25 Mar

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Road closures and detours during the Arab Summit

JAMADA ALAWWAL 24, 1435 AH

US, G7 leaders meet without Russia as Ukraine exits Crimea

Saudi clerics urge faithful to shun ‘99’ series

www.kuwaittimes.net

Steyn, Duminy star as South Africa win over NZ

NO: 16115

army, Syria talks ruled out

40 PAGES

150 FILS

20 3Lebanon7urges13 support for Widespread traffic jams as road closures hit commuters

Egypt, Saudis to pressure Qatar at meet KUWAIT: An assortment of Arab nations will likely use the Arab summit to try to pressure the tiny but wealthy Gulf nation of Qatar to stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition movements throughout the region. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, and two senior Arab officials said yesterday that those two countries would take the lead in attempting to isolate Qatar by calling for a collective Arab approach to terror.

The two-day Arab League summit in Kuwait, which begins today, follows months of tension over this issue. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have joined Egypt and Saudi Arabia in withdrawing their ambassadors from Qatar. Qatar has reacted with dismay at the diplomatic gestures but insists it will push ahead with its own policies. Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah has said his country will “follow a path of its own” and that the independence of its “foreign policy is simply non-negotiable”.

Qatar has in recent years played an outsized role in Arab affairs, spearheading efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis and mediating in some of Sudan’s internal conflicts. At the heart of Egypt’s dispute with Qatar is its perceived support for the Brotherhood and former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted last July in a coup.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (right) receives Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani after his arrival yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3)

Tameemi continues war against expats KUWAIT: Independent Shiite MP Abdullah Al-Tameemi yesterday continued targeting expatriates, squarely blaming them for any problem Kuwaitis are facing, and calling for a drastic cut in their numbers to vacate their jobs for nationals. Two months ago, the same lawmaker submitted a strange proposal calling to cancel the residence permits of expatriates who spent five years in the country and that the size of any single foreign community must not exceed 10 percent of Kuwaitis or around 124,000.

This time, Tameemi is targeting expatriates employed in government jobs, saying they must be drastically reduced to create jobs for Kuwaitis and bedoons. He bluntly called for “cutting the number of expatriates to safeguard the Kuwaiti society and its prosperity”.

Narrating the “ills” of expatriates, the lawmaker said that Kuwait’s losses from the presence of expatriates are huge,

“starting from traffic jams, consumption of public services, unemployment among citizens and the large funds they remit to their home countries”.

Tameemi made his new calls in a series of questions he addressed to the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah AlSabah. Tameemi demanded the number of expatriates employed for more than five years in administrative and technical jobs at government agencies and companies with the exclusion of husbands of Kuwaiti women and bedoons. He demanded to know the numbers in each government department based on educational qualification and job title.

Tameemi also asked for the number of expatriates employed at the government in so-called rare specializations and demanded to know each specialization and the number in each one.

Continued on Page13

529 Morsi supporters sentenced to death CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced 529 supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to death yesterday after just two hearings, in the largest mass death sentencing in the country’s modern history. The shock

verdict by the court in the southern province of Minya, which is subject to appeal, came amid a sweeping crackdown on Morsi’s supporters since his overthrow by the army last July.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Lebanon’s foreign minister called on Arab countries yesterday to support the Lebanese army to counter fallout from Syria’s civil war, which he said threatened to tear the country apart. Around one million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon, a displacement that has strained public infrastructure and threatened to upset the sectarian balance. This “is threatening the existence of Lebanon”, Gebran Bassil told reporters before a meeting of Arab League leaders in Kuwait today. “This would create a danger also to the whole (of) humanity, because if the Lebanese model would vanish, then a big clash is to be expected between civilizations, religions and all aspects or differences in the world,” he said, speaking in English.

Meanwhile, the international mediator on Syria said yesterday a resumption of peace talks in Geneva between Damascus and the opposition was “out of the question” for the moment. “A return to Geneva is out of question for the time being because the criteria have not been met,” UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said in Kuwait. A second round of peace negotiations collapsed in Geneva on Feb 15. Brahimi broke off the talks, known as Geneva II, to give the government and opposition an opportunity to take stock, and without setting a date for another round of negotiations. In a briefing to the UN Security Council earlier this month Brahimi accused Syria of delaying efforts to resume Geneva talks, diplomats said.

Separately, motorists were stuck for hours on roads in traffic jams as roads were closed from Kuwait International Airport to Bayan Palace, the venue of the summit. In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Interior said it had completed all preparations to ensure smooth traffic flow during the summit, which necessitated the closure of roads. Yesterday evening saw a flurry of arrivals of heads of state and dignitaries from around the Arab world, who were received at the airport by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and other senior officials.

Continued on Page 13

Malaysia jet crashed at sea

BEIJING: A relative of passengers on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries after hearing the news that the plane plunged into the Indian Ocean at a hotel yesterday. — AFP

8 killed, 108 missing in huge US landslide

MINYA, Egypt: Egyptian relatives of supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi cry sitting outside the courthouse yesterday in this southern province. — AFP

Max 30º Min 13º High Tide 07:12 &17:14 Low Tide 00:05 & 11:46

LOS ANGELES: More than 100 people are still unaccounted for after a devastating landslide in the northwestern US state of Washington, while eight people are so far confirmed dead, officials said yesterday.

The number reported missing or unaccounted for rose dramatically from 18 to 108 after the massive landslide slammed “like a freight train” into a mountainside in Snohomish County. “We’re still in rescue mode here, but the situation is very grim,” said Snohomish County fire district chief Travis Hots. “We’re holding out hope

that we’ll find people that are still alive, but we haven’t found anyone alive since Saturday.”

Emergency management chief John Pennington stressed that 108 is the number of reported missing or unaccounted for, not necessarily actually missing after the disaster on Saturday. But he said there were a total of 49 dwellings of various types in the area hit by the devastating landslide, and that there were likely to have been more people at home on a Saturday than during the week. “To date there are 108 reports of names of individuals who are either unaccounted for or missing,” he said.

“This doesn’t mean that there are 108 injuries, or 108 fatalities, it’s 108 reports,” he told reporters. “It was Saturday, and it was probably a higher number than you would see during a weekday,” he said.

The wall of mud, rocks and trees smashed into the rural town of Oso, northeast of Seattle, destroying houses and part of a highway. — AFP (See Page 9)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said yesterday its missing airliner had crashed in the Indian Ocean, extinguishing the hopes of relatives of those on board but shedding no light on why it veered so far off course. A sombre Prime Minister Najib Razak said a new analysis of satellite data on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370’s path placed its last position in remote waters off Australia’s west coast, “far from any possible landing sites”. “It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Najib said.

Relatives of those on board received the news in a Malaysia Airlines SMS message which said: “We have to assume beyond all reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and none of those on board survived.” The plane went missing on March 8 with 239 people aboard - two thirds of them Chinese - en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The announcement touched off deep despair among relatives in both cities. “What can I say? I had the belief that my son would return home safely. But what can be done?” said Subramaniam Gurusamy, whose 34-year-old son Puspanathan Gurusamy was on board. “This is fate. We must accept it,” he said, his voice choking with emotion.

In Beijing, family members who have gathered in a hotel throughout the crisis, repeatedly raging at the airline over the agonizing 17-day wait for information, were crushed when the carrier finally broke the news at a meeting in the hotel’s ballroom. Some burst out, sobbing uncontrollably, held by fellow family members while others collapsed and were taken away on stretchers. Others quietly wiped away tears. “For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still,” Najib said in Kuala Lumpur.

The premier said yesterday’s conclusions were reached based on new analysis of satellite data by Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), and the satellite telecommunications firm Inmarsat. He gave no specifics such as precisely where the plane may have been lost. Numerous recent sightings of suspected debris, by satellites as well as aircraft crisscrossing the Continued on Page 13

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LOCAL

Festival to help strengthen Kuwaiti-Palestinian ties ‘A Day of Kuwaitis for Jerusalem’

UK delivering excellent visa services

Some volunteers of KJC with Khadeeja. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Kuwaitis for Jerusalem Committee (KJC) is holding an annual family open day titled ‘A Day of Kuwaitis for Jerusalem’ on March 28..

The event is held in cooperation with the Kuwait Graduates Society and the Women Cultural Social Society. It includes various cultural and entertaining activities for the whole family.

These include a 3D movie ‘A Tour in Jerusalem’ presented by Dr Abdullah Marouf Omar, who teaches at the Teeba University in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Sulaiman Busita will address a lecture on ‘Land Day’ which coincides with this occasion.

This lecture focuses on the refugees and their right to return to Palestine. Palestinian storyteller Denise Al-As’ad will narrate some old stories from Palestine based on reality.

More entertaining and folklore activities will be held. “The Palestinian Heritage Band with Waleed Al-Sibawi will present the Palestinian dabka dance. Then a folklore Kuwait band will also present folk music and dances. The attendees will have the chance to taste both Kuwaiti and Palestinian traditional dishes during this event,” Khadija Madani, Director of Youth Committee at the KJC told Kuwait Times.

The main purpose of this festival is to

Khadeeja Madani talking to Kuwait Times.

strengthen the ties and relations between Kuwaitis and Palestinians. “Through this event we aim to remind new generations of the Palestinian heritage and culture. The previous festival that we held was very successful and people demanded to hold it annually. Last year we held it at the Gulf University for Sciences and Technology, which was attended by many people. We will also present the 3D movie on Jerusalem as many people mix up between the Aqsa Mosque and Qubba Mosque - people will get the right information and will live the experience as if they are inside the mosque. Dr Abdullah Marouf Omar has already presented this movie once at the Kuwait University,” added Madani.

“Every year we hold a charity day, with revenues for charity purposes in Palestine for healthcare, education or awareness. For instance, last year we held an antidrug awareness campaign especially addressed for the Palestinian students and youths, as we noticed the spread and increase of this phenomena there. We also equipped a hospital for child cancer patients. The committee also financed outstanding students in need to study at Palestinian universities,” she added. Madani also thanked all those who supported them in organizing this

Tora Bora screened in Paris PARIS: Kuwaiti Director Walid Al-Awadi is having his film “Tora Bora” in the limelight once more as the production is being screened at the Arab World Institute (AWI) in Paris, during the AWI’s Gulf films festival running March 23-26.

Director General of the institute Mona Khazindar, in her opening address, said the festival is a chance for the French public to see the best productions of the Gulf region’s best directors and producers and contemplate the ideas and social concerned expressed in these works. She stressed young Gulf professionals are bringing new vigor and adding value to Arab cinema, expressing thanks to the Gulf Cooperation Council for helping with the organization of this festival.

Khazindar noted there is a young generation which is empowered by the region’s overall boom in the Gulf who are increasingly making their countries scenes of great interest to those in the field. And it is notable that there are many females among those in the lead, she stressed, and some of them received awards in appreciation of their talent alongside their male peers.—KUNA

event. “We appreciate the participation of Fantasy World to entertain children as well as the Touristic Entertainment Company that will present gifts to winners of various competitions on this day. The Awqaf Secretariat General, Al Duwaliya Electronics and Al Yasra Food Company are also supporting us,” Madani pointed out. Kuwaitis for Jerusalem Committee (KJC) was founded in 2000 during the second intifada, but its roots go back to the first intifada in 1987, when the Graduates Society founded the Arab Committee for Supporting the Palestinian Intifada. It supports various charity activities in Palestine and finances some projects there.

KJC has executed many projects in Palestine such as supporting the Palestine Children Rescue Fund in Beit Jala in Palestine. It also supports a program currently providing scholarship to 27 students. In addition, it supported the renovation of a house for the elderly in Abu Dis village. Furthermore, it supported projects for protecting the rights of disabled children in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

‘A Day of Kuwaitis for Jerusalem’will be held from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Women Cultural Social Society in Khaldiya, block 2, Salem Bu Qamaz St. Entrance to all activities is free of charge.

Armed bedoon in custody

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Jahra detectives arrested another bedoon with an AK-47 and ammunition, who was involved in the Taima and Sulaibiya shootings lately, according to the security information department. Security men were able to arrest more than 14 suspects - all bedoons in addition to two Syrians and a Kuwaiti following the shooting incident.

• Six Arab expats escaped unharmed when their vehicle swerved and collided with a metal barrier and caught fire.

Nuwaiseeb fire center dealt with the accident.

• Fire broke out in a building under construction in Salmiya prompting Salmiya and South Salmiya fire centers to respond. The fire was on the third floor and was put out in record time, without injuries.

Shams Aded Al-Aziz, The English Academy

KUWAIT: On April 1, the UK is set to transform its visa service for applicants in Kuwait, according to a British embassy press release yesterday. A new application centre will open which is double the size of the current facility and will provide a new VIP lounge. The process of applying for a visa will also be streamlined as it is moved fully online.

Applicants will no longer have to complete a paper application form and pay for their visa fee with cash. From April 1, all applications should be completed online via the website www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk.

Once the application form is completed, customers can choose an appointment and make the payment for their visa online. This change is part of a global initiative from the UK home office to improve visa customer service by reducing the time it takes to complete and submit a visa application.

The new online application system allows people to create an account and stores their personal details which can be used for repeat applications, making the system faster and even simpler. Online payment can be made using visa, mastercard and the e-wallet’ Skrill service. The new application centre will be located on the 25th floor of Al Tijaria Tower.

The VIP lounge, which can be accessed for an additional fee provides extra special customer service. The VAC offers a 360 degree panoramic view of Kuwait City, the coastline and famous landmarks such as Kuwait Towers. British Ambassador Frank Baker said: “The new visa application centre will provide a first class experience for our high value Kuwaiti customers. The centre is much bigger than the old one, and will provide far greater comfort, especially for those customers opting to use the VIP facility. Last year we welcomed more Kuwaitis to the UK than ever before, with demand for UK visas growing by over 40 %. We hope the new streamlined services will encourage ever move visitors to come to the UK.” Matt Heath, regional director for UK visas and immigration, said: “We’re streamlining our processes by moving everything online from April 1 which together with the new application centre will deliver the modern service our customers in Kuwait deserve. This is a big enhancement, online appointments will significantly reduce waiting times at the centre, cash is no longer needed and the online application system will make repeat applications really simple.”

The UK has already announced that it will be introducing a new Electronic visa waiver scheme during the course of 2014, which will complete the transformation of visa service for Kuwaiti customers.

However, right now Kuwaiti citizens still require visas to travel to the UK. Frequently asked questions: Q: Do Kuwaitis still need visas?

A: Yes. There is currently no change to the visa requirements for Kuwaiti citizens.

Q: So what has changed for the visa application system for Kuwaitis?

A: From April 1, the application centre will move to Al-Tijaria Tower. From April 6 all applications made must be submitted online at [web address]. Both of these moves will simplify the process and improve the application experience.

Q: Will I still need to give biometrics and

Vasanthi Hariharan, Fahaheel Al-Wataniya School

go the application centre?

A: Yes. As part of the online application process you will book an appointment at the new centre in Al-Tijaria tower, during which you will give your biometrics. However as the application will have been made online, this process will be quicker.

Q: How long will I have to wait for an appointment?

A: The number of appointments available will expand and contract depending on demand. The new application centre is larger and can handle more appointments. We will aim to offer appointments within two to three days of applying online.

Q: Is there still premium and priority services?

A: Yes. The premium service will allow you access to a luxurious new waiting lounge. The priority service means your application will be processed first - we endeavour to process priority applications within two working days.

Q: Will I still be able to turn up at the application centre and have my application processed?

A: No. All applications must be made online and you will need to book an appointment. This removes the need to queue at the application centre.

Q: Do I still need to pay under the new system?

A: Yes. You will need to make your payment online using visa, mastercard or the ewallet Skrill service.

Q: Will I be able to pay via KNET? A: No. The online payment facility is a worldwide operation. Unfortunately KNET are not part of the global worldpay system and are therefore not accepted.

Q: What about Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)? I thought that the new system was free and didn’t require biometrics?

A: These changes are global changes in the way the UK operates its visa service from the 1st April. They are unrelated to the Electronic Visa Waiver.

EVW will be introduced for Kuwait during 2014, the EVW service will be free, and there will be no requirement to give biometrics, attend a visa application centre or hand in passport prior to travel.

Q: When will EVW be introduced?

A: The Scheme is launched in Oman, Qatar and the UAE in early 2014. Similar arrangements will be extended to Kuwaiti passport holders later on in the year.

Q: Why the delay in EVW? A: There is no delay. The Embassy has been consistent in saying that EVW will come in during 2014.

Q: Why is EVW already introduced in UAE, Oman and Qatar?

A: This is the first time we are introducing the new EVW scheme so a sensible phased approach to implementation is being taken to ensure the scheme operates smoothly.

Introducing EVW in the UAE, Qatar and Oman first allows us to make sure the scheme works well before extending it to Kuwaiti passport holders later in the year.

Kuwaiti visitor numbers are significantly higher than Oman, Qatar and the UAE. Introducing EVW in those three Gulf States first will ensure the scheme works well before extending it to Kuwaiti passport holders.

Zainab Meerza, Gulf English School

Kuwait Times students’ art competition KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah will attend the closing ceremony of Kuwait Times’ students’ art competition “Kuwait Beautiful and Green”.

Kuwait Times Marketing Director Adnan Saad, who is also the competition organizer, declared that a total of 80 schools will be participating in the art competition being organized in cooperation with Chevron, Zain and Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa. He added that the objective of this competition is to make students aware about the fragile environment of Kuwait, and the wider Kuwaiti population aware about national environmental issues through the student community.

Students ranging across all ages and grades will represent their schools. Students have already received the drawing sheets and they may draw anything related to planting and beautifying Kuwait.

They are required to complete the painting by April 3, 2014 and send it back to Kuwait Times. A panel of judges comprising of Kuwaiti and expatriate artists will evaluate the artworks according to the age categories of students. The criteria for any winning entry will be based on

the students’ creativity, uniqueness, amount of effort and technique.

JUDGES Thuraya Al-Baqsami • Kuwaiti female artist and formative artist and writer. She was born in Kuwait in 1951. She attended the College of Fine Arts in Cairo from 1972-1974. She got her BA and Masters degrees from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow (1974-1981).

• Since 1970, journalist and illustrator of Kuwait magazines and newspapers.

• Writer of short stories, children books and art critic.

• Member of the Very Special Arts international organization, Washington DC, US. • Founding member of the European Artists Association, Essen, Germany.

• 58 international personal art exhibitions.

• 450 collective exhibitions, participant in various international biennials, youth festivals and woman conferences in Washington, Beijing, Cairo, Moscow, London, Paris, etc.

• Awarded “Prize for Art activities” of the European Union of Arts in Prague (Czech Republic) May 2001.

• Awarded “European medal of

Franz Kafka” by the European circle “Franz Kafka” (Prague) in BerlinSeptember 2001.

• “World Prize of Salvador Dali” by the Alliance Salvador Dali international, Czech Republic, Spain, 2003.

• Award in literature from the Almadina Culture Society, Madrid, Spain, 2006 for her poem “A blue bird in my palm” - “Pajaro Azul”.

• Trebbia 2007 European award for the support of Arts and Creative Activities (together with her husband Mohammed Al-Qadiri, General Manager of Ghadir Gallery Kuwait), Prague (Czech Republic, Jan 2008).

• Awarded Novo Prize at Hajduboszormeny Symposium, Hungary, 2010.

Svitlana Arndt Secondary Education Department of the Institute of System Research of Education of Ukraine.

Svitlana Arndt

• Ukrainian female artist.

• A graduate from TTC ( Teacher Training College) Zaporozhe, Ukraine 1984-86.

• State Pedagogical University of Kiev, Specialty “ Teaching and Methodology of Initial Education”.

• Teacher of initial classes of secondary school, Ukraine.

• Teacher of initial classes of secondary school Kiev, Ukraine.

• Methodologist of the General

Some advice from the judges how you can win the art competition: • Draw a picture yourself!

• Make sure you understand everything that’s required and what you’re agreeing to.

• The picture can show anything you appreciate in Kuwait (nature, city, people, animals and different plants and flowers, sea and sky).

• Use symbols of Kuwait such as

Thuraya Al-Baqsami flag, Kuwait memorials.

• The picture must be complete.

• The picture should be clearly signed.

• If you’re not sure, ask questions.

• Understand the theme.

• Enter your best.

• Don’t give up.

• Don’t draw dark and frightening scenes or copies of other artworks.

• Listen to an art teacher’s instructions.

• Examine artworks.

• Practice using different drawing materials.

• Participate in training workshops.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LOCAL

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets (clockwise from left) Egyptian President Adly Mansour, Yemeni President Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sudanese President Omar Hasan Al-Bashir and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman yesterday. —KUNA

Syrian conflict, Palestine top summit agenda Amir to take over presidency KUWAIT: The 25th summit of the Arab League member states will be held today, the first that Kuwait’s hosts since joining the pan-Arab organization in 1961.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will take over the presidency of the Arab League from Qatar, which chaired the League last year.

The Arab summiteers will be discussing the Syrian conflict which killed more than 130,000 people since the crisis broke out in March 2011.

The leaders will call for a rapid end of the crisis that displaced millions of people internally or living in refugee camps in neighboring countries, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

The summit will extend support for the neighboring countries to enable them facing increasing pressure caused by the influx of refugees.

The summit is held following the collapse of the UN-sponsored

Geneva II negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition.

Head of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) Ahmad AlJarba was invited to address the summit.

The Arab leaders will also discuss the Palestinian cause and the negotiations with Israel.

They are to call for an end of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and their lands, as well as attempts to change the demographic status of occupied Jerusalem and desecrating the sanctity of the holy sites.

They will reaffirm importance of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on relevant UN resolutions, the 1991 Madrid peace conference principles and the Arab peace initiative, to pave the way for the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Arab leaders will meanwhile reiterate need of stepping up the fight against terrorism in the region, follow up the implementation of the

resolutions of previous summits and the Arab economic and soial summits. The leaders will also discuss means of reforming and developing

the Arab League, including the amendments of the Charter.

They will call on the importance of achieving the electricity, railway

and marine networks among the Arab countries, food and water security, the establishment of the Arab Custom Union. — KUNA

‘GCC conflict will not be discussed during Summit’ KUWAIT: Gulf Cooperation Council frictions that escalated following the decisions of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to withdraw their ambassadors from Qatar will not be discussed during the Arab League Summit that opens in Kuwait today. Instead, the issue is expected to be addressed internally ‘within the boundaries of the GCC house’ at a later date, Al-Rai daily reported yesterday quoting sources with knowledge of the news.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khalid Al-Jarallah echoed those statements while addressing reporters during the preparatory meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Sunday. “[The Arab Summit] will not feature reconciliation efforts between Gulf states,” he said. “This issue will be dealt with within the GCC house.”

Qatar FM Meanwhile, sources quoted by AlQabas yesterday denied rumors that appeared on social media Sunday that

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior has taken all preparations to ensure smooth traffic flows during the 25th Arab summit. All authorities concerned are in constant coordination and cooperation in order to bring about success of the two-day summit. There would be detours on the roads from Kuwait International Airport to the venue of the summit at Bayan Palace. The changes in the routes are detailed in the map above.

News monitoring hall opens KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah inaugurated a state-of-the-art news monitoring hall at the News and Political Programs Department at the Ministry of Information Sunday evening, and said this is another step within the plan to upgrade and overhaul ministry performance and services.

In his press remarks at the opening, the minister said this project reflects the ministry’s keenness on training national cadres to utilize the latest advances in technology and in media. He expressed appreciation for the effort of all ministry staff and officials who enabled the completion of this development project.

The opening ceremony was attended by Information Undersecretary Salah AlMubaraki and assistant undersecretaries.

