Arab SUMMIT Takes PLACE at TIME of Deep Divisions

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MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 23, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Stricter legal Chechen leader Huge abroad, Messi hat trick system needed inaugurates Greek yoghurt guides Barca for domestic new mosque almost unknown to 4-3 win workers3 in13 Israel in28 Greece at20 Madrid Arab summit takes place Max 27º Min 16º at time of deep divisions High Tide 05:40 &16:12 Low Tide Foreign ministers approve summit resolutions 10:42 40 PAGES NO: 16114 150 FILS KUWAIT: An Arab League summit opens in Kuwait conspiracy theories tomorrow at a time of deepening rifts between its member states and without any end in sight to the Syrian conflict. With Doha in the eye of the storm, the region’s leaders are expected to discuss the row which has pitted A roadmap Qatar against Gulf partners Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as Egypt. They will hold a special session to discuss “clearing the atmos- to Tuesday phere and compromises,” said the Arab League assistant secretary general for political affairs Fadhel Jawad. Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Sabah and Arab League chief Nabil Al-Arabi confirmed at a joint press conference Thursday that the differences will be debated but declined to reveal any specific mediation efforts. Sheikh Sabah acknowledged that the sum- By Badrya Darwish mit was being held under “highly delicate” circumstances and that Arab countries were faced with serious challenges. In separate remarks, Al-Arabi agreed at a news conference that the summit’s decisions would be affected by “differences”. [email protected] Qatar’s perceived support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood lies at the core of the dispute, over which Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Manama have recalled their he way I see the map sent to us by the ambassadors from Doha in an unprecedented move Ministry of Interior regarding the road clo- between Gulf states. Kuwaiti political analyst Dhafer Al- Tsures for the Arab Summit, most of the main Ajmi said the host country’s ruler HH the Amir Sheikh roads are going to be badly affected, especially Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was likely to use his skills as a the ones around Bayan Palace on the Fifth Ring mediator. “Internal Arab disputes are overshadowing the Road. Leave alone that the road to the airport is summit but I am optimistic that Kuwait and its emir mostly closed and you have to make a long could achieve a breakthrough,” said Ajmi, who heads the detour if you are flying out on Tuesday or Gulf Monitoring Group, an independent research centre. Wednesday. I don’t blame them for that because Yesterday, Arab League foreign ministers said they naturally, they must make sure the roads are KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior said yesterday it has completed all preparations to ensure smooth traffic agreed on the draft resolutions for the summit. “There secure for the arriving diplomats and heads of flows during the 25th Arab summit due to begin tomorrow. All authorities concerned are in constant coordi- was no tension whatsoever in the meeting. Host country states, especially as this is the first Arab League nation and cooperation in order to bring about success of the two-day summit, MoI Assistant Kuwait in fact has smoothed relations,” Iraq’s Foreign summit to be held in Kuwait. Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Maj Gen Abdulfattah Al-Ali said in a statement. He said there would be Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters at the end of a The Arab League summit will begin Tuesday, detours on the roads from Kuwait International Airport to the venue of the summit at Bayan Palace. The one-day meeting. “The subject of the ... withdrawal of March 25, but many delegates are already arriving changes in the routes are detailed in the map above. Ali called on motorists to abide by the traffic rules dur- ambassadors was never mentioned at all,” he said. and will be arriving en masse tomorrow. The sum- ing the summit. — KUNA Continued on Page 13 mit will finish sometime late Wednesday evening. So that means you have the closure and disruptions on the streets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Turkey downs Syrian jet Dashti slams Talking to many people, everyone was asking why doesn’t the government give two days off, at ANKARA: Turkey said yesterday it had shot down a Syrian KAC reticence least to schools if not government employees too. fighter jet for a breach of Turkish airspace, as Prime Minister This would relieve immensely the traffic flow. Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of a “heavy” response to By B Izzak Because what is the point if an employee cannot future violations. Syria accused its northern neighbour of reach his office or if he reaches three hours late, or “flagrant aggression” after Turkish forces shot down the war- plane as it bombarded rebels near the border. But the KUWAIT: MP Abdulhameed Dashti, who is a mem- if a student is stuck and his family cannot collect Turkish military said two Syrian MIG-23 planes approaching ber of a parliamentary committee investigating him until late in the evening. I would be terrified if its airspace were warned “four times” to turn away and that it Kuwait Airways’ recent aircraft deal, said “our my kids are at school and I cannot reach them. scrambled fighter jets when one refused to do so. patience is growing thin with the Kuwait Airways Many moms already told me they would not take In a statement, the Turkish military said the plane board which is still procrastinating in providing the the risk to send their kids to school on Tuesday breached its airspace by around one kilometre at 1113 GMT committee with the purchase and lease contracts and Wednesday. and flew over Turkey for another 1.5 km. “One of the signed with Airbus, which has many question marks”. Imagine if you live in Mishref, but your child patrolling F-16 jets fired a missile at the Syrian plane... in line He said the delay confirms the preliminary conclu- studies in a school in Hawally - because Hawally with rules of engagement and the plane fell into the Kasab sions reached by the committee and opens the door has become the hub of schools in Kuwait (though region on Syrian territory,” it said. for summoning more concerned parties from Kuwait I have no idea why). Both Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul congratulat- and abroad to find the truth that was not revealed What’s the solution, guys? Only three or four ed the Turkish armed forces following the incident. “Our by KAC board during the investigation. months back we had the Arab-African summit and response from now will be heavy if you violate our air- Meanwhile, MP Yacoub Al-Sane yesterday threat- the government took the initiative to give a day space,” Erdogan warned during an election rally, addressing ened he would file to grill Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair if off to schools and government employees. I think the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The foreign he did not refer officials involved in the Dow ministry said Turkey had acted within its rights under inter- Chemical scandal to the public prosecution. Sane we are facing the same problem now. As we can- national law, and called the Syrian regime’s accusations not ask the government to stop holding confer- “baseless”. Turkey would continue to exercise its right of gave the minister a 10-day ultimatum before filing a ences in the country, the easiest solution is to give self-defence in the future, warning Damascus “not to test request to grill him. The lawmaker said based on a a day off and plenty of notice so that everyone the determination of the Turkish Armed Forces”, it said in a report on the Dow Chemical issue prepared by the can make alternative plans. The reality is, the few- statement. Ankara has notified the United Nations and Audit Bureau, the minister is required to refer the er people you have on the roads, the easier and officials responsible for the issue to the public prose- NATO, it said. ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip faster the police can move around. Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz said Turkey had the cution. “I will not hesitate in filing to grill the minister Erdogan addresses supporters of his Justice and I hope the results of the summit will be worth “strength” and “capacity” to protect its borders. “Turkey’s after 10 days if he fails to carry out the recommenda- Development Party during a rally yesterday. His wife all the headaches. determination should not be tested,” he said in televised tions of the Audit Bureau,” he said. remarks. AFP Emine stands at left. — AP State-owned Kuwait Petrochemicals Company struck a multi-billion-dollar joint venture with US giant Dow Chemical in 2008, with PIC’s share put at $7.5 billion. Under political pressure from the then Colossal pharaoh statues unveiled in Egypt parliamentary opposition, the Cabinet scrapped the LUXOR, Egypt: Archaeologists yester- Sourouzian said. “The statues had lain in deal, attributing the decision to the global economic day unveiled two colossal statues of pieces for centuries in the fields, dam- crisis that broke out that year. As a result, an interna- Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt’s famed aged by destructive forces of nature like tional arbitrator ordered Kuwait to pay a fine of $2.2 temple city of Luxor, adding to an exist- earthquakes, and later by irrigation billion. The hefty fine was paid in full to the US firm ing pair of world-renowned tourist water, salt, encroachment and vandal- several months ago, causing uproar in the country. attractions. The two monoliths in red ism,” she said, as behind her excavators The National Assembly ordered a probe into the quartzite were raised at what European and local villagers washed pieces of issue and the Audit Bureau was also asked to carry and Egyptian archaeologists said were artefacts and statues unearthed over out its own investigation which it finished last week their original sites in the funerary tem- the past months. “This beautiful temple and submitted its report to the Assembly. ple of the king, on the west bank of the still has enough for us to study and con- Continued on Page 13 Nile. The temple is already famous for its serve.” existing 3,400-year-old Memnon colossi One of the “new” statues - its body twin statues of Amenhotep III whose weighing 250 tonnes - again depicts the reign archaeologists say marked the pharaoh seated, hands resting on his political and cultural zenith of ancient knees. It is 11.5 m tall, with a base 1.5 m Egyptian civilisation. high and 3.6 m wide. Archaeologists “The world until now knew two said with its now missing double crown, Memnon colossi, but from today it will the original statue would have reached know four colossi of Amenhotep III,” said a height of 13.5 m and weighed 450 German-Armenian archaeologist Hourig tonnes. The king is depicted wearing a Sourouzian, who heads the project to royal pleated kilt held at the waist by a conserve the Amenhotep III temple. The large belt decorated with zigzag lines. existing two statues, both showing the Beside his right leg stands nearly a pharaoh seated, are known across the complete figure of Amenhotep III’s wife LUXOR: Tourists and journalists stand next to a newly displayed statue of pharaoh globe. The two restored additions have Tiye, wearing a large wig and a long Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye in Egyptís temple city yesterday. — AFP weathered severe damage for centuries, Continued on Page 13 MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 LOCAL

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi (left) stands next to Qatari Foreign KUWAIT: A general view of the opening session of the Arab League foreign ministers meeting in preparation for the Arab Summit in Kuwait City. Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Kuwait appropriate venue for summit

DOHA: The State of Kuwait is recognized that the Arab Summit is held amidst tension in The Arab people “pin high hopes on Arab regionally for its excellent diplomatic ties the region. Nonetheless, they expressed opti- leaders to resolve crises in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, amongst Arab countries which makes it an mism that the outcome of the March 25-26 sum- Lebanon, Egypt and Libya,” they pointed out. appropriate venue for the upcoming 25th Arab mit would be fruitful due to His Highness the “Points of view should be heard in order to find Summit, Qatari academicians said yesterday. Amir of Kuwait’s wise leadership and vast experi- solutions.” They voiced their optimism of the success of ence in the world of politics. They emphasized the importance of setting Kuwait’s summit to reunite the Arab world as a Achieving Arab reconciliation would be a up an Arab Court of Human Rights to preserve result of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- huge accomplishment of this summit, especially and protect the rights of the Arab people. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s serious endeavors. since the Arab World is going through a phase of They further said that the Arab World is also Professor of Political Media Dr. Khaled Al- conflict. Hence, comes the importance of the facing economic challenges, hoping that the Jaber and Professor of Socio-Politics Dr. Ali Arab Summit to discuss pressing issues transpar- Arab Summit would result in achieving Arab Abdulhadi Al-Shawi, at Qatar University, said ently, they added. economic integration. — KUNA

Tunisian Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi (right) sits near his Algeria ncounterpart Ramtane Lamamra.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Ahmed Al-Khalifa. Mohammed Al-Attiyah.

Omani Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi bin Abdullah (left) and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy League chief pins Syrian regime urged to hopes on summit stop assaults on civilians KUWAIT: Arab League Secretary the June 4 1967 borders with East General Nabil Al-Araby expressed hope Jerusalem as its capital. that Kuwait’s 25th Arab Summit would The Syrian crisis is another major Kuwait hosts Arab FMs meeting result in pushing efforts to resolving issue that would be tackled in today’s pressing issues in the Arab World. meeting, he said. He emphasized that KUWAIT: Arab Foreign Ministers concluded shattering the structure of the Syrian people the UN Security Council (UNSC), and the inter- Al-Araby made this remark yesterday, the stalled Geneva II negotiations here yesterday their preparatory meeting and state in the most vicious manner, and is national diplomatic Quartet, to “act urgently” in his speech at the Arab Foreign should be re-activated and resolutions ahead of the 25th Arab Summit due here on not being deterred by a religion, law or and stop the Israeli “vicious” attacks against the Ministers’ preparatory meeting, being made during the Geneva I should be fol- March 25 and 26. Chairman of the meeting, humanitarian principles nor a united interna- Palestinians in Gaza Strip and lift the siege on held ahead of the Arab Summit on lowed through to end the ongoing Kuwait’s First Deputy Premier and Foreign tional position,” he said. the enclave. March 25-26. bloodshed in the war-torn country. Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- The Syrian conflict killed more than 130,000 The international community must also act The Arab League chief lauded the In order to achieve unity, independ- Sabah thanked the conferees for their valuable and displaced six million people internally, against the Israeli systematic violations of the State of Kuwait for hosting the summit ence and sovereignty of Syria, he said, a contributions to the meeting, praising the cor- while more than 2.5 million sought refuge in sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plans to and expressed hope that it would transitional government should be dial atmosphere that prevailed during the neighboring countries: Lebanon, Jordan, change the demographic status of occupied achieve its goals to achieve “Arab soli- formed. Al-Araby said that the Syrian deliberations, thus, paving the way for a Turkey and Iraq. This is in addition to thou- Jerusalem. darity for a better future.” humanitarian crisis has taken its toll on Choosing Kuwait as a venue for this some of the neighboring countries, like smooth summit tomorrow. sands of detainees and missing persons. Israel, the occupying force, should respect summit underscores great significance Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan that Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled had earlier called “The international community is facing a UN resolutions relevant to the peace process, in attaining the desired goals because of have hosted hundreds of thousands of on the Syrian regime to stop its aggression moral, humanitarian and legal responsibility to the international law and the 1949 Geneva the Arab Gulf state’s long history and Syrian refugees. He added more support against civilians and its random use of double the efforts to stop this catastrophe, Convention, as well as ceasing aggression on experience in dealing with the politics of should be given to these countries to weapons in populated areas, while urging the which is the biggest in modern human history,” occupied Palestinian territories including East the world, he pointed out. alleviate some of the economic and international community to immediately act to said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. Jerusalem, said the senior Kuwaiti official. He said today’s meeting would focus social burden caused the influx of stop Israel’s hostile policies against the He regretted the collapse of Geneva II nego- He said the UN General Assembly’s initiative on key issues. The Palestinian cause and refugees. Palestinians. tiations between the Syrian regime and oppo- to consider 2014 the year of international soli- negotiations, supported by the UN and The meeting would also tackle the Addressing the preparatory meeting, Sheikh sition. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled appreciated UN- darity with the Palestinian people, which the US, would be on the top of the establishment of an Arab human rights Sabah Al-Khaled hoped the Arab summit, held Arab League Special Representative to Syrian Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled hoped would enable meeting’s agenda. He called on the court, the introduction of new mecha- in Kuwait for the first time since the country Lakhdar Brahimi’s endeavors, and urged him to the Palestinian people to regain their rights, importance of ending the Palestinian- nisms to the Arab League to allow it to joined the Arab League in 1961, succeed in continue his efforts. “We reiterate that the crisis achieve just and permanent settlement of the Israeli conflict and recognizing the inde- deal with current issues more effectively boosting inter-Arab economic development. in Syria should not be solved militarily. The Palestinian state on the June 4 1967 borders. pendence of the State of Palestine on and sufficiently. — KUNA He said the Syrian regime must stop its political solution and table of negotiations are Turning to Arab affairs, Sheikh Sabah Al- assaults on civilians and aerial bombardment the only way for a comprehensive settlement Khaled said developing the reforming the of populated areas, and lift the siege on civil- to end this bloody conflict.” common Arab action became a necessity. KAC discusses financing ians nationwide to allow entry of humanitarian Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said Kuwait has He said the Arab Social and Economic aid. exerted political and humanitarian efforts in a Development summits contributed to boost- He called on the Syrian regime to comply bid to stop the crisis and alleviate suffering of ing inter-Arab economic and development deal with local banks with UN resolution 2139 regarding the human- the Syrian people. integration. itarian situation in the country, as well as the He said Kuwait hosted two donors’ confer- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways officials met delega- financial stability during the fleet renewal importance of punishing all officials responsi- ences for the Syrian people in 2013 and this Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah launched, in the first tions from local banks last week to discuss years until 2020, according to sources quoted ble for committing crimes, violating interna- year, during which donors pledged almost USD economic summit in Kuwait in 2009, a $2 bil- offers to finance its deal with Airbus to renew in the report. “The management seeks to tional humanitarian and international laws on four billion to supply relief supplies for the lion fund to support small and medium-sized its ageing fleet. The KAC announced a $4.4 bil- secure profit in the future in order to improve lion deal in January with the European plane- the KAC’s legal and financial status and add as human rights. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled noted Syrian people inside their country or in neigh- enterprises. Kuwait contributed $500 million. maker to purchase 25 new planes and lease 12 much profits to the state’s treasury as possible that the Syrian conflict, which entered its boring states. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled called on all Arab others until the new planes, which are set to before the majority stake is sold to a strategic fourth year, was still claiming more innocent Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled called countries to join hands to address political and arrive in 2019, enter service. investor,” the sources added. people. “The killing and destruction machine is on the international community, particularly security instability. — KUNA The national carrier has made it clear since In the meantime, the same sources said then that it will seek help from local banks to that local banks are ‘strongly eager’ to finance finance the deal. Al-Watan reported yesterday the deal through a consortium. “Local banks that Chairman and Managing Director Rasha look for an opportunity to utilize liquidity sur- Municipality hoists 6,000 flags Al-Roumi and CEO Sharifa Al-Ibrahim met offi- plus they have in light of the lack of develop- cials representing local banks and studied ment projects, and especially after the gov- of participating countries ways by which banks can finance all or part of ernment announced full support to the KAC the deal. The amount of contribution required until the strategic investor’s stake is sold” the KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality said yesterday hoisting flags, cleaing the roads and intensify- their preparations for the summit. from local banks depends on the KAC’s current sources said. Negotiations with local banks that it has hoisted some 6,000 flags of partici- ing food monitoring. He added that some 6,000 flags of partici- financial capabilities which is estimated today are still in the early stages as the KAC focuses at KD 350 million, as well as future income currently on examining the offers and finding pating countries in the upcoming 25th Arab Acting Director of Public Relations at pating countries have been hoisted in differ- through its short and long term operational the best suitable options. In this regard, the summit. Kuwait Municipality Abdulmohsen Aba Al- ent parts of the country. plan, Al-Watan reported. KAC could hire a financial consultant to The Municipality in a statement expressed Khail expressed keenness to keep Kuwait at its He said that the Municipality’s food sector The KAC management looks at the meet- organize the financing process, according to its readiness and preparations ahead of the best during these occasions, noting that the is also stepping up monitoring of food stores ings with local bank as an opportunity to reach the sources. Arab summit due in Kuwait tomorrow by Municipality’s various bodies have completed and restaurants. — KUNA LOCAL MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 Stricter legal system needed for domestic labor Father of victim recalls tragic day’s events By Ben Garcia MP surprised KUWAIT: Kuwait should implement a stricter legal system for the domestic labor by brother’s in order to avoid unfortunate circumstances, such as the brutal murder of a 19- death in Syria year-old girl by an Ethiopian housemaid that shocked Kuwait last week. KUWAIT: Family of Kuwaiti national This was the unanimous suggestion Jaza’a Al-Shemmari, who died fighting offered by ambassadors of countries send- alongside Nusra Front troops in Syria on ing labor forces to Kuwait, who are attend- Friday, where surprised by the news of ing a two-day conference organized by the his death as well as his travel to the trou- Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs under bled state eight days before his death. the Barirah Project. The head of missions “We were surprised to find out that he invited to address the conference were went to Syria,” said Sultan Al-Shemmari, ambassadors to Kuwait from Bangladesh, an MP and Jaza’a’s brother on Saturday. Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka Adel Falah Saad Al-Hajji Dr Hamad Flaiteh Al Shemmari “We knew nothing about his move- and the Philippines. It was inaugurated by ments.” Shemmari spoke to Al-Qabas Adel Falah, undersecretary of the Ministry telephone card to speak to her family,” he dignitaries. “My message to Kuwaiti parents responsibility after 100 days, so most of reporters from his diwaniya in Saad Al- of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Barirah said. is that we need qualified workers - they are the domestic helpers running away from Abdullah, which he opened Saturday for Project Manager Saad Al-Hajji. The ambas- Al-Shemmari blamed the recruitment working within us so we need somebody their employers have no place but to go to mourners. sadors shared their experiences in dealing agencies for taking large sums of money who is stable with no record of mental inca- the embassy. “Kuwait has no necessary He confirmed news that his brother facilities to accommodate all of them but with domestic helpers’ concerns and nar- from employers but forgot their duties to pacity,” he added. joined the Nusra Front before his death, recruit qualified and best workers. “I saw my The Interior Ministry in Kuwait had we cannot keep silent and leave them rate their recommendation on how to bet- and prayed that God Almighty accepts ter organize this sector. daughter lying in a pool of blood lifeless issued a ban on recruiting Ethiopian domes- alone. We have a duty to our countrymen. him as a martyr. that day. I didn’t even think that she was tic helpers on Feb 16, 2014, citing ‘official When our citizens are badly looking for Al-Qabas also spoke to a family mem- The victim’s father killed by one of my own workers because statistics’ for the increase in the crime rate help, we provide them a temporary shelter ber who confirmed that Jaza’a was 35 Last week, Kuwait was shocked by the we have a good relationship with them. among the Ethiopian community. A repre- until they return to Ethiopia. The mainte- brutal killing of a 19-year-old girl by an That day, the police called me up and told sentative of the Ethiopian ambassador to nance for keeping the shelter is unsustain- years old at the time of death, and that Ethiopian housemaid, allegedly during her me that my daughter was killed by my Kuwait attended the conference and spoke able, and that is why we need to have a he was married with three children (two sleep. The father of the victim Dr Hamad worker. We are in need of domestic helper, mostly about their Ethiopian domestic mutual understanding amongst stakehold- girls and one boy). “Jaza’a had been a Flaiteh Al-Shemmari was invited by the yes, but we also have the right to get the helper population, human trafficking and ers. We are trying our best to come up with strong supporter of the Syrian revolution organizer and spoke about how they were right workers ready and prepared to take illegal recruitment issues. He said Ethiopia the required and sustainable solution to since it started in 2011,” said the man had already banned domestic helpers from this problem,” the Ethiopian representative who was identified in the news report as working abroad since Nov 2013, until added. ‘Abu Turki’. “Despite not being rich, he domestic labor laws are revised and it eval- Among other suggestions by some donated generously to the Syrian peo- uates the task and performance of recruit- head of missions attending the conference ple, around 200 million Saudi riyals,” he ment agencies. was to strictly implement current meas- added. “We have also undertaken several dras- ures and regulations and provide a regular A friend said meanwhile that Jaza’a tic legal measures to bring to justice sever- day off to every domestic helper. “Kuwait had invited his friends on the eve of trav- al people caught for illegal recruitment should implement a regular day off for eling to Syria, but never told them about and human trafficking. We are going to domestic helpers to allow them (house- his plans. “He insisted that we all come, train workers before sending them to work maids) to enjoy life as normal individuals,” and spoke a lot about Syria that night,” abroad. The problem mostly is the absence they said. said the man who was identified in the of a clear and proper mechanism and lack The undersecretary of the Ministry of report as ‘Abu Khalid’. “He never spoke to of communication between and among Awqaf and Islamic Affairs underlined the us about his intention to travel and seek relevant stakeholders. Ethiopian domestic need for the Barirah Project to find a solu- jihad during our stay which lasted until helpers are told to communicate to their tion to the problems of domestic workers. the fajr (dawn) prayer.” consular representatives in their countries “This workshop aims to find solutions and The Nusra Front confirmed in a state- of destination. However when they arrived translate them into action. Thanks to the ment carried by news agencies Saturday KUWAIT: Ambassadors attend the conference. they’re at the mercy of their sponsors and cooperation of everyone, especially the that Jaza’a Al-Shemmari died during there is no clear mechanism and proce- ambassadors and other stakeholders. This fighting in Yabroud eight days after arriv- treating their Ethiopian housemaid well. up domestic jobs. Why doesn’t the govern- dure for them to communicate with their program was launched (in 2006) to let the ing in Syria and joining fighters against “The housemaid was hired three years ago, ment require these recruitment agencies to embassy,” he said. people know the importance of cultural Syrian regime forces. and was the loveliest person among our provide workers with proper training to “The embassy is only involved when balance and impart the teachings of The Al-Qaeda-linked group had also four domestic helpers. There was no misun- prepare them do their duties and responsi- problems happen. We have problems com- Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that corre- announced the death of one of its com- derstanding between my daughter and the bilities?” he asked. municating with domestic helpers when spond to the rights of humans. The main manders, Abu Azzam Al-Kuwaiti, during housemaid. Some of my maids are cleaners, “What I found out is that they have a they arrive, so we fail to advise them on idea is to raise the society’s awareness and clashes more than a week ago. Relatives necessary action in times of trouble,” he therefore create peaceful coexistence. This but she was assigned to do cooking. She doctrine that they have to sacrifice a virgin - of the bedoon man, whose real name is was good until that unfortunate day. Before this month is a sacrificial month, and this said. The Ethiopian mission’s representa- workshop will come up recommendations Wajdi Tuwairesh, received mourners at a the killing, my daughter took her (the killer) could probably be the reason she planned tive also mentioned that as per the con- at the end of this conference to tackle neg- tent set up in Jahra last week. to the supermarket, where she bought her a to kill her victim,” Shemmari told attending tract, recruitment agencies have no ative phenomena,” he added.

KUWAIT: Two citizens were injured following a car accident and a fire on Sixth Ring Road near Amghara bridge. Firemen freed a trapped driver and handed him to paramedics, and the fire was put out. Smuggling attempt foiled By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Airport customs officers foiled an attempt by an Asian to smuggle 10,000 Tramadol tablets he had placed in his shoes. Airport customs supervisor Suleiman Al-Fahd said the suspect was among the targets marked by a roaming team while observing passengers. He was sent along with the drugs to concerned authorities. • Fahaheel police arrested a 16-year-old male citizen wearing an abaya and niqab who entered a women’s bathroom in a popular mall. He had a bag of makeup and artificial nails. • A 41-year-old Egyptian suffered a bruised skull and wounds when his truck flipped over in Jaber Al-Ahmad. Meanwhile a 13-year-old Gulf expat suffered a broken jaw in a motorcycle accident near the Oxygen round- about in Shuwaikh. In another car accident in Khaitan, a 64-year-old Kuwaiti woman broke her leg while a 25- year-old Indian cut his face. On the Fourth Ring Road KUWAIT: The shoes in which the Tramadol tablets near Khaldiya, a 23-year-old Kuwaiti suffered bruises fol- were concealed. lowing a car accident. KD 4 million spent on ‘Smart Classroom’ project

By Nawara Fattahova ing. “Unfortunately it hasn’t been the smart class will help both sides,” introduced yet in our school, but I he added. KUWAIT: About four years ago, the hope it will be installed soon. I heard Abdullah Al-Basri, Director of Ministry of Education spent almost that other schools have this smart Education Affairs at the Ministry of KD 4 million on the ‘Smart Classroom’ technology installed in their laborato- Education, Private Sector project at public schools. This hasn’t ries and some classrooms. I’m not Department, noted that the ministry been applied in most schools yet, and aware of the reason of not having it applied it only at public schools. “It’s experts from the field believe the yet in all the public schools including the responsibility of the owner of electronic equipment specified in the our school. Maybe there are some each private school to equip class- contract is already outdated. The proj- technical or administrative obstacles,” rooms with modern educational ect was supposed to change ordinary Hassan, a teacher in a public school in tools, and the ministry is not enforc- classrooms into ‘complete’ or ‘smart’ Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate, told ing any criteria. If the ministry classrooms by providing each class- Kuwait Times yesterday. enforces this technology, the schools room with an interactive board and The smart classroom will be better may demand increasing school fees, data tools with a special computer. for both students and teachers. “This based on their additional expenses. The contract should have been exe- modern technology will be very use- Most probably, the ministry will set cuted within 150 days with 36 ful, as it will save time in teaching and special criteria for increasing school months of maintenance. will be more interesting for the stu- fees that will include modern teach- It was partially applied at some dents to understand the lessons, ing technologies by next year,” he schools, while other schools are wait- which will be less boring. In general, pointed out. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 LOCAL

Local spotlight One step forward In my view Syria and the summit Family April fools’ fund

By Muna Al-Fazai By Talal Al-Ghannam

[email protected] [email protected] Al-Anbaa

he annual 25th Arab summit will be held in have been writing in the past two weeks about things that Kuwait on March 25 and 26. Officially, Kuwait are “wrong” and are happening in Kuwait which should be is expecting leaders of most Arab states to Iavoided and resolved as Kuwait considers itself among the T “modern countries” where these negative aspects are dubbed attend this meeting because all items on the agen- “awful”. da should be important to them and need a deci- In this episode I will write about things that Kuwait is very sion or agreement. I doubt all leaders will be attend- good in and transcends others in the near region at least. ing even from the Gulf states themselves. Other I want the honorable reader to figure out if these things are than HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad true or an “April fool” joke. Al-Sabah and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman, I 1- If anyone wants to establish a company here in Kuwait, the expect the rest of Gulf states will send their repre- transaction only takes one full day with a BIG smile. sentatives. Nevertheless, the summit will go on and 2- You go to perform a task at one of the ministries, and once you enter, you are treated with coffee and tea and get your the agenda items will be waiting for answers. errand taken care of before finishing your tea or coffee. Syria is a key issue on the agenda and I believe this 3- Taxi drivers enjoy their rides not being harassed by police In my view summit has to come to an agreement on how to elimi- chases or over where to stop for a passenger because all nate and control the number of foreign fighters who Kuwaiti roads are illegal zones for taxi cars to stop. go to fight, kill or be killed in Syria. This is not a small Diversification of energy 4- You drive along respecting the law and give a signal to pass issue and all attendees have to realize the damage someone, you then are given the green light to do so with being done not only on the land of Syria, but the threat a smile. By Alsir Sidahmed 5- You stop at the traffic light waiting for the green light to they may have to confront in their countries too. come on, and once it is green, you don’t hear all types of Where those foreign terrorists came from, how t looks like the same old story. Following the may provide a new source of supply though three to horns blowing behind you as if it was a wedding. many of them are still in Syria and for what reason? Russian-Western countries’ standoff over Ukrania, four years for that option to materialize in a credible 6- You get sick and go to a government hospital and once you Some intelligence and media reports had men- Ithe Cold War jargon of limiting reliance over Russian way. enter the doctor’s office, he or she examines you thor- tioned that some of these foreign fighters were gas supplies has put in place a European plan to diver- However, this issue of diversification with its various oughly “bumper to bumper” and ends up giving you sify the source of its energy supplies. angles bring two points for more discussion: The first either killed or left Syria, so here is the question - Panadol. Oil and gas have been the prime hard currency relates to the shale gas industry and whether European where did they go? What is their next destination? 7- You go to the social affairs ministry and submit your papers, earner for Moscow even during the height of the Cold countries are in the mood to invest seriously into the the workers there never tell you come back tomorrow, and Foreign fighters started arriving in Syria in early War and despite efforts by the then Reagan administra- fracking technology and whether even in the United tomorrow, and tomorrow till you are fed up. 2012. And about 10,000 of them are fighting there tion back in the 1980s to sway its European allies from States such growing need could be met given the limi- 8- You drive from Hawally to Salmiya in only 10 minutes with the Syrian rebels. They came from the Middle getting deep into business deals with what Reagan tation surrounding the newly found source of supplies. (WOW). East and Europe. called the “Empire of evil.” For instance, EU members like France, Bulgaria and 9- Traffic department and immigration officials call you prior to This issue can be a threat to any Arab state includ- However, despite these efforts, Moscow actually cut others have restrictions on fracking, while others the expiry of your driver’s license or residence permit or off gas supplies twice in 2006 and 2009 supposedly namely Britain and Poland are pushing to develop their ing Kuwait. We are a small country surrounded by text you in advance to remind you. over the price dispute, which raised alarming bells in resources. So there is quite a policy difference in this several countries that are facing deadly threats every 10- Policemen on the main highways are very strict and chase many European capitals, but the European Union (EU) respect that has to be reconciled first if a regional those who drive over the speed limits, thus no accidents day and the security forces are limited, so this issue in general continues to get one-third of its gas supplies approach is to be developed. whatsoever. should be a wakeup call for us as well to alert securi- from Russia with credible sig- Still the most important 11- You get pulled over by police, and the cop greets you very ty forces and official channels to observe suspects nals that it could increase in development to watch is well and apologizes for disturbing you and tells you exact- who may have connections with terror groups or future reaching probably 80 “We should be looking when a team of deep water ly what you did wrong. individuals. percent in two decades. engineers will start drilling 12- You sleep at night quietly without disturbance from motor- at long-term energy later this year in the hostile In my opinion, the problem is that Arabs are until Norway provides another third cyclists in the middle of the night or from muscle cars in and Qatar some 10 percent. Arctic Ocean. Those teams now being emotional about Syria and they are still diversification, security some areas of Kuwait. The EU has been trying belong to the US company 13- Many ministry employees eat breakfast at home so that fighting over whom they should support and whom hard to diversify and the and resilience right ExxonMobil and its Russian they reach work on time to serve you and me and NEVER, they should not as if we are in a football match. This British government circulated across Europe and that is counterpart state-owned NEVER eat at work in front of you and tell you “shway is why they are still depending on the UN to do the a paper last week to help the Roseneft. shway”, meaning ‘not now, don’t you see me eating?’. job on their behalf. Sorry to say, I don’t think the debate on such an approach something which we will The move is part of a $500 14- Employees at many government institutions, especially the threat is the Muslim Brotherhood as it is said in the with Prime Minister David billion joint venture formed cashiers, are ALWAYS punctual and NEVER close the Arab media. I see it more with the increase of foreign Cameroon convinced that enthusiastically pursue,” three years ago with ambi- cashier at 11. Moscow needs European mar- tious goals that include, 15- My advice to the dear expatriates, if you want your work to fighters and the little we know about their moves kets more than the EU needs said Cameron, whose among other things, fracking and targets. Syria’s bloody conflict can spread easily be done on time, then wear the Kuwait national dress Russian gas. country imports virtually shale fields in Siberia, drilling (ghutra and egal) and submit your papers - they will be and is becoming more complicated every day. “We should be looking at in the Black Sea and con- finished on time without delay but don’t talk otherwise This issue is a threat to all countries. So don’t rest long-term energy diversifica- no Russian gas. structing a gas export termi- you will be caught. in peace! tion, security and resilience right nal in eastern Russia. 16- There isn’t any special committee at the car inspection across Europe and that is some- Forging ahead with such department for cheap and old cars aimed at scrapping thing which we will enthusiastically pursue,” said Cameron, mammoth projects that need decades to complete will them. Our dear officials there never know that many expa- whose country imports virtually no Russian gas. test clearly whether there will be a go back to the Cold triates can’t afford to buy a new car and this car is their But quarter of the gas used by the EU comes from War days, or whether the world has gotten into a new kuwait digest source of income. Russia, accounting for 53 percent of Russia’s annual gas era. The determining factor is how ExxonMobil sees 17- Housemaids from all nationalities are well-treated at maids’ exports, with $24 billion (17 billion euros) a year. The itself and its interest, generated more from inside the offices and have the newest accommodations and never The illness of point to remember here is the significance of price, United States or overseas. harassed or beaten (at some offices in order to obey the which is the main concern of buyers, more than the If words by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond rules). ideological argument. And that is why the diversifica- are any guide, his company’s interests no longer over- prosperity 18- The wage of a housemaid is KD 250 only and she remains tion plan does not call for a complete cut off or a lap with those of the United States. He was quoted as with you for years without saying she wants to work in a phased out approach to gas supplies from Russia. saying: “I’m not a US company, and I don’t make deci- By Salah Al-Ateeqi It pointed to the possibility of increasing the Qatari sions based on what is good for the United States.” private company or salon. supplies, open up with Iraq and encourage the US to The conclusion to draw from this and ExxonMobil as 19- It is very safe for a housemaid to be in a taxi late at night. llah Almighty said “O children of Adam, take export shale gas, though first shipment from this par- well as Chevron’s ambitious projects in Russia is that Some sick-minded taxi drivers NEVER kidnap them and your adornment at every masjid, and eat and ticular source will not reach Europe before next year at these companies now operate in a fully globalized take them to Jleeb or Farwaniya for other purposes. Adrink, but be not excessive. Indeed, he likes not the earliest. environment, not one dictated by the Cold War agenda 20- If you break down in the street and you are a man, every- those who commit excess. (Holy Quran). In addition, the newly discovered gas in the and mentality. How such new reality will play with one stops for you to offer his service but if you are a Diabetes is the illness of civilization and prosperi- Mediterranean particularly in Israel, Cyprus and Turkey hawkish members in Washington remains to be seen. woman, NO WAY. ty, and it occurs due to the rise of the standard of liv- Till the next article. ing, as the human being began eating refined starch- es in unprecedented quantities, and this disease results from the inability of the body to consume the glucose in the blood naturally due to shortage in the kuwait digest kuwait digest insulin hormone or its inefficacy. Glucose in the blood is a main source for heat energy needed by the Responsibility, fruit of slavery Khalfan’s body to carry out its physiological functions. When this balance is shaken, symptoms like hunger, thirst, statements frequent urination, bleared vision, numbness in By Fahd Rashid Al-Mutairi extremities and fatigue start to appear, and there are he minute we are born, we go through long derived from the verb ‘ask’. This is surely a notewor- other symptoms of lesser importance. By Abdualaziz Al-Fadhil Diabetes has no cure so far, but the patient can years of nursery during which we are subject- thy difference. Obviously, the Western term ed to a routine process known as ‘education’ ‘responsibility’ refers to a personal action motivat- t looks like the moment that we in the Gulf region wake up live with it if he cooperates with the doctor in con- T from a decision, statement or position that confuses the wis- that provides us with a humongous amount of ed from within the individual whereas the Arabic trolling blood glucose. Diabetics used to die at an Iest of men, new statements come to make us either early age before the discovery of insulin due to the information about the surrounding world. We usu- one refers to non-self-motivated action originating alarmed, surprised or laugh from the irony. One of the most many complications of diabetes. Our goal behind the ally get such information from families, schools, from individuals’ surroundings. In other words, in alarming statements I read recently are those made by former treatment is to reduce the amount of glucose in the mosques and the whole society. The more dedicat- Western culture, responsibility is linked to an indi- Dubai Police Chief Dhahi Khalfan, who posted on Twitter: “The blood to the normal level by following a prescribed ed a child is to memorizing vidual’s ability to respond time has come to form a strategic cooperation council between diet and comply with the treatment regiment, such information, the clos- while for us it refers to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.” whether it is tablets or insulin injections, as well as er he get to a stage known In Western culture, responsi- ‘accountability’. This strange statement raises many questions, including practicing daily sports, taking good care of the feet as ‘puberty’ when, and only Accordingly, we can say whether it reflects Khalfan’s personal opinion or that he was bility is closely related to free- repeating what he has been told to say. Is that statement con- and treat wounds in time no matter how simple they then, he becomes one of that in Western culture, may be. sidered a result of Kuwait and Oman’s refusal to force Qatar out us, starts wearing similarly, dom where an individual is as responsibility is closely Material that contains sugars is called carbohy- of the Gulf Cooperation Council? Have the positions of Qatar drates, and these are of two types: Simple, like drinking and eating the responsible as he is free to related to freedom where an and Oman who rejected the military coup in Egypt, as well as sucrose, fructose (fruit sugar), lactose (milk sugar) same way we do and, worst respond to surrounding effects. individual is as responsible Kuwait’s undecided position on the said military coup, play a and this type is absorbed fast, and compound, found of all, starts thinking the as he is free to respond to major role in calling for a new coalition? in potatoes, rice and bread, and it is advised to eat same way we do! On the other hand, in our Arabic surrounding effects. On the Has Kuwait’s failure to ratify the Gulf security pact led its sister nations to start looking for new security alliances? Has the less of them because they are slowly absorbed and How can one feel other hand, in our Arab cul- culture, responsibility is closely hostile attitude shown by some Gulf states against the Muslim do not exhaust the circulatory system. responsible for his actions ture, responsibility is closely Brotherhood, which Kuwait refused to comment on as being an I cannot write all that is on my mind about this dis- unless granted a chance to related to slavery where an indi- related to slavery where an ‘internal issue’, accelerated those calls? ease in a short column, but the disease began to ring be free in what he does?! vidual is as responsible as how individual is as responsible Gulf citizens have become concerned following those alarm bells as the diabetes percentage in Kuwait This question implies a as how subservient he is to statements, which made them feel like that an announce- reached 15 percent, which very high compared to the direct relation between subservient he is to orders. orders. Maybe that is what ment to break up the Gulf Cooperation Council is only a mat- rest of the world. This disease has large financial cost, freedom and responsibility. ‘having the sense of respon- ter of time. We are also surprised from calls to create coalitions and loss of souls that should have enjoyed a healthy But what kind of relation is it? It does not sound like sibility’ refers to, which means dedication in doing with countries to replace Gulf states, even though those life. Until Almighty Allah leads the doctors and countries are sister Arab states. Especially when everyone researchers to finding a cure for this disease, we must one originating from logical necessity to me. It tasks and duties. Hence, for us, responsibility is the knows that the ties between Gulf Cooperation Council coun- adhere to treatment protocols, and medical news most probably differs according to the culture dom- outcome of slavery while others consider it the tries are stronger when it comes to traditions, customs and promises good results in the foreseeable future. inating each respective society. To explain this, let’s price of freedom. pedigree, in addition to facing a common threat in the form Please stay away from those who promote other review the concept of responsibility before linking Finally, it is noteworthy to mention that equality of Iran’s ambitions in the region. treatments like herbs and acupuncture, camel urine it to the concept of freedom. in Islamic heritage is not as related to freedom as it The situation of Gulf states cannot stay as it is today for long and others, because they do not rely on any scientific Responsibility in English, ‘responsabilite’ in is to slavery because, in Islam, equality amongst if some countries work on breaking up the tent under which evidence and they are mostly some type of sorcery. I French and ‘responsabilidad’ in Spanish all origi- individuals is not measured by their freedom but is Gulf nationals find shelter. Hopefully, we can learn from history wish all those who are plagued with this disease lessons, including Andalusia, whose decline started following nate from the Latin verb ‘respondere’, which means rather measured by their submission to Allah. It is infighting among its leaders. —Al-Rai quick recovery and a healthy life. —Al-Qabas to reply or answer. Meanwhile, the Arabic term is equality in duties rather than in rights! —Al-Jarida MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 LOCAL ‘Most dangerous’ shooting suspect of Jahra at large Two more bedoons in police custody

KUWAIT: Authorities are searching for a convict 16 suspects who face charges of public shoot- who spoke on the condition of anonymity as sentenced to life in prison and believed to be ing, drug possession, and assaulting police offi- well. Female security forces will be included in connected to shooting suspects arrested recent- cers on duty. the team “which will be fully equipped with light ly in Jahra. Meanwhile, Jahra police managed to Local authorities had received direct instruc- and heavy machinery,” said the sources. They arrest two other bedoon men on Saturday, after tions from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior added that the minister’s instructions highlight- they caught 14 people Thursday in Taima and Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah ed a meeting for senior Interior Ministry officials Sulaibiya for shooting in public and targeting to put the fugitive under arrest. “Maj Genl held over the weekend at the Criminal patrol vehicles with gunfire and rocks. Abdulhameed Al-Awadhi, the assistant under- Investigations Department’s building, and was The men, who were caught firing gunshots secretary for criminal inspection, received strict chaired by Undersecretary Lieutenant General from mechanical weapons at random, include 11 directions from the minister to find and arrest Sheikh Suleiman Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. bedoons, two Syrians and one Kuwaiti. the runaway suspect as soon as possible,” the The case is far from closed as investigations sources said. Air guns are ongoing for a Kuwaiti man described as the In other news, the Ministry of Commerce and ‘most dangerous’ shooting suspect in Jahra, Finding fugitives Industry listed multiple shot air rifles under ‘dan- according to news reports. The latest news came while the Interior gerous weapons’ that require a special license to “The source of danger is the fact that the sus- Ministry plans to embark in efforts to arrest be obtained. pect is sentenced to 99-years in jail,” said security around 12,000 fugitives convicted by final court The decision, made by Deputy Prime Minister sources quoted by Al-Rai yesterday. orders, according to a recent report. and Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. The sources who spoke on the condition of “Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Abdulmohsen Al-Modej last week, bans import- anonymity because they did not obtain permis- Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah is expecting, marketing, selling or buying air rifles with sion to disclose those information to the press, ed to make a decision soon to form a security 7mm caliber or higher and over 500 meters of did not provide information about the nature of team to track and arrest around 12,000 people range power in Kuwait. Companies or individu- the crimes that the Kuwaiti suspect was convict- convicted in criminal cases,” said sources quoted als are required to obtain a license approved by ed with. by Al-Watan yesterday. the Interior Ministry in order to buy or sell those Yet, they explained that the sentence gives an The team will consist of 250 security person- rifles in Kuwait, according to multiple newspaper idea about “the volume of cases filed and sen- nel chosen from the Criminal Investigations reports yesterday. tences made against him”. Furthermore, the Department, Special Task Force, Criminal Rulings The new rifle is added to the list of air guns sources indicated that investigations are ongo- Implementation Department and General that the commerce ministry had banned using ing to determine whether he is connected to the Security Department, according to the sources without a license last year. Praise for Environment camp Kuwait’s GCC e-govts festival concludes linking efforts KUWAIT: Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh KUWAIT: The Environment Public landscapes. Al-Omair added that the UN Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah praised Authority participated yesterday in the recognized Kuwait’s right in restoring the Kuwait’s progress in connecting GCC online networks concluding activities of an environment country’s environment, and noted that it camp festival entitled “Kuwait a Green was within the environmental compensa- for better e-government services. Oasis” under the patronage of Minister of tions of the country part of it dedicated to Sheikh Mohammad, also Chairman of the Central Oil and Minister of State for National the environment, wildlife which amounted Agency for Information Technology, told reporters on Assembly Affairs and Chairman of the to about $3 billion. Sunday on the sidelines of the third meeting of the Supreme Council for the Environment Ali For his part, the Public Authority for GCC e-government ministerial committee held in Al-Omair and with the attendance of Environment Director General Dr. Salah Al- Kuwait, that the GCC countries will exchange their Minister of State for Housing Affairs Yasser Mudhi asserted on the authority’s keenness experiences in the field for more development. Abul. to encourage contact with volunteers, civil Secretary General of the GCC Abdul-Latif Al-Zayani Al-Omair said in a speech, at the closing society organizations, and environmental said that the GCC countries had seen great develop- ceremony, that to preserve the environ- activists in these regards. ment in e-government services, which led to better ment and turn it into a green oasis work Al-Mudhi explained that volunteers’ ini- productivity, easier execution of tasks for citizens, and has started through a voluntary team tiative and campaign has received a good a quick way to find the needed information. which did not have an executive umbrella, care by minister Al-Omair which shows The ministerial committee has set a strategy to see but managed to deliver the message of concern for the environment beyond the a progress in e-governments as a mean of sustainable awareness to the public. scope of the authority and into to the development and create further cooperation, said Al- The minister called for encouraging Cabinet, noting that working for the envi- Zayani, adding that this strategy also aims to create KUWAIT: Lt Reem Abdallah Al-Khalaf delivered a lecture at Al-Wafa girls with special these efforts and to participate by support- ronment is a collective and joint responsi- the competitive edge of the GCC countries both needs school on security and traffic awareness. She spoke about the importance of ing it financially and morally, due to its role bility on everyone for the sake of preserv- regionally and internationally. — KUNA using seat belt, dangers of overspeeding, using the mobile phone while driving and also in maintaining clean and greening ing the environment. — KUNA some other wrong behaviors. She also spoke about the role of women police. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 LOCAL ‘Failaka apparitions’ mystery revealed Worker, maid commit suicide

KUWAIT: A police officer uncovered the mys- are ongoing to determine his motives. The two were searched after a plastic bag fell tery behind a strange presence reported In a similar case, a domestic helper hanged from the driver’s wallet when he reached for it recently in Failaka, after finding a woman who herself in her employer’s house in Sabahiya. to show his ID. The search found 17 plastic roamed the island with her child to find shelter Police and paramedics headed to the scene in bags containing shabu (meth), 4 pieces of and seek charity. Failaka Police Station Director response to an emergency call made at 9:30 hashish and 4 hashish rolls, in addition to KD Col Abdul-Aziz Al-Juwayer had formed an am Saturday, in which a family reported that 1,400 in cash. The two, Kuwaiti and Gulf inspection team as part of investigations in their housemaid committed suicide. They nationals, admitted that the money was col- multiple reports about ‘apparitions’ and weird found the 42-year-old Nepalese woman hang- lected from drug sales. Police also found 8 dif- movements detected on the island. On ing dead from a piece of clothing she had ferent cell phone chips which the suspects Saturday, the team found a woman in her wrapped around her neck and then tied the likely used in their trafficking business. The twenties and a four-year-old child, who were other end to the ceiling of her room. The body two were taken to the Drug Control General roaming between deserted homes in the was transferred to the forensic department Department for further action. island. It was revealed that the woman is after criminal investigators finished examining bedoon and the little girl is her daughter. the scene, which confirmed that the woman Armed robbery Police gave them food and some time to rest committed suicide. Investigations are ongoing. Farwaniya police arrested three men hours before they commenced questioning, during after they left a shopkeeper injured in a failed which the woman said that she was homeless Fatal crash armed robbery in the area. Police arrived to a and found shelter in the island’s deserted A man died in an accident reported at the baqala in the area in response to an emergency homes. She added that she and her daughter Nuwaseeb Road Friday night. Emergency call, and found the shopkeeper bleeding from his lived off charity she received while roaming medical personnel and security officers were hand and shoulder. The Asian man told police the island on a daily basis. After medical dispatched to the scene after operators that he was stabbed while resisting three sus- exams, the woman and her daughter were received an emergency call reporting that a pects who attempted to rob his store at knife- transferred to Sharq police station as a precau- vehicle lost balance and overturned. The driv- point. While the man was taken to the Farwaniya tionary measure for their protection, and for er, an Asian man, was pronounced dead at the Hospital, detectives identified the suspects as a necessary actions to be taken. scene before criminal investigators were bedoon man, Arab man and a British national. called. The body was transferred to the foren- The three were later arrested and referred to the Suicide cases sic department after investigators finished proper authorities to face charges. A man committed suicide near a building examining the scene. Investigations are ongo- Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to inhabited by single expatriate workers in ing to determine the circumstances behind identify and arrest a man who stole KD 650 from Amghara Saturday, according to investigations. the accident. a supermarket in Taima at knifepoint. A cashier Police and paramedics arrived at the scene in at the co-op society branch in the area was response to an emergency call, and found the Drug traffickers preparing to close the store Saturday when the man hanging from a rope tied to a tree. The Two drug traffickers were nabbed by traffic suspect made his way in with a cleaver in hand. body was taken to the forensic department police who caught them driving under the The cashier handed over the money to the sus- after criminal investigators examined the influence in Jahra. Patrol officers had pulled a pect and watched him escape before calling scene. Preliminary investigations indicate that car over for swerving and discovered that both police. Surveillance tapes were obtained to be the man hanged himself, while investigations the driver and his companion were drugged. used in the investigations. Envoy hails Qatar Leadership Academy

