pitched a scoreless inning before Nick Hagadone took over. Hagadone struck out Chris Carter to begin the ninth. Lowrie then sent a 94 mph fastball far over the left-center field wall for Houstonís only hit. The Indians have not had a no-hitter since Len Baker threw a perfect game in 1981 against Toronto. Bauer and the Cleveland relievers teamed to strike out 16 while walking seven. Roberto Perez and Jose Ramirez homered for Cleveland. Astros starter Asher Wojciechowski (0-1) gave up four runs and eight hits in four-plus innings in his major league debut.

BLUE JAYS 6, YANKEES 3 Alex Rodriguez hit his first home run since serv- ing a yearlong drug suspension, but Toronto beat New York for eccentric rookie Daniel Norrisí first win in the majors. Edwin Encarnacion homered and the Blue Jays got RBI singles from Jose Reyes and Kevin Pillar in a four-run second inning against CC Sabathia. The Blue Jays took two of three in the season-opening series, boosting their record at Yankee Stadium to 7-30 since May 24, 2011. On another raw and rainy night in the Bronx, Rodriguez led off the sixth with a drive into the left-field seats for his 655th career homer. It was A-Rodís first home run since Sept. 20, 2013. The three-time MVP ranks fifth on the career list, five behind Willie Mays. HOUSTON: Astros’ Jose Altuve (27) slides past Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tag for a steal during the first inning of a Mark Teixeira homered off Norris (1-0) two bat- baseball game. — AP ters later, cutting it to 53, but Encarnacion home- Giants won despite being held to six hits by six Salvador Perez added a two-run homer, home runs for Texas. After being shut out twice in red off Esmil Rogers in the eighth. Miguel Castro pitchers. The lone run came against Nick Vincent Kendrys Morales also drove in a run and the AL the first three games of the season, the Rangers pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save. (0-1) consisted of an error, an intentional walk and champion Royals improved to 3-0 for the first time scored eight runs in the first four innings to give Maxwellís single. Brandon Crawford reached with since an opening sweep of Detroit in 2008. Volquez Nick Martinez (1-0) plenty of support and earn a TIGERS 7, TWINS 1 one out when backpedaling shortstop Clint Barmes (1-0) allowed four hits, including Alexei Ramirezís split of the season-opening four-game series. Shane Greene helped Detroit set the modern AL dropped his pop fly in shallow left. With two outs, RBI single. Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for Martinez gave up four hits in seven scoreless record for the longest shutout streak to start a sea- Gregor Blanco was intentionally walked before his second save in less than 24 hours. The Royals innings, his sixth straight start with two or fewer son at 24 innings in a victory over Minnesota. After Maxwell, batting for winner George Kontos, singled pounded Chicago counterpart John Danks (0-1), earned runs allowed. Graveman (0-1) had a brilliant the start was delayed by rain for over 3 Ω hours, up the middle. who had been 7-0 in 16 career starts against them. first spring with the Aís after being acquired in the new Twins manager Paul Molitorís team dropped Kontos (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out two Danks allowed all four runs on seven hits and a offseason from Toronto in the Josh Donaldson to 0-3. And when Minnesota scored its lone run in in 1 2-3 innings. Santiago Casilla pitched the 12th walk in 5 2-3 innings. deal. He allowed just one earned run in six starts the seventh, it was unearned. for his third save in three chances. and his 0.36 ERA was the lowest in the majors. Detroit broke the AL mark of 22 innings set by RANGERS 10, ATHLETICS 1 the 1947 Chicago White Sox, STATS said. The ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 1 Shin-Soo Choo hit a three-run homer, Mitch REDS 3, PIRATES 2 longest such streak in the majors since 1912 is 32 Edinson Volquez dazzled for eight innings in his Moreland added a two-run blast and Texasí dor- Joey Votto added to his resurgent series with innings by the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. Greene (1- Royals debut, Lorenzo Cain made a pair of spectac- mant bats broke out in a big way as the Rangers his first homer since May 10, and Gregory Polancoís 0) gave up four hits in eight innings and struck out ular catches after driving in a run, and Kansas City spoiled Kendall Gravemanís Oakland debut. ninth-inning error sent Cincinnati past Pittsburgh five. Kyle Gibson (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits beat Chicago to finish a season-opening sweep. Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor added solo for a season-opening sweep. and five walks in 3 2/3 innings. The Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since The Twins scored when Joe Mauer walked and 2011, when they won their first five games. The Kennys Vargas hit a double that was misplayed by Pirates hadnít lost their first three games of a sea- left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. The franchiseís previ- MLB results/standings son since 2006, when they started 0-6 on the road. ous worst run drought at the start of a year was 20 Votto hit a tying two-run homer in the sixth innings by the 1940 Washington Senators. inning. The 2010 NL MVP didnít play after July 5 Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 2; NY Mets 6, Washington 3; Detroit 7, Minnesota 1; Kansas City 4, last season because of strained muscles above his METS 6, NATIONALS 3 Chicago White Sox 1; Cleveland 5, Houston 1; Texas 10, Oakland 1; San Francisco 1, San left knee. He was 5 for 14 with four RBIs in the Matt Harvey was dynamic in his return from Diego 0 (12 Innings); Toronto 6, NY Yankees 3; Boston 6, Philadelphia 2. series. Tommy John surgery, outpitching Stephen American League National League Todd Frazier led off the ninth with a double off Strasburg with six scoreless innings, regularly Eastern Division Rob Scahill (0-1) and advanced on Devin reaching 97 mph and striking out nine to lead New Eastern Division W L PCT GB Atlanta 3 0 1.000 - Mesoracoís groundout. After Jay Bruce was inten- York past Washington. The 26-year-old Harvey had- tionally walked, Polanco muffed Marlon Byrdís liner nít appeared in a regular-season game since Aug. Baltimore 2 1 .667 - NY Mets 2 1 .667 1 Boston 2 1 .667 - to right for a game-ending error. Aroldis Chapman 24, 2013, nearly 20 months ago; he had the liga- Philadelphia 1 2 .333 2 (1-0) fanned two of the three batters he faced in Toronto 2 1 .667 - ment-replacement operation on his right elbow Washington 1 2 .333 2 the ninth. Pedro Alvarez singled, homered and that October. The righty powered fastballs by hit- NY Yankees 1 2 .333 1 Miami 0 3 0 3 scored twice for the Pirates. ters - he struck out Bryce Harper three times swing- Tampa Bay 1 2 .333 1 Central Division Central Division ing at high heat - and mixed in sharp breaking Cincinnati 3 0 1.000 - RED SOX 6, PHILLIES 2 Detroit 3 0 1.000 - balls. Harvey (1-0) gave up four hits and one walk. Chicago Cubs 1 1 .500 1.5 Xander Bogaerts had three hits and three RBIs Strasburg (0-1) allowed six runs - three earned - Kansas City 3 0 1.000 - St. Louis 1 1 .500 1.5 to back Justin Masterson in Bostonís victory over and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. The Mets batted Cleveland 2 1 .667 1 Philadelphia. Masterson (1-0) allowed two runs and Milwaukee 0 3 0 3 around in the third to score four runs, three Chicago WSox 0 3 0 3 three hits in six innings, striking out seven in his unearned because of shortstop Ian Desmondís Minnesota 0 3 0 3 Pittsburgh 0 3 0 3 first start for the Red Sox since 2009. He also had a third error of the season. Strasburg left after giving Western Division Western Division career-best two hits and an RBI. The Red Sox won up David Wrightís two-run single in the sixth. LA Angels 2 1 .667 - Colorado 3 0 1.000 - two of three in the interleague series and will move Oakland 2 2 .500 0.5 San Francisco 3 1 .750 0.5 on to Yankee Stadium to face their AL East rivals. GIANTS 1, PADRES 0 Texas 2 2 .500 0.5 LA Dodgers 2 1 .667 1 Phillies right-hander David Buchanan (0-1) allowed Pinch-hitter Justin Maxwell had an RBI single Houston 1 2 .333 1 Arizona 1 2 .333 2 six runs and seven hits in three innings. The teams with two outs in the 12th inning and San Francisco Seattle 1 2 .333 1 San Diego 1 3 .250 2.5 wore retro 1915 caps. The Red Sox beat the Phillies spoiled new-look San Diegoís home opener. The in the World Series that season. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 ‘Voice of cricket’ Richie Benaud dies

MELBOURNE: The slow-burning intrigue of a day of Test cricket needed precious little embellishment for Richie Benaud, the former Australia captain and doyen of cricket commentary. Silence, but for the crack of leather on willow and the roar of the crowd, was golden. Even as cricket commercialized, fill- ing gaps in play with sponsors’ advertising, piped-in music and other presumptuous forms of ‘entertainment’, Benaud liked nothing more than for the game to speak for itself. “Put your brain into gear and if you can add to what’s on the screen then do it, otherwise shut up,” said Benaud of his sim- ple approach to calling the game in a 50-year career in radio and television. Interventions, however, are eventually inevitable, a necessary relief from the suffocating buildup of ‘dead air’ in live coverage. Benaud would prove more adept than most at the delicate art of timing, of inserting the golden phrase that would per- fectly illuminate the joy, and agony, of a wicket, or the sheer embarrassment of a cricketer flummoxed by an opponent. “Gatting has absolutely no idea what has happened to it. Still doesn’t know,” Benaud chimed during the Ashes test in 1993, as the England captain trudged off after being bowled by legspinner Shane Warne’s so-called “ball of the century”. Timely interventions were a hallmark of Benaud’s career as a hugely successful captain and later a leading architect of World Series cricket in the 1970s, a breakaway circuit that changed the game forever. Though often credited as the most OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson shoots against Portland Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum (3) during the sec- influential figure in post-war cricket, Benaud’s economy of ond half of an NBA basketball game. —AP words was at its most parsimonious when speaking of his achievements. For a man who began his media career as a police reporter and later a sports writer, Benaud famously Warriors beat Blazers shunned interviews, believing the spotlight should shine brightest on the players. He cut his teeth on a daily paper in Sydney, even as he OAKLAND: Stephen Curry eclipsed his sought to cement his place in Australia’s national team as a own NBA record for most 3-pointers in a