For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for News and Political Programs Faisal AlMtalgam said the minister ’s interest in improving staff capabilities is appreciated, as is his interest in supplying the staff with the latest equipment.

News Monitoring Department Director Adel Al-Azmi for his part reviewed the new systems’ features and pointed out they are unparalleled in the Middle East and have advanced classification and storage capabilities and advanced features for video or audio

recording. The systems allow for retrieval of material with great ease and record time, he added, and smooth transfer and sharing of material and data as well. There are also programs to render recorded material into written text as well as programs to simultaneously translated material from sources in foreign languages. The first phase of this new project

enables monitoring of 20 satellite stations, 10 radio stations, and 30 new websites with a storage capacity that allows for high resolution viewing of clips and texts at later points in time. The second phase is expected to take the number of satellite channels monitored to 80, and there would be no limit as to other news sources. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah inspecting the facilities after inaugurating the news monitoring hall.

claimed that Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah protested Saudi Arabia discussing the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood in his country. The rumors seem to have been fueled by Attiyah exiting the meeting during discussions and returning later with Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.

“Al-Attiyah went out for a few minutes to answer a phone call he received during the meeting,” said the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“After the call ended, he met his Lebanese counterpart and discussed the situation of Lebanese nationals in Qatar, before the two walked back to the meeting together.”

Foreign Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Khalid Al-Khalifa took on Twitter to deny the rumors following the meeting.

“Whenever reporters see a minister exit the hall, they say that he withdrew or went out angrily,” he posted on his verified Twitter account Sunday. “[ The rumors] are untrue, [meant to] stirring conflicts and the work of tabloids.”

Arab media figures pin great hope on summit KUWAIT: A number of Arab media figures said here Monday that the Arab summit in Kuwait today will be held under delicate and difficult conditions that require concerted efforts of the Arab leaders to be united to strengthen Arab solidarity and togetherness.

In separate remarks on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings for the 25th Arab summit, the media figures said Arab states pin great hopes on the Kuwait summit to develop a constructive and fast wayout of the crises taking into account the higher interests of the Arab peoples.

Chief Editor of (Qatar Tribune) Hassan Al-Ansari said the Arab peoples are anticipating applicable decisions from the Arab summit which is being held here for the first time in order to move forward towards a better political, security and economic future. He praised the central and balance role played by Kuwait headed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah while presiding over the summit to strengthen Arab-Arab ties and develop them within the framework of joint Arab action.

For his part, media adviser and representative of Egyptian (Dar Al-

Hilal) press foundation Salah Tayel said that all Arabs were now focusing on the upcoming Kuwait summit which is being held amids very critical conditions.

He added that Kuwait summit “bears more issues and concerns”, compared with previous summits, saying that the timing of the summit is “an achievement by itself”.

Tayel praised the positions of Kuwait in support of Arab causes and its strong ties with the Arab countries that are based on mutual respect and non-interference in their internal affairs, a matter that gives it a status allowing it to confront all the difficulties on one hand, and respect of other countries of its views on the other.

For his part, Bilal Al-Sabah, a political researcher in South Africa, stressed the importance of the “pivotal” issues to be addressed by the Arab summit, most notably the Palestinian issue, the crisis in Syria in addition to the latest developments in Yemen and Libya.

He expressed his confidence that the Kuwait summit would be able to address pressing issues chiefly the Syrian crisis and human tragedy, thanks to its central and balanced role. —KUNA

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LOCAL In my view

In my view

Balance of superpowers

Where is Kuwait heading?

By Labeed Abdal

local@kuwaittimes.net

local@kuwaittimes.net

he recent murder of a 19-year-old college student by her family’s Ethiopian domestic helper highlights several problems that Kuwait suffers from, including the increasing crime rate as well as the price that Kuwaitis pay for the time that expatriates spend in our country. There is a local saying, ‘A foreigner in a land ought to be well-mannered’. This saying has been repeated more often in the past few years by citizens who are seeing negative practices happening over and over again without proper deterrent actions.

The recent stab-murder was committed by a ‘creature’ who is ‘outside the coverage area’ when it comes to having any bits of feelings. This happened when she ended the life of a girl in her first year at the Kuwait University’s College of Arts, and whose life was taken away by an expatriate woman before she got the chance to plan for her future.

The crime took place a few months after an appeal court’s ruling that upheld the death sentence of an Ethiopian housemaid who murdered a young Kuwaiti woman in Jaber Al-Ali. It also happened a few years after a similar crime in which a Filipina woman killed her employer’s child.

So the question is, for how long are those murders going to continue taking place? Someone asked me recently if I had ever been to Ethiopia, and my answer was no. He then told me that the African country is ‘crowded’ with criminals and people specializing in crime. Someone else who identified himself as a criminal investigator wrote on Twitter that Ethiopians who follow certain pagan beliefs mark an occasion these days that require sacrificing children.

There are expatriates who seem to enjoy breaking the law in Kuwait. When Kuwaitis travel to a country in the Arab world, Europe or anywhere else, you do not see them disregard the laws there and commit actions like setting up a checkpoint in a public street, sell goods in public, drive recklessly or without a license, etc. That is because Kuwaitis are raised in a society where those actions are illegal.

Kuwait has become a new wonder of the world by having large expatriate groups who settled here after forgetting their home countries where they were born and raised. And for what? Kuwaitis are directly paying the price. They no longer can enjoy their full right of medical diagnoses and treatment in overcrowded public hospitals. The same story goes everywhere - even in shopping and entertainment where Kuwaitis struggle to have a good time.

I would not have a problem with Kuwait’s large population of expatriate manpower if they brought more positive aspects than negative ones, such as boosting the economy for example.

But on that topic in specific, recent reports suggest that expatriates’ annual remittances are valued at billions of dinars.

All I can say is God save Kuwait.

he events in Ukraine which have been ongoing for several months featuring public protests, accusations of corruption and desires for secession expressed by parts of the Ukrainian state give us a glimpse of the heated competition between Russia and the West over gaining an important strategic position.

The Syrian crisis also gave a similar glimpse.

Russia committed to its strong relations with Syria by providing support to help the Syrian regime avoid collapse. On the other hand, several Western and Arab administrations tried supporting the rebels who have become divided into several groups with conflicted objectives and who started

T

The law

Al-Anbaa

By Abdullah Buwair

Trouble makers

T

kuwait digest

Who’s getting killed today?!

By Arwa Al-Wagayan

I

t is surely a disaster when murder and manslaughter becomes everyday ordinary news. For the one millionth time, Kuwait recently woke up to news about the murder of a 19-year-old female citizen by her Ethiopian housemaid.

More attempted murders were committed the following week without any action from the government’s side. This is an absolute disaster.

Though I am against judging a whole country because of some malpractices committed by some of its citizens, we surely need to think twice about bringing more domestic labor from Ethiopia, especially when we learn that murder is an integral part of this particular people’s culture. Because of their beliefs, many Ethiopian tribes practice killing and slaughtering as a ritual.

It is actually a known fact that Kuwait attracts labor that no other country would accept. Visa traffickers have been systematically practicing human trafficking one way or another. However, when things go way beyond making money and involves murders, the state has to ban bringing those laborers in order to save the lives of its citizens and expatriates.

Isn’t it enough that our streets are full of laborers who do nothing but beg on a daily basis? One only needs a short trip to Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh to watch all kinds of environmental and human violations in addition to forced prostitution that involves kidnapping housemaids, holding them captive in some cellars and forcing them to practice prostitution under

the supervision of some of those laborers who actually came to Kuwait with great expectations and got shocked by tragic facts that turned them into criminals.

When a human being cuts loose with his conscience and starts dealing with fellow human beings as merchandise, this is surely considered one of the most serious human trafficking crimes, that has helped spread in Kuwait over the past ten years.

When the MoI settles for selectively imposing its powers and some of its personnel limit their work to harassing girls in various malls by forcing them show their IDs and disturbing them for no reason, this is a disaster because they are forgetting their original duty which is to protect both citizens and expatriates and not to abuse their powers in harassing those weaker than themselves. They should have protected us instead of annoying us.

We surely need to stop bringing Ethiopian laborers to Kuwait - we need to fight crime instead of being lenient with domestic labor offices and we need to be stricter with murders and take more precautionary measures. We do not want to wake up to daily news about someone murdered while the state does nothing about it. Finally, Al-Qabas newspaper recently published a survey saying that Ethiopian housemaids had committed 15 crimes in 2013, including 9 murders and attempted murders all over Kuwait. Aren’t those statistics enough to stop bringing Ethiopian laborers to Kuwait?! —Al-Jarida

Those events require selfcontrol first and foremost, especially when it comes to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council who manage international peace and security. fighting each other as well.

The emergence of proxy wars in those cases and others, as well as the support that feuding teams receive from stronger powers, reiterate the need for international efforts to prevent the ongoing ‘show of strength’ and heated competition which often escalates when one side is provided with advanced weapons, after which the competitor is provided with more advanced weapons and so on.

Those events require self-control first and foremost, especially when it comes to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council who manage international peace and security. What is important are efforts to prevent a breach of global security that results in wars similar to those humanity experienced in the past two centuries, and which humanity should never experience again.

In my view

Solidarity for better future

By Marwan Kabalan

T

he Arab Summit, hosted by Kuwait, is being held under the slogan “Solidarity for a Better Future”. Yet, the current state of affairs in the Arab world permits talking about anything except solidarity. The Arab world has never been as divided as it appears today.

In fact, forming regional alliances that reflect both regional and international dynamics has always been a trademark of Arab politics. The latent force behind division has been ideological, sectarian, competition over leadership of the Arab world and more recently the standing on the Arab Spring.

A new cold war?

In the 1950s and 1960s the Arab world was divided into pro-Soviet Arab nationalists led by Egypt and pro-West conservatives led by Saudi Arabia. The two camps fought what the late Middle East expert Malcolm Kerr called “The Arab Cold War”, with hefty costs.

Egypt’s exit from the Arab-Israeli conflict, following the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1978, changed Arab alignments. Syria and Iraq led the efforts to isolate Egypt and prevent further erosion in the Arab-Israeli balance of power.

The new alignment did not last long before the focus of division shifted, wherein the position on the Iranian revolution and the Iran-Iraq war became the new fault line. Syria, Libya and Algeria supported Iran whereas the Arab Gulf states, Egypt and Jordan aided Iraq.

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait reshaped the map with Syria, Egypt and the GCC countries joining the US-led coalition to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. Meanwhile, some countries backed Iraq, in rhetoric of course.

Following the Madrid peace conference in the early 1990s, a Pax-Americana “peace axis” to contain both Iran and Iraq was formed. Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt played key role in the implementation of the “dual containment” policy.

For 10 years, Iran and Iraq were isolated, weakened, and treated as pariahs in the region and by the international community.

After the US occupation of Iraq in 2003, a new regional alignment emerged with Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah acting as a resistance axis. Egypt, Jordan and the GCC countries, except for Qatar, formed the camp of moderates. The conflict between these two regional axes was most clear during the 2006 war in Lebanon and the 2008 Israeli attack against Hamas in Gaza.

The Arab Spring did not change the dynamic but made it more complex. As a revolution of freedom and dignity, the Arab Spring was ideologically blind. When it hit, it did not distinguish between the “moderate” Hosni Mubarak and the “resistant” Bashar Al-Assad; hence the complication.

As a revolution of freedom and dignity, the Arab Spring was ideologically blind. When it hit, it did not distinguish between the ‘moderate’ Hosni Mubarak and the “resistant” Bashar al-Assad; hence the complication.

For almost half a century, the Arab world was divided into two major camps and the division was largely based on ideological differences and the position on Israel and the West.

After the Arab revolutions, three rival groups emerged with multiple fault lines. They involved almost all sort of contrasts: Ideological, sectarian personal, and geo-political. First, we have the axis of resistance, which remained largely undeterred although it has been hard hit by the Arab Spring. The exit of Hamas and the inclusion of the Iraq Maliki government was viewed by many as a largely Shiite camp.

Second, the pro-revolution axis, which includes Turkey

and Qatar, opposes the military coup in Egypt and calls for the restoration of the democratic process.

Third, the counter-revolution axis is led by Saudi Arabia and includes the UAE, Egypt and Jordan. The three rival groups are involved in a titanic confrontation throughout the region but particularly in Egypt and Syria, with different interests and stakes though.

The division within the Arab community of states over the position on the Arab Spring reached a new climax early this month when Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf states withdrew their ambassadors from Doha. The official statement attributed the move to Qatar’s failure to commit to the principles of “non-interference, directly or indirectly in the internal affairs of any GCC state, and to refrain from backing anyone who threatens the security and stability of the GCC countries, whether as groups or individuals, via direct security work or through political influence, and stop supporting hostile media”.

Clearly, the decision was intimately linked to AlJazeera’s favourable coverage of Arab revolutions, Qatar’s political and economic support for post-revolution Arab governments, and hosting Arab opposition figures, particularly the anti-Egypt militar y coup Muslim Brotherhood.

Critical role From the outset, Saudi Arabia viewed the Arab Spring as a threat and acted accordingly. It hosted the first deposed Arab president, Tunisia’s Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and offered to host Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after failing to rescue his rule.In Libya, despite the animosity, Saudi Arabia showed no enthusiasm for the overthrow of the Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

In fact, Saudi Arabia’s position on the Libyan revolution was largely negative. Had it not been for the geopolitical dimension of the Syrian conflict, and the fear of Iran’s regional hegemony should the Syrian regime survive, Saudi Arabia’s position would not have been different on the Syrian revolution.

Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s greatest success was in Egypt, the most contested issue with Qatar. On July 3, 2013, the Egyptian army, under the command of Minister of Defense General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, overthrew President Mohammed Morsi.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE played critical role in sustaining the post-Morsi military-backed government in Cairo. Had it not been for Riyadh’s open backing, the coup’s chances of success would have been very low.

As the host country of the Arab summit, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been trying for some time to mend fences between Qatar on one hand and Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the other.

Yet, the withdrawal of ambassadors from Doha and the Saudi designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group have complicated his efforts.

Furthermore, with division hitting the heart of the most homogeneous Arab regional system - the GCC - and with three Arab axes fighting what each of them sees as a make or break battle, it is very difficult to understand the meaning of the slogan of the Kuwait Arab summit.

In fact, the summit will be considered successful if it manages to only prevent further escalation between rival brothers and hence the breakout of a mini Cold War within the GCC.

LOCAL

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Woman places newborn behind car at hospital Beat marks on hospitalized maid’s body KUWAIT: A woman faces attempted murder and other charges after she was caught trying to place a newborn behind a vehicle in Far waniya Hospital’s park ing lot. A nurse reportedly saw the woman placing the baby behind the tyre of a parked vehicle, and managed to catch her when she tried to run away.

The Ethiopian national was handed over to security officers deployed at the hospital while the baby was taken for medical tests. The woman claimed during investigations that a Syrian man kidnapped her in Waha while she was taking out the trash, handed over the baby to her and told her to get rid of it. She added that the man drove her to Farwaniya Hospital and threatened her with harm if she failed to do what he asked her to do. The woman was taken to Waha police station for further questioning as investigations are ongoing to reveal the mystery behind the case.

beat marks on her head, leg and hand. Police are waiting for the woman’s condition to stabilize to ask her about the source of her injuries.

Prisoner located A prisoner was arrested hours after he managed to escape during a questioning session recently. The man was reportedly taken to the Saad Al-Abdullah police station for investigations in charges of house breaking and damaging a patrol vehicle. He was able to run away from the police station while officers were distracted and disappeared. The suspect, who was handcuffed at the time of escape, was located less than 6 hours later and detained by Jahra detectives. He was returned back to prison afterwards.

Shooting suspect held Jahra police arrested a bedoon man on Sunday for public shooting and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The arrest raises the number of people detained over similar charges in the governorate since Friday to 16, including bedoons, Kuwaiti and Syrian nationals. Meanwhile, detectives continue to inspect videos posted on social networks for a recently reported random shooting incident to look for other suspects.

Fatal crash A man was killed in an accident reported at Kabd Road while investigations are ongoing to reveal the reasons. The bedoon man reportedly succumbed to his injuries before paramedics and police arrived to the scene in response to an emergency call. They found the car had turned over and settled by the side of the road after it lost balance for unknown reasons, according to eyewitnesses. Criminal investigators were called after the driver was pronounced dead. They carried out investigations on the scene before transferring the body to the forensic department. A case was filed.

Beat marks Mubarak Al-Kabeer police launched investigations with a local resident regarding beating marks found on the body of his domestic worker who was hospitalized in a critical condition on Sunday. An ambulance headed to the Kuwaiti man’s house after he reported in an emergency call that his housemaid fell from the second floor. The 22-year-old Asian woman was taken to the hospital where doctors noticed

Suicide attempt A woman was hospitalized in a critical condition after she stabbed herself in a suicide bid according to her family’s statements. An ambulance accompanied by police had rushed to a building in Nugra in response to an emergency call. The Syrian girl was rushed to Mubarak Hospital and admitted in the intensive care unit. While the medical diagnoses confirmed that the girl sustained several stab wounds, her

family told police that she stabbed herself with a kitchen knife during an outburst following a dispute with her father. Police are waiting for the girl to be cleared to talk in order to obtain her testimony.

Child molested A Kuwaiti man filed a case at the Firdous police station, and accused a storekeeper in the area of molesting his child. The 11-year-old had told his father that the Asian man molested him when he went to a baqala near his house to buy soft drinks. The man approached police afterwards, pressed charges and provided the suspect’s descriptions and information. The suspect is being summoned for questioning.

Haris charged with rape Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh police prepare to launch investigations with a haris in the area who faces sexual assault charges pressed by a female tenant. In her statements to police, the Asian woman said that the Arab man came to her apartment twice on the day of the incident in order to check some electricity problems, and on the third visit he assaulted her by force.

She gave information and descriptions of the haris who is being summoned for questioning.

Cash restrictions A Kuwaiti man gave up 165,000 Egyptian pounds in order to be allowed to enter Egypt.

The man was stopped at the VIP lounge inside Cairo International Airport shortly after arriving from Kuwait, as he was told that the 170,000 Egyptian pounds he was carrying could not be cleared. Customs officials explained that their step was in accordance with local regulations that allow a maximum of 5,000 pounds to be carried by each passenger.

The man repor tedly agreed to carr y the allowed sum and leave the rest in order to avoid prosecution.

Largest share of KFAED aid to Arab countries KUWAIT: Around 56 percent of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development’s (KFAED) aid are directed to the Arab countries, Director General Abdulwahhab Al-Bader said yesterday.

The Arab countries occupy the largest share of KFAED’s financial assistance despite extension of operations of the fund to include African and Asian countries, Al-Bader said in a statement to reporters who were in Kuwait to cover activities of the Arab summit.

He said the fund sought to continue its assistance to development projects in the Arab and developing countries.

KFAED, which was established in the wake of Kuwait’s independence in 1961, aims at helping Arab countries develop their economies by offering easy loans for development projects, said Al-Bader.

He noted that the fund extended around 850 loans for around 104 countries around the world.

Kuwaitis are well known for helping the others, he noted, and this work was organized in an institutionalized manner by the establishment of KFAED. Al-Bader said there were countries benefitting from loans with interest rates ranging from 0.5 to two percent, depending on the nature of the project, economic condition of the country and execu-

tion period of the venture.

KFAED, he added, was also helping Arab and regional development organizations.

The fund, noted Al-Bader, has been concentrating on infrastructure and social projects since 2000.

He said KFAED started paying additional attention to agriculture project since the start of the global food crisis in 2007.

Al-Bader said KFAED resumed operations following a limited halt caused by the August 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The fund was operating from its London office and continued provision of funds that were approved before the invasion.—KUNA

KUWAIT: Jahra municipality, in cooperation with the cleanliness and road occupancy department, carried out an inspection campaign on stores, restaurants and cafes, as well as car leasing offices who use areas without obtaining licenses from the municipality. The campaign was in Jahra and industrial Jahra areas. 75 citations were issued during the campaign, which will continue in order to remove all encroachments on state property.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LOCAL

Attendees at the event.

Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qasimi

Al Majaz Theatre set for debut of world’s largest oratorio SHARJAH: Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed AlQasimi, Executive Committee Chairman for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations, last Tuesday shared some insights into Sharjah’s forthcoming musical spectacular “Clusters of Light”.

The revelations came during a press conference held in Al-Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al-Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Head of the Projects Committee for the SICC 2014 celebrations.

The conference was also attended by members of the Executive Committee for Sharjah’s celebrations as the capital of Islamic culture, as well as prominent members of the crew and representatives of the media.

Sheikh Al-Qasimi said : “Clusters of Light” is the culmination of the vision of Dr Sheikh Sultan Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who ordained a work to be “recorded by history and engraved in memories of next generations”. In presenting the life of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the early story of Islam, it promotes humanitarian values of justice, brotherhood, love and peace. “Clusters of Light” contains such dazzling elements that words fail to describe them. The efforts of the administrative, technical and artistic staff will leave an indelible imprint in the history of this epic, he said.

He added that “The Clusters of Light” will bring values of love, justice, tolerance and peace to the entire world, thanks to the efforts of a considerable number of Arab and international artists as well as scholars of the biography of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and experts in the field of large-scale theatrical production. In excess of 750 people came together from various countries to produce an artwork that, Al-Qasimi said, reminds us of the most important moments in the formation of our Islamic civilization.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmad Al-Qasimi stressed that this, the first ever performance at the new Al- Majaz Open Theatre, is Sharjah’s gift to the entire world: “By telling the story of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and clarifying the true nature of Islam, we hope we will enrich the world of ideas, highlight the civilising aspects of Islamic Culture and irrigate the intellects of present and future generations.”

He expressed his deep thanks to the public and private sectors for supporting “Clusters of Light” driven by social responsibility and an eagerness to broadcast its message of love

Khalid Al-Sheikh and peace to the world. “I am confident their support will ensure the success of this oratorio and contribute to its promulgation locally, regionally and globally. At the same time, their work underlines the distinct partnership between the public and private sectors in the UAE. It shows the state’s attitude towards organizing and hosting global events in all fields.”

For his part, Khalid Al-Sheikh, the Bahraini Artist who composed “Clusters of Light”, commended the “spring of culture” currently being enjoyed by Sharjah by virtue of the vision and directives of Al-Qasimi. Al-Sheikh pointed out the Emirate constantly offers sophisticated artistic and cultural initiatives, adding to its regional and global pre-eminence. He stressed this artwork represents “the greatest story narrated by history” both in its storyline and in the fact that its production gathered people of different nationalities, races and religions.

Christian Steinhauser, the German musician and conductor of the Global German Orchestra which recorded the score, said that the last six months of his life were the most important in his career. He co-operated with 50 musicians and 20 sound engineers from around the world to offer a spiritual and emotional soundtrack inspired by Islamic history.

Steinhauser said that admiration for the biog-

Kevin Robbins

Philip Skaff

Richard Lindsey

raphy of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) helped the team pull together to produce a monumental artwork about Islam in a short period of time.

Philip Skaff, CEO of Multiple & Spinifex Group - the multinational company that oversaw the show’s production - pointed out that the vision of Al-Qasimi to build “cultural edifices” rather than concrete buildings formed a strong motive for his company to be part of this work, and to bring to it the latest tech-

niques in theatrical, musical and audiovisual display.

Richard Lindsey, Executive Manager of Innovation at the Multiple & Spinifex Group and responsible for the creative execution of “Clusters of Light”, stressed that he was very proud to have the artwork on his curriculum vitae, and to learn about the Islamic religion and the great Arab culture. He added that the values of purity, justice, love and peace advocated by Islam made him work harder to show

these values in all the details of the artwork.

He said this production merges the arts of theatre and technology, and will dazzle audiences in Sharjah and throughout the Arab world.