DOHA: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Academy, he said, hoping that Qatar Leadership Academy pro- Islam, Arabic heritage and culture, Qatar Meteb Al-Mutawtah praised they would represent Kuwait in motes personal growth in youth while also encouraging them to yesterday the great level of expert- the best ways possible. Al- by engaging them in an environ- learn of and respect other cultures. ise and development which Qatar Mutawtah also told the students ment that promotes excellence in The Academy also provides Leadership Academy provides to that Kuwait’s Embassy is ready to academics, leadership, athletics national heritage programs con- its students. provide any help they may need at and character to prepare the sisting of hunting by falcon, horse The Ambassador who visited any time. Leaders of the future. It was estab- riding, maritime heritage and other the Academy yesterday said he The ambassador and his accom- lished in 2005 in cooperation national principles. When students had met with administration mem- panying embassy members were between Qatar Foundation and graduate from the Academy, they bers to check on the situation of received by Chairman of the Qatari Armed Forces. have the choice of continuing their Kuwaiti students in the facility and administrative affairs department The Academy’s programs aim to studies in national and internation- their current level of education. Yousif Al-Mansouri, a number of develop the students’ abilities, al universities, or joining the Qatari KUWAIT: Public Services Department at Kuwait Municipality removed four The students were carefully Kuwaiti students, academics, and give them self-control and confi- Armed Forces and other interna- violating shades used as car parking in Sharq area, following several com- chosen in order to join the administrative officials. dence, teach them the values of tional military schools. —KUNA plaints. —By Hanan Al-Saadoun Kuwaitis, Kazakh Muslims share deep-rooted religious ties

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Mongolia Khaled Al-Fadhli but also found in parts of Uzbekistan, China, Russia and participated in the opening ceremony of the new headquar- Mongolia). Al-Fadhli handed Sheikh Azatkhan a number of ters of the religious affairs department society “ Al-mufteyat”, copies of the Holy Qur’an written in Kazakh language, pre- headed by cleric Mokhan Azatkhan, located in Bayan Ulgi sented as a gift from Al Najat Charitable Society in Kuwait. governorate, western Mongolia. Sheikh Azatkhan expressed his gratitude to the Kuwaiti Al-Fadli gave a speech, tackling the deep-rooted religious diplomat for his participation in the ceremony, which reflects ties between people of Kuwait and Kazakhs, pointing out the great care he offers to the Muslims in Mongolia. that he will convey their needs to the specialized authorities He also expressed his thanks to AL-Najat Charitable back in Kuwait. Kazakhs are a Turkic people of Eastern Europe Society, and the Kuwaiti people for all the efforts they exert and the northern parts of Central Asia (largely Kazakhstan, to serve Muslims in Mongolia.—KUNA ‘Drive Zain’ social media campaign receives 1.6m views on YouTube KUWAIT: Zain Group, a pioneer in mobile on other social media channels, the cam- telecommunications across eight markets in paign appears to have connected with the the Middle East and Africa announces the key constituents it was targeted at. overwhelming success of its latest Drive Zain Comments from the public left on social road safety Corporate Social Responsibility media channels regarding the latest “Drive campaign, which has received 1.6 million Zain” campaign included, “Thank you, Zain, views on YouTube from across the globe in a for this educational work”, “Agreed; safety space of just three weeks since its launch at first. Thank you, Zain”, and “Absolutely, every- Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the thing can wait. Safety first.” end of February. Over the years the Drive Zain multimedia The highly impactful campaign, which campaigns have included eye-catching slo- specifically targets social media users, is gans such as ‘Ignore your best friend’, ‘Reject aimed at promoting the responsible use of your mom’s call’ and ‘Hang up on your wife’, mobile phones while driving, while the over- in a bid to emphasize the point of not allow- all “Drive Zain” promotion has the ultimate ing oneself to become distracted by commu- aim of improving driver safety and combat- nications while driving. ing the high incidence of fatal and serious Additionally, Zain operations in coordina- automobile accidents on public roads. tion with government bodies undertook road During Mobile World Congress 2014, Zain shows and visited private and government introduced three different television com- schools and universities, establishing open mercials to over 100 assembled guests and sumers of social media and apps on mobile panel sessions to encourage dialog and raise international media at the company’s hospi- phones and tablets. awareness. A diversity of TV, print, billboard tality suite in Barcelona. It was outlined that Having recognized the important role and radio media outlets, talk shows and inter- the commercials were to be aired and pro- social media plays in the lives of young audi- views; and social media channels have also moted on all major social media channels - ences, the latest campaign was developed been utilized to promote this topical issue. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter- using social media language, accompanied Zain Group is rolling out this campaign across and would also be supported by print adver- with hard-hitting taglines such as ‘Pull the its footprint of eight markets as part of its cor- tisements circulated across the region. brakes on social media. Don’t text and drive.’ porate social responsibility agenda, assisting Commenting on the massive success and vis- Given the one million plus views on YouTube, in safeguarding the lives of people in the ibility of the campaign that attracted over a and the active responses and engagements communities in which it serves. million viewers from across the globe, Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer said; Kuwait to bolster ties “Through ‘Drive Zain’, we are fulfilling our responsibility towards addressing dangerous with Nicaragua consequences of our core business activity. The public at large and young people espe- NEW YORK: Kuwaiti non-resident For his part, President Ortega sent his greet- cially do need to be made aware and regular- Ambassador to Nicaragua Samih Johar ings to His Highness Sheikh Sabah through ly reminded of the terrible consequences Hayat met late on Saturday with the Ambassador Hayat, stressing his desire to that a moment’s inattention on a mobile President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega further develop the mutual ties of Kuwait device may cause while driving .We shall Saavedra at the Presidential Palace in the and Nicaragua. continue pushing this point home in a bid to capital Managua. President Ortega also confirmed his further raise awareness and save lives.” Ambassador Hayat conveyed greetings future visit to the State of Kuwait in Since the launch of Drive Zain in June of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- response to the invitation by His Highness 2011, Zain has played an active role in raising Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to President the Amir, the statement added. In a separate awareness through numerous multimedia Ortega, wishing him and Nicaragua further statement, Hayat noted that he met with campaigns and on-the-ground initiatives. success and prosperity, according to a state- Nicaragua’s Parliament Speaker Rene Nunez This latest campaign placed an emphasis on ment issued after the meeting. at the parliament’s headquarters in social media platforms, drawing a focus on He also conveyed His Highness the Managua where they discussed bolstering young people across Zain Group’s interna- Amir’s aspirations to bolster bilateral ties bilateral ties and establishing a joint parlia- tional footprint, who are significant con- between the two countries in several fields. mentary committee. —KUNA MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

World leaders gather for Crimea leaders urge Ukraine’s Russians to fight Hague nuclear summit

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KUALA LUMPUR: Cyclists hold a banner reading “Pray for MH370” during “The Ride of Prayer” for the missing Malaysia Airlines, flight MH370, outside the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, yestertday. Search planes headed back out to a desolate patch of the southern Indian Ocean in hopes of finding answers to the fate of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, after China released a satellite image showing a large object floating in the search zone. — AP French data show debris from jetliner

PERTH: France provided new satellite data yesterday showing tary initially reported the pallet came from the Air France flight, possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, as but backtracked hours later and said the plane had not been searchers combing a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean carrying any wooden pallets. tried without success to locate a wooden pallet that could yield clues to one of the world’s most baffling aviation myster- Frustrating ies. Yesterday’s search was frustrating because “there was cloud The new data consists of “radar echoes” in the same part of down to the surface, and at times we were completely enclosed the ocean where satellite images previously released by by cloud,” Royal Australian Air Force flight Lt. Russell Adams told Australia and China showed what might be debris from the reporters. plane, French authorities said. Nothing of interest was found, he said. But he added that the Flight 370 vanished March 8 with 239 people aboard while search was worth it because “we might do 10 sorties and find en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, setting off a nothing, but on that 11th flight when you find something and multinational search that has turned up no confirmed pieces you know that you’re actually contributing to some answers for and nothing conclusive on what happened to the jet. somebody.” The latest satellite data came to light as Australian authori- In Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal ties coordinating the search, conducted about 2,500 kilome- said in an interview with The Associated Press that the satellite ters (1,550 miles) southwest of Perth, sent planes and a ship to radar echoes “identified some debris that could be from the try to “re-find” a wooden pallet that appeared to be surround- Malaysian Airlines plane.” ed by straps of different lengths and colors. The spokesman said that these echoes “are not images with a The pallet was spotted on Saturday from a search plane, but definition like a photograph, but they do allow us to identify the the spotters were unable to take photos of it, and a PC Orion nature of an object and to localize it.” “The French government military plane dispatched to locate it could not find it. “So, has decided to increase its satellite monitoring of this zone and we’ve gone back to that area again today to try and re-find it,” try to obtain precise images and locations,” Nadal said. said Mike Barton, chief of the Australian Maritime Safety Gathering satellite echo data involves sending a beam of Authority’s rescue coordination center. He added: “It’s a possi- energy to the Earth and then analyzing it when it bounces back, ble lead.” according to Joseph Bermudez Jr., chief analytics officer at Wooden pallets are often used by ships, Barton cautioned. AllSource Analysis, a commercial satellite intelligence firm. But he said airlines also commonly use them in cargo holds. An Satellite radar echoes can be converted into an image that official with Malaysia Airlines said Sunday night that the flight would look similar to a black-and white photo, though not as was, in fact, carrying wooden pallets. The official spoke on con- clear, he said. “You’d have to know what you’re looking at,” dition of anonymity in keeping with company policy. Bermudez said. AMSA said it has requested a cargo manifest from Malaysia A Malaysian official involved in the search said the French Airlines. When Brazilian searchers in 2009 were looking for data located objects about 930 kilometers (575 miles) north of debris from Air France Flight 447 after it mysteriously plunged the spots where the objects in the images released by Australia into the Atlantic Ocean, they found a wooden pallet. The mili- and China were located.

Evidence One of the objects located was estimated to be about the same size as an object captured Tuesday by the Chinese satellite that appeared to be 22 meters (72 feet) by 13 meters (43 feet), said the official, who declined to be identified because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media. It was not possible to determine precise dimensions from the French data, the official said. The southern Indian Ocean is thought to be a potential area to find the jet because Malaysian authorities have said pings sent by the Boeing 777-200 for several hours after it disappeared indicated that the plane ended up in one of two huge arcs: a northern corridor stretching from Malaysia to Central Asia, or a southern corridor that stretches toward Antarctica. — AP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 INTERNATIONAL

Hamas rally in Gaza takes aim at Egypt, Israel, Abbas

GAZA: Tens of thousands of Palestinians up the rhetoric. “The punishment of the which withdrew from the Gaza Strip in West Bank and is holding peace talks “brother, friend and neighbour”, but rallied in Gaza yesterday to show sup- people of Gaza must end,” Ismail 2005. The Islamists won a Palestinian with Israel under Washington’s auspices. another Hamas official based in the West port for their Islamist Hamas govern- Haniyeh, head of the Hamas govern- legislative election the next year and, “We call upon the Palestinian nego- Bank, Hassan Youssef, had harsher ment, which has long been at logger- ment, told the rally in a speech inter- after a uneasy power-share with the tiator to quit this pointless track and not words. “We say to the authors of the heads with Israel but is now shunned by spersed with chants of “Jihad is not U.S.-backed rival faction Fatah, seized to extend negotiation,” said Haniyeh. coup in Egypt, the criminals who sup- Egypt as well. Terrorism” over the loudspeakers. control of Gaza in 2007. Though Hamas has largely held fire port the Occupation (Israel), that the The military-backed government that “Why punish Gaza? Was it because it since its last war with Israel, in blockade will not work,” he said in a tele- toppled the Muslim Brotherhood, achieved victory against the Occupier? Opposition to peace talks November 2012, the Israelis have been vised speech. Hamas’s ideological kin, in Cairo last year Why punish Gaza? Was it because it took Yesterday’s rally was intended to uncovering tunnels dug from Gaza to Cairo’s cold shoulder has exacerbated deems the Palestinian faction a security up the rifle against Israel?” Haniyeh said. commemorate three top Hamas leaders, allow cross-border attacks in the next Hamas’s isolation since it quit its head- threat. An Egyptian court this month “We are living through a difficult including the group’s founder, Sheikh confrontation. Haniyeh said the tunnels quarters in Damascus in protest at Syrian banned Hamas activities in the country, stage and harsh challenges, but we are Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated by showed his faction’s dedication to fight- President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown and Cairo has clamped down on smug- not terrified and we are not defeated. Israel a decade ago. ing Israel until its eventual destruction. on opposition groups, a move that led gling tunnels across the Sinai-Gaza bor- We have become familiar with difficul- The tone of defiance appeared aimed “From below ground and above Iran to cut off funding. Palestinian offi- der. Hamas tried in vain to mollify Egypt ties and this stage is not the most diffi- in part at undermining Palestinian ground, you, the Occupiers, will be dis- cials said Hamas was now in fence- by insisting that its hostility was directed cult.” President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, missed. You have no place in the land of mending talks with Tehran, though their exclusively at Israel, but is now turning Hamas has repeatedly fought Israel, who holds sway in the Israeli-occupied Palestine.” Haniyeh described Egypt as outcome remained unclear. — Reuters Algeria’s Bouteflika offers ‘democracy’ if re-elected

ADRAR: Algerian President country’s development,” said Sellal, ties which have, in part, affected my Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s campaign who stepped down as prime minis- health,” he said. chief promised yesterday that consti- ter to run Bouteflika’s re-election Bouteflika, who is widely expect- tutional changes would create a campaign. ed to win the race, faces five other “broad democracy” if the ailing “We are going to expand the presidential hopefuls, including one incumbent wins re-election next rights of the people’s elected repre- woman, Louisa Hanoune, and former month. sentatives and the opposition parties premier Ali Benflis. Former prime minister will have their constitutional rights,” In an interview published Sunday Abdelmalek Sellal gave scant details he told a crowd of about 1,000 peo- by the Jeune Afrique magazine, of the long-promised changes as he ple. Benflis, who is seen as Bouteflika’s opened the re-election campaign Sellal gave no further details of main competition, said he would with a speech in the southern desert the proposed changes, a draft of offer Algerians a new constitution “in town of Adrar. which he handed to Bouteflika in order to re-establish a balance of Sellal was one of six senior regime September last year. powers”. figures who fanned out across the Press reports had suggested that Benflis, 69, is a human rights vast North African country to cam- the changes might create a post of defender who was sidelined from paign on behalf of the president, vice president but that was denied politics after running against who is too sick to take to the hus- by Sellal on Friday. Bouteflika in 2004. tings himself. He was due Sunday to address Bouteflika’s decision to seek a Bouteflika ‘fit to govern’ supporters in Mascara, a city in west- fourth term despite a mini-stroke, Sellal, who was closely involved in ern Algeria that is highly symbolic which confined him to hospital in the 2004 and 2009 campaigns that because it is the hometown of the Paris for three months last year, has returned Bouteflika to power, insist- Emir Abdelkader, a key figure in drawn heavy criticism not only in ed earlier this month the president Algerian history who fought the opposition ranks but also from some need not be on the road himself to French colonial authorities in the CAIRO: In this Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 file photo, Egyptian prominent blogger Alaa Abdel-Fattah, center, hugs his within the regime. campaign for re-election. 19th century. recently born son, Khaled, his mother Laila Soueif, and his sister Ahdaf Soueif, left, after his release, in Cairo, Egypt. Former president Liamine Zeroual The president rejected concerns El-Watan2014 website, set up for An Egyptian court has ordered Abdel-Fattah who has spent nearly four months in jail to be released on bail. — AP has sharply criticised the 2008 con- about his health in a message to the the presidential election, said the stitutional amendment that allowed nation on Saturday, insisting he is fit message “Ali Benflis will be our Bouteflika to seek and win a third to govern and will stand in the race future president” had appeared on Egypt court bails term and demanded a handover of April 17 election in response to per- the site before it was taken down. power. sistent calls from Algerians. This came as Bouteflika’s Sellal told the rally in Adrar that “It is my duty to respond positive- Facebook page said that the presi- constitutional changes, first prom- ly, because never in my life have I dent’s website had been temporarily prominent activist ised in the wake of the Arab Spring shied away from the call of duty,” he suspended because of a cyberattack. uprisings that swept the region in said. Meanwhile politicians boycotting 2011, would be adopted this year. “The difficulties linked to my the elections yesterday called for a “Algeria will have a broad democ- health do not appear to disqualify “democratic transition” as a way to Morsi ushered into a soundproof dock racy, a participatory democracy. me in your eyes or plead in favour of achieve a change of power in CAIRO: An Egyptian court released a defendants already out on bail, told were killed in clashes outside the Every citizen will take part in the me giving up the heavy responsibili- Algeria. — AFP leading leftwing activist on trial for AFP before the trial began. palace, after protests against a presi- joining an unsanctioned and violent Abdel Fattah and his co-defen- dential decree granting Morsi extra- protest on bail yesterday, as the army- dants were arrested after violating a judicial powers. installed regime seeks to quell politi- recently enacted law banning all but Morsi is also on trial in two other cal unrest. police-authorised demonstrations. cases, on charges of colluding with Alaa Abdel Fattah and 24 others Three leading anti-Mubarak militants to carry out attacks in Egypt are accused of taking part in a violent protest leaders have already been and involvement in prison breaks dur- protest last November outside the sentenced to three years in prison for ing the anti-Mubarak uprising. senate, where a panel drafted a new violating the law. The Islamist’s presidency quickly constitution giving the army broader Cheers erupted in the courtroom alienated many Egyptians, who powers. The trial for the activist, one yesterday when the presiding judge accused him of power grabbing and of the leaders of the 2011 uprising ordered the release of Fattah and the mismanaging the economy. Millions that overthrew Hosni Mubarak, co-defendant still in custody on bail of took to the streets demanding his res- opened yesterday as another court 10,000 Egyptian pounds (around ignation before the military stepped resumed the trial of Mubarak’s $1,400). His father and lawyer Ahmed in. Some of the activists who opposed deposed Islamist successor Mohamed Seif said he should be freed today, Morsi, including Abdel Fattah, have Morsi. The interim government has once bail has been posted. since turned on the government, arrested thousands of people, mostly accusing it reviving the Mubarak-era. Islamists, following Morsi’s overthrow Charged denied More than 1,400 people, mostly by the military in July. At the hearing, the defendants, Islamists, have been killed in street The crackdown on the opposition now all freed on bail, denied the clashes since Morsi’s overthrow, amid often violent protests by charges against them from a caged according to rights group Amnesty Islamists is the harshest in decades, dock. Abdel Fattah joked with journal- International. Thousands have been prompting fears of a return to the ists during a court recess and flashed imprisoned, including much of the decades-long authoritarianism the victory signs. leadership of Morsi’s Muslim revolutionaries who toppled Mubarak Elsewhere in the capital, Morsi was Brotherhood. Field Marshal Abdel had hoped to end. ushered into a soundproof dock for Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief who The interim government has arrest- the resumption of his trial on charges overthrew Morsi, is expected to resign ed thousands of people, mostly of involvement in the killing of oppo- this week and contest an upcoming Islamists, since Morsi’s overthrow. sition protesters during his year in presidential election that he is certain Police have also arrested secular dissi- power. The prosecution showed the to win. Sisi is riding a wave of nation- dents and several journalists. “They court footage of Islamist activists tear- alist fervour and support for a firm want to silent opposition-this is why ing down tents set up by the opposi- leader seen to be able to restore secu- they are targeting the revolutionary tion outside Morsi’s palace in rity and manage the floundering youth,” Mamduh Gamal, one of the December 2012. At least seven people economy. — AFP Militants launch social support in an Iraqi city

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s al-Qaeda-inspired ster their standing in a community security to Fallujah residents after militants who took over the city of that remains under siege and exhaust- policemen left,” said Abu Abdullah, a Fallujah are now trying to show they ed by three months of clashes shop owner who offered only his nick- can run it, providing social services, between the insurgents and govern- name. He said shoppers can reach his policing the streets and implementing ment forces. store more easily after fighters Shariah rulings in a bid to win the sup- The group is trying to increase its removed blast walls blocking the port of its Sunni Muslim population. appeal among the broader Sunni street. Gunmen in ski masks and Afghan- minority in Iraq, where resentment ISIL took control of Fallujah, one of style tunics patrol the streets, but also against the Shiite-led government the main cities in Iraq’s western, Sunni- perform a sort of community out- runs deep - and it is trying to correct dominated Anbar province, in late reach. On a recent day, they were seen past mistakes. In the 2007, many major December. The turmoil began when repairing damaged electricity poles Sunni tribes turned against al-Qaeda security forces arrested a Sunni law- and operating bulldozers to remove militants and formed US-backed mili- maker sought on terrorism charges, concrete blast walls and clear garbage. tias to battle the group, angered by its then dismantled a year-old Sunni anti- Others planted flowers in a highway rampant killings during the height of government protest camp. Clashes median, and some fighters the country’s sectarian bloodbath fol- erupted with security forces. approached residents in the street and lowing the 2003 US-led invasion. Many To ease tension, the government apologized for gaps in services, prom- in the Sunni community still bitterly ordered the army to hand over securi- ising to address them. hate the militants, and some tribes ty duties in Anbar to local police. But The Islamic militants have also have joined government forces in militants took the opportunity to drive made themselves the law in the city fighting the group in Fallujah. out the police and overrun Fallujah, and aim to show they are acting to just 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of prevent crime. On Thursday, militants Improving group’s image Baghdad, and parts of the nearby cut off the right hand of a man Gauging whether the outreach is provincial capital, Ramadi. accused of robbing a mobile phone improving the group’s image among Nearly three months later, govern- shop and paraded him through Fallujah residents is difficult. Several ment forces have been unable to Fallujah in the back of a pickup truck, residents who spoke to The Associated retake Fallujah. Government offices forcing him to raise his stump to show Press said they fear the militants and have been shut and a number of people, according to witnesses in the want police control to return. Some police stations have been demolished. city. said they are happy with the group’s Only schools and the directorates of The push by the al-Qaida break- activities, but all spoke on condition of health, electricity and the municipality away group, the Islamic State of Iraq anonymity, fearing for their own safe- remain operational, according to resi- and the Levant, marks an effort to bol- ty. “The ISIL people are providing dents.—AP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 INTERNATIONAL World leaders gather for Hague nuclear summit Russian President Putin not attending AMSTERDAM: Nuclear terrorism is officially with either a nuclear weapon or a “dirty the main topic for world leaders at a two- bomb” was one of his most important inter- day summit in the Netherlands starting national policy goals. Because countries usu- today. In practice, the Ukraine crisis will likely ally regard protecting nuclear weapons and overshadow those talks. facilities as a confidential sovereign matter, The Nuclear Security Summit in the the summits center on individual commit- Hague will form the backdrop for an emer- ments by participants and conclude with a gency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on non-binding accord. Still, they already have Russia’s annexation of Crimea. It’s a con- reached tangible results. frontation between Russia and the West reminiscent of the Cold War. New commitment Russian President Vladimir Putin is not The number of countries that possess attending, instead sending Foreign Minister enough highly enriched uranium or plutoni- Sergey Lavrov, who is expected to hold talks um to make a bomb has fallen steadily, from with US Secretary of State John Kerry. 39 before the first conference in Washington But experts say frantic diplomacy focused in 2010 to 25 at the start of the Hague sum- on Ukraine shouldn’t divert from the goal of mit. Piet de Klerk, the Dutch diplomat who better security of nuclear material. chaired negotiations before the summit, “International attention can turn in a says a further large drop in numbers is moment,” said Deepti Choubey, a senior unlikely. But he says The Hague closing director at the non-government Nuclear accord will likely include a new commitment Threat Initiative. “The attentions of terrorists to reduce plutonium stores. That is particu- do not.” Delegations from 53 countries, larly relevant for Japan, which owns a large including the leaders of the US, China and plutonium stockpile even as it reevaluates Japan, have started to arrive in the Hague. its use of nuclear power in the wake of the THE HAGUE: A protestor dressed as a bomb is posing in front of the police during a demonstration in The Hague, Netherlands, yesterday. They will meet to negotiate on reducing and 2011 Fukushima disaster. A two-day Nuclear Security Summit will start today in the Hague which will form the backdrop for an emergency meeting of Group of securing supplies, and keeping them out of Additionally, the Netherlands, with help Seven leaders on Russia’s annexation of Crimea. It’s a confrontation between Russia and the West reminiscent of the Cold War. — AP terrorists’ hands. The G-7 includes the US, from the US and South Korea, is weaving Global Security, said that the willingness of request a confidential independent review following through on a 2010 summit prom- Britain, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and together all existing nuclear arms treaties, countries to commit to “essentially what’s of their security practices, presumably con- ise, has recently disposed of its remaining Canada. agreements and voluntary guidelines for already on the books” will act as a litmus test ducted by the International Atomic Energy stock of around 80 kilograms (176 pounds) Notable absentees from the summit are military, industry and civilian use into a sin- to show which countries are taking security Agency. While Ukraine is likely to dominate of highly enriched uranium. Choubey of the North Korea and Iran, excluded by mutual gle package of “best practices” for nuclear seriously. diplomacy behind the scenes in The Hague, NTI said that underlines the importance of consent. The summit is the third since US security. The three host nations and an “I would hope that by 2016 everybody it already is a nuclear success story. The the process. “How much more concerned President Barack Obama launched the series unknown number of others will vow to would be on board,” he said. What’s likely to country voluntarily gave the nuclear would the world be today (about the crisis in in 2009 shortly after taking office, saying adhere to this package as much as possible. be left for a final summit back in Washington weapons housed on its soil back to Russia Ukraine) if that material were still there?” that reducing the risk of a terrorist attack Kenneth Luongo, of the Partnership for in 2016 is a mechanism for countries to after the collapse of the Soviet Union and she said. — AP

Rhode Island speaker to step down after FBI raids

PROVIDENCE: Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox is resigning from his leadership post and will not run for re-election, he said Saturday, a day after federal and state authorities raided his Statehouse office and home as part of a criminal investigation that they would not detail. “Because of the respect I have for all members of the House of Representatives, I am resigning as Speaker,” Fox said in a written statement emailed to reporters. “The process of governing must continue and the transition of leadership must be conducted in an orderly manner.” The 52-year-old Providence Democrat, who became the nation’s first openly gay House nspeaker in 2010, said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term through the end of the year, but that “my personal focus going forward will be on my family and dealing with the investigation.” It is unclear when Fox will officially resign, but the next scheduled meeting of the House is Tuesday. Fox has represented Rhode Island’s capital in the General Assembly for more than 20 years and is one of the state’s most powerful politicians. The Friday raids were carried out by the US attorney’s office, FBI, IRS and state police. Boxes of evidence were carried off after agents spent hours at both his home and office. Officials will not say whom or what they are investigating. While questions remain about the nature of the investigation and Fox’s role in it, his enduring legislative legacy is most likely to be legalizing gay marriage. In 2011, he abandoned a legalization push because of opposition in the Senate. Instead, he pushed civil unions and was roundly criticized by some gay marriage supporters, who felt bitter and let down. But just two years later, Fox was instrumental in pushing gay marriage legislation through as the political climate shifted nationally. He became emotional at the bill-signing ceremony on the Statehouse steps last year as he addressed the crowd and talked about his longtime partner, Marcus LaFond, whom he called “the love of my life.” “This tells me our relationship does matter,” Fox said. “It means that we mean something.” The two were married last year in Fox’s Statehouse office. Fox came out in 2004, in an unplanned announcement, while addressing a gay marriage rally at the Statehouse. Rep. Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, a leading advocate for same- sex marriage, clashed at times with Fox over the issue. He recalled Fox’s years as majority leader and said he was respected for his ability to cut to the heart of an issue during floor debates. “People would say, ‘I didn’t know where I was on an issue until he clarified it for me,’” Ferri said. The raids immediately set off jockeying among members of the House vying to become the next speaker. On Saturday, shortly after Fox’s announcement, Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello, his top deputy, said he believes he has enough votes, and expected an election Tuesday. He said he wished Fox well but that legislators would now be able to “work together to move the House of Representatives and the state forward in a positive direction.”

‘I felt defeated’ WPRI-TV reported late Saturday that Rep. Michael Marcello also is claiming enough votes to assume the speakership. A new speaker would have to be elected in an open House session after Fox submits a resignation letter. Rep. Joseph McNamara, D-Warwick, who is supporting Mattiello as speaker, said Democrats could caucus as soon as Sunday to hammer out the votes. “It is a sad day for the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the state of Rhode Island,” McNamara said. “Speaker Fox had many accomplishments that we should all be proud of. With that said, a transition that does not inter- rupt the (legislative) process is extremely important.” Fox is one of six children born to an Irish-American father and a Cape Verdean mother. His dad polished jewelry and worked odd jobs; his mom worked as a maid. In a 2011 interview with The Associated Press, he recalled the family moving into a new apartment with a view of the Statehouse and how he marveled at the dome. His father had stressed the importance of education, but Fox was forced to drop out of Providence College when he died. “I felt defeated,” he said in a 2010 commencement speech at Rhode Island College. “I was afraid that history was repeating itself.” Fox worked in a bank, scooped ice cream and sold vacuum cleaners. But he ultimately went back to school, enrolling at Rhode Island College - which he said “saved my life” - then attending Northeastern University School of Law on a full scholarship. Fox in 2012 faced his toughest re-election campaign in years in part because of his support of a $75 million state loan guarantee for former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video game company, 38 Studios, which later went bankrupt. Earlier this year, he reached a settlement with the state ethics commission for failing to disclose more than $40,000 in legal work for a Providence economic development agency. Fox agreed to pay a $1,500 civil fine.—AP INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 EU must protect Moldova from Russia: Juncker

BERLIN: Jean-Claude Juncker, former Luxembourg quickly, that is, in the coming weeks,” he said. the EU to hasten the process given the events in Wedged between Romania to the west and prime minister and a candidate to become the A former Soviet state with a restive Russian- Ukraine, where anger at the pro-Kremlin regime’s Ukraine to the east, Moldova with 3.5 million peo- next European Commission chief, warned the EU speaking minority in its Transdniestr region, move away from an EU accord led to its ouster, ple is the poorest European country with a per yesterday not to let Moldova become Russia’s Moldova has expressed fears that developments in and Russia’s subsequent absorption of Crimea. capita income of $2,037 (1,475 euros) in 2012, “next victim” after Ukraine. neighbouring Ukraine could set an example for its Juncker backed that call, saying: “We must beat according to the World Bank. Juncker told German newspaper Welt am own separatists in the wake of Russia’s annexation (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the punch, he Ukraine’s interim prime minister Arseniy Sonntag that the European Union should quickly of the Crimean peninsula. needs to know that he cannot do in Moldova what Yatsenyuk signed the political provisions of a land- reach out to Moldova with an association agree- Moldova, along with Georgia, initialled an asso- he did in Crimea.” mark association accord with EU leaders in defi- ment like the one it got underway with Ukraine ciation agreement with the 28-nation EU in He said the EU needed to “stabilise Moldova ance of Russia in Brussels on Friday. European con- last week. “After the events in Ukraine it is now a November. The countries are currently expected to and bind it to the West”. “Otherwise, Moldova servatives this month picked Juncker as their can- matter of great urgency that the Europeans sign sign the accords for closer ties by 2015. could become the next victim of Russian aggres- didate to be the next European Commission presi- an association agreement with Moldova very Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti has urged sion,” he said. dent after elections in May. — AFP Crimea rebel leaders urge Ukraine’s Russians to fight Unarmed soldiers sing Ukrainian national anthem

KIEV: Crimea’s rebel leader urged Russians across Ukraine yesterday to rise up against Kiev’s rule and welcome Kremlin forces whose unre- lenting march against his flashpoint peninsula has defied Western outrage. The call came amid growing anxiety among Kiev’s Western-backed rulers that Russian President Vladimir Putin-flushed with expansion- ist fervour-will imminently order an all-out attack on his ex-Soviet neighbour after being hit by only limited EU and US sanctions for taking the Black Sea cape. TULLE: French President Francois Hollande smiles as he votes in the first round of the “The aim of Putin is not Crimea but all of French municipal elections at a polling station in Tulle yesterday. yesterday’s contest Ukraine,” Ukraine’s National Security and is the first nationwide vote since Socialist leader Francois Hollande was elected as Defence Council chief Andriy Parubiy told a president two years ago. — AFP mass unity rally in Kiev. “His troops massed at the border are ready to Far right expects surge attack at any moment,” he said a day after Russian forces used armoured personnel carriers in French local elections and stun grenades to capture Ukraine’s main Crimean airbase. The takeover came as the chill in East-West ties grew stiffer with a charge by PARIS: The French voted yesterday in the town of Henin-Beaumont, where FN candi- Germany-a nation whose friendship Putin had first round of local elections that could see date Steeve Briois could take the mayor- nurtured-of a Kremlin attempt to “splinter” the far-right surge as the Socialist govern- ship from the left-leaning incumbent. Europe along Cold War-era lines. ment battles record unpopularity and the “The voters will decide. I trust them,” she Europe’s most explosive security crisis in main opposition is beset by scandal. said, smiling to the cameras. As well as try- decades will now dominate a nuclear security President Francois Hollande was one of ing to “detoxify” the FN’s image, Le Pen jun- summit opening in The Hague today that will several key political figures who by midday ior has attempted to make it less of a sin- include what may prove the most difficult meet- had already voted in the first nationwide gle-issue party by campaigning on unem- SEVASTOPOL: People launch balloons painted in the colors of the Russian flag during a flash ing to date between US Secretary of State John polls since his 2012 election, visibly relaxed ployment, living costs and crime. mob in the Crimean city of Sevastopol yesterday. Crimea’s rebel leader urged Russians across Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei despite concern that a drop in turnout by Under the two-round, run-off system for Ukraine yesterday to rise up against Kiev’s rule and welcome Kremlin forces whose unrelent- Lavrov. The encounter comes with Russia facing disillusioned Socialist party loyalists will the elections, any party which secures 10 ing march against his flashpoint peninsula has defied Western outrage. — AFP the loss of its coveted seat among the G8 group boost the far-right National Front (FN). percent backing in the first round has the of leading nations and Putin’s inner circle reeling together with the Kremlin’s forces control at after talks with Ukraine’s leaders that the conti- Polls have suggested around one in four right to present candidates in the second from sanctions Washington unleashed for their least half of Ukrainian bases on the Black Sea nent’s future was at stake. voters are considering casting their votes round on March 30. use of force in Crimea in response to last month’s peninsula and about a third of its functioning “The referendum in Crimea... is a violation of for Marine Le Pen’s FN, setting the scene for A strong showing by the FN could see fall of Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin regime. naval vessels. The most dramatic episode of international law and an attempt to splinter what could be a significant election for the former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre- Russia’s excursion so far saw crack forces break Europe,” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter anti-immigration, anti-EU party led by the right UMP eliminated at the first hurdle in ‘Call to fight’ into the Belbek airbase near the main city of Steinmeier told reporters after meeting daughter of its founder Jean-Marie Le Pen. some contests, or see the overall right-wing One of the biggest tests facing the besieged Simferopol after an armoured personnel carrier Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The vote is also set to be a groundbreak- vote divided in three-way run-offs, thereby Western-backed leaders in Kiev now comes from blasted through the main gate. The show of diplomatic solidarity may play an ing one for women in the French capital: boosting the Socialists. restless Russians who have been stirring up vio- Two more armoured personnel carriers fol- important psychological role in Kiev as it faces whatever the final outcome of the two lent protests and demanding their own seces- lowed and gunmen stormed in firing automatic new pressure from Russia that include open rounds of voting on consecutive Sundays, it FN seeks new image sion referendums in the southeastern swaths of weapons into the air. An AFP reporter heard stun threats to throw Ukraine’s wheezing economy is certain that Paris will end up with its first Past FN attempts at running local coun- Ukraine. The region’s mistrust of the new team’s grenades before the situation calmed and the into convulsion by raising its gas rates and female mayor. cils have often failed as a result of the European values lies from cultural and trade ties gunmen lowered their weapons. demanding colossal payments for disputed eccentric personalities involved. Marine Le with Russia that in many cases are centuries old- Several of the base’s unarmed soldiers began debts it could ill afford. 36,000 new mayors Pen wants to show that the party is capable a fact seized upon yesterday by Crimea’s self- singing the Ukrainian national anthem during Yet Ukraine is unlikely to hear its calls for US There has been much agonising in the of prudent local governance. Success could declared prime minister. the ensuing lull. Ukraine’s interim President and EU military support answered. Yatsenyuk build-up to the vote that the overall improve the party’s image and potentially Sergei Aksyonov said in an impassioned Oleksandr Turchynov said Sunday that the said he and Steinmeier had discussed “military turnout may fall below 60 percent due to make an alliance with the FN palatable to address he posted on Facebook and read out on Russian forces had captured the base’s com- and technological cooperation assistance” for widespread disenchantment with main- the centre-right. local TV that Crimea began facing a “sad fate” the mander Yuliy Mamchur, and demanded his Ukraine’s vastly underfinanced and outdated stream parties-although that would still be The FN’s negotiating power has steadily moment three months of deadly protests involv- immediate release. “We are demanding an end force of 130,000 soldiers-a fraction of Russia’s considered a triumph for local elections in grown. Its proposals on immigration ing a mix of nationalist and pro-Western forces to this aggression against Ukraine and its citi- 845,000 troops. Both the United States and most industrialised countries. curbing rights to family reunion, deny- toppled the pro-Kremlin regime in Kiev. zens,” Turchynov said in a statement. Europe have thus far limited their retaliation Just under a million people (nearly one ing state benefits to new migrants and “But we resisted and won! Our motherland- But Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly against Putin to targeted travel and financial in 60 of the population) will stand as candi- seeking a review of freedom of movement Russia-extended her hand of help,” said Antonov denied his forces were conducting “any sanctions that concern officials but do not dates in an election that will produce over rules within the EU-have been endorsed by Aksyonov. “So today, I appeal to you with a call military activities that could threaten the securi- impact the broader Russian economy. 36,000 new mayors for municipalities rang- key figures in Sarkozy’s UMP. to fight.” “I call on you to resist the choice made ty of neighbouring states”. Washington’s steps have been more meaning from the tiniest of agricultural hamlets And its opposition to any further trans- for you by a bunch of political mavericks who ingful because they hit what US officials call a to metropolises like Lyon, Marseille and fer of powers to European institutions is are being financed by oligarchs.” Aksyonov said Bid to ‘splinter Europe’ Putin “crony bank” as well as oligarchs who are Paris. Marine Le Pen believes her party shared across the EU, not only by the radi- he was “deeply convinced” that the future of But Russia’s diplomatic isolation is growing as believed to be closest to the Russian strongman could claim the mayorship of 10 to 15 mid- cal, populist parties growing strongly in southeastern Ukraine “rested in a close union quickly as the reemergence of an ideological and-in one case-actually running a joint busi- sized towns. That would represent a several countries, but also by much of the with the Russian Federation-a political, econom- divide that appeared to have been bridged with ness with him. Leading EU nations such as remarkable turnaround for a party that, at mainstream. ic and cultural union”. the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Britain and Germany-their financial and energy the time of the last municipals in 2008, was In Paris, meanwhile, the Socialist candi- Germany-whose economic power is playing a sectors intertwined with Russia’s-have ques- mired in financial crisis and internal bicker- date Anne Hidalgo, the daughter of Stun grenades decisive role in forging Europe’s response to tioned why they should suffer most in case of an ing, and looked destined for the margins of Spanish immigrants, is the favourite to suc- Crimea’s rebel authorities estimate they Putin’s increasingly belligerent stance-warned all-out trade war. — AFP French politics. ceed her current boss Bertrand Delanoe as Marine Le Pen took over the leadership mayor. But she looks sets to be run in 2011 and set about broadening the extremely close by former Sarkozy minister Former PM of Spain Adolfo Suarez dies appeal of a party regarded as taboo by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, with last- many voters in light of her father’s repeated minute polls indicating a neck-and-neck convictions for Holocaust denial and incit- battle. Polling stations opened across MADRID: Former Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez, Communist party where they wanted to go’.” ing racial hatred. France at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) for 44.8 million died yesterday, steered Spain through one of the “He was a transformational leader whose One of the most controversial steps in the She secured just under 18 percent of the eligible voters, including 280,000 from the most turbulent periods in its political history and main priority as a politician was national recon- transition process was Suarez’s 1977 legalisation national vote in the first round of the presi- European Union. Voting began earlier in built bridges between the “two Spains” after fas- ciliation. This was probably due to the fact that of the Communist Party, which had been perse- dential elections two years ago and polls French overseas territories like New cist dictator General Francisco Franco died in the legacy of both sides of the Civil War was very cuted by Franco as the backbone of the forces indicate she is more popular now. On Caledonia in the South Pacific and the 1975. Suarez, who was 81, was hospitalised on much part of his family history,” biographer and against him. Suarez carried out the move in Sunday, she cast her vote in the northern Indian Ocean island of Reunion. — AFP March 17 with a respiratory infection. He had historian Charles Powell told Reuters. stealth during the long Easter weekend, having had Alzheimer’s disease for many years. His “When he was asked whether it was a good agreed in advance with the exiled head of the death was reported by state television. thing that former Francoists had played such a Communists, Santiago Carrillo. Many Spaniards remember Suarez’s unruffled prominent role in the transition, he used to say: ‘I The surprise decision provoked fury in the Gunmen kill 4 in ‘terror’ behaviour during one of the most tense never asked anyone where they came from, only establishment and the military, as well as fear moments in the country’s modern history, an amongst ordinary Spaniards who had been told attack on Kenyan church attempted coup on Feb. 23 1981. Six years earli- for decades that the Communists and Carrillo er, after Franco’s death, King Juan Carlos called were arch-enemies of the state. But Suarez MOMBASA: Two gunmen stormed a Kenyan army’s intervention in Somalia to on Suarez, a young Francoist minister, to try to understood it was unavoidable if Spain was to church near the Kenyan coastal city of crush the Islamist rebels. unite the two factions who were still in a sense become a democracy after years of dictatorship. Mombasa yesterday and opened fire on Along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, ten- fighting the 1936-1939 civil war, and indeed Once in office, Suarez’s relationship with his worshippers, killing four people and sion is high particularly among Muslim were further apart than ever after nearly 40 party deteriorated as he contended with Basque wounding others, in what police called a youths who claim the security forces have years of fascism exiled thousands of left-wingers. separatist violence, economic headaches and terrorist attack. One witness said the gun- been heavy handed in their crackdown on At the time, his Francoist colleagues called bitter criticism from all sides, leading to his resig- men shouted out in a foreign language militant recruitment. him a turncoat and the main opposition nation as prime minister in 1981. before shooting indiscriminately at the Kenya’s parliament has called for better Socialists accused him of opportunism. Suarez’s successor was being sworn in at congregation. Blood-spattered Bibles and coordination between the security and The immediate aim was to organise Spain’s Parliament on Feb. 23, 1981 when Antonio overturned plastic chairs lay strewn across intelligence agencies after 67 people were first democratic elections since the war, which Tejero, a lieutenant colonel in the Civil Guard, a the church’s floor after the attack. killed in a shopping mall attack in Nairobi Suarez ended up winning in 1977, serving as police body that belongs to the military, entered “Both carried big guns and began in September. prime minister for four years in which the coun- the building with a squad of men and fired shots shooting all over the place. I fell to the The church shooting took place in try was beset by myriad economic, political and in the air. Suarez was one of just three members ground and could hear screams,” said Lilian Likoni, located across a deep-water channel security problems. But decades later, Suarez was of parliament who sat calmly while dozens of Omondi, who was leading a prayer recital from Mombasa city, a major tourist hub. It widely recognised as one of the founding others threw themselves to the floor in panic. at the time. Another bystander said the came days after prosecutors charged two fathers of modern Spain. A 2007 poll showed Tejero, backed by a group of senior army assailants walked unhurriedly out of the Somalis with terrorism offences after police that Spaniards saw him as the most respected members, held parliament hostage for hours church and opened fire on people standing seized a car packed with explosives. prime minister since Franco’s death. and many Spaniards feared the country would outside. An Interior Ministry official later There was no immediate claim of “Prime Minister’s Suarez political career calls slip back into military rule only a few years after said they escaped. responsibility. Likoni’s police chief Robert to mind the highest spirit of our democratic Franco’s death. “They were ordinary looking guys, one Mureithi said it appeared the gunmen were transition: recognition of dissenting voices, pro- King Juan Carlos diffused the situation, of them tall, dark and wearing a long- armed with automatic weapons. motion of tolerance and the practice of dia- appearing on television to call for national unity sleeved shirt. They walked casually as if all The attackers tried to raid a second logue. Thanks to that attitude he had the capaci- and support for the elected government. Tejero was ok,” said Peter Muasya. “Then they church nearby but fled when armed police ty to forge great agreements,” former Prime and his co-conspirators were arrested. started shooting at those of us who were on patrol in the area appeared. “This has all Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Suarez went on to form another political par- standing outside.” the indicators of a terrorist attack because Reuters. Handsome, charming both in and out of MADRID: An undated picture shows Spain’s for- ty with which he never saw the same success, Somali militant group al Shabaab and the attackers did not steal anything and the political arena and acting with a notable mer Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez in Madrid. and retired from politics in 1991 to care for his local sympathisers have carried out multi- appeared focused on killing,” Mureithi told sangfroid at potentially explosive times, Suarez The former Spanish prime minister who led wife Amparo and daughter Marian, who both ple attacks in Kenya, in revenge for the reporters at the scene. —Reuters was made a duke in 1981 and formed a close post-Franco Spain to democracy, 81-year-old suffered from breast cancer. Amparo died in friendship with the king. Adolfo Suarez, died yesterday. — AFP 2001, followed by Marian in 2004.—Reuters

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 INTERNATIONAL N Korea test-fires 16 rockets into sea: S Korea SEOUL: North Korea test-fired 16 an expression of Pyongyang’s During their fourth summit, short-range rockets into the sea anger at ongoing annual South the two leaders are expected to yesterday, the South’s military Korean-US military drills, which discuss issues including the said-the latest of dozens run until next month. North’s nuclear arsenal, Yonhap launched in recent weeks in The North has habitually criti- news agency said. apparent protest at joint drills cised the exercises, along with China is the isolated between Seoul and Washington. other military drills staged south Pyongyang’s sole major ally and The launches took place of the border, as practice for an economic lifeline and is seen as a between about 1:00 am (1600 invasion. Seoul and Washington key player in resolving the GMT Saturday) and 2:30 am off insist they are purely defensive in nuclear standoff with the North. the North’s east coast, a South nature. The six-nation nuclear disarma- Korean defence ministry South Korea and the United ment talks on the North-chaired spokesman told AFP. States have called for an end to by Beijing have been stalled since “They were rockets with a the “provocative tests”. As tension 2008. range of about 60 kilometres (37 rise on the peninsula, the South’s Earlier this month, the North’s miles),” he said, adding the projec- President Park Geun-Hye is powerful National Defense tiles were old versions of Russian- expected to hold a summit with Commission threatened to made, unguided Frog rockets. Chinese leader Xi Jinping to demonstrate its nuclear deterrent It is not unusual for Pyongyang reportedly discuss issues includ- in the face of what it called US to carry out such tests but there ing curbing the North’s nuclear hostility. has been a spate of them in ambitions. Seoul’s defence ministry said SEOUL: People watch a TV news program showing rockets launched by North Korea, at recent weeks. About 70 short- Park and Xi will met late yes- there was no sign yet of an Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. North Korea launched short-range range rockets have been fired into terday on the sidelines of a imminent nuclear test by the rockets into the sea off its east coast for a second straight day yesterday - 16 this time, the sea this month, including 30 nuclear security summit to be North, which staged three atom- according to South Korean officials, in what’s believed to be Pyongyang’s way of protest- on Saturday. held in Hague, Park’s spokesman ic tests in 2006, 2009 and last ing US-South Korean military drills. —AP Analysts say the launches are told reporters. year. —AFP Slain AFP reporter and family mourned in Kabul Heartbreaking and sorrowful: Karzai