NBA results/standings leg-spinning all-rounder. season, scoring 45 points to rally the Golden State Warriors to a 116-105 vic- THAT DISTINCTIVE VOICE tory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Chicago 89, Miami 78; Golden State 116, Portland 105. Regarded as a rare but somewhat infuriating talent, Thursday night. Curry entered the game Eastern Conference Western Conference Benaud toiled on the fringes for much of the 1950s, and after four shy of his mark of 272 3-pointers, Atlantic Division Northwest Division his team went home defeated from the 1956 Ashes series, he which he set two years ago in the sea- W L PCT GB Portland 51 28 .646 - stayed on to train with the BBC as a broadcaster, hedging his son finale at Portland. He hit six before Toronto 46 32 .590 - Oklahoma City 42 36 .538 8.5 bets lest his time in cricket proved shorter than hoped. halftime and eight overall, teaming with Boston 36 42 .462 10 Utah 36 42 .462 14.5 Some eight years later, Benaud would play the last of his 63 fellow Splash Brothers star Klay Brooklyn 36 42 .462 10 Denver 29 49 .372 21.5 tests at home against South Africa having made over 2,000 Philadelphia 18 61 .228 28.5 Minnesota 16 62 .205 34.5 Thompson to bring the Warriors back NY Knicks 15 63 .192 31 runs and taken over 200 wickets, unbeaten in any series in his Pacific Division from 13 points down. Curry added nine Central Division 28 matches as captain. Tactically astute and aggressive in his Golden State 64 15 .810 - assists, and Thompson scored 26 to help Cleveland 51 27 .654 - approach, Benaud’s captaincy would be credited with rescu- Golden State avoid its first three-game Chicago 47 32 .595 4.5 LA Clippers 53 26 .671 11 ing the game from torpor in the 1950s and setting a bench- losing streak this season. Milwaukee 38 40 .487 13 Phoenix 39 40 .494 25 mark for a succession of attacking Australian skippers, from LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and Indiana 35 43 .449 16 Sacramento 27 51 .346 36.5 the Chappell brothers to Michael Clarke. six rebounds, and Damian Lillard added Detroit 30 48 .385 21 LA Lakers 20 58 .256 43.5 Benaud’s heyday as player and captain came as Australia 20 points and eight assists for the Southeast Division Southwest Division took on Frank Worrell’s West Indies in 1960-61, when the Blazers, who have already have locked Atlanta 59 19 .756 - Memphis 53 25 .679 - Washington 45 33 .577 14 Houston 53 25 .679 - teams fought a classic series that included a first tied test. up the Northwest Division. He would move seamlessly from BBC radio to the broad- Miami 35 44 .443 24.5 San Antonio 53 26 .671 0.5 caster’s television coverage at the end of his playing career, Charlotte 33 45 .423 26 Dallas 47 31 .603 6 BULLS 89, HEAT 78 Orlando 25 53 .321 34 New Orleans 42 36 .538 11 starting an uninterrupted 42-year stint on British screens. Pau Gasol had 16 points and 15 His distinctive voice lent credibility to Australian tycoon rebounds and Chicago Bulls easily Kerry Packer’s World Series, which reinvigorated the game wiped out a 19-point halftime deficit to run to open the second half. Miami Conference standings. with the popularisation of one-day cricket, enriching players, deal a huge blow to Miami’s playoff missed its first 12 shots after halftime, Hassan Whiteside had 19 points and boards and broadcasters. —Reuters hopes. Aaron Brooks and Taj Gibson and the freefall never stopped. 16 rebounds for the Heat. Dwyane Wade each scored 14 points for the Bulls, who Mike Dunleavy and Derrick Rose each scored nine points, shooting just 4 for were outscored 33-12 in the second had 12 for Chicago, which moved back 20. The Heat were outscored 57-27 after quarter - then went on a staggering 39-8 into the No. 3 spot in the Eastern halftime. —AP Horton eases to 1500m title

SYDNEY: Mack Horton confirmed his “It was a good step forward,” said who doesn’t have a national title, so status as Australia’s new long-distance Horton. “And there is still plenty of time now I can fit in again and be with the king with an easy win in the 1500 till worlds to make another shift and try cool kids,” Bronte told reporters. metres freestyle final at the national and be a bit quicker there.” Thomas Fraser-Holmes made championships yesterday. Bronte Campbell turned the tables amends for his unexpected flop in the Horton left his rivals dead in the on her old sister Cate to claim her first 200m freestyle when he won the 400m water as he cruised to victory in 14 min- national title in the 50m freestyle at individual medley to book his spot in a utes 44.09 seconds, the fastest time in Sydney’s Olympic pool. 38-member Australian team for the the world this year and the quickest in A regular runner-up to Cate in big world championships, which was LONDON: In this Friday, July 17, 2009 file photo former history by an 18-year-old. events, including this week’s 100m final, announced after the eight-day meet Australian cricketer Richie Benaud rings the bell on the Horton also won the 400m and 800m Bronte got her hands on the wall first, ended. pavilion balcony on the second day of the second cricket freestyle titles earlier in the meet to touching in 24.19, followed by her sib- “It’s a relief. Everyone has their Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s crick- qualify for three events at this year’s ling in 24.33. moments-this has been a big learning et ground. —AP world championships in Kazan, Russia. “I was just thinking, I am the only one curve,” Fraser-Holmes said.—Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Hamilton edges Raikkonen in China Spectator dashes across track between speeding cars