For his part, Kevin Robbins, the director of artwork, commended the considerable influence “Clusters of Light” is likely to have on the art scene in the UAE. Its imprint will be indelible, he said, especially in the field of acting, as a large number of talented young men and women in the region will participate in this artwork, showing great enthusiasm and professionalism, despite the fact that most of them are acting for the first time in their lives.

He confirmed that each artist was proud to contribute to promoting the values of Islam, adding that converting the original, poetic text (by Dr Abdul Rahman Al Ashmawi of Saudi Arabia) into a theatrical work was an excellent choice - because theatre can be both narrative, funny and passion-provoking.

The audience watched a short film about Al-Majaz Theatre, which will host the first performance of “Clusters Of Light” on the evening corresponding to March 26. The theatre is the official headquarters the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations. It will in future host further national religious and artistic events. Best described as an amphitheatre, it can accommodate up to 4,500 people and boasts highly sophisticated technical equipment including 400 movable lights, 120 loudspeakers and 21 projectors. It will be the preeminent cultural venue in the region and a landmark in world civilisation.

Rasha Matar and Mohammed Al-Suwaidi, broadcasters for Radio Sharjah and TV Sharjah, were the masters of ceremony. They concluded by thanking the members the Executive Committee for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations for their efforts in overseeing the work, and expressed thanks to the sponsoring institutions and companies in both public and private sectors. They also thanked the representatives of the media, and praised the sizeable crew of “Clusters of Light” for the efforts they have exerted.

First show of “Clusters of Light” will be staged at Majaz Island Theatre on March 26, in presence of hundreds of VIPs and special guests from government, diplomatic, artistic, and cultural circles and media representatives from the Arab and Islamic World. Four shows will be performed to public on March 27, 28 and April 3 and 4. Tickets are available at http://www.ticketmaster.ae/ and at selected outlets across the UAE.

‘Clusters Of Light’ to feature special effects never before seen in Mideast

Special effects during the making of ‘Clusters of Light’.

SHARJAH: The theatrical spectacle ‘Clusters Of Light’, which opens at the newly constructed Al-Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah on March 26, is not only the largest ever production of its kind in the region but will feature special effects and theatrical engineering never before seen. Commissioned by Dr Sheikh Sultan Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, as the centrepiece of Sharjah’s celebrations on being named Islamic Capital of Culture 2014, ‘Clusters Of Light’ is unprecedented in its scope and ambition. Featuring over 200 actors and 750 crew, it will make full use of the new Amphitheatre’s state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. Experts in public spectacle from across the world have been brought together to create something truly new and exciting.

A full choir and orchestra, distinguished soloists, famous singers and actors from across the world will perform onstage alongside incredible props, projections and special effects.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this breakthrough spectacular is that it began with a poem, by esteemed Saudi poet Dr Abdul Rahman Al Ashmawi.

‘The idea came out of the vision of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al-Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,’ says Wassim Rizk, Managing Partner for Multiple & Spinifex Group.

‘We were able to bring the poem to life through superior creativity and the deployment of the latest technology.

Our aim has always been to do something original; as original as the poem

itself. That originality manifests itself in a spectacle that will change the way people view theatre production in this part of the world.’

‘Projection onto a moving object is very new. Remote-control robotics are another new technology. The show will have a number of surprises and I don’t want to spoil them all for the audience. Suffice it to say ‘Clusters Of Light’ will deliver not only great creative content, but unbelievable tech-

Wassim Rizk, Managing Partner for Multiple & Spinifex Group nology - some of it used for the first time in this part of the world.’

The Multiple & Spinifex Group moved fast to develop the staging of ‘Clusters Of Light’ within just five months, adopting what Wassim calls a ‘zero fault tolerance approach’ to ensure success. ‘We said we can’t experiment with this, we simply needed to get it right from the beginning given the time frame we are working with.’

‘We knew we needed the best talent available within our offices and network from around the world. So,

behind the scenes as well as on stage, this work involves the best in their fields from a number of regions bet it the Middle East, Australia, Europe, America. Our people have been involved in some of the most challenging creative and technical projects in the world. Some of them have been involved in Olympic ceremonies. Some have worked on operas. Some have done music for movies. Others have been involved in touring shows. So we selected a core group of people who are tried and tested and who could deliver the work to as high a standard as possible.’

‘Clusters of Light’ will be in Sharjah for five days from March 25. Will it go on to be seen elsewhere? ‘This is something the Emirate of Sharjah will decide,’ says Wassim, ‘but the work delivers a world message which the world is entitled to hear. A message that humanity needs today more than any other time. A message about Islam the religion that is encompassing, tolerant, peaceful, and human. The way we see it, ‘Clusters Of Light’ can tour throughout our region and beyond. I think the West in particular would be interested to see a production of this scale that has been developed in our region. We at Multiple & Spinifex Group feel very privileged to have been chosen by the Emirate of Sharjah to develop and produce this one of its kind spectacular. ‘ ‘Clusters Of Light’ runs from March 26th to April 5th at the Open Majaz Island Theatre, Sharjah. Follow @ClustersOfLight on Twitter for more updates

Assaf during rehearsals.

Assaf excited SHARJAH: Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf arrived in Sharjah in order to participate in the musical spectacular “Clusters of Light”, which takes place on March 26, as part of the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations.

Assaf expressed excitement to take part in the event, and for the chance to share the stage with prominent Arab musicians who are participating in the musical including Khalid Al-Sheikh, Hussein Al-Jasmi, Lutfi Bushnaq and Ali Al-Hajjar.

Citing the upcoming event as the ‘biggest challenge’ in his young career, Assaf also expressed appreciation to the fact that he is set to represent his home country of Palestine in what is considered the greatest theatrical work about Islam, and which chronicles the legacy of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him).

The “Clusters of Light” performance takes place at the new Al-Majaz Open Theatre featuring an elite group of Arab musicians and over 200 performers.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

8 killed, 18 missing in massive US landslide

Sunnis urged to defect from Lebanon’s army Page 8

Page 9

No more G8? G7 to punish Russia Moscow tightens grip on Crimea THE HAGUE: US President Barack Obama arrived in the Netherlands yesterday to discuss with six other world leaders how to punish Russia for annexing Ukraine’s Crimea region, including possibly excluding Moscow from the G8 club of rich nations. Obama has called an emergency Group of Seven summit in The Hague to discuss what steps to take against Russia over Crimea, with Russian troops on Monday morning seizing another Ukrainian military base on the peninsula.

Paratroopers and armored personnel carriers stormed the naval base in Feodosia in the early hours, with vehicles seen leaving the base carrying Ukrainian marines whose hands had been tied. Russia’s nearcomplete takeover of the Crimea, which it views as a reunification, has forced Western leaders to rethink their relationship with Moscow after a post-Cold War period in which they sought to usher Russia into the broader international community.

With Russia massing what NATO called a “very sizeable” force on its border with Ukraine, there are fears that President Vladimir Putin is hungry for more Ukrainian territory. The growing crisis is expected to dominate a meeting originally set up to discuss nuclear security. Yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit for what may be their most tense talks to date. It will be their first meeting since Washington imposed financial

restrictions on the most powerful members of Putin’s inner circle for their decision to resort to force in response to last month’s fall of Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin regime.

‘No more G8’ Kerry has already warned that Moscow risks losing its coveted place among the G8 over its deployment of troops in Crimea. British Prime Minister David Cameron said leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States-minus current G8 chairman Russia must discuss the permanent expulsion of Russia from the group, to which it was admitted in 1998 as its reward for choosing a democratic post-Soviet course.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week the political conditions were not in place for a G8 to exist, although her Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later said she had been referring to the June G8 summit in Russia.

Ukraine’s interim premier, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said Sunday he had cancelled plans to be in The Hague so he could hold talks with the IMF on a support program for his crisis-hit country. Ukraine’s Western-backed leaders also voiced fears of an imminent Russian invasion of the eastern industrial heartland, three weeks after the Kremlin sent troops into the heavily Russified peninsula before sealing its annexation Friday.

Mutual defense obligation Some other former Communist

bloc nations fear for their security in the face of Russian expansionism, and Obama reiterated NATO’s solemn obligation to mutual defense. “No one should ever question the commitment of the United States to the security of Europe,” he told the Dutch Volkskrant newspaper on Monday, referring to NATO as “the strongest and most effective alliance in human history.” He noted that sanctions on the Russian economy would also impact the global economy. “And if Russia continues to escalate the situation, we need to be prepared to impose a greater cost.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte insisted on Sunday that the G7 meeting would not detract from the aims of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), with the G7 talks to wind up on Monday evening.

Leaders of 53 countries are gathering for the third bi-annual NSS, a brainchild of Obama, aimed at preventing a terrorist nuclear attack and reducing the world’s non-military nuclear materials. World leaders should be free on Tuesday to discuss securing the world’s stocks of nuclear material to prevent a group like Al-Qaeda acquiring a nuclear or so-called ‘dirty’ bomb of conventional explosives wrapped in radioactive material. Nuclear security is central to Obama’s political legacy and in 2009 he called nuclear proliferation “one of the greatest threats to international security”.

The final NSS is planned in Washington in 2016. — AFP

AMSTERDAM: The United States of America Marine Corps helicopters carrying US President Barack Obama land on the ‘Museumplein’ (Museumsquare) in front of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands yesterday.

Obama pays a visit to the museum before leaving to The Hague to attend the two-day Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Sunnis urged to defect from Lebanon’s army BEIRUT: An influential Lebanese militant leader and cleric called for Sunni Muslims to defect from the army, in a 20-minute tirade posted on YouTube likely to intensify sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon. Ahmad Al-Assir, rumored to have been killed fighting in neighboring Syria, has been in hiding since June when the army and Shiite militants stormed his base in Sidon, the worst violence there since Lebanon’s own 1975-90 civil war.

Assir’s order is unlikely to result in a mass exodus of Sunni soldiers in the religiously mixed army but the video, uploaded on Sunday evening, will stir up religious division and violence that have grown since the start of Syria’s conflict. It was not clear when or where the footage was filmed but Assir mentioned last week’s blockade of the border town of Arsal, indicating it was new. Mixing classical Arabic with Lebanese dialect, Assir called Christian army commander General Jean Kahwaji a “criminal”.

He asked Lebanese Sunnis in the army, including administrative and relief workers, if they wanted to continue being “partners to the killers and criminals when they commit aggression against our people and brothers in all places”. Relatively unknown two years ago, Assir’s speeches against powerful Shiite Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and protests against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have won him the allegiance of many Lebanese Sunnis, especially hardliners. In June, Assir’s men killed 18 soldiers in a two-day gun battle in a wealthy neighborhood of Sidon.

Assir fled after his men suffered heavy losses and called the event a “massacre” in Sunday’s speech.

Lebanese media suggested he had moved to Syria - where mostly Sunni Muslims are fighting against Assad, a member of the Shiite Alawite sect - and rumors spread that he been killed when the Syrian army took the border town of Yabroud this month. With memories of their own civil war still vivid, leaders of Lebanon’s sectarian-based political factions have until now tried to minimize points of friction to avoid upsetting the careful balance that has kept the peace since 1990. Assir said Lebanon is “completely dominated by the Iranian project”, referring to Shiite Iran’s support for Hezbollah, which hardline Sunnis say works hand in hand with the army. “The army is the most dominated institution,” he said.

26 dead in Tripoli Meanwhile, twenty-six people, most of them civilians, have been killed in 12 days of clashes between pro- and antiDamascus fighters in Lebanon’s second city Tripoli, a security said yesterday. Snipers from both sides were still deployed in flashpoint areas of the northern port city, as the fighting subsided yesterday for the first time in nearly two weeks. Tripoli has seen intense sectarian clashes since the war in neighboring Syria erupted three years ago, with gunmen from the Sunni district of Bab Al-Tebbaneh battling fighters in the Alawite area of Jabal Mohsen.

“Twenty-six people have been killed in 12 days of fighting, and 135 others injured,” the security source said, speaking on condi-

BEIRUT: Lebanese army soldiers take positions near the capital’s Tariq Jedideh district, following clashes between pro- and anti-Damascus factions. — AFP tion of anonymity. The dead were 18 residents of Sunni Bab Al-Tebbaneh, including six fighters, and seven residents of Jabal Mohsen, including three combatants. In addition, a soldier was killed, said the source, adding that two children and two disabled people were among the civilians killed. On Sunday, amid a relative calm, the army raided several homes, hunting for militants. Shops and schools in the flashpoint neighborhoods remained closed yesterday, but they reopened across the rest of the city for the first time in days.

The international highway from Tripoli to Syria was also reopened yesterday, but

roads linking the city’s warring neighborhoods remain sealed off. The army has been deployed in Tripoli for several weeks to try to bring peace to the flashpoint districts, but troops have repeatedly come under fire.

Lawmakers from the city have called the latest round of fighting “a war of attrition”.

Dominated by Damascus for nearly 30 years, Lebanon is deeply divided over the war in neighboring Syria. Hezbollah and its allies support President Bashar Al-Assad, and the Sunni-led opposition backs the revolt. Hundreds of people have been killed in Syria-related violence in Lebanon in the past three years.— Agencies

Militants kill 20 security men

Ivorians split over transfer of ‘Street General’ to Hague ABIDJAN: The transfer of former Ivorian strongman Laurent Gbagbo’s onetime “Street General” to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity has divided his west African nation. The pro-Gbagbo opposition said the search for closure following more than a decade of turmoil in Ivory Coast was all but doomed after former youth leader Charles Ble Goude, 42, was sent to join his former mentor in the International Criminal Court’s detention centre. The government has “cut off dialogue” by embracing a “major obstacle to national reconciliation”, the Ivoirian National Front party (FPI) said in a statement.

“After torturing him and making him sing, (President Alassane) Ouattara hands Ble Goude to the ICC,” fumed the opposition daily Le Temps. “The regime is abandoning reconciliation.” The head of the fearsome “Young Patriots”, who was arrested in Ghana in January 2013 after more than a year and a half on the run, faces four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, at the ICC. Ble Goude had galvanized support for Gbagbo during the crisis with fiery speeches urging mass mobilization against what he called pro-Ouattara “rebels” and their foreign backers, former colonial power France and the United Nations.

The ICC has held Gbagbo, also facing charges of crimes against humanity over atrocities committed in Ivory Coast in 2011-12 post-election violence, for nearly three years. The crisis in the country once seen as a beacon of stability in the region started with Gbagbo’s refusal to concede defeat in November 2010 elections, sparking armed clashes that claimed more than 3,000 lives. His election rival Ouattara, now the president of the world’s top cocoa producer, eventually ousted him with international-notably French-military support. The Ivorian opposition decries what it calls “victor’s justice”, while the government has had to weigh its respect for the ICC against a desire for reconciliation.

Advocacy group Ivorian Coalition for the ICC, said it favored Ble Goude’s transfer, but also urged the government to hand over others named by the court including from the pro-government camp. But many doubt reconciliation can be achieved, and entire villages in the west, close to the border with Liberia, remain devastated by abuses from both sides. A team from the ICC visited the western town of Duekoue in March 2012 to investigate suspected mass graves that appeared to hold hundreds of people killed a year earlier, when forces loyal to the future President Ouattara seized the town.

‘Shot itself in the foot’ Some former warlords who backed Ouattara now serve in high-level positions in the security forces and are wanted by the ICC, according to sources close to the court. The satirical bi-weekly L’Elephant Dechaine, noting that three arrest warrants have been drafted against close associates of Ouattara, including parliament speaker and former rebel leader Guillaume Soro, says the government has set itself a “trap”. Ivory Coast will have to transfer its “champions” later this year, once the warrants are inevitably unsealed, it said.

Political scientist Yves-Marie Dominique Ouya agreed, saying: “The government has shot itself in the foot. It will have to hand over people from its own side or come under criticism.” Meanwhile, the ICC has faced criticism for failing to confirm the charges against Gbagbo, saying it needs more evidence. More generally, it has been accused of anti-African bias, notably as all eight cases it is currently handling concern African countries-though four of them were referred to the court by the countries themselves. —AFP

in brief

Saudi man beheaded

Yemen blighted by conflicts, poverty

Leader of Ivory Coast’s Young Patriots Charles Ble Goude

News

ADEN: Suspected militants killed 20 members of Yemen’s security forces in a dawn raid on a checkpoint yesterday, state news agency Saba said, in an attack officials said bore the hallmarks of the local branch of AlQaeda. Yemen is dogged by internal conflicts and chronic poverty and yesterday’s attack highlighted the lack of stability in the Western-allied country, which shares a border with top global oil exporter Saudi Arabia and lies next to major shipping lanes.

The Yemeni interior minister suspended senior security officials in the eastern province of Hadramout where the attack took place and ordered an immediate investigation, Saba said.

A local official said the troops, who belonged to a paramilitary unit under the Interior Ministry, were mostly asleep when the raiders attacked the checkpoint, located some 120 kms east of the provincial capital Al-Mukalla. “A terrorist attack, involving four armed vehicles, sur-

prised a security checkpoint ... resulting in 20 members of the special security forces being martyred,” Saba quoted a security source as saying.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, in which Saba said one person was also wounded. A security source in the capital Sanaa said two members of the security forces had been seized and taken away by the militants.

Al-Qaeda active Yemeni officials said the attack appeared to be the work of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of the most active branches of the militant global Al-Qaeda network.

The last major AQAP attack targeted the central prison in Sanaa on Feb 14, when gunmen k illed 11 people, including seven security guards.

Yemen, which has been in turmoil since mass protests forced out President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2012 after more than three decades in power, is also battling southern sepa-

ratists and northern rebels. Interior Minister Abdou Hussein Al-Tarb, appointed this month in a cabinet reshuffle, suspended the Hadramout security chief, the local commander of the special security forces and the checkpoint commander, pending an investigation, Saba said.

The Yemeni army, with US backing, drove AQAP militants and their allies from some of their southern strongholds in 2012 but the insurgents have since regrouped and mounted attacks on government officials and installations. AQAP has also plotted attacks against international airlines from Yemen.

Maintaining stability in Yemen, an impoverished country of 25 million, is a priority for Washington and Gulf states because of its geographic location. The United States often targets suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen with drone strikes. Human rights groups have condemned such attacks, saying they can miss their targets and hit civilians.—Reuters

Pakistan’s Hindus urge officials to save temple KARACHI: Hindus in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi yesterday urged authorities to halt construction work on an underpass, which they say endangers a 150-year-old temple. The minority community said vibrations from excavation work on a road being built just meters away from the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple could cause irreparable damage to the building’s structure. Pakistan’s Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani yesterday ordered local authorities to provide an impact report within two weeks, but a Hindu community leader said that may be too late to save the temple.

“Heavy machinery is at work right now and it is our request that the court issue a stay order,” Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council said. The temple has long been a fixture on the city’s Clifton Beach, a popular recreation spot adjacent to Karachi’s most upmarket neighborhood. According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, the temple holds a Grand Mela every year, attracting some 25,000 pilgrims.

Construction of the underpass is being financed by developer Bahria Town, which wants a road to link up to a skyscraper it is building some hundreds of meters away from the tem-

ple. But Vankwani said even the skyscraper was built on “evacuee property”-land abandoned by Hindus at the time of India’s partition. Under the law, such property is meant to be protected by the government. Zohra Yusuf, chairwoman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said construction work “would vandalize the very face of a historical part of the city”. Officials at Bahria Town could not be reached for comment immediately. Discrimination and violence against religious minorities is commonplace in Pakistan, where Muslims make up 97 percent of the population. — AFP

RIYADH: A Saudi man convicted of shooting dead a compatriot in a dispute was beheaded by the sword yesterday, the Interior Ministry said.

Mohammed Bin Khamees Al-Hantushi Al-Enzi was found guilty of killing Ibrahim Bin Marfu AlEnzi, the ministry said in a statement carried by the SPA state news agency. His execution in the northeastern city of Hafr Al-Batin brings to 12 the number of death sentences carried out this year in the ultra-conservative kingdom. Saudi Arabia beheaded 78 people in 2013, according to an AFP count. Last year, the UN High Commission for Human Rights denounced a “sharp increase in the use of capital punishment” since 2011 in Saudi Arabia. According to figures from rights group Amnesty International, the number of Saudi executions rose from 27 in 2010, of whom five were foreigners, to 82 in 2011, including 28 foreigners. In 2012, the number of executions dipped slightly to 79, among them 27 foreigners. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia’s strict version of Islamic sharia law.

Shipwreck claims 98 lives KINSHASA: At least 98 people died when a boat capsized on Lake Albert, which lies between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said yesterday. “Based on information UNHCR has received so far from the authorities and refugees, 41 people were rescued and 98 bodies recovered” after Saturday’s disaster, the refugee agency said in a statement. “As many as 250 people may have been aboard the boat.”

Gunmen attack camp KHARTOUM: Gunmen have attacked and burned a camp for displaced people in Sudan’s Darfur region, peacekeepers said yesterday, adding to an upsurge of suspected militia violence which has wreaked havoc. The African Union-United Nations Mission in Dar fur (UNAMID) has reported a series of attacks on villages in the region this month, but the Khor Abeche camp in South Darfur, assaulted on Saturday, was an unusual target. UNAMID said in a statement that about 300 heavily armed men attacked the camp, “setting fire to dozens of shelters and stealing livestock belonging to the residents”. One displaced person was reported killed and at least 2,000 sought refuge at the nearby UNAMID base, which is about 75 kilometers northeast of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. Farther north on the same day, hundreds of families approached UNAMID’s base in Korma, North Darfur, reporting that nearby Kobe town had been attacked. “One fatality was reported, alongside the looting of property and burning of houses,” said UNAMID, which deployed additional peacekeepers to reinforce security for about 1,000 people who sought refuge at their compound.

Fishing boat fire kills 6 SEOUL: Six people died after jumping off a fishing boat that caught fire off a South Korean island yesterday, with efforts underway to rescue its missing captain, the coastguard said. Five Indonesian crew members and one South Korean were pronounced dead of hyperthermia after they jumped into the freezing waters to escape from the burning 38-tonne vessel off the southern resort island of Jeju, a local coastguard spokesman said. Two other crew members were rescued, while emergency workers were still hunting for the boat’s South Korean captain, the spokesman said. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, he added.

Farmer burned to death BEIJING: A Chinese farmer was burned to death during a protest over local land seized for development, state-run media said yesterday, highlighting struggles over compensation for land.

Geng Fulin, 62, died when a tent that he and other farmers had erected next to a swathe of rural terrain sold by the local government to a property developer caught fire, the state-run Global Times reported. Two others in the tent were injured in the blaze on Friday in Pingdu in the eastern province of Shandong, the Global Times reported, adding that police suspect arson. Locals claimed that the land had been secretly sold to a property developer and farmers who held rights to use it had not received compensation to which they were entitled, the report said. Local government officials took Geng’s body to be cremated following his death, according to portal Caixin, which cited family members. It added that a heavy police presence was visible at Geng’s funeral on Sunday. The case prompted widespread outrage on Chinese social media yesterday, highlighting continued efforts

by Chinese farmers to secure compensation for seized land, which local governments sell to property developers as a key source of income.

Blast kills 32 in Nigeria

KARACHI: Pakistani laborers work at a construction site of an underpass near a Hindu temple in Karachi yesterday. — AFP

MAIDUGURI: Hospital and local government officials say an explosion at a village market near hideouts of Islamic extremists in northeast Nigeria has killed 32 people. Local government officials said 29 people died at the scene at Ngurosoye village. The explosion happened on Thursday and because of poor communications it is only now that word of it is getting out. The military has cut cell phone service in the area.