KABUL: Hundreds of mourners and remains in intensive care. The country deeply and was pained by its expressed his “emotion and solidari- turned out in pouring rain yesterday coffins were carried from a mortuary troubles. “Sardar Ahmad was an ty” with Ahmad’s family and friends, to lay to rest Sardar Ahmad, AFP’s to the family home for prayers yester- Afghan patriot. He was honest, loyal in a letter to AFP chairman senior reporter in Afghanistan, day morning, where Ahmad’s broth- and committed to his work,” he said. Emmanuel Hoog. together with his wife and two of ers broke down in tears and female “Sardar wanted all the people of Ben Sheppard, AFP’s Kabul their children who were among the family members wailed in distress. Afghanistan to live in peace. When he bureau chief, described a reporter victims of a Taleban attack on a Kabul The funeral procession made its saw misery he was stressed and dis- who was “clever, informed, stylish hotel. way through the capital amid tight appointed. He was kind and loved his and bubbling with boyish enthusi- After the funeral procession made security, with authorities cordoning people.” asm” as well as devoted to his chil- its way through the capital, they were off roads to ensure safe passage. Emmanuel Duparcq, AFP’s bureau dren. buried side by side at a cemetery on Large portraits decorated in flow- chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan, the outskirts of Kabul, as those who ers accompanied the coffins, carried added: “Today there is no Taleban Pakistan link? came to pay their respects wept by Afghan soldiers in dress uniform and no politics. There is just a pro- The Serena attack, which also killed another Afghan and four for- MANILA: In this handout photograph released yesterday by the Philippine eigners-two Canadians, an American National Police-Public Information Office (PNP-PIO), Communist Party of the and a Paraguayan-was claimed by Philippines (CPP) secretary general Wilma Tiamzon is escorted by policemen the Taleban, who have vowed a cam- after arriving at the police headquarters in Manila. —AFP paign of violence to disrupt the April 5 poll which will decide a successor to Karzai. Philippine peace prospects But Afghanistan’s National Security Council (NSC), which is dim after arrest of rebels chaired by Karzai, said it was planned “outside the country” in a veiled refer- MANILA: Prospects of reviving peace talks nists by the end of his term in 2016, but in ence to Pakistan. “Witness testimony with Philippine communist insurgents have April 2013 the government declared that and preliminary information analysis faded following the arrest of a married cou- talks had collapsed. shows that this terrorist attack was ple who are senior rebel leaders, officials Government negotiators denied the directly executed or carried out by and analysts said yesterday. arrests violated the immunity deal, and said foreign intelligence services outside The armed forces have hailed the arrest Wilma Tiamzon would not have been cov- the country,” the council said in a on Saturday of Communist Party of the ered in any case since she had jumped bail statement. Philippines (CPP) chairman Benito Tiamzon in 1989. The NSC also alleged that a and his wife, the party’s secretary general Pakistani diplomat was seen scoping Wilma Tiamzon, as a victory. Possible retaliation out the corridors of the Serena hotel Military chief General Emmanuel Bautista The government panel said in a state- ahead of the raid. said Benito Tiamzon heads both the party ment the rebels’ position was “ridiculous” as Pakistan was the main supporter and its armed wing, the New People’s Army it meant they could stage attacks and then of the former Taliban regime in (NPA). claim immunity when arrested. Afghanistan, and Afghan officials He “directs the armed struggle all over “It is even more outrageous considering have long voiced suspicions about the country, directs the (use of landmines), that the peace negotiations have not moved connections between the hardline the killings, and the violence perpetrated by for over a year now,” the panel added. movement and Islamabad‘s powerful the NPA”, Bautista said. Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda also intelligence services. He told reporters the arrests would leave said any further talks should be “time The attack was the latest violence the 45-year-old rebel movement with a bound” and not open-ended as in previous KABUL: Friends and family of Afghan AFP reporter Sardar Ahmad pray over his grave during his ahead of what will be the country’s leadership vacuum, adding he hoped more negotiations. funeral in Kabul yesterday. Hundreds of well-wishers turned out in pouring rain to mourn the first-ever democratic transfer of pow- guerrillas would realise the futility of their Despite the collapse of the talks in 2013, loss of Sardar Ahmad, AFP’s senior reporter in Kabul, and his wife and two of their children who er. It was also the third serious attack struggle. the Aquino government revealed that in were killed in a Taleban attack. —AFP in Kabul this year targeting foreigners But the detentions also prompted harsh January, it had been working with the or places where foreigners gather. accusations from both sides over the stalled Norwegian government, which had bro- under umbrellas. on their journey. Afghan national found sadness.” The surge in this type of violence peace process. kered previous negotiations, to reopen the Four teenage gunmen with con- flags covered the two adult coffins, Ahmad joined AFP in 2003 and will raise fears that independent poll The Tiamzons were held in a raid in the stalled talks. cealed pistols carried out a raid on while the children’s were draped in became the international news monitors will be unable to work central island of Cebu on three warrants for Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the the luxury Serena hotel on Thursday, green. agency’s senior reporter in Kabul. He effectively, threatening the credibility multiple murder and attempted murder, Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and just weeks before Afghanistan votes The caskets were later taken to covered all aspects of life, war and of the vote. Bautista said. Terrorism Research, said the arrests would for a successor to President Hamid the Eid Gah mosque for further politics, developing a reputation as a A disputed result would put the He said five other people arrested with damage prospects for further talks since the Karzai in a poll the Taleban have prayers and then on to a graveyard versatile reporter with an eye for election winner in a weak position as the couple were also believed to be insur- rebels could demand the release of the vowed to disrupt. on the outskirts of the city, where for- unexpected stories. Afghan security forces take on the gents since they were found in possession of Tiamzons as a precondition. Ahmad, 40, his wife Homaira, six- mer Afghan intelligence chief His passing was commemorated Taleban without NATO’s 53,000 com- firearms and explosives. Luis Jalandoni, He said guerrillas might also mount retal- year-old daughter Nilofar and five- Amrullah Saleh and female MP by top politicians across the world, bat troops behind them. chairman of the insurgents’ negotiating pan- iatory attacks. The NPA’s ranks have shrunk year-old son Omar were among nine Shukria Barakzai paid their tributes, including President Karzai who US-led NATO forces are withdraw- el, condemned the “illegal arrest”, saying to about 4,000 guerrillas from more than civilians to lose their lives in the along with Ahmad’s relatives. described it as “heartbreaking and ing after 13 years fighting the both Tiamzons were covered by immunity 26,000 in the late 1980s. assault. sorrowful”. Taleban-led insurgency, which erupt- guarantees. But the rebels frequently ambush or raid The couple’s youngest son, two- Afghan patriot French President Francois ed when the Islamists were ousted Jalandoni, in a statement on the insur- small military and police units and also year-old Abozar, survived with bullet Shah Mohammad, his elder broth- Hollande said Ahmad had been cut from power after the 9/11 attacks on gents’ website, called the arrests a “flagrant extort money from rural businesses, military wounds to the head, chest and leg er, spoke of a man who loved his down in an “odious attack” and the United States. —AFP violation” of an immunity deal signed in officials say. 1995 when the latest peace talks began. On March 10 the guerrillas staged one of It “most seriously prejudices the peace their most daring attacks in years, raiding a negotiations”, he added. police station and then ambushing a pursu- Indian police arrest 4 suspected militants President Benigno Aquino had hoped to ing military convoy, leaving 10 soldiers and reach a peace agreement with the commu- police dead. —AFP NEW DELHI: Indian police have arrested four suspected Islamist militants, including an aide of the leader of a militant group accused of several bomb blasts, who they said could be plot- Maldives PPM set ting an attack ahead of elections starting next month. Zia-Ur-Rahman, alias Waqas, was arrested on for coalition rule Saturday in Ajmer in the western state of MALE: Maldives President Abdulla Yameen’s Abdul, congratulated his half brother President Rajasthan, the second major blow for the Indian party is poised to win control of parliament with Yameen on his party’s “impressive victory”. Mujahideen after the capture of founder leader the support of a key ally, early projections in the There was no immediate comment from the Yasin Bhatkal in Nepal last year. Indian Ocean nation showed yesterday. MDP, but independent watchdog Transparency Three other suspected members of the President Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives has said the election was conducted group were also arrested with a large quantity Maldives (PPM) was leading in 34 out of the 85 well. of explosives, police said. Waqas, who police constituencies after Saturday’s polls while his Saturday’s poll went ahead as scheduled said was a Pakistani national, was wanted for main ally, the Jumhooree Party (JP), was ahead despite fears about the ability of the elections bomb blasts in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad in 15. Results compiled by the privately run commission to stage the ballot successfully after over the past several years, officials said. Haveeru newspaper showed the main opposi- the chief and deputy were fired two weeks ago The Indian Mujahideen militant group has tion Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of for- by the Supreme Court. been accused of dozens of bomb attacks over mer president Mohamed Nasheed was lagging, A total of 302 candidates contested the 85 recent years. The group is also suspected of leading in just 24 seats, with its allies also per- seats in the Maldives, where the directly elected being behind an attack on a rally by prime min- forming poorly. president has wide powers in the country of isterial candidate Narendra Modi last October JODHPUR: A suspect (C) identified as Ziaur Rehman and also known by his alias The MDP had swept the urban population 330,000 Sunni Muslims. that killed six people and wounded more than Waqas, who Indian police claim is a member of the Indian Mujahideen, is escorted by centres of Male and Addu in the nation’s deep About two-thirds of the 240,000-strong elec- 80. police following his arrest in Jodhpur yesterday. Indian police announced the arrest south but had performed poorly in smaller torate turned out to vote, officials said, citing Police said the latest arrests were made pos- atolls, according to the newspaper’s preliminary preliminary estimates. The sacking of the elec- sible after they gathered information from two of an alleged operative of the home-grown militant group the Indian Mujahideen, blamed for a string of deadly attacks across the country in recent years. —AFP tallies. tion officials reopened the controversy over last arrested Indian Mujahideen militants including Election officials said final results from the year’s presidential election, when the Supreme Bhatkal. to comment when asked if Narendra Modi was could be targeted.” Interior Minister first-past-the-post election could be announced Court annulled the results of a first round won “Their target was a terror strike,” S.N. being targeted, saying they needed further Sushilkumar Shinde said the arrest of Waqas later yesterday. Nasheed’s nemesis, former by former president Nasheed, and then can- Srivastava, a top police official in New Delhi, investigation. was a great success as he was a crucial link to Maldivian strongman president Maumoon celled two other polls at the last minute. —AFP told a news conference yesterday, but declined “Any important event, including elections, the group. —Reuters NEWS MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

A new mosque, partially funded by Chechnya, seen in the Arab village of Abu Ghosh on the outskirts of Jerusalem yesterday. — AP Chechnya leader inaugurates new mosque in Israel ABU GHOSH: The president of Russia’s republic of good and holy land” during a stop in the village of century Chechnya and the Caucus region. mosque of its kind in Israel. Abu Ghosh, near Chechnya inaugurated a new, $10 million mosque Abu Ghosh. Isa Jabar, the village’s mayor, says The mosque was built in the Ottoman Turkish Jerusalem, enjoys good ties with its Jewish neigh- in an Arab village in Israel yesterday. Ramzan Chechnya donated $6 million for the mosque. He style, the favored architectural style in Chechnya. bors and is a popular culinary destination for Kadyrov said that it was an honor to visit “this says some villagers trace their ancestry to 16th It features four minarets, making it the only Israelis. — AP Arab summit takes place at time of deep... Dashti slams KAC reticence Continued from Page 1 the slogan of “solidarity for a better future”. The three- Continued from Page 1 the road to the ministers but got no response, and accord- year-old Syrian conflict, which has cost more than 140,000 ingly, the last resort will be to use constitutional tools. “There were no controversial issues or problems, and lives, will figure prominently at the summit, Arab League Several MPs had accused wrongdoings in initially strik- In another development, head of the Assembly’s the atmosphere was very positive,” he said, declining to officials said, following the failure of two rounds of peace ing the deal and later in hastily paying the fine, although budgets committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad said yester- answer if efforts will be made to heal the rifts. talks in Geneva. Arabi said that although the last Arab Kuwait had a good opportunity to avoid paying the fine. day the delay in resolving the housing problem costs the Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, however, summit held in Doha in March 2013 decided to allocate The government had promised to run its own investiga- budget KD 208 million in the form of rent allowances for said: “Not all issues are discussed in the meeting hall. Syria’s vacant seat to the opposition National Coalition, tion into the case. Kuwaiti families waiting their turn for a government Some issues are debated on the sidelines behind the steps remain to comply with League regulations. “We are Meanwhile, MP Saud Al-Huraiji yesterday threatened to house. Abdulsamad said last year, the cost was KD 192 scenes.” Morocco’s minister of state for foreign affairs, holding consultations with the National Coalition over the grill the ministers of public works, health, interior and oil million, which shows an increase in the number of fami- Salahuddin Mezwar, said the ministers discussed efforts issue but at this summit the Syrian seat will remain for what he claimed was the deliberate negligence of the lies on the waiting list, who have reached around to combat international terrorism and ways to limit its vacant,” Arabi said. expressway leading to Salmi border post with Saudi 110,000. The lawmaker said Kuwait Credit Bank, which impact on Arab countries. But he said Egypt’s Muslim According to Ajmi, Arab leaders are sending the Arabia. The lawmaker said that due to complete negli- provides interest-free loans to Kuwaiti couples to build Brotherhood or whether to approve a new inter-Arab “wrong signal” by not allowing the opposition to fill Syria’s gence of the road, whole families are killed in horrifying their houses, has sufficient funds and as a result the counter-terrorism pact were not discussed at the meeting. seat. The Syria government’s brutal repression of protests traffic accidents because the road lacks basic safety problem of housing in the country is not of funding, but Zebari said all draft resolutions were unanimously which erupted in mid-March 2011 resulted in its suspen- requirements. Huraiji said he had sent many questions on management. approved by Arab foreign ministers. A draft resolution on sion from the Cairo-based Arab League. The Istanbul- the Syrian conflict, which entered its fourth year last week, based Syrian Coalition is an umbrella organisation of sev- urges the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibili- eral opposition groups. The latest US push to advance Colossal pharaoh statues unveiled in Egypt ty after the failure of Geneva peace talks between the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel regime and the opposition. On the Palestinian issue, the will also be discussed by Arab leaders. Arabi said Continued from Page 1 her had suffered at the hands of “nature and ministers called on Arab states to provide $100 million in Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas, fresh from talks with mankind”. financial aid to the Palestinian Authority every month and US President Barack Obama in Washington last Monday, tight-fitting dress. A statue of queen mother “Every ruin, every monument has its right to be rejected recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. The minis- will brief his Arab counterparts on latest developments. Mutemwya, originally beside his left leg, is missing, treated decently,” said Sourouzian, whose dream as a ters approved the basic charter of a Bahrain-based Arab “No summit has been without differences, but this one archaeologists said. The throne itself is decorated on student was to conserve the Amenhotep III temple. human rights tribunal and recommended that the next is full of differences. It is distinguished by the intensity each side with scenes from that era, showing the uni- “The idea is to stop the dismantling of monuments summit be held in Egypt. of these disputes which puts an extra burden on the fication of Upper and Lower Egypt. The second statue, and keep them at their sites,” she said, adding that The summit will also debate a new counter-terrorism host country,” said Ebtisam Al-Qitbi, a professor of politi- of Amenhotep III standing, has been installed at the what was required was steady “international funding” pact tabled by Egypt, Jawad said, amid reports that Cairo cal science at the Emirates University in the United Arab north gate of the temple. The team of archaeologists to conserve such world heritage sites. The ongoing and Riyadh could press for the Muslim Brotherhood to be Emirates. “It will definitely make it more difficult to focus also showed several other ancient pieces of what they work to conserve the Amenhotep III temple is entirely declared a terrorist organisation. Another top item will be on coming out with adequate resolutions, not to men- said were parts of other statues of the ancient ruler funded through what she said were “private and inter- the Arab Spring and the deadly fallout from the uprisings tion an agreement on anything,” she added. “Gulf states and his relatives, including a well-preserved alabaster national donations”. which have rocked the region over the past three years. see the main challenge coming from Iran’s geopolitical head from another Amenhotep III statue. “This piece is Pharaoh Amenhotep III inherited an empire that “We are experiencing huge unrest in most parts of the project,” Qitbi said. “This project is getting strong and is unique, it is rare, because there are not many spanned from the Euphrates to Sudan, archaeologists Arab world... and it’s time that we discussed the future,” trying to find cracks through which to penetrate the alabaster statues in the world,” Sourouzian told AFP. say, and he was able to maintain Egypt’s position Arabi said. The revolts have resulted in the ouster of three Arab wall.” The head, shown briefly to some reporters and fel- mainly through diplomacy. The 18th dynasty ruler presidents, the killing of a fourth head of state and trig- “I think the Kuwaitis are anxious to ensure the Arab low excavators, has also weathered centuries of dam- became king at the age of around 12, with his mother gered a devastating civil war in Syria. The democratic League summit passes off smoothly and without major age. Its nose, eyes and ears are intact, and some signs as regent. Amenhotep III died in around 1354 BC and reforms demanded on the Arab street are not expected to embarrassment,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at of restoration centuries ago are clearly evident, was succeeded by his son Amenhotep IV, widely figure on the agenda. “Most regimes have already brand- the US-based Baker Institute. “The Amir and his officials archaeologists said. Close to the head lies a statue of known as Akhenaten. Luxor, a city of some 500,000 ed the Arab Spring as chaos and terrorism,” Ajmi said. will be keen to prevent any escalation of the diplomatic Princess Iset, Amenhotep III’s daughter. Sourouzian people on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, is Kuwait said 13 heads of state have confirmed they are row with Qatar and may use the summit to step up pri- said the aim of her team’s work was to preserve these an open-air museum of intricate temples and pharaon- attending the annual summit, this year being held under vate efforts to mediate a solution.” — Agencies monuments and the temple itself, which according to ic tombs. — AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 ANALYSIS

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Issues Serbia, Kosovo 15 yrs after air war on EU path

By Aleksandra Niksic

hen NATO launched its first air campaign on European soil in 1999 to force Serbia to halt Wcrackdown on independence-seeking Kosovo, the European Union was far from minds of both Belgrade and Pristina. Now, fifteen years later, the former bitter foes have made their first steps on the European path, after reaching historic accord on normalisation of relations last April under a watchful EU mediation. Although Serbia steadfastly refuses to recognise the independence of its former, majority ethnic-Albanian province, it has nor- malised ties to a degree allowing it in January to open EU membership talks. Plane drama fuels aviation security rethink Kosovo also has agreement to enter talks on an EU sta- bilisation and association deal - a lesser pact that is first By Bhavan Jaipragas sion about live satellite streaming of such data so that it can messages after the aircraft fell off civilian radar. step on a long path towards possible EU membership. But constantly be monitored,” he added. the 1999 NATO bombing campaign which lasted 78 days s the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 enters a third Minimising Upgrade Costs still remains etched deep in public memory. On March 24 week, the piecemeal returns from one of the most Live Data Streaming? Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Asia Pacific of that year, the Atlantic alliance launched its air strikes - Aintense, international searches in living memory have The separate flight data recorder and cockpit voice Airlines Association, said costs for satellite-linked black boxes without UN Security Council backing -after late Serbian delivered a public and institutional shock that could force a recorder currently send pings for about 30 days - a timespan could be minimised by programming them to transmit data president Slobodan Milosevic spurned a peace deal to major rethink about aviation security. The fact that a Boeing- that could well be reconsidered given the unprecedented to ground controllers only when an in-flight abnormality is end his forces’ repression on ethnic Albanian guerrillas 777 equipped with state-of-the-art location tracking technol- length of the search for the Malaysian airliner. The mystery of detected. Such abnormalities might include the disabling of fighting for the independence of Kosovo. ogy could vanish for so long, is in itself, aviation experts say, MH370 owes much to the abrupt nature of its “disappear- communications systems or a sudden deviation from the shocking enough to compel changes in the way commercial ance”. Nearly one hour into its flight, both its automated sig- flight plan. “The idea of live streaming the black boxes would Crimea Referendum Brings Back Memories aircraft are electronically monitored. nalling systems ceased to function and the plane dropped off also entail an enormous amount of data being transmitted on The disputed referendum on March 16 this year in civilian radar. The immediate assumption was of a catastroph- any given day and that in itself would also be a huge logistical which Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to secede from One priority would be to enhance tracking coverage for a Ukraine and join Russia has brought back memories both plane in an emergency situation that forces it beyond the ic event that plunged the plane into the South China Sea challenge,” he told AFP. in Kosovo and Serbia. After years of condemning Kosovo’s reach of conventional radar systems. It was modern satellite before any distress call could be made. Greg Waldron, the Asia managing editor for aviation indus- secession, Moscow cited it as a precedent for its actions in imagery that pointed MH370 investigators to a remote part of But sketchy satellite and military radar showed that, in fact, try magazine Flightglobal, said the uptake of such technology Crimea. Analyst Miodrag Radojevic of Belgrade-based the Indian Ocean 2,500 km southwest of Perth, but the physi- the aircraft had veered sharply off course, backtracked across by airlines would be a “slow and gradual process”. Airlines may Institute For Political Studies said the link could be made cal search for debris in the area had to rely on less sophisticat- the Malaysian peninsula, and then flown on - possibly for move faster if leading civil aviation regulators including the between 1999 NATO bombings and Crimea referendum, ed methods - binoculars held to the windows of spotter hours - in a northerly or southerly direction. Technology US Federal Aviation Administration and the European as “both have no legitimate legal foundations”. “But global- planes. already exists for passenger jets to immediately relay the Aviation Safety Agency decide to make such systems manda- ly, the 1999 bombings were a precedent that has grown If a crash site is finally located, investigators will have to black box data via satellite, but most commercial airlines have tory for their respective jurisdictions within a set deadline, he into a sort of custom, as we can see nowadays in Crimea,” rush to find the plane’s crucial “black box” before it stops baulked at the prospect of investing millions in such systems, said. “There is still a sense of shock that a modern aircraft like he said. emitting its tracking signals. “There’s no doubt that what as bottom lines come under pressure due to rising fuel costs the Boeing 777 can just go missing, and I’m sure there will After the end of the bombings in June 1999, Kosovo has gone on is one of the greatest mysteries of modern avi- and increasing competition. (be) more robust monitoring as we go along,” he said. was placed under UN administration, with NATO-led ation and it will have an impact on the global aviation and Major airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, have access Galaviz said rekindled debate over aviation security was peacekeepers providing security on its territory. In 2008, airline industry,” Jonathan Galaviz, partner at the US-based to the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting always an important and constructive by-product of events Pristina unilaterally declared independence which has so travel and aviation consultancy firm Global Market System (ACARS), a digital datalink via satellite or VHS radio, like the disappearance of MH370. “Aside from the tragedy far been recognised by more than 100 countries, including Advisors, told AFP. “I expect there will be a real examination for brief text messages from aircraft, but they do not com- of it all and the unanswered questions, perhaps at this the United States and most of the European Union’s 28 of the kind of recording technology we have right now in pare with the parameters that the flight data recorder point we need to take a step back and acknowledge that member states. Although Belgrade still rejects Pristina’s airplanes, a debate on how they are designed and how monitors. In the case of Flight 370, the ACARS, which was despite all of it there may be some positives that come out independence, a “certain level of placability could be seen long they can last,” Galaviz said. “There will also be discus- supposed to transmit data every 30 minutes, failed to send of it,” he said. —AFP towards Kosovo’s separation,” said Radojevic. Taking part in EU-mediated talks with Pristina “shows that (Belgrade) has de facto recognised the situation on the ground,” he added. Counting cost of E Africa’s poaching economy But a further normalisation is possible “only if EU opens its doors to both sides, providing a clear European per- By Peter Martell spective” for the former foes, said Pristina-based political analyst Adrian Qollaku. “If it was not for the EU and their rganised crime gangs in East Africa are promising carrot and threatening stick, the two sides generating staggering profits smuggling would never even try to normalise their relation,” said 19- Oivory and rhino horn with impunity, year old student Valon Istrefi. experts say, threatening both an irreplaceable wildlife heritage and key tourism industries. Nightmares of Bombings Still Persist Kenyan and Tanzanian ports are the “primary Even with their eyes fixed on the EU-bound future, the gateway” for ivory smuggled to Asia, where views of the 1999 bombings will always be different in demand is fuelled by increasingly affluent mar- Serbia and Kosovo. In Belgrade, the Milosevic-era defence kets, especially in China, the United Nations and interior ministry buildings, severely hit by NATO mis- Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warns. Last siles, still stand in ruins in one of the main avenues. But in year, seizures of ivory shipments reached “record Kosovo, also severely hit by the bombings mostly on levels”, according to a recent Interpol report. Serbia’s security forces positions, there are no traces left. “Large-scale ivory shipments - each one rep- At the site once housing the headquarters of Serbian resenting the slaughter of hundreds of elephants police in central Pristina, modern offices now used as the -point to the involvement of organised crime net- Kosovo Interior Ministry were built, thanks to the EU works operating across multiple countries,” funds. Interpol said. Poaching has risen sharply across And Kosovo security forces moved into a former Africa in recent years. Organised gangs with Serbian army garrison on the outskirts of Pristina, insider knowledge and armed with automatic bombed to the ground and soon built its barracks, deco- weapons and specialised equipment such as rated with Kosovo’s blue-and-yellow flag. Now 32, ethnic night vision goggles, brazenly use chainsaws to Albanian Qerim Ahmeti was a teenager when NATO mis- carve out the rhino horn or remove elephant sile hit the police headquarters in Pristina in 1999. It was, tusks. he said, like “an earthquake and thunder at the same Veteran Kenyan conservationist Richard time”. “But we were not afraid and we only prayed to God Leakey has now warned that drastic action must to live and see Serbia’s forces withdrawal from Kosovo,” be taken, saying that known ring-leaders in Ahmeti told AFP. Kenya are operating with “outrageous impunity”. In Belgrade, his Serbian peer Vlatka Reljic still avoids the The rise in poaching, with animals being slaugh- shortest path to her home in a Belgrade suburb, mistakenly tered inside even the most heavily guarded hit in what was later described as a NATO “blunder”. “I don’t national parks or conservation areas, show that In this photo taken on Oct 8, 2013 a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Ranger inspects and numbers a confiscated ivory think I will ever walk along that trail again. It was not my the poachers have little fear of tough new laws consignment at the Mombasa Port. —AFP war, and I still have nightmares about the bombardment of designed to stem the wave of killings, he said. Eastern Africa could be devastating,” UNODC’s for China, whose rapidly growing economy has escape justice: A recent study by the Kenyan con- my city,” she said. Official Serbian figures say some 2,500 “They could not operate with the impunity we report read. “In addition to the reduction in encouraged those enjoying disposable income to servation campaign group Wildlife Direct found civilians were killed and 12,500 injured during 11 weeks of are seeing if you did not have some form of pro- genetic diversity, its loss could seriously under- splash out on an ivory trinket as a sign of financial that just four percent of those convicted of bombing. Human Rights Watch put the civilian death toll tection from law enforcement agencies,” Leakey mine local tourist revenues, a key source of for- success. “Growing affluence in China, where pos- wildlife crime in the past spent time in jail. of the NATO bombing at around 500. —AFP said, as he made an appeal for Kenyan President eign exchange for many of the countries of the session of elephant ivory remains a status sym- Tanzania last year launched a crackdown on sus- Uhuru Kenyatta to take action. “It is a problem of region.” bol, appears to have rendered China the world’s pected poachers, operating under what was a few criminals... the ringleaders are known,” he But the region’s two large container ports - leading destination for illicit ivory,” the UNODC reported to be a shoot-to-kill policy and making added, claiming that a core group of around 20 Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania report added. sweeping arrests. All articles appearing on these to 30 people were organising the mass poaching - are also notorious trafficking hubs, funnelling The smuggling of rhino horns is a bigger Leakey, 69, a Kenyan national and former pages are the personal opinion of but that none had faced justice. more elephant tusks to Asia than all of central, problem for Southern Africa, which has far more head of the government’s Kenya Wildlife Service the writers. Kuwait Times takes no southern and west African nations combined. of the endangered animals. It is often done by air, (KWS), said with the “right management” stem- responsibility for views expressed Big Money The two nations made up almost two-thirds of all due to the value of the horn and its smaller size. ming the poaching was “not an impossible” task. It’s a lucrative business: A kilo of ivory is worth large shipments of ivory seized across the entire But scores of East African rhinos are also being He was key in stemming the rampant poaching therein. Kuwait Times invites read- some $850 in Asia, with UNODC suggesting ivory continent from 2009-2011, according to the killed despite wildlife rangers often risking their of the late 1980s, bringing in extreme measures ers to voice their opinions. Please smuggled to Asia from Eastern Africa was worth Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), a track- lives to protect them. to combat poachers including sending helicopter send submissions via email to: opin- over $31 million in 2011. But such short-term and ing database run by wildlife trade monitoring gunships into national parks, and organising the finite profits generated by the spate of killings are network TRAFFIC. Few Convictions iconic burning of stockpiled ivory. “It is not valu- [email protected] or via snail threatening the far more valuable tourism indus- Seizures of containers crammed full of tusks - Action is being taken including far stiffer sen- able, it is tragic rubbish,” Leakey said, waving an mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. try, which in Kenya and Tanzania is the second often hidden under foul-smelling fish or dried tences for wildlife crime, with Tanzania this ivory carving seized from a smuggler, the tiny The editor reserves the right to edit largest foreign exchange earner after agriculture. chili peppers in a bid to confuse sniffer dogs or month jailing a Chinese ivory smuggler to 20 tusk of a baby elephant. “It is putting at risk our “The African elephant is not currently deemed discourage detailed searches - are regularly years in jail, and Kenya introducing tough new heritage... you can regrow a crop but you cannot any submission as necessary. ‘endangered’ as a species, but its decimation in found. Much of the ivory smuggled is destined laws with comparable penalties. But many regrow a wildlife species that disappears.” —AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SPORTS

Del Potro to have surgery Eight hooligans arrested Froome ready for challenge BUENOS AIRES: Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro will undergo MEXICO: Eight hooligans were arrested and five supporters and two MADRID: Tour de France winner Chris Froome will race against Alberto a second wrist operation in four years today and miss the rest of the season, policemen badly injured as Guadalajara fans fought with police near the Contador for the first time this season when the seven-stage Tour of Argentine media reported. end of their 1-1 derby draw with bitter rivals Atlas, Mexican media reported Catalonia gets under way. Del Potro, who pulled out of the Miami tournament this week, will have sur- yesterday. Both men have been in fine early season form as Froome eased to victo- gery on his left wrist which he uses for his backhand, having had an operation The Guadalajara Chivas took an early lead through striker Aldo De Nigris ry in the Tour of Oman, whilst Contador won the Tirreno-Adriatico ‘Race of on his right wrist in May 2010. but Paraguayan Jose Ortigoza equalised in the 72nd minute for home side the Two Seas’ last week. Froome had been due to compete in Italy as well, The big Argentine, who won the Sydney tournament Atlas at the Jalisco stadium on Saturday. but was forced to pull out due to a back problem. However, the Briton in January before a disappointing Australian Open, has In a running battle on Jalisco’s upper-south terraces lasting about 15 insists his absence was merely a precaution with bigger targets to come lat- dropped down the ranking from world number four to minutes, police were hugely outnumbered and came off worse with two er in the year. “It’s definitely been disappointing to miss out on Tirreno. It eighth and last played at Dubai nearly a month ago. The officers taken to hospital, the Sports paper Record (www.record.com.mx) was an important race for me and offered me a good 25-year-old tried to overcome his problem with physio- said. Television footage showed police helmets and truncheons flying opportunity to build on the form I had at the Tour of therapy but has now decided to resort to American through the air and officers pushed down the terraces by fans wearing Oman,” he told TeamSky.com. “With my back prob- surgeon Richard Berger, the wrist specialist who shirts with Guadalajara’s red and white stripes, who had earlier lit dozens of lem though, we felt it was a better idea to play it safe operated on his right wrist in 2010, the daily La flares. and look at the bigger picture, which is making sure Nacion reported on Saturday. Guadalajara are seventh in the Clausura championship standings with I’m ready for the Tour de France in July. We’ve erred on “I have the experience of how the rehabilita- 17 points from 12 matches and Atlas 12th with 14. The top eight qualify for the side of caution in that respect. “I’m training hard tion is, the time it takes,” La Nacion quoted Del the knockout phase at the end of the 17-match league stage. Leaders Cruz for that right now and looking forward to compet- Potro as having said when he pulled out of Azul were held to a 0-0 draw at title holders Leon, who had Mexico’s veter- ing again. It’s a very testing race and they’ve put Indian Wells two weeks ago and foresaw the an World Cup captain and former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez sent some pretty hard stages in there with some tough possibility of surgery. —Reuters off in the closing minutes for a second booking.—Reuters summit finishes.—AFP Lydia leads Founders Cup

PHOENIX: New Zealand teenager Lydia bogeyed the 15th and shot 70. She’s mak- Ko topped the crowded leaderboard in ing her third start on the LPGA Tour after the JTBC Founders Cup, pulling ahead winning three times on the Korean LPGA. with two late birdies Saturday. Sun Young Yoo, the 2012 Kraft Nabisco The 16-year-old shot a 5-under 67 to winner, was 14 under after a 68. Michelle reach 16-under 200 at Desert Ridge. She Wie had a 67 to join Azahara Munoz, So tapped in for birdie on the par-5 15th Yeon Ryu, Amy Yang and Chella Choi at after missing an 8-foot eagle putt and 13 under. took the outright lead with a 10-footer on “I couldn’t get anything to the hole, the par-3 17th. Jessica Korda and Mirim but scrambled and shot 5 under,” Wie Lee were a stroke back, and a dozen play- said. “I’m really happy to be in the posi- ers were within four shots on a course tion that I am. I’m really excited for that gave up a 63 and two 64s in the third tomorrow.” round. Munoz, coming off a playoff loss to “Obviously, there’s going to be some Paula Creamer three weeks ago in nerves,” Ko said. “Of course, that’s always Singapore, shot 64 ‚Ä” one of 19 rounds of there.” Ko was 3 under on Wildfire’s 67 or better in the 74-player field Arnold Palmer-designed front nine Saturday. Yang had a 67, and Ryu and Saturday after playing it in even par the Choi shot 68. Choi holed out from the first two days. She eagled the par-5 fifth fairway for eagle on the par-4 18th. after hitting a 5-wood to 7 feet. She’s 13 Creamer had a 64 to match defending under on the Nick Faldo-designed back champion Stacy Lewis and Morgan nine, where the tournament will be Pressel at 12 under. decided. Creamer played the first 15 holes in 9 “I played much better on the front under, then bogeyed the short par-4 16 nine, so I was really happy with that,” Ko after driving into a bunker. “I have hit the said. Ko tapped in for birdie on the par-5 ball great this week,” Creamer said. “I’ve 15th after missing an eagle try and took given myself so many opportunities, it’s the outright lead with a 10-footer on the kind of ridiculous. I just didn’t putt my par-3 17th. “You never know until the last best the last two days.” hole, last putt,” Ko said. In Singapore, she holed a 75-foot Ko won the Canadian Women’s Open eagle putt to beat Munoz on the second as an amateur the last two years and took extra hole. Lewis and Pressel, 9 under the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters after 11 holes Thursday, shot 67. in December in Thailand in her second “Pretty disappointing,” Lewis said. “I EDMONTON: Sam Gagner No. 89 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck against Ken Agostino No. 51 of the Calgary Flames during an NHL start as a professional. She has five victo- left a ton of shots out there today. The game at Rexall Place.—AFP ries in pro events, also winning in greens were a bit softer and I just didn’t Australia and New Zealand. quite adjust to it. Speed was a little bit “It would be pretty special and espe- different.” Cristie Kerr matched the cially at the Founders Cup,” Ko said. course record with a 63 to reach 11 Bruins see off Coyotes “Without the founders, there would be under, finishing an hour before the lead- no LPGA. This has been my dream tour.” ers teed off. “I saw Cristie shot 9 under GLENDALE: The Boston Bruins came back with injury-hampered season as Los Angeles beat Florida. time in five games. Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Ko will play alongside Korda. They also and Paula was 8 and I was like, ‘Wow! three third-period goals, the go-ahead score by Trevor Lewis, Mike Richards, Alec Martinez and Nazem Kadri had goals for the Maple Leafs, who played together in the first two rounds. That’s serious scoring,” Korda said. “But Shawn Thornton with 3:18 to play, to win their 12th captain Dustin Brown scored for the Kings, who have dropped four straight. “It’s always cool to play with her,” Ko said. the greens are a little bit bouncier in the in a row, 4-2 over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. completed their five-game homestand with back- Korda, the winner in the season-opening afternoon and you can kind of see where The Bruins are two shy of the franchise mark of to-back wins after three straight one-goal defeats. HURRICANES 3, JETS 2 event in the Bahamas, birdied the final people have walked.” Kerr, playing a new 14 straight set in the 1929-30 season. They also have Quick earned his 172nd career victory and sur- The Carolina Hurricanes scored three straight two holes for her second bogey-free 66 in set of irons this week, had an eagle, eight the most points in the NHL with 103, two more than passed Rogie Vachon. The shutout was the 30th of goals in just under three minutes in the second peri- a row. birdies and a three-putt bogey. “I’m glad Western Conference-leading St. Louis. Quick’s career, two shy of Vachon’s franchise od and held on for a win over the Winnipeg Jets. Jim “I look at her like a little sister,” Korda that I had the courage to switch because Jarome Iginla scored his 27th and 28th goals of mark.The Kings recorded their 11th shutout, tying Slater scored his first goal of the season 7:48 into the said about Ko. “She’s a great girl.” Lee, the I’m just so much more consistent now,” the season for Boston, the second with an empty the franchise record set two seasons ago. second to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. But Eric Staal leader after each of the first two rounds, Kerr said.—AP net in the final seconds. Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a Los Angeles scored on three of its first 13 shots responded 37 seconds later with his 17th goal to tie spectacular goal to put Phoenix ahead 2-1 in the against three-time All Star Roberto Luongo, who fin- it. Jordan Staal followed his brother with his 15th of second period. Shane Doan scored the other ished with 25 saves. The Panthers, who have lost the season on a power play, and Riley Nash scored Coyotes goal on a power play. The loss snapped nine of their last 10 against Los Angeles, played their his ninth for the Hurricanes at 11:18. Hurricanes Phoenix’s three-game winning streak. first game at Staples Center since Dec. 1, 2011. defenseman Andrej Sekera had a pair of assists, giving him 31 on the season to go with 11 goals. Bryan FLYERS 4, BLUES 1 RANGERS 2, DEVILS 0 Little scored his 21st goal for Winnipeg 1:27 into the Scott Hartnell and Brayden Schenn scored in the Henrik Lundqvist made 21 saves in posting his third period, but the Hurricanes were able to hold second period as the Philadelphia Flyers came back Rangers record 50th NHL shutout as New York off the Jets for the win. to beat the St. Louis Blues for their fifth straight vic- improved its playoff chances with a victory over the tory. Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds added fading New Jersey Devils. Rick Nash scored his team- FLAMES 8, OILERS 1 goals, and Steve Mason made 32 saves to help leading, eighth game-winning goal and Derek Curtis Glencross scored a hat trick and Matt Philadelphia maintain its hold on second place in Stepan added an empty-net, power-play tally with 8 Stajan scored from a penalty shot and added three the Metropolitan Division. seconds left to give the Rangers their third straight assists as the Calgary Flames scored four times in Jaden Schwartz opened the scoring 6:23 in, fin- road win. New Jersey lost for the fifth time in five just over three minutes in the second period to ishing a 2-on-1 short-handed opportunity. Ryan games and is in danger of missing the playoffs for cruise past the Edmonton Oilers. Miller lost for the second time as a member of the the second straight year. Mike Cammalleri, Mark Giordano, Paul Byron and Blues since being traded from Buffalo on Feb. 28. Lundqvist was in goal for the Rangers’ 3-0 road Kevin Westgarth also scored for the Flames, who trip over five nights, including a 3-1 win at playoff- have won four of their last six and are 26th overall in PENGUINS 4, LIGHTNING 3 hopeful Columbus on Friday night. Lundqvist, the NHL standings. Jeff Petry had the lone goal for James Neal’s power-play goal 1:27 into overtime already the winningest goalie in Rangers history, the Oilers, who have lost two in a row and remain in lifted Pittsburgh to a wild victory over Tampa Bay. broke a tie with Ed Giacomin for the shutout mark. It second-to-last place in the league. Neal’s slap shot over Anders Lindback’s right shoul- was his fifth blanking this season. Martin Brodeur der capped a frantic final 15 minutes of play as the made 25 saves for the Devils. CAPITALS 3, SHARKS 2 teams traded the lead three times. Nicklas Backstrom scored the winning goal in the Evgeni Malkin had two goals and two assists, and CANADIENS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3 shootout to lead the Washington Capitals to their ORLANDO: Adam Scott of Australia hits a tee shot on the third hole during the third Sidney Crosby added a goal and two assists for the Tomas Plekanec scored the go-ahead goal just as first win in San Jose in more than 20 years. round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club Penguins, who have won nine straight over the a power play expired midway through the third peri- Eric Fehr and Chris Brown scored in regulation for and Lodge. —AFP Lightning. Jeff Zatkoff stopped 21 shots and od, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto the Capitals, who had lost 11 times and tied once Pittsburgh ended Tampa Bay’s five-game winning Maple Leafs. since winning their first game at the Shark Tank on streak. Steven Stamkos, Valtteri Filppula and Ondrej A little over nine minutes into the third period, Oct. 30, 1993. This is only Washington’s second win Scott’s lead cut to three strokes Palat scored for the Lightning, who have earned at James van Riemsdyk was penalized for goaltender in its last 19 games overall against San Jose. least one point in eight straight games. Lindback interference when he steamrolled into Carey Price. Braden Holtby made 34 saves in his first start FLORIDA: Australian Adam Scott opened to a tough start (with two bogeys in the made 25 saves. But replays showed that Montreal defenseman since March 6 in place of the banged-up Jaroslav the door to his rivals as his lead was whit- first five holes) and just fought my way Andrei Markov knocked van Riemsdyk into Price. Halak. Patrick Marleau and James Sheppard scored tled to three strokes after the third round at back all day. No doubt everyone made a RED WINGS 3, WILD 2 Plekanec scored short side exactly two minutes later. for the Sharks, who missed a chance to clinch their the $6.2 million Arnold Palmer Invitational move today and I was battling but I’m in Gustav Nyquist’s third-period goal helped Detroit Max Pacioretty, Rene Bourque and Brian Gionta also 10th straight playoff berth. Antti Niemi made 23 in Florida on Saturday. good shape for tomorrow.” top Minnesota for its fourth win in five games. scored for the Canadiens, who won for the fourth saves. —AP Scott began the day with a seven-shot Scott, who has been under the weather Jimmy Howard made 28 saves, and Brendan Smith advantage. He drove the ball superbly all week, said he was starting to feel a little and David Legwand each scored on a power play for again, but also hit a few loose iron shots better physically. “I’m feeling OK to play. I’ve the Red Wings, who were in a 2-for-25 slump with NHL results/standings and a couple of poor putts on his way to a got a really sore throat but that doesn’t hit the man advantage until getting goals on both of one-under-par 71 in ideal conditions at Bay the golf ball.” their opportunities against the Wild. Mikko Koivu Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 1; Pittsburgh 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT); Detroit 3, Minnesota 2; Dallas 3, Ottawa 1; Hill in Orlando. Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, had gave the Wild an early lead, on a power play, and Los Angeles 4, Florida 0; Montreal 4, Toronto 3; NY Rangers 2, New Jersey 0; Carolina 3, Winnipeg 2; “They don’t hand you PGA Tour events no illusions that it would be easy to catch Charlie Coyle tied the game on a penalty shot. Boston 4, Phoenix 2; Calgary 8, Edmonton 1; Washington 3, San Jose 2 (SO). when you’ve got a lead after 36 holes. Scott late yesterday. “I’m going to have to Western Conference Tampa Bay 39 24 8 211 189 86 You’ve got to work for that,” he told Golf shoot a really low score, because Adam’s STARS 3, SENATORS 1 Pacific Division Montreal 39 26 7 186 183 85 Channel after posting a 15-under 201 total one of the best players in the world, but Trevor Daley and Jamie Benn scored third-period W L OTL GF GA PTS Toronto 36 28 8 211 223 80 with one round left. that’s what I live for,” he said after matching goals to help Dallas rally for a victory over Ottawa. San Jose 46 18 8 221 173 100 Detroit 33 24 13 186 196 79 American Keegan Bradley finished with the day’s best score. The Stars snapped a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) Anaheim 45 18 7 222 178 97 Ottawa 28 29 13 199 237 69 birdies at the final three holes to shoot a 66 “I’ve been hitting the ball nicely all week and sent the Senators to their sixth consecutive Los Angeles 40 25 6 174 149 86 Florida 26 37 8 173 229 60 and jump into second place on 12 under. but the last two days the putter has gotten defeat, tying Ottawa’s longest skid this season. Phoenix 34 26 11 196 201 79 Buffalo 20 42 8 136 206 48 Four other players are within five strokes really hot, which is a good sign.” Jordie Benn had two assists for the Stars. Cody Eakin Vancouver 32 30 10 172 194 74 Metropolitan Division and realistically in the hunt. American Chesson Hadley got closest to had tied the game with a second-period goal. Kari Calgary 29 35 7 181 210 65 Pittsburgh 46 19 5 222 176 97 Scott will defend his Masters title April Scott, charging within one stroke after he Lehtonen made 26 saves in his second game since Edmonton 25 38 9 178 236 59 Central Division Philadelphia 38 25 7 203 198 83 10-13 as the new world number one if he birdied the sixth hole, but he bogeyed the returning from a head injury sustained on March 11 St. Louis 47 16 7 227 160 101 NY Rangers 39 29 4 190 175 82 wins on Sunday, and he remained upbeat next and ended the day five strokes behind in Dallas’ previous victory. Erik Karlsson netted Chicago 41 15 15 240 184 97 Washington 34 27 11 208 213 79 about his chances after sinking a seven- after a 69. Ottawa’s goal in the first period. Jamie Benn reached Colorado 44 21 6 216 194 94 Columbus 36 28 6 200 192 78 foot putt to save par at the par-four 18th, a Italian Francesco Molinari is also five 30 goals for the first time in his five NHL seasons. Minnesota 36 24 11 176 175 83 New Jersey 30 28 13 172 185 73 hole he bogeyed the first two days. back after almost making what would have Robin Lehner made 39 saves against Dallas, which Dallas 33 26 11 199 202 77 Carolina 31 31 9 177 200 71 “That’s huge going into tomorrow,” he been a miraculous eagle at the par-four had a 42-27 shots advantage. Winnipeg 32 31 9 201 211 73 NY Islanders 26 35 9 195 239 61 said. “I missed two putts of shorter length 15th, where his 180-yard approach shot Nashville 30 31 10 171 213 70 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in for par on the back nine today and to miss from the thick rough clattered against the KINGS 4, PANTHERS 0 Eastern Conference the standings and are not included in the loss col- another one would have opened the door pin but did not drop, leaving him to settle Jonathan Quick broke the Kings’ record for goalie Atlantic Division Boston 49 17 5 229 151 103 umn (L). a little bit too much for my liking. “I got off for a tap-in birdie. —Reuters wins, making 24 saves in his fifth shutout of an MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SPORTS Bulls charge past 76ers

CHICAGO: The Philadelphia 76ers suffered their 24th straight loss as Joakim Noah finished with 20 points and Jimmy Butler scored 17 in the Chicago Bulls 91-81 victory Saturday. The Sixers moved ahead of the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) for the second- longest, single-season losing streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped 26 during the 2010-11 season, and Philadelphia would have to pull off an upset to avoid equaling that. The next two games are at San Antonio and Houston. Drop them, and the Sixers could set the record at home against Detroit on March 29, particularly if they continue to shoot like this from the outside. They missed their first 18 3- pointers before Byron Mullens made one early in the fourth and were 1 of 20 in the game.