SHANGHAI: Lewis Hamilton fended off Kimi was a far from smooth session for the Russian. Raikkonen to claim the bragging rights over his Like Red Bull team mate Ricciardo, he sat out rivals in both free practice sessions for the much of the afternoon and only managed 10 Chinese Grand Prix yesterday but the Finn’s laps before being sidelined by a brake failure. Ferrari showed enough pace to worry Mercedes. Both were driving with different brakes after Hamilton, who edged out team mate Nico struggling in Malaysia and had reverted many of Rosberg in the opening session, lapped the the car’s specifications to 2014 standards after a 5.451-km Shanghai International Circuit in one poor start to the season. minute, 37.219 seconds in latter 90-minute run Valtteri Bottas ended a low-key day for to shade Raikkonen by just four-tenths of a sec- Williams in seventh while Felipe Massa ended ond. up down in 17th after finishing his session in “Generally the car was feeling good and it spectacular fashion. was nice to get the running and the prepara- The Brazilian lost control under braking for tions. Hopefully that will stand me in good CHINA: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the Turn 14 hairpin, lightly brushing the barrier stead,” Hamilton told the BBC. the second practice session of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix. — AFP before coming to a halt and prompting a brief “The Ferraris look like they were as quick as red flag interruption. they were in Malaysia, but hopefully we’re fifth. “On one lap, I think we’ll be quickest and stride in the cooler Chinese weather after being McLaren built on an encouraging morning quicker.” Daniel Ricciardo was a surprise third race pace we need to review now if we are look- dealt a shock defeat by Ferrari in the sweltering session with Jenson Button ending the day in fastest in his Red Bull, the Australian leaping up ing okay or not,” said Rosberg, who almost col- heat of Malaysia. the top 10. Fernando Alonso was 12th, with the the order late in the session after sitting out the lided with Raikkonen late in the session as both Hamilton was then more than a second faster team appearing to have made genuine progress opening 45 minutes as the team struggled to cars jockeyed for position. “That was definitely than Vettel and Raikkonen but the Finn closed after their early-season struggles. cool their brakes. quite a tight one. He didn’t leave much space in the gap in the second session when he fitted the There was a moment of drama early in the Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who won the Turn Two, but okay, fair play, then I got him out quicker soft-compound tyres, finding more time afternoon when a man believed to be a specta- Malaysian Grand Prix a fortnight ago, was fourth in the next couple of corners. It was good racing than the Briton on the grippier rubber. tor darted across the start-finish straight as cars after surviving an early spin, edging out compa- and on Sunday, we might see some similar were speeding down it, crossing over safely into triot Rosberg, who made a mistake at the end of action.” In the morning session, Mercedes had BRAKE FAILURE the pitlane before being apprehended by track his fastest flying lap and could only manage appeared to have regained their dominant Daniil Kvyat ended the day sixth-fastest but it officials. — Reuters Paris-Roubaix, a cobbled classic

ORCHIES: With more than 50 kilometres of cobbled sectors to negotiate along its course, Paris-Roubaix, dubbed the ‘Queen of the Classics’, is a cycling race like no other-the kind that requires special equipment and special preparation. Former French pro Christophe Mengin once said you need six months to get ready for it, and six months to get over it. Following the FDJ team as it scouts the “secteurs paves” of Sunday’s race-also known as the ‘Hell of the North’-there is little doubt Mengin was right. “In this race, you’re at war with yourself,” sports director Martial Gayant, fourth in the 1990 Paris-Roubaix, tells Reuters as he leads his riders on one of the 27 cobbled sectors on Thursday. “Because of the vibrations you get blisters on your hands, stiff- ness in your back, your shoulders. It also hurts your buttocks.” Even if the cobbled sectors in the 253.5-km race are more or less the same every year, it is important to check them every season. “It is important to start get your body used to the pain,” says LIVERPOOL: Jockey AP McCoy riding ‘Don Cossack’ (right) walks to the Parade Ring having won ‘The Betfred Melling Steeple Gayant, who knows every twist and turn of the course. “It is also Chase’ on Ladies Day of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse yesterday. — AFP important to check out the cobbles every year because it’s when you can test equipment that is only used on this race. The tyres, the bike. It’s like a pilgrimage.” McCoy farewell fever Frenchman Yoann Offredo says the race can take everything away from you in an instant. “It is one of the hardest races in the world,” he says, as he has his bike checked by one of the three mechanics deployed on the “reconnaissance” day. “You can dominates National spend six months getting ready for it and still lose everything in the blink of an eye. Then it leaves mental scars.”