Ngurosoye is near the Sambisa forest in Borno state bordering Cameroon where the military has been carrying out aerial bombardments and ground assaults on camps of Islamic militants. A hospital official said three of the injured died at the hospital on Friday and Saturday. The death toll could rise with some victims seriously injured. Most victims were traders.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Hijacked Cuban planes still caught in limbo KEY WEST: At face value, they are three old planes not worth much more than their parts and scrap metal. Stolen from the Cuban government during a sixmonth period ending in April 2003 - two by hijackers, one by its pilot - all three landed at Key West International Airport, a 116-mile (186-kilometer) flight from struggling Havana to the gleaming shores of the US Fidel Castro repeatedly demanded the planes be returned.

Instead, they were seized by US courts to satisfy part of a $27 million judgment won by a Cuban-American woman who had unwittingly married a Cuban spy in Miami. The story of what happened to the planes in the ensuing years reads like another chapter in the history of stymied, contentious US-Cuba relations, the new owners unable to get the planes anywhere.

The first of the three planes to land in Key West was a yellow, Soviet-built, crop-duster that pilot Nemencio Carlos Alonso Guerra used to fly seven passengers, many of them relatives, to the U.S. in November 2002. Cuba wanted the biplane back, but a Florida judge agreed with Ana Margarita Martinez that the

plane should be seized and sold to partially pay the judgment she was awarded under an anti-terrorism law. In 1996, her husband, Juan Pablo Roque, had fled back to Cuba after infiltrating the Miamibased, anti-Castro group, Brothers to the Rescue. The next day, Cuban fighter jets shot down two of the group’s Cessnas over international waters, killing four pilots.

The aging Antonov AN-2 Colt was auctioned at the Key West airport in 2003 and Martinez placed the highest bid, $7,000. “We had a victory - we got to keep this property of the Cuban government,” Martinez said after the auction.

She hoped to sell it for a profit later, but instead gave it to Cuban-American artist Xavier Cortada, who painted half of it with a colorful mural as part of an exhibit commemorating Cuba’s independence. After the exhibit, Cortada eventually donated the plane to Florida International University, which planned to display it, but couldn’t find a building to house it. Today, it deteriorates under tarps on a far corner of FIU’s campus.

Even if it could be flown, there would be another hurdle: The plane would

have to be deregistered in Cuba, or given special authorization to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration. That, however, requires maintenance documents and certificates proving the plane is safe - all of them in Cuba. Don Soldini, who purchased a hijacked DC-3, is one of the few who stood a chance of getting Cuban plane records. “I would’ve flown it back,” he said last week. Soldini, who went to Cuba as a teen to fight in the revolution, remains on good terms with the island’s leaders.

He was barely 18 when he hitchhiked from Staten Island to Key West in the late 1950s, intent on joining the Cuban revolution. He flew to the island on a passenger DC-3, an elegant, bulbousshaped plane now synonymous with World War II and 1940s to ‘60s-era commercial airline service. Once in Cuba, Soldini joined the underground and eventually fought in the rebel army, marching alongside Raul Castro and his troops. After the revolutionaries’ 1959 victory, Soldini remained in Cuba, but felt uneasy there as an American. He left and eventually started a real estate development company in Florida with

offices in 21 countries. Starting in the 1970s, he began visiting Cuba about twice a year.

In March 2003, a Cuban DC-3 similar to the one Soldini had first flown in was hijacked by six knife-wielding men and diverted to Key West. Thirteen days later, another Cuban airliner was hijacked to Key West by Adermis Wilson Gonzalez.

“My goal was always to come to this nation and work to give my family a better future,” Wilson Gonzales said in a letter to The Associated Press last week from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. He is serving a 20-year sentence for air piracy. Like the biplane before, both planes were auctioned.

Two aspiring pilots from Colorado came to the sale and, to their surprise, won. Wayne Van Heusden bought the DC-3 for $12,500 and Matthew Overton purchased the Antonov AN-24 for $6,500. “My grand idea, initially, was to give it to the Cuban authorities, because it’s their plane,” Van Heusden said. He imagined filling the plane with medical supplies and flying to the island, but he couldn’t find financial support. And he and Overton ran into the same hurdle:

They were unable to fly the planes without the maintenance documents. The fees for keeping the planes in Key West quickly accumulated and both decided to sell. Overton put his plane on eBay, but the winning bid didn’t go through.

Key West International Airport took the plane and today it is used for emergency drills.

Soldini heard about the DC-3 and felt nostalgia for the day he flew to join the revolution. He bought the plane from Van Heusden and reached out to the Castros. But after the long, impassioned speeches Fidel Castro gave demanding the US return the planes, Soldini said the aging Cuban leader didn’t want it.

“He’s more interested in the political impact rather than the practical,” Soldini said. “I couldn’t do anything.” Soldini returned to Key West, disassembled the plane and put it on a truck. He parked the plane at a central Florida hangar, where it remains. He made an extensive documentary tracing the plane’s history, from its California manufacture to its days in Cuba. He hopes that one day it will be in a museum, since it will never fly again.—AP

Oil spill closes US shipping channel

WASHINGTON: A house is seen destroyed in the mud after a giant landslide occurred near mile marker 37, Washington. — AP

Eight killed, 18 missing in massive US landslide Homes, two-lane highway destroyed SAN FRANCISCO: At least eight people were killed and up to 18 were believed missing when a massive landslide slammed “like a freight train” into a mountainside community in the northwestern United States, officials said late Sunday. The wall of mud, rocks and trees smashed into the rural town of Oso, northeast of Seattle, on Saturday, destroying houses and part of a highway. Travis Hots, chief of the regional Snohomish County Fire districts, announced at an area community meeting late on Sunday that the death toll had risen to eight. “I’m saddened to inform you that we have assured four additional fatalities” to the four deaths confirmed earlier, Hots told reporters.

The field of rubble is about 2.4 kilometers across and some four to six deep in areas, The Seattle Times reported.

briefing. “There are boots that are on the ground that are really working to continue operations 24/7.”

Six homes and much of a two-lane highway in the area were destroyed, while as many as 16 other homes were damaged, the Snohomish County Sheriff ’s Office said.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, who declared a state of emergency for the area, told reporters there is “a fullscale, 100-percent, aggressive rescue effort” going on, adding that helicopters, hovercrafts and rescue personnel had rushed to the scene. The muddy area was so unstable that some rescue workers “went in and got caught literally up to their armpits” and had to be pulled out themselves, Inslee said.

No signs of life Rescuers reported hearing voices calling for help on Saturday, but Hots told reporters that they “didn’t see or hear any signs of life” on Sunday. Snohomish County spokeswoman Shari Ireton told AFP: “We are able to confirm we know that 18 people who may have been in the area are unaccounted for. We do not have identification for those people that we are releasing at this time.” Later at the televised press conference, Hots would only say that the number of missing people was “fluid.”

“There may be people in their cars, there may be people in their homes,” he said. Among the missing was a 4month-old baby and her grandmother, local media reported. John Pennington, head of the county Emergency Management department, said that rescuers will continue searching for survivors. “Resources are coming in that allow us to conduct night operations,” Pennington said at the

‘Like a freight train’ People injured in the landslide include a six-month old infant and an 81 year-old man, both hospitalized in critical condition at a Seattle hospital, local media said. “It sounded like a freight train,” landslide witness Dan Young told Komo4News. “In just 35 to 45 seconds it was over.” Young’s home survived but is flooded. “It’s much worse than everyone’s been saying,” a firefighter who did not want to be named told The Seattle Times. “The slide is about a mile wide. Entire neighborhoods are just gone. When the slide hit the (Stillaguamish) river, it was like a tsunami.” Rain has been especially heavy in the Cascade Mountains region in the past weeks. The forecast is for more downpours throughout the week. Patty Murray, who represents Washington in the US Senate, gave assurances that federal resources would be made available, as she offered thanks to rescue workers and her prayers to the families of the ravaged community.—AFP

US court weighs religious rights over birth control WASHINGTON: Hobby Lobby’s 556 arts and crafts stores across the United States are closed on Sundays, and billionaire CEO David Green says the chain’s true owner is God. His religious beliefs put him at odds with health care laws demanding the company provide contraceptive options in its employee health plans. And so US Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments Tuesday in a high-stakes religious freedom case brought

by Green’s firm. Green says his company, which follows “biblical principles” and thanks “God’s grace and provision” for its success, cannot comply with the Affordable Care Act rules brought about by President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care overhaul. Green is defending his company’s objections to requirements it provide specific emergency contraceptives and intrauterine devices to its 28,000 employees. “These abortioncausing drugs go against our faith and our family is now being forced to choose between following the laws of the land that we love or maintaining the religious beliefs that have made our business successful and have supported our family and thousands of our employees and their families,” Green has said.

“We simply cannot abandon our religious beliefs to comply with this mandate.” The so-called Obamacare law has been the subject of fierce criticism since its shaky introduction in October, and companies have filed dozens of lawsuits in federal courts challenging the law’s birth control coverage.

Green’s religious freedom case, which marks the second time the Supreme Court is examining a challenge to the health law, could have broad implications for other companies claiming they are entitled to the same religious protections as churches or people. — AFP

TEXAS CITY: No timetable has been set to reopen a major US shipping channel after nearly 170,000 gallons of tar-like oil spilled into the Texas waterway, but more help was being called in yesterday to contain the spill and protect important shorebird habitat. A barge carrying about 900,000 gallons of the heavy oil collided with a ship Saturday in the busy Houston Ship Channel, spilling as much as a fifth of its cargo into one of the world’s busiest waterways for moving petrochemicals, according to the Coast Guard. The channel, part of the Port of Houston, typically handles as many as 80 vessels daily. But it will remain closed for a third day, and the Coast Guard said there was no timetable on when it may reopen.

If the bottleneck of vessels in the Gulf eases in a day or so, there likely wouldn’t be much impact on fuel prices. But a more prolonged backup could push up prices briefly, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Jim Ritterbusch and Associates in Chicago. Oil had been detected 12 miles (19 kilometers) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday, and as many as 60 vessels were either waiting to get in or out. The Coast Guard - which called it a “significant spill” - said it expected to deploy more containment booms, with 24 vessels working to skim the oil.

Environmental groups said the spill occurred at an especially sensitive time. The channel in Texas City, about 45 miles southeast of Houston, has important shorebird habitat on both sides, and tens of thousands of wintering birds are still in the area. “The timing really couldn’t be much worse since we’re approaching the peak shorebird migration season,” said Richard Gibbons, conservation director of the Houston Audubon Society. He noted that just to the east is the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, which attracts 50,000

TEXAS: Image shows an aerial photograph of the bulk carrier Summer Wind during cleanup operations near Houston, Texas, after the barge Kirby Barge 27706 and the Summer Wind, loaded with a million gallons of tar-like “bunker” oil collided in a busy shipping channel. — AFP to 70,000 shorebirds to shallow mud flats that are perfect foraging habitat. Fewer than 10 oiled birds had been found and recovered for transfer to a wildlife rehabilitation center as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard. The Texas General Land Office has also deployed a bird rehabilitation trailer in the area for quick response. “This is a significant spill,” Capt. Brian Penoyer, commander of the Coast Guard at Houston Galveston, said. But he said the emptying the remaining oil from the barge on Sunday, a process known as lightering as contents are transferred to other vessels, was an important step and eliminated the risk of additional oil spilling.— AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Russian enclaves in Baltics are geopolitical flashpoints Disquiet in Baltics over sympathies of Russian speakers DAUGAVPILS: In the former Soviet republics of Latvia and Estonia, there is unease over events in Crimea, which was formally annexed by Moscow last week on the pretext of safeguarding its Russian minorities. Russian news reports carried in Crimea had said Ukraine was being overrun by gangs of anti-Russian fascist thugs and that hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking refugees had fled a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Ukraine, a claim for which no evidence has been found. In the Latvian town of Daugavpils, where a Russian Tzarist-era fortress and barracks meet grey Sovietera apartment blocks, you are more likely to be greeted in Russian than Latvian, with 51 percent of the city’s residents Russians. Russian speaker Irina Gorkina says the region, within two hour’s drive of Russia’s border, has never seen ethnic conflict.

She quickly knocks on the wooden table in front of her - three times - just in case. “Not everything is smooth here. Not everything is right,” said the 59-year-old, whose father was born in Latvia and mother in Russia. She complains about pensions and slow economic growth in the region.

“But it’s not only Russians who suffer from state policies; Latvians do, too.” Concern over the Baltics extends to Brussels. “I mean if you are a Baltic country, where we have 40 percent of people speaking Russian, you are not very comfortable these days,” said an EU official, who asked to remain anonymous. “I would not be surprised if we are now going to see troops of some of our member states in some of these countries.”

Russian speakers make up about 35 percent of Latvia’s 2 million population. In Estonia, around a quarter of its 1.3 million people are Russian speakers. In neighboring Lithuania, ethnic Russians make up about 6 percent. The three Baltic states are all NATO members, and Lithuania will be the last of them to adopt the euro currency next year as the three lean towards the West, but they are also hugely dependent on energy from Russia and have strong trade ties. Some fear their Russian enclaves could be geopolitical flashpoints, potentially manipulated by President Vladimir Putin to destabilize the region. Moscow has long complained about the rights of ethnic Russians in the Baltics.

Second class citizens?

Jurijs Zaicevs, a 26-year-old Daugavpils City Council member said “dissatisfaction in the Russian community is huge”, mainly due to the issue of citizenship. Thousands of Russians came over during the Soviet era to work in Baltic industries. But after 1991 independence, they were not granted automatic citizenship in the new republics. Many still hold on to Russian passports.

Many complain they feel like second-class citi-

Soviet-era Bronze Soldier victory statue. That was followed by cyber attacks on Estonian computers, which the government blamed on Russia.

There was disquiet when, as pro-Russian forces took up positions in Crimea, the Russian ambassador to Latvia offered Russian passports and pensions for ethnic Russians. Then a Moscow diplomat told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this month that “language should not be used to segregate and isolate groups”, and Russia

SIMFEROPOL: People queue to get their Russian passports in the Crimean capital Simferopol yesterday. — AFP zens. About 270,000 Latvians do not have citizenship, cannot vote or apply for certain public sector jobs. “We are non-citizens. They called us occupiers, but now they turn out occupiers themselves.

This is Russia’s land,” said Marija, a Russian-speaking 80-year-old at the market in Daugavpils. She came to Latvia in the early 1950s. In some of the worst unrest since independence, ethnic Russians in Estonia rioted in 2007 over the relocation of a

was “concerned by steps taken in this regard in Estonia as well as in Ukraine”. Latvians now want Russian speakers in the country to learn their language, which some see as a resurgence of Latvian nationalism. After more than half a century of living in the country, many Russian speakers only understand basic Latvian. As in southern and eastern parts of Ukraine, they depend for their news on Russian media, largely controlled by the Kremlin,

which worries Baltic governments. Lithuania last week banned a Russian TV channel for broadcasting “lies” about the country’s history. Some ethnic Latvians say Russian speakers were hostile to Latvia’s adoption of the euro because of the influence of Russian media. For all that, Marija Kokareva, a 20-something vendor at a market in the centre of Daugavpils, is the face of a new generation that sees Latvia as its motherland. “I’ve spent my childhood in Latvia,” she said in Russian. “I’m a Latvian citizen and would of course not want to separate from Latvia. We are proud of our country.”

St Petersburg to Tallinn In Narva, one of Estonia’s biggest cities, near the Russian border, where Russian speakers are a majority, there is some fellow feeling with the people of Crimea. But the number of people with real nostalgia for the Soviet era is declining. A younger generation now has the Euro and the chance to travel freely in Europe. “People in Narva can, of course, see across the river and see that life is not better in Ivangorod in Russia, so they are happy where they are,” said Andres Kasekamp, a political science professor at Estonia’s Tartu University. Estonian film director Aljona Surzhikova has made several documentaries in the past decade on Estonia’s Russian enclave.

“When we were filming in Narva 10 years ago, the youth were looking more towards St. Petersburg, but now they are looking towards Tallinn,” she has been quoted by local media as saying.

Integration may be slow, but it is happening. In Estonia, which uses the phrase “Our Russians” to describe ethnic Russians in the country, some of its best footballers are Russian. Konstantin Vassiljev’s goals took Estonia to the qualifying round of the Euro football championship in 2012. This year’s Estonian entry for Eurovision, the continent’s annual song contest, is for the first time, by an ethnic Russian singer, Tatjana Mihhailova. Fjodor Dubinin, a Russian citizen who studied shipping in Riga and is now a pensioner in Daugavpils, said he doubted people were looking so much towards Moscow these days. “I think that we won’t be asking for help from Putin,” he said. “We live well.

Nobody says anything bad to me, and I don’t do so (to others) either.” — Reuters

Crimea militia eyes national guard role Ukrainian servicemen offered double salaries to defect

CRIMEA: Wearing plain clothes, Ukrainian marines gesture from a car as they leave their military unit for home in the eastern Crimea’s port city of Feodosiya yesterday. — AFP

Ukrainian outnumbered troops pullout of Crimea KIEV: Ukraine yesterday ordered its outnumbered troops to withdraw from Crimea following the peninsula’s lightning seizure and annexation

by Russia in response to the fall in Kiev of a proKremlin regime. The dramatic but seemingly inevitable announcement came after the fall of another Ukrainian base in Crimea and as world leaders gathered in The Hague for a security summit dominated by concerns over the most explosive East-West standoff since the Cold War. “Europe and America are united in our support of the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people, we’re united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far,” US President Barack Obama told reporters shortly after landing in the Netherlands.

A top commander in NATO had warned on Sunday that the Western military alliance was carefully watching massive Russian troop formations on the eastern border of Ukraine that could theoretically make a push across the vast exSoviet country at any point. Moscow has denied any such plans despite President Vladimir Putin’s open ambition to resurrect vestiges of the Soviet empire and stamp his authority over eastern European nations that sought protection from the West following the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. But the Kremlin has made clear it intends to “protect” compatriots in the Russifies southeastern swaths of Ukraine that it says have been victimized by violent nationalists since last month’s rise to power of a pro-European team.

‘Enormous loss’ Ukraine’s acting president Oleksandr Turchynov somberly told top lawmakers that both servicemen and their families would now be relocated to the mainland. “The national security and defense council has reached a decision, under instructions from the defense ministry, to conduct a redeployment of military units stationed in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” Turchynov said in nationally televised remarks.

“The cabinet of ministers has instructions to resettle the families of soldiers as well as everyone else who today is forced to leave their homes under the pressure and aggression of the Russian army’s occupying forces.”

Crimea’s pro-Kremlin deputy premier Rustam Temirgaliyev told Russia’s RIA Novosti state news agency that “all Ukrainian soldiers have either switched to the Russian side or are leaving the territory of the Crimea.” Turchynov’s announcement came less than a month after Putin won authorization to use force in response to the February 22 ouster of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych regime by more nationalist leaders who are seeking a closer alliance with Europe. Ukraine’s increasingly demoralized forces had been steadily losing ground on the Black Sea peninsula and saw their main airbase

outside the regional capital Simferopol stormed on Saturday.

The assault by Russian troops and proKremlin militias continued yesterday with the fall of a Ukrainian naval base in the east Crimean port of Feodosia. Turchynov praised his country’s soldiers despite heavy criticism by some Crimean commanders of confusion and indecision reigning among the army and naval brass in Kiev over the past month. “Despite the enormous losses, the Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea did their duty,” said Turchynov. “Most importantly, they gave the Ukrainian armed forces the opportunity to prepare their defenses, to put the military on full combat alert, and to launch a partial mobilization.” Several top officials had warned on Sunday that they feared an attack by Kremlin forces on the heavily Russified regions of southeastern Ukraine was now imminent. The Kremlin stamped its claim on Crimea yesterday with a symbolic visit by Defense Minister Sergei Shoiguthe first top Moscow official to visit the mostly Russian-speaking region of two million people since its March 16 independence referendum.

Commando-style operation Russia’s latest surprise assault in the rugged region the size of Belgium came in the pre-dawn hours yesterday and involved both armored personnel carriers and stun grenades. The Ukrainian defense ministry said Russian paratroopers were lowered onto the Feodosia naval base from four helicopters in a commando-style operation in which guns were fired in the air and stun grenades strewn across the facility. Several military trucks were seen leaving the base less than two hours later with some Ukrainian marines whose hands had been tied.

An AFP reporter spoke to several marines who had later been freed but who found their belongings were missing when they returned to the barracks. Ukraine said two commanders were kicked in the face before being taken away in a helicopter in an unknown direction. The base in Feodosiya housed Ukraine’s only marine battalion. The country’s marine union said it was home to an elite unit that was part of the navy. News agencies in Moscow cited the Russian defense ministry as saying that 189 Ukrainian military facilities and bases in Crimea were flying the Russian flag by Saturday.

The two-day meeting in The Hague will feature both a meeting of the Nuclear Security Summit and a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations that Obama hurriedly convened last week. The G7 leaders are expected to discuss stripping Russia of its coveted seat in the larger Group of Eight (G8) grouping that Moscow gained in 1998 as a reward for pursuing a democratic post-Soviet course. —AFP

SIMFEROPOL: Crimean “self-defense” forces that helped Russia wrest the peninsula from Ukraine will be transformed into a national guard, a senior local security official said, arguing confidently that hostilities were over. The militia, denounced by the Western-backed government in Kiev as Moscow-sponsored thugs, went hand in hand with Russian troops in recent days taking over military facilities in the region and raising the Russian tricolor. Comprised mainly of former servicemen and volunteers, the units began largely unarmed but later carried automatic rifles and long knives as the stand-off wore on. Vladimir Mertsalov, one of the first to join the force and now a security adviser to Crimea’s pro-Russian prime minister, Sergei Aksyonov, said the region was now safe and such extraordinary measures were no longer needed.

“That was wartime, but now the crisis requiring arms and forced interventions is over,” said the 47-year-old former military officer. “I see no major threats anymore. I took my flak jacket off and put on my suit.” Mertsalov, wearing a black corduroy jacket over a white shirt, was speaking in the Simferopol government offices, a Sovietera edifice topped with a Russian flag and almost completely empty. The new authorities have yet to build their apparatus. The selfdefense militias in Crimea say their aim is to safeguard public order and prevent “provocations”.

The threat of “fascism” is their buzzword, and the Right Sector, a far-right Ukrainian nationalist movement that fought battles with police in Kiev during street protests that ousted President Viktor Yanukovich, their sworn enemy. “We want to hold on to these people, have them engaged in the process of law enforcement, do patrolling, stand together with police at pubic gatherings,” Mertsalov said. “They should be ready to assemble and protect Crimea in case of any danger,” he said. “Whether they will be called a national guard or something slightly different remains to be decided but the general idea remains the same.” Russia formally annexed Crimea on March 21 and has taken over most Ukrainian military facilities in the region.

Foreign occupiers The only fatalities of the East-West crisis have been a Ukrainian serviceman and a self-defense member, who were killed in a shoot-out in Simferopol on Tuesday. Militia members honored their dead comrade over the weekend.

Some critics, however, say the self-defense units are the real threat to public order and security, little more than gangs of often aggressive, masked men who rule the streets with no oversight. There have been several incidents of militia patrols roughing up, beating or detaining people considered provocateurs and on several occasions they destroyed or seized equipment

from journalists.

Their commander, 42-year-old Mikhail Sheremet, said he has 1,500 people under his command in Simferopol and no less than 10,000 between the ages of 18 and 80 at any time across the region. Sheremet heads the Simferopol arm of the Russian Unity party of Crimea Prime Minister Aksyonov, who helped deliver the peninsula to Moscow and was one of the first locals to be awarded with a new Russian passport on Friday. The party won just 4 percent of the vote in Crimea’s last provincial election in 2010, but took power when armed men seized control of the regional parliament two days before President Vladimir Putin declared Russia’s right to intervene.