BUFFALO: Dylan Ennis No. 31 of the Villanova Wildcats drives to the basket as Ryan PELICANS 105, HEAT 95 Boatright No. 11 of the Connecticut Huskies defends during the third round of the Anthony Davis had 30 points, 11 rebounds 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the First Niagara Center. —AFP and three steals as New Orleans handed struggling Miami its seventh loss in 11 games. LeBron James twisted his right ankle while UConn win over Villanova stepping on Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans’ foot during a drive to the hoop late in the third quar- BUFFALO: In a span of three days, Shabazz 11. Connecticut (28-8) advanced to face the ter, but remained in the game and finished with Napier and Connecticut knocked out both winner of Sunday’s game between third- 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. It was Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tourna- seeded Iowa State and No. 6 seed North not enough for Miami, which gave guard ment. Carolina. Dwyane Wade and center Greg Oden the night Now, the seventh-seeded Huskies are off “It’s unbelievable,” UConn athletic direc- off following Friday’s victory at Memphis. CHICAGO: Bulls forward Carlos Boozer (right) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Jarvis to the East Regional semifinals in New York tor Warde Manuel said. “It’s extra special, Pelicans guard Eric Gordon also sat out with a Varnado during the first half of an NBA basketball game. —AP City to see how much more bracket bust- given what this team went through last sore left knee, but New Orleans got 14 points 94), outscored Portland in the paint 54-32 and quarter. San Antonio, riding its longest winning ing they can do a year after being barred year. Extra special.” from Evans, 12 from Al-Farouq Aminu and 11 held a 50-36 rebounding advantage over the streak in six years, is two games ahead of from the postseason because of academic Manuel was referring to the academic from Luke Babbitt. Trail Blazers, who had won their last four games Oklahoma City for the top playoff seed in the sanctions. sanctions that essentially rendered the against the Bobcats. Western Conference. Second-seeded Villanova became the Huskies’ 20-10 finish meaningless last year GRIZZLIES 82, PACERS 71 The Spurs did it even while resting stars Tim highest seed to fall so far after Napier in Kevin Ollie’s first season as coach. Ollie Mike Conley scored 21 points, and Zach CLIPPERS 112, PISTONS 103 Duncan and Manu Ginobili. They are 3-0 against scored 25 points in leading UConn to a 77- has improved to 2-0 in his tournament Randolph added 18 points and 13 rebounds as Chris Paul had 28 points and 15 assists, and Golden State this season, including two wins in 65 victory Saturday night. The win came on debut, two years since taking over after Jim Memphis held Indiana to its lowest point total of Blake Griffin added 25 points as Los Angeles Oakland without their regulars, after eliminating the heels of another upset in Buffalo, where Calhoun stepped down because of health the season. beat Detroit to extend the Pistons’ losing streak the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs Dayton, the 11th seed in the South, beat issues. Mike Miller added 13 points as Memphis won to five games. The Clippers, coming off a 110- last year. Stephen Curry scored 20 points to go third-seeded Syracuse 55-53. Ryan Arcidiacono scored 18 points for for the seventh time in nine games and main- 100 loss at Denver that ended their 11-game with six assists and six rebounds, and Andrew “I guess it means something to you guys Villanova (29-5) in a matchup of former Big tained its hold on the final playoff spot in the overall winning streak, shot 54 percent from the Bogut grabbed 17 boards as the Warriors head but at the end of the day, just because East rivals. James Bell had 14 and Darrun Western Conference. Marc Gasol, returning after field and improved to 24-1 when finishing at 50 into a five-day break on a sour note. they’re No. 2 and we’re No. 7, they don’t get Hilliard added 13. spraining his ankle Friday night, had 10 points percent or better. extra points to start the game off,” Napier “Certainly a tough way to end the sea- and nine rebounds. DeAndre Jordan had 12 rebounds for the JAZZ 89, MAGIC 88 said. “Everybody’s the same.” son,” Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. “I Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 15 Pacific Division leaders, who have had at least Trey Burke scored 17 points, including a high- UConn was better thanks to Napier, who didn’t want to let this put a damper on points and eight rebounds, while David West one player with double-digit rebounds in a fran- arcing 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining, to scored 24 points two days earlier in an 89- what this group has done all year.” added 10 points, but was 5 of 15 from the field. chise-record 46 consecutive games. The previ- push Utah past Orlando. 81 overtime win against Philadelphia’s oth- Villanova fell one win short of matching Paul George, the Pacers’ leading scorer at 22.1 ous mark was 44, by the 1977 Buffalo Braves. With the Jazz trailing 88-86, Gordon Hayward er tournament entry, Saint Joseph’s. the school record set in 2009, when the points per game, was held to eight points, miss- Jonas Jerebko had 22 points and nine rebounds dribbled through the center of the Magic Napier had 21 points in the second half Wildcats lost to North Carolina in the ing eight of his 10 shots, and Indiana shot 37 off the bench for the Pistons. defense and found Burke in the corner. The big and helped put the game away by hitting national semifinals. percent for the game. shot snapped Utah’s six-game losing streak and three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Napier’s performance played a signifi- SPURS 99, WARRIORS 90 extended Orlando’s skid to eight games. Huskies a 54-45 lead with 6:08 remaining. cant role. “He was just awesome,” Wright ROCKETS 118, CAVALIERS 111 Tony Parker had 20 points and five assists, Down the stretch, the game turned into a The star guard was limited to 8 minutes in said. “There was a period where he hit three James Harden scored 37 points, including 17 and Danny Green scored 18 points as short- battle between Burke and Victor Oladipo, two the first half by foul trouble, and he avoid- 3s, and it just created a separation.” in the third quarter as Houston led from wire-to- handed San Antonio outlasted Golden State for rookies drafted in the top 10 of last summer’s ed a major scare when he briefly left the Wright was referring to a surge during wire in a victory over Cleveland. its 13th straight victory. draft. Oladipo, the second selection, scored 19 game after hurting his right shin with 4:01 which UConn took control in a span of 1:32 Harden was 9 of 15 from the field, hit five 3- Tiago Splitter added 17 points and 14 points for the Magic. He made a jumper and left. “The pain was excruciating. I couldn’t as Napier made three consecutive 3-point- pointers, made all 14 of his free throws and had rebounds as the NBA-leading Spurs (53-16) then added two free throws with 21 seconds to put any pressure on it,” Napier said. “Our ers to build a 51-40 advantage. Kromah 11 assists without playing the fourth quarter pulled away with an 11-0 run early in the fourth play to give Orlando an 85-82 lead. —AP trainer told me to mentally stay strong. ... started it and Napier struck a pose for the after Houston built a 29-point lead late in the He put that Bio-freeze on it, and I was ready cameras after hitting the second 3 with third. Rockets center Dwight Howard missed his to go.” 8:59 left. third straight game with a sore left ankle, but The freeze didn’t cool him down once “He led us to victory,” Ollie said. “He was Houston is undefeated in the eight-time All- NBA results/standings Napier returned after missing only about just unbelievable in that second half: 21 Star’s absence. 40 seconds of action. Holding the ball atop points, crucial 3s, dagger 3s. He was 30 feet Cleveland has lost four straight and played Charlotte 124, Portland 94; Houston 118, Cleveland 111; Chicago 91, Philadelphia 81; Memphis 82, Indiana the 3-point arc, he blew past a defender out and he was making them.” 71; New Orleans 105, Miami 95; Utah 89, Orlando 88; San Antonio 99, Golden State 90; LA Clippers 112, again without point guard Kyrie Irving, who has Detroit 103. while driving into the paint and flipped in The Huskies are marching on to been sidelined for three games with a strained an underhanded reverse high off the back- Madison Square Garden in their first season left biceps. Eastern Conference Western Conference board to put UConn ahead 60-51 with 2:19 as members of the American Athletic Dion Waiters led Cleveland with 26 points. Atlantic Division Northwest Division remaining. Conference after the Big East was realigned W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 51 18 .739 - Tyler Zeller added a career-high 23 points for the Toronto 38 30 .559 - Lasan Kromah scored 12 points for the following a series of defections. Villanova Cavaliers, who also played without forward Luol Portland 45 25 .643 6.5 Brooklyn 36 31 .537 1.5 Minnesota 34 33 .507 16 Huskies, while DeAndre Daniels, Ryan remained a Big East holdover, but wound Deng (sprained left ankle). NY Knicks 29 40 .420 9.5 Boatright and Terrence Samuel each had up being bounced by a familiar foe.—AP Denver 31 38 .449 20 Boston 23 47 .329 16 Utah 23 47 .329 28.5 BOBCATS 124, TRAIL BLAZERS 94 Philadelphia 15 55 .214 24 Pacific Division Central Division Al Jefferson scored 28 points and two others LA Clippers 49 21 .700 - finished with more than 20 as Charlotte routed Indiana 51 19 .729 - Chicago 39 31 .557 12 Golden State 44 27 .620 5.5 Portland. Kemba Walker added 26 points, Gerald Phoenix 40 29 .580 8.5 Henderson had 23 and Chris Douglas-Roberts 11 Cleveland 26 44 .371 25 Detroit 25 44 .362 25.5 Sacramento 24 45 .348 24.5 for the Bobcats, who finished with their highest- Milwaukee 13 56 .188 37.5 LA Lakers 22 46 .324 26 scoring game and most-lopsided victory in Southeast Division Southwest Division snapping a two-game losing streak. Miami 47 21 .691 - San Antonio 53 16 .768 - Damian Lillard scored 20 points, Dorell Wright Washington 36 33 .522 11.5 Houston 47 22 .681 6 added 17 and Wesley Matthews 15 for the Trail Charlotte 34 36 .486 14 Dallas 42 28 .600 11.5 Blazers, who trailed by as many as 34 points late Atlanta 31 36 .463 15.5 Memphis 41 28 .594 12 in the second half in their worst loss this season. Orlando 19 51 .271 29 New Orleans 29 40 .420 24 Charlotte shot 52 percent from the field (49 of Massaro crowned new world champion

GEORGE TOWN: World number feel this whole tournament has Massaro, the first Englishwoman it’s going to be special to say that two Laura Massaro was crowned been based around being mentally to win a world championship since I’m both the British Open champion the new world women’s squash strong and being gritty when it Cassie Campion in 1999, wins and world champion.” The new champion yesterday after edging counts, and that’s what I’m most $20,400 in prize money. She is also world champion also paid tribute Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini in a sus- proud of,” she said. relishing the prospect of a hero’s to her young opponent, who had penseful final. “I hate to lose a game because I welcome back home. pushed her all the way in the final. Massaro downed Sherbini 11-7, think I’m quite hard to beat. People “It’s going to be amazing going “She (Sherbini) is the future of the 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 in front of a actually have to beat me-they are back with this title. Winning the game. I’m glad I managed to get a full house in the Malaysian island of never given the game.” British Open last year was huge, so win while I still could.” —AFP Penang. Massaro, 30, made an electric start to the first game, using every speck of the court to her advantage to gain the upper hand DOHA: Repsol Honda Team MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain rides during a qual- at 11-7. ification session of the MotoGP World Championship at the Losail International cir- But Sherbini, who had produced cuit. —AFP the shock of the championship by claiming the scalp of top seed Nicol David, was no pushover and her Marquez on pole in Qatar excellent front-court play brought her level after the second game at QATAR: Honda’s MotoGP world champion will be fifth on the grid for the factory 1-1. The third game saw both play- Marc Marquez seized pole position on Yamaha team with Italian colleague ers trade points until 9-9, but Saturday for the season-opening Qatar Valentino Rossi lining up in 10th. Massaro held her nerve to win and Grand Prix despite breaking his leg last Marquez, who fractured the fibula in his take the lead for the second time. month and being barely able to walk a right leg while dirt-bike riding six weeks The pendulum swung in week ago. The 21-year-old Spaniard put in ago, looked comfortable enough on his Sherbini’s favor in the fourth game, a sizzling lap of one minute 54.507 seconds Honda and was all smiles although he said the 18-year-old racking up seven as the chequered flag fell under the Losail the race would be a different story. consecutive points to win 11-5 and circuit floodlights to knock compatriot “Tomorrow is the most important,” he said. tie the scores at 2-2. Alvaro Bautista off the top slot. Bautista, on “The leg will be difficult at the end of the The deciding fifth game was as a non-factory Honda, was second fastest race because I’m getting tired, I do a lot of close as it got, but Massaro again behind the works bike in 1:54.564 with power with that. “Anyway, I will try. showed nerves of steel to win 11-9 Britain’s Bradley Smith securing the first Tomorrow I think we can do a good race.” and claim the game’s biggest prize. front row position of his MotoGP career on Until this week’s practice, the youngest- Massaro, who banished the a Tech3 Yamaha. ever MotoGP champion had not ridden the memory of her loss in the 2012 Early Spanish favorite Aleix Espargaro, Honda since his Feb. 6 accident. World Open final, attributed her who had dominated free practice, crashed When he arrived in Qatar he told victory to her never-say-die atti- twice in the session — returning to the pits reporters he was not able to walk five days tude, especially in the face of adver- for a spare bike after the first fall — and earlier: “Step by step it’s becoming better,” sity. ended up in ninth position. he had said. “So if I can walk I think on the “It was an emotional battle for GEORGETOWN: England’s Laura Massaro poses with the trophy after winning the CIMB Women’s World Twice world champion Jorge Lorenzo bike it’ll be OK.”—Reuters me today. I felt really nervous, but I Championship squash final against Nour El Sherbini of Egypt at the Spice Arena. —AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SPORTS

Expert: Screaming gives Photo of the day Pistorius ‘major problem’

JOHANNESBURG: Prosecutors at Oscar case next week, the fourth week of the trial, Pistorius’ murder trial have presented a “gold- by calling four or five more witnesses. The en thread” of evidence suggesting Reeva defense will then present its case. High court Steenkamp screamed before she died, leav- authorities in Gauteng province said in a ing the double-amputee athlete with “serious statement Sunday that the trial will be halted questions” to answer and his defense likely for the week beginning April 7, and then hinging on his own testimony, a legal expert resume from April 14 until May 16. in South Africa said. Pistorius, 27, was a celebrated track ath- Three neighbors say they heard a woman lete who made history as the first amputee to scream before and during the deadly gun- run against able bodied runners at the shots coming from Pistorius’ home in the ear- Olympics after having his lower legs amputat- ly hours of Valentine’s Day last year. ed as a baby because of a congenital condi- The pathologist who performed the tion. He now faces going to prison for 25 autopsy on Steenkamp’s body said it would years to life if convicted of premeditated mur- have been “abnormal” for her not to scream der. If found guilty of murder without pre- from some of her injuries. meditation for killing Steenkamp, who was A police ballistics expert concluded that 29, Pistorius faces a minimum 15-year sen- the first shot Pistorius fired through a toilet tence. door hit Steenkamp in the hip and caused her Pistorius says he shot Steenkamp by mis- to collapse, but didn’t immediately kill her. take believing she was an intruder in his The second shot missed. From the police- home and has maintained throughout that man’s testimony, Steenkamp likely had time he was the only person to scream, partly after to yell out before she was hit by two more realizing his tragic error. shots as she covered her head with her arms In a court case being broadcast live on tel- in a desperate attempt to protect herself. evision to millions and followed by over 100 “Suddenly what we have is Oscar Pistorius reporters at the Pretoria courthouse, Pistorius’ firing at Reeva Steenkamp while her hands chief defense lawyer, Barry Roux, has attract- are covering her head while she’s screaming ed attention for his cross-examination of in the toilet, and that’s murder,” said Marius prosecution witnesses, and his consistent crit- du Toit, a defense lawyer and former state icism of an apparently flawed police investi- prosecutor who says he has worked on at gation into the shooting in the pre-dawn least 100 murder cases. hours of Feb. 14, 2013. A competitor performs at the Langlands Yard Sessions in Cambridge, New Zealand. —www.redbull.com Du Toit, who is following the trial but not Du Toit identified two areas he believes involved, said the prosecution has “definitely” will be crucial to Pistorius’ defense: The world- made a case for murder against the Olympic famous runner’s own testimony and evidence runner for the fatal shooting of Steenkamp, given by the defense’s forensic and ballistics and Pistorius’ defense must now respond. experts. Nadal shows Hewitt Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel has so far pre- Defense lawyer Roux has made it clear sented a specific line of evidence compelling- that Pistorius’ experts will offer another ver- ly, du Toit said. Using the accounts of neigh- sion regarding the shots that killed bors and backing them up with the expert Steenkamp, arguing that Pistorius fired with respect but no mercy opinion of pathologist Gert Saayman and “double-tap” bursts that gave Steenkamp no police ballistics investigator Capt. Christiaan time to scream, and so Pistorius did not real- Mangena, Nel may have shown to the court ize he was shooting at Steenkamp. MIAMI: World number one Rafa Nadal launched that it was “reasonable” that Steenkamp Du Toit also noted that police experts did his bid for one of the few titles to elude him by screamed during the four shots fired at her, not test if parts of Pistorius’ story were plausi- crushing Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-1 6-3 on du Toit said. ble. “So all they (the defense) have to do is Saturday to reach the third round of the Sony “There’s definitely a golden thread here,” say, ‘well you never bothered so we tested it Open. The Spaniard has won 62 titles, including du Toit told The Associated Press in a tele- and this is what we found,” du Toit said. But, 13 grand slams and 25 Masters series events, but phone interview, using a courtroom term that ultimately, Pistorius has admitted killing a victory on the Miami hardcourts is not among refers to the prosecution’s duty to prove guilt Steenkamp and he is expected to explain his them. beyond a reasonable doubt. “A golden thread decision to fire four times into a small cubicle Three times Nadal has made it to the Miami of someone who was screaming and who was from close range. That will open him up to final and the Spaniard served noticed that he shot. The objective facts, which are the cross-examination by the prosecution. plans to be back there again after disposing of injuries she sustained, coupled with the “The only question is whether there was Hewitt in just over an hour. expert opinion, tied with your circumstantial intent and intent is subjective,” du Toit said. World number two Novak Djokovic, a three- evidence presented by witnesses. And if that “That means the accused must come and dis- time winner in Miami, did not play on Saturday ties up with one another then Oscar has got a pel that. Oscar (testifying) is definitely going but became the first player through to the major problem.” to be the key, but I wonder if it’s going to be fourth round when his scheduled opponent Prosecutors say they will wrap up their good for him.” —AP Florian Mayer pulled out with a groin injury. Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka survived a rollercoaster start to his Sony Open campaign, advancing with a bumpy 6-0 3-6 6-3 win over Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Nadal was happy with his performance against Hewitt. “I think I played a solid match without many mistakes,” he told reporters. “I tried all the time to play the logical shot. “In general I have to be very happy. I think I did what I had to do today.” KEY BISCAYNE: Rafael Nadal of Spain stretches to play a forehand against Lleyton Hewitt of With his victory in the opening round on Australia during their second round match during day 6 at the Sony Open. —AFP Thursday, Hewitt joined Nadal and Roger Federer as the only active players with 600 or hour and a half to finally tame Spaniard Gimeno- be a favorite of the tournament,” summed up more career wins. Traver. Wawrinka. “I know how well I can play.” But while Nadal is a champion at the peak of “I started well first set,” said Wawrinka, now Seventh seeded Czech Tomas Berdych joined his powers, Hewitt’s glory days are behind him, the number one Swiss player ahead of Roger Wawrinka in the third round by dispatching and so it proved in a one-sided contest on Federer. “It wasn’t going that well but I was posi- Frenchman Stephane Robert 7-6(5) 6-1 while PRETORIA: A file photo taken on March 13, 2014 shows South African Paralympic Saturday. “It was tough, I was sort of caught tive, ready. big-hitting Croatian Marin Cilic, the 25th seed, athlete Oscar Pistorius (center) arriving for a hearing of his trial for the murder of his between trying to be too aggressive and too “Problem is I still have some up and down was shown the exit by Frenchman Edouard girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court. —AFP passive,” explained Hewitt. “Even when I felt like I mentally. “I was negative in the second set, a lit- Roger-Vasselin 6-2 7-6(5). was able to push him around he found a way to tle bit stupid, but then I’m really happy the way I John Isner continued to carry the American get back into the point. “He hit the ball really started the third set.” flag, battling back for a 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 win over clean right from the start. I hung in there did After Wawrinka stormed through the first set compatriot Donald Young. Larson grabs everything I could but he was too good.” and held serve to open the second, the momen- Isner was left the last American man standing tum suddenly swung Gimeno-Traver’s way and after Canada’s big-hitting Milos Raonic, seeded ‘LITTLE BIT STUPID’ he claimed the early break to go up 3-2 and then 12th, dispatched Jack Sock 6-4 7-6(1) and Sam Nationwide win Third seed Wawrinka, playing just his second broke the Swiss again to level the match. Querry was dismissed 6-4 6-4 by Spaniard event since his milestone win in Melbourne, Wawrinka, however, steadied himself with a Nicolas Almagro. FONTANA: Kyle Larson won his first Nationwide Nationwide races, but never won. Busch held came out all guns blazing, blasting through the break to open third and again to close out the German 13th seed Tommy Haas was a late Series race Saturday, holding off Kevin Harvick him off at Bristol last week, and Larson was opening set in just 18 minutes. contest. With the victory Wawrinka pushed his withdrawal with a sore shoulder, handing and Kyle Busch in a thrilling finish at Fontana. beginning to wonder when he would get his However, things got much tougher on centre season record to 14-1, a run that includes a pair Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun a walkover into the third The 21-year-old Larson became the first breakthrough win. court for the Swiss and he needed nearly an of titles. “I know that if I play my best tennis I can round. —Reuters California native to win a Nationwide race at the Busch, the defending champion at Fontana 2-mile oval, surviving a three-man derby in the after last year’s weekend sweep, started 39th final laps that had the fans on their feet. after missing qualifying with car problems. He After Harvick’s final attempt to pass him roared through the field to take the lead before Serena battles on in failed, Larson celebrated with a burnout in coming up just short in the big finish. Victory Lane, but only after detaching his steer- “He deserved it,” Busch said after congratu- ing wheel and holding it out the window. lating Larson in Victory Lane. “He’s worked hard, “Those last 11, 12 laps were the longest laps of and that’s why he’s in Cup.” Joey Logano was my life,” Larson said. “I’ve been so close to win- fourth after leading 96 laps early on, and Elliott front of empty seats ning so many times, but the fashion we did it in Sadler finished fifth. was extra special.” After a caution for fuel on the track, a green double-faults, Sharapova was able to take a One of NASCAR’s most promising young flag with 16 laps to go kicked off a wild scram- MIAMI: World number one Serena Williams Of greater concern to Williams is her serve drivers, Larson is from Elk Grove, Calif., near ble for the lead. Larson got out front, while battled her way into the fourth round of the which seems to have deserted her, the mus- few more positives out of her match than the Sacramento. After being named Nationwide’s Busch swerved in front of Harvick for second. Sony Open with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over cular American unable to find her mark ultra-critical Williams. top rookie last season, he’s driving the No. 42 Larson and Busch dueled for the next few Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia on Saturday against Garcia while firing seven double “I’m happy to be sitting here winning the car for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Sprint Cup laps, trading the lead. Harvick soon joined the but the six-time champion hardly looked at faults. match,” said Sharapova. “Obviously it was series. Harvick finished just 0.342 seconds hunt, and Busch stayed in the group despite home on the Miami hardcourts calling her A minority owner in the National Football tough to lose that second set after having a behind after barely missing on repeated scraping the wall with seven laps to go. effort unprofessional. League Miami Dolphins, a smiling Williams couple of match points but I was really hap- attempts to slip underneath Larson’s Chevy for Busch nudged back in front by a bumper Fourth seed Maria Sharapova, a five-time stepped out onto centre court dressed in the py with the way I came out. the lead. “We had a lot of fun there at the end, with five laps to go, but Larson cut in front runner-up in Miami including last year to orange and turquoise colours of her team “I didn’t let that affect me...it’s never easy obviously,” Harvick said. “You’d rather win the moments later to push Busch back. Harvick Williams, was more upbeat about her per- earning the approval of the half empty stadi- to be in that position when you fight back in race, but any time you can put on a show like repeatedly drove down hard into the turns in an formance coming out on top in a tough um. the second set and you’re in a winning posi- that for the fans, you’re excited about that.” effort to get in front, but Larson barely held him three-hour, three set battle with 26th seeded But the smiles did not last long, a misfir- tion. “But I was happy with the way I finished Larson had finished second in five previous off. —AP Czech Lucie Safarova 6-4 6-7 (7) 6-2. ing Williams spending most of the match off the match.” The game’s dominant player, Williams, gesturing, scowling and shouting at herself In other action, fifth seeded German who lives a short drive away from the for a string of miscues. Angelique Kerber raced into the fourth Crandon Park complex, has yet to put her “It’s important to stay positive,” said round with a 6-0 6-2 demolition of Bulgarian stamp on her home tournament, advancing Williams. “Obviously I wasn’t at my best. I had Tsvetana Pironkova while ninth seed Sara with a pair of laboured wins over Yaroslava 40 something errors. It’s not the way to play Errani of Italy was stopped 6-3 2-6 6-4 by Shvedova and Garcia. professional tennis. Maybe amateur. 23rd seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova. The hard-hitting Frenchwoman showed “On the professional tour you have to do a The morning session featured an intrigu- no fear, slugging it out with the 17-time little better than that, so hopefully I can, in ing clash between 12th seeded Serb Ana grand slam winner for more than two and a the next few matches, to do better.” Ivanovic and Italian Flavia Pennetta, who half hours before Williams ended the fight arrived in Miami riding the momentum from with a blistering forehand winner. WINNING POSITION a victory at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian “I really gave myself a tremendous The contest got off to an uneven start, Wells. amount of trouble out there,” Williams told Williams breaking Garcia three times with Ivanovic, a former French Open champion, reporters. “Granted she played great but I the Frenchwoman countering with two ended Pennetta’s run with 6-4 6-3 victory made so many errors. I hit so short. “I just breaks of her own. setting up a fourth round meeting with 2011 have to do better.” In contrast the rest of the match would Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, the eighth A more unsettling sight for tournament produce just two breaks, Garcia breaking seed advancing with a no-nonsense 6-3 6-4 officials has been the large swaths of empty Williams to take the second set and the win over Croatian Donna Vekic. green seats, with the hometown girl and the defending champion breaking the Belgian Kirsten Flipkens moved onto to FONTANA: Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Cartwheel Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, biggest draw in women’s tennis unable to Frenchwoman to open the third. the fourth round in a walkover when 14th driver of the No. 5 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during the attract a full house to either of her centre Despite squandering eight match points, seed Sabine Lisicki withdrew due to the NASCAR Nationwide Series.—AFP court matches. committing 51 unforced errors and eight flu.—Reuters MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SPORTS

Interior Minister and Information and Youth Minister arriving at the conference. A memento presented to the Interior Minister by USIP Lt General Ahmad Al-Nawaf. Conference opens on sports security

By Abdellatif Sharaa society. Sheikh Mohammad said the conference sports fans, and causes huge concerns for security will discuss the role of sports media in addition to systems. Sheikh Ahmad said Kuwait’s organization KUWAIT: The First World Police Sport and Security social media in educating all sports elements of this conference aims at confronting all forms of Conference (WPSSC) was opened yesterday under which will serve sports security, and their relation violence in sports areas, and achieve the biggest the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- with physical sports. He said the conference will possible amount of security and safety for sports Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was represented by Deputy give participants experiences and skills through fans. He said international police sports activities Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad discussions of successful experiences of local and are considered a common global language among Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, who pointed to the impor- international police systems, and the way they people of all races and ethnicities. tance of the conference towards strengthening react with sports events to strengthen sports Meanwhile, Information Minister and State sports security as one of the important pillars of security. Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al- the comprehensive security package of all types, President of the Kuwait Police Union and USIP Hmoud Al-Sabah said this conference is unique besides its role in securing and protecting sports Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf welcomed delega- around the world by dealing with sports security, competitions. Sheikh Mohammad said sports tions and hoped the conference reaches impor- and the importance of security organization, as security has a major role in securing events, main- tant recommendations that benefit sports and well as spreading the culture of anti-extremism in taining order and confronting violence and hooli- athletes in general and police sports in particular. the presence of an elite group of specialists ganism in sports arenas, which allows athletes and He welcomed the delegations in Kuwait to con- around the world. He said the conference sup- the crowd to enjoy sports in a comfortable atmos- Lt. General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf delivering a tribute to spreading the culture of police sports ports Kuwait’s status in all fields, specially sports phere. speech. which agree with the interests of the USIP in the and international police sports. President of the He said the importance of the conference is islative and legal frameworks of sports security, as sports security issue and its behavioral and securi- Arab and Qatar police unions lauded the confer- reflected in the topics of its sessions which allows well as challenges, obstacles, crimes, crises, vio- ty dimensions as violence in arenas is on the ence’s adoption of violence issues, adding that those present to know the recent administrative lence and fighting doping with all it causes in the increase during international and Olympic tourna- there should be recommendations to fight this directions in running sports facilities and the leg- form of destructive psychological effects on the ments, which negatively affects athletes and phenomenon which poses a great threat to sports. India whip West Indies

DHAKA: India’s spinners wreaked havoc on the West Indies batting to rout the defending champions by seven wickets in the World Twenty20 Super-10 group two match in Dhaka yesterday. The West Indies, sent in to bat, managed only 129-7 as leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed two for 18 in four overs, Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up one. India strolled past the modest target with two deliv- eries to spare as Virat Kohli made 54 off 41 balls and Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on a fluent 62. The pair put on 106 for the second wicket after left- hander Shikhar Dhawan was trapped leg-before by spinner Samuel Badree off the fifth ball of the innings. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men, who beat arch-rivals Pakistan on Friday, now need one more win from their DHAKA: Pakistan cricketers celebrate after winning the match against Australia dur- remaining two matches against Australia and hosts ing the ICC World Twenty20 tournament at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Bangladesh to advance to the semi-finals. Stadium. —AFP Dhoni said his team was not looking at the semi- finals yet and still needed to work on some weak areas. Fired-up Pakistan beat “Let’s take it one game at a time,” he said. “There is no SCOREBOARD point thinking too far ahead. We could have finished it an over earlier but that was up to the batsmen in the DHAKA: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 Super-10 Group Two match between India and the West Australia in World T20 middle. Indies in Dhaka yesterday: “We are playing well, but we still don’t have a bowler DHAKA: Umar Akmal smashed 94 off 54 balls the top two will advance to the semi-finals. who can bowl the 18th and the 20th overs. We are try- West Indies: (w5), Ashwin 4-0-24-1 (w1), Mishra 4-0-18-2 (w1), as Pakistan bounced back after a morale-sap- Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said the D. Smith c and b Ashwin 11 Raina 2-0-8-0 (w2), Jadeja 4-0-48-3 (w2, nb1) ing out various combinations to see who is better suit- C. Gayle run out 34 India: ping loss against India to defeat Australia by 16 plan to attack from the start paid off. ed to the job.” runs in the World Twenty20 in Dhaka yesterday. “I think were were a bit defensive against M. Samuels st Dhoni b Mishra 18 R. Sharma not out 62 Dhoni said he was happy to see Sharma get runs L. Simmons c Dhawan b Jadeja 27 S. Dhawan lbw b Badree 0 Elder brother Kamran Akmal contributed a India, but today the boys went out and under his belt. “It was important for Rohit to bat D. Bravo lbw b Mishra 0 V. Kohli b Russell 54 run-a-ball 31 and Shahid Afridi returned expressed themselves,” said Hafeez. “Umar D. Sammy c Sharma b Jadeja 11 Y. Singh c Gayle b Samuels 10 unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls to lift Pakistan to Akmal showed his real talent today. through the innings. He will take plenty of confidence from this game.” A. Russell c Kohli b Jadeja 7 S. Raina not out 1 191-5 after they were sent in to bat. “We wanted him to attack and that’s what S. Narine not out 7 Extras: (w2, nb1) 3 Australia were bowled out for 175 in reply he did. It is really nice to have a win under our West Indies captain Darren Sammy said India D. Ramdin not out 0 Total (for three wickets, 19.4 overs) 130 off the final ball of the match despite a spectac- belts. It will give us the confidence for the deserved to win, but remained confident his defending Extras: (lb1, w12, nb1) 14 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Dhawan), 2-107 (Kohli), 3-129 ular third-wicket partnership of 118 from 64 matches to come.” champions would make the knock-out rounds. Total (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 129 (Yuvraj). balls between Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch. Australian skipper George Bailey said poor “We just did not respond well enough to their spin- Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Smith), 2-62 (Gayle), 3-74 Bowling: Badree 4-0-28-1, Santokie 4-0-27-0, Maxwell hit 74 off 33 balls with six sixes and catching let his team down. “Batting and bowl- ners, it took us a long time to settle down,” he said. “But (Samuels), 4-74 (Bravo), 5-97 (Sammy), 6-108 Narine 4-0-20-0 (nb1, w1), Bravo 1-0-12-0, credit to India, they executed their plans well. (Russell), 7-121 (Simmons). Sammy 1-0-9-0, Samuels 3.4-0-22-1, Russell 2-0- seven boundaries, while Finch chipped in with ing can go either way, but fielding was in our Bowling: Kumar 3-0-3-0 (w1), Shami 3-0-27-0 12-1 India won by seven wickets 65 that included two sixes and seven fours. hands,” he said. “We’ve set high standards and “It was good to see our bowlers take the game to the The pair came together after 35-year-old we didn’t do well today. last over, because run-rate could come into play later. left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who opened “Pakistan bowled really well and did not We did not have enough runs on the board but was the bowling, dismissed David Warner and allow us to build the momentum that Maxwell happy with the way the bowlers came back. Shane Watson in the first over to make it 8-2. and Finch created.” The Akmal brothers put on “We know what our top order can do. It’s just one Maxwell and Finch launched a brilliant 96 for the third wicket after Pakistan were game down, we have three more to go. We are not counter-attack to raise Australia’s 100 by the reduced to 25-2 by the fifth over, losing the key pressing panic buttons, we will regroup and come back eighth over, with Maxwell contributing 58 off 20 wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez. strongly.” balls. Seamer Bilawal Bhatti conceded 30 runs in Umar Akmal hit four sixes and nine bound- The Indian bowlers kept the normally free-stroking the eighth over, giving away two sixes and three aries before he fell in the final over, caught on West Indies batsmen in check, allowing them just 74 fours, besides bowling a waist-high full toss that the fence attempting another big hit off runs by the 15th over for the loss of four wickets. fetched five extra runs. Mitchell Starc. Australia’s 43-year-old spinner The hard-hitting Chris Gayle, dropped before he had A relieved Pakistan finally saw Maxwell off in Brad Hogg, the oldest player ever in the World scored and then again on 19, made a 33-ball 34 with the 12th over when he attempted to sweep Twenty20 competitions, had a forgettable out- two sixes and a four before he was run out in the 13th Shahid Afridi and holed out to Ahmed Shehzad ing. Hogg dropped Umar Akmal on the mid- over. on the square-leg fence. wicket fence when the batsman was on 22 and Mishra had Marlon Samuels stumped by Dhoni and Afridi also bowled skipper George Bailey for then conceded 29 runs in three wicketless overs claimed Dwayne Bravo leg-before off successive balls in four as Australia lost their last seven wickets for after being called on to bowl in the ninth over. 29 runs. It was Australia’s first group two match Kamran Akmal, who was also dropped early in the 15th over to open up the lower order. in the Super-10 stage, while Pakistan had lost to the innings, was finally dismissed in the 13th Lendl Simmons, who was caught off a Jadeja no-ball India by seven wickets on Friday. over when Warner held a running catch on the in the 18th over, celebrated the let-off by smashing the India, the West Indies and hosts Bangladesh point fence off the bowling of Nathan Coulter- next ball for a six. Simmons made 27 off 22 balls as are the other teams in the group, from which Nile.—AFP Jadeja conceded three sixes in the final over. Earlier yesterday, Pakistan bounced back from their loss to India to defeat Australia by 16 runs. Two teams SCOREBOARD from the group will advance to the semi-finals. The oth- DHAKA: Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma (left) plays a shot as the West Indies wicket- er group comprises Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, keeper Denesh Ramdin (left) looks on during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament DHAKA: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 Super-10 Group Two match between Australia and Pakistan New Zealand and the Netherlands. —AFP Group 2 cricket match. —AFP in Dhaka yesterday: Pakistan: S. Watson c Kamran Akmal b Babar 4 Ahmed Shehzad c and b Bollinger 5 G. Maxwell c Shehzad b Afridi 74 Australia claim eighth Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Kamran Akmal c Warner b Coulter-Nile 31 G. Bailey b Afridi 4 Mohammad Hafeez b Watson 13 B. Hodge c Ajmal b Gul 2 IPOH: Australia triumphed in the Sultan Azlan the match, which often had the Malaysians enth goal, while Fitri Saari reduced the deficit with Umar Akmal c Maxwell b Starc 94 B. Haddin c Malik b Bhatti 8 Shah Cup yesterday, claiming their eighth title by backpedalling in defence. a field goal two minutes later. Tristan White earned Sohaib Maqsood b Coulter-Nile 5 N. Coulter-Nile b Gul 0 smashing home team Malaysia 8-3. Both teams are Late in the first-half the Malaysians hit a purple the final goal for the Australians in the 68th minute Shahid Afridi not out 20 M. Starc run out 3 World Cup-bound, and this tournament signals patch, which saw them earn three penalty corners. to cap their triumph. Shoaib Malik not out 6 B. Hogg b Bhatti 3 their preparations for the event to be held from The effort in the 24th minute bore fruit with Shahril Besides Australia and Malaysia, among this cup’s Extras: (b4, lb3, w9, nb1) 17 D. Bollinger not out 0 Total (for five wickets, 20 overs) 191 Extras: (lb3, nb5) 8 late May. But there was no question that the Saabah scoring from close range. teams, South Korea and South Africa have also Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Shehzad), 2-25 (Hafeez), 3-121 Total (all out, 20 overs) 175 Australians-defending champions and two-time Malaysia, who have made it to four cup finals qualified for the World Cup in The Hague, (Kamran Akmal), 4-147 (Maqsood), 5-180 (Umar Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Warner), 2-8 (Watson), 3-126 World Cup winners-were far superior to all the oth- but never won, then started off the second-half Netherlands. Akmal). (Maxwell), 4-146 (Bailey), 5-155 (Hodge), 6-162 er teams in this year’s meet. strongly with a goal in the 40th minute through South Korea grabbed the tournament’s third Bowling: Starc 4-0-35-1 (w3), Bollinger 4-0-28-1, (Finch), 7-163 (Coulter-Nile), 8-172 (Starc), 9-173 The world number one was in fiery form from Rashid Baharom. spot Sunday with Jang Jong-Hyun’s last gasp Watson 4-0-38-1 (nb1), Coulter-Nile 4-0-36-2 (w5), (Haddin), 10-175 (Hogg). the start in the final as they took a 3-1 first-half lead But Ciriello was on target for his hat-trick in the penalty corner conversion, which allowed them to Hogg 3-0-29-0 (w1), Finch 1-0-18-0. Bowling: Babar 4-0-26-2, Hafeez 2-0-18-0, Gul 4-0- against the world number 13. 42nd minute to keep his team in control. Nick edge out China 3-2. Australia: 29-2, Ajmal 4-0-33-1, Afridi 4-0-30-2, Bhatti 2-0- Chris Ciriello slammed in two penalty corners in Budgeon scored in the 46th minute before Ciriello Jang scored a brace in the match, and it was his D. Warner b Babar 4 36-2 (nb5) the fifth and 17th minutes to set the pace. Eddie hit home his fourth goal in the 53rd minute. second with just three seconds on the clock that A. Finch b Ajmal 65 Pakistan won by 16 runs. Ockenden was also on target in the 11th minute of In the 65th minute Matt Gohdes scored the sev- allowed South Korea to take the match.—AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SPORTS Goals fly in, records tumble as EPL delivers feast

LONDON: The Premier League lived up getting to and from a match. biggest league win under manager Jose tainty. So while millions around the seven points, although they do have a to its reputation as the most entertain- And those who were at Stamford Mourinho whose unbeaten home world knew exactly what had happened, match in hand. Manchester United’s ing and exciting league in the world on Bridge, Upton Park, Cardiff City Stadium league record in his two spells as the referee had to live with his mistake. hopes of retaining their title have ended Saturday as the goals flowed, records or the Etihad in Manchester on Saturday Chelsea manager now stretches to 76 While not exactly apologising, he but although they are in seventh place, were broken and a major controversy would not have been disappointed. games. It was the first time Arsenal had “expressed his disappointment” to 18 points behind the leaders, David added extra spice to the heady mix. The 32 goals scored on the day was conceded six goals in a top flight match Arsenal later, but even if he had sent off Moyes’ men are showing definite signs From the early afternoon kick-off at the highest total on one day since 35 in London since they lost 6-0 to West the right man, on Saturday’s evidence of improvement and made their mark on Stamford Bridge where Chelsea crushed were scored on Dec. 29 2012 and with Ham in 1960, and the first time in the Chelsea still would have crushed Arsenal Saturday’s action in a very special way. Arsenal by a record 6-0 to the evening Chelsea and Liverpool hitting six and Premier League era they have had a whose title challenge now looks over. Wayne Rooney scored both of their game across London at Upton Park Manchester City scoring five, it was the player sent off for mistaken identity. Manchester City’s and Liverpool’s goals in their 2-0 win at West Ham, and where champions Manchester United first time since May 1998 that three The day’s major controversy began though are both alive after City beat the first, a contender for Goal of the beat West Ham 2-0, millions of viewers in teams had scored five or more goals on when Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade- bottom-club Fulham 5-0 with a Yaya Season, evoked memories of David over 200 territories around the world the same afternoon. Chamberlain dived to punch a shot from Toure hat-trick, which included two Beckham’s famous strike from the certainly got their money’s worth. Edin Hazard clear and conceded a penal- penalties, and Liverpool won 6-3 at halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996. The Premier League’s latest TV broad- EARLY START ty but referee Andre Marriner sent off his Cardiff. The league’s top scorer Luis Rooney was just inside the West Ham casting rights deal for 2013-16 is worth The drama started early at Stamford team-mate Kieran Gibbs for the offence Suarez took his tally for the season to 28 half, more than 50 metres from the West in excess of 5.0 billion pounds ($8.25 bil- Bridge where Arsene Wenger began the instead. goals by scoring his third hat-trick of the Ham goal, when he smashed an auda- lion) with a global TV reach unparalleled day by celebrating his 1,000th match in Fans around the world saw a TV cam- campaign in a pulsating match which cious shot high into the air which flew by any other league. charge of Arsenal but ended it admitting era close-up of Oxlade-Chamberlain Cardiff led twice. over marooned goalkeeper Adrian, Recent British government figures he took full responsibility for “the night- telling Marriner that he was the player bounced once and ended in the back of show that tourists coming to England mare” of the defeat that followed. who committed the offence. ROONEY STRIKES the net. In another perfect TV moment, who watch Premier League games While Wenger entered the record The incident highlighted one of the Those results left Chelsea four points the camera closed in on his old team spend in excess of 800 million pounds a books for his longevity, Chelsea rewrote great ironies of the global game as refer- ahead of Liverpool at the top and six mate Beckham watching in the director’s year on tickets, merchandising, trans- their own by scoring their biggest ever ees and their assistants are not allowed clear of City, though City have three box with a smile beamed all over his portation and all the other sundries in win over their London rivals and their to consult TV replays in cases of uncer- matches in hand. Arsenal trail Chelsea by face.—Reuters Stoke leapfrog Villa

Aston Villa 1

Stoke 4

BIRMINGHAM: Stoke City came from a goal behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 yesterday and leapfrog their opponents into 10th place in the Premier League table. Christian Benteke’s early goal put the hosts 1- 0 up early on at Villa Park but Stoke were 3-1 ahead at half-time after Peter Odemwingie, Peter Crouch and Steven Nzonzi all scored for the visitors. After the break, Geoff Cameron set the seal on a comprehensive win for Mark Hughes’ men by adding a fourth goal in the final minute of normal time. Victory put Stoke on 37 points, just three short of the 40-point mark that usually assures a team of Premier League survival. “We have been waiting some time for an away win,” Stoke manager Mark Hughes told Sky Sports. “We had a poor start but after that I BIRMINGHAM: (From left) Aston Villa’s English striker Grant Holt, Stoke City’s English defender thought we were excellent and showed real per- Ryan Shawcross and Aston Villa’s English defender Nathan Baker contest a high ball during the sonality and desire on the ball,” the former English Premier League football match. —AFP Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea striker added. of them than we realised.” However, the Scot had held off Andreas Weimann down the left and GERMANY: Leverkusen’s Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok (top) and Hoffenheim’s striker “Today we had a cutting edge. Everyone is no complaints about Sunday’s result, saying: “We sprinted clear before crossing to the waiting Kevin Volland vie for the ball during the German First Division Bundesliga football pulling in the same direction. “We’re on a good were second best if truth be known. We started Crouch and the former Villa forward side-footed match. —AFP run, in a good position and can look upwards well but it wasn’t good enough. We didn’t the ball into the corner. and achieve targets this season. We want to look deserve to get anything from the game.” Stoke then kept possession for an extended back on this season with pride,” added Hughes, It took Villa just five minutes to open the scor- spell but, significantly, there was a tangible Leverkusen slump to defeat looking to restore his managerial reputation ing in front of the Birmingham club’s own fans. result to their neat play when Nzonzi scored after a brief and unsuccessful spell in charge of Fabian Delph broke free on the left before cut- their third goal three minutes before half-time. ting the ball back to Benteke on the penalty Marko Arnautovic’s through ball from the left BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen’s horror run of results Second-placed Dortmund, who made the Queens Park Rangers. spot. The Belgium forward, given time and did not look that dangerous but Villa’s Nathan continued yesterday as they suffered their Champions League quarter-finals in midweek “Since I came through the door been the space, powered the ball into the roof of the net Baker failed to make proper contact and eighth defeat in nine games after losing 3-2 at despite a last-16 second leg home defeat to players have been open to changing the way with his left foot. N’Zonzi’s powerful shot from the edge of the home to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. Zenit Saint Petersburg, enjoyed a 3-0 win at they play,” explained Hughes, who has tried to But two goals in five minutes saw Stoke turn box gave Guzan little chance. The second half Sami Hyypia-coached Leverkusen last won Hanover 96. rid Stoke of their reputation as a ‘long-ball’ team. the match on its head. Towering England for- was a quieter affair but, in the 64th minute, at the start of February and have since dropped Dortmund took control when centre-back “They had to engage and commit to it and they ward Crouch headed the ball perfectly into the Stoke almost scored again when Odemwingie from second to fourth in the Bundesliga, crash- Mats Hummels fired home just before the break have done. We’re enjoying it at the moment.” path of strike partner Odemwingie and the for- unleashed a powerful, swerving, shot from 20 ing out of both the Champions League and then Poland striker Robert Lewandowski netted Defeat was a huge let-down for a Villa side mer West Bromwich Albion forward burst yards which Guzan, changing direction, did well German Cup in the process. Hyypia’s side have a spectacular second-half goal. There was noth- who just over a week earlier had beaten Premier between two defenders before stabbing the ball to parry. But the fourth goal Stoke had been failed to recover since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris ing on when the 26-year-old, who joins Bayern League leaders Chelsea 1-0. under advancing Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan in threatening arrived in the 90th minute when St German routed them 4-0 at home in mid- next season, took the ball on the left wing, “The Chelsea game was totally different, the the 22nd minute. more impressive wing play from Arnautovic saw February and are in danger of slipping out of raced down the flank, cut inside and drilled his atmosphere and everything, and you come back Barely had Villa absorbed the impact of the the Austrian cut the ball back to Cameron, who the German league’s Champions League places. shot home despite the attention of five defend- down to earth again,” said Villa manager Paul equaliser then Stoke were ahead. Erik Pieters scored from 10 yards out.—AFP Mid-table Hoffenheim claimed a historic first ers. There was more good news for Klopp late Lambert. “Maybe that game took a bit more out win at Leverkusen when striker Anthony on as Marco Reus celebrated his comeback Modeste netted the 89th-minute winner. from injury by scoring their third in added time The guests took the lead at Leverkusen’s having come off the bench. Eriksen sparks Spurs revival against Saints BayArena when Bosnia striker Sejad Salihovic Schalke 04 bounced back from Tuesday’s netted an early penalty, then Kevin Volland put Champions League exit at Real Madrid with a 3- them 2-1 up just 87 seconds after Stefan 1 win at home to bottom side Eintracht Kiessling had levelled for Bayer. Leverkusen cap- Braunschweig. EPL results/standings Tottenham 3 tain Simon Rolfes equalised again for Teenage midfielder Leon Goretzka gave Leverkusen just after the break until Modeste Schalke the lead when he fired home a long- Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 5) Stoke 4 (Odemwingie 22, Crouch 26, Nzonzi 42, Cameron 90); converted a cross just before the final whistle. range shot on 17 minutes. Dutch striker Klaas- Tottenham 3 (Eriksen 31, 46, Sigurdsson 90+2) Southampton 2 (Rodriguez 19, Lallana 28). Earlier Eintracht Frankfurt pulled clear of the Jan Huntelaar claimed his 10th goal of the sea- Southampton 2 relegation battle with a 5-2 romp at ten-man son when he fired home a direct free-kick 20 English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, Nuremberg, who remain deep in the minutes from time to claim his sixth goal in his goals against, points): Bundesliga’s bottom three and had Argentina’s last three league games. Chelsea 31 21 6 4 62 23 69 Aston Villa 30 9 7 14 33 42 34 Javier Pinola sent off. Huntelaar’s replacement Adam Szalai netted LONDON: Christian Eriksen scored twice Liverpool 30 20 5 5 82 38 65 Hull 30 9 6 15 32 37 33 Frankfurt moved up to 12th and are six the Royal Blues third just before the final whistle before substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stop- Man City 28 20 3 5 76 27 63 Norwich 31 8 8 15 26 48 32 points from the bottom three after claiming after Benjamin Kessel scored Eintracht’s conso- page-time goal saw Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal 30 19 5 6 53 34 62 West Ham 30 8 7 15 32 40 31 Tottenham 31 17 5 9 40 40 56 Swansea 30 7 8 15 40 46 29 only their third win in their last ten games. lation. Augsburg were held to a 1-1 draw at come from 2-0 down to beat Southampton 3- As 17 of the league’s 18 teams, this was fifth-placed VfL Wolfsburg, who had ex-Chelsea Everton 29 15 9 5 43 30 54 West Brom 30 5 13 12 33 45 28 2 in the Premier League at White Hart Lane Man Utd 30 15 6 9 48 34 51 Crystal Palace 30 8 4 18 19 39 28 Nuremberg’s fourth straight defeat. On midfielder Kevin de Bruyne sent off for a second Newcastle 30 14 4 12 38 40 46 Sunderland 28 6 7 15 26 44 25 Wednesday they face host fellow relegation- yellow card. yesterday. This dramatic victory saw Tim Sherwood’s Southampton 31 12 9 10 45 40 45 Cardiff 31 6 7 18 26 5825 candidates VfB Stuttgart, who are just a point At the other end of the table, Stuttgart Stoke 31 9 10 12 36 45 37 Fulham 31 7 3 21 30 70 24 above them. climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win side keep their hopes of Champions League On Saturday, Bayern’s 2-0 win at Mainz 05 at home to 10-man Hamburg. football alive as they moved up into fifth south coast club. mistake. left them 23-points clear at the top with mid- Hamburg took Stuttgart’s place in the bot- place, albeit still six points behind fourth- “The first half we were dominating, 2-0 up, Southampton were now 2-0 up in the 28th fielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Germany tom three, while new coach Huub Stevens placed Arsenal and having played a game and the referee decisions that did not go our minute, with Tottenham looking anything but team-mate Mario Goetze scoring late goals. enjoyed his first win in only his second game in more than their north London rivals. way and the decision before the second goal the side that had given Benfica a scare in charge as Stuttgart picked up their first win in It looked as if it would be ninth-placed changed the dynamic of the game,” he said. midweek during a 2-2 draw in Lisbon that HISTORIC TITLE ten games. Hamburg were reduced to ten men Southampton who would be climbing up the “Tottenham are a team that are equipped nevertheless saw them eliminated on aggre- European champions Bayern are poised to when Turkey midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was table when the visitors went 2-0 up through to win the Premier League, we are a young gate from the Europa Cup. have their Bundesliga title confirmed on shown a second yellow card, and the subse- goals from England duo Jay Rodriguez and team, there is a long-term project for us but But three minutes later, Tottenham pulled Tuesday with a record seven games left if they quent, red on 53 minutes. Adam Lallana. despite that it was an even-sided game and a goal back. And this time it was win at Hertha Berlin. Stuttgart scored the winner when But before half-time Spurs pulled one back we were disappointed with today’s result.” Southampton’s right-back Nathaniel Clyne, Bayern fired in 23 shots on goal to Mainz’s Romania midfielder Alexandru Maxim netted through Eriksen and just 44 seconds into the four as they extended their record unbeaten just six minutes after Guinea winger Ibrahima In front of the watching Roy Hodgson, who played a key role by letting a seemingly second half the Dane brought the teams level run to 51 Bundesliga matches to earn their 18th Traore put in a superb cross with 69 minutes Rodriguez pressed his case for inclusion in harmless cross go under his feet and so leav- consecutive league win. gone. —AFP with his second goal. the England manager’s World Cup squad by ing Eriksen with a simple finish at the far post. It seemed the match was heading for a giving the Saints a 19th minute lead. No sooner had the second half kicked off draw when, deep into stoppage time, Spurs right-back Kyle Naughton mis- then Spurs were level. Spurs striker Roberto German League results/standings Sigurdsson struck to complete Spurs’ come- judged Artur Boruc’s long goal-kick down- Soldado shrugged off the challenge of Dejan back. field, ducking under the ball to allow Lovren and pulled back for Eriksen, who Nuremberg 2 (Drmic 64, Campana 72) Eintracht Frankfurt 5 (Barnetta 21, Joselu 49, 88, “After we started the game like we did, Rodriguez a clear run on goal. turned the ball in from close range. Eriksen Madlung 53, Kadlec 90+2); Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Kiessling 39, Rolfes 54) Hoffenheim 3 there is a lot of character in the team shown The Saints star still had work to do but then had a chance to complete a hat-trick (Salihovic 14-pen, Volland 40, Modeste 89). in the way we bounced back,” Sigurdsson told made no mistake with a precise finish into but, under pressure, blasted the ball high German League table after yesterday evening’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, Sky Sports. the far corner, beyond the reach of Spurs over the crossbar. goals against, points): “It’s better to be 1-0 or 2-0 down and come goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. And fewer than 10 But Tottenham got the third goal they’d back and win 3-2 at home.” Eriksen added: minutes later, Southampton were 2-0 up after been seeking when, two minutes into the Bayern Munich 26 24 2 0 76 12 74 Hoffenheim 26 8 8 10 57 5832 “We got a little speech at half-time and in the Dortmund 26 16 3 7 59 29 51 Hanover 26 8 5 13 34 46 29 another Naughton error. four added on at the end of normal time, Schalke 26 15 5 6 51 37 50 Frankfurt 26 7 8 11 33 46 29 second half we were new guys. We try to play Naughton failed to control the ball as Sigurdsson, on as a half-time substitute for Leverkusen 26 14 2 10 43 32 44 Bremen 26 7 8 11 30 50 29 like the manager (Sherwood) wanted, we Spurs looked to clear a corner and his mis- Mousa Dembele, struck. Jose Fonte headed M’gladbach 26 12 6 8 46 32 42 Freiburg 26 6 7 13 29 47 25 showed it way more in the second half than take allowed Saints striker Rickie Lambert to out a deep ball into the box and Erkiksen laid Wolfsburg 26 12 5 9 43 40 41 Stuttgart 26 6 6 14 40 52 24 the first half.” take possession on the edge of the box. it into the path of Sigurdsson, whose 20-yard Mainz 26 12 5 9 37 40 41 Hamburg 26 6 5 15 41 55 23 Disappointed Southampton manager Augsburg 26 11 6 9 39 37 39 Nuremberg 26 4 11 11 30 49 23 Lambert’s neat control and precise pass shot went low and fast past the right hand of Hertha Berlin 26 10 6 10 35 34 36 Braunschweig 26 4 6 16 21 48 18 Mauricio Pochettino lamented what he saw released fellow England international Lallana the diving Boruc and into the bottom cor- as decisions that didn’t go the way of the on the overlap and the midfielder made no ner.—AFP Massaro crowned India whip new world West Indies champion

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 16 18

Nadal shows Hewitt respect but no mercy Page 17

MADRID: Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves (left) vies with Real Madrid’s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria during the Spanish League ‘Clasico’ football match. — AFP Barca win clash of titans Messi hat-trick downs Real in seven-goal thriller