LIVERPOOL: A giant illuminated image of Tony McCoy beams out race, he was inducted into the racecourse’s Hall of Fame as fans ‘DESIRE TO WIN’ from Liverpool’s famous Liver Building this week as the Grand queued to scrawl their own tributes on a “Thank you A.P” signature In one of the team cars is Felix Schaefermeier, product manag- National, Britain’s most iconic horse race, stands in thrall to the man wall. An inevitable national punt on a McCoy win could conceivably er at Schwalbe, who supply FDJ with tyres. “As the years go by, with a claim on being the nation’s greatest sportsman. cost bookmakers £50 million, an idea which tickles him. “That the tyres are getting wider. In recent years we have gone from a McCoy, the 40-year-old jump jockey from Northern Ireland who would be nice, probably one of my greatest achievements if I could 26mm to 28 and now 30mm tyre width,” says Schaefermeier. has broken seemingly every bone in his body as well as every end my career by costing the bookmakers a lot of money,” he told Sebastien Joly, one of the FDJ coaches, explains that the bikes record in the book, is favorite to win today’s 168th edition of the Reuters at Aintree on Thursday. Saturday, though, inspires mixed have also got longer and heavier, and the frame is modified to race aboard Shutthefrontdoor in what will be his record 20th and emotions in him. “In some ways I really, really want to win the better absorb vibrations. final National ride. After a peerless, fearless career, McCoy, about to Grand National; in other ways I don’t really, really want to retire. Bradley Wiggins’s Team Sky even have a bike equipped with a be crowned champion jockey for the 20th successive year after rid- “But retirement is going to happen in the next two-and-a-half rear suspension, though FDJ sports director Frederic Guesdon, ing over 4,350 winners, will retire at the season’s end later this weeks anyway, so it would be a really nice way to bow out, to win the last Frenchman to win the race back in 1997, believes it month-but if he wins his second National on Saturday, he promises the most famous horse race in the world. “And I’ve spent all my life would be better on the front. It was just one of the countless to quit there and then. dreaming, so I may as well dream for another couple of days that technical discussions in the week leading up to the race, and As the three-day race festival began on Thursday, Liverpool that could happen.” The only problems are the competing dream- mechanics know they will not get much sleep the night before as seemed to be swooning to McCoy-mania, with the great man’s ers in the 40-runner, 30-fence marathon, like Nina Carberry, who is riders may require last-minute changes to the bike or tyre pres- image being projected across the Mersey, alongside the proclama- seeking to become the race’s first woman winner on First sure. Even the sports directors driving in cars during the race tion: “The Greatest Jockey, the Greatest Race.” Lieutenant and who demonstrated her readiness by piloting On struggle with the terrain.”Driving on the cobbles is almost as hard On Thursday, before a mixed day which saw him win the day’s The Fringe to victory in the Fox Hunters’ Chase for amateurs over as riding your bike on the cobbles,” says Guesdon.—Reuters big prize, the Aintree Hurdle, on Jezki and then take a fall in a later the Grand National fences on Thursday. — Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 Rooney in search of derby delight

LONDON: Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is eager to add to Manchester City’s woes in tomorrow’s derby at Old Trafford. A marked reversal in fortunes means third-placed United lead fourth-placed defending champions City by a point heading into this weekend’s clash, although both are probably too far behind leaders Chelsea for either of the Manchester clubs to mount a title challenge. But a top-three finish and direct entry into the Champions SPAIN : Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi cele- League is still on the horizon, not that the Manchester pair need brates a goal in this file photo.—AFP much in the way of additional motivation when playing each oth- er. England striker Rooney, 29, is now United’s leading derby scor- Barcelona face stiff er in history with 11 goals against City since arriving at Old Trafford from Everton in 2004. City, however, have had the upper title test in Seville hand in recent times, winning their last four matches against United and Rooney is desperate to put an end to that run. MADRID: La Liga leaders Barcelona will have to break Sevilla’s 31- “You play for Man United, you want to win these derby game unbeaten run at the Sanchez Pizjuan to ensure they maintain games,” he told MUTV, United’s in-house television station. “We a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table today. want to give United fans something to smile about when they go Barca swept aside Almeria on Wednesday to take their winning to work on Monday morning, we want them to be the ones to be streak in all competition to nine games, but have the added compli- able to give out the banter to Manchester City fans at work. “I cation of facing the on-form Andalusians just three days before a think it’s a very important game for Manchester United and Champions League quarter-final, first leg away to Paris Saint- Manchester City... for the fans and, for me, it’s a massive game of Germain. “We know that they will be very difficult matches, but if pride,” added Rooney, who scored a superb volley in last week’s we face them with the personality we have we will have a good 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Victory tomorrow would put United four chance because we are Barca,” said striker Luis Suarez after scoring points in front of City, under pressure after dropping to fourth fol- twice against Almeria to take his tally for the season to 16. Barca will lowing a shock 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday. at least be able