Both Mertsalov and Sheremet say the selfdefense units received no financial or technical assistance from Moscow and were organized purely by local residents of Crimea. Mertsalov is currently in charge of talks between the new Crimea authorities and Ukrainian servicemen, which the pro-Russian leaders call “foreign occupiers”. Crimea has ordered the Ukrainians to choose between leaving the army, leaving Crimea or staying on to serve under Russian command. Mertsalov said those who opt to serve in Crimea, where ethnic Russians are a thin majority, will eventually have their salaries doubled. — Reuters

Spaniards pay respects to first post-Franco PM MADRID: Spaniards flocked to the nation’s parliament yesterday to pay their respects to Adolfo Suarez, the prime minister who led the country to democracy after decades of dictatorship under Franco. Hundreds of onlookers applauded as eight soldiers wearing white gloves carried his flagdrapped coffin into the parliament building where in 1981 Suarez reacted coolly to a coup attempt.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his three living predecessors-Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Jose Maria Aznar and Felipe Gonzalez-stood at the steps of the parliament building’s entrance as the coffin arrived.

Suarez, Spain’s first elected premier after the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975, died at the age of 81 on Sunday at a Madrid hospital after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past decade. He had been admitted March 17 with a respiratory infection. Suarez was a leading player in Spain’s historic “transition”, the delicate dismantling of the dictatorship followed by democratic reforms that he and King Juan Carlos helped to achieve after Franco died. Many Spaniards hail Suarez as a national hero because of his democratic reforms and his unruffled behavior during an attempted coup on February 23, 1981, one of the most dramatic challenges to the country’s new-found democracy.

When gun-toting soldiers took members of parliament hostage that day, Suarez was one of only three members of parliament who did not hide under their benches. “He is the best head of government Spain has ever had,” said Dolores Carmona Gonzales Caballo, a 68-year-old pensioner who watched the coffin arrive. King Juan Carlos, supported by a cane after undergoing a hip operation in November, and Queen Sofia paid their respects

to the former prime minister’s family at the parliament. The royal couple kissed and embraced each of Suarez’s four living children and their partners and children before the doors to the assembly opened to the general public.

‘A loyal friend’ The king, Franco’s successor as head of state, on Sunday hailed Suarez as “a loyal friend” in a televised address. Juan Carlos had named Suarez prime minister in a new government in 1976 when

the lawyer and politician was 44. The following year Suarez won Spain’s first democratic elections after Franco’s death. A charismatic leader admired for his talent for conciliation, Suarez oversaw the legalization of political parties, including the Communist Party which had been persecuted under Franco, and helped them forge a consensus as they hammered out a constitution, approved in a referendum in 1978. “He knew how to talk to his enemies,” said 64-year-old Maria Jesus Fernandez at the parliament. —AFP

MADRID: Members of the military carry the coffin of former Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez to the Spanish Parliament in Madrid yesterday. — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Kim Jong-Un lookalike sizzles in China

SHENYANG: A Chinese street food vendor with a resemblance to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un smokes a cigarette by his barbecue stall in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province. Though his identity remains unknown, he works in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, not far from the border with North Korea. —AFP

BEIJING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un strikes fear into some hearts, but photos of a Chinese street food vendor with a distinct resemblance to the Pyongyang strongman have fuelled online mirth. Chubby, with a round face and sporting Kim’s trademark side-shaved haircut, the vendor was pictured cooking skewered meat on a rusty barbecue.

Though his identity remains unknown, he works in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, not far from the border with North Korea.

Like Kim, the vendor has a penchant

for high-buttoned jackets, and a smoking habit. But he appears to lead a simpler existence than his powerful doppelganger who is reported to enjoy a luxury lifestyle-and was seen at the weekend sitting on a small plastic stool, tending to his meaty wares.

Thousands of Chinese Internet users commented on the images, with many referring to Kim by the nickname “Fatty the Third”, a reference to his weight as well as his inheritance of his position from his father and grandfather.

Beijing has long been Pyongyang’s

closest ally, but the North’s continued nuclear program is said to have chilled ties, and Chinese social media users often skewer the young leader with irreverent criticism. “This has got to be Fatty the Third’s brother-quick, bring him back!” wrote one user of Sina Weibo, a social media service similar to Twitter. China provides the bulk of North Korea’s trade and aid, and another user wrote: “Fatty the Third finally has a money-making career.” Another added: “If Kim JongUn saw these pictures, I’m sure he’d hire him as a body double.” —AFP

Opponents resume protests; Thai PM risks impeachment Thailand heading towards ‘serious civil unrest’ BANGKOK: Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand resumed street protests yesterday after lying low for weeks, piling pressure on increasingly beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is expected to face impeachment within days. Her opponents were emboldened by a Constitutional Court decision on Friday to nullify last month’s election, delaying the formation of a new administration

second wind. The protests are the latest installment of an eight-year political battle broadly pitting the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly rural supporters of Yingluck and her billionaire brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

There are growing fears that Thailand could be heading towards serious civil unrest. After months of

dereliction of duty over a ruinous rice-buying scheme that has run up huge losses.

If the commission recommends her impeachment, she could be removed from office by the upper house Senate, which is likely to have an anti-Thaksin majority after an election for half its members on March 30. In a sign of the potential trouble ahead, one hundred red shirts blocked entrances to the

BANGKOK: Thai anti-government protesters ride bicycles during a rally in Bangkok yesterday. —AFP and leaving Yingluck in charge of a caretaker government with limited powers.

Yingluck’s opponents first took to the streets in late November.

Twenty-three people were killed and hundreds wounded in the political violence before the protests began to subside earlier this month. But the court ruling appears to have given her foes a

restraint, Thaksin’s “red shirt” supporters have begun making militant noises under hardline new leaders. They plan a big rally on April 5, possibly in Bangkok, and the political atmosphere is expected to become even more highly charged in coming days. Yingluck has until March 31 to defend herself before the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) for

NACC’s offices in north Bangkok with sandbags yesterday to prevent officials there from working as police formed a wall to stop the group from facing off with antigovernment protesters gathered nearby.

Earlier, red shirt supporters attacked a Buddhist monk, slightly injuring him, near the NACC offices after he insulted them for blocking

a road in front of the complex.

Clock ticking The Constitutional Court annulment of the election could offer a way out of the political stalemate if the main opposition Democrat Party, which boycotted the Feb 2 poll, decides to run in a fresh vote. So far, however, the Democrat Party has given no clear indication on what it plans to do. The Election Commission, which is in charge of organizing the new poll, met yesterday to decide how to proceed. Its chairman has said it would take at least three months to organize a new vote once a date is agreed.

It is increasingly uncertain whether Yingluck will last that long, due to the mounting legal challenges. The prospect of her removal has bolstered the confidence of protest leaders. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has said he will lead a march every day this week to urge supporters to join a “massive” rally in Bangkok on Saturday to press for political reforms before a new vote takes place. “Our rally will be the biggest signal to Yingluck Shinawatra and the Thaksin regime that the Thai public does not want elections before reforms,” Suthep said in a speech on Sunday.

His supporters prevented voting in 28 constituencies on Feb 2, providing grounds for the Constitutional Court to annul the election. Yingluck’s supporters say the court, set up after the 2006 coup that removed her brother, has a record of ruling against parties linked to the former premier.

At the height of the protests more than 200,000 people took to the streets to demand Yingluck’s resignation and to try to rid the country of the influence of Thaksin, whom they accuse of nepotism. The protesters want an unelected “people’s council” installed to oversee electoral changes that would, among other things, prevent close Thaksin allies from running for office. —Reuters

Abe coalition allies resisting reinterpreting constitution Opposition could water down changes to military role TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hitting a speed bump in his drive to ease constitutional limits on Japan’s ability to fight abroad, as members of his own coalition put up obstacles that could force him to delay or water down the move. Abe has made clear he will press on with changes to free the military from the constraints of the pacifist constitution, but members of his own party are urging caution and his coalition partner is dubious about the wisdom of the historic - and unpopular - change.

Allowing the Self-Defense Forces to aid the United States or other allies under attack would mark a turning point for Japan’s military, which has not fired a shot in conflict since World War Two. It would increase the chances of involvement in wars overseas - and almost certainly strain already fraught ties with neighbors China and South Korea. After parliament last week enacted Abe’s budget for the coming fiscal year, socalled collective self-defense looks set to dominate the remaining three months of this session.

Other aspects of Abe’s agenda, which seeks a more muscular military and a less-apologetic foreign policy, have also run into trouble. His December visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, seen by critics as a symbol of Japan’s wartime militarism, upset not only Asian neighbors China and South Korea but security ally the United States, which expressed “disappointment”. Abe has had to back away from any attempt to revise a 1993 government statement apologizing for government involvement in forcing Asian women to serve as prostitutes for Japanese soldiers in World War Two under US pressure to repair frayed ties with Washington’s other key Asian ally Seoul.

The government is not making a direct assault on the constitution to allow collective self-defense, but instead aims to reinterpret the charter to authorize the use of force to help allies abroad. But even some of Abe’s political allies are wary of that approach. “I think it is wanton for the government to change overnight the interpretation of the constitution to allow the exercise of the right of collective self-defense,” Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of dovish coalition partner New

Komeito, said over the weekend in one of his strongest statements on the topic.

the public oppose revising the interpretation while 34 percent support the change.

Sidestepping constitution Given such obstacles, Abe now “realizes that it is not so easy as he expected two or three months ago”, said Hokkaido University Professor Jiro Yamaguchi, a member of a group of about 30 academics opposing the change. “It will take longer.” The need to compromise, especially with the New Komeito but also with less hawkish members of Abe’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party, could limit the scope of eventual changes. Abe says there is no deadline to decide. But failure to adopt a cabinet resolution and seek needed legal changes in an autumn session of parliament would make the new interpretation too late to include in an upgrade of US-Japan defense cooperation guidelines, which the allies want to complete by the end of the year. The push-back from the New Komeito could force Abe to whittle down the scope of reinterpretation, perhaps to allow aid only for the United States and only in conflicts close to Japan. Abe chafes at Article 9 of the constitution, in which “the Japanese people forever renounce war” and the “threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes”. Japan also gives up the right to maintain land, sea and air forces, as well as other “war potential”. Conservatives argue the charter was imposed by the United States on a defeated Japan and should be rewritten, although it has long been stretched to allow armed forces purely for selfdefense. Japan’s military is on a par with that of France.

But formal amendments must be approved by twothirds of both houses of parliament and a majority of voters, a hurdle lawmakers have never attempted to clear since the constitution took effect in 1947. Abe and his advisers say security tensions, including China’s growing military clout and an unpredictable North Korea, mean Japan can’t wait. Critics counter that lifting the ban through a simple cabinet resolution for example would undermine the foundations of the constitution, making a mockery of amendment procedures. A weekend poll by Kyodo News found that 58 percent of

NAZI ‘tactics’ Some see a disturbing echo of Adolf Hitler evading Germany’s constitution by passing a law that gave the cabinet the power to decree legislation. “If this is achieved, any cabinet could change the interpretation of the constitution by adopting a resolution and passing laws,” said Seiichiro Murakami, a veteran lawmaker and a rare outspoken critic of the prime minister in Abe’s party. “In the same way that the Nazis passed a law and twisted the Weimar Constitution, there is a danger that Japan could again tread a mistaken path,” Murakami said.

Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso sparked outrage in July by appearing to suggest the government do just that. The Nazis changed the constitution “before anyone was aware”, he said. “Why don’t we learn from that technique?” Aso later retracted the widely vilified remarks, saying he had caused misunderstanding.

Abe’s advisers have been planning to issue a report next month recommending a reinterpretation of Article 9 to allow collective self-defense. Abe appointed an ex-diplomat who shares his views to head the government’s constitutional watchdog, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau.

The prime minister then plans to discuss the proposal with the ruling parties, adopt a cabinet resolution and submit necessary revisions to current laws to parliament. But the New Komeito is resisting the timeline. “This notion of the prime minister lacks the most critical element of listening to the voice of the people, and I can by no means agree,” wrote New Komeito executive Yoshio Urushibara on his website late last month. Potentially more troubling for Abe are calls from his own party for more debate. Few would risk a frontal attack on Abe as long as he remains popular, the LDP’s Murakami said. The premier’s ratings are above 50 percent, high for a Japanese leader, buoyed mainly by hopes for his “Abenomics” recipe for fixing the economy. —Reuters

AMRITSAR: Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and candidate for Amritsar’s parliamentary seat Arun Jaitley speaks to the media at the opening of the party’s media centre in Amritsar yesterday. —AFP

Wary of pollsters, Indians draw election tips from illegal bookies NEW DELHI: Despite India’s prohibitions on gambling, anyone keen to bet on who will be the next occupant of the prime minister’s residence at 7, Race Course Road can call a closely guarded phone number, or find the right doorway in a city backstreet.

The world’s largest democracy goes to the ballot box next month. Election results are typically hard to call, and formal opinion polls have a patchy record in gauging voter trends.

Though the country’s illegal bookies use little more than intuition to set the odds, some election candidates check what the illicit betting market, known as the satta market, says about their chances when they are out on the campaign trail. “I feel that it can be relied upon more than opinion polls,” Lalji Tandon, an opposition lawmaker in the northern city of Lucknow, told Reuters. “The fluctuations in the satta market paint a better picture of the mood of voters.”

Tandon belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi, the man seen most likely to win the premiership.

Few people doubt that BJP will emerge as the single largest party in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, parliament’s lower house. But there are no certainties in an elections that boasts a diverse electorate of 815 million voters, with an array of regional parties muddying the contest between two main national parties.

Under the counter “I prefer my opinion polls, not the ones that are in the newspaper and on television.

You can’t rely on them,” said a smartlydressed young gold trader who doubles as a bookie, speaking in his narrow and dimlylit shop in Delhi’s old quarter, where errand boys promptly serve tea and lemon water to every customer who enters. The bookie, who declined to be named, sets his odds by canvassing public opinion himself. “I have a social network. I am asking everyone.”

For all that networking, India’s forbidden bookmakers know how to avoid close scrutiny, even after a report by accounting firm KPMG and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimated the illegal betting scene was worth 3 trillion rupees ($49 billion) in 2012. Outside of horseracing - there is a track next to the

prime minister’s residence - most forms of gambling are illegal in India, although two of its 28 states have casino licenses. So bookies are careful with whom they do business, only taking bets from people vouched for by a trusted contact. They often operate out of jewellery shops, which provide a useful front for a business involving transactions of large amounts of cash, with single bets running anywhere between 5,000 and 5 million Indian rupees ($80-$81,000).

Follow the money Punters are currently offered odds for Modi around 6-5 against, which would pay out 120 rupees for every 100 rupees ($1.64) if the Hindu nationalist wins. The favorite appears to have the wind in his sails going into the ballot, which starts on April 7 and finishes in May. His odds have narrowed from around 8-5 against three months ago.

The ruling Congress party is badly handicapped. A series of corruption scandals and economic growth hitting a decade-low has left voters disenchanted.

And the signs are that Rahul Gandhi, the political heir of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty who has been appointed to lead the Congress campaign, lacks charisma in the match-up against Modi, the son of a tea stall owner. His odds are given at 2-1 against, having widened from 9-5 three months ago. The smart money says the only question at stake is whether the BJP will capture enough seats to convince potential coalition partners to join a government led

by Modi, whose Hindu nationalist ideology might make some wary of joining his side.

Shifting post-election alliances to form a coalition can cause an upset.

Seat by seat The betting market gives odds of 6-5 against for the BJP and its allies winning 250 seats, 22 seats shy of a majority. Congress and its allies are expected to get around half of that tally. No party has won a parliamentary majority since 1984. The satta market provides an alternative guide to voting trends during the campaign period as it give odds for individual parliamentary seats, whereas mainstream opinion polls only forecast national and state results. —Reuters

Indian minister urges people to vote twice NEW DELHI: An Indian cabinet minister found himself at the centre of a vote-rigging row yesterday, after he asked supporters to vote twice for his party in elections which begin next month. Speaking at a rally on Sunday, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar urged voters to wash off the ink which would be daubed on their fingers after casting their ballots and then go to a different constituency and vote again for his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

After pointing out that voting in two neighboring parts of Maharashtra state was taking place on different days, Pawar told supporters in the state: “Vote for the ‘Clock’ (his party’s symbol) there and come back to vote for the ‘Clock’ here as well,” he said to loud laughter. The comments were seized upon by a number of rivals in the elections which begin April 7, including the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party. That party said it would complain to the election

commission over the “blatant contravention” of its code of conduct.

Pawar, currently an ally of the ruling Congress party but who has been flirting with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, later tried to laugh off his remarks, saying they were meant as “a joke”. “Party workers get bored with the same cliched electoral speeches. The statement which I made earlier in the day was in lighter vein,” he added. NCP spokesman DP Tripathi said he was confident that the election commission would understand “these were not serious comments.” “We are confident that they (the election commission) are very mature and will realize the context of the statement,” Tripathi said. Polls show corruption is one of the most pressing concerns for voters in the world’s biggest democracy which will hold elections for its 543-member parliament in nine phases until May 12. —AFP

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Malaysia jet crashed at sea Continued from Page 1

A Chicago Transit Authority train car rests on an escalator at the O’Hare Airport station after it derailed early yesterday in Chicago. — AP

Saudi clerics slam ‘99’ RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s top clerics have declared an Islaminspired cartoon series, which earned praise from US President Barack Obama, a “work of the devil” that Muslims should not watch. The television version of superhero comic book “The 99” is being aired by Saudi-owned satellite channel MBC3, based in Dubai in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates. But in a religious decree carried by Saudi websites yesterday, the clerics ruled the series blasphemous because the superheroes of its title are based on the 99 attributes ascribed to Allah in the Holy Quran.

“The 99 is a work of the devil that should be condemned and forbidden in respect to Allah’s names and attributes,” the clerics, led by the kingdom’s mufti, Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, said. The original comic strip version, first released in 2006, had already ran into opposition from Muslim hardliners not only in Saudi Arabia but also in neighbouring Kuwait, where it was created and produced by media executive Naif Al-Matawa.

The comics - produced in English as well as Arabic - won praise, however, not only from Obama but also from Kuwait’s Amir HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah for their message of moderation and cultural dialogue. They have been sold around the world and have also spawned a merchandise range and a theme park in Kuwait as well as the Arabic-language television series. — AFP

MP Tameemi continues war against expats Continued from Page 1 The lawmaker also asked for the number of expatriates employed in the government with special contracts, their job titles and qualification. He also demanded the number of expatriates in government jobs who have not completed five years of service.

The draft law Tameemi proposed in January stipulates that the residence permits of foreigners with low or medium qualifications should be granted for a maximum of five years only and cannot be renewed under any circumstances. It also states that the number of any foreign community must not exceed 10 percent of the population of native Kuwaitis, which currently stands at 1.24 million, meaning that the maximum number of any foreign community cannot exceed 124,000 in accordance with the proposed draft law. If implemented, the draft legislation would immediately affect Indians, who number around 700,000, Egyptians (500,000), Bangladeshis (200,000), Filipinos (160,000) and Syrians (140,000). It could also affect Pakistanis who are around 120,000 and Sri Lankans with almost the same number.

The draft law states that foreign husbands of Kuwaiti women and their children are excluded from the rules.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the United States and the European Union are also exempt from the draft bill. According to the bill, residence permits of expatriates who have exceeded the five-year duration must be cancelled three months after this draft law becomes effective. Government and private establishments are forbidden from employing such expatriates after their residences are cancelled.

Tameemi explained that he has proposed the draft legislation for a number of goals, mainly to prevent expatriates from making Kuwait their permanent settlement which may require the country to apply international immigration laws. According to the latest figures, the number of expatriates has reached more than 2.7 million, or 69 percent of the total population, while Kuwaitis make up just 31 percent. Lawmakers have in the past submitted proposals to cut the numbers of expats in Kuwait but this one is the toughest so far and its implementation looks highly difficult if not impossible.

Lebanon urges support for army, Syria ...

Continued from Page 1 Bassil, who became Lebanon’s foreign minister in a cabinet formed last month, said a preparatory meeting with his Arab counterparts on Sunday discussed Syria’s conflict, refugees and support for the Lebanese army. “We hope that these decisions will be translated into reality by direct and tangible help and aid to Lebanon in backing the army, because the army of Lebanon is fighting terrorism for all the Arabs and all the world,” he said.

Bassil said the only way to protect Lebanon and its borders was to give additional support to the army. Saudi Arabia donated $3 billion to the army in December for upgrades and asked France to supply weapons using a large proportion of these funds. “We cannot live with new military camps, whether Syrians or others, inside Lebanon,” he said. “Support for the army is something real for facing this coming danger.” Bassil is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party allied to Hezbollah in the country’s coalition government. —Agencies

region, had fuelled the belief that the plane crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. But the confirmation brought Malaysian authorities no closer to determining what actually caused the Boeing 777 to veer inexplicably off course and fly for hours and thousands of kilometres in the wrong direction.

Confirmed wreckage - to say nothing of the black box and its flight data - are yet to be found. “Terrorism, pilot suicide and a complex set of mechanical failures never seen before are now the likely possibilities. A simple failure such as a simple fire or structural failure is becoming very unlikely,” said aviation consultant Gerry Soejatman. The airline said the international search in a stormy stretch of the Indian Ocean would continue “as we seek answers to the questions which remain”. “When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangements will be made to bring the families to the recovery area,” it said, without specifying where that would be.

Malaysia believes the plane was deliberately diverted by someone on board. But the absence of firm evidence

has fuelled intense speculation, competing theories, and tormented the families of the missing. Leading scenarios include a hijacking, pilot sabotage or a sudden mid-air crisis that incapacitated the flight crew and left the plane to fly on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel. The last known contact with MH370 was made over the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam. For reasons unknown, it backtracked over the Malaysian peninsula.

The US Navy has ordered a specialised device sent to the region to help find the “black box” of flight and cockpit voice data. The high-tech device can locate black boxes as deep as 20,000 feet (6,060 m), the US Seventh Fleet said in a statement. The search area ranges from 3,0004,000 m deep. The 30-day signal from the black box is due to fail in less than two weeks. US-based aviation consultancy Leeham Co. said it was reasonably confident the plane and flight recorders would be found. It said the digital flight data recorder “should provide a wealth of information”. But the cockpit voice recorder, with a much smaller data capacity, would likely not reveal what happened when the plane changed course hours before it went down. — Agencies

529 Morsi supporters sentenced to death Continued from Page 1 Washington said it was deeply concerned by the death sentences, questioning the fairness of proceedings against so many defendants lasting just two days.

But Egypt’s army-installed interim government defended the court’s handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only “after careful study” and were subject to appeal. The defendants who were sentenced to death are part of a larger group of more than 1,200 alleged Islamists accused of killing two policemen and rioting on August 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps. Of the 529, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in. Another 17 defendants were acquitted.

The judgement can be appealed at the Court of Cassation, which would probably order a new trial or reduce the sentences, legal expert Gamal Eid said. “This sentencing is a catastrophe and a travesty and a scandal that will affect Egypt for many years,” said Eid, who heads the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

Washington questioned how the court could have given the defendants a fair hearing in a trial that spanned just two days - an opening session on Saturday and yesterday’s sentencing. “While appeals are possible, it simply does not seem possible that a fair review of evidence and testimony consistent with international standards could be accomplished with over 529 defendants after a two-day trial,” a State Department official said.