MADRID: Barcelona moved to within a point saved, Barca opened the scoring when Messi level when Messi controlled a loose ball inside of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as they played in Iniesta behind the Real defence and the area and slotted home at Diego Lopez’s Spanish League results/standings twice came from behind thanks to a Lionel the Spanish international smashed the ball in near post. Osasuna 1 (A cuna 90+4) Sevilla 2 (Ja“iro 27, Bacca 45-pen); Real Betis 0 Atletico Madrid 2 (Gabi 57, Diego Messi hat-trick to edge a thrilling El Clasico 4-3 off the underside of the bar. Benzema could still have put Madrid in Costa 63); Valencia 2 (Javi Fuego 35, 43) Villarreal 1 (Dos Santos 83); Real Madrid 3 (Benzema 20, 24, at the Santiago Bernabeu. The sides went in Benzema had a great chance to equalise front at the break as his looping header from Ronaldo 55-pen) Barcelona 4 (Iniesta 7, Messi 42, 65-pen, 84-pen)” level 2-2 at half-time as a record 19th goal five minutes later when he spooned Angel Di Dani Carvajal’s cross crept inches past the against Madrid from Messi cancelled out Maria’s cut-back over after a great a jinking post. Spanish League table after yesterday“‘s late match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, Karim Benzema’s double after Andres Iniesta run from the Argentine had taken him past The first opportunity of the second period points):” had put Barca in front. three Barca defenders. also fell to Benzema after a terrific run and Atletico 29 22 4 3 66 21 70 Granada 29 10 4 15 28 39 34 Cristiano Ronaldo then put Madrid back in Messi could then have made it 2-0 when pass from Gareth Bale, but this time Valdes Real Madrid 29 22 4 3 80 30 70 Celta Vigo 29 9 6 14 33 41 33 front from the penalty spot, but the hosts he fired wide with the type of opening he is managed to make the save low to his right. Barcelona 29 22 3 4 85 25 69 Malaga 29 8 8 13 28 36 32 were reduced to 10-men when Sergio Ramos normally deadly with as he raced onto Cesc Carlo Ancelotti’s men did retake the lead Bilbao 29 16 7 6 52 32 55 Elche 29 7 9 13 24 41 30 pulled down Neymar inside the box 10 min- Fabregas’ fine through ball. on 55 minutes when referee Alberto Sevilla 29 13 8 8 53 44 47 Vallecano 29 9 3 17 33 63 30 utes later and Messi levelled once more from Benzema made amends for his earlier miss Undiano Mallenco controversially awarded a Sociedad 28 13 7 8 49 39 46 Osasuna 29 8 5 16 25 50 29 the spot. 20 minutes in when Victor Valdes just failed to penalty for a trip on Ronaldo by Alves Villarreal 29 13 6 10 49 36 45 Getafe 29 7 7 15 26 46 28 And the Argentine won the game with keep out his header from Di Maria’s cross. The despite the contact appearing to take place Valencia 29 11 6 12 41 40 39 Valladolid 29 512 12 31 49 27 another penalty seven minutes from time Frenchman then completed a rapid turn- outside the area. Espanyol 29 10 7 12 32 34 37 Almeria 28 7 5 16 27 52 26 after Iniesta had been felled by Xabi Alonso. around for the hosts as Javier Mascherano Ronaldo was unmoved, though, as he got Levante 29 910 10 26 35 37 Real Betis 29 4 7 18 23 58 19 A first defeat for Real in 32 games means misjudged another Di Maria centre from the up to take hammer the resulting spot-kick Atletico Madrid remain top of the table thanks left and Benzema took a touch before firing low past Valdes’ outstretched right hand. his 19th red card for Los Blancos for denying a goal that would salvage their title chances. to their better head-to-head record against past the helpless Valdes. Gerard Pique had to However, the game turned again 25 min- clear goalscoring opportunity and Messi con- And they got it when Mallenco awarded a Los Blancos with Barca still in third. make a vital clearance off the line to prevent a utes from time when Messi released Neymar verted from the spot to make it 3-3. third penalty of the evening as Iniesta tum- The game got off to a blistering start as after hat-trick of Di Maria assists for Benzema. and he was brought down by Ramos. Alves then struck the inside of the post bled inside the area and Messi again dis- Neymar and Benzema had early efforts easily Barca responded before half-time and were Real’s captain for the evening was shown from 25 yards as Barca went in search of the patched it perfectly high past Lopez. — AFP Italian League results/standings Atalanta stun Inter Parma 1 (Schelotto 31) Genoa 1 (Cofie 21); Bologna 1 (Christodoulopoulos 78-pen) Cagliari 0; Inter Milan 1 (Icardi 36) Atalanta 2 MILAN: Atalanta striker Giacomo Bonaventura scored a be costly.” (Bonaventura 35, 90); Sampdoria 5 (Sansone brace in a 2-1 away win which pushed Inter Milan down At the turn of the year Andrea Mandorlini’s Verona 4, Renan 23, Soriano 28, 38, Palombo 58) to sixth in Serie A yesterday as Verona’s Europa League were firmly in contention for a top five finish and a place Verona 0; Udinese 1 (Di Natale 26) Sassuolo 0. hopes were dented by a 5-0 rout away to Sampdoria. in the Europa League. Inter hosted the Bergamo-based side looking to However the visitors were playing catch-up from the Playing later stretch their unbeaten run to seven games and tighten off following Gianluca Sansone’s fourth-minute strike and Napoli v Fiorentina, Lazio v AC Milan, Catania their grip on fifth place. after Luca Toni missed a great chance to level from close v Juventus. However despite Mauro Icardi levelling for the hosts range Sampdoria doubled their lead, albeit with a little Juventus 28 24 3 1 64 19 75 only a minute after Bonaventura had given Atalanta a help from the referee. Roma 28 19 7 2 54 14 64 35th minute lead, Walter Mazzarri’s side spurned a series A corner in the 23rd minute deflected off the match Napoli 28 17 7 4 53 29 58 of chances to put the match beyond reach in a lively sec- official and into the path of Renan, who beat Rafael low Fiorentina 28 14 6 8 48 31 48 ond half. at the ‘keeper’s near post. Parma 28 12 11 5 46 32 47 Inter’s first defeat since a 3-1 reverse to Juventus in Samp took a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to Roberto Inter Milan 29 12 11 6 47 31 47 Lazio 28 11 8 9 36 35 41 early February means they drop to sixth, with Parma, who Soriano’s close range strike and he completed his brace Atalanta 29 12 4 13 33 39 40 also have 47 points but a game in hand, moving up to thanks to a fine individual effort on 48 minutes. Verona 29 12 4 13 43 51 40 fifth despite a 1-1 draw at home earlier by Genoa. Angelo Palombo hit Samp’s fifth just before the hour Torino 29 10 9 10 42 37 39 Atalanta’s 12th win of the campaign moved them up to complete the rout and move Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men Sampdoria 29 10 7 12 38 42 37 to eighth, one place ahead of crisis-hit Verona. Having up to 11th place. Genoa 29 9 9 11 32 36 36 missed out on Europe this season, Inter are desperate not In a veiled reference to William Shakespeare’s Verona- AC Milan 28 9 8 11 41 42 35 to miss the boat but a jaded-looking Mazzarri admitted based lovers Romeo and Juliet, Mihajlovic quipped: Udinese 29 10 4 15 33 42 34 his side’s setbacks could prove costly. “We’ve thrown Juliet from the balcony. But she’s not too Cagliari 29 6 11 12 27 39 29 “A team like Atalanta have nothing to lose by coming hurt. They (Verona) still have 40 points. “Mathematically, Bologna 29 5 11 13 24 43 26 here and playing well. We knew they’d be a dangerous we’re not safe from relegation but virtually we are.” Chievo 29 6 6 17 23 43 24 side but we had a great second half,” said Mazzarri. Elsewhere, Antonio Di Natale secured a 1-0 win for Livorno 29 6 6 17 32 54 24 “We had at least three chances to score but we just Udinese over struggling Sassuolo with a diving header at MILAN: Atalanta defender Mario Yepes (top) of Colombia, jumps for the ball with Sassuolo 29 5 6 18 28 57 21 Inter Milan Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin (left) and Inter Milan forward Mauro Catania 28 4 8 16 21 49 20 couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. It’s a strange the back post after Giampiero Pinzi’s shot had been season. We’re making too many mistakes, and they could charged down in the box. — AFP Icardi, of Argentina, during their Serie A soccer match. — AP CB: Some debt defaults ‘healthy’ for China market

Page 22 Business Taiwan leader defends China trade agreement MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 Page 23 Arabian Motors Group hosts ‘Need For Kuwait’s real estate liquidity eases Speed’ movie Page 25 Page 26

Gulf Bank Chairman’s message Gulf Bank 2013 results reflect progress Growth strategy on track: Alghanim

To our valued shareholders, It is a great pleasure to report on your Bank’s financial performance and the progress made during 2013. This is first time I have the privilege of addressing you as Chairman and, in doing so, I am very pleased to advise you that in 2013 we have both continued to financially strengthen the Bank, and deliver on our promise to provide customers with the best and fastest banking services in Kuwait. The Bank is now strongly positioned for growth. During the past year, we introduced new strategic directions that will develop and broaden our offering and build on the solid foundations we have created in previous years. The focus is strongly on the needs of our customers, investments in our staff, and the development of our customer base. At the same time, we have started to develop exciting new opportunities which will allow us to further grow in corporate and consumer banking services. Of course, all of these initiatives are placed against the requirements of enhancing the Bank’s reserves and financial capacity. Gulf Bank’s results in 2013 reflected its steady progress and normalized operating profits grew to KD 99.6 million (excluding KD 9.8 million of non-recurring income) from KD 96.1 million (excluding KD 25.3 million on non-recurring income) in the prior year. Continuing our strategy to build a fortress balance sheet, the Bank increased its pre- Omar Kutayba Alghanim Gulf Bank Chairman Omar Kutayba Alghanim addresses the annual general assembly meeting. cautionary general provisions to KD 158 million. The net ratio of non-performing loans to over 185 percent. through our Corporate Social Responsibility programs, importance of this coming year. We have shifted our focus profit at KD 32.2 million in 2013 was up 4.1 percent against As we move into 2014, we are committed to successful- concentrating on the development of our youth and sup- for 2014 towards growth - through a relentless focus on the KD 30.9 million in 2012. As of 31 December 2013, the ly executing our growth strategy, and providing both cor- porting entrepreneurship.During 2013 we sponsored a needs of our customers, investments in our staff, and a Bank’s total assets were KD 5,064.8 million, deposits stood porate and retail customers with an exciting alternative in number of activities in this area, including the INJAZ competitive drive in the marketplace. In parallel, we hope at KD 4,086.1 million and total shareholders’ equity was KD the Kuwait market. The Bank has continued to invest in its regional competition which was held in Kuwait for the first to finish the job of financial recovery, making sure stake- 483.1 million. infrastructure to ensure it has both the robust internal con- time with over 7,000 students from high schools and uni- holders’ interests are well protected. The Board of Directors are pleased to recommend distri- trols and the ability to deliver the quality of services that versities participating, representing 14 countries, the In closing, I would like to thank our staff, customers, bution of bonus shares of 5 percent on outstanding issued our customers and regulators demand and deserve. It is Global Management Challenge, NUKS, as well as job shad- shareholders & our Board of Directors for their continued share capital as at 31 December 2013, which is subject to particularly pleasing to note that earlier in 2013, Gulf Bank owing programs. Over the year, Gulf Bank had over 135 support and loyalty as we continue our development. approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting successfully completed the implementation of its staff volunteers working together with our youth on vari- On behalf of Gulf Bank’s Board of Directors, I also want (AGM). Corporate Governance mandate as required by the Central ous development programs in this area. to express my sincere gratitude to His Highness, the Amir During the year, we witnessed a significant 38 percent Bank of Kuwait, which will ensure accountability, fairness, Gulf Bank received numerous awards in various disci- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown reduction in non-performing loans (ie, NPL) and a contin- and transparency in our relationships with all our stake- plines across the Bank including: ‘ Best Bank in Kuwait’ by Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and HH ued increase in the general precautionary reserves. The holders. The Banker , a leading Financial Times owned publication, the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- Bank has maintained its aggressive efforts to reduce the I am proud to add that we have increased our branch ‘Bank of the Year’ from Arabian Business Magazine, ‘Best Sabah, for their benevolent leadership and guidance. A NPL ratio, driving it from 10.9 percent in 2012 to 6.5 per- network to 57 branches across Kuwait. In doing so, we will Retail Bank’ by Asian Banker, and ‘Best Domestic Bank’ by special thanks to the Governor of the Central Bank of cent by December 2013 - a 40 percent reduction. be closer to our customers, and better able to ensure that Banker Middle East. Kuwait Dr Mohammad Al-Hashel and his team for their Decreasing the NPL ratio is a strategic objective and of the they receive the best possible banking services and that I hope that I have been able to effectively communicate support throughout the year. highest priority for management. Further improving our these are delivered both swiftly and efficiently. the significant accomplishments of this past year toward Omar Kutayba Alghanim credit strength, the Bank has increased the total coverage We will also continue to support our community the recovery of the Bank, as well as the exciteme nt and (Chairman Reform not possible without US support: IMF Emerging economies must get a bigger say: Lagarde

BEIJING: International Monetary Fund chief eign ministry were an indirect criticism of the the United States to complete the process tial election, the US Treasury has sought to Developing nations have long viewed the Christine Lagarde said yesterday that there United States, the biggest and most power- and ensure that the relevant legislation can tuck the provision into several bills since IMF with suspicion for promoting disastrous was not much she could to push reform at ful IMF member, where lawmakers that be passed. March of last year. The administration’s privatizations that complicated the transition her organization and give emerging month failed to agree on funding measures “This is not something I can do much requests, however, have been met with skep- from communism for some emerging economies a bigger say without the support needed for the reforms to move forward. about,” she told students. She added that she ticism from some Republicans, who see them nations in the early 1990s, and for pushing of the United States. The US Congress must sign off on the IMF hoped emerging economies could have a as tantamount to approving fresh funding in budget cuts that exacerbated debt crises in China in January called on IMF member funding to complete 2010 reforms that bigger voice within the institution. The a tight budget environment. Asia and Latin America a few years later. nations to stick to a commitment to give would make China the IMF’s third-largest reform of the voting shares, known as quo- Some US lawmakers have also raised con- That suspicion has been compounded by emerging markets more power at the global member and revamp the IMF board to tas, cannot proceed without the United cerns about how well the IMF is helping a power structure that dates to IMF’s found- lender after US lawmakers set back historic reduce the dominance of Western Europe. States, which holds the only controlling struggling economies in Europe and the risks ing in 1944. The structure was shaped by the reforms that would give developing coun- Speaking at Beijing’s elite Tsinghua share of IMF votes. After putting off the attached to IMF loans, suggesting Congress victors of World War Two - the United States tries a greater say. The remarks by China’s for- University, Lagarde said this was a matter for request in 2012 because of the US presiden- is in no hurry to approve any changes. and other Allied nations. — Reuters Saudi stocks rise, region buoyant

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s bourse led the region yesterday, recovering from last week’s weakness to hit a five-year high with gains in most sectors as global oil prices stabilized. The index rose 1.3 percent to 9,425 points, its highest level since July 2008. Most stocks closed in the black, including petrochemicals, banks, cement makers and food producers. “Optimistic sentiment and anticipation of first-quarter results” were the most likely reasons for the rally, said Farooq Waheed, senior portfolio manager at Riyad Capital. The Saudi index, which includes several large petrochemical companies such as Saudi Basic Industries, eased throughout last week as oil prices retreated. Brent crude , however, partly recovered on Friday. In positive news for the long-term development of the market, two Saudi companies - water and power project developer ACWA Power and the Workers carry salt in Maekaye village in Ayeyawaddy division of kingdom’s largest lender, National Commercial Bank revealed steps Myanmar. — AFP towards listing their shares last Thursday. Dubai Dubai Investments Meanwhile, Dubai’s bourse rose 1.0 percent, aided by Emaar Properties, which resumed last week’s rally and added 1.6 percent, although yesterday’s trading volume was significantly lower than last to lift foreign week. Emaar’s recent rally has been triggered by the announcement of a dividend hike and a plan to list its shopping mall subsidiary. The main ownership cap Dubai index closed at 4,347 points; last week it broke above technical resistance at 4,242-4,255 points, the February peaks. There is now no sig- DUBAI: Dubai Investments, a diversified manufacturer and investor in nificant chart resistance nearby. property, plans to increase the limit on foreign ownership of its shares to Among other gainers in Dubai were property developer Deyaar and 35 percent of its total capital, the company said yesterday. construction firms Arabtec Holding and Drake and Scull. Real estate Foreign investors now hold 13.7 percent of Dubai Investments’ shares investment trust Emirates REIT said on Sunday that it had set the price out of the total 20 percent allowed, bourse data shows. The firm’s share- range for its initial public offer of shares at $1.36 to $1.56 per share, and holders, including sovereign fund Investment Corp of Dubai which has an expects the listing on Nasdaq Dubai to occur around the middle of April. 11.5 percent stake, will vote on the proposal at a meeting on April 15, the It would be Dubai’s first IPO since 2009. company said. The proposal follows similar moves by other Dubai-listed Bahrain’s index climbed 0.8 percent, largely on the back of Arab companies such as property developers Deyaar and Union Properties, and Banking Corp, which jumped 7.1 percent. The stock surged last month Mashreq bank. after news that the bank was hiring Standard Chartered banker Ray Companies in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are reviewing their Ferguson as its group chief banking officer; it then retreated and is now foreign ownership caps before international index compiler MSCI raises climbing back to the recent peak. — Reuters those countries to emerging market status in May, which is expected to attract fresh foreign money. — Reuters MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 BUSINESS CB: Some debt defaults ‘healthy’ for China market Beijing struggles to curb bad debts

SHANGHAI: China’s central bank hinted yes- Keqiang earlier this month after the country’s said. In early March, Shanghai-based Chaori terday that it was willing to accept some debt first-ever default on a domestic corporate Solar Energy Science & Technology Co said it defaults in the $1.8 trillion wealth manage- bond sparked concerns that other firms could was unable to make bond interest payments ment market, as the world’s second-largest follow suit. of 89.8 million yuan, sending it into a land- economy struggles to curb bad debts that Li said authorities “pay very high attention” mark default. Earlier this year, the domestic pose a risk to the financial system. to financial and debt risks, but certain individ- financial market was gripped by worries over “Under the premise of preventing system- ual cases of such defaults were “hardly avoid- other financial products issued by trust com- atic risks, allowing some default cases to hap- able”. China’s wealth management product panies, which have drawn comparisons to the NOORDWIJK: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) stands next to Dutch King pen naturally in compliance with market market ballooned to 11 trillion yuan ($1.8 tril- American “junk bonds” of the 1980s. Willem-Alexander during the opening of the Sino-Dutch Economic Forum in forces will... help rectify behaviors of product lion) in early 2014 from two trillion yuan in Authorities have in the past intervened to Noordwijk, the Netherlands yesterday. —AFP issuers and investors and benefit the healthy 2011, Pan said. avoid default risks but are now more willing to development of the wealth management mar- “Guaranteed repayment... although it will accept such incidents, which may ultimately ket,” People’s Bank of China deputy governor ensure short-term stability, won’t help the benefit the market by raising awareness of risk China, Netherlands Pan Gongsheng said at a forum in Shanghai. market to effectively differentiate risks and and making investors more selective, analysts Pan’s remarks echoed those by Premier Li will eventually lead to accumulated risks,” he have said. —AFP to sign trade pacts

News Mugabe appoints THE HAGUE: China and the Netherlands will economic expansion shall be coordinated, in brief sign a trade pact pledging Dutch dairy because reducing production capacity cre- expertise to help Chinese producers boost ates huge business potential for new, new CB governor the quality and quantity of their milk. The green industries,” Xinhua cited Li as telling Emirates Reit sets deal being signed yesterday was another step a meeting. by China to rehabilitate the reputation of its China will control total energy consump- IPO price range HARARE: Zimbabwe’s President Robert joining the African Export-Import Bank in DUBAI: Dubai-based real estate investment dairy industry in the aftermath of tainted milk tion with higher efficiency, while optimizing Mugabe has appointed economist John 1996. He holds economics degrees from trust Emirates Reit said yesterday that it set the product scandals. industrial infrastructure with smart power price range for its initial public offer of shares at Mangudya as governor of the country’s the University of Zimbabwe and a doc- In 2008, some Chinese milk brands were grids and clean energy like wind power, $1.36 to $1.56 per share, and expects the listing central bank, state media reported yes- torate in business administration from found to be tainted with the chemical nuclear power, hydropower and solar power on Nasdaq Dubai to occur around the middle of terday. Mangudya succeeds Gideon Washington University. melamine, which can cause kidney damage generation, he added. Li stressed developing April. The company, valued at between $356.2 Gono, whose term expired in December Under Gono, a close ally of longtime and other injuries. Some suppliers added it to the service industry, which “consumes less fool protein tests on watered-down supplies. energy but provides job opportunities, by million and $408.6 million, will issue as many as after a 10-year tenure marred by world- ruler Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s inflation rate Imported milk products like baby formula still lowering the threshold of market access with 110.3 million new shares with an over-allot- record hyperinflation that eventually reached an official peak of 230 million have a reputation for safety in China and more policy incentives”, Xinhua said. The State ment option of 16.5 million additional shares, it forced the country to abandon its cur- percent, though independent econo- command far higher prices than local brands. Council, China’s Cabinet, will carry out both said in an emailed statement. An investor road- rency. mists put the figure much higher. The cri- The Dutch government says experts will open and secret probes into energy saving show for the IPO, which is expected to be Currently the chief executive officer of sis forced the country to print denomina- help China increase its annual milk produc- and emission cuts this year, to ensure the Dubai’s first since its financial crisis erupted in CBZ, the country’s biggest bank by tions such as the 100 trillion Zimbabwe tion to 40 billion kilograms (88 billion environment is being properly protected, Li 2009, will run from March 23 to April 2; trading assets, Mangudya will take the reins at dollar as prices changed several times a pounds) in coming years. added. of the shares on the Nasdaq Dubai bourse is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in May, day and residents suffered severe short- Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Despite repeated pledges to clean up expected to start sometime in the following said yesterday that efforts to improve the China’s seriously polluted environment, espe- week, the company added. The REIT, which said the state-run Sunday Mail. ages, including food. Zimbabwe aban- country’s environment would create new cially in the highly industrialized east, little manages assets ranging from school buildings He previously worked for the central doned its currency in 2009, and the US business opportunities, state news agency apparent progress appears to have been to business towers and retail space, distributed bank as an economist for 10 years before dollar is now widely used. —AFP Xinhua reported. “Environmental work and achieved. —Agencies dividends of $5 per share for the 12-month period to Dec. 31, 2012 compared to $2.55 for 2011. Writing a budget might German strike Major Morocco banks to hit plan Islamic arms split House Republicans RABAT: Two of Morocco’s biggest banks, BMCE Frankfurt airport and BCP are preparing to launch Islamic sub- WASHINGTON: Divisions among budget deal and the automatic spending expected tax revenues. Republicans sidiaries as the Moroccan parliament discusses Republicans over a budget deal and a cuts it put in place. would have to come up with larger FRANKFURT: German services trade union Verdi a bill regulating Islamic banks and sukuk issues, shortfall in tax estimates are complicating There’s no real need to do a congres- spending cuts than they have in previous said it would extend strike calls in support of higher banking sources said. Parliament’s approval will the House GOP’s efforts to advance a sional budget if the spending cap is budgets. public sector pay to staff at Frankfurt airport next be the last step before fully-fledged Islamic spending plan this spring. Party leaders already set. Under Capitol Hill’s arcane The CBO now estimates that tax rev- Thursday, adding to a list of actions likely to hamper banks can be established in Morocco, whether insist the GOP-controlled House is moving budget process, the rest of the budget enues will be about $240 billion lower in German air traffic. “It is safe to assume that there they are subsidiaries of domestic banks or for- full speed ahead to approve one, but it resolution is mostly nonbinding. But it 2022, the year Republicans targeted dur- will be considerable delays that day,” the union said eign owned, a measure which could attract has fallen behind schedule amid concerns does provide a vehicle for the majority ing last year’s debate for bringing the more Gulf Arab investment. there will be enough votes to pass it. party to set forth its budget and tax priori- budget into balance. All told, the CBO says in a statement. “That’s our intent,” said House Speaker ties and make promises to voters. its gloomier economic outlook will mean German trade unions have staged strikes in pub- Egypt unified John Boehner, when asked this month “I’m planning on writing one,” said $1.4 trillion in lower revenues over the lic transport and services this month after a first telecom license whether GOP leaders would bring a Ryan, the GOP’s vice presidential nominee coming decade than it projected last year. round of public sector pay talks failed to produce CAIRO: Egypt’s Telecommunications Minister budget to the floor this year. in 2012. Ryan, however, demurred when Aides insist Boehner and other party lead- any signs of a deal. Atef Helmy said yesterday the country’s long Doubts exist because Republicans are asked if it will get a vote in the full House. ers in the House are determined to get a Verdi said that it would increase the pressure on awaited unified telecom license for both split by a bipartisan deal from December House Majority leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., budget done. Failing to do so would be a public employers after the second round of talks between the chairman of the House announced Friday in an email to big embarrassment and could turn off the mobiles and landlines will be activated within left the two sides still far apart. A spokesman for Budget Committee, Rep Paul Ryan and Republicans that the House would vote core Republican voters they need to boost three months. The license would allow telecom- Frankfurt airport operator Fraport said that the munication companies to operate fixed-line his Senate counterpart Patty Murray. The on Ryan’s budget in April and that it their numbers in the November election. deal set the spending cap for the 2015 would promise to be in balance in 10 “They’re going into uncharted territory company called on the union not let the dispute and mobile networks, which would in turn budget year at levels higher than those years despite starting off with the Ryan- if they don’t do a budget. Clearly (that affect airline passengers. allow Egypt’s fixed-line monopoly Telecom imposed by a budget and debt agree- Murray figure for 2015. would) protect them from the charge A strike by private-sector security staff at Egypt to offer mobile services. “The unified ment from 2011. Democrats control the Senate, and Democrats will make about cutting Social Frankfurt airport last month caused dozens of flight telecom license will be activated before June Sixty-two House Republicans voted after passing a budget last year for the Security and Medicare,” said GOP media 30, 2014,” Helmy said, speaking at an industry cancellations and delayed thousands of passengers, against the Ryan-Murray deal, mostly first time since 2009, have already said consultant Ron Bonjean. “On the other bringing chaos to Europe’s third largest hub. event in Cairo. Egypt’s three existing mobile because they favored lower spending. they aren’t writing one this year. That pro- hand, Republicans have become a brand phone service providers are Vodafone Egypt, Most would have to change course and tects vulnerable Democrats from tough for putting out forward-leaning, fiscally In addition, German airline Lufthansa is facing Mobinil and Etisalat Egypt which have been vote in favor of the higher numbers that votes in a deteriorating political environ- responsible budgets. And when you more strikes after pilots voted on Friday to back eating away at Telecom Egypt’s fixed-line serv- Ryan has signaled he will use. Democrats ment for them. abandon that, you abandon that brand.” their demands for better pay and working condi- ices as more Egyptians opt to use mobile who supplied the votes required to pass Another problem for Ryan is the latest The fall races look promising for tions with industrial action. phones and the internet instead. Telecom the December deal probably would not revenue projections from the Republicans, especially after a special The pilots’ union has not set a date yet for the Egypt has been relying on its data business to back a Ryan-written budget that reprises Congressional Budget Office. They show it election in Florida was won by a GOP strike but did not plan, for now, to call it over the boost revenue and has been waiting to launch future cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and will be significantly harder for Republicans underdog who criticized the health law Easter holidays. Pilots last took strike action in 2010, a new mobile operation that would comple- other programs. to keep their promise of balancing the and Democratic-passed cuts to Medicare. causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights in a The Ryan-Murray cap on spending for budget by the end of the decade. The Taking up Ryan’s budget could give ment its existing joint venture with Vodafone row over shifting contracts to different units within and rival the sector’s two other players. the budget year that begins Oct. 1 is $18 office’s projections of slower economic Democrats an opening for health care billion higher than permitted by the 2011 growth mean lower than previously attacks of their own. —AP the Lufthansa group with lower pay. —Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Syrian Pound 2.950 Philippine Peso 0.006350 0.006630 Nepalese Rupees 3.835 Sierra Leone 0.000069 0.000075 Singapore Dollar 0.218323 0.224323 Malaysian Ringgit 86.130 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH South African Rand 0.020138 0.028638 Japanese Yen 2.762 Australian Dollar 259.98 256.98 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 45.745 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001867 0.002447 Indian Rupees 4.632 Canadian Dollar 258.85 258.85 Thai Bhat 9.700 Taiwan 0.009136 0.009316 Pakistani Rupees 2.882 Swiss Franc 327.41 325.41 Turkish Lira 126.625 Thai Baht 0.008403 0.008953 Srilankan Rupees 2.159 Euro 395.49 396.49 Nepali Rupees 2.897 Singapore Dollar 222.890 US Dollar 281.25 284.25 Bahrain Exchange Company Arab Hongkong Dollar 36.403 Sterling Pound 471.17 474.17 Bahraini Dinar 0.742616 0.750616 Bangladesh Taka 3.632 Japanese Yen 2.83 2.85 Egyptian Pound 0.036806 0.039906 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT Philippine Peso 6.246 Bangladesh Taka 3.620 3.890 Iranian Riyal 0.000078 0.000079 Thai Baht 8.736 Indian Rupee 4.608 4.908 Europe Iraqi Dinar 0.000181 0.000241 Irani Riyal transfer 0.271 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.155 2.590 Belgian Franc 0.007339 0.008339 Jordanian Dinar 0.394084 0.401584 Irani Riyal cash 0.273 Nepali Rupee 2.888 3.423 British Pound 0.459791 0.468791 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000 Pakistani Rupee 2.758 2.790 Czech Korune 0.008027 0.018027 Lebanese Pound 0.000138 0.000238 GCC COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 76.64 77.11 Danish Krone 0.048139 0.053139 Moroccan Dirhams 0.023427 0.047427 Saudi Riyal 75.337 Bahraini Dinar 748.57 750.64 Euro 0.384309 0.392309 Nigerian Naira 0.001193 0.001828 Norwegian Krone 0.042594 0.047794 Qatari Riyal 77.625 Egyptian Pound 40.40 41.00 Omani Riyal 0.727474 0.733154 Romanian Leu 0.081485 0.81485 Omani Riyal 733.890 Jordanian Dinar 400.29 405.94 Qatar Riyal 0.076858 0.078071 Slovakia 0.008078 0.018078 Saudi Riyal 0.074670 0.075370 Bahraini Dinar 750.370 Omani Riyal 731.43 738.73 Swedish Krona 0.04000 0.045000 Syrian Pound 0.001751 0.001971 UAE Dirham 76.938 Qatari Riyal 77.67 78.22 Swiss Franc 0.313750 0.323950 Tunisian Dinar 0.175000 0.183000 Saudi Riyal 75.13 75.53 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.124392 0.131392 Turkish Lira 0.124392 0.131392 Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.695 UAE Dirhams 0.075905 0.077054 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.134 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia Yemeni Riyal 0.001283 0.001363 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.318 Australian Dollar 0.248347 0.259847 New Zealand Dollar 0.234994 0.244494 Tunisian Dinar 179.420 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Jordanian Dinar 398.950 Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar 282.150 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.895 America Canadian Dollar 254.510 Syrian Lira 2.014 Canadian Dollar 0.247171 0.255671 Sterling Pound 467.135 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Morocco Dirham 35.747 US Dollars 0.278300 0.282650 Euro 390.885 US Dollar 281.900 US Dollars Mint 0.278800 0.282650 Euro 391.600 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Swiss Frank 320.150 Pound Sterling 467.550 US Dollar Transfer 282.400 Bahrain Dinar 745.010 Asia Canadian Dollar 253.900 Euro 392.540 UAE Dirhams 76.795 Bangladesh Taka 0.003247 0.003847 Indian Rupee 4.620 Sterling Pound 468.500 Qatari Riyals 78.345 Chinese Yuan 0.044454 0.047954 Canadian dollar 253.270 Saudi Riyals 76.110 Egyptian Pound 40.125 Hong Kong Dollar 0.034325 0.037075 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.155 Turkish lira 126.490 Jordanian Dinar 397.630 Indian Rupee 0.004376 0.004777 Swiss Franc 323.480 Egyptian Pound 40.482 Bangladesh Taka 3.625 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000020 0.000026 Philippines Peso 6.233 Australian Dollar 258.680 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.158 Japanese Yen 0.002682 0.002862 US Dollar Buying 281.200 Indian Rupees 4.624 Pakistan Rupee 2.875 Kenyan Shilling 0.003348 0.003348 Bahraini Dinar 750.500 Pakistani Rupees 2.870 Korean Won 0.000251 0.000266 GOLD Bangladesh Taka 3.627 UAE Dirham 76.750 Malaysian Ringgit 0.081623 0.087623 Saudi Riyal 75.250 20 Gram 240.000 Philippines Pesso 6.232 Nepalese Rupee 0.002940 0.003110 10 Gram 121.000 Cyprus pound 693.015 Pakistan Rupee 0.002615 0.002895 *Rates are subject to change 5 Gram 62.500 Japanese Yen 3.755 MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 BUSINESS Fed changes policy as dollar gains

NBK MONEY MARKETS REPORTS

The US dollar strengthened against most back. The Yen closed at 102.25. rate at zero to 0.25 percent. The Fed shift- Yellen said that it is “something on the tensions over the Russian stance against major counterparts following the FOMC The Aussie dollar opened the week at ed its forward guidance on how long it order of around six months”. the Crimean peninsula, and flat perform- press conference as the Federal Reserve 0.9028, only to gradually strengthen plans to keep short-term interest rates at ance by euro-area countries, Germanys’ have cut their monthly bond purchases against the US dollar. The currency gained exceptional low levels, discarding the 6.5 Philly Fed Factory Index biggest trading partner, is damping the by another $10 billion, continuing on to a high of 0.9140. The Aussie strength- percent threshold on the unemployment The Federal Reserve Bank of country’s output, signaling uncertainty in Bernanke’s tapering program. Moreover, ened against the greenback after major rate. The Fed said it would now consider a Philadelphia’s Business Outlook index the European economy. The USD gained further against the Euro banks dropped their forecast for further wide range of factors instead of relying rebounded in March, suggesting a return and the Sterling, as geopolitical risks Reserve Bank rate cuts this year. The AUD mainly on the unemployment rate. to growth following weather-related 1- United Kingdom escalate over the Crimean crisis. reversed an earlier drop as Russian stocks Moreover, Federal Reserve officials expect- year low plunge in February. The Philly Fed Claimant Count Change The Euro started the week at 1.3914, advanced, linking concerns about the fall- ed their target interest rate would be at 1 Index surged to 9.0 this month, after plum- The United Kingdoms’ unemployment gaining only slightly, as stops hit, after out from Crimean vote. The Australian percent at the end of 2015 and 2.25 per- meting below the 0.0 mark for the first rate held steady in the three months last weeks’ rally to 1.3970, reversing early Dollar then followed suit with major cur- cent a year later, higher than earlier fore- time in 8-months in February. The figure through January, while Bank of England losses. The single currency range traded rencies, dropping dramatically against the cast, as they improved the projections for exceeded most economists’ forecasts as policy makers stated that the pound’s during the middle of the week in antici- the survey stood at only 4.2. The better- advance against the US dollar is keeping pation of the FOMC. The EUR touched a than-expected performance retraces price pressures in check. The jobless rate high of 1.3748, and then plummeting to almost the entire decline since last month came at 7.2 percent, unchanged from the break the previous lows, the Federal bringing it very close to January’s reading last quarter of 2013. The Bank of England Reserve has cut another $10 billion from of 9.4. stated, “Sterling had appreciated by their assets purchase program. The euro Number of Americans filing for unem- another 1.5 percent during the month, fell following the Fed’s announcement to ployment benefits held near the lowest and it was possible that this gradual touch a low of 1.3749. The single currency level in almost 4-months, while manufac- appreciation would continue if prospects regained some of its losses on Friday and turing in some areas is rebounding and a in the UK continued to be seen as increas- ended the week at 1.3794. gauge of the economy’s prospects ingly favorable relative to those of its The Sterling Pound fell over 150 basis climbed more than forecasted in main trading partners”. The MPC added points against the US dollar during the February, as signs that the US growth will that the “pound’s advance had led to a week. The pound opened at 1.6647, pick up as temperatures rise. Jobless tightening of financial conditions and the falling to a 5-week low against the USD, claims rose by only 5,000 to 320,000, but currency may appreciate further as the after Russian President, Vladimir Putin lower than the forecasted 327,000. The economy strengthens”. expressed his support to Crimea’s request slowdown in dismissals could lay the to join Russia, while the Ukraine groundwork for a pickup in hiring which Commodities expressed their disapprovals, sending will equate to a boost in consumer spend- Gold lost all gains it made last week, fear and uncertainty on the political con- ing, as most retailers prepare to launch dropping the most in 3-months after the frontations in the area. The pound summer clothing and equipment. Federal Reserve further reduced the mon- regained some of its losses, on to drop etary stimulus in the US economy, while significantly against a much stronger US Europe economists speculate a rise in interest Dollar on Thursday following the Fed’s German investor confidence fell in rates in 2015, curbing demand for the pre- decision. The pound continued to drop to February for a third consecutive month, a cious metal. Gold dropped since the touch a low of 1.6476, and ending the USD to touch a low of 0.8993. The AUD gains in the labor market. The statement sign that the recovery for the German beginning from a high of 1,392.33 to a week at 1.6487. ended the week at 0.9081. said, “The Committee continues to antici- economy is being burdened by the low of 1,320.67. This year, gold has The Japanese Yen was one of the pate based on its assessment of these fac- Crimean crisis, which poses a risk to the advanced 12 percent as signs of slowing biggest losers last week, as it weakened FOMC meeting minutes tors, that it likely will be appropriate to continents’ powerhouse. The ZEW global growth and turmoil in Eastern more than 100 basis points against the Federal Open Market Committee maintain the current target range for the investor Confidence index fell to the low- Europe increased demand for haven greenback. The currency opened the decided to cut its assets purchases by $10 federal funds rate for a considerable time est level since August, sliding consider- assets. week at 101.36, weakening to 101.80, on billion for the third straight meeting in after the asset purchase program ends”. ably more than the forecasted 52.8, to speculation over the Fed’s decision. The March to $55 billion a month from $65 During the press conference, when asked 46.6, from 55.7 the previous month. While Kuwait Japanese Yen then fell considerably to Billion starting in April. Meanwhile the Fed about a period for the “considerable time” German economic growth in the fourth Kuwaiti dinar at 0.28155. The USDKWD touch a low of 102.68 against the green- left the target range for the federal funds mentioned in the statement, Chair Janet quarter exceeded estimates, increasing opened at 0.28155 yesterday.

COMMODITY WEEKLY UPDATE Golden cross comforts Taiwan leader defends gold after troubled week China trade agreement By Ole Sloth Hansen dried up as the feared escalation following Head of Commodity the Crimean election failed to materialize, Strategy at Saxo Bank and further weakness was triggered by the Protesters occupy parliament US Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen ommodities struggled for a second when she delivered a statement after the week as some of the strong drivers Federal Open Market Committee meeting TAIPEI: Taiwan’s president yesterday refused to scrap a contentious Cfrom earlier this year continue to fade. that turned out to be more hawkish than trade agreement with China and denounced what he called the ille- Oil prices fell as demand slowed and inven- the market had expected. gal occupation of parliament by protesters opposed to its ratification. Global economy tory rose, precious metals were spooked by Demand from China has slowed as gold Around 200 protesters, mostly young students, broke through securi- an apparent hawkish comment from the rallied and most recently the weaker ren- ty barriers and took over parliament’s main chamber on Tuesday new chair Janet Yellen at the minbi has further reduced night, the first such occupation of the building in the island’s history. US Federal Reserve while rain demand with the price for “The student group have been occupying parliament’s main shifts into gear finally reached the coffee- XAU9999 on the Shanghai chamber in a manner violating the law, paralyzing the legislature’s growing regions in Brazil and Gold Exchange trading at a operation for five days,” President Ma Ying-jeou told a press confer- By Hayder Tawfik monetary reflation continuing, or being Vietnam sending coffee into a discount to spot gold. Hedge ence. “I must say that (the pact) is completely for the sake of Taiwan’s introduced such as in Japan and the UK. tailspin. But just beneath the funds have been strong buy- economic future.” Ma warned of trade-reliant Taiwan being marginal- n the last few months, the global macro- surface, the geopolitical ten- ers during the early part of ized without the China agreement and similar pacts with other coun- economic picture has become much Cyclical stocks sions between Russia and the March, but so far the data pri- tries, as regional economic blocs emerge. The agreement is designed Iclearer than last year. Recently, the IMF As interest rates rise and the global West over Ukraine continue to marily points to this being to open up trade in services between China and Taiwan, which split has revised global economic growth to economy improves, we believe that pose a potential upside risk to driven by short covering as 65 years ago after a civil war. around 3.5 percent for 2014. Other credible investors should be contrarian and go on several commodities such as opposed to fresh new buying. Opponents say it will damage Taiwan’s economy and leave it vul- forecasters have followed suit. They all have the offensive and buy stocks in cyclical gold together with oil and Almost exactly 13 nerable to political pressure from China, allegations rejected by Ma’s seen more encouraging economic signs sectors. In bad and volatile times, investors gas. months after i wrote about ruling Kuomintang party. from US, Japan, UK and the euro-zone. Most might be expected to take more defensive The broad based DJ-UBS commodity the “Death Cross” technical formation in ‘Let us calm down’ of the bad news for the euro- positions in sectors such as index was lower as most sectors came gold, we have seen a “Golden Cross” devel- Ma, who initiated Taipei’s detente with Beijing after coming to zone is behind them. As for health care, utilities and con- under some selling pressure from tactical op this week. This occur when the 50-day power in 2008, refused to back down yesterday and termed the occu- the rest of the world, China is sumer staples such as food traders such as hedge funds as they moving average either crosses down pation of parliament as illegal. “Let us calm down and think carefully. still growing at 7.5 percent that typically weather hard reduced elevated speculative long posi- (death) or up (golden) through the 200- Is this the democracy we want? Do we have to do in this way, risking and the remaining of the BRIC times better than other sec- tions amid a less favorable environment day moving average and the reason why it the rule of law,” he said. “As the president of the Republic of China countries has seen some slow tors. Some smart investors compared to just a few weeks ago. receives attention is due to its relatively (Taiwan’s official title), I have to insist on the rule of law while safe- down but not serious enough positioning themselves in According to the most recent data, hedge rare occurrence and its potential for con- guarding democracy. This is the fundamental and unswerving posi- to threaten economic growth parts of the market that funds were only holding a negative view firming a change in direction. Overall, the tion of the government.” Protesters responded by saying the environment. tends to outperform as eco- (net-short position) on just one out of 24 sentiment has received a knock but so far Kuomintang’s push in parliament to ratify the agreement had been Equity investors need to nomic conditions improve. US-traded commodity futures, namely cop- trend-line support at $1,322/oz and the illegal, and this entitled them to occupy the legislature. “The Ma gov- analyze these economic data These types of cyclical per. 200-day moving average at $1,297/oz con- ernment broke the law first. That was the reason why tens of thou- and understand them well so sectors, which include retail- Worries about a potential disruptions to tinues to provide support. Adding to this, sands of people are taking to the streets,” student leader Lin Fei-fan they can position their ers, industrial metals, tech- supplies from the Black Sea region and dry the golden cross combined with the con- said in a statement. Investments in a manner to not only ride nology and energy, trade at cheaper conditions across the grain belt in the US tinued worries related to Ukraine traders Thousands of opponents of the deal have rallied outside parlia- the economic cycles but more importantly price/earnings ratios than that of the drove the price of wheat in Chicago to an both short term and especially long term ment. “The occupation of parliament is aimed to underscore the to play the investments themes correctly. main indices. Some cyclicalstocks such as 11-month high before running into profit probably prefer to stay long of gold at this ridiculousness of the present (parliamentary) mechanism,” Lin said. “In Remember if you get the economic cycle consumer discretionary stocks might be taking on news that rain may reach the area stage. a democratic country, people have the right to decide the country’s right but fail to understand the Investment priced on the high side but are forecast by in early April. Expected strong production future.” Hundreds of police attempted to end the occupation hours themes then you may underperform or some analysts to produce higher earnings from Europe and India should make up for Brent crude after it began, but failed to push their way through piles of armchairs even lose money. Always be in the right sec- growth over the next several years. any disappointment in the US so that leaves The energy sector was lower with natu- barricading the doorways. Premier Jiang Yi-huah walked to parlia- tor at the right time or even try to be ahead We strongly advise that investors avoid the potentials for further upside gains limit- ral gas falling to a nine-week low after ment Saturday to hold the first direct dialogue between the govern- of the game. The performance of some US high dividends yielding stocks such as ed at this stage. inventories fell by less than expected. The ment and protesters, but failed to reach a breakthrough. Jiang reject- retailers and housing related stocks have utility companies. Some within cyclical Copper reached a new 3.5-year low annual injection season will begin within ed demands to withdraw the agreement but said he would support been quite amazing over the past few years sector look inexpensive. The tech sector, before short covering and signs of demand the next few weeks and with inventory lev- calls for its thorough review by parliament. even though at the time some commenta- for example, is trading at a much steeper following the recent slump helped the met- els at an 11-year low, a relative high price is The pact, signed in July, passed its first parliamentary hurdle on tors were saying that the economy will discount to the overall market than it has al to record its first positive performance in required to ensure a strong rebuild of Monday last week when it was approved by a committee, but the experience a slow recovery. But smart historically. We know that historically the four weeks. China which consumes close to inventories over the next six months. Both opposition insisted the approval process was illegal. The deal is a fol- investors were reading the economic data tech sector has been expensive but at 50 percent of global production and which crude oils of WTI and Brent were lower low-up agreement to a sweeping Economic Cooperation Framework for sign of any recovery and now they are present some of them such as Microsoft, has been weighed down by concerns again on rising US inventories and a Agreement signed in 2010 to reduce trade barriers between China reaping the benefits. Apple and Google are trading at a dis- about the health of its credit markets will stronger dollar. A rising flow of US and and Taiwan. Ma has overseen a marked thaw in relations with Beijing count to the main index. Other cyclical see the release of March manufacturing PMI Canadian-produced crude oil is currently since he came to power pledging to strengthen trade and tourism What are the macro themes sectors that look expensive could increase on Monday. This will provide another gauge finding its way to the Gulf coast via links. But China still considers Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting we can see easily? earnings quickly as the economy as to the current health of the economy and increased pipeline capacity. This is happen- reunification-by force if necessary. —AFP Global economy shows signs of acceler- improves. potentially help HG Copper escape the 2.9 ing at a time of reduced demand from ation in the recovery and pick-up in eco- Also, the industrial sector should bene- to 3.0 USD/pound range where it has been refineries as they turn around from winter nomic activity cross the board throughout fit from strong economic recovery. stuck for some time now. to summer production. Police arrest 24 in 2014 and more so in 2015. We see the US Industrials tend to be highly diversified Arabica coffee futures in New York ran The build-up of inventories could begin economy grows above “stall speed”, as we with exposure to companies involved in into the biggest two-day decline since 2010 to translate into lower imports and subse- Madrid after are seeing now domestic spending more everything from transportation, construc- as reports about rain in Brazil finally trig- quently put some additional pressure on likely as a result of unemployment falling tion, automation and heavy equipment gered some profit taking after a non-stop Brent crude, considering its function as the anti-austerity demo more in the months ahead. The recovery in manufacturing. Exposure to this sector is rally which at one stage had lifted the price global benchmark. This development, employment and continuous sign of hous- a good way to play the longer-term eco- MADRID: Spanish police detained 24 people during street violence by 85 percent this year. After reaching together with reduced inventories at ing recovery will start contributing more nomic growth potential. late on Saturday following a large anti-austerity demonstration in almost 2.1 USD/pound earlier this month, Cushing and the impending release of five forcibly to growth than before. As for the Investors should be aware that invest- Madrid in which dozens were injured, a police spokesman said. the May futures contract has corrected million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum euro-zone, there are tentative signs that it ment themes will not go on forever but Tens of thousands of people, some having walked from the far- down to 1.7 USD/pound. The expectations Reserve (SPR), has produced some relatively is out of recession and most likely will grow they evolve with changes in the global thest corners of Spain, marched through the streets of Madrid yes- for a global deficit this year should create strong selling pressure on Brent crude in handsomely this year and next. As usual, macro picture and different measures tak- terday to demonstrate against spending cuts, sky-high unemploy- some support once this current phase of favor of WTI crude oil during the past week. we believe that the Chinese government en by governments. So it is prudent that ment and alleged corruption. The peaceful march took a violent long-liquidation has run its course. For the time being, we expect Brent will engineer enough economic growth to investors always monitor and analyze eco- crude to find support ahead of $105/barrel turn in the late evening while most protesters dispersed as dozens keep its people busy working. Hopefully, nomic data for any signs of fundamental of youths smashed the windows of several banks, set rubbish bins Gold finding support which would confirm a current range this will removes any concerns about the economic changes. However, we strongly on fire and threw rocks at police. Gold, which stopped just shy of between $105 and $110/barrel. WTI crude health of real estate market and the shad- believe that a strong cyclical recovery is Police responded by firing rubber bullets and charging to dis- $1,400/oz on Monday following the remain the best supported of the two con- ow finance sector) and will start monetary on its way, led by consumer discretionary, perse the protesters. Twenty-four people were arrested, including Crimean referendum, then experienced the sidering the likelihood of a continued nar- reflation measures soon, as will a number technology and metal and mining stocks. three under the age of 18, a police spokesman said yesterday. worst sell-off in six months. Safe-haven bids rowing of the discount to Brent crude. of GEM countries. The excess liquidity con- Hayder Tawfik is Executive Vice President Emergency services said 101 people were hurt — 67 police and 34 tinues to rise, with various forms of QE of Asset Management, at Dimah Capital. protesters. None of the injuries were serious, they said. —AFP BUSINESS MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