to welcome back six first-team regulars, including United manager Louis van Gaal could recall compatriot Robin Neymar and Gerard Pique, after they were rested against Almeria. van Persie after the Dutch striker returned to training this week “The schedule in April is very hard. We can’t win any title, but we following an ankle injury. City have won just four of their last 11 can lose them if we don’t do things right,” Pique said on Thursday. league games but manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted he wasn’t “We can be knocked out the Champions League or lose our lead concerned about his own position. in the league. We have to go game by game and if we finish April “I’m never concerned about my job. I do my work and am very well it means we are in the semi-finals and still on top in La Liga.” happy. You maybe have a difficult season, but you never worry Sevilla have also won their last seven games in all competitions and about things like this,” Pellegrini said. As for the title race, the are in desperate need of the points as they battle Valencia and Chilean added: “Every point you drop makes it more difficult, but Atletico Madrid for a place in next season’s Champions League. “The it’s the same answer. We are not thinking about the title... Just truth is we didn’t expect to be playing so well at this stage of the sea- about the next game at Old Trafford.” son, we have a lot of confidence and want to continue like this,” said midfielder Daniel Carrico. ARSENAL EFFICIENCY “On Saturday we have a very difficult game, but we are playing Second-placed Arsenal will move to within four points of in our stadium, in front of our fans and they always help us a lot.” Real Madrid can close to within a point of Barca before kick-off at Chelsea, but having played two games more than the Blues, if the Sanchez Pizjuan as they host Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu they win away to second-bottom Burnley today. earlier today. The European champions have appealed the yellow After a shaky start to the season, the Gunners have now won card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Rayo 15 of their last 17 matches in all competitions, a run which man- Vallecano which would see him miss out through suspension. ager Arsene Wenger attributes to having a fully fit squad no LONDON: Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez will definitely be banned after longer carrying any hangovers from last year’s World Cup. Rooney celebrates in this file photo. — AFP also picking up bookings at Vallecas, whilst boss Carlo Ancelotti has “I just think we are at a stage of the season where we took off confirmed that Keylor Navas will get a rare start in goal ahead of in January, because we had nearly everybody available. That Sherwood adamant he bore no resentment towards his former Iker Casillas. Real will also have one eye on a return to European made us more efficient,” Wenger said. club for sacking him as their boss last year. action in midweek as they face Atletico in the Champions League, Chelsea will take a giant stride towards the title if they win “I wouldn’t be sitting here as Aston Villa manager if it wasn’t who they have failed to beat in six previous meetings this season. away on Sunday to west London rivals QPR, who gained a bat- for Tottenham Hotspur,” Sherwood said.”I was relieved of my Atletico who have the tougher game on paper this weekend tling point in their Premier League survival bid with a 3-3 mid- duties and walked out with my head held very high. I was pleased when they travel to seventh-placed Malaga and defender Jesus week draw at Aston Villa. The build-up to this week’s match has with what I did.” Southampton continue their quest for Europa Games insisted their focus will be on that game with Valencia and seen Jose Mourinho accept publicly what friends and foes have League football at home to Hull while bottom-of-the-table Sevilla breathing down their necks. “Third place is far from being long acknowledged-that he is a master manipulator. Leicester face West Bromwich Albion. resolved. The teams are pushing hard and there are eight difficult “I agree that sometimes I can have something of Machiavelli in Today also sees Sunderland, fresh from their derby win over games remaining. We need to concentrate on Malaga and not look some of my comments, but no more than that,” Mourinho said. Newcastle, at home to Palace. Liverpool, beaten 4-1 by Arsenal to other games, we just need to focus on ourselves.” —AFP Villa travel to Tottenham on Saturday with manager Tim last time out, face Newcastle at Anfield on Monday. — AFP PSG target League Cup

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain can pick up the first of with the ban not being applied until next Tuesday. (Ibrahimovic) by certain members of the media “Of course the more the season advances, we potentially four trophies today when they defend He fired home a stylish hat-trick on Wednesday as that I really didn’t understand,” said the former are thinking more about it (the quadruple) but we the League Cup against Bastia at the Stade de PSG brushed aside Saint-Etienne to also reach the France and Bordeaux coach. haven’t done anything yet and we haven’t won France. French Cup final against second division Auxerre “These players are not machines. You can put anything.” added Blanc. Bastia are their surprise Laurent Blanc’s expensively-assembled squad on May 30. While their Swedish talisman remains doubt over a performance in one match but not opponents after defeating Monaco on penalties in have rumbled steadily through their season on an the centre of attention in the world of French foot- the player himself who is still an extraordinary play- the semi-finals to reach their first League Cup final unprecedented bid for history but in recent weeks ball, he is set to miss key league matches due to his er. The Parc des Princes outfit have also hit the top since the defeat against PSG in 1995. have stepped up a gear and are now in