Defence counsel Mohamed Tousson charged that the judge had rushed to sentencing yesterday after being angered by a lawyer’s request for his recusal at Saturday’s opening hearing. “He got very angry, and adjourned the trial for sentencing,” Tousson said. “It’s a huge violation of defendants’ rights.” The foreign ministry defended the court’s handling of the trial, saying that the sentences had been “issued by an independent court after careful study of the case”. It

said the Egyptian judiciary was “entirely independent and is not influenced in any way by the executive branch of government”. Amnesty International said it was the “largest single batch of simultaneous death sentences we’ve seen in recent years, not just in Egypt but anywhere in the world,” and called for it to be quashed. A second group of about 700 defendants, including Mohamed Badie, the supreme guide of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, is due in the dock today. The Muslim Brotherhood said the death sentences were yet “another indication that the corrupt judiciary is being used by the coup commanders to suppress the Egyptian revolution and install a brutal regime.”

Among those tried in absentia were a 21-year-old Sayyaf Gamal and his father Gamal Mohammed, both members of the Muslim Brotherhood group and are now on the run.

They told over the phone from their undisclosed location that the verdict aims at driving the group to become violent to justify an even heavier crackdown. “They want to explode the situation and force people to carry arms,” said Gamal.

“We did not expect such a brutal sentence. But at the same time this military regime just wants to kill anybody who wants to express an opinion. They are willing to kill everybody so that there is no freedom of expression,” he added.

“They want to turn (Egypt) to another Algeria or Syria but we will not this happen,” his father said, referring to the civil wars of those two countries.

The ensuing crackdown has also targeted prominent activists of the 2011 uprising against veteran president Hosni Mubarak, as well as journalists. A group of journalists working for Al-Jazeera television was back in court yesterday for the third hearing in their trial on charges of spreading false news and aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood. Award-winning Australian reporter Peter Greste, told reporters from the caged dock that he and his colleagues were being held on “baseless charges”. “We haven’t seen any evidence in the court that possibly justify the charges or our imprisonment,” said Greste. “We spent three months in prison based on baseless charges.” — Agencies

Egypt, Saudis to pressure Qatar at meet Continued from Page 1 Cairo’s military-backed government also blames the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network for inciting violence.

Saudi Arabia and its close Gulf Arab allies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates complain that Qatar meddles in their internal affairs by supporting the opposition - the Muslim Brotherhood in the case of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. They also want Qatar to stop supporting Shiite rebels in Yemen, an impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation that is of strategic significance to Saudi Arabia. And they want Qatar to make sure that its arms shipments to guerrillas fighting the Syrian government do not wind up in the hands of terrorists.

One of the two Arab officials said Saudi Arabia and its two Gulf allies were adamant not to give Qatar any room for maneuver, and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, has expressed a similarly hard line.

“There will be a breakthrough only if that nation (Qatar) changed the policies that caused the crisis in the first place,” Prince Saud told the London-based Al-Hayat daily recently. Publicly airing differences among members

of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council is unusual for that exclusive and traditionally secretive club created in the 1980s as a loose political and economic alliance.

But publicly berating Qatar over its foreign policy is unlikely to force change, according to Michael W Hanna, a Middle East expert from the New York-based Century Foundation. “No one in the Gulf region believes that Qatar will back down,” said Hanna. “Going public with the dispute has made it all the more difficult to resolve.

The dispute is likely to escalate.”

The need for a collective Arab approach to terror will figure prominently in an address at the summit’s opening session today by Egyptian Interim President Adly Mansour, according to one of the Arab officials.

Mansour, a career judge, will restate a six-point plan of action against terror announced this month by Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy. The points, designed to embarrass Qatar, include a ban on providing a safe haven for terrorists or aiding them in any way, assisting investigations into terrorist attacks and extraditing wanted militants, according to the official. “Egypt has every intention to place this plan among the summit’s top priorities,” said the official. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Issues

After protests, Oman starts to pursue graft

By Sami Aboudi

Y

oung Omanis who took to the streets in 2011 to demand jobs and better economic prospects failed to trigger the mass protests that transformed other parts of the Arab world in their own Gulf state. But they may have had an impact all the same, as authorities are making a start on a task that, even if coincidentally, meets one of the protesters’ key demands - fighting corruption. Omanis say graft has long blighted their country, one of the least wealthy Gulf Arab Western allies. While most states in the region fare badly in global corruption perception reports, Transparency International groups Oman among the worst performers, together with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

“The government’s campaign (is part of a response) ... to the 2011 popular demands, smoking out the termites that infested the structure and making Oman’s economy more competitive through transparency and fair and free competition,” said Ahmed Al-Mukhaini, a former assistant secretary-general for Oman’s consultative Shura Council who advises on the country’s political affairs.

An absolute monarchy run by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman has been pushing cautious reforms, including widening the powers of the Shura Council. Rights groups say the sultanate still restricts freedom of expression and the press is subject to state control, however. In his first response to the Feb 2011 protests, Sultan Qaboos replaced ministers and promised to create 50,000 public sector jobs for its increasingly youthful population.

Since then the authorities have turned their focus to corruption, strengthening domestic laws by boosting the powers of the state auditor to investigate suspicious cases and referring a number of public officials and private sector executives to the prosecution. Nearly 30 people have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to 23 years. It has also ordered public sector employees to meet financial disclosure requirements and signed the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which provides a framework for local institutions to draw up bylaws and executive regulations.

Listening Analysts say the steps are among several signs that Oman’s government is listening to its citizens following the protests, in contrast to some of its neighbours in the Gulf.

“The sultan has taken a number of steps to respond to some of the grievances articulated by protesters, and the current corruption crackdown would seem to be part of this,” said Jane Kinninmont, a Middle East expert at Chatham House. Kinninmont said Oman’s court cases offered “a striking contrast” to Bahrain, for example, where legal action relating to alleged corruption was taken overseas.

Experts say Oman has much more to do to ensure its campaign is a success, for example by empowering and properly funding the agencies that have proved essential to anti-corruption campaigns in countries such as Indonesia and Hong Kong. “These are good first steps but (there’s) still a long way to go,” said Arwa Hassan, Germany-based outreach manager for the Middle East and North Africa at Transparency International. If the campaign succeeds, the Oman government hopes to not only win praise at home and abroad but also reassure foreign investors about the rule of law in the country of 3.9 million people.

Some businessmen are concerned the crackdown could have a negative effect, at least in the short-term, by causing officials and executives to become wary of governmentrelated contracts because of the possible legal repercussions, resulting in delays to investment projects. An Egyptian businessman who operates in the country said there was a risk business could stall. “If you go to board rooms, everyone is discussing it (the crackdown on corruption) and how it may affect their business,” said an Omani banker, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Tip of the Iceberg?

Transparency International’s 2013 corruption perception index report ranked Oman at 61, far behind the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which came in at 26 and 28 respectively.

Omanis blame a system that allows senior government officials to simultaneously hold positions in private sector companies, leading to a potential conflict of interest in contracts involving public projects. Mukhaini said the prosecutor’s office appears to have been shocked by the extent of the corruption they had found over the past 12 months. “We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg because they are still detaining people and are still investigating,” he said. —Reuters

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait.

The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Kiev woos oligarchs, bolstering east

By Alastair Macdonald

E

ven as a new alarm sounds about it massing troops on the Ukrainian border, Russia may have missed its chance to exploit unrest in the Russian-speaking east to seize Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the way it took Crimea. A week after violence involving pro-Moscow separatists left three people dead in border cities, the outlines of a consensus have emerged between the new leaders in Kiev and the eastern business oligarchs allied to ousted president Viktor Yanukovich. Cooperation between Kiev and the magnates in Yanukovich’s native Donetsk and the wider Donbass coalfield would make it harder for Moscow to present any military intervention as humanitarian help and less likely it would be widely welcomed.

It follows a vow by Ukraine’s new prime minister to decentralise power to the regions, safeguard Russian language rights and protect industries, a compromise Western diplomats have been pressing for to stop Ukraine breaking up. Shortly after Yanukovich fell, parliament briefly moved to make Ukrainian the sole official language. That, and the inclusion of nationalists in the new government, alarmed Russian-speakers and helped fuel the separatist move in majority ethnic-Russian Crimea.

Describing “an understanding between the elites and regional government in the east and the central government”, a political source in the Donbass said it included constitutional change to strengthen rights to use Russian as well as decentralisation. “This will contribute to unity in the country,” he said.

Volodymyr Kipen, a political analyst in Donetsk, said Moscow despite its denials - could yet invade, or more likely promote unrest. But he also said the oligarchs, seeking stability for businesses built on the back of 1990s acquisitions of ex-Soviet state assets, were rallying behind Yanukovich’s successors. Noting the failure of pro-Kremlin activists to hold out after a takeover of the regional assembly building early this month that saw Russia’s flag flown from the building for nearly a week, he concluded: “The Crimean model has now failed in the Donbass.”

Weekend rallies demanding union with Russia drew only a few thousand and passed off without incident, despite noisy chants of “Crimea-Donbass-Russia” during a standoff with riot police as people waved Russian flags below the Donetsk governor’s office. That protest failed to disrupt a visit by the German foreign minister, who met Ukraine’s richest man Rinat Akhmetov and came away praising his pledges to prevent the country breaking up and to cooperate in liberal reforms of a corrupt, failing economy.

“We have heard here today the very pressing desire that the new Ukraine should be a united Ukraine and that there should be no breakup,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting Akhmetov and steel magnate Serhiy Taruta, Donetsk’s new governor. He also met Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk and praised the “signal” he sent to easterners in a speech made, significantly, in Russian.

Business Reassurances Taruta, critical of missteps in Kiev that played a part in the loss of Crimea, told Reuters he expected tough negotiations on sharing power but believed the government which appointed him was moving in the right direction. He felt his own efforts to

ensure police were loyal and to stop Russian “provocateurs” coming across the border were curbing unrest. Fear of hardline Ukrainian nationalists in the government is widespread among Russian-speakers in the east, who share the view dispensed by Kremlin-controlled media that there has been a “fascist coup” in the capital.

There is also deep anger in Donetsk region, home to 10 percent of Ukraine’s 46 million people and producer of 20 percent of its industrial output, that 23 years of post-Soviet independence have left them poor and exploited by a rich elite many see as little more than a mafia. Yet despite that profound discontent, only a minority seem actively to want to break with Ukraine and join Russia. A month ago Steinmeier was in Kiev negotiating an end to bloodshed between Yanukovich’s police and protesters. His arrival in the fallen president’s power base followed weeks of Western pressure for compromise to prevent Ukraine cracking open along an east-west faultline that could hand its main industries over to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine plunged into crisis when Yanukovich spurned a free trade pact with the European Union in November, sparking protests on Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan.

He later took a financial aid package from Putin but, after the protests turned bloody a month ago, Yanukovich fled to Russia.

While threats of a trade war from Russia clearly played a role in Yanukovich’s rejection of the EU pact, concern among eastern oligarchs at possible damage to their businesses from removing import duties was also cited by analysts as a factor.

Yatseniuk, in his broadcast last Tuesday, said he would avoid a free trade deal for now to protect eastern industry. The premier, an ally of Yanukovich’s long-time rival Yulia Tymoshenko who is widely disliked in the east, ran through a shopping list of policies designed to reassure Russian speakers, from ruling out NATO membership, to guaranteeing their language rights and pledging to disarm far-right and other militants. One Western official described it as “everything we had been pleading for” to repair the rift in Ukraine and engage the east.

Regional Power Perhaps most important for the eastern elite, however, was a promise of a constitution offering “decentralisation”, rather than “federalism” - seen as a recipe for regions breaking away. That was welcomed by Donetsk mayor Oleksander Lukianchenko when he addressed a regional congress of Yanukovich’s Party of Regions on Friday. The party, previously a vehicle to assert presidential authority nationwide, was debating its role without its leader and shorn of its status as the “party of power”.

Distancing the party from calls by some members for a local, Crimea-style referendum on federal autonomy or even secession, Lukianchenko said the party, which opposed federalism while in control in Kiev, supported Kiev’s proposed “decentralisation”. He told Reuters the party wanted regions to have more power over budgets - they already raise substantial direct taxes - and also run services “like the police, courts and prosecutors”. Negotiations have yet to start in earnest on a constitution. Ukrainians will first vote for a president on May 25. But the idea of devolving control of the judiciary could be a key part of a post-revolutionary bargain between the rival factions.

Yanukovich saw Tymoshenko jailed for corruption after he

beat her to the presidency. He is himself now a fugitive from justice, accused of the “mass murder” of Maidan protesters. The eastern oligarchs have reason to be anxious for their assets -and personal freedom - in a backlash against the old guard. Maintaining the influence that civil rights activists say they already enjoy over the police and courts, could be a prize they are seeking in negotiations over decentralisation.

While some eastern businessmen are guarded in criticism of Russia - possibly out of concern for business ties there, or afraid tanks might roll into Donetsk - many have spoken out against Moscow. Ukrainian unity may be good for profits but also few would relish the curbs Putin imposes on Russian oligarchs.

Nonetheless, said analyst Kipen, some in the business elite seem willing to encourage the idea that eastern Ukraine could still be tempted to break way: “They want to play the separatism card as a bargaining chip with Kiev, for their own personal security and for their own interests.”

Divided Opinion Beyond the calculations of the oligarchs, who have managed to dominate Ukrainian electoral politics especially in the east, public opinion in Donetsk is sharply divided. Many of those who took part in pro-Russia rallies cited Russia’s stronger economy for wanting to follow Crimea. “We want a referendum on joining Russia,” said Anton Sedykh, 27, among a crowd of some 3,000 gathered under a statue of Lenin on Donetsk’s Lenin Square, across the road from the gleaming glass office tower where Akhmetov met Steinmeier on Saturday.

The company where Sedykh makes windows had not paid him for two months, he said, and he envied higher wages in Russia. After 23 years of independence, he had no faith in Ukraine’s economy. Nor was “decentralisation” an answer: “It’s just playing for time,” he said. “It’s the oligarchs looking out for themselves.” Others at the rally cited cultural or family ties to Russia, nostalgia for Soviet certainties, an admiration for Putin’s firm hand or a disdain for Ukrainian speakers in the west. There is also fear of EU free-market ideology and austerity. One poster showed German Chancellor Angela Merkel with a Hitler moustache.

For Denys, 35, a composer watching proceedings from across the square, the protesters were wrong to ignore Russia’s flaws: “It’s not about the economy,” he said. “This is a fundamental question of freedom. Russia is a very authoritarian state.” His wife Svitlana, 29, said her criticism of Russia was not about ethnicity: “I have a Russian name. We speak Russian and Ukrainian,” she said.

“But I am a Ukrainian citizen.” Similar sentiments were voiced in dozens of conversations in the past week in Donetsk with people in colleges, shops, farms or the steelworks that sprawls into a city dotted by slag heaps and showpiece modern buildings. Factory workers clocking off were united in their fears of war with Russia and of damage to their export business - much of which goes into Russia. “It might be better to be with Russia,” said steelworker Ivan, 36. “We can’t compete if they open trade with Europe.”

But few people said their main priority was joining Russia.

Opinion poll evidence, from before the crisis came to a head a month ago, suggests core support in the area for Russian rule may be in single figures, although as many as a third of people were recorded as saying they might prefer living as Russians. —Reuters

Wooing Afghan votes with ethnic strongmen

By Kathy Gannon

O

n the edge of a Kabul neighborhood dominated by members of Afghanistan’s ethnic Hazara minority, an election poster of presidential candidate Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf is damaged - partially scraped away by someone trying to remove it. The vandalism could be his past as a warlord coming back to haunt him. During Afghanistan’s civil war in the early 1990s, Sayyaf’s militia killed tens of thousands of Hazaras, a community who are mostly Shiite Muslims, considered infidels by the Sunni radical fighters in Sayyaf’s forces.

Warlords like Sayyaf with a violent past have played a role in influencing Afghan politics since a US-led coalition helped oust the Taleban in 2001. But they are emerging to play an overt political role in next month’s presidential elections as President Hamid Karzai leaves the scene. Some, like Sayyaf, are running. Others are being courted by the candidates because many of the warlords command strong followings, particularly along ethnic lines. Candidates are choosing well-known strongmen as running mates to win support in their communities despite their violent histories.

Even the most urbane and international savvy of the presidential candidates, a former World Bank official, has tied his hopes to a war-

lord whose violent history has been condemned by the US and other Western governments. The result is a mixed effect on Afghanistan’s politics. The courting of warlords shows their political strength. On the other hand, it also shows that, unlike in the past, candidates are trying to reach out across ethnic lines in this deeply divided country and balance among communities. For the ethnic minorities, it is also a mixed bag. Candidates are trying to appeal to them.

Internally Divided But now the communities are more internally divided than ever over whom to support. In the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections, a single ethnicity dominated each ticket. Ethnic Tajiks had one ticket - as did Hazaras, Pashtuns and Uzbeks. Not this time around. Each presidential candidate can take two vice presidential candidates on his ticket - and each has sought to spread the ethnic appeal. All three top frontrunners in the April 5 vote have prominent Hazaras as running mates.

Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister, also has a Pashtun vice presidential candidate; Zalmai Rassoul has a Tajik; Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the former World Bank official, has a powerful Uzbek warlord, Gen. Rashid Dostum, as his main running mate. Despite a violent past

in the civil war, Dostum has emerged as the single leader behind whom Afghanistan’s Uzbeks, who make up roughly 9 percent of the country’s 32 million people, will rally. Some in the Hazara community, about nine percent of the population, are worried about splits.

“I’m not happy with the fact that Hazara leaders are going to different candidates,” said Rahmat Ula Karimi, a 56-year-old Kabul resident from the community. “Hazaras should be one voice to protect their rights. All the Hazaras should back one leader so they can have a unified voice.” The ethnic minority Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras and Turkmens dominate in northern Afghanistan. The country’s largest ethnic group is the Pashtuns, who make up 42 percent of the population, according to the CIA Factbook.

Pashtuns, who also make up the backbone of the Taleban movement, dominate in the south and east of Afghanistan.

The outgoing Karzai is a Pashtun, as are most of the nine candidates in the upcoming vote - though Abdullah has combined TajikPashtun heritage. Faheem Dashty, an Afghan analyst and journalist, said the ethnic balance on the tickets “is a positive change.” Still, many of the candidates or their running mates have violent histories. Several have been named by the US-based Human Rights Watch as responsible for mass killings during the 1992 to 1996

civil war, fought between Islamic insurgentsturned-warlords who turned their guns on each other after throwing out the invading Soviet military.

The chaos of the civil war helped pave the way for the Taleban to take power, and they ended up controlling all of the country except for a small portion of northern Afghanistan. A storekeeper on Kabul’s Chicken Street, where carpet sellers bump up against antique dealers and traditional jewelers, Mohammed Qasi Zazai, said he is disappointed with the presence of warlords on the ballot. “It’s the younger generation, who are educated, who are really sad to see all these warlords, their pictures everywhere, who were involved in the civil war,” he said.

Positive Changes Political transformation is slow in a country emerging from nearly four decades of relentless war, where the measure of one’s strength has been the size of one’s militia or the guns one owns, said Nader Nadery, executive director of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan. But positive changes are occurring, he said. “Those who used to once use only guns to show their power, now are discovering that the gun alone is not enough, they have to ask people to vote for them to get power, to have legitimacy. —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

S P ORTS Abidal sorry for no-show

Germans reject goalline tech

Broad fined in Twenty20

MONACO: Eric Abidal has apologised to his Monaco team mates for going AWOL on Sunday after the defender was overlooked for the Ligue 1 game against Lille.

Abidal, who was diagnosed with a cancerous liver tumour in 2011 and had a liver transplant the following year, has struggled this season, showing a worrying lack of pace at both club and international level. “Discussion with the vice president and the coach. Everything back in order. Apologies made to the team,” Abidal, who was omitted from Didier Deschamps’s France squad to face Netherlands in a friendly earlier this month, wrote on his Twitter feed yesterday.

Deschamps has repeatedly said there is no room for off-field dramas in the France team, and stressed players have to be performing for their clubs if they are to be picked for the June 13-July 12 tournament in Brazil.

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri said leaving the centre back out on Sunday was a sporting decision. “It’s his problem, I know he was at home. He did not stay for the game,” Ranieri said. “If there is a problem I will talk with the club. I want to know why he left. “He came with us (to the pre-game camp) and he left. —Reuters

BERLIN: Germany have opted not to bring in goalline technology after the clubs from the top two divisions voted against it, the Football League (DFL) said yesterday.

Technology is already being used in the English Premier League and German champions Bayern Munich had called for it to be brought in to the Bundesliga.

“I can announce the clubs of the Bundesliga and the second Bundesliga opted to do without it,” DFL president Reinhard Rauball told reporters.

He said half of the top-flight clubs had voted in favor but a two-thirds majority was needed. In the second division only three of the 18 teams had voted for technology to come in. “This issue is off the table for now,” said Rauball.

Stefan Kiessling was awarded a goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s win over Hoffenheim in October even though the ball went in through a hole in the side-netting, an incident that triggered renewed calls for video technology.

German referees had backed the idea of putting a tiny camera on the line in order to avoid human error. “This was a democratic vote and we have to accept it,” said DFL chief executive Christian Seifert yesterday. “But the professionalism of the Bundesliga does not depend on the introduction or not of goalline technology.”—Reuters

CHITTAGONG: England captain Stuart Broad has been fined for criticizing umpires for not halting his team’s World Twenty20 opener against New Zealand sooner due to lightning.

The International Cricket Council imposed the fine, which is 15 percent of Broad’s match fee, late Sunday after Broad called the decision by umpires Aleem Dar and Paul Reiffel to continue the match “distinctly average.” New Zealand beat England by nine runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method after rain finally forced stoppage of Saturday’s match.

New Zealand was 52-1 in 5.2 overs when rain stopped play, ahead on run rate in response to England’s 172-6. The Duckworth-Lewis method requires at least 5 overs to be bowled by each side.

“To be as polite as I possibly can be, I think it was distinctly average decision-making, keeping us on after the first lightning strike at the start of the fifth over, keeping us on throughout that,” Broad said after the match.

Broad said the umpires denied seeing any lightning, which he called “threatening.” “I asked the umpires for a bit of clarity on the decision-making at the end of the game, and they said they didn’t see the lightning and didn’t think it was a threat,” Broad said.—AP

Wild edge Red Wings DETROIT: Matt Moulson’s goal at 2:15 of overtime gave the Minnesota Wild a 4-3 come-frombehind win over the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL on Sunday night.

Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist and Jason Pominville and Zach Parise also scored for Minnesota. Ryan Suter had two assists and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 13 shots.

Gustav Nyquist scored twice to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games, and Tomas Tatar also scored for Detroit. Jimmy Howard made 21 saves. The Red Wings beat the Wild 3-2 on Saturday in Minnesota. Moulson tipped in Jonas Brodin’s pass for his 21st goal. Tatar tied it 3-3 with 8:17 remaining in the third with a shot from the right circle off the rush. It was his 16th goal.

ORLANDO: Adam Scott of Australia reacts on the tenth hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. —AFP

Every clinches upset win FLORIDA: An emotional Matt Every clinched his first PGA Tour victory in dramatic fashion when he surged past a faltering Adam Scott to win the $6.2 million Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke in Florida on Sunday.

“It’s tough man. You just never know if it’s going to happen,” a teary-eyed Every told NBC after edging fellow American Keegan Bradley at Bay Hill in Orlando.

Australian Scott, the Masters champion, finished third. Every, who started the final round four strokes behind Scott, charged to the front with four birdies in a sizzling fivehole stretch around the turn.

The 30-year-old built a three-shot lead, before bogeying the 16th and 18th holes, missing a five-footer at the last that opened the door for Bradley.