DAKAR: A picture shows the entrance of the Dangote Industries cement plant under construction in Pout, some 50 km from Dakar. — AP African tycoon draws Nigeria, France into ‘cement war’ DAKAR: Its shimmering azure chimney stacks water-cooling technology involved in the $630 towering into the sky, the latest cement works million (457 million-euro) plant would require launched by Africa’s richest man lies idle in a a daily withdrawal of 4,500 cubic metres of Senegalese meadow-stopped in its tracks by groundwater, a precious commodity in an arid legal action and cut-throat competition in a Sahelian country like Senegal, according to rapidly growing industry. Camara. “It’s a race against the clock. Once pro- Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote’s duction begins, it will be much more difficult cement business has been flourishing else- to intervene,” Camara said. where in Africa and the Senegalese project, “Given the conditions in which he has first conceived four years ago, was due to start installed his plant, Dangote could come and production in June. But the west African set whatever prices he likes.” Dangote has said nation’s government is being taken to a the operation would create 4,000 jobs and, in regional arbitration court in Ivory Coast by any case, the state has no power to oppose it, a French manufacturer Vicat, which claims that source close to the Senegalese Ministry of the plant represents a “distortion of competi- Mines said. tion” in a country where the market is already “Initially, there was were certain procedural saturated. irregularities that Dangote fixed,” said the “This is the first time in the history of source, adding that “the main problem was the Senegal that we have seen a plant built in vio- environmental impact”. French President lation of all the rules,” said Boubacar Camara, Francois Holland wrote to his Senegalese president of Sococim, a Senegalese subsidiary counterpart Macky Sall in January about the of Vicat. Dangote, 56, made his first fortune in plant “in order to raise awareness of the diffi- Nigeria more than three decades ago when he culties faced by Sococim”, according to a started trading commodities with a loan from source in the Senegalese presidency. his uncle. His cement business is the jewel in Sall responded to the effect that “the rule of the crown of the Dangote Group, the largest law and the Senegalese courts” would must be industrial conglomerate in west Africa accord- allowed to decide whether the project could ing to Forbes magazine, which describes go ahead, the source said. Dangote variously as “the richest black person in the world” or “Africa’s richest man”, with a Welcomed with open arms personal fortune of $25 billion (18 billion It is not the first time that the controversial euros). project has run into problems. Senegalese He has been expanding his empire outside courts ruled during construction that it of Nigeria in recent years-Dangote Cement encroached on a sacred forest owned by the now has operations in 15 African countries-but descendents of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, a Sufi the Senegal project and the court case aiming Muslim mystic and religious leader who was to stop it may come to represent a frustrating revered by millions of Senegalese. inability to leverage his influence across the Construction was only allowed to recom- entire continent. mence when Dangote offered the family a per- suasive $12.6 million in compensation. 4,000 jobs Villagers in Galene, the tiny settlement on the “A cement plant is dangerous, you need doorstep of the cement works 50 kilometres permits, prior authorisation and you also have (30 miles) from Dakar, say it has been installed to conduct an environmental impact study. on land once used by thousands of farmers That hasn’t been done,” Camara said. The and their animals. Ashton worried about Ukraine’s economy

BRUSSELS: European Union foreign policy 500 million euros ($690 million) of trade ben- chief Catherine Ashton voiced deep concern efits to Ukraine, removing duties on a wide on Saturday over the fragility of Ukraine’s range of farm goods, textiles and other economy and urged the rest of the world to imports. The protests against Yanukovich rally round to support it. erupted after he pulled out of signing a polit- “We have to make sure that Ukraine, eco- ical cooperation and trade agreement with nomically, does not fall over ... My biggest the European Union in favour of closer ties fear right now is the state of economy and with Russia. After he fled, Russia sent troops the need for us all to offer the support that into Ukraine’s Crimea region and annexed it they need,” Ashton told an event organized in what Ashton described as a “land grab”. by the German Marshall Fund think tank. The United States and the EU responded “How do we make sure this economy holds by imposing visa bans and asset freezes on together?” Ukraine’s new government, Russian officials, including some close allies which took power when pro-Russian presi- of President Vladimir Putin. The EU this week dent Viktor Yanukovich was ousted after also began preparations for possible trade months of street protests, has said it desper- and economic sanctions against Russia if its ately needs cash to cover expenses includ- forces move beyond Crimea into southern ing gas imports and avert a possible debt and eastern Ukraine. default. EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht Ashton said a short-term budget deficit accused Russia on Saturday of creating a problem had to be resolved “relatively quick- “line of pearls” along its border - referring to ly”. Another problem was the “economic via- Crimea as well as so-called frozen conflicts in bility of industry, many parts of which need Georgia and Moldova. to be modernized, an issue ... which needs a “What’s the sense of that? Do we have to slightly longer-term plan,” Ashton said. “And swallow that? No, I think there is a price for then there are the underlying structural that and I think we should be very clear - the problems in how to make sure that they are United States and the EU together - that they able to generate the resources they need to simply cannot do this,” he told the meeting. be able to pay their bills and to be able to Before Yanukovich jilted the EU last develop that economy without running into November, Moscow had put pressure on the buffers of not having enough money Ukraine by tightening checks on imports and day-to-day.” threatening to cut off its gas supplies in the US President Barack Obama’s administra- depth of winter. That has fuelled fears in the tion has asked Congress to approve a $1 bil- EU that Moldova and Georgia, two other ex- lion loan guarantee package for Ukraine Soviet republics that have negotiated free while the European Union has said it is will- trade agreements with the EU, could come ing to provide $15 billion in loans and grants under Russian pressure to change their over several years to help get the economy minds before they sign them, most likely in back on its feet. The EU aid requires wide- June. spread reforms by the new Ukrainian gov- “We are being extremely active with ernment and the signing of a deal between Moldova and with Georgia. We are con- Ukraine and the International Monetary cerned about things that can suddenly hap- Fund, which is due to report next Tuesday on pen - how their wine is suddenly not accept- advanced talks with Ukraine on a loan pro- ed, what can happen in terms of pressure, gram. and we are ready for that,” Ashton said. Russia responded to Moldova’s overtures AID FOR UKRAINE towards Brussels last year by cutting off The EU has also agreed to extend nearly imports of Moldovan wine. — Reuters BUSINESS MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 Kuwait’s real estate liquidity eases

AL-SHALL WEEKLY ECONOMIC REPORT

KUWAIT: The latest available data in the February 2014 scored about KD 7 million for of trade achieved a surplus at KD 24.286 bil- losses. 4 out of the remaining 5 are in a achieved profit from operations before Ministry of Justice -the Real Estate 3 deals with an average of KD 2.3 million per lion in the year 2013 which is less by -5.3 moderate loss zone that ranged between impairment loss and other provisions by KD Registration and Authentication deal. percent than KD 25.651 billion achieved in the lowest at -16.7 percent for the Saudi 32.2 million, versus KD 21.8 million in 2012, Department- for February 2014, indicates a Comparing February 2014 trades with 2012. index and the highest at -34.5 percent for as a result of the increase in total opera- slight drop and lower than anticipated in vis-a-vis February 2013, we note a big rise in Consumer prices index in 2013 achieved the Kuwaiti weighted index. The Bahraini tional incomes by KD 12 million to KD 57 the real estate liquidity in February 2014 vis- the real estate market liquidity. Trading val- a positive growth by 2.7 percent as its aver- market alone is still the biggest loser by - million vis-a-vis KD 44.9 million during 2012, a-vis January 2014 liquidity despite ue rose from KD 232.4 million to about KD age was 129.2 (in 2007=100), up from 125.8 50.2 percent compared to its level in the or a rise by 26.8 percent. February’s less calendar days and its large 497.4 million, up by 114 percent. The rise in 2012, which comes within the reasonable end of 2007. Table number (2) contains a 7- In details, total operational income number of holidays. February liquidity rise involved the investment activity by 244.5 limits. This growth is denominated by the market sample of mature and emerging increased by KD 12 million, as we indicated has a subsequent exception interpretation. percent (KD 97.4 million in February 2013). rise in food prices from 136.4 average in markets. The comparative reading of their above, to KD 57 million (KD 44.9 million in Total trading value of contracts and It rose to KD 335.7 million in February 2014. 2012 to 141.9 average in 2013 (+4 percent). indexes in the same period indicate that 4 2012). Net financing revenues rose by about agencies amounted to KD 497.4 million, Private housing activity rose by 28.4 percent The bulletin indicates a continuous drop markets therein are in the positive zone, the KD 8.8 million, 24.7 percent, to KD 44.2 mil- lower by -6.2 percent than its counterpart in while the drop percentage of the commer- in the weight interest rate of balances on best in performance of all which compen- lion in 2013 (KD 35.4 million in 2012) due to January 2014 at the amount of KD 530 mil- cial activity scored -60 percent. Apart from deposits from 1.545 percent in the 3rd sated all losses and added new 22.3 percent the increase in the item of murabaha and lion; however it rose by 114 percent com- the KD 190 million deal, liquidity in Quarter to 1.516 percent in the 4th Quarter, is the American Dow Jones. Also in the posi- other Islamic financing income by KD 6.4 pared with February 2013. February 2014 February 2014 scores about KD 307.4 mil- (a quarterly drop by -1.9 percent). Likewise, tive zone were the German market third million to KD 51.3 million (KD 45 million in deals were distributed as follows: KD 286.5 lion, up by 32.7 percent compared with it dropped from 1.609 percent in 2012 to after the Qatari and the Indian 4th and the 2012), a rise by 14.1 percent. Item of distri- million for contracts and KD 228.8 million February 2013. The latest CBK statistics for 1.537 percent in 2013, (a yearly drop by -4.5 British 6th after Abu Dhabi. The Japanese butions to depositors retreated by KD 2.4 for agencies. The real estate deals for this January 2014 indicates a rise in the personal percent). The weight interest rate of bal- and the French remained in the center of million to KD 7.2 million (KD 9.6 million in month scored 513 deals distributed among credits value (assigned for non-commercial ances on loans continued its drop from the negative zone, while China’s market per- 2012). This led to a rise in the margin of net 483 contracts and 30 agencies. Ahmadi purposes especially what goes to buying 4.613 percent to 4.567 percent, (a quarterly formance came last by scoring -61.6 percent financing income from 78.7 percent in the Governorate took the lead in the number of private houses) versus the end of December drop rate by -1 percent). It dropped from losses compared to its level at the end of end of 2012, to 86 percent in 2013. Item of real estate deals by about 183 deals repre- 2013. Those loans amounted to KD 7126.3 5.066 percent in 2012 to 4.647 percent in 2007, though its economic performance net fees and commissions rose by KD 1.2 senting 35.5 percent of total real estate million, up by 1.4 percent in one month. 2013, (a yearly drop by -8.3 percent). was the best after the crisis. This asserts that million to KD 6.6 million (KD 5.4 million in deals, followed by Mubarak Al Kabir These loans grew in 12 months by 15.4 per- Private sector deposits volume at local the control of inflated asset prices was an 2012). Item of share of results from an asso- Governorate by 123 deals representing 23.8 cent and represent about 62.7 percent of banks scored KD 31.251 billion, up from KD official Chinese resolution. ciate increased by KD 264 thousand to KD percent while Jahra Governorate scored the total personal loans. 28.548 billion at the end of 2012, (increased There is abundant literature currently in 336 thousand (KD 72 thousand in 2012). lowest number of trading deals by 30 deals, by 9.5 percent). Finally, local banks’ claims the West claim that both stock prices and Total operational expenditures increased representing 5.8 percent. Monetary and Economic Indicators on the private sector went up to KD 31.125 the relatively high growth rates are not sus- by less than the rise in total operational The value of private housing trades The Quarterly Statistical Bulletin billion, from KD 29.021 billion in 2012, tainable, but is supported by the largest income in the amount of KD 1.6 million to scored about KD 146.3 million, (a drop by - KD 24.7 million (KD 23.1 million in 2012). 58.7 percent), compared with January 2014 Item of general and administrative expens- when it scored KD 354.5 million represent- es increased by KD 1.5 million to KD 7.7 mil- ing about 29.4 percent of total real estate lion (KD 6.3 million in 2012). Staff costs trades versus 66.9 percent in January 2014. increased by KD 799 thousand to KD 13.2 The monthly average private housing trades million (KD 12.4 million in 2012). While the during 12 months stood at KD 180.8 million, depreciation item decreased to KD 3.8 mil- which means trading value during this lion (KD 4.4 million in 2012). month is lower by -19.1 percent compared On the other hand, the bank took provi- with the average. On the other hand, trades sions by approximately KD 17.7 million, up of this activity declined to 361 deals in by 131.2 percent, compared with KD 7.7 mil- February 2014 vis-a-vis 404 deals in January lion in 2012, due to the increase in financing 2014. As such, average deal value of the pri- receivables for corporation by KD 175.8 mil- vate housing activity scored KD 405.3,000. lion, 26.9 percent, to KD 828.6 million (KD Investment in housing trading value 652.8 million in the end of 2012). This rose to KD 335.7 million, an increase by 134 explains the lower net profit margin which percent, versus KD 143.4 million in January scored approximately 25.8 percent (29.3 2014. As percentage of liquidity, the trading percent during 2012). value rose to 67.5 percent (27.1 percent in Financial statements indicate that bank’s January 2014). Average value of investment total assets increased by KD 253.9 million, housing during 12 months scored about KD 20.3 percent, to KD 1.503 billion (KD 1.249 150.8 million. This means the trading value billion in the end of 2012). Item of financing of this month is higher by 122.6 percent receivable rose by KD 198.5 million, 25.4 compared with 12 months average. But the percent, to KD 979.8 million, (65.2 percent number of its deals dropped to 146 deals of total assets) versus KD 781.3 million (62.5 (199 deals in January 2014). As such, aver- percent of total assets) in the end of 2012. age deal value of the private housing activi- Item of dues from banks and other financial ty scored KD 2.3 million. institutions increased by KD 62 million, 20.7 This growth came mostly from proxy percent, to KD 361.7 million (24.1 percent of investment land selling by KD 190 million, (October - December 2013) issued by the (increased by 7.2 percent). money printing process since the Great total assets) compared with KD 299.8 mil- which is an exceptional non-recurring trans- Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and published Depression in 1929 and post-Quantities lion (24 percent of total assets) in the end of action due to the large area of the land on its web site, provides some economic The global financial crisis Easing, the caller of which should cease 2012. Likewise, item of cash and balances which explains the unusual rise in February and monetary indicators that worth follow- The global financial crisis did not hit the because of its inflationary consequence. with banks and other financial institutions 2014 liquidity. If we exclude the value of this ing-up. We will mention some of those indi- regional economies. After the drop of the We say this on the occasion of the local increased by KD 7.7 million, 41.6 percent, to deal, the value of investment activities cators for the purpose of documenting their Kuwaiti oil price, for example, from about talk that the performance of the Kuwaiti KD 26.4 million (1.8 percent of total assets) would score KD 145.6 million, (1.6 percent development. An example is the balance of $66.3 per barrel in 2007 to $36.7 in market is different and exceptionally weak versus KD 18.6 million (1.5 percent of total December 2008, then up to $60.8, $76.5, $ compared to others. Figures confirm that its assets) in 2012, due to the rise in item of 105.7, $108.6, $104.8 per barrel for the years performance is weak and probably unjustifi- balances at the Central Bank of Kuwait by 2009-2013, respectively. But the Arab able, but is not exceptional. There are 4 KD 7.1 million to KD 8.4 million (KD 1.3 mil- Spring events starting from December regional markets and two mature ones in lion in 2012). Investments in securities 2010, and Dubai crisis prior to that in the same situation. It is better than 1 region- retreated by 16.6 percent, KD 11.5 million, November 2009, had an impact in both al market and 1 emerging market. Kuwait to KD 57.6 million (3.8 percent of total directions. While the instability in the region may be the only country, excluding the assets) vis-a-vis KD 69.1 million (5.5 percent consolidated oil prices, ie added risk premi- banking sector, which did nothing to of total assets) in the end of 2012. um, the associated risks reduced traders’ reduce the unnecessary costs of the crisis in appetites which diverted preference to liq- its market. Nevertheless, there is no need to Weekly performance of KSE uidity rather than shares. adopt extraordinary measures under the The performance of Kuwait Stock Figures in the attached table point to illusion that the market is exceptionally bad. Exchange (KSE) for the last week was more the performance of the 7 GCC markets active, where all indexes showed an between the end of 2007, the last year Kuwait International Bank increase, the traded value index, the traded before the September 2008 crisis and the financial results volume index, the transactions index, and end of last Wednesday 19/03/2014. The fig- Kuwait International Bank announced the general index showed an increase, ures clearly show that 2 indexes only com- results of its operations for the fiscal year AlShall Index (value index) closed at 478.5 pensated all losses of the crisis while 5 ending December 31, 2013 which indicate points at the closing of last Thursday, show- indexes are still in the negative zone. The 2 that the bank’s net profit, after deducting ing an increase of 20.3 points or about 4.4 positive ones are those of Qatar, which taxes and Board of Directors remunerations, percent compared to the end of the previ- made up for its losses and gained additional scored an amount of KD 13.22 million, a ous week, and an increase of 23.8 points or 18.9 percent and Abu Dhabi index which slight rise by KD 57,000 or 0.4 percent (KD about 5.2 percent compared to the end of added 6.3 percent after compensating the 13.17 million in 2012). And the bank 2013.

rise versus January 2014). Average value of trade (commodity exports minus commodi- investment housing during 12 months ty imports) which achieved a surplus in the scored about KD 134.9 million. Hence, trad- 4th Quarter of 2013 by KD 5.926 billion as ing value of this month is higher by 7.9 per- Kuwait’s exports during this quarter scored cent compared with 12 months average. KD 8.142 billion, of which 94.3 percent were The value of commercial trading activity oil exports. Total commodity exports for the dropped to about KD 8.4 million, a drop by - entire year of 2013 scored about KD 32.624 73.9 percent, versus KD 32.1 million in billion, of with 94.3 percent were oil exports. January 2014. Its percentage out of real Commodity imports -excluding military- estate trading value declined to about 1.7 during the 4th quarter of 2013 were at KD percent (6.1 percent in January 2014). 2.215 billion. And the value of commodity Average trading value of this month is lower imports -excluding military- for the entire by -75.9 percent compared with 12 months year 2013 scored KD 8.338 billion. average. Number of its deals dropped to 3 Balance of trade achieved a surplus in deals versus 9 deals in January 2014; as the 1st Quarter of 2013 scoring KD 5.662 bil- such, the average deal value for the com- lion, and increased in the 2nd Quarter to KD mercial activity scored KD 2.8 million. Value 6.155 billion, then went up to KD 6.543 bil- of the warehousing trading activity in lion in the 3rd Quarter. Overall, the balance BUSINESS MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Toyota to begin wireless vehicle charging system verification testing

TOYOTA CITY: Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces ogy, which transmits electricity by utilizing the magnetic ground-installed transmitting coil is robustly structured to planned to last one year. The tests will assess user satisfac- that it will begin verification testing of its newly developed resonance resulting from changes in magnetic field inten- withstand a vehicle driving over it. tion, system ease-of-use, misalignment rates, and charging wireless battery charging system for vehicles with an elec- sity between a coil on the ground that transmits and a coil Furthermore, to enable the driver to park in an opti- behavior, such as charging frequency and the use of timer- trified power train, such as plug-in hybrids and electric on the vehicle that receives. The system can reduce drops mum charging position, Toyota has developed a new park- based charging. vehicles in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The system can charge in power transmission efficiency that can be caused by ing assist function that shows the position of the transmit- The test results will be used to further develop the tech- a vehicle parked in alignment over a coil on the surface of misalignment or height differences between the transmitting coil in the parking space. The new function is coupled nology, with commercialization the ultimate aim. Toyota the ground, making the charging process simpler and ting coil and receiving coil. Created with future market with Toyota’s Intelligent Parking Assist system. believes that commercialization will help promote the use more convenient. launch in mind, the system is designed to minimize elec- The verification test will involve three plug-in hybrid of electrified vehicles and aid in making mobility that is The charging system uses magnetic-resonance technol- tromagnetic interference on nearby equipment and the vehicles in use in homes in Aichi Prefecture and is initially smarter, easier to use and more environment-friendly. Burgan Bank announces winners of Yawmi account

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the The newly designed Yawmi account has names of the lucky winners of its Yawmi account been launched to provide a highly innovative draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000. offering along with a higher frequency and The lucky winners for the daily draws incentive of winning for everyone. Today, the took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and Yawmi account is a well understood product, they are: where its popularity can be seen from the 1. Mohammed Hameed Al-Dein number of increasing account holders. Mohammed Qeyas Aldein Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open 2. Jadaan Jarad Awwad Alshammari a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit 3. Mahmoud Mukhtar Ali Alnaqi to maximize their chances to becoming a daily 4. Sabeeha Mohammed Ali Rostom winner. The more customers deposit, the high- 5. Heirs Of Humoud Sulaiman er the chances they receive of winning the Almudhaiyan draw. Opening a Yawmi account is simple, cus- With its new and enhanced features, the tomers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Yawmi Account has become more convenient, Bank branch and receive all the details, or sim- easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. ply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 Now, customers will be eligible to enter the where customer service representatives will be draw after 48 hours only from opening the delighted to assist with any questions on the account. Customers are also required to Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the and services. Customers can also log on to daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further draw stands at KD 10. information. VIVA’s forum to announce arrival of Samsung Galaxy S5

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and with a new flash technology. most developed telecom operator, announced To find out more about VIVA’s Samsung Men filtering the waterfor salt deposits from a pond in the villageof Maekaye, Ngaputaw township, Irrawaddy Division of Myanmar. Some 70 that it will launch a dedicated portal on its Galaxy S5, visit one of the 53 VIVA branches, or percent of salt used by the whole country is produced in the Irrawaddy Division. — AFP website informing customers about the arrival the VIVA website at www.viva.com.kw, or call of the anticipated Samsung Galaxy S5 before it VIVA’s 24 hour call center on 102. hits the stores in Kuwait. The portal will be VIVA is the fastest-growing telecom opera- Ford Mustang in the leading role available for two weeks. tor in Kuwait. Launched in December 2008, Customers interested in acquiring the latest VIVA makes things Possible for its customers Samsung Galaxy S5 are required to register on by transforming communication, information Arabian Motors Group hosts ‘Need For Speed’ Movie in Kuwait the portal with their full name, mobile number, and entertainment experiences. The company email address, and civil ID in order to be con- has rapidly established an unrivalled position tacted by VIVA regarding the availability of the in the market through its customer centric KUWAIT: Ford Mustang has been a star of the Galaxy S5 in its branches. Customers signing in approach. silver screen and the small screen for nearly 50 first will also be the first to know about the VIVA’s quest is to be the mobile brand of years, with more than 3,200 appearances in device. The Samsung Galaxy S5 will be sold choice in Kuwait by being transparent, engag- movies and television shows. This week Mustang with VIVA’s postpaid plans, and will be open to ing, energetic and fulfilling. VIVA continues to adds yet another movie title to this list with its all customers with a valid mobile number. take a considerable share of the market by star role in Need for Speed which premiered in The Samsung Galaxy S5 is powered by offering an innovative range of best value Kuwait recently with a special screening for Ford Snapdragon 8001 processor 2.5GHz Quad core products, services and content propositions; a customers, Mustang lovers, and media hosted processor, running Android(tm) 4.4.2 Kitkat, state of the art, nationwide network and by Arabian Motors Group, the local Ford and with greatly enhanced usability and practicali- world-class service. Lincoln importer-dealer. The movie also marked ty to make life easier. The Samsung GALAXY VIVA offers internet speeds of more than the silver-screen debut of the all-new model. S5, customers can view the content on the 100 Mbps, due to the implementation of the Need for Speed star Aaron Paul will drive the device’s 5.1-inch display at 1080p and features most advanced fourth generation (4G LTE) net- custom 2014 Mustang hero car in the highly 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, SDXC exter- work in Kuwait resulting in superior coverage, anticipated movie based on the long-running nal storage, as well as a 16-megapixel camera performance and reliability. Electronic Arts video game series, and will take the wheel of the next-generation Mustang in its first on-screen appearance as well. “On-screen or on the road, the visceral sight and sound of Mustang has been inspiring fans for nearly five decades,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “The feeling of optimism and being in control that Mustang’s world- class power and performance provide is a perfect match for Aaron Paul’s character in Need for Speed.” When the original Mustang debuted in April 1964, it was still an unknown quantity, but Chronicling the filmography of Mustang is human stars, including several actors who the producers of Goldfinger almost immediately such an enormous job that it took more than helped make Mustang a star of the silver screen, cast a Wimbledon white 1965 convertible in the 100 contributors to build out the the new pony had its prints and signature logo movie. Five decades later, Mustang is an auto- MustangIMDB.com site created by Stefan preserved for posterity in the cement. motive and pop-culture icon, and Need for Thorarensen, founder and board member of The Fans of the video game franchise already have Speed director Scott Waugh wasted no time get- Icelandic Mustang Club. With more than 3,200 access to virtual drives of the new Mustang, ting the new Mustang into his film months entries, the list grows almost daily. which became available as a free in-game down- before it goes on sale. Reflecting the importance of movies to the load in EA’s Need for Speed(tm) Rivals in mid- “I chose Mustang because it is a car that really Mustang story, Hollywood was selected as one December. Players in the game can also cus- represents American culture,” said Waugh. “It just of six venues for the global reveal of the all-new tomize their Mustangs with a choice of five pop- represents modern muscle, and it’s iconic, hav- pony car on Dec. 5, 2013. Mustang was driven ular designs created using the online Mustang ing been in some of the greatest car chase out onto a pad of wet cement in the forecourt of Customizer, including one inspired by RTR Dr. Ahmed Heikal movies of all time.” the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. Like nearly 200 founder and drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. Citadel Capital in final push to Gulf Bank announces winners divest Sudanese Egyptian Bank CAIRO: Citadel Capital, the leading invest- Sudanese Egyptian Bank, which we have of Al-Danah daily draws ment company in Africa and the Middle helped grow from a small, trade-focused East, is in the final stages of negotiations to bank at acquisition in 2006 into a full- KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on March 16, 2014, per quarter. Al Danah’s 1st Quarterly draw for 2014 will be held on 27 divest the Sudanese Egyptian Bank (SEB). fledged Islamic financial institution that announcing the names of its winners for the week of March 9 to March 13. March (KD200,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000), 2nd Quarter - 26 June Originally established to facilitate trade serve thousands of corporate and individ- The Al-Danah daily draws include draws each working day for two prizes of (KD250,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000), 3rd Quarter - 25 September between Egypt and Sudan, SEB is a full-ser- ual clients alike.” KD1000 per winner. (KD500,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000) and the final draw held on 8 vice, Sharia-compliant bank with a diverse Citadel Capital is divesting non-core January, 2015 announcing winners of KD50,000, KD250,000 and the Al- portfolio of corporate and individual assets to focus on five core industries: ener- The winners were: Danah millionaire. clients. Sudanese Egyptian Bank is a portfo- gy, transportation, agrifoods, mining and • (Sunday 09/03): Hassan Ghloom Mohammed Ashkanani, Basher Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simulta- lio company of Finance Unlimited, a non- cement across a footprint that concentrates Ahmed Mohammed neously encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more mon- core Citadel Capital platform in the region- on Egypt, North Africa and East Africa. Non- • (Monday 10/03): Wedad Abdulnabi Mohammed Al-Moussa, Layla ey is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account. al banking and finance industry. core investments are being divested at Abdulraouf Hanafi Al-Sherif (Tuesday 11/03): Shaikha Abdulwahab Al-Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al- “A key part of our transformation into an appropriate times and valuations over the Sulaiman Al-Bader, Fatemah Alzahraa Ali Bader Mohammed Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their investment company that is a leader in coming three-plus years. • (Wednesday 12/03): Tahani Sabah Abdullah Al-Haddad, Shaikha money at their convenience; as well as the Al Danah calculator to help cus- African infrastructure and resources is our In addition to Sudanese Egyptian Bank, Abdulwahab Gasem Al-Tourh tomers calculate their chances of becoming an Al-Danah winner. divestment of non-core holdings,” noted Finance Unlimited also holds stakes in • (Thursday 13/03): Mohammed Hassan Omar Ali, Mohammad To be part of the Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s Citadel Capital Chairman and Founder Egyptian investment bank Pharos Holding Abbas Mohammad al-Mahmeed 57 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on Ahmed Heikal. and leading microfinance player Tanmeyah. 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also log on to “We are very comfortable that we will Citadel Capital’s direct ownership of SEB Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah 2014 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al-Danah shortly reach an agreement to divest stands at 66.12 percent. per working day each receive KD1000), as well as two additional prizes and who the winners are. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 technology

Turkish president hopes Twitter ban will be lifted ‘soon’ ANKARA: Turkey’s president said yesterday he has dismissed most of the recordings as “vile” fakes believed the country would soon lift its ban on concocted by his political rivals, including US-based Twitter, condemned as a bid to muzzle a corruption cleric Fethullah Gulen, formerly a staunch ally. scandal dogging the government ahead of key Erdogan’s office says his opponents used Twitter to elections. “I believe this problem will be over soon,” carry out “systematic character assassinations”. Abdullah Gul told reporters in Ankara before leaving for an official visit to the Netherlands. “This is of ‘21st-century book burning’ course an unpleasant situation for such a devel- Erdogan, who has been in power for 11 years, is oped country as Turkey, which has weight in the accused of ruling the aspiring EU member with region and which is negotiating with the European increasing authoritarianism. The Committee for the Union. Therefore, it will be overcome soon.” The ban Protection of Journalists (CPJ) says Turkey jails more was implemented Thursday shortly after Turkey’s reporters than any other country, including serial powerful Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offenders Iran, China and Eritrea. Douglas Frantz, threatened to “wipe out” Twitter, earning strong assistant secretary of public affairs at the US State rebukes from rights groups and the country’s Department, cast the Twitter ban as “21st-century Western allies. book burning”, and urged Turkey to reverse its con- The government lashed out at Twitter on troversial decision. “A friend like Turkey has nothing Saturday as “biased and prejudiced”, accusing the to fear in the free-flow of ideas and even criticism US-based social media giant of failing to abide by represented by Twitter. Its attempt to block its citi- hundreds of court orders to remove content zens’ access to social media tools should be deemed illegal. Critics say the Twitter ban is an reversed,” he wrote in an official blog. attempt to hush up corruption allegations ensnar- Frustrated Turks have been able to access the ing Erdogan and the Islamic-rooted Justice and site by tweaking their computers’ Internet settings. Development Party (AKP) ahead of key local elec- Methods include changing their domain name sys- tions on March 30. With a week to go to the vote, tem (DNS) settings or going online via a virtual pri- the AKP is also struggling to shake off the afteref- vate network (VPN). Users have also been tweeting fects of mass anti-government protests last year via text message, a work-around Twitter reminded TURKEY: Protesters hold placards reading “do not touch my twitter “, “communication right is a basic that were organized partly on Twitter, prompting them about in a message posted shortly after the human right” and” censorship to internet! A dream comes true” during a demonstration against the Erdogan to label the site a “menace”. ban took effect. ban on Twitter during a demonstration against Turkish government in Ankara.— AFP “Blocking access to Twitter is the work of a gov- But since Saturday there have been uncon- ernment which is losing its self-confidence and firmed reports that the government is trying to The president, who hails from Erdogan’s AKP, has platforms such as Twitter. He also confirmed that strength,” veteran journalist Kadri Gursel wrote in block access to lists of alternative DNS numbers. emerged as a more conciliatory leader than the Twitter had hired a lawyer in Turkey for negotia- the Milliyet newspaper. Social media networks have Gul, a frequent social media user, took to Twitter on Turkish premier. But he also drew criticism last tions with the authorities. Addressing the corrup- been flooded almost daily by audio tapes allegedly Friday to denounce the government’s ban hours month for signing a controversial AKP-sponsored tion scandal plaguing the AKP, Gul said his tele- depicting Erdogan talking with his son about hid- after the network went dark, becoming the high- law to tighten government control over the phones might also have been tapped, like ing vast sums of money and interfering in court est-level leader in the country to circumvent the Internet. Gul said yesterday it was “not legally possi- Erdogans’s, but that he had “nothing to worry cases, business deals and media coverage. Erdogan block, along with some ministers. ble” in Turkey to shut down the Internet or access to about or fear”. — AFP Online news attracts star power and big money

WASHINGTON: The news media is generating per editor who consults for journalism and tech- tribution and longstanding pensions, websites some big news of its own, as a growing number of nology ventures, said that while traditional news- can become profitable relatively quickly. While star US journalists move online, bringing followers papers are withering, online news sites may be not all ventures will succeed, they are attracting and financial backers with them. Online news sites working. But the digital news business is likely to venture capital because “you could double or have been around for years, but in recent months be “vertical,” covering a segment such as technol- triple your money if you pick a winner,” Doctor the trend has gained momentum, defying predic- ogy, sports or politics, unlike a newspaper, which said. The startups are often personality driven- tions of a troubled media industry. The latest was aims to cover all sectors. Online news can get Klein has 441,000 Twitter followers and Silver the relaunch of FiveThirtyEight, headed by Nate money from subscriptions, premium content or 680,000. Former Daily Beast journalist Andrew Silver, a statistician and journalist who made his links to shopping, for example. Sullivan got 35,000 paid subscribers for his “The own headlines with his accurate prediction of the “The future of digital publishing is the Dish” blog. 2012 presidential election. The site, which covers a antithesis of traditional publishing,” Mutter told range of news with a statistician’s eye, is backed by AFP. Newspapers try to get a broad audience by ‘Golden age of journalism’? the sports broadcaster ESPN, after Silver left The offering comics, coupons and recipes, while cov- One of Silicon Valley’s most prominent ven- New York Times with his blog. ering news ranging from local crime to politics ture capitalists, Marc Andreessen, sees huge Also joining the fray was The Intercept, a news to walks on the moon, and online sites are potential. “I am more bullish about the future of site backed by tech entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar changing that model. The shift is similar to what the news industry over the next 20 years than with an editorial team led by Glenn Greenwald, happened in retailing, with multi-sector depart- almost anyone I know,” said a blog post by China’s Huawei condemns the former Guardian reporter who broke news ment stores hammered by specialty apparel, Andreessen, who founded the early Internet with documents leaked by former National housewares or electronics stores. “Newspapers group Netscape Communications. “Maybe we reported NSA snooping Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. are basically following a publishing-model mind- are entering into a new golden age of journal- Omidyar has pledged to invest $250 million in his set that is locked in 1958,” Mutter said. “They take ism, and we just haven’t recognized it yet.” BERLIN: Chinese telecom and internet com- “If we can determine the company’s plans First Look Media, which includes a not-for-profit the same content and put it on a website or put Andreessen said the news business is breaking pany Huawei defended is independence yes- and intentions,” an analyst wrote in a 2010 news operation and a separate technology arm it on mobile and they say they have a digital free of the “monopolies and oligopolies” that terday and said it would condemn any infil- document cited by the Times, “we hope that for new media. strategy.” controlled it for much of the post-World War II tration of its servers by the US National this will lead us back to the plans and inten- The Washington Post’s popular “Wonkblog” era and that the Internet is allowing new busi- Security Agency if reports of such activities tions” of the Chinese government. The Times columnist Ezra Klein meanwhile left the newspa- Low cost of entry nesses to get to a scale where they can support by the NSA were true. The New York Times noted that US officials see Huawei as a securi- per to start a news website backed by Vox Media. Ken Doctor, a media analyst with Outsell who high-quality journalism. and German magazine Der Spiegel reported ty threat and have blocked the company Yahoo wooed television news star Katie Couric writes the Newsonomics blog, said it has “On the Internet, there is no limitation to the this weekend, citing documents leaked by from making business deals in the United and former New York Times tech writer David become easier to launch news sites. “The tech- number of outlets or voices in the news chorus,” former US security contractor Edward States, worried it would furnish equipment Pogue. And journalists at The Wall Street Journal- nology has gotten much better and cheaper in he said. The economics of online news has Snowden,that the NSA had obtained sensi- with “back doors” that could enable China’s backed tech blog AllThingsD broke off in January the past few years,” Doctor said. “And once you allowed some sites to move beyond the practice tive data and monitored Huawei executives’ military or Chinese-backed hackers to swipe to create Re/code, a separate website with sup- create the content, the social world is able to of “aggregation,” and into more in-depth report- communications. corporate and government secrets. port from Comcast’s NBC Universal. The new find new audiences at practically no incremental ing traditionally seen as the domain for newspa- “If the actions in the report are true, “We certainly don’t build ‘back doors’,” energy in Internet news comes as the cost.” News startups can expand internationally pers. But analysts point out that while Internet Huawei condemns such activities that invad- Huawei security chief Suffolk said. Suffolk, entrenched news industry faces deepening and gain a far larger audience than they would news outlets which can gain readers nationally ed and infiltrated into our internal corporate who is British, said the company never hand- financial woes, and the model for online profits with a local or even national US newspaper, he and internationally can thrive, the same is not network and monitored our communica- ed over its source codes to governments remains unclear. noted. true for local news organizations, which many tions,” Huawei’s global cyber security officer, either. “I can’t say what American firms do. We “You can ramp up one of these businesses Americans rely on for coverage of their commu- John Suffolk, told Reuters. “Corporate net- have never been asked to hand over any data Dying or reviving? and create a national or international brand for nities. “It’s a tale of two worlds,” Doctor said. works are under constant probe and attack to a government or authority or to facilitate So is the news business dying or being $5 million to $10 million,” Doctor said. Without “Local newspapers are still in a death spiral, with from different sources - such is the status quo access to our technology,” he said. “And we reborn? Alan Mutter, a former Chicago newspa- the legacy costs of newspapers like printing, dis- layoff after layoff.” — AFP in today’s digital age,” said Suffolk, defending wouldn’t do this either. Our position on this Huawei’s independence and security record, point is very clear.” saying it was very successful in 145 countries. US officials deny the NSA spies on foreign The New York Times said one goal of the companies to give US firms a competitive NSA operation, code-named “Shotgiant”, was edge, though they acknowledge that in the Microsoft snooped on hotmail ‘to track leak’ to uncover any connections between Huawei course of assessing the economic prospects LOS ANGELES: Microsoft Corp, which has skew- secret, on September 7, 2012, Microsoft’s Office of complaint says. Frank said in his statement that no and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. or stability of other countries, US agencies ered rival Google Inc for going through customer Legal Compliance (OLC) approved content pulls of court order was needed to conduct the searches. But it also sought to exploit Huawei’s technol- might collect data on firms. The Times and emails to deliver ads, acknowledged Thursday it the blogger’s Hotmail account,” says the complaint “Courts do not issue orders authorizing someone ogy and conduct surveillance through com- Der Spiegel articles were published just days had searched emails in a blogger’s Hotmail by FBI agent Armando Ramirez. The search of the to search themselves,” he said. “Even when we have puter and telephone networks Huawei sold before Chinese President Xi Jinping visits account to track down who was leaking company email account occurred months before Microsoft probable cause, it’s not feasible to ask a court to to other nations. If ordered by the US presi- Europe and will hold talks with German secrets. John Frank, deputy general counsel for provided Ramirez with the results of its internal order us to search ourselves.” Hotmail’s terms of dent, the NSA also planned to unleash offen- Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself reportedly Microsoft, which owns Hotmail, said in a statement investigation in July 2013. service includes a section that says, “We may access sive cyber operations, the newspaper said. a target of surveillance by the NSA, like some Thursday that the software company “took extraor- or disclose information about you, including the German companies. dinary actions in this case.” In the future, he said, ‘Especially alarmed’ content of your communications, in order to ... pro- ‘Back doors’ Former NSA chief Michael Hayden - who Microsoft would consult an outside attorney who The email search uncovered messages from tect the rights or property of Microsoft or our cus- The paper said the NSA gained access to ran the agency from 1999-2005 and then ran is a former judge to determine if a court order Kibkalo to the blogger containing fixes for the tomers.” servers in Huawei’s sealed headquarters in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) until would have allowed such a search. The case Windows 8 RT operating system before they were Redmond, Wash based Microsoft has taken a Shenzhen and got information about the 2009 - told Der Spiegel in a separate inter- involves former employee Alex Kibkalo, a Russian released publicly. The complaint alleges Kibkalo defiant stand against intrusions of customer priva- workings of the giant routers and complex view that the United States had underesti- native who worked for Microsoft as a software also shared a software development kit that could cy, in the wake of National Security Agency sys- digital switches the company says connect a mated the reaction of the chancellor and the architect in Lebanon. be used by hackers to understand more about how tems analyst Edward Snowden’s revelations of gov- third of the world’s people. Der Spiegel said German population to revelations of mass According to an FBI complaint alleging theft of Microsoft uses product keys to activate software. ernment snooping into online activities. General the NSA copied a list of more than 1,400 surveillance. Hayden said he was not pre- trade secrets, Microsoft found Kibkalo in Besides the email search, Microsoft also combed counsel Brad Smith said in a blog post in clients and internal training documents for pared to apologize for US intelligence agen- September 2012 after examining the Hotmail through instant messages the two exchanged that December that Microsoft was “especially alarmed” engineers. It said the agency was pursuing a cies having had another nation under sur- account of the blogger with whom Kibkalo September. Microsoft also examined files in at news reports of widespread government cyber- digital offensive against the Chinese political veillance. “But I am ready to apologize for allegedly shared proprietary Microsoft code. The Kibkalo’s cloud storage account, which until last spying. Microsoft also has a long-running negative leadership, naming former prime minister Hu having us having made a good friend look complaint filed Monday in federal court in Seattle month was called SkyDrive. Kibkalo is accused of ad campaign called “Scroogled,” in which it slams Jintao and the Chinese trade and foreign bad,” he said. “Shame on us, it was our mis- did not identify the blogger. “After confirmation using SkyDrive to share files with the blogger. Google for scanning “every word in every email” to ministries as targets. take.” — Reuters that the data was Microsoft’s proprietary trade Kibkalo has since relocated to Russia, the FBI sell ads, saying that “Google crosses the line.” —AP Tunisia looks to win back tourists with image makeover