almost outburst while a one match suspension also means of Ligue 1 thanks to the win at Marseille and with The Corsican club who got off to a sluggish start peak form for the home stretch. The final will be a he misses the first leg of their Champions League seven matches to play they have a one point lead to their season, which prompted the sacking of repeat of the first ever League Cup final in 1995 quarter-final at home to Barcelona next over Lyon in their bid for a third straight league Claude Makelele as coach and the arrival of when PSG defeated Bastia 2-0 in front of less than Wednesday. However despite the recent criticism title. Reaching two finals is also immense pride for Ghislain Printant, are five points above the relega- 25,000 fans at the Parc des Princes. towards the 33-year-old striker from Malmo, Blanc Blanc and the club’s Qatari owners who have tion zone and in good position to stay in the top Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended on Thursday lept to the defence of his key man and said much financed the club’s rise to the top in France while flight. The club, who will bring a strong and vocif- for four matches for a tirade towards a referee and of it was unwaranted. they are now also challenging for top European erous crowd of support to the Stade de France, saying: “In this shit country, this country does not “What I saw, after our victory at the Velodrome honours. “I am very proud to coach these boys won their only piece of major silverware in 1981 deserve PSG. We are too good for this country.” (3-2 win over Marseille on Sunday), was the here. I am really seeing what I want to see on the when they defeated Saint-Etienne 2-1 to win the But the Swedish star remains eligible to play scathing criticism directed towards him pitch and that gives me great satisfaction.” French Cup. — AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL11, 2015

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

English Premier League Swansea City v Everton 14:45 beIN SPORTS West Bromwich v Leicester 17:00 beIN SPORTS West Ham v Stoke City 17:00 beIN SPORTS Tottenham v Aston Villa 17:00 beIN SPORTS Sunderland v Crystal 17:00 beIN SPORTS Southampton v Hull City 17:00 beIN SPORTS Burnley v Arsenal 19:30 beIN SPORTS Spanish League Real Madrid v Eibar 17:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD Malaga v Atletico 19:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD Sevilla v Barcelona 21:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD UD Almeria v Granada 23:00 beIN SPORTS 4 HD Celta v Rayo Vallecano 23:00 beIN SPORTS 1 HD French League PSG v Bastia 22:00 beIN SPORTS 12 HD Italian Calcio League Genoa v Cagliari Calcio 19:00 beIN SPORTS Parma v Juventus 19:00 beIN SPORTS Hellas Verona v Inter 21:45 beIN SPORTS German Bundesliga Schalke v Freiburg 16:30 ITALY: Juventus’ defender Leonardo Bonucci celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Italian Tim Cup semifi- beIN SPORTS nal return football match against Fiorentina. —AFP Mainz v Bayer 04 16:30 beIN SPORTS Monchengladbach v Borussia 16:30 Bonucci plays down treble beIN SPORTS Bayern Munich v Eintracht 16:30 beIN SPORTS talk as Juve target Parma Paderborn v Augsburg 16:30 beIN SPORTS MILAN: Juventus defender Leonardo table for most of this season, are lucky after suffering a fracture to the Hamburger v Wolfsburg 19:30 Bonucci insists the champions’ feet are to even be playing having been metacarpal bone in his right hand. firmly on the ground despite a growing declared bankrupt last month. Attacking midfielder Leandro belief among fans the Turin giants can Juve won’t show any pity at the Paredes said he had no explanation to realistically aim for a treble of trophies Enrico Tardini stadium on Saturday, Roma’s poor run of late, but told Radio Top scorers go this season. Juventus travel to crisis-hit added Bonucci: “Winning on Saturday is Roma: “But now we know that we have Parma today expected extend their 14- crucial for us so we don’t give any hope to continue riding the wave of what head-to-head lead over one-time title challengers to the teams behind us, as well us give we’ve done in the last few matches and Roma, whose bid to increase their one- us a boost for the Champions League.” carry on winning to hold onto second BERLIN: Two of the Bundesliga’s top scorers go head-to-head point cushion on Lazio will face the test But Parma’s confidence is compara- place in the league.” today when runaway leaders Bayern Munich host mid-table of a determined Torino. A fourth consec- tively high after Roberto Donadoni’s Anything less than a win at Torino’s Eintracht Frankfurt aiming for a Champions League-confi- utive Serie A title is virtually in the bag men beat Udinese 1-0 Wednesday in a Olympic Stadium could see Lazio move for Massimiliano Allegri’s men, but while match initially postponed two months up to second place if they account for dence booster. Juve are also in contention for a first ago because they could not afford to Empoli in the capital tomorrow. With seven league games left, Bayern are closing in on a Italian Cup in 20 years as well as the turn on the electricity in the stadium. Only two points separate Fiorentina third straight league title and are seemingly unstoppable with Champions League, Bonucci said noth- Parma midfielder Francesco Lodi (49), Sampdoria (48) and Napoli (47) and a 10-point lead. ing is won yet. insisted: “Who comes to the Tardini (sta- all three teams have crucial fixtures this The Allianz Arena match is their last before Wednesday’s “Dreaming doesn’t cost a thing, but dium) should know they’re not just fac- weekend as they continue their respec- Champions League quarter-final, first-leg, clash at FC Porto. by the same token we have to keep our ing a team, they’re facing a whole city. tive bids for a place in Europe. The Bavarian giants are without the injured trio of right- feet on the ground,” Bonucci told Rai “The Bianconeri will be up against a Napoli notably host Fiorentina look- winger Arjen