Bradley, however, missed a 30-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff, while Scott finished two shots behind after a 76. Nobody in the top 25 shot a worse final round. “You get there so many times and it’s nice to get it done,” said Every, who had a 70 to finish at 13-underpar 275. “That (missed at the last) was a bummer. Would have been to celebrate there, but I’ll take it.” Every grew up in nearby Daytona Beach and Bay Hill was the first place he ever watched a PGA Tour event.

SUSPENDED IN 2010 The PGA Tour suspended him for three months during his rookie season in 2010 for conduct unbecoming a professional after he and two others were arrested on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession in Iowa.

The charges were later dropped but the PGA Tour suspension, which was announced by Every’s management company, remained.

“I don’t do drugs,” Every told reporters at a news conference at the Sony Open in

Honolulu in 2012. “It was a crappy deal, man. Wrong place, wrong time, perfect storm, and you know, I got three months out of it. It’s over with. I’m not mad at the tour. They did what they had to do. I totally understand it. But it’s over with. ...

“If one of my friends likes to smoke marijuana every now and then, I’m not going to say, well, you can’t be my friend anymore,” he added. “I don’t do it, but I don’t frown upon it.”

He also said he disagreed with how the PGA Tour handled his situation. “If they would have thrown a month at me instead of three, that would have been nice,” Every said. The PGA Tour did not comment. Every lost his PGA Tour card that season and was relegated to the secondary tour for a year before earning his way back to the big stage.

Now he is off to the Masters, and $1.116 million richer after winning in his 93rd start on tour. But it might never have been if not for a piece of luck at the par-four ninth on Sunday, where his drive went dangerously left and nearly out-of-bounds.

Instead, the ball narrowly stayed inbounds and to the right of the cart path, bouncing forward almost 100 yards, from where he punched his second shot to 15 feet and made birdie to close within one shot at the turn.

Scott, meanwhile, was left to rue his inability to close the deal in his final start before defending his Masters title April 1013. The world number two, who had a chance to take over as world number one from Tiger Woods, led by eight strokes after 35 holes, but played the final 37 holes in four over. His score got higher each day, as he shot 62 68 71 76. His putter deserved him on Sunday, no more conspicuously than at the par-five 16th, where he had a chance to make an eagle and tie Every, only to three-putt from 20 feet. —Reuters

PREDATORS 2, BLACKHAWKS 0 Pekka Rinne made 29 saves for his first shutout in more than a year to lead Nashville over Chicago. Mike Fisher and Gabriel Bourque scored for Nashville, which won its second straight and improved to 3-1 against Chicago this season.

The Blackhawks played their second game without Patrick Kane, the team’s leading scorer, who sustained a lower body injury against St. Louis on Wednesday. He could miss the rest of the regular season. Chicago fell six points behind Western Conference - and Central Division-leader St. Louis, which defeated Pittsburgh 1-0 earlier on Sunday. The Blackhawks’ Corey Crawford made 15 saves.

DEVILS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2 Rookie defenseman Jon Merrill set up a second-period breakaway goal by Patrik Elias and scored 32 seconds later to lead New Jersey to a much-needed win over Toronto, sending the struggling Maple Leafs to their fifth straight loss.

Damien Brunner also scored and Cor y Schneider had 21 saves as the Devils gave their slim playoff hopes a boost by winning for the second time in six games.

Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel scored for the Maple Leafs, who saw embattled goaltender James Reimer give up three goals on 10 shots in less than 22 minutes of action.

The skid ties Toronto’s longest of the season and it could not have come at a worse with nine games left in the regular season.

BLUES 1, PENGUINS 0 David Backes deflected a slap shot by Alexander Steen past Marc-Andre Fleury midway through the third period to lift St. Louis over Pittsburgh.

Brian Elliott stopped 33 shots to pick up his fourth shutout of the season as one of the NHL’s best defensive teams shut down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Fleury made 26 saves for the Penguins but watched Backes’ deflection carom off his glove and into the net just after a penalty against Malkin expired.

St. Louis bounced back from a one-sided loss at Philadelphia on Saturday to improve the league’s best road record to 23-11-3. Pittsburgh’s top-ranked power play went 0-for-5 a day after scoring three times in a win over Tampa Bay. DUCKS 6, PANTHERS 2 Corey Perry and captain Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and two assists as Anaheim ended its four-game home skid with a victory over Florida.

Teemu Selanne, Jakob Silfverberg, Kyle Palmieri and Perry scored during Anaheim’s fourgoal second period. Patrick Maroon also scored an early goal before leaving the game with a

NEWARK: Bryce Salvador No. 24 of the New Jersey Devils clears the puck defended by Tyler Bozak No. 42 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at the Prudential Center. —AFP lower-body injury for the Ducks, who pulled within one point of San Jose atop the Pacific Division standings.

Jonas Hiller made 28 saves for Anaheim, which is four points behind Western Conferenceleading St. Louis with 11 games left.

Jimmy Hayes and Tomas Fleischmann scored in the second period for the Panthers, who lost all three games on their West Coast road trip by a combined 12-3.

ISLANDERS 2, BLUE JACKETS 0 Evgeni Nabokov made 41 saves in his 58th NHL shutout and Travis Hamonic scored a power-play goal in the second period as New York dealt the Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes a severe blow.

Nabokov got the best of Russian counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky in their third meeting this season and posted his third shutout in this campaign. It was just the Islanders’ second regulation win ever over the Blue Jackets. Columbus, which has dropped to fifth in the Metropolitan

Division, has fallen out of an Eastern Conference playoff position with 11 games left. The Blue Jackets lost their second straight game and for the third time in four.

Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Islanders, who bounced back from a 6-0 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday and finished a 2-2 homestand.

CANUCKS 4, SABRES 2 Zack Kassian had four assists and Vancouver rallied to beat Buffalo. The Canucks have consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January.

Vancouver pulled within three points of eighthplace Phoenix, and one point of ninth-place Dallas in the race for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Sabres, last in the NHL by a wide margin, suffered their eighth loss in the past 10 games as they squandered an early 2-0 lead.

Brad Richardson, Shawn Matthias, Yannick Weber, David Booth scored for the Canucks. It was Booth’s first goal in 33 games. Tyler Ennis and Jamie McBain scored for Buffalo. —AP

NHL results/standings NY Islanders 2, Columbus 0; St. Louis 1, Pittsburgh 0; New Jersey 3, Toronto 2; Nashville 2, Chicago 0; Minnesota 4, Detroit 3 (OT); Vancouver 4, Buffalo 2; Anaheim 6, Florida 2.

San Jose Anaheim Los Angeles Phoenix Vancouver Calgary Edmonton St. Louis Chicago Colorado Minnesota Dallas Winnipeg Nashville

Boston

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF 46 18 8 221 46 18 7 228 40 25 6 174 34 26 11 196 33 30 10 176 29 35 7 181 25 38 9 178 Central Division 48 16 7 228 41 16 15 240 44 21 6 216 37 24 11 180 33 26 11 199 32 31 9 201 31 31 10 173 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 49 17 5 229

GA 173 180 149 201 196 210 236

PTS 100 99 86 79 76 65 59

160 186 194 178 202 211 213

103 97 94 85 77 73 72

151

103

Tampa Bay Montreal Detroit Toronto Ottawa Florida Buffalo

39 24 8 211 189 86 39 26 7 186 183 85 33 24 14 189 200 80 36 29 8 213 226 80 28 29 13 199 237 69 26 38 8 175 235 60 20 43 8 138 210 48 Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 46 20 5 222 177 97 Philadelphia 38 25 7 203 198 83 NY Rangers 39 29 4 190 175 82 Washington 34 27 11 208 213 79 Columbus 36 29 6 200 194 78 New Jersey 31 28 13 175 187 75 Carolina 31 31 9 177 200 71 NY Islanders 27 35 9 197 239 63 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Webb bags Founders Cup

PHOENIX: Karrie Webb of Australia poses with the JTBC LPGA Founders Cup trophy after winning in the final round at Wildfire Golf Club. —AFP

PHOENIX: When Karrie Webb was asked about the all the good young players on the LPGA Tour, the questioner noted that Lydia Ko was 16 and Jessica Korda 21. “I’m not even that added up,” the 39-year-old Australian replied.

And to the Hall of Famer’s surprise, when all t h e m a t h w a s d o n e S u n d ay i n t h e J T B C Founders Cup, she was the one posing for pictures with the big trophy.

“I didn’t expect to be sitting here at the start of the day,” Webb said. “Even, actually, when I finished the day, I didn’t expect to be sitting here. So I feel a little bit lucky, I guess, to be sitting here. But it doesn’t make it feel any less special.”

She took the lead with a course-record 9under 63, then waited 90 minutes to see if anyone could catch her. No one did.

“I thought best-case scenario I was in a playoff,” Webb said. Webb is close friends with founding player Louise Suggs and has a deep appreciation for the 13 women who started the LPGA Tour in 1950. “It’s a very special event,” Webb said.

For the second time in the event, Webb overcame a six-stroke deficit in the final round. In 2011 in the inaugural tournament, she finished with a 66 for a one-stroke victory.

“I just love the feeling of this event,” Webb said. Webb donated $50,000 of her $225,000 check, giving $25,000 each to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and “The Founders” documentary movie.

She did an interview for the film this week and learned that only about 10 percent of the necessary money had been raised to complete the project.

“I was just standing on the 18th green when Mike ( Whan, LPGA Tour commissioner) was introducing me, and it just came to me that, ‘You know, I would love to be a part of that movie being produced.’”

Webb talked Friday night with the 90-yearold Suggs, a fixture at the tournament the last three years but unable to make it this year.

“She told me that I had to go out and shoot 64 yesterday, which I let her down and I didn’t do that,” Webb said. “So, I made it up to her today.” She certainly did.

Webb had 10 birdies and a bogey, playing the back nine in 6-under 30. She birdied five of the last six holes, making a birdie with a 20footer on the par-4 18th to finish at 19-under 269. “I definitely putted probably the best I have all week,” Webb said. “Worked on a few things last night and really got the ball rolling on the back nine.”

We b b a l s o r a l l i e d to w i n t h e Wo m e n’s Australian Open last month and has 41 LPGA Tour victories to match founding player Babe Zaharias for 10th place.

Ko, the third-round leader, parred the final three holes to finish a stroke back along with 2013 winner Stacy Lewis, Azahara Munoz, Amy Yang and Mirim Lee. The 16-year-old Ko shot 70. She had a threestroke lead after birdieing Nos. 2-5, slipped back with bogeys on Nos. 6, 9 and 11 and pulled within one with a birdie on the par-5 15th.

“I tried to get myself together,” Ko said. “I made some bogeys at the wrong time, which wasn’t ideal, but I tried my best until the last.”

Munoz and Yang, playing together in the third-to-last group, missed long birdie putts on 18 and each shot 67. Lee shot 69 in the next group, also missing a long birdie try.

That left Ko - and her 25-foot try on the last was just short and right. “I played really well overall, so I’m just going to take the positive out of it,” Ko said. Lewis birdied the final two holes for a 66.

“It was just really nice to hit the shots and make the putts at the end,” Lewis said. “Seeing putts go in always helps going into the next couple of weeks.” —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

S P ORTS

Busch wins again at Fontana in wild finish

DOHA: (Left to right) Italian MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi, Spanish World champion, Marc Marquez and Spanish Dani Pedrosa celebrate on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the Qatar Grand Prix. —AFP

Marquez wins Qatar GP DOHA: MotoGP’s youngest world champion Marc Marquez won the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday after a thrilling duel in Doha with the old master of motorcycling, Italian Valentino Rossi.

Starting from pole position at the Losail circuit only six weeks after he broke his leg in a training accident, the 21-year-old Spaniard crossed the finish line a mere 0.259 of a second ahead of the 35-year-old great.

Dani Pedrosa, Marquez’s team mate and compatriot, was a distant third.

Marquez’s leg, fractured when he fell off a dirt bike near his home last month, had been the rider’s biggest worry with the Spaniard barely able to walk a week ago but he looked comfortable throughout.

“I enjoyed that race a lot,” he smiled.

“After the injury and everything I did not expect that result, honestly. “But yesterday I had a good feeling and today, the last lap with Valentino, I didn’t think about the leg, I didn’t think about the injury. I pushed 100 percent.”

In the end it was the resurgent Rossi, seven times a champion in the top category of motorcycling but seemingly entering the twilight of his career, who posed the biggest threat of the night.

Starting from 10th place on the grid, the Italian was leading after nine laps with early leaders Jorge Lorenzo and Stefan Bradl both crashing out into the gravel in a shower of sparks.

“Starting from 10th position, already

second is a great result,” grinned Rossi. “I had the potential to try, I tried and tried but unfortunately at the end I was a little bit too far (behind).

“I enjoyed it very much, it was a great race. I hope to continue like this,” added the Italian, who also finished second in 2013 when Marquez came third on his debut.

“Last year I fought here with Valentino, he won that battle,” said Marquez. “And this year we won.” Lorenzo, the twice world champion who won in Qatar last year, seized the lead from the second row at the start but crashed before the lap was out when the front end of the bike went from under him. With an ice pack on his left elbow, the Spaniard blamed himself.

“I made a mistake. The tyres were different to last year, the temperature was a little bit colder than yesterday because the race was two hours later than qualifying,” said Lorenzo. “I didn’t count these things...I made a mistake of juniors.” After he went out, Britain’s Bradley Smith took the lead briefly before Bradl slipped past followed

by Marquez. The German then lost the front end and slid out with 16 of the 22 laps to go.

Marquez and Rossi traded the lead to the flag, with four changes of lead on the penultimate lap alone. Smith crashed with four laps to go, with Spaniard Aleix Espargaro finishing fourth and Ducati pair Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow fifth and sixth. —Reuters

FONTANA: Kyle Busch figured he had little chance to defend his Fontana title for most of Sunday while he circled the oval in a “mediocre” car.

Yet his tires were just fine, unlike much of the rubber on the bumpy racetrack. And when the race came down to a two-lap sprint to the finish, Busch demonstrated his spectacular closing skills one more time. Busch won at Fontana for the second straight year, holding off Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart and his older brother Kurt for his 29th career Sprint Cup victory.

Kyle Busch capably blocked Larson and outlasted a crowded field to win a race featuring a track-record 35 lead changes and numerous tire problems. Busch stayed out of trouble and roared up late for his second straight stunner in Southern California, following up the Las Vegas native’s final-lap surge to victory a year ago.

“Holy cow, what do you expect when you’ve got a green-white-checkered finish and everybody has to come down pit road and put four tires on?” Busch asked after his third career win at Fontana. “That was ‘Days of Thunder’ right there. Unbelievable day.”

Busch is NASCAR’s fifth winner in five races this season. He led just five laps the fewest of his career in a win in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

“I came off the fourth turn in disbelief that we won this thing, because we were mediocre all day,” Busch said. “It was really weird for us, not a race that we’re typically used to. But now there’s a load off your shoulders that you can go out the rest of the season and race the way you want to.”

He also got a thrill from outlasting Larson, the 21-year-old rookie in the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. “I guess you couldn’t ask for more, but I was surprised to get up there late in the race,” said Larson, who held off Busch to win the Nationwide race Saturday. “We were probably a 12th-place car for most of the day.”

Kyle Busch pointed out his window at Larson after Sunday ’s finish, pumping his fist in approval. “What a shoe that boy is,” Kyle Busch said of Larson.

Five more things to remember from Fontana’s big finish: SO CLOSE: Jeff Gordon drove the field twice and was in position for his first win of the season until Clint Bowyer’s spin with two laps to go sent the race into overtime. From there, he faded badly on the two-lap sprint to the finish and wound up 13th despite having one of the strongest cars in the field.

“The closing laps were pretty much typical restart for me,” said the four-time champion, who has struggled for several years on restarts.

Gordon overcame an early speeding penalty and was one of several drivers who missed the

FONTANA: Kyle Busch (center) celebrates as the team drenches his wife, Samantha Busch (left) in victory circle after winning the NASCAR Sprint Series auto race. —AP entrance to pit road on an early stop because the red light signifying that pit road was closed was on when they passed. It forced him to drive hard to put himself in the lead before Bowyer’s spin. He regretted the final finish because of the effort he and his Hendrick Motorsports team put in Sunday. “They gave me the most incredible race car and it is just so disappointing for it to end like that,” Gordon said. “I hate that the caution came out.”

SHREDDED TREAD: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the drivers who had problems with their tires, yet manufacturer Goodyear didn’t absorb much heat from the drivers.

The problems likely were the latest effect of NASCAR’s new aero rules, which are producing higher speeds that lead to extra stress on the tires particularly on the bumpy asphalt on Fontana’s back straightaway, which already wears out tires aggressively. NASCAR also loosened rules on tire pressure.

“By no means is this a problem for Goodyear,” Kurt Busch said. “It’s just a thumbsup for NASCAR for allowing teams to get aggressive in all areas.”

Those problems might frustrate pit crews, but they can also lead to phenomenal racing, as the sellout crowd on its feet for the finish could attest.

HAMLIN SIDELINED: Denny Hamlin never

got a shot at the redemption he craved after last season’s final-lap crash with Joey Logano at Fontana left him with a broken vertebra.

About 30 minutes before Sunday’s race, Joe Gibbs Racing said Hamlin was headed to the hospital for tests on a sinus infection. He was expected to stay overnight in the Los Angeles area. “It’s not just a headache. It’s a lot more serious than that. He was actually losing vision his eye,” crew chief Darian Grubb told MRN.com and NASCAR.com after the race.

SMOKE SIGNALS: Don’t count out Tony Stewart just yet. After a lousy start to the Sprint Cup season, Smoke has posted back-toback top-five finishes, following up his fourthplace finish at Bristol by coming in fifth. The 2012 Fontana champion had a shot at another win late, and Kurt Busch particularly enjoyed racing his boss for position in the final two laps.

UNIFORM CAUTION: For the second straight week, NASCAR had a problem with the caution light on pit row but this one was more hilarious than detrimental.

Several drivers complained during an early pit stop that the red light was on, indicating pit road was closed. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition, was told that the official in charge of displaying the flag got his uniform caught in a hole in a fence and couldn’t move, preventing him from flipping off the red light. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

S P ORTS

Li and Venus advance MIAMI: World number two Li Na finally made her first appearance at the Sony Open on Sunday, taming Madison Keys in an unsteady effort while three-time champion Venus Williams was also made to work under a blazing Florida sun for her spot in the fourth round.

Li displayed some signs of rust in her first match of the tournament after receiving an opening round bye and a walkover when Alisa Kleybanova withdrew from their second round meeting with illness.

She had to fight off three set points and an early break in the second set before clinching a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win over her American opponent.

Williams, seeded 29th at the tournament she considers her home event, battled Casey Dellacqua for almost two and a half hours before subduing the determined Australian wild card 6-4 5-7 6-4.

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland continued to confirm she is over the knee problem that plagued her in the final in Indian Wells last Sunday, registering a 7-5 6-3 victory over Russian Elena Vesnina.

Keys, who lives in nearby Boca Raton, had her Chinese opponent on the ropes several times but allowed the experienced Li to escape time-and-time again.

“She’s number two in the world for a reason. She just won the Australian Open for a reason,” said Keys. “She’s a great player.

“I played well at times and she just played the bigger points really, really well.

“There is a lot to be happy with but there is also some stuff I need to work on.”

Li got off to a strong start, grabbing the

early break and a 3-1 lead, but the big hitting Keys answered with two breaks of her own, surging in front 5-3.

Keys however could not convert any of her three set points, Li wiggling free with a break and forcing the set to a tie-break which she easily won 7-3.

The American again had Li under pressure in the second, grabbing the early break to go up 2-0, but could not sustain the pressure as Li, having now hit her stride, stormed through the next five games on her way to victory.

“I think it was pretty tough match, she played well, big serve, big forehand, especially when she was 3-1 down and then come back 5-3 up and serve for the first set,” said Li. “During that time I didn’t think about too much. “I say, OK try to hit the ball, try to do what you have to do and save the set point. “I think this maybe changed the match a little bit because after that I was feeling she’s dropped a little bit.”

Williams was not at her best against Dellacqua committing 44 unforced errors and six double faults but she did not lack for fight in the blistering mid-day sun.

“If I go down it’s never easy,” said Williams. “At least my opponent knows they have to go to the end of the earth to take me out no matter what the circumstances, usually. “I do try and compete. I mean, being out here, even if it’s not your best day, no matter what the circumstances are.”

In other third round action, Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, the 10th seed, was a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 winner over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.—Reuters

KEY BISCAYNE: Na Li of China serves the ball to Madison Keys of the USA during their match on day 7 of the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. —AFP

Murray and Federer sizzle under Miami sun MIAMI: Defending champion Andy Murray and 17-times grand slam winner Roger Federer sizzled under a Miami sun, speeding into the fourth round of the Sony Open on Sunday with convincing straight sets wins.

Federer, twice a winner on the Miami hardcourts, needed just 62 minutes on a sweltering centre court to dispose of Dutch qualifier Thiemo De Bakker 6-3 6-3 while Murray appeared to be adjusting just fine to life without coach Ivan Lendl, easing past Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-1.

After getting the defence of his Sony Open title off to a shaky start with a threesets win over Matthew Ebden on Friday, Wimbledon champion Murray was more in command against Lopez improving his record to 9-0 against the Spaniard in just 73 minutes.

“It’s not always that easy to feel comfortable against him because there is not loads of rhythm with the way he plays,” said the sixth seeded Scotsman. “But I moved well; returned well.

“It was obviously a more comfortable score line than the other day.” Murray has been in the Miami spotlight for more than his play this week after announcing he had ended his successful partnership with Lendl, who helped steer him to a pair of grand slam titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Lendl, who maintains a Florida residence, was in the stand catching some of the Sunday match, leading Murray to joke that the two men were renewing their partnership.

Seven of Murray’s previous eight matches had gone three sets but the Briton, who has a Miami residence, made sure he would spend as little time as possible under a

punishing sun, breaking Lopez three times in the second set, sweeping the last four games.

“It was really hot. I don’t know how hot it was but when we came over at like 9:30 it was already 80 Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) and it was extremely humid,” said Murray. “I have played a few matches here where it’s been very, very hot but it doesn’t always stay like this for a few days in a row in March.

“It’s not easy conditions.” A resurgent Federer has shown that he is coming to grips with a new larger racquet, a change that the Swiss had resisted.

But Federer has seen improved results with the racquet, collecting his 78th career title in Dubai in February and reaching the final in Indian Wells to move back into the top five of the world rankings.

“I think it (the racquet) just gives me easier power, especially on the first serve,” said Federer. “And I think as time now goes by, I’m getting a better feel for how is the ball going to react, you know, how much spin do I need to put on to stay really accurate and put it really close to the line.

“But then again this wasn’t Andre Agassi on the other side, or Djokovic. It’s just important for me to keep that up and remind myself it’s going well so far.”

In other third round action, Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced in contrasting fashion. The ninth seeded Gasquet had easy passage beating 17th seeded South African Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-4 while 11th seeded Tsonga rallied for a 4-6 7-6(6) 7-5 win over Cypriot wildcard Marcos Baghdatis. Spaniard Tommy Robredo, the 16th seed, advanced with a 63 6-4 win over Frenchman Julien Benneteau. —Reuters

Photo of the day

Travis Pastrana at 100 Acre Wood Rally - Salem 2014.— www.redbull.com

Cavaliers pound Knicks NEW YORK: Jarrett Jack scored a season-high 31 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers won 106-100 in the NBA on Sunday to end the eight-game winning streak of the New York Knicks.

The Knicks wasted a chance to pull within two games of the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Hours after Atlanta blew a fourth-quarter lead in Toronto, the Knicks responded with an inept final period of their own after they led by 17 points in the first half. They couldn’t stop Jack and couldn’t get a basket from Carmelo Anthony, who missed all five shots in the final period and finished with 32 points.