TUNIS: Tunisia is working against the clock to sal- fell to just 4.7 million in 2011, and has only recov- home planet of Anakin and Luke Skywalker-key fig- vage its 2014 tourist season after three turbulent ered slowly, affecting the estimated 400,000 peo- ures in the cult film series. The “Star Wars Tunisia” edi- years, by revamping the country’s image-with the ple working in the key sector that accounts for tion of the Pharrell Williams video has already help of online media and a few Star Wars charac- around seven percent of Gross Domestic Product. received nearly 1.5 million hits (http://u.afp.com/fzc). ters. “To change a country from one that is relative- “There are fans (of the sci-fi films) in the United ly inexpensive to a top-end tourist destination will Using the force States, in Scandinavia, in Asia, in South America, take 10 or 15 years,” said Amel Karboul, Tunisia’s To reverse this trend, the ministry decided to where Tunisia is barely known,” the minister told a new tourism minister. “But to change the image of exploit the desert settings used for many scenes in group of journalists last week. “It will raise aware- a country from one that’s cheap to one that is ‘fun’ the Star Wars films, in a Tunisian version of the ness of Tunisia,” she said of her strategy to harness can be done much more quickly, and that’s a priori- music video hit “Happy” by US star Pharrell social media as a way of publicizing the country. ty for us,” she said, referring to perceptions of Williams, replicated on YouTube by people around Conventional advertising campaigns “are extreme- Tunisia as a budget holiday destination. the world dancing to the tune. ly expensive and you’re not sure of their impact; it’s The North African country hopes to welcome “Happy (We are from Tatooine),” commissioned very long term. Tunisia has only limited means,” seven million tourists this year, a slight increase on by the ministry, features a range of characters from explained Karboul, whose government has a very the 6.9 million who visited in 2010 before the revo- Star Wars boogying in and around the city of short-term mandate. Appointed in late January to lution that ousted a decades-old dictatorship and Tataouine, including the iconic droids R2-D2 and C- end months of political uncertainty, it is due to unleashed outbreaks of Islamist violence that dam- 3PO, a stormtrooper and Darth Vader himself. The step down after elections held by the end of this aged Tunisia’s reputation. The number of tourists southern desert city gave its name to the fictional year. — AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Justice is truth in UN scientists see grim future if no action PARIS: UN scientists are set to deliver their darkest figure that could amount to hundreds of billions of crops is likely to rise by up to 14 percent by 2050 as action: Dr Rabiullah report yet on the impacts of climate change, pointing dollars each year. “The assessments that we can do at Earth’s population grows. The crunch will hit poor, to a future stalked by floods, drought, conflict and eco- the moment probably still underestimate the actual tropical countries worst. hifa Al Jazeera Medical Group Kuwait Q: What is your winning caption? nomic damage if carbon emissions go untamed. impacts of future climate change,” said Jacob Schewe SPECIES LOSS: A “large fraction” of land and fresh- is a premium quality healthcare A: Excellence in execution is my winning A draft of their report is part of a massive overview of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research water species may risk extinction, their habitat provider in the region, having the best caption as any environment which is con- by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (PIK) in Germany, who was not involved in the IPCC destroyed by climate change. S (IPCC), likely to shape policies and climate talks for drafting. Many scientists concurred, he said, that recent affordable treatment by all means within trolled by a systemized and organized man- the limits along with the help of the latest agement will definitely have no unsuccess- years to come. Scientists and government representa- heatwaves and floods were evidence of climate Security threat tives will meet in Yokohama, Japan, from Tuesday to change already on the march-and a harbinger of a Poverty, migration and hunger are invisible drivers medical equipment and expertized doctors ful stories. There are lot of peopleI have hammer out a 29-page summary. It will be unveiled future in which once-freakish weather events become of turbulence and war, as they sharpen competition for who are having a proven record of enthusi- observed those who have very awesome with the full report on March 31. much less rare. Among the perils listed in the draft are dwindling resources, the report warns. asm in taking care the patients with a huge ideas and they are bright, brilliant, ambi- “We have a lot clearer picture of impacts and their these: “Climate change over the 21st century will lead to responsibility of passion towards their pro- tious, talented, but completely failed consequences... including the implications for securi- FLOODING: Rising greenhouse-gas emissions will new challenges to states and will increasingly shape fession supported by paramedical and oth- because they don’t have either the experi- ty,” said Chris Field of the United States’ Carnegie “significantly” boost the risk of floods, with Europe and national security policies,” its draft summary says. er staffs. The social obligation to make the ence or the guts how to execute the things Institution, who headed the probe. The work comes six Asia particularly exposed. In the highest warming sce- “Small-island states and other states highly vulnera- medical care accessible to every class of the in a proper way. This is definitely due to the months after the first volume in the long-awaited Fifth narios of untamed greenhouse gas emissions, three ble to sea-level rise face major challenges to their terri- society including with the departments lack of a personality to navigate them or Assessment Report declared scientists were more cer- times as many people will be exposed to severe river torial integrity. “Some transboundary impacts of cli- such as General medicine, Gynecology, help them to change their business model tain than ever that humans caused global warming. flooding as with lower warming. mate change, such as changes in sea ice, shared water Dentistry, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, ENT, when the world changes based on the It predicted global temperatures would rise 0.3-4.8 DROUGHT: For every 1 C (1.8 F) rise in temperature, resources and migration of fish stocks, have the poten- Internal medicine, Dermatology, requirements of the customers. degrees Celsius (0.5-8.6 degrees Fahrenheit) this centu- another seven percent of the world’s population will tial to increase rivalry among states. The presence of Cosmetology and Ophthalmology could be ry, adding to roughly 0.7 C since the Industrial see renewable water resources decline by a fifth. robust institutions can manage many of these rivalries defined as an oath taken by the whole team Q: Which are the countries in which Revolution. Seas will creep up by 26-82 centimetres RISING SEAS: If no measures are taken, “hundreds to reduce conflict risk.” By reducing carbon emissions of the group. Shifa Al Jazeera Medical your business presence is there? (10.4-32.8 inches) by 2100. The draft warns costs will of millions” of coastal dwellers will be displaced by “over the next few decades”, the world can stave off Group values in committing to provide pre- A: Our group’s presence is there since spiral with each additional degree, although it is hard 2100. Small-island states and East, Southeast and many of the worst climate consequences by century’s mium quality, consistent and cost effective last 3 decades which was commenced in to forecast by how much. Warming of 2.5 C over pre- South Asia will be the biggest land-losers. end, says the report. The IPCC will issue a third volume, medical care to the patients. Excellency is Saudi Arabia, and now deep rooted in industrial times — 0.5 C more than the UN’s target- HUNGER: Average yields of wheat, rice and corn on strategies for tackling carbon emissions, in Berlin on the standard for all with extra focus on serv- Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and UAE. may cost 0.2-2.0 percent of global annual income, a may fall by two percent per decade, while demand for April 13. —AP ing patients with compassion and care, believes the Chairmanof the group, distin- Q: Which are the projects being com- guished among his peers, Dr. K.T. missioned soon? Kids learn stroke signs in Mohammed Rabeeh Rabiullah, the man A: We are working on five projects in the with excellent meritorious perceptions, meanwhile, one in Kuwait, one in Qatar and exemplary leadership skills, graciousness, two of them in Sultanate of Omanand UAE. serviceability and concrete efforts to make The inauguration of our third branch in class through imitation ambitions come true. Abbasiya, Kuwait is scheduled for the 25th of April this year and in Doha our third proj- Q: Sir, could you please shed some ect shall be inaugurated on the 9th of May light on the recent court verdict on your 2014. In Sultanate of Oman, one is a hun- Experimental health education program favor? dred bedded Multi Super Specialty hospital A: Yes, I have a Saudi Arabian General in Ruwi and the other one is a 150 bedded Investment Agency (SAGIA) investor license hospital in Alkhoud. Both are planned to be NEW YORK: Andrea Esteban tried to smile with to manage and run hospitals in the commissioned next year with gods willing. half her face, crossing her eyes in the process, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as I do have in all Another project work is under progress in and her third-grade classmates giggled. other Gulf countries. I planned to invest 43 Karama, Dubai with 150 car parking space Matthew Velez struggled to speak, “Luh, luh, uh, which shall also commissioned next year. gronk,” and the kids erupted in laughter.But the funny faces, the gibberish and some arm flap- Q: How do you evaluate your recogni- ping were all part of a serious lesson to help kids tions and appreciations worldwide? learn the telltale signs of a stroke by imitating A: Yes, I was bestowed with an honorary them. The idea is to enlist children, particularly doctorate by the Open International those who may live with older relatives, as an University for Complimentary medicines in army of eyes to help recognize the warning Colombo, Srilanka last year in recognition signs, get help for victims more quickly and of the humanitarian effort by the group hopefully save lives. towards the society. Also the coveted “If my mom has a stroke, I’ll know what to do,” Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for the said 10-year-old Madison Montes. “Run to the humanitarian exertion was awarded to me phone and call 911.” The experimental health by the President of India on the 7th of education program at Montefiore Medical January 2013. Apart from those, countless Center in the Bronx is aimed at the most crucial accolades from India and GCC countries factor when it comes to a stroke: time. were awarded to me on behalf of my group Each year, about 795,000 Americans have a for accomplishing the social commitments stroke and about 130,000 die. Some are caused which we value at the utmostand resulted by bleeding in the brain, but the vast majority is to the great achievement in business excel- caused by a clot that blocks blood flow, starving lence. On 2nd of April 2014, I will be travel- brain cells. The drug TPA can dissolve those clots ling to United Kingdom to receive another and reduce disability but only if it’s given within recognition of passion and effort which will three to four hours of the first symptoms, and Dr. K.T. Mohammed Rabeeh Rabiullah be presented on 4th of April 2014. It values the sooner the better. Yet only about 5 percent a lot to me and my team as an outcome of of patients receive it, in part because many million Saudi Riyals in a running hospital for combined effort of undefeatable strength. stroke sufferers don’t get to the hospital in time the purpose of transferring it into my name for testing to tell if they’re a candidate. as a foreign investor. Later, to my disap- Q: Do you have any plans to setup The early warning signs include a droopy side pointment I realized that the hospital has to new business in any other countries? of the face, slurred or strange speech, and the be 100 bedded to transfer it into my name A: Of course, we have plans to setup inability to keep arms raised. as per the guidelines of the Ministry of hospitals in London, Singapore and Jakarta, “There’s a pretty good chance some children Health and Saudi Arabian Investment Thailand. There are a large number of might witness a parent or a grandparent having Agency. At this stage, I left the project and Indians and Pakistan nationals in London as a stroke,” said Jim Baranski, CEO of the National handed over the project to my long term well as in Singapore. Indonesia in many Stroke Association. “So if they’re armed with the NEW YORK: Third-graders, Hunter Thomas, Matthew Velez, Sebastian Mendez, Jayden trusted Saudi friend with whom I had a aspects is similar to India. signs and symptoms, they could likely save a Gonzalez and Elijah Farias examine a plastic model of a brain at Montefiore Hospital in the legal agreement. The turn of events that life.” Bronx borough of New York. — AP ensued forced me to move the court Q: What are your broader plans in blood pressure, smoking cigarettes, junk food.” “What if you live in the desert?” was the fol- against the person to protect my interests. Kuwait? Message machines “What if we don’t have a phone?” a girl asked. low-up question, to which Kirchoff smiled and Thank god, the court verdict came in my A: To setup hospitals and medical cen- Montefiore’s program, one of a handful tried Kirchoff suggested asking a neighbor or running said, “It’s a good thing you live in the Bronx.” favor and the person is ordered to pay 43 ters in every part of Kuwait in an easily across the country, has been used since 2012 to a storefront. million Saudi Riyals in five days’ time. I had accessible manner, with quality and reliable with private schools in its neighborhood, where Hip-hop music recommended a lot of doctors and paramedical care availability for citizens and children are often in a grandparent’s care medics to seek job in this project as my expatriates in affordable prices. Also to con- because parents are absent or both working. The After the class, the children were presented friend had sought my help because of my duct healthcare campaigns in a vast mode goal is to study the results and, if successful, with pens labeled “FAST” and with pencil erasers experience and expertise in this field. Most to help needy people to analyze their replicate the program across the country. in the shape of human brains, which were very of them had to leave unexpectedly in the health state in an inexpensive manner. “The kids get a kick out of it because they get popular. One parent in attendance, Jason middle of the contract period. I have always to do a little acting,” said Dr. Robert Glover, a Sawtelle, said he felt the lesson “plants the seed” considered my staffs in all my units, espe- Q: What is in your wish list in Kuwait? neurologist who helped develop the program. “Maybe not every 8-year-old is capable of cially my doctors, as my own brothers and A: To operate a medical center in Kuwait “But when they’re done, they know about stroke this,” he said, “but some certainly are.” sisters or children. Any disturbances to for the bottom layered people by income and they can teach their families.” Similar programs have been tried elsewhere. them because of me are a great cause of prospect to help prevent them from perish- Dr. Kathryn Kirchoff-Torres, who led the class At Harlem Hospital in Manhattan, Dr. Olajide concern to me. This verdict has reinforced ing at early stages in life at prices affordable from St. Ann’s School in the Bronx, said the kids Williams uses hip-hop music to engage New my faith in the judiciary system prevailing in by only middle and upper class category. are already “little message machines” bringing York City fourth- through sixth-graders in three Saudi Arabia and I thank the authorities home from school what they learn about the hours a year of stroke education. from the bottom of my heart for this noble Q: How do you see the investment cli- benefits of exercise, not smoking and eating “Beyond sixth grade, the kids become a little act. This will help to reiterate to the world mate in Kuwait? well. too cool,” Williams said. But with the younger that justice prevails in the Kingdom of Saudi A: Kuwait is an investment friendly At the start of the stroke class last month, in a kids, “we’ve shown that these children can learn Arabia and people from all over the world country and the authorities extend every first-floor room at the hospital, the doctor asked, basic stroke pathology.” He said at least two chil- can have full faith in the Saudi Arabian support for entrepreneurs with a warm wel- “Who knows what a stroke is?” dren have been credited with helping to save Government and the judiciary system come to this country. “A heart attack?” one child offered. lives. A similar stroke education study in the prevalent in this nation.. “Well, we like to call it a brain attack,” Kirchoff- Corpus Christi, Texas, public schools used Tejano Q: Do you forecast an economic boom Torres said. “It’s a problem with the brain.” She music. It was headed by Dr. Lewis Morgenstern, Q: What is your advice to the new in Kuwait? then taught the children to use the word “FAST” director of the stroke program at the University entrepreneurs venturing in the GCC? A: An enormous boom in the economic of Michigan Medical School. The 2007 study A: I have an advice to everyone who is activity of Kuwait is in the imminent retro. I as a memory device. With cartoons and music planning to commence any kind of ven- expect the gross national product of Kuwait bringing the point home, they learned “F” is for NEW YORK: Pencil erasers in the shape of the found that the youngsters responded well. “The tures around the globe and not only in GCC, to grow substantially. face, “A” is for arms, “S” is for speech and “T” is for human brain lie on a table at Montefiore data was highly positive in terms of knowledge that is, without a winning attitude and a Kuwait’s economic status unlike from time. After the play-acting and the multimedia Hospital in the Bronx borough of New York. about stroke and their intention to call 911,” winning concept which are the most pow- other GCC countries is mainly constructed show, the doctor invited questions from the chil- The erasers were given to third-graders who Morgenstern said. “The earlier we can make peo- erful accelerating facts to be concreted in on oil resources. dren. “How do you catch a stroke?” one boy attended a class that teaches them to recog- ple aware of stroke and that it’s arguably the our mind, never invest your wealth or effort Tourism and industrial growth is expect- asked. The doctor assured him that strokes are nize stroke and get victims to a hospital most treatable of all catastrophic conditions, the where ever required. I am a business man ed to reach unprecedented levels.In the not contagious but can be caused by “high quickly. — AP better off we will be.” — AP since last 38 years by which I believe, the next 5 years, one can see Kuwait growing only reason supported me in the extreme on par with UAE and also the country focus to achieve these reaches along with my col- on several new projects which will create leagues whom I believe the most important new job opportunities in the region along Huge abroad, Greek yoghurt elements of my winning journey till date. with an economic hike. They include the doctors, Para medical staffs, and in short the entire management Q: Are you happy with your experi- almost unknown in Greece of each of my ventures. Many times I have ences in Kuwait? faced bitter issues because of entering into A: Definitely, yes. Kuwait residents ATHENS: It’s a global health fad with millions of fans in Europe and the ny, named Chobani, which comes from the Turkish word for shepherd. business in a mode of partnership or propri- including the nationals and expat commu- United States, and yet in Greece, many people have never heard of It is also similar to the Greek word for shepherd, and Chobani pack- etorship, without accurate legal documents nities, they are the real strength of Shifa Al ‘Greek yoghurt’. Equally surprising in an age when billions are spent on ages prominently call it ‘Greek yoghurt’ in the United States. and realized later that mistakes are hap- Jazeera Medical Group in the region like all marketing, the term ‘Greek yoghurt’ is basically a quirk of fate. Meanwhile the Greek company that first broke open the US and pened which I tried not to repeat by any the other regions, who provided the “What is known abroad as ‘Greek yoghurt’ is called ‘straggisto’ European markets decades ago, Fage, features ‘Greek strained yoghurt’ means. There were incidents I was shown extreme level of cooperation which leads to (strained yoghurt) in Greece,” explained Prokopis Ploumbis, a cheese- in smaller type on its packages. out when I requested to incorporate my the support of existence of the group. My maker in the rural outskirts of Athens. “The secret lies in the milk,” he In just seven years, Chobani’s ‘Greek yoghurt’ has become the best- name in the commercial registration for the greatest appreciation and prayers tothe adds. selling yoghurt brand in the United States, and strained yoghurt now funds, even thoughI have invested in a legal great ruler of the country, His HighnessAmir Creamy, rich in protein and low in fat, strained yoghurt made from accounts for 35 percent of the US yoghurt market, from only four per- manner. In one such case, I am still litigating Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah cow’s milk is increasingly prized by health-conscious consumers, and it cent in 2008. “Because it was introduced in this country by a Greek com- in the courts of jurisdiction for my rights to and the Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh has benefited from the growing popularity of the Mediterranean diet in pany, they called it ‘Greek yoghurt.’ It doesn’t matter whether it’s Greek be honored. Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah along the Western world. yoghurt or Turkish yoghurt, as long as it’s a good yoghurt,” Ulukaya told My guidance to others is that always with their supporting diplomats and gov- And yet, in terms of marketing, neither the Greek state nor any Greek Fortune magazine in 2011. ensure proper legal documents are made to ernment officials, who has turned this company had sought to stamp a patent on the product, unlike feta ensure their interests before entering into mountainous country into an economic cheese which is now a protected EU term. No court would have accord- Fage fought back any deals or partnerships. The youthfulness power which has been turned now to one ed protection for ‘Greek yoghurt’ when the term is not even used in “Fage is the one that made known to the world the creamy texture of and health are the greatestgifts from god, of the most leading economic strength and Greece. It thus lay open for the taking. Greek yoghurt, its protein concentration, its rich taste,” said the compa- the almighty. Let us utilize their energy to support to the world in various aspects. ny’s commercial director Alexis Alexopoulos. its full extent to go up in life and to be a Long live to serve this nation for a long Shepherding the crowds However the 88-year-old Athens-based family company, which source of help to the needy ones. Treat your term, praying with whole heart to god, the Sensing an opportunity, Turkish entrepreneur Hamdi Ulukaya was exports dairy products to 40 countries, eventually had to concede defeat business as your second child. almighty. able to make a killing on the American market with his yoghurt compa- in the United States. —AFP MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Sebamed: Highlight of the perfumes and cosmetics exhibition

By Sherif Ismail regenerate the skin with extreme care, even sen- are unique because they are free of alkaline sitive skin. Sebamed products give the skin a ingredients and are safe, and she advised her KUWAIT: The cosmetics and perfumes exhibition fresh, smooth look. All ingredients of Sebamed friends to use them. is full of body- and skincare products, but for a are of supreme quality and efficient. Um Khalid said that she had problems using product to be unique and outstanding among Um Mohammad, who was at the booth, said children’s products on her son, who suffered others is rare at the exhibition in particular or in her body and hair were exhausted with failed from skin allergies, until the doctor advised her the Kuwaiti market in general. We had the oppor- experiments with shampoos and creams that are to use Sebamed lotion and diaper rash cream. tunity to visit the Sebamed stand, which is the chemically based. She then decided to use natu- The problems soon disappeared. number one company in the world in the field of ral or medical formulas that are not chemical or It was noted that the highly skilled staff of skincare, and its slogan is “Science for Healthy alkaline based. When a friend advised her to use Sebamed - Awad Al-Naief, Laila Al-Bourini and Skin.” Sebamed products, she said that she found them Waleed Muslih - answered all our questions Sebamed products are not like any other “cos- excellent, like magic, and “my hair is back to its about the products and advised customers on metic” products. They have been developed to health with a luster.” She said Sebamed products the optimum use of the skincare systems.

Awad Al Naief Lila Al Borini Mohammed Waleed Mosleh The Sebamed booth at Mishref fairground. — Photos by Sherif Ismail. WHAT’S ON MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Adnar Group MD, Randa Haidar awarding KMBS the GMC Kuwait -2013 National Trophy. National winner - KMBS team. KMBS wins the Kuwait GMC Prepares to compete against 40 countries in GMC

Gulf Bank - Salma Al-Hajjaj Dr. Nabil El-Hilali AUK - Dr Nizar Hamzeh

t a gala dinner event at the the areas of consulting, recruiting and ment program is the cutting edge tive companies to represent your and provided you an opportunity to and rubbing shoulders with fellow Holiday Inn; marking the end of training. Today we are gathered here Training & Talent development tool companies and universities at the develop resilience and demonstrate professionals and learning from each Athe national competition of the for the Global Management Challenge today. Global Management Challenge, and your skills under stress and in the face other. Global Management Challenge - which is a part of our training services. GMC was kicked-off for the first today I take pride in congratulating of enormous competition and as one Our motto at Gulf Bank as I men- Kuwait 2013 Edition that started last Over the years; interacting with our time in the Arab world from Kuwait in you again for seeing it through to the of the participants, I spoke to, said: “at tioned in November is ‘Be the November, ADNAR Group, the official clients, they brought to our attention 2012, and this year we started in end. Irrespective if you win or lose it the finals yesterday; it was one of the Change’; so now that you have chal- organizer, announced the National their need for an innovative learning Qatar. was about rising up to the occasion most stressful yet exhilarating experi- lenged yourself through participat- Team who won the honor of repre- tool that will bridge the gap between I will share with you a glimpse of and taking on the challenge. ences I’ve ever had”. And that’s really ing in the Global Management senting the Nation of Kuwait in the the academic & technical training and what happened in 2013: Video. I had also said that you were cho- what its all about. Challenge you have proven that International Final in Sochi-Russia the real job; they wanted to bring sen for the Global Challenge not I am very proud of the perform- being the change starts from within next September. their staff’s competencies up to par Speech because it is was going to be easy, but ance of the teams representing Gulf and you must be the change you The Global Management with what their businesses need and Salma Al-Hajjaj (General Manager because it was going to be hard, Bank and becoming the only organi- want to see in the world. “Some peo- Challenge is the world’s largest strate- fast. of Human Resources - Gulf Bank) because it would challenge your ener- zation to have two teams reach the ple make things happen, some gic & management competition When the Global Management Good Evening Ladies and gies and skills, and I am sure today finals in the national challenge. watch things happen, while others based on simulation. This futuristic Challenge was presented to us, we Gentlemen, you will agree with me. But I am also Today, it is indeed a moment of pride wonder what has happened. There is talent development program is the saw a perfect fit for their needs, Three months ago I congratulated sure that it must have been a wonder- for every Gulf Banker. We’re also a constant demand for change and cutting edge training & talent devel- because this futuristic talent develop- you for being chosen by your respec- ful learning experience for all of you proud to have been part of this event the only way to deal with this dis- opment tool today, more than ruption is to disrupt the old ways or 500,000 managers and university stu- you will soon be disrupted yourself. dents from more than 40 countries I’m sure you’re all excited about participated in it so far throughout hearing the results; so I wish the the world. The participants came from winning team all the best and hope all walks of life; senior and middle you will bring the Global Challenge managers, managers to be and stu- Trophy to Kuwait making us all very dents. proud. In the competition each team manages a fictitious company with the Speech objective of getting the highest com- Dr Nizar Hamzeh (President of pany investment performance in the the American University of Kuwait - simulated stock exchange. They take AUK) decisions in the areas of marketing, Colleagues, participants, ladies sales, human & financial resources and and gentlemen, production, just like what happens in Please allow me to start with the real life, simulating a real business obvious; we are in the midst of the environment. perfect example of competition Kuwait Maastricht Business School among higher education institutions - KMBS emerged the “National on the national level and also of Winner” of the Global Management partnership with the private sector. Challenge - Kuwait 2013 Edition for We at the American University of the second year on the role, after a Kuwait are committed not only to very long day during the national provide students with technical competition and battling against 5 competency in professional fields other finalist teams they won the but also critical thinking, sound val- National Title victorious once more. ues, strong leadership, intellectual The first award of the evening was curiosity, integrity, civic responsibili- awarded to Gulf Bank’s Team for ty and above all mutual cooperation. achieving the “Highest Investment The challenge has created a Performance Boost in One Quarter” simultaneously exciting yet intense- during the National Final ly demanding arena for all partici- Competition. Gulf Bank also secured a pants. In this arena participants close second place. GMC Kuwait 2013 - Gulf Bank team. have been provided the opportunity The American University of Kuwait to learn by doing, and to experience - AUK came in third, and was com- risk and team dynamics like modern mended for their performance against day gladiators. Whatever the out- MBA students and experienced busi- come of the completion thus far we ness teams. are indeed thrilled by the commitment, enthusiasm and professional- Speech ism shown by all players, and of Ms Randa Haidar (Managing course especially that shown by our Director - ADNAR Group) outstanding students from AUK. We are honored and privileged to On behalf of the American have you as our guests tonight. I had a University of Kuwait and the College vision of establishing a company with of Business & Economics, I would three major strategy points: like to thank the organizers, Global 1- To experiment on the idea; that Management Challenge, for organiz- a business can be ethical and success- ing this important national competi- ful. tion, which has made us learn more 2- To provide services and products about ourselves and others. that we are the best at. Sincere congratulations to 3- Not to compete with the same all...... Thank you product in the same market. I wanted the company to be light Speech and effective, it was designed allow- Dr. Nabil El - Hilali (Represented ing the possibility to land in any coun- the Kuwait Maastricht Business try; given a computer, internet and a School speech - KMBS) phone we could run the company; it Dr Al-Hilali gave a snapshot about was possible by having everything Global Management as a concept web based. This was in 2007, at that and what it takes to be successful in point the cloud technology was not the global arena, he also expressed well known yet. the pride KMBS has to have won last Today, we evolved further into the year and is participating for the sec- cloud technology; our accounting is in ond consecutive year. Canada, our databases are in the US He wished good luck to all and our back-up is in the UK. congratulated the competing teams ADNAR Group provides services in GMC Kuwait 2013 - AUK team. on this exceptional experience. WHAT’S ON MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 GUST welcomes high school students, families to Open House

he Gulf University for Science The university opened its doors and Technology (GUST) Public to all those interested with an Open TRelations Department in col- House from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. pro- laboration with all the university viding tours of the university, departments including, organized details about registration and the an Open House for all high school majors available, a chance to meet students from public and private some of the student clubs, the sectors along with their families to opportunity to spend a day at the visit the university, see the campus, university and see how a typical day enjoy the bustling university atmos- at GUST looks and feel s like, enjoy phere, get a tour of the university the outdoors, the live music and the and ask any questions they want variety of restaurants with their from any department to help them friends and family while learning make their decision about their uni- about the various majors offered at versity education and experience. GUST and what extra-curricular The Public Relations activities would add to their educa- Department, Dr. Donald Bates, tional experience. A setup of many GUST President and Dr. Ghassan GUST student artworks was set up Aouad, VP of Academic Affairs were in the center of the campus to present throughout the day to wel- showcase student talent and show come the students and their fami- GUST support for all its students’ lies. The students got to visit each talents. Small performances from booth for the different departments the GUST music students were including: Student Success Center, done throughout the day to enter- Office of Student Life, Athletics, tain and give some ambiance to the Registration, Admission, Student event. Enrichment Services, MBA and This has been the first of its kind Alumni; as well as a lot of the stu- and GUST aims to host this Open dent clubs, including: Marketing, House a couple of times a year for Media, Photography, Accounting, high school students to get the English, Sports, Anime, IFC, opportunity to take an inside look Volunteer, Computer Science and at the campus and what the univer- Management. sity has to offer. Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa introduces Italian chef umeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Instituto Alberghiero G. Salvemini and Francesco Picaro recently intro- Spa, Kuwait’s idyllic resort, has his Masters Certificate in Gourmet from duced a new menu including a selec- Jappointed a new Italian chef the A Tavola Con Lo Chef in Rome. He tion of aperitivi or drinks, antipasti, Francesco Picaro. has over 13 years’ experience in the soups, an assortment of risottos and Born in Naples, the capital of the culinary world gained from luxury pasta dishes and a wider variety of Italian region of Campania, Francesco hotels in Egypt, Libya, the United main courses, pizzas and desserts. Picaro received his diploma from States and in his home country Italy. Gourmet coffee choices are also offered. Among the selection of aperitivi, is Venezia, a refreshing drink made from fresh grapes, passion fruit, lemon juice and rosemary. For antipasti, Insalata di Mare includes a mix of octopus, shrimps, calamari, mussels, celeries and carrot with a lemon dressing. The soup options now include Zuppa di Pesce alla Mediterranea or Mediterranean seafood soup. For risotto and pasta options, traditional Italian Lasagna is offered and for a hearty main course the sumptuous Costolette d’Agnello, made from lamb chop with pistachio, sautÈ vegetables, mashed potato and rosemary sauce is a popular choice. Authentic Italian pizzas made in a wood burning oven include the Frutti di Mare made from tomato, mozzarella, prawns, mussels and calamari. On behalf of Yusuff Ali, Mohamed Haris, Regional Director of Kuwait operations received the IBC award from Adi Godrej, Chairman of Godrej Group of Companies India. Fankaar Arts performs for IBC honours Yusuff Ali Rajasthan Darpan Association ndian Business Council, Kuwait the trade, investment and friendly honoured Yusuff Ali. M.A for his relationship between both these heater group Fankaar Arts presented remarkable achievements in countries for the past several years. their hit play ‘Le Chal’ at the Rajasthan I Business & Industry and his distin- On behalf of Yusuff Ali, Mohamed Darpan Associations 5th year celebration T guished services in the field of social Haris, Regional Director of Kuwait show on 8th March at the Indian Embassy work. As an Indian businessman in operations received the IBC award Auditorium. Shri Sunil Jain, Ambassador of Kuwait for the past one and half from Mr. Adi Godrej, Chairman of India to Kuwait graced the occasion as Chief decades, Yusuff Ali strived to promote Godrej Group of Companies India. Guest alongwith senior officials from the Indian Embassy. The show started with performances by famous bollywood imperson- ators like Jr Rajesh Khanna, Jr Amitabh Bachchan and Jr Salman Khan who were already in Kuwait to perform a day earlier at the India Bangladesh Cultural Show organized by Raz Kamal Association at Abbasiya Touristic Park. These visiting artists mesmerized audiences with their looks, dance style and dialogue delivery imitating the great actors with finesse. Followed by a few patriotic songs sung by Milli Mishra, Prabha, Yusuf Misri, Judy Periera and Waseem. Later, much awaited Fankaar Arts Play ‘Le Chal’ written and directed by Arif Kazi took stage. The short comedy play with a social message at the end was very well appreciated by the audiences. Director Arif Kazi who also acted in the play along with local actors Naeem Chaugule, Shah Jahan Jaffery, Anwar Kadri, George Dsouza, Caroline Johnson, Farook Kasim, Nabeel Chogle, Vijaya Nair, Sana Hayat, Dev Kumhar, Amena Japanwala, Saima Ahmed and Ahmed Kazi presented a hilariously entertaining act. After the play, the singers performed a few more songs before all the artist of the evening were awarded a memento each as a token of appreciation by RDA President Dhanpal Panchal who concluded the evening with the vote of thanks. Fankaar Arts performed at the Indian Embassy after 11 years since it was closed by Embassy authorities and recently reopened. Nissan Al-Babtain opens Express Service Centers at Al Rai, Al Ahmadi on Fridays bdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al- est amongst the automotive indus- busy shopping areas will be opened Babtain Company, the sole try in the country. between 2pm to 8pm. Vehicles can Aagents of Nissan cars in Mohammad Shalaby, Chief be left at workshop while you spend Kuwait, announced the extended Operating Officer of Al Babtain time with family & friends, you will opening hours of its Express service group informed “We are consistently be intimated once it is ready after centers at Al Rai and Al Ahmadi on perusing our vision & long term service, to ferry you back home after Fridays between 02:00 pm to 08:00 strategy to continuously expand the shopping. Similarly Al Ahmadi pm starting from March 21, 2014. In network, revamp & modernize the Service will also be open to receive a press statement on this occasion, existing facilities, add new products your cars between 2pm to 8pm. company informed that it is Al and services, engage with our cus- Company invites its valued customer Babtain groups vision & a long term tomers to meet their changing needs to visit these Express service centers strategy to offer the best customer and growing demands.” Mohammed on Fridays even without an appoint- service to its customer. Company Rauf, National Service Manager ment and experience its exceptional ensures that customer receives added “Busy working schedules, dur- service. Trained staff is available in extreme care and gets the highest ing working days constraints cus- full attendance to meet your service level of customer satisfaction tomers to visit service facilities, requests. through various touch points of its hence we were receiving requests to Al Babtain group is in thecontinu- operations. Today Nissan owners in open our facilities during convenient ous process of reinvigorating its Kuwait enjoy excess to the largest hours on Fridays also”. In response, aftersales - service and parts net- aftersales network of 8 service cen- now Al Rai Express Service Centre work to ensure its customer have the ters and 14 spare parts outlets, high- located in vicinity of popular and best vehicle ownership experience. TV PROGRAMS MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

07:50 Classic Car Rescue 10:15 A.N.T. Farm 08:40 Overhaulin’ 2013 10:40 Aladdin & The King Of 09:30 Gold Rush Thieves 10:20 Alaska Gold Diggers 12:00 Prank Stars 00:30 The Weakest Link 11:10 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 12:15 That’s So Raven L’Wren Scott funeral to 01:15 Live At The Apollo 12:00 Destroyed In Seconds 12:35 Dog With A Blog 02:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 13:40 How It’s Made 13:00 A.N.T. Farm 02:45 Pramface 14:05 How It’s Made 13:25 Jessie be held in Los Angeles 03:15 Stewart Lee’s Comedy 14:30 How Stuff’s Made 13:45 Austin & Ally Vehicle 14:55 How Stuff’s Made 14:10 Good Luck Charlie he funeral for fashion designer L’Wren Scott, 03:45 The Vicar Of Dibley 15:20 How Stuff’s Made 14:35 Mako Mermaids who committed suicide last week in New York, 15:45 Auction Kings 04:15 The Weakest Link 15:00 Dog With A Blog will be held in Los Angeles, a representative for 05:00 Tweenies 16:10 Auction Kings 15:25 Liv And Maddie T her boyfriend Mick Jagger said. Scott, 49, was found 05:20 Teletubbies 16:35 Auction Kings 15:50 Prank Stars 05:45 Jollywobbles 17:00 Auction Kings 16:10 Austin & Ally dead in her high-rise apartment in Manhattan’s 05:50 Me Too! 17:25 Auction Kings 16:35 Mako Mermaids upscale Chelsea neighborhood on Monday. The med- 06:10 Tweenies 17:50 Border Security 17:00 Mako Mermaids ical examiner’s office ruled that the former fashion 06:30 Teletubbies 18:15 Border Security 17:20 Mako Mermaids model and stylist had committed suicide by hanging. 18:40 Border Security 06:55 Jollywobbles 17:45 Mako Mermaids A spokeswoman for Jagger, lead singer for the 07:05 Me Too! 19:05 Border Security 18:10 Liv And Maddie Rolling Stones which postponed a world tour follow- 07:25 3rd & Bird 19:30 Border Security 18:30 Prank Stars 07:35 David Copperfield 19:55 Mythbusters 18:55 Good Luck Charlie ing Scott’s death, said late Saturday that Scott’s funer- 08:20 Doctor Who 20:45 Dynamo: Magician 19:20 Mako Mermaids al would take place in Los Angeles, but could not give 09:05 The Weakest Link Impossible 19:40 Jessie a date or a precise location. — Reuters 09:50 My Family 21:35 The Big Brain Theory 20:05 Austin & Ally 10:20 The Vicar Of Dibley 22:25 Gold Rush 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 10:50 One Foot In The Grave 23:15 Alaska Gold Diggers 20:50 Dog With A Blog 11:25 The Weakest Link 21:15 Liv And Maddie 12:10 David Copperfield 21:40 Shake It Up 12:55 Doctor Who 22:00 Austin & Ally 13:45 Doctor Who Confidential 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 14:00 Doctors 16:30 Doctor Who 17:15 Drop Zone 00:40 Dark Matters 18:05 Upstairs Downstairs 01:30 Bang Goes The Theory 19:00 The Vicar Of Dibley 02:00 Food Factory 19:30 My Family 02:25 How Tech Works 00:00 Chelsea Lately 20:00 Five Daughters 02:50 X-Machines 00:30 The Dance Scene 20:50 New Tricks 03:45 X-Machines 00:55 The Dance Scene 21:40 Friday Night Dinner 04:35 X-Machines 01:25 15 Remarkable Celebrity 22:05 Extras 06:15 Food Factory Body Bouncebacks 22:35 The Omid Djalili Show 06:40 How Tech Works 03:15 THS 23:05 Stewart Lee’s Comedy 07:05 Bang Goes The Theory 04:10 E!ES Vehicle 08:00 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 05:05 Extreme Close-Up 23:35 The Vicar Of Dibley 08:50 Joe Rogan Questions 06:00 E!ES Everything 07:50 Style Star 09:40 Food Factory 08:20 E! News 10:05 How Tech Works 09:15 Scouted 10:30 Thunder Races 10:15 Eric And Jessie: Game On 11:25 Thunder Races 10:40 Eric And Jessie: Game On 00:05 Cash In The Attic 12:20 Thunder Races 11:10 Married To Jonas 00:50 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 13:10 Scrapheap Challenge 11:35 Married To Jonas 01:40 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 14:00 Scrapheap Challenge 12:05 E! News 02:30 Come Dine With Me: 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 13:05 The Wanted Life Supersized 15:20 Food Factory 14:05 Keeping Up With The Aretha Franklin and Denzel Washington with Clifton 04:05 Marbella Mansions 15:45 How Tech Works Kardashians Oliver, rear, attend her 72nd birthday celebration on 04:50 Marbella Mansions 16:10 Brave New World 16:00 Giuliana & Bill Saturday in New York. — AP 05:35 Marbella Mansions 17:00 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 17:00 Fashion Police 06:25 Marbella Mansions 17:55 Large Dangerous Rocket 18:00 E! News 07:15 Marbella Mansions Ships 2011 19:00 Hello Ross THE DARK KNIGHT RISES ON OSN MOVIES HD 08:00 Cash In The Attic 18:45 Kings Of Construction 19:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On Aretha Franklin 08:45 Cash In The Attic 19:35 Space Voyages 20:00 Keeping Up With The 14:00 A Heartbeat Away-PG15 09:35 Bargain Hunt 20:30 Joe Rogan Questions Kardashians 16:00 Sky Force-FAM 10:20 Fat & Fatter Everything 21:00 Keeping Up With The 18:00 Madea’s Witness Protection celebrates birthday 11:15 French Food At Home 21:20 Sci-Fi Saved My Life Kardashians 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 00:00 Mash-18 20:00 Gangster Squad-18 11:40 French Food At Home 22:10 Food Factory 22:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills Stewart 02:00 Cottage Country-PG15 22:00 Sacrifice-PG15 with Denzel 12:05 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 22:35 How Tech Works 22:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 01:00 The Colbert Report 04:00 White Chicks-PG15 12:30 The Restaurant UK 23:00 Joe Rogan Questions 23:00 Hello Ross 03:00 How I Met Your Mother 06:00 The Great Outdoors-PG15 he fellas love Aretha Franklin: Denzel Washington 13:25 The Good Cook Everything 23:30 Chelsea Lately 03:30 How I Met Your Mother 08:00 The Ringer-PG15 helped the Queen of Soul celebrate her 72nd 13:50 The Good Cook 23:50 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 04:00 All Of Us 10:00 Fun Size-PG15 01:00 Total Rugby 14:15 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen birthday in style, and Andre 3000 and Babyface are 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 12:00 White Chicks-PG15 01:30 ICC Cricket 360 T Notebook: London Jimmy Fallon 14:00 Norbit-PG15 02:00 PGA European Tour working on new music for the icon. Franklin held an 14:40 Fat & Fatter 05:30 Better Off Ted 16:00 Fun Size-PG15 06:30 Inside The PGA Tour exclusive and small party Saturday in New York City for 15:35 Antiques Roadshow 06:00 The War At Home 18:00 Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot 07:00 Trans World Sport her birthday, which is on Tuesday. Washington entered 16:25 Antiques Roadshow 06:30 Arrested Development 20:00 Vampire In Brooklyn-PG15 08:00 Live HSBC Sevens World the Ritz-Carlton Hotel quietly, though the crowd got 17:20 Antiques Roadshow 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 22:00 Mash-18 00:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Series excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a 18:10 Antiques Roadshow 08:00 All Of Us 16:30 Futbol Mundial 19:05 Antiques Roadshow 00:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody baseball cap. Franklin thanked the actor for attending. 00:45 Jonas 08:30 Better Off Ted 17:00 NRL Premiership 20:00 Fat & Fatter 09:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 Trans World Sport Just hours earlier, she saw him onstage in the Broadway 20:50 Come Dine With Me: 01:05 Jonas 01:30 Suite Life On Deck 10:30 Arrested Development 20:00 Inside The PGA Tour play, “A Raisin In the Sun.” Her longtime musical collabo- Supersized 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 01:50 Suite Life On Deck 01:15 Ant And Decs Saturday Night 20:30 Live PGA Tour rator, Clive Davis, also attended. 22:25 Antiques Roadshow Jimmy Fallon 02:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place Takeaway 01:00 Red Lights-PG15 The singer was all smiles at the event. She said in an 23:15 Bargain Hunt 12:00 The War At Home 02:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 02:25 Miranda 03:00 Offline-PG15 12:30 All Of Us interview that she’s working on new music with rapper 03:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 02:55 Emmerdale 05:00 Class-PG15 13:00 Better Off Ted Andre 3000 and singer-songwriter Babyface. “Babyface 03:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 05:00 The Hungry Sailors 07:00 Someday This Pain Will Be 13:30 Arrested Development is working on the tracks,” she said. He’s also guest star- 03:45 Jonas 05:55 May The Best House Win Useful To You-PG15 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 02:00 Trans World Sport 04:05 Jonas 06:50 Ant And Decs Saturday Night 09:00 Red Lights-PG15 ring with Toni Braxton in the Broadway musical “After 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 03:00 Live NHL 04:30 Suite Life On Deck Takeaway 11:00 Salmon Fishing In The Midnight,” which celebrates Duke Ellington’s years at the Stewart 06:00 WWE Bottom Line 04:50 Suite Life On Deck 08:00 The Jonathan Ross Show Yemen-PG15 Cotton Club nightclub in Harlem. Their stints in the 00:05 World’s Scariest 16:00 The Colbert Report 07:00 Live NRL Premiership 05:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 08:55 The Chase 13:00 Beneath Hill 60-PG15 00:55 Uncovering Aliens 16:30 The War At Home 09:00 Total Rugby show run through March 30. “So, I’m just waiting for him 05:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 10:40 Please Marry My Boy 15:00 Too Late To Say Goodbye 01:45 Finding Bigfoot 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 09:30 Trans World Sport to finish that so he can finish my tracks please,” Franklin 06:00 Austin & Ally 11:35 Agatha Christie’s Marple 17:00 Pop Star-PG15 02:35 How It’s Made 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 Live NRL Premiership said. “And I think Andre 2000 - is it two or three? 3000 is 06:25 Dog With A Blog 13:10 Dancing On Ice 19:00 Broken-PG15 03:00 How It’s Made 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 12:30 Inside The PGA Tour 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 15:00 Dancing On Ice 21:00 Peacock-18 going to be doing some of the tracks with him.” 03:25 How Stuff’s Made 19:00 2 Broke Girls 13:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 16:50 The Hungry Sailors 23:00 White Irish Drinkers-18 When asked what she wants for her birthday, 03:50 How Stuff’s Made 19:30 Two And A Half Men 13:30 Live PGA European Tour 07:35 That’s So Raven 17:45 Paul Ogrady: For The Love Of Franklin said. “I’m looking for a record deal for my 04:15 How Stuff’s Made 20:00 Men At Work 17:30 WWE This Week 07:55 Shake It Up Dogs 04:40 How Do They Do It? 20:30 Parks And Recreation 18:00 NHL granddaughter Victorie, and my son Kecalf.” They both 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 18:10 Please Marry My Boy 05:05 How Do They Do It? 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 20:00 Live LPGA Tour performed recently at the BET Honors special, which 08:45 Dog With A Blog 19:00 Dancing On Ice 05:30 How Do They Do It? Stewart 23:00 Super Rugby paid tribute to Franklin. “I would be happy with that,” 09:05 Mako Mermaids 20:50 The Hungry Sailors 06:00 How Do They Do It? 21:30 The Colbert Report 09:30 Jessie 21:45 Four Weddings UK 01:15 Firelight-18 she said. Earlier this month, Franklin performed at the 06:30 How Do They Do It? 22:00 Saturday Night Live 07:00 Fast N’ Loud 09:55 Austin & Ally 22:35 Agatha Christie’s Marple 03:00 Twenty Bucks-PG15 White House alongside Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and other 23:00 Legit 05:00 The Caller-PG15 soul singers. “What a shoutin’ good time we had,” she 06:45 Here-PG15 exclaimed. “The White House is still rocking right 09:00 Thorne: Sleepyhead-PG15 11:15 I Am-PG15 00:30 ICC Cricket 360 now!”— AP 13:00 Darling Companion-PG15 01:00 ICC T20I World Cup 00:00 The Mob Doctor 15:00 Playdate-PG15 04:00 ICC World T20 Highlights 01:00 Helix 17:00 I Am-PG15 04:30 ICC Cricket 360 02:00 Sons Of Anarchy 19:00 Wish You Were Here-PG15 05:00 ICC World T20 Highlights 03:00 Game Of Thrones 21:00 The Beach-PG15 07:00 ICC World T20 Highlights 04:00 Bones 23:00 Beyond Borders-18 08:00 ICC Cricket 360 06:00 The Mob Doctor 08:30 ICC World T20 Highlights 07:00 Last Resort 09:30 ICC World T20 Highlights 08:00 Necessary Roughness 10:30 ICC World T20 Highlights 10:00 Helix 11:30 ICC Cricket 360 12:00 Live OSN Studio 11:00 Bones 00:30 Buried-PG15 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Live ICC T20I World Cup 02:15 Fastest-PG15 16:00 Live OSN Studio 12:30 Coronation Street 04:15 You Will Meet A Tall Dark 14:00 Necessary Roughness 16:30 Live ICC T20I World Cup Stranger-PG15 20:00 Live OSN Studio Post Match 15:00 The Mob Doctor 06:15 The Dark Knight Rises-PG15 16:00 Emmerdale 20:30 ICC Cricket 360 09:00 Iron Man 3-PG15 21:00 ICC T20I World Cup 16:30 Coronation Street 11:15 A Christmas Kiss-PG15 17:00 American Idol 13:00 Arthur 3: And The War Of 18:00 Necessary Roughness Two Worlds-PG 19:00 Burn Notice 15:00 Blue Lagoon: The 20:00 Top Gear (US) Awakening-PG15 21:00 Suits 00:00 Pawn Stars 16:45 Iron Man 3-PG15 01:00 Counting Cars 22:00 Supernatural 19:00 Gambit-PG15 23:00 Game Of Thrones 02:00 Shipping Wars 21:00 The Expendables 2-PG15 02:30 Shipping Wars 03:00 American Restoration 03:30 American Restoration 04:00 Duck Dynasty 00:00 The Americans 01:00 The Ugly Duckling In The 04:30 Duck Dynasty 01:00 C.S.I. New York Enchanted Forest 05:00 Counting Cars 02:00 Good Morning America 02:45 Eleanor’s Secret 05:30 Counting Cars 03:00 Nip/Tuck 04:15 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: 06:00 Storage Wars: New York 04:00 Rescue Me Viva LA Fiesta! 08:00 Ancient Aliens 05:00 C.S.I. New York 06:00 The Ugly Duckling In The 09:00 Storage Wars Texas 06:00 Good Morning America Enchanted Forest 10:00 Mountain Men 07:00 Emmerdale 08:00 Kim The River Of Peace 11:00 Pawn Stars 07:30 Coronation Street 10:00 Twigson 11:30 Pawn Stars 09:00 24 11:45 Gaturro 12:00 Storage Wars Texas 10:00 Emmerdale 13:15 Madagascar 12:30 Storage Wars Texas 10:30 Coronation Street 14:45 Emilie Jolie 13:00 Storage Wars Texas 16:00 Thunderstruck 14:00 Auschwitz: Journey Into Hell 18:00 Twigson 15:00 Counting Cars 20:00 Dragon Hunters 15:30 Counting Cars 22:00 Emilie Jolie 16:00 Pawn Stars 23:30 Kim The River Of Peace 16:30 Pawn Stars 00:30 Billy Bathgate-18 17:00 Storage Wars Texas 02:30 Dredd-18 17:30 Storage Wars Texas 04:15 Metal Shifters-PG15 18:00 Shipping Wars 06:00 Stealth-PG15 18:30 Shipping Wars 08:00 Virtuosity-PG15 00:00 A Dark Truth-18 19:00 Duck Dynasty 10:00 Transformers-PG15 02:00 Haywire-PG15 19:30 Duck Dynasty 12:30 Abandoned-PG15 04:00 Magic Journey To Africa- 20:00 Storage Wars Texas 14:00 Virtuosity-PG15 PG15 20:30 Storage Wars Texas 16:00 Skyfall-PG15 06:00 Dating Coach-PG15 21:00 Ancient Aliens 18:30 Abandoned-PG15 08:00 Sky Force-FAM 22:00 Auschwitz: Journey Into Hell Sheryl Crow performs during The Cowboy Rides Away 20:00 Bait-PG15 10:00 A Christmas Story 2-PG 23:00 Storage Wars: New York VIRTUOSITY ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 22:00 Skyfall-PG15 12:00 Haywire-PG15 23:30 Storage Wars: New York Tour at Philips Arena in Atlanta. — AP Classifieds

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/03/2014 TO 26/03/2014)

SHARQIA-1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:45 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 5:15 PM HAUNT (DIG) 10:45 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 12:30 AM DIVERGENT (DIG) 8:15 PM HAUNT (DIG) 12:45 AM DIVERGENT (DIG) 4:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED DIVERGENT (DIG) 11:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 7:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:30 PM FANAR-5 BAIRAQ-1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 12:15 AM HAUNT (DIG) 12:30 PM AVENUES-5 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 1:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED HAUNT (DIG) 2:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 4:15 PM HAUNT (DIG) 4:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 3:00 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 6:45 PM SHARQIA-2 THE DOUBLE (DIG) 6:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 5:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 9:15 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 1:15 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 8:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 8:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 11:45 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY HAUNT (DIG) 10:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 11:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 3:45 PM HAUNT (DIG) 12:30 AM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 5:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED BAIRAQ-2 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 7:45 PM 360º- 1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:15 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 10:15 PM MARINA-1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:00 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 5:00 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 12:45 AM MINUSCULE: VALLEY DIVERGENT (DIG) 5:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 7:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 2:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 8:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 4:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 11:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 12:30 AM SHARQIA-3 MINUSCULE: VALLEY NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 6:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 4:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 8:30 PM 360º- 2 BAIRAQ-3 THE DOUBLE (DIG) 6:15 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 10:45 PM HAUNT (DIG) 1:45 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY NON-STOP (DIG) 8:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:45 AM HAUNT (DIG) 3:45 PM OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 12:30 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 10:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED HAUNT (DIG) 5:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 2:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 AM HAUNT (DIG) 7:45 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY NO SUN+TUE+WED MARINA-2 HAUNT (DIG) 10:00 PM OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 4:30 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 1:30 PM HAUNT (DIG) 12:05 AM NON-STOP (DIG) 6:30 PM CHANGE OF NAME FOR RENT MUHALAB-1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 4:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:45 PM Auto spare parts 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 7:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 10:45 PM I, Saud Ali Vettukattu NON-STOP (DIG) 3:30 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:45 PM 360º- 3 NON-STOP (DIG) 12:45 AM Kuniyil holder of Indian shop NON-STOP (DIG) 5:45 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 12:30 AM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 1:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Passport No. L1164641, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 8:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 3:45 PM Canadadry street, NON-STOP (DIG) 10:00 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 5:45 PM PLAZA hereby change my name to MARINA-3 LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:15 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY Saud Ali Koya. Address: opposite Al-Anbaa MUHALAB-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 10:30 PM OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 3:45 PM Mishkath, Thuvvakkode, newspaper, next to MINUSCULE: VALLEY NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 12:45 AM FRI+SAT+MON Cheman Chery, Kozhikode OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 12:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 5:45 PM Dt, Kerala, India. (C 4674) Roudha car wash. MINUSCULE: VALLEY NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 7:00 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 8:15 PM 24-3-2014 OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 2:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 9:30 PM AL-KOUT.1 DIVERGENT (DIG) 10:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 4:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 12:05 AM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 12:30 PM Tel: 99683498 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 7:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 3:00 PM LAILA I, Dahodwala Husain NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 9:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 5:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 5:30 PM Joharbhai holder of AVENUES-1 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 7:30 PM NO THU+SUN Passport No. K3652369, MUHALAB-3 THE DOUBLE (DIG) 1:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 10:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 8:00 PM hereby change my surname SITUATION VACANT DIVERGENT (DIG) 1:00 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 4:00 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 12:30 AM FR+SAT to Bhabhrawala Husain DIVERGENT (DIG) 3:45 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 6:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Special Show “NEED FOR Joharbhai. (C 4671) Housemaid required full- DIVERGENT (DIG) 6:30 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 8:30 PM SPEED (DIG)” for Times International 8:00 PM time or part-time 6 - 3:30 DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:15 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 10:30 PM AL-KOUT.2 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 10:45 PM I, Eliyas Johnson S/O Elias pm in Farwaniya for 1 THE DOUBLE (DIG) 12:45 AM DIVERGENT (DIG) 12:45 PM NO THU+SUN month who can take care of FANAR-1 NO SUN+TUE+WED DIVERGENT (DIG) 3:30 PM On Sunday (23/03/2014), Cinema is booked full day for holder of Passport No. A8968226 hereby changed 2.5-year-old child and 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:45 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 6:15 PM French Film Festival knows cooking, English DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:00 PM On Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, 8.00 pm show is Elias Johnson Kuriakose, NON-STOP (DIG) 3:45 PM AVENUES-2 speaking is a must, salary 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 6:00 PM HAUNT (DIG) 12:45 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 11:45 PM booked for French Film Festival. no.3 Bishopwallers Avenue LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PM HAUNT (DIG) 2:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED west Mylapore, Chennai 4. KD 120. Call: 97220933. NON-STOP (DIG) 10:00 PM HAUNT (DIG) 4:45 PM AJIAL.1 (C 4672) (C 4670) NON-STOP (DIG) 12:15 AM HAUNT (DIG) 6:45 PM AL-KOUT.3 BALYAKALASAKHI (DIG) (Malayalam) 5:30 PM 19-3-2014 NO SUN+TUE+WED HAUNT (DIG) 8:45 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 1:45 PM BALYAKALASAKHI (DIG) (Malayalam) 8:00 PM HAUNT (DIG) 10:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 3:45 PM BALYAKALASAKHI (DIG) (Malayalam) 10:30 PM FANAR-2 HAUNT (DIG) 1:00 AM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 6:00 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 12:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 8:15 PM AJIAL.2 112 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 3:15 PM THE DOUBLE (DIG) 10:30 PM GANG OF GHOSTS (DIG) (HINDI) 6:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 5:15 PM AVENUES-3 NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 AM GANG OF GHOSTS (DIG) (HINDI) 9:30 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 7:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 1:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 10:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 3:30 PM AJIAL.3 Prayer timings NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 12:45 AM NON-STOP (DIG) 5:45 PM AL-KOUT.4 MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 8:00 PM HAUNT (DIG) 12:45 PM 5:30 PM Fajr: 04:30 NON-STOP (DIG) 10:15 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 7:30 PM Shorook 05:49 FANAR-3 NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 AM OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 2:45 PM NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 10:00 PM Duhr: 11:55 DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED MINUSCULE: VALLEY MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 4:45 PM AJIAL.4 Asr: 15:23 5:00 PM AVENUES-4 HAUNT (DIG) 6:45 PM CUCKOO (DIG) (TAMIL) 6:45 PM Maghrib: 18:01 DIVERGENT (DIG) 7:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:15 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:45 PM CUCKOO (DIG) (TAMIL) 9:45 PM Isha: 19:18

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

Arrival Flights on Monday 24/3/2014 KAC 672 Dubai 14:00 Departure Flights on Monday 24/3/2014 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 546 Alexandria 14:05 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 BBC 043 Dhaka 00:05 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 UAL 981 IAD 00:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:20 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:35 AIC 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 KAC 741 Dammam 15:20 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 PIA 206 Lahore 01:05 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:30 QTR 1084 Doha 00:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:55 BBC 044 Dhaka 01:45 SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:30 KAC 118 New York 16:35 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:10 JZR 8238 Amman 16:00 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:10 UAE 857 Dubai 16:40 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 KNE 481 Taif 16:40 THY 764 Istanbul 02:15 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:20 JZR 238 Amman 16:55 AFG 416 Jeddah 02:20 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 AFG 416 Kabul 03:30 OMA 646 Muscat 16:55 JZR 267 Beirut 02:30 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45 ABY 127 Sharjah 17:25 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 JZR 538 Cairo 17:50 QTR 1085 Doha 04:15 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:50 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:50 FDB 068 Dubai 04:40 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 MPH 093 Amsterdam 17:50 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 18:05 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 FDB 067 Dubai 04:00 KAC 542 Cairo 18:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:45 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 RBG 553 Alexandria 18:15 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 KAC 742 Dammam 18:20 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 THY 765 Istanbul 07:05 FDB 069 Dubai 05:50 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 JZR 266 Beirut 18:50 KAC 545 Alexandria 07:15 JZR 503 Luxor 05:50 RBG 554 Alexandria 18:55 MSC 405 Sohag 18:30 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 BAW 157 London 06:40 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 QTR 1080 Doha 18:40 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:45 MPH 093 Dubai/Hong Kong 19:20 KAC 774 Riyadh 18:45 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 BAW 156 London 08:45 MSC 402 Alexandria 19:30 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 QTR 1081 Doha 19:40 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 382 Delhi 07:55 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 KAC 671 Dubai 09:30 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:55 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 FDB 062 Dubai 20:45 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KAC 104 London 19:35 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:55 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 TSY 208 Cairo 10:00 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 FDB 061 Dubai 20:05 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:05 KAC 361 Colombo 21:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:10 FDB 056 Dubai 10:20 ABY 120 Sharjah 21:00 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 ABY 129 Sharjah 20:20 QTR 1071 Doha 10:55 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KAC 351 Kochi 21:10 AXB 489 Kochi/Mangalore 20:35 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 KAC 352 Kochi 09:50 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:10 DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:55 QTR 1070 Doha 09:55 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:50 DLH 636 Dammam 21:35 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 MSC 406 Sohag 11:50 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 344 Chennai 10:40 MSC 404 Asyut 12:15 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:35 MSC 401 Alexandria 10:50 KAC 103 London 12:20 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 MSC 403 Asyut 11:15 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:25 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:20 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 IRC 6522 Lamerd 12:45 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:30 KNE 480 Taif 21:45 IRC 6521 Lamerd 11:45 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 FDB 059 Dubai 22:00 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:35 SYR 341 Damascus 12:30 QTR 1074 Doha 22:00 SYR 342 Damascus 13:30 FDB 060 Dubai 22:40 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 JZR 239 Amman 22:20 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 QTR 1075 Doha 23:10 FDB 057 Dubai 13:50 PIA 205 Lahore/Peshawar 23:05 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 502 Luxor 23:30 QTR 1078 Doha 13:55 JZR 185 Dubai 23:20 FDB 058 Dubai 14:30 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

CROSSWORD 496 STAR TRACK

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

As usual, you want to accomplish great things, and that is where your mind A secret admirer may slip and let his or her identity be known today. This navigates back to from time to time today. This is natural on your birthday could happen in some group gathering like some activity with friends. and you adjust your plans to widen your scope of goals. You have done well and you want Unusual ideas and novel ways of expressing them play a bigger than usual part in your life. to shine when it comes to personnel reviews in your work. A planning folder has been You will soon be an active participant in the community or in a presentation to the com- working well as you take time to add new dimensions. The desire to excel in your work is munity, such as a performance of some sort. You are most often involved in community commendable and is promising. Get your calendar out and plot your path-you will be activities and many times these activities are because of a benefit. Have you ever thought pleased with the results. You have the positive energy working in your favor to succeed at of working for a charity group to help the charity to grow and be more useful in the whatever you set out to accomplish in your home and in the workplace. You are also in attempt to help society you would be an excellent part of any such group. You may also tune to the comedy of life. Your humor is kind. Happy birthday! be skillful in introducing a new transportation technology for your area.