Robben, left-back David Alaba and left-winger Sport. “We’re in a really positive period Parma side that will fight for every ball.” ing to make amends for their Cup exit in Franck Ribery, although the Frenchman returned to training but we can’t afford to think about what Roma are now looking behind them midweek, which brought an angry on Thursday after an ankle injury. we’ve achieved or which position we’re. and with Lazio only a point adrift Rudi response from club president Aurelio De Bayern are still buzzing from Wednesday’s German Cup We have to just keep on winning and Garcia’s men are under pressure ahead Laurentiis. quarter-final win at Leverkusen, when they came out on top building our morale.” of tricky trip away to Torino. “I’ve invested 386 million euros in the after a penalty shoot-out. While Allegri’s men beat Fiorentina in Roma will be without influential mid- squad in recent years, I have a right to Pep Guardiola’s Bayern are bidding to match their 2013 midweek to book an Italian Cup final fielder Daniele De Rossi and possibly see some kind of return,” De Laurentiis feat of winning the treble of European, German league and against Lazio and host Champions Ashley Cole as they bid for their third told Sportitalia. cup, but the Bundesliga remains their focus. League quarter-final rivals Monaco in win on the trot. Elsewhere, Milan host Sampdoria in “The Bundesliga is the most important title, it has the prior- the first leg on Tuesday, the nightmare De Rossi has been diagnosed with a Sunday’s late game with embattled ity,” confirmed Bayern’s director of sport Matthias Sammer. is far from over at the former two-time hairline fracture in his back while coach Filippo Inzaghi looking to make it “Everything else you have to try to take as much as you can UEFA Cup champions. defender Cole is available but will have three wins consecutively for the first from.”—AFP Parma, rooted to the bottom of the to wear a brace for three to four weeks time this season.—AFP McCoy farewell fever dominates National SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 11, APRIL SATURDAY, SportsSports 45

SPAIN: Valencia’s French midfielder Sofiane Feghouli (left) vies with Athletic Bilbao’s defender Xabier Etxeita during the Spanish League football match. — AFP Valencia stumble in battle for third place

MADRID: Valencia stumbled in the battle with Atletico Madrid time for a dangerous tackle on Mikel San Jose which prompt- down to the wire, Valencia coach Nuno predicted. and Sevilla for third place in La Liga when they conceded a ed an unseemly bout of pushing and shoving between the “This season more than 70 points are going to be needed late Aritz Aduriz equaliser in a bad-tempered 1-1 draw at two sides that delayed play for several minutes. to finish in the top four,” Nuno told a news conference. Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. The three clubs are battling it out Bilbao made the extra man count and Aduriz pounced on a “We are three teams who are fighting for that (Champions for both third place and a lucrative automatic berth in the loose ball in the 90th minute to rescue a point for the Basque League) place and it is going to be a tough battle,” added the Champions League group stage and fourth, which carries a club, who have recovered well from a poor start to the cam- Portuguese, who has had a successful first season after taking spot in qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition. With paign and are eighth on 40 points. Aduriz appeared to be in an over from the sacked Juan Antonio Pizzi. eight games left, Atletico are third on 65 points after they won offside position and Valencia coach Nuno expressed his anger “We have to do our job, keep playing the same way 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad on Tuesday, three ahead of with the match officials at his post-match news conference. because we know that it will be a fight to the finish for a diffi- Valencia in fourth. Sevilla, 2-1 winners at Levante on Tuesday, “There were two results, the one which should have been, cult goal. We are motivated, we are on track and working are fifth on 61 points. which was our victory, and the draw,” the Portuguese told a well.” Barcelona, chasing a fifth title in seven years, lead on 74 news conference. “We are outraged and it’s a disgrace,” he After missing out on a place in Europe last season, Valencia points, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Bilbao, who added. were taken over by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim and hopes are through to next month’s King’s Cup final to play Barca, “If there is anyone who wants to prevent Valencia from are high his investment will help the club regain their status as came close to an opener in the 56th minute at the San Mames achieving its goals they are out of line. Because the outrage genuine challengers for silverware in Spain and Europe. when an Aduriz header was cleared off the line by Valencia we feel will make us stronger.” Valencia last won La Liga under Rafa Benitez in 2004 and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Villarreal, who are sixth, remain well placed to secure a were losing finalists in the Champions League in 2000 (Real Substitute Rodrigo De Paul fired Valencia ahead five min- place in the Europa League despite a 3-0 defeat at ninth- Madrid) and 2001 (Bayern Munich). utes later when Paco Alcacer cleverly let the ball run past him placed Espanyol, while Getafe pulled away from the relegation Their chances of victory in Bilbao have been hit by an and De Paul clipped a shot past Gorka Iraizoz into the corner places with a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Elche. injury to fullback Jose Luis Gaya, whose performances this of the home goal. Meanwhile, the battle between Atletico Madrid, Valencia term have reportedly attracted interest from big-spending Otamendi was shown a straight red card six minutes from and Sevilla for a lucrative Champions League berth will go Real. —Reuters