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

Someone could be watching you today. You have a lot of energy to pour A domestic problem has eased somewhat. You may, however, find yourself into your life and are creative as well as practical. Young and old watch and learn from you a bit impulsive. Your thoughts and ideas may seem repressive and limiting as you manage your family and home with an open mind and kindness. No person in your so you consider what it might mean to think outside the box, so to speak. You may decide family wants to disappoint you so it is important for you to be approving and appreciative to shop a little this afternoon and find something special for a loved one’s birthday or as much as possible. Today there are some wonderful surprises that come as recognition. some other type of gift. You also may consider a day in the future when you will be travel- Later today, your concentration may be on writing, studies, classes and conferring with ing-it is something that you and a loved one would enjoy. This afternoon you may decide close kin and neighbors. Someone in the family or in your close circle of friends will take to do a little research of different areas of the country from a comfortable library chair. on a more communicative way of interacting with you. You could be most influential and Although you can become quite involved with whatever holds your interest, you are to be expressive in your instructions and the way you communicate. congratulated for your conscious effort to keep family close.

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

The challenges you face at this time are survivable and negotiable. You have A new phase dawns for you that involve the pursuit of social or political a clear-minded insight into your own plans and methods. Tactfulness is the power and status. This all has a way of pulling you in a fascinating direction key activity for this day, especially when pointing out someone’s mistakes. and you should let nothing stand in the way as you are influential and progressive and will ACROSS nature deities worshipped by ancient carve out positive directions for many. The domestic scene gains new appeal and you 1. A loose sleeveless outer garment made Semitic peoples. Companionship with others is most rewarding at this time and you should take every opportunity to be with them. This afternoon would be a good time to begin a new and enjoy taking the time to dive into your hobbies and possibly tending to a few personal from aba cloth. 3. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly regular exercise program to build your strength and stamina. Overexercising and overeat- affairs. There is a lot of energy and drive available for whatever you want to accomplish. 4. The rapid and continuous delivery of lin- aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true ing can be a threats to your health, however. Learn ways in which to keep a positive frame Some form of safety in the home has your attention later today and you may decide to guistic communication (spoken or written). of mind. Negative thoughts and feelings, especially if you are having any difficulties, could schedule a fire or police inspection of your home next week to make sure everything is up stems and roots and leaves. to standard or if anything needs to be secured. You give family your attention. 11. A cord that is drawn through eyelets or 4. (computer science) A computer that is have serious consequences for your peace of mind. Recognize the balance. around hooks in order to draw together running software that allows users to leave two edges (as of a shoe or garment). messages and access information of gener- 15. United States liquid unit equal to 4 al interest. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) quarts or 3.785 liters. 5. Any of several coarse tall perennial grass- 16. West Indian timber tree having very es of most warm areas. Your personal charm is most impressive to others this month. There can be Try a new approach with your creative project today. Lady luck seems to be hard wood. 6. Spiritually reborn or converted. a key to increased attention if you are in business for yourself. Your ideas for on your side where money is concerned. This is a good thing, as you seem to advertising are superb. If you have a business in the city, you might think of branching out spend money faster than it comes into your life. Ideas of less financial burdens are helpful 17. Using speech rather than writing. 7. A flat float (usually made of logs or 18. An ugly evil-looking old woman. through the internet. Your energy is high and the creative juices are flowing, ready to be and putting new plans into effect will help you get better monetary stability. This may planks) that can be used for transport or as 19. Devoid of brightness or appeal. applied to whatever you have set before you. If you give your best effort now, consider- involve a move or an extra job but you will be accountable and take pride in your accom- a platform for swimmers. able success will certainly follow; you may have instinctively helped a close friend through plishments within a short time. Others value you for your independence and unique quali- 20. A person who is physically weak and 8. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba your efforts. Lovers, children and other people or things dear to your heart are empha- ties. Young people come to you when they need guidance. Taking control of your life in ineffectual. sized at this time in your life. Being appreciated and admired for your gifts and talents are people in southwestern Nigeria. the many ways you have planned will create an opportunity to help others learn and grow 21. By bad luck. powerful needs. Taking chances can bring big rewards. wise. Perhaps a good book or movie can be enjoyed this evening. 23. Negation of a word or group of words. 9. (New Testament) One of the three sages 24. Resembling a pea plant. from the east who came bearing gifts for 26. A blind god. the infant Jesus. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 29. Armor plate that protects the foot. 10. Take exception to. This day begins a period that emphasizes an enhanced sense of personal 32. A man-made object taken as a whole. 11. A person who is deemed to be despica- Long-term projects around the house can begin to wind down and become possibility. Your psychological growth shows the potential for great person- ble or contemptible. completed. You have an appreciation for responsibilities and duty. Keep an eye on the 36. The mission in San Antonio where in al success. You may decide to write a very special self-help book or do an essay on some plumbing and follow up on any problems that could get out of hand. Any problems now 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna 12. Wild sheep of northern Africa. subject of interest for extra credit in your class or as a booklet for your waiting room. You are valued for the lessons they represent, rather than perceived as obstacles. You may be besieged and massacred American rebels 13. The quantity a cask will hold. must check yourself often because the subjects you might want to teach or write about sought after for your advice and counsel regarding very personal and emotional issues 14. Other than what is under consideration will be a reflection on you. A new diet book means you create a balance in your own who were fighting to make Texas inde- this afternoon. A good conversation with those you love is most reassuring-you encour- weight, etc. You will enjoy listening to music with your loved ones and perhaps you will pendent of Mexico. or implied. age lighthearted conversations. Find a movie or some other activity that everyone can teach a young person a dance step. Instead of watching television, a multitude of ideas 38. Big-eyed scad. 22. A painful emotion resulting from an enjoy. A feeling of being at peace and stable on the emotional level comes into play at may need a majority vote before a decision can be reached in your family. Smile! 39. (sociology) The conventions that awareness of inadequacy or guilt. this time. Music is likely to play an important role for you this evening. embody the fundamental values of a 25. Come into existence. group. 27. Medical instrument consisting of a mag- 43. A fatal disease of cattle that affects the nifying lens and light. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) central nervous system. 28. West Indian tree having racemes of fra- 44. (computer science) A measure of how grant white flowers and yielding a durable You may want to take a class or join a club in order to learn something new Showcase your talents and abilities as often as possible in order to encourage creative problem solving and satisfy the need to be helpful. Using the densely information is packed on a storage timber and resinous juice. or enjoy a previous interest. If you are looking to volunteer, you should check all aspects medium. of a project or program to find out where your energies can be best applied. You feel creative parts of you encourages a balance in body-mind-spirit. Co-workers are around 30. Arctic foxes. invigorated and ready to conquer the world. You also may find yourself guiding someone today because of some special gathering. This may mean an award dinner or perhaps a 45. A compartment in front of a motor vehi- 31. A white or colorless mineral (BaSO4). fun social gathering. Whatever the case, this is one of those days when your mouth hurts cle where driver sits. younger than you in matters of importance. This is a very nice day, perhaps filled with 33. American dramatist (1928- ). renewed appreciation for all that is beautiful and fine. Your sense of value and valuing is from smiling so much. You won’t get away by yourself for long, so buckle down and be the 47. The cry made by sheep. 34. Social status or position conferred by a strong this evening and you may find yourself encouraged to lavish affection on those top social blender that you can be. One helpful hint-suggest fun activities and get them 49. Revise or reorganize, esp. for the pur- started in the busy fun. It is in taking chances that you will see big rewards. Lovers, chil- system based on class. near you. This may mean a night out at the movies or dinner away from home. Whatever pose of updating and improving. the case, this evening provides the opportunity to express appreciation to others. dren and other people or things dear to your heart are emphasized tonight. 51. The speed of an aircraft relative to the 35. A step in walking or running. air in which it is flying. 37. A ductile gray metallic element of the 53. Something to be imitated. lanthanide series. 56. A tax on employees and employers that 40. A metallic element having four allotrop- is used to fund the Social Security system. ic forms. 57. A French river that flows through the 41. Marked by or showing unaffected sim- heart of Paris and then northward into the plicity and lack of guile or worldly experi- English Channel. ence. 58. United States writer of poems and plays 42. A member of an American Indian peo- about racial conflict (born in 1934). ples of NE South America and the Lesser 62. An accidental hole that allows some- Antilles. thing (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape. 46. Small genus of chiefly American herbs. 65. English scholastic philosopher and 48. A cut of pork ribs with much of the assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285- meat trimmed off. 1349). 50. A city in the Asian part of Russia. 68. A record in which commercial accounts 52. The skin that covers the top of the head. are recorded. 54. A mechanical device that prevents a 69. American prizefighter who won the vessel from moving. world heavyweight championship three 55. Recite in elocution. times (born in 1942). 59. 100 agorot equal 1 shekel. 71. An inquiry into unfamiliar or question- 60. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked able activities. on a skewer usually with vegetables. 72. (informal) Roused to anger. 61. A particular environment or walk of life. 73. Produced or growing in extreme abun- 63. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in dance. favor of a person or cause). 75. A theocratic republic in the Middle East in western Asia. 64. An officer who acts as military assistant 76. Used of a single unit or thing. to a more senior officer. 77. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in 66. A primeval personification of air and the Thailand and Burmese borderlands. breath. 78. A small cake leavened with yeast. 67. The second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. DOWN 70. (Judaism) Sacred chest where the 1. Title for a civil or military leader (especial- ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets con- ly in Turkey). taining the Ten Commandments. 2. Any of numerous local fertility and 74. A white trivalent metallic element.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 information

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

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

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

Nuzha 22526804 Afghanistan 0093 Iran 0098 Albania 00355 Iraq 00964 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Algeria 00213 Ireland 00353 Qadsiya 22515088 Andorra 00376 Italy 0039 Angola 00244 Ivory Coast 00225 Dasmah 22532265 Anguilla 001264 Jamaica 001876 Antiga 001268 Japan 0081 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Argentina 0054 Jordan 00962 Shaab 22518752 Armenia 00374 Kazakhstan 007 Australia 0061 Kenya 00254 Qibla 22459381 Austria 0043 Kiribati 00686 Bahamas 001242 Kuwait 00965 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Bahrain 00973 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Mirqab 22456536 Bangladesh 00880 Laos 00856 Barbados 001246 Latvia 00371 Sharq 22465401 Belarus 00375 Lebanon 00961 Belgium 0032 Liberia 00231 Salmiya 25746401 Belize 00501 Libya 00218 Jabriya 25316254 Benin 00229 Lithuania 00370 Bermuda 001441 Luxembourg 00352 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Bhutan 00975 Macau 00853 Bolivia 00591 Macedonia 00389 Bayan 25388462 Bosnia 00387 Madagascar 00261 Mishref 25381200 Botswana 00267 Majorca 0034 Brazil 0055 Malawi 00265 W Hawally 22630786 Brunei 00673 Malaysia 0060 Bulgaria 00359 Maldives 00960 Sabah 24810221 Burkina 00226 Mali 00223 Jahra 24770319 Burundi 00257 Malta 00356 Cambodia 00855 Marshall Islands 00692 New Jahra 24575755 Cameroon 00237 Martinique 00596 Canada 001 Mauritania 00222 West Jahra 24772608 Cape Verde 00238 Mauritius 00230 South Jahra 24775066 Cayman Islands 001345 Mayotte 00269 Central African 00236 Mexico 0052 North Jahra 24775992 Chad 00235 Micronesia 00691 Chile 0056 Moldova 00373 North Jleeb 24311795 China 0086 Monaco 00377 Ardhiya 24884079 Colombia 0057 Mongolia 00976 Comoros 00269 Montserrat 001664 Firdous 24892674 Congo 00242 Morocco 00212 Cook Islands 00682 Mozambique 00258 Omariya 24719048 Costa Rica 00506 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 N Khaitan 24710044 Croatia 00385 Namibia 00264 Cuba 0053 Nepal 00977 Fintas 23900322 Cyprus 00357 Netherlands (Holland) Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 0031 Czech Republic 00420 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Denmark 0045 New Caledonia 00687 Diego Garcia 00246 New Zealand 0064 PRIVATE CLINICS Djibouti 00253 Nicaragua 00505 Dominica 001767 Nigar 00227 Dominican Republic 001809 Nigeria 00234 Ecuador 00593 Niue 00683 Egypt 0020 Norfolk Island 00672 El Salvador 00503 Northern Ireland (UK) Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Ophthalmologists Endocrinologist England (UK) 0044 0044 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Equatorial Guinea 00240 North Korea 00850 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Eritrea 00291 Norway 0047 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Estonia 00372 Oman 00968 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Ethiopia 00251 Pakistan 0092 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Falkland Islands 00500 Palau 00680 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Faroe Islands 00298 Panama 00507 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Fiji 00679 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Finland 00358 Paraguay 00595 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 (1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 France 0033 Peru 0051 French Guiana 00594 Philippines 0063 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, Rheumatologists: French Polynesia 00689 Poland 0048 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 FRCS (Canada) 25655535 Gabon 00241 Portugal 00351 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dentists Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Gambia 00220 Puerto Rico 001787 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Georgia 00995 Qatar 00974 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Germany 0049 Romania 0040 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ghana 00233 Russian Federation 007 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Gibraltar 00350 Rwanda 00250 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Greece 0030 Saint Helena 00290 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Greenland 00299 Saint Kitts 001869 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Grenada 001473 Saint Lucia 001758 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Guadeloupe 00590 Saint Pierre 00508 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Guam 001671 Saint Vincent 001784 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Guatemala 00502 Samoa US 00684 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Guinea 00224 Samoa West 00685 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Guyana 00592 San Marino 00378 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Haiti 00509 Sao Tone 00239 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Saudi Arabia 00966 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Honduras 00504 Scotland (UK) 0044 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Hong Kong 00852 Senegal 00221 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Hungary 0036 Seychelles 00284 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sierra Leone 00232 Soor Center Iceland 00354 Singapore 0065 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 India 0091 Slovakia 00421 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 Indian Ocean 00873 Slovenia 00386 Indonesia 0062 Solomon Islands 00677 LIFESTYLE36 MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 Gossip

Dannii Minogue says she and Kylie are ‘boring ‘ annii Minogue and her sister Kylie are “more boring than people think”. The fashion designer admitted her wild days are behind her, but she and Dher older sibling still enjoy a quiet night in “curled up on the couch watching TV”. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday newspaper’s Fabulous magazine, she said: “Kylie and I are so much more boring than people think. When we have time together, it’s down time. “We’re usually curled up on the couch watching TV or making a cuppa. It’s boring Nannas-ville.” Part of the reason for the pair not heading out as much any more is due to fans and the general public staring at them if they’re spotted out and about. She admitted “We don’t really go out-out that much because people spend the whole time [staring]. “It’s weird. So we just normally eat at home. She loves it when I cook, but she’s a really good cook too - even though she doesn’t think she is.” Dannii also hinted at her romance with producer Adrian Newman, saying she is “happy”, but refus- ing to give any more details. She added: “I don’t want to talk about any relationship stuff, but I’m happy and life is good. There’s not much more to say.”

Roberts puts kids first

ulia Roberts’ children are her priority over her acting career. The ‘Pretty Woman’ actress - who has nine-year-old twins Hazel Jand Phinnaeus and six-year-old Henry with her husband Daniel Moder - only accepts one movie role a year so she can spend most of her time with her family. She explained: “I make one film per year and that’s a good balance. My older kids have just turned nine and my son is six; they still need me. My family takes up a lot of my time and my creative energy, but I’m lucky to have worked enough already to allow myself to take time off. “When I see my friends struggling to juggle both, I feel very privileged. I act less, but better; I’ve always been demanding [of a role], now I’m difficult.” Julia, 46, insists her family life is just like every other and she worries about little things like her kids finishing their homework in time. Quizzed about her household, she said: “[It’s] the same as every other stay at home mom. Sometimes, there are wet bath towels strewn all over the house, dinner isn’t ready and the kids haven’t finished their homework...” The ‘August: Osage County’ star claims showbiz has changed since her 90s heyday and is amazed by today’s young actresses who manage to cope with the pressure. She told France’s ELLE magazine: “When I started out, you were allowed to start off slowly. You would do a film and for the next one, you would be given more responsibility and more money, you had the time to figure out what was happening to you. “These days, you’re catapulted into the arena. The web has brought with it a culture of meanness. It’s become too easy to propagate rumors and to gossip. It’s very difficult for young actors.”

John Legend: Beyonce and Kelly Osbourne Jay Z make marriage ‘cool’ ohn Legend thinks Beyonce and Jay Z make marriage “cool”. The ‘All Of Me’ singer, who is happy being single friends with the couple, thought their performance of ‘Drunk In Love’ at the Grammy elly Osbourne wants to stay single of heartache, it’s just that the world is JAwards last month was “sexy” and proved committed couples aren’t boring. He told for a really long time. The 29-year-old changing. “But if I ever do get married, I’m BANG Showbiz: “I loved it. I like seeing them display their love for the whole world to see. “It Kstar - who broke off her engagement never changing my last name.” Kelly insist- makes me feel like I’m cool being married. We can be married and cool at the same time. to Matthew Mosshart in January - said she ed she would “be a good mum”, although “Because they’re so guarded, it was exciting to feel like we got a peek behind closed doors. It is “really enjoying” her life as it is, and has having seen “how much work” her brother was really sexy.” The 35-year-old singer, who married Sports Illustrated model Chrissy Teigen, no idea if she wants to settle down and “get Jack puts in with his daughter Pearl, she 28, last year, is not afraid of public displays of affection and his wife starred in his music video married” in the future. She told the Mail on knows she isn’t ready for such a commit- for romantic ballad ‘All Of Me’. He said: “We’re not too shy when the moment’s right, display- Sunday newspaper’s You magazine: “I plan ment just yet. She added: “I think I’d be a ing our love for people. “Particularly with that song it only made sense for her to be the on being single for a very, very long time. good mum. But I see with Pearl how much woman in the video, because of how honest and real the song is. We felt we should shoot a No, I don’t think it’s possible for someone work it is and how you have to be hands-on video that reflected who we are as a couple.” Meanwhile, both John and Beyonce recently to sweep me off my feet right now. “I’m at all times. “One minute she’s there and performed at Michelle Obama’s 50th birthday party and the ‘Ordinary People’ hitmaker was really enjoying my life ... I don’t now if I will then, all of sudden, you think, ‘Where the moved by President Barack Obama’s speech to his wife. He said: “It was really heartfelt. It was ever get married. I think my views on mar- hell has she gone?’ It’s a big responsibility. I really inspirational for someone like me who had just got married, to see a couple who have riage are changing as I get older - not out am not ready for that yet.” been married for quite a while now, they just seem so truly in love. Not like infatuation in love, but mature, seasoned, weathered love that’s built to last.”

Jennifer Lopez: ‘Dance Again’ Stars show their support tour was ‘turning point’ for World Water Day ennifer Lopez thinks her ‘Dance Again’ world tour was a “turning tars have shown their support for World Water Day. Celebrities point” in her life. The ‘I Luh Ya Papi’ singer found it easy getting back including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessie J and Beyonce have taken to Jinto the studio after her 2012 tour because the experience helped Ssocial media sites to help promote charity Drop4Drop’s efforts give her a new perspective on her divorce from Marc Anthony and to provide clean water for everyone. ‘Iron Man’ actress Gwyneth her career. Discussing the recording process of her upcoming posted a make-up free selfie on Instagram of her drinking from a album, the ‘American Idol’ judge told PopCrush: “My goal was to just bottle of water, captioning the image, “full of healing power. be as honest as I could. You know, I’d gone through a lot in my life #iLoveWater #WorldWaterday@drop4drop”. Jessie J rallied her right at that point when I went on tour. I’d been through a divorce. fans to the cause, reminding them to appreciate their easy “A lot of things had happened. I really felt like it was a turning access to water and asking them to donate. She wrote alongside point in my life. I’d learned a lot about myself. I grew out my per- an image of her sipping from a glass of water: “Don’t take water spective on a lot of things - changes, including love - and there was for granted! I love water! This #WorldWaterDay let’s make a differ- just a lot that I had to say. Plus I had grown as a performer and as a ence! #iLoveWater @drop4drop”. Lily Allen and Example have also vocalist on the road. All of that stuff is in this album.” The 44-year-old shared their love for H2O with Instagram selfies, while the charity star - who has six-year-old twins Max and Emme with her ex-husband reposted a message from Beyonce’s official Facebook page, thanking - has since found love with choreographer Casper Smart and admits the superstar for drawing people’s attention to their campaign. World her views on romance have been turned on their head since her “devas- Water Day, which has been observed on 22 March since 1993, aims to tating” split from the father of her children. Jennifer added: “My topic is promote awareness of the critical water issues facing our generation and love. It always has been. It’s my motivation. It’s what I think about. That’s who I raise money for the 800 million people in third world countries who risk their am at the essence. But what I thought about love for my first nine albums is very lives by drinking and using dirty water. different from what I think about it now after everything I’ve been through.”

Brad Pitt parties Tina Fey nervous with Kings of Leon about Kermit kiss rad Pitt partied with Kings of Leon on Friday night. The actor hit the ina Fey was “nervous” about kissing Kermit the Frog in ‘Muppets town with the ‘Sex On Fire’ rockers after their Los Angeles gig and Most Wanted’. The comic writer and actress has a smooch with made a beeline straight for the band at their official afterparty, held Tthe Muppets puppet in their latest film, and joked that he was a B perfect gentleman about it. She told Us Weekly magazine: “I was nerv- at Warwick bar and restaurant. The ‘World War Z’ star arrived with ‘The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’ writer, Eric Roth, in tow and only head- ous but Kermit put me at ease. Although I did hallucinate for a few ed home at around 3am, according to the MailOnline. Brad also rubbed hours afterwards.” Tina’s comments about hallucinating are a joking shoulders with actor Garett Hedlund, who stars in the Kings of Leon’s arty reference to the Bufo Alvarius variety of toad - commonly known as a music video, ‘Beautiful War’. The Nashville-based band, formed of broth- Colorado River toad or Sonoran Desert toad - which when stroked ers Caleb, Jared and Nathan Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill, under its chin produces a poison which can be hallucinogenic if con- are currently on a world tour supporting their sixth album, ‘Mechanical sumed by humans. Speaking about her role as a bad guy in the film, Bull’. Brad - who raises Maddox, 12, Pax, 10, Zahara, nine, Shiloh, seven, Tina added her daughters Alice, eight, and Penelope, two “are excited and twins Knox and Vivienne, five, with his fiancÈe Angelina Jolie - is rarely to see the movie.” Tina famously wrote and appeared in catty high- seen without his brood these days. He recently confessed he bases his school comedy ‘Mean Girls’ and while she has ruled out a sequel, she’s career choices nowadays on whether he will be proud to show his films to keen for there to be a ten-year anniversary of some kind. She has said: his children. He said: “The key for me [when choosing a film] is to leave “[There’s] definitely not a movie. It’s just the anniversary is coming up, something behind that will make my kids proud. “I want to be able to so everybody get your pink shirts. It’s been 10 years. You can tell when show my films to my children and say, ‘Your daddy made this.’ you look at me it’s been 10 years.” —Bang Showbiz LIFESTYLE37 MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 Music & Movies

‘Noah,’ revival of Bible epics, finds rough seas

n the beginning of their work together on “Noah,” director Darren Aronofsky made Russell Crowe a promise: “I’ll never Ishoot you on a houseboat in a robe and sandals with two giraffes popping up behind you.” Decades after Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” and “Ben-Hur,” Aronofsky has renewed the tradition of the studio-made, mass-audience Bible epic, albeit as a distinctly darker parable about sin, justice and mercy. While much of his “Noah” is true to Scripture, it’s nothing like the picture-book version many encounter as children. “The first time I read it, I got scared,” the director says. “I thought, ‘What if I’m not good enough to get on the boat?’” It’s an altogether unlikely project: a $130 million Bible-based studio film made by a widely respected filmmaker (“Black Swan,” “Requiem for a Dream”) few would have pegged as a modern- day DeMille. In the lead-up to its March 28th release, “Noah” has been flooded by controversy, with some religious conservatives claiming it isn’t literal enough to the Old Testament and that Noah has been inaccurately made, as Aronofsky has called him, “the first environmentalist.”

Tricky to satisfy “Noah” is a culmination of the shift brought on by Mel Gibson’s independently produced “The Passion of the Christ,” which awakened Hollywood with its unforeseen $612 million box office haul in 2004. In the time since, Hollywood has care- This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Logan Lerman, left, and Russell Crowe in a scene from ‘Noah.’—AP fully developed closer ties to faith-based communities, (Sony and 20th Century Fox have set up faith-based studios targeting evangelicals). Yet the debate about “Noah” proves that it can be tricky to satisfy both believers and non-believers, and that finding the right intersection of art, commerce and religion is a task West African funk band loaded with as much risk as potential reward. A lot is at stake, and not just for “Noah” and distributor Paramount Pictures. The studio is developing a vampire twist mounts stunning comeback on Cain and Able with Will Smith. In Lionsgate’s pipeline is a Mary Magdalene film, hyped as a prequel to “The Passion of the Christ” and co-produced by mega-church pastor Joel Osteen. hey were huge in the early 1970s, playing 1982, the authorities accused band members of dead’,” she recalled. Maillot then travelled to the cial risk and logistical hassles of bringing 11 west When Jonathan Boch started his company Grace Hill Media in alongside some of the greatest names in possessing narcotics and destroyed their instru- town of Abomey, where various local bands were African musicians to Europe for a concert. None of 2000 to consult Hollywood studios on reaching the faith com- African music, then faded into obscurity after ments one-by-one, apparently in a search for performing to celebrate the anniversary of Benin’s them had passports and they had hardly performed T munity, the two “really didn’t know each other,” he says. Since a communist revolution destroyed nightlife in their drugs. They returned to Cotonou devastated and independence. “There, at nearly 2:00 am, they together for more than three decades. So, Maillot then, films like “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch homeland. Many in the tiny West African country of fell further into obscurity. went on stage and started playing ‘Angelina,’ a song did it all herself, securing a gig at France’s Villette and the Wardrobe” and “The Blind Side” have benefited from Benin even thought most of the members had that I’m a fan of,” she said. Jazz Festival and returning to Benin to help get the outreach to churchgoers. “Over the course of those 15 years, died but the Orchestre Polyrythmo de Cotonou is A chance discovery Despite the poor sound quality and clear lack of band to France. Arriving in Paris for the first time in you’ve seen the faith community go from almost pariah status enjoying a remarkable comeback. The band’s ren- French journalist Elodie Maillot was preparing rehearsal, Polyrythmo still had the funk-and the 2009 “was unbelievable”, said Aehehinnou. “It was a or fly-over status to now being seen as an important market,” aissance has been compared to the Buena Vista for a trip to Benin in 2007 when she came across crowd went wild. She interviewed band members dream come true.” In 2011, Polyrhythmo released an says Boch, who consulted on “Noah.” “In my mind, what we’re Social Club, the veteran Cuban musicians rediscov- album called “Cotonou Club”, which included seeing is another renaissance where the greatest artists are ered in the 1990s who were the subject of a hit prominent guest performances from two members telling the greatest stories every told.” documentary film and successful album. Since of Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand and Angelique their revival-helped by a young French journalist- Kidjo of Benin. Oldest apocalypse story the Orchestre Polyrythmo de Cotonou has per- Lately, they have been rehearsing two to three Though Hollywood largely swore off the Bible epic when formed in Barcelona, Paris, New York and at the times per week, typically gathering at a private films like 1965’s “The Greatest Story Ever Told” flopped, the prestigious Barbican in London. The New York home in Cotonou to refine their sound. Drifting out revival dovetails recent trends. Figures like Noah are globally Times has even said they were “on the very short from under a tin roof is funk blended with soul, recognizable, and thus easier to market. They come with no list of the world’s greatest funk bands”. “We been all blues, latin notes and the occasional voodoo chant- licensing fee, and, often, plenty opportunity for flashy special over the world,” lead singer Vincent Aehehinnou a nod to a form of worship which is still powerful in effects. “Noah,” which is being released in converted 3-D over- told AFP. “The only place for us to discover is Asia.” their home country. seas, is perhaps the oldest apocalypse story. The story fascinat- ed Aronofsky as a Jewish kid growing up in Brooklyn. He recalls Marxism and Khadafi Fisherman, salesman... musician a poem he wrote about the tale as a 13-year-old - and a The orchestra was formed in 1968 and played Aehehinnou said the group was currently wait- teacher’s subsequent encouragement - as his birth as a story- in clubs across West Africa, lining up alongside the ing to confirm the dates for their next international teller. Whereas “The Passion of the Christ” was largely made by likes of South Africa’s Myriam Makeba and the leg- tour. He was animated talking about the band’s Christians and for Christians, Aronofsky says his “Noah” (which endary father of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti of Nigeria. They early success, including the release of their 1968 was advertised during the Super Bowl) is “for everybody.” also recorded at a frantic pace, churning out an hit “Gbeti Madjro” as well as a performance at the “It’s wrong when you talk about the Noah story to talk astonishing 400 albums in 10 years, but political Africa shrine, Fela Kuti’s famed music hall in about it in that type of believer-nonbeliever way because I turmoil cut short their success. In 1972, military Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. Band members may think it’s one of humanity’s oldest stories,” he says. “It belongs general Mathieu Kerekou seized power in Benin, miss the days when they first found success, play- not just in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. Everyone on one of many coups in West Africa after the disman- ing in bustling clubs each weekend in Cotonou the planet knows the Noah story.” The Genesis story is only a tling of colonialism in the early 1960s. From 1974, and recording an album or two each week. But Polyrythmo de Cotonou few pages, with more details on the dimensions of the ark Kerekou rolled out rigid Marxist policies that gradu- music isn’t the only thing they do. When they’re (which Aronofsky held to) than who Noah was. He’s instructed ally led to the closure of nightclubs and music halls some old vinyls from the band in the record library and returned to Paris to broadcast a story about not rehearsing or performing, band members can by God - “grieved” in his heart by what mankind had become across the former French colony, which had been at Radio France Internationale in Paris. Once in them. Before leaving Benin, she promised to try to still be found working as fishermen or selling satel- generations after creation - to build an ark and fill it with two of famous for its vibrant nightlife. Cotonou, she began investigating. “I made a quick help them achieve their dream of playing in France. lite dishes. Previously in 1960s and 70s, every animal. Dictatorships elsewhere in Africa also con- tour of the clubs that remained... and when I asked Polyrythmo could only dream of one day perform- tributed to the band’s demise, notably that of questions about Polyrythmo people answered, ‘We Funk, blues and voodoo ing anywhere outside of Africa. Now they can trav- Interesting journey Moamer Khadafi in Libya. While touring Libya in haven’t seen them in years... They are probably No promoter was prepared to take on the finan- el the world. —AFP Paramount sought the approval of religious leaders, consulting with Biblical scholars in pre-production and doing extensive test screenings (during which Aronofsky and Paramount feuded over the final cut before an apparent truce). But early criticism bubbled up online based on what Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore says is an old, unused version of the script (which Aronofsky penned with Ari Handel). “It has been a very interesting journey,” says Moore. “It’s been highly chronicled along the way, much of which was based upon either speculation or hearsay or old information.” After seeing the film, Jerry A. Johnson, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, urged Paramount to adver- tise the film with a disclaimer. Moore acquiesced, adding a warning that “artistic license has been taken.” “Darren, as an artist, had some sensitivity about what that meant in terms of what we were saying the movie was or wasn’t ahead of time, versus letting people experience it for themselves,” says Moore. “But there was such a group of people who had concern about A man eats a meal while sitting in front of shuttered A man feeds birds as he eats a meal at the welfare- A man stands by his shelter where he keeps his belong- it.” “For the vast majority of people, the controversy will go away,” he says. Johnson still has mixed feelings about “Noah,” shops in Kamagasaki, Osaka, western Japan. employment center in Kamagasaki. ings in front of the welfare-employment center. calling it “a great plus, minus”: neither worthy of the boycott that Roman Catholics held for Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” nor a film like “The Passion of the Christ” that will have churches sending busloads to theaters.”They got Japan’s biggest slum not on mapsor in film fest the big points of the story right,” says Johnson. Challenge to balance the Scripture apan’s biggest slum is visible just blocks from bustling restau- success and wealth are necessary for happiness. But he quickly Tokyo and Osaka. Ota, who directed two well-received documen- “It’s so counter-cultural today in America or the West to talk rants and shops in Osaka, the country’s second-largest city. falls into trouble, and his plan unravels. taries previously, hopes to enter “Fragile” in the competition for about sin, right and wrong, and particularly the idea of judg- JBut it cannot be found on official maps. Nor did it appear in The full-length feature shows recognizable landmarks of the this year’s Cannes film festival. ment - and that is so serious in this film.” Johnson adds that, the recent Osaka Asian Film Festival, after the director of a new slum, such as a park known for both squatters and illegal garbage among other reservations, “the insertion of the extremist envi- movie that is set in the area pulled it, accusing city organizers of dumping and the center where men line up for jobs. It also shows Challenge of aging ronmental agenda is a problem.” Aronofsky disputes that. “It’s in censorship. Osaka officials asked Shingo Ota to remove scenes the protagonist receiving an amphetamine injection from a drug During Japan’s economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s, the Bible that we are supposed to tend the garden,” the director and lingo that identify the slum, on the grounds that it was insen- dealer operating in the slum. Ota says Osaka officials wanted Kamagasaki bustled with hundreds of thousands of young day says. “To say there’s no ecological side to the Noah story when sitive to residents. those scenes and others deleted, as well as the slang words “doya” laborers. But the day labor market shrank after the Japan’s stock Noah is saving the animals just doesn’t make sense to me.” “To me, what they were asking was a cover-up attempt to (cheap accommodations) and “shabu” (stimulants). and real estate bubble burst in 1990, and again during the more Picturehouse founder Bob Berney, who as president of make this place non-existent,” he said in a recent interview. This recent global financial crisis. In the world’s fastest graying nation, Newmarket Films distributed “The Passion of the Christ,” says place is Kamagasaki, home to day laborers, the jobless and home- Protecting people the challenge of aging is layered on top of economic decline. balancing artistic license and faithfulness to Scripture is chal- less, where one in three are on welfare. About 25,000 people live Osaka official Kazumitsu Oue said the film festival organizers Nearly 40 percent of the residents of Kamagasaki are 65 or older, lenging. in this compact area, mostly single men who stay in free shelters wanted to protect the area and its people from exposure to preju- nearly twice elsewhere. “Many day laborers in the area can’t keep “It’s a kind of a trap, and you have to be very careful,” says or dozens of cheap dorms that charge as little as 800 yen ($8) a dice. “We felt that the film lacked consideration to the area and its up with construction work as they get old,” said Yoshinori Kishi, an Berney. “At the same time, they are movies, and they have to be night. The day starts early at the welfare-employment center, people,” he said. Ota says while living there to shoot the film for Osaka city official in charge of support and welfare of day laborers really good. I think the faith-based audience, the Christian audi- where hundreds of people line up for manual labor work, mostly several weeks, his outsider’s impression of the slum as a poor, dan- in the area. ence still wants a big, exciting movie.” All the conversation - with subcontractors of Japan’s construction giants. Those not gerous place changed and he began to regard the community - In recent years, there have been some improvements, thanks both negative and positive - may lure audiences to “Noah,” picked stroll the backstreets aimlessly, queue for free meals or also known by the nickname Airin or “loving neighborhood” - and to job support, anti-crime and beautification programs, including which Moore says will do its biggest business internationally, resort to cheap alcohol. In the evening, the homeless line up at its inhabitants with more compassion. The scenes city officials one that aims to turn the neighborhood into a backpackers’ hang- the center to get tickets for the shelters. objected to are needed to portray the different faces of the town, out like Bangkok’s Khaosan road. Masanori Momiyama, 50, runs a even though the film has been banned in many Islamic counties “I’m jobless, for months,” said one 52-year-old resident who he said. tiny bar on the edge of the slum. He has seen its residents gray where it’s taboo to depict a prophet. He and Aronofsky believe came to Kamagasaki after losing his home in the 1995 Kobe The city provided a 600,000 yen ($6,000) grant for the director since he moved here 16 years ago. “They are the ones who helped they have a rich history of artistic ambition on their side. “It’s earthquake. He gambled away his monthly welfare money of on condition that it premieres at the Osaka film festival. Ota says to construct many buildings and roads in the 1960s. I think we strange that the conversation for a little bit has turned into a 70,000 yen ($700). “Now I’m doomed.” Ota’s movie, “Fragile,” tells he has offered to return the grant, but the city wanted him to should thank them,” he said. He dismisses a common view that controversy about literalism,” says Aronofsky. “What is literalism the story of a TV assistant director who takes off from his job one keep it and not disclose details of the dispute to the media. The the area is dangerous and to be avoided. “Even though people in when it comes to interpreting and making an artistic represen- day after conflicts with his girlfriend and his colleague. He heads two sides are examining the dispute and seeking ways to explain this area are quite unique, we are all harmless, friendly people.” — tation of the text? Is Michelangelo’s David a literal interpretation to Kamagasaki to make a film about a teenage boy, and whether it to the public. So far it’s only been shown at private screenings in AP of what David looked like?” —AP lifestyle MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 FASHION

Fashion Infection Festival

Models present creations by Lithuanian designer Kristina Kruopienyte at the ‘Fashion Infection’ festival in Vilnius, Lithuania, yesterday. — AP/AFP

Khloe Kardashian: Women are more ‘picky’

hloe Kardashian finds it harder designing clothes for women than children because they’re more “picky”. The 29-year-old reality TV K Sandra Straukaite star is currently promoting the latest Kardashian Kollection for Lipsy with her sisters Kim and Kourtney, but finds it easier creating outfits for their kids’ line, KardashianKids. She told Grazia magazine: “I think designing for kids is SO fun. You get to do cute little tutus and everything’s sparkly and sweet. It’s just really sweet to design for kids. “Adults are more picky. It’s two totally different worlds. With adults, we like to be sexy and have those really tight dresses and with kids it’s the complete Dame Vivienne Westwood opposite - really froo-froo-y and cute. They let us be creative in two totally different ways.” Meanwhile, the brunette beauty admits she looks up to her half-sisters Kendall, 18, and Kylie, 16, when it comes to fashion claims vegetables cure ailments because they’re both really good at styling outfits and finding individuality. She explained: “I take bits and ame Vivienne Westwood believes vegeta- people who have been in wheelchairs who have A spokesman for the spinal injury charity pieces from each of my sisters. There’ll all so stylish bles can cure ailments. The 72-year-old recovered from this diet. “It does cure all kinds of Aspire told The Sun newspaper: “These so-called and Kylie now has this amazing sense of style. I always Dfashion designer claims sticking to a vege- things if you have a vegetarian diet. I used to cures create false hope in the immediate after- ask her to come in my closet and make some outfits for tarian diet can helped people with disabilities, have rheumatism-and I have a crocked finger. But math of a life-changing injury and can cause sig- me. “Other than that I love the Olsen twins’ style. It’s and she knows first hand because ditching meat now I don’t have any rheumatic pain any more.” nificant harm.” really chic and very fashion forward. Some of their stuff got rid of the rheumatism in her finger. She said Dame Vivienne’s comments sparked outrage Dame Vivienne teamed up with PETA, which can get a little crazy but overall they have just really while launching a new campaign by animal last night among disabilities groups, who promotes ethical treatment of animals, to raise great style.” — Bang Showbiz rights group PETA: “There are certain clinics claimed she should provide “medical evidence” awareness of how the world’s water supplies are where it is really strict vegetarian and there are before she starts creating “false hope”. depleted by the meat trade. — Bang Showbiz lifestyle MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 FASHION

Models present creations by Moroccan fashion designers Loubna Guessous and Samia Guessous during the ‘Fashion days’ in Casablanca yesterday. ‘Fashion days’ —AP/AFP photos Casablancain

Patrick Boffa Moroccan fashion designer Fadila Berrada walks with a model.

A trip to paradise Fernando de Noronha inspires Dumond’s summer 2014 collection

Moroccan he right destination for those looking for the fashion best beaches in Brazil, Fernando de Noronha designer Tinspires a universe of colors and textures in Najia Abadi Dumond’s new collection. This season, the exoticism with of this tropical paradise is portrayed in handbags, models. shoes and accessories. In line with the exuberant nature, crystalline waters become rich details. The shine of the waters and of fish skin appears in metallic and iridescent materials, embroideries and rhinestone appliquÈs. Metallic tones and glitter outsoles are stylish in the right measure and can be worn during the day or at night. Geometric design in heels and cutout details are combined with several materials. Among low, medium and block-style heels, prominence to the “chapel” heel, inspired by the St Peter of the Fishermen’s Chapel - one of the tourist sites in the island. The bottom of the sea is revisited in ornaments and in laser cuts of accessories and gladiator sandals. Here, braided elements and cutout effects inspire a folk style that goes from ballet flats to espadrilles and heels. Meanwhile, gladiators become more prominent and also appear in flat versions. There are also several models with straps around the ankles - the famous ankle straps. Charming detail, the straps can be removed and worn as bracelets. The presence of orangey tones is also noteworthy, in a reference to the local flora. Colors like cactus, iris, gerbera, navy blue, and earth, and materials like suede and striped python are the great novelty in the collection. The exotic, lush scenery of one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil is transformed into the season’s must-have pieces and reflect the essence of the brand this season: the contemporary BRAZILIANNESS . Tunisian fashion designer Seyf Dean Laouti poses with models. Available at The Mall, The Avenues. ‘Noah,’ revival of Bible epics, finds rough seas

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 37

A woman, face smeared with colored powder, smiles during a religious spring festival Holi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and water at each other. — AP 5 free things in artsy Asheville, North Carolina

his gem of a city tucked in the Blue Asheville’s most famous free music Ridge foothills of western North event is the annual Shindig on the Green, French chefs wake up TCarolina attracts artists, musicians, on Saturday evenings from late June foodies, outdoor enthusiasts and a fair through August in Pack Square Park. It share of modern-day hippies, all lured by draws top-notch bluegrass bands, string to Australia’s ‘no the beautiful setting and open-minded bands, Appalachian cloggers and story- vibe. Its gorgeous historic buildings down- tellers from around the region. The family- town, free music venues, Appalachian art friendly event attracts huge crowds; fans boundaries’ cuisine center and lofty nearby peaks are all per- spread out on blankets and lawn chairs to fect for travelers looking to please their enjoy the sights and sounds. ustralia’s new wave cooking has long been admired senses without spending a dime. in the English-speaking world, and now it seems Folk Art Center Achefs from the land of haute cuisine are finally wak- Downtown Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 7 ing up to its uninhibited charms. Drawn by a no-holds- The vibrant, compact town center, filled miles (11 kilometers) east of downtown, is a barred culinary culture that has produced creative East- with boutiques, galleries, cafes and cultural showcase for the rich cultural traditions and West blends, French Michelin-starred cooks have been attractions, is walkable and perfect for contemporary crafting of southern travelling to Australia for stints at kitchens Down Under. sightseeing. Especially in warm weather, Appalachia. The Folk Art Center houses “It made me less hung-up,” said Pascal Barbot, chef at downtown sidewalks are themselves an wares from the Southern Highland Craft Paris’s “L’Astrance” restaurant who has three Michelin stars attraction - filled with street musicians, per- Guild, a nine-state group of artisans. Their to his hat. formance artists and gawkers. works are displayed year-round but from He spent two years working in a Sydney restaurant exper- Asheville was once dubbed the “Paris of March to December, you’re liable to catch imenting with flavors and creating dishes he said would have the South” in part because of the stylish File photo released by the Explore Asheville shows a motorcyclist on a scenic fall live demonstrations of old-time broom- been unimaginable in the more conservative French tradi- flair of its historic city center. You can’t miss drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC. — AP photos making, intricate wood-carving and quilting tion. It “had a big influence on my cooking,” Barbot admitted. the towering eight-story City Hall. Facing For more free sounds, head down tunes; Thursday sessions feature bluegrass from felted wool. The center features three David Toutain, touted as one of France’s best young chefs, the broad lawn of Pack Square Park, the Patton to Jack of the Wood, a Celtic-style starting at around 6 p.m., and there’s an galleries, a library, and a Blue Ridge Parkway also stopped off in Australia during a world tour last year. “I reddish building and its ornate art deco pub that features jam sessions several Old Time jam on Wednesdays at 6 pm. information desk. Admission is free; an on- had heard other chefs talking and I wanted to see what was style are a highlight of the city skyline. nights a week. Sundays at 5 pm, local Irish Local craft brews are reasonably priced in site shop sells textiles, pottery, jewelry and going on down there,” said the chef, whose eponymous Other Pack Square Park gems include the musicians gather informally to play Celtic case all that music makes you thirsty. other crafts made by guild members. restaurant opened in December in Paris. 13-story Jackson building, with its neo- It was a “great” decision, he said, saying he came upon gothic castle-like tower, and the Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway “extraordinary” ideas in a country where some chefs are Art Museum, housing an impressive collec- Some of the prettiest stretches of this even working with native ingredients used in aboriginal tion of 20th century American art, includ- National Park System roadway rim Asheville cooking for some 60,000 years. This week, some of ing works from regional artists. Admission and are perfect for leisurely driving or hearty Australia’s top chefs came to Paris to cook at the ninth is free on Wednesdays from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. cycling. For hikers, plenty of trails are nearby. Omnivore festival, an annual event that brings chefs from Stroll a few blocks and you’ll find your- A good introduction starts at milepost 389, around the world to show off their stuff in 35-minute self on North Market Street, in front of a south of downtown, where the parkway “masterclasses”. Billed as a the culinary world’s Cannes fes- handsome yellow Victorian house - a for- meets Hendersonville Road-US 25. That’s the tival, it aims to celebrate new perspectives in food prepa- mer boarding house and boyhood home of business route from Asheville’s airport to ration and those who are creating them. author Thomas Wolfe, made famous in his downtown, but head onto the parkway and 1929 novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.” you’re instantly transported into a hilly forest Uninhibited of trees and tranquility. Up here, you’d never “Australia is in the middle of a culinary boom and, more Music know a bustling little metropolis was so and more, that food is being seen on the world stage,” said Music is a mainstay of the Asheville close. Drive about 15 minutes and you’ll Luc Dubanchet, the festival’s founder. “It’s a fusion cuisine scene and not to miss is the Friday night reach milepost 382 and the Folk Art Center, and it’s inventive. There are no boundaries and they aren’t drum circle in Pritchard Park, at Patton where you can descend back into civiliza- inhibited by any pre-existing culinary culture,” he said. For Avenue and College Street. Starting around tion. Or hike part of the Mountains to Sea Colin Fassnidge, a chef of Irish origin who has lived in 5 p.m., the triangular-shaped park fills with trail; look for a marker in the center’s lower Sydney for more than a decade, Australia’s advantage lies all manner of musicians, from kids on toy parking lot. A moderately difficult hike takes precisely in its lack of a long culinary tradition. “France and drums to grandpas on bongos. Everyone’s you to Lunch Rock, a little over 2 miles (3.2 Britain are different-chefs there don’t necessarily want to welcome to play and watch, and the scene kilometers) each way - about three hours mess with traditions,” said Fassnidge, who runs the Photo courtesy of Explore Asheville shows a drum circle at Pritchard Park in Sydney-based “Four in Hand” restaurant. is exhilaratingly communal. total. For more of the parkway, keep driving Asheville. “In Australia, we are creating that tradition,” said the as the road steepens and you’ll be treated chef. There is no such thing as Australian cuisine, said to breathtaking views of surrounding Blue Darren Robertson from Sydney’s “Three Blue Ducks” Ridge peaks. Craggy Gardens Visitors’ restaurant whose menu features items like duck with chili Center is a winding 18-mile (29-kilometer) jam and smoked potato ice cream. Australian chefs have drive from the Folk Art Center. been influenced by food from all over the world. “Greek, Italian, Japanese,” he said, “and especially Asian influences.” Max patch “There is a new generation. They travel a lot, and they Save part of a day for a trip to Max Patch, share a lot with other chefs,” said Robertson. a lofty bald meadow along the Appalachian Not shy about experimenting, Australian chefs are revis- Trail. From this 4,600-foot (1,400-meter) iting locally sourced food rarely seen these days-including summit, you’ll see an awe-inspiring 360- the ingredients traditionally used by aborigines. So-called degree view of the Blue Ridge mountains, “bush tucker” fare-local fruits, shoots and creatures that layers of crests unfolding in every direction. also include wallaby, kangaroo and wombat-are now figur- It’s 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Asheville, ing on Australia’s dining tables. “We try to play with under- the last stretch up a gravel road, but worth utilized or unpopular fish, species that you might not have the drive. From the Max Patch parking area seen on a menu in 10 years,” said Shannon Debreceny, it’s a fairly easy hike, a little over a mile (1.6 another chef at “Three Blue Ducks”. For Robertson, a key kilometers), to the summit. The Appalachian ingredient in the success of Australian chefs is also atti- Trail crosses through the Patch, so hikers tude: keeping cool in a high-stress setting. “We have a 44- can set off in either direction. Those content hour working week and we encourage people to our staff to feast their eyes will not be disappointed. to have a work-life balance, to go surfing, diving and what- From Asheville, head west on I-40 to exit 7 ever, but above all, to rest,” he said. “That means they bring (Harmon’s Den). Go right on Cold Springs a high level of energy back into the kitchen when they are Road to state Route 1182 (Max Patch Road). here because they are not tired.” — AFP People gathering at Pack Square Park in Asheville, NC, near the county courthouse, left, and City Hall on the right. Turn left for the parking area. — AP