Jack scored 23 in the second half and finished with 10 assists for the Cavaliers, who ended a fourgame losing streak.

SUNS 127, TIMBERWOLVES 120 Markieff Morris scored 25 points off the bench to lead Phoenix to its biggest comeback of the season. Phoenix trailed by 22 in the first half, but shot a season-high 57 percent from the floor to overcome Kevin Love’s 36 points and 14 rebounds. Love fell an assist short of a triple-double and committed a crucial turnover in the final minute.

With the game tied at 118, Love lost the ball in the paint and Eric Bledsoe made a fast-break layup.

Gerald Green, Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker each hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to help the Suns pull within a half-game of Memphis and Dallas for one of the last two playoff spots in the tight Western Conference.

The Suns tied a season high by allowing 41 points in the first quarter and trailed 103-93 heading in the final period, but they outscored the Wolves 34-17 in the fourth. Minnesota, meanwhile, blew its largest lead of the season.

RAPTORS 96, HAWKS 86 Kyle Lowry scored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 13 rebounds as Toronto beat Atlanta. DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points, Greivis Vasquez had 12 and Terrence Ross 10 as the Raptors avoided their first three-game home losing streak since dropping games against Brooklyn, Miami and Denver between Nov. 26 and Dec. 1. Toronto fell in double-overtime to Oklahoma City on Friday and lost to Phoenix last Sunday. Lowry, who had 13 points as Toronto erased an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter, has scored 19 points or more in a career-high nine consecutive games.

DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap each scored 17 as the Hawks lost their second straight following a five-game winning streak. Atlanta failed to win a third straight road game after losing its previous 10 away from home.

NUGGETS 105, WIZARDS 102 Kenneth Faried had 20 points and Aaron Brooks hit four straight free throws in the final 12 seconds, helping injury-riddled Denver hold off Washington.

Randy Foye added 17 for a Nuggets team that was missing J.J. Hickson, who suffered a torn ligament in his right knee Friday. Wilson Chandler also didn’t play (strained left hip) and Jan Vesely didn’t return after bruising his rib cage late in the third quarter.

Bradley Beal scored 21 points as the Wizards wrapped up a four-game Western road swing with a 1-3 record. Trevor Ariza scored 15 of his 18 points in the first quarter and John Wall added 15, but also had eight turnovers.

Hickson was the latest player to be lost by the Nuggets. They were already without Danilo Gallinari (left ACL), JaVale McGee (broken tibia) and Nate Robinson (left ACL), who all have undergone season-ending operations.

NEW YORK: New York Knicks’ Tyson Chandler (6) (second from left) passes the ball during the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. —AP KINGS 124, BUCKS 107 DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 12 rebounds and Isaiah Thomas had 30 points and eight assists in Sacramento’s victory that sent Milwaukee to its seventh straight loss. Cousins made 14 of 19 shots, four of six free throws and added four assists and two steals. The Kings demonstrated early they would not be overlooking the struggling Bucks. Sacramento led by 23 points after one quarter, took a 70-44 lead into halftime, and were ahead by 34 points after three quarters.

Rudy Gay had 24 points and eight rebounds and Ben McLemore scored 15 points for the Kings, who had dropped four of their past five home games against the Bucks. OJ Mayo scored 21 points for Milwaukee.

NETS 107, MAVERICKS 104 Joe Johnson scored 22 points, including the tying layup in regulation and the go-ahead 3pointer in overtime to lead Brooklyn past the Mavericks in Jason Kidd’s return to Dallas as a coach. The Nets swept the two-game season series with Dallas in their first year under Kidd, who spent

unleashed last February and continues to provide runners with a unique Energy Running experience. “BOOST has blazed the trail for Energy Running and reflects adidas’ commitment to strategic performance innovation,” said Eric Liedtke, Adidas head of performance. “As the shoe that helped us introduce BOOST, Energy BOOST demonstrates the elaborate research and cutting edge development required to satisfy today’s Energy Running crave.”

BOOST was developed to remain consistently cushioned and incredibly responsive through sub-zero cold to punishing heat. Testing conducted by the Adidas Innovation Team (aIT) revealed that, when taken from +40 to -20 degrees Celsius, BOOST foam is three times more temperature-resistant than standard EVA material, providing a more consistent run.

The upper of Energy BOOST features Adidas Techfit,

LAKERS 103, MAGIC 94 Jordan Hill had a career-high 28 points along with 13 rebounds in his first start in over nine weeks and Los Angeles sent Orlando to its ninth straight loss. Nick Young scored 26 points off the bench, helping the Lakers end a four-game skid.

Pau Gasol had six points in 18 minutes, and sat out the second half after feeling nauseous and dizzy.

Steve Nash did not play, two days after recording 11 assists in 19 minutes off the bench against Washington. He had missed the previous 15 games because of chronic nerve damage in his back.

Orlando point guard Victor Oladipo had 21 points and 10 assists in his eighth career start. —AP

NBA results/standings Toronto 96, Atlanta 86; Phoenix 127, Minnesota 120; Denver 105, Washington 102; Sacramento 124, Milwaukee 107; Brooklyn 107, Dallas 104 (OT); Cleveland 106, NY Knicks 100; LA Lakers 103, Orlando 94.

Toronto Brooklyn NY Knicks Boston Philadelphia Indiana Chicago Cleveland Detroit Milwaukee Miami Washington Charlotte Atlanta Orlando

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT 39 30 .565 37 31 .544 29 41 .414 23 47 .329 15 55 .214 Central Division 51 19 .729 39 31 .557 27 44 .380 25 44 .362 13 57 .186 Southeast Division 47 21 .691 36 34 .514 34 36 .486 31 37 .456 19 52 .268

Adidas continues to expand its Energy Running Footprint KUWAIT: Inspired by insight and driven by demand, Adidas BOOST cushioning technology delivers the Energy Running solution that today’s runners are chasing.

As they hit the roads, tracks and trails in record numbers, today’s runners are seeking more from their runs and more from their running shoes. To answer the call, Adidas and partner BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, developed BOOST foam cushioning that returns more energy than any other foam cushioning in the running industry. By using thousands of eye-catching energy capsules BOOST has changed running forever.

BOOST technology forges the qualities of performance cushioning and responsiveness that runners were previously forced to choose between. Energy BOOST, the first shoe to feature BOOST technology was

his 41st birthday on the floor where he was essentially the coach at point guard when the Mavericks won the 2011 NBA title.

Marcus Thornton had 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Nets, who won their fourth straight game and beat a Western Conference team for the fifth straight time.

Monta Ellis led Dallas with 32 points, but Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10 on one of his toughest shooting nights of the season.

highly durable elastic polyurethane that provides optimal comfort and support to the entire foot while in motion. The formfitting, breathable mesh material offers the fit of a sock, while engineered powerbands across the upper provide targeted support and stabilization.

Energy BOOST also includes an extended TORSION(R) system from heel to toe which helps minimize roll for stability. This feature works with an external heel counter which maximizes the heel fit and comfort during runs.

On March 1st, Adidas unveiledl the first wave of new Energy BOOST color ways with a second series in March to complement its state-of-the-art Energy Running technology. The new collection of miCoach compatible Energy BOOST color ways will be available at adidas Sport Performance stores.

GB 1.5 10.5 16.5 24.5 12 24.5 25.5 38 12 14 16 29.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 51 18 .739 Portland 45 25 .643 Minnesota 34 34 .500 Denver 32 38 .457 Utah 23 47 .329 Pacific Division LA Clippers 49 21 .700 Golden State 44 27 .620 Phoenix 41 29 .586 Sacramento 25 45 .357 LA Lakers 23 46 .333 Southwest Division San Antonio 53 16 .768 Houston 47 22 .681 Memphis 41 28 .594 Dallas 42 29 .592 New Orleans 29 40 .420

6.5 16.5 19.5 28.5 5.5 8 24 25.5 6 12 12 24

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

S P ORTS

Upbeat Man United plot City derailment

LONDON: Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud reacts during the English Premier League football match in this file photo. —AFP

Wenger wants Arsenal flops to make amends LONDON: Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal flops to make amends for one of the most humiliating defeats of his career when they face Swansea today.

Wenger’s side suffered an embarrassing 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea on Saturday that brutally exposed their claims to be genuine contenders for the Premier League title.

The Gunners boss had hoped to celebrate his 1,000 match in charge of Arsenal with a first victory over Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in a fixture with major implications for the title race.

But instead a day that had the potential to be one of the more memorable of Wenger’s illustrious career ended in a statistical nightmare as Arsenal slumped to their biggest ever defeat against Chelsea and one of the heaviest losses of the Frenchman’s nearly 18-year reign in north London.

Chelsea demolished Arsenal’s fragile defence with three goals inside the first 17 minutes, after which the visitors played with 10 men after the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs in a case of mistaken identity by referee Andre Marriner, who confused the Arsenal left-back with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain following the midfielder’s handball on the goal-line.

Arsenal are now languishing in fourth place, seven points behind leaders Chelsea, and with their morale at a low ebb after a result that Wenger conceded was one of the worst moments of his managerial career.

But Wenger believes the north London team can erase the bitter taste of that loss today when they play their game in hand on Chelsea against Swansea at the Emirates Stadium.

“What is important is to give a response on Tuesday night and that is it. I don’t believe it is the time to talk too much about what went wrong,” Wenger said.

“The players are deeply disappointed as we all are, but now I think let us prepare for

the next game. “We can win the next game, so that is what we have to focus on now and give a strong response.

“We are in a situation now where after such a disappointment that the next game becomes vital.” After losing 5-1 at Liverpool, 6-3 at Manchester City and 6-0 at Chelsea this term, there is a growing belief Arsenal are pretenders rather than serious contenders for the title.

Yet, despite the capitulation at the Bridge, a victory against Garry Monk’s Swansea would close the gap to four points and give Wenger’s men a much-needed morale boost as they try to convince themselves they can overhaul Chelsea.

Arsenal are set to appeal against Gibbs’ red card, with Marriner having already apologised for his mistake and it seems likely Oxlade-Chamberlain will be the one suspended against Swansea.

“The referee made a mistake because he missed the identity of the player, he has not seen what happened at all,” Wenger said.

“Maybe it was a penalty, but it was not Gibbs.”

Meanwhile, Swansea have worries near the foot of the table as they have not won since Monk’s first match in interim charge in early February after the dismissal of Michael Laudrup.

The south Wales club have picked up just five points from six games to leave them just four points above the relegation zone.

And defender Ben Davies accepts they have a hugely significant few days ahead days ahead as they face Arsenal before hosting fellow strugglers Norwich on Saturday. “It is a massive week for us and we definitely need something out of the next two games,” he said. “We cannot afford to let our confidence slip and get into negative ways with everyone feeling sorry for themselves because then we don’t have any chance of winning games. “We’ve got to take it into our own hands.” —AFP

English officials block Cellino bid for Leeds LONDON: Italian businessman Massimo Cellino has been barred from taking over fallen giants Leeds United, the English Football League announced yesterday.

The League said Cellino’s recent conviction for a tax offence in an Italian court was a “disqualifying condition under its owners’ and directors’ test”.

However, the ruling by the Football League, the governing body for the three English divisions below the elite Premier League, leaves second-tier Leeds facing an uncertain future given Cellino has already put more than £2 million ($3.3m, 2.4m euros) into the Yorkshire club.

The league said the decision was taken at a meeting of their board on Sunday following Cellino’s fine for non-payment of Italian duty on a boat imported from the United States.

“Mr Cellino was recently found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a Court in Sardinia of an offence under Italian tax legislation relating to the non-payment of import duties on a boat,” said a Football League statement issued yesterday. “This resulted in a fine of 600,000 euros (£500,800), an order for the payment of trial costs and the confiscation of the boat in question.

“Having fully considered the matter, the board agreed unanimously that the decision of the Italian court does constitute a disqualifying condition under its owners’ and directors’ test.

“The relevant disqualifying condition being that Massimo Cellino has been convicted of an offence involving acts that would reasonably be considered to be dishonest.”

Cellino is entitled to appeal against the league’s decision within 14 days. The statement added: “In such circumstances, the League would seek to expedite the process to deliver certainty to all parties in the shortest possible timeframe.”

Last Tuesday, following Cellino’s conviction by an Italian court, his lawyer said the verdict was “irrelevant” as far as the takeover was concerned.

“According to my point of view, this business has no relevance whatsoever to the decision of the Football League,” Giovanni Cocco told BBC Radio Leeds.

Cellino, the president of Serie A side Cagliari, already had a 2001 conviction for false accounting and is being investigated for alleged misuse of public funds relating to construction work on Cagliari’s Quartu Sant’Elena stadium.

Leeds, one of England’s leading clubs in the early 1970s, are currently 13th in the second tier Championship and a huge 29 points adrift of automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Under manager Don Revie, Leeds were crowned champions of England in 1969 and 1974, as well as winning the 1972 FA Cup. They also lost the 1975 European Cup final to German giants Bayern Munich, by which time Revie had become manager of the England national team.

However, in 1982 Leeds were relegated into the old Second Division but reemerged to win the First Division title again in 1992 — the final season before the creation of the Premier League.

In 200l Leeds reached the semi-finals of the Champions League but a failure to repeat that success allied to heavy spending prompted the financial collapse of the club and a descent into English football’s third tier.

Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates took charge and Leeds gained promotion to the second-tier Championship, where they have been ever since.

Bates, unpopular with Leeds fans over his perceived lack of investment, was eventually sidelined after a takeover by Middle East-based private equity group Gulf Finace House (GFH) in 2012.

In January this year, it was reported Cellino-still to complete the takeover but having agreed a deal with GFH to purchase 75 percent of the club’s shares-had sacked Leeds manager Brian McDermott only for United to confirm days later that McDermott remained in post. —AFP

MANCHESTER: Encouraged by a tentative upturn in fortunes, Manchester United will be aiming to derail Manchester City’s Premier League title surge when the sides meet at Old Trafford in today’s derby. United gave their flatlining season an injection of life by beating Olympiakos last week to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and followed up by winning 2-0 at West Ham United in the league on Saturday. Wayne Rooney scored both goals at West Ham-the first an astonishing lob from near the halfway line-and he says that the 30 win over Olympiakos has helped to lift the mood around the club. “I thought we played some really good stuff, moved the ball well and counter-attacked really well, so we’re really pleased with the win,” he said of the success at Upton Park.

“The Olympiakos game gave us a big lift in confidence and belief as well in ourselves. “This was a good result for us going into the derby, so we’re looking forward to an exciting game and hopefully we’ll get a good result.”

United are 11 points adrift of the Champions League qualifying places, but the consolation of a Europa League berth remains well within their reach.

The prospect of a Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich, meanwhile, has added spice to a season that had appeared to be drifting into oblivion. Rooney’s form over the campaign’s closing weeks will be vital, with strike partner Robin van Persie having been ruled out for up to six weeks after spraining his knee against Olympiakos.

The England striker’s performance against West Ham suggested he is ready to step in for Van Persie at the tip of the United attack, but he was keen to highlight the contribution of attacking midfielder Juan Mata. The Spaniard played alongside Shinji Kagawa in support of Rooney, who is hopeful that the configuration will bear further fruit

Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney in action in this file photo. in the weeks ahead.

“I think it is the first time we’ve probably both played in a more advanced role, together with him up behind,” Rooney said of Mata.

“It worked well. Obviously Juan is a very talented footballer, got a good footballing brain and when he gets in positions, you know as a forward you can make runs and he can see you.”

CHELSEA IN SIGHTS Manuel Pellegrini’s City remain the side most likely to depose Chelsea at the top of the table and the trip to Old Trafford is the first of their three games in hand on Jose Mourinho’s side.

City’s 5-0 demolition of Fulham on Saturday left them six points

behind the London club in third place, with Liverpool two points above them having played two games more.

The League Cup winners therefore remain in control of their own destiny and goalkeeper Joe Hart says the players are not afraid to admit that the title is within their grasp. “The fans, players, and staffeveryone needs to pull each other through if we want to get over the line first,” he said.

“I do think we have the squad to win the league. We can’t get too wrapped up in the away games we still have to play.

“We still have the chance to do something really special and do something this club hasn’t done for 44 years by winning two trophies in

one season.

“So we need to press on and try and create a bit of history.” United hope that Rio Ferdinand will be fit to face City after a back problem forced him to miss the trip to his former club West Ham, obliging Michael Carrick to fill in as an auxiliary centre-back.

City remain without leading scorer Sergio Aguero due to a hamstring complaint, but captain Vincent Kompany is back in contention after missing the Fulham game through suspension.

City have won on their last two visits to Old Trafford and inflicted a demoralising 4-1 defeat upon United when the teams last met at the Etihad Stadium in September. —AFP

Everton face testing week NEWCASTLE: Roberto Martinez insists Everton are up to the challenge of a testing week that could prove pivotal to their outside hopes of overhauling Arsenal for the final Champions League place in the Premier League.

Victory over Swansea City saw the Goodison Park club close the gap to the fourth-place Gunners to eight points, with a game in hand.

Arsene Wenger’s team are still to visit the blue half of Merseyside before the end of the campaign, their deficiencies laid bare in the 60 humiliation they suffered in a London derby defeat at Chelsea.

With nine games remaining, Everton manager Martinez wisely refuses to add any extra pressure by talking-up the Toffees’ chances of an unlikely tilt at claiming fourth spot in May. But the Spaniard is confident that in the wake of victory over the Swans, his squad can meet the physical challenge of three games in nine days, which sees them visit Newcastle United on Tuesday and Fulham on Sunday in a crucial run of fixtures.

Looking further ahead, Arsenal travel to Goodison Park on April 6, and Martinez said: “It’s really exciting. You want to play games and we have got a squad that is ready.

“I think the team is ready now to play games in a short space of time. Physically we have got good numbers and good options.

There are plenty of leaders in that dressing room. “We need to use them well but to be successful in this period is to take every day as

it comes and every game on its merits.”

Newcastle, who were beaten 3-2 by Martinez’s side back in September, are on course to comfortably achieve their aim of a top half finish.

A late winner from Papiss Cisse against Crystal Palace at the weekend made it three victories from their last four games as they aim to end the season on a high. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who serves the last of a three-game stadium ban imposed for headbutting Hull City’s Republic of Ireland midfielder David Meyler earlier this month, will again be absent.

Newcastle are also without injured French duo Loic Remy, their 13-goal top scorer, and Mathieu Debuchy, the defender as they seek victory over Everton for the first time since the end of 2011.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Remy’s compatriot, said: “First and foremost, we want to stay in the top 10 for the rest of the season, and we’ll do that by regularly picking up points.

“The last six weeks of the season are all about playing well, earning points and seeing where that takes us in the table.” Pardew will be free to see his side in person once again when they travel to Southampton at the weekend. Following Everton’s visit, the remaining four games of his punishment is a touchline ban. The repentant Newcastle manager said: “The sanction I’ve been given is tough, but it’s one that I’ve had to accept.” —AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

English Premier League Man United v Man City beIN SPORTS 1 beIN SPORTS 1 HD Arsenal v Swansea beIN SPORTS 4 beIN SPORTS 4 HD Newcastle v Everton beIN SPORTS 5 beIN SPORTS 5 HD

22:45

22:45

22:45

Italian Calcio League AS Roma v Torino beIN SPORTS 3 beIN SPORTS 3 HD

22:45

Spanish League Almeria v Sociedad beIN SPORTS 2 beIN SPORTS 2 HD Malaga v Espanyol beIN SPORTS 6 beIN SPORTS 6 HD

0:00

22:00

CALELLA: Slovenian rider Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) celebrates his victory on the podium of the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia cycling race. —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

S P ORTS

Cheerleaders spring to life ahead of NFL season BALTIMORE: It’s Saturday morning in a cavernous Baltimore gym where 200 or so young women and men are hard at work polishing their basket tosses, backflips and dance moves.

The start of the American football season is five months away, but the Baltimore Ravens are wasting no time selecting the only co-ed cheerleading squad in the National Football League (NFL).

“I’ve been working all year for this,” said Ali Tripple, 24, taking a break from rehearsing an eight-step dance routine set to rapper Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty to Me” that she’ll soon be per forming before a stern panel of judges.

“It’s my ultimate dream,” added the tall blonde elementary school teacher and dance instructor, kitted out like her fellow female hopefuls in a bright sports bra and tight black shorts.

If that dream comes true, it’ll require a commitment to turn up for each and every Ravens game in front of 71,000 fans, plus three-hour practice sessions twice a week, a three-day training camp and community appearances.

Oh, and a week in Jamaica to shoot a

swimsuit calendar-on top of holding down a day job or attending college fulltime.

“Talent, beauty, fitness.... We’re looking for a well-rounded participant and we usually get that,” Ravens cheerleading coach Tina Galdieri told AFP before taking her place on the 10-member panel of judges. It’s just not rookies at the tryouts, either.

In black T-shirts with glittering Ravens logos are veterans who must prove, every year, that they’re still worthy of a place in the squad. “ There are girls here in fantastic shape who are ready to take your spot.

It makes you really work harder,” said Stephanie B., a petite stunt specialist who, like some of her peers, opts not to give her full name out of privacy concerns. There’s no weight or age limit-the oldest NFL cheerleader is in her 40s but rules are strict: across the league, there’s no slack for tardiness, good grooming is mandatory, and fraternizing with players verboten.

ALL-AMERICAN SIZZLE Cheerleading is a classic all-American

endeavor, conceived in the late 1800s to whip up spectator enthusiasm at college football games in shivering fall weather.

In its infancy, it was a strictly male preserve-presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, and Frank lin D. Roosevelt were all cheerleaders-before women took up pom poms in big numbers in the 1940s.

It veered towards glamour in the 1970s when the Dallas Cowboys famously put its cheerleaders in skimpier outfits and drafted a Broadway choreographer to inject more sizzle into their half-time gridiron moves.

Cheerleading today has an global dimension, with its own governing body, the 105-nation International Cheer Federation, hosting world championships in Florida on April 21-25.

“Because it ’s a quintessential American thing and it has this aura of innocence about it, it’s something people from other countries can love about America that’s non-political and sor t of pure,” said Mandy May Cheetham, a Canadian in Los Angeles who’s trained cheerleaders in China and Finland.

The Ravens, two-time Super Bowl champions, are unique in that its 50strong squad includes 16 to 18 men who literally play a supporting role hoisting aloft their female stunt counterparts with the palms of their hands.

Their repertoire also features the basket toss, in which four men launch 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of cheerleader into the air to perform a spin or a toe touch before falling back into their collective arms. “We do a lot of weight training,” concedes Deon J., 28, a high school science teacher by day who’s looking forward to a sixth year with the Ravens. “It’s usually easier for the stock ier guys-and I’m not that stocky.” Nobody does it for the money, even if the Ravens since last year have been paying its cheerleaders better than Mar yland’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour for everything from practices to game appearances.

Some NFL teams pay as little as $90 per game, and nothing for practices, prompting cheerleaders at the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year to file class action lawsuits in a bid for better pay.

(The NFL is the most lucrative pro sports league in the world, according to Forbes business magazine. Its 32 teams are worth, on average, $1.17 billion each, thanks in no small part to the sale of network television rights.)

“I definitely think they could get paid more,” said Stephanie Prosenjak, a former Denver Broncos cheerleader whose dance school in Colorado offers a specialist class in cheerleading that draws about 50 students. “However, all dancers are underpaid-we’re talking professional ballerinas and dancers in LA who are out on tour” with big-name pop singers,” she told AFP by tele phone.

That doesn’t faze Aia Evans, 23, as she emerges from her four minutes in front of the judges showing off her standing tuck and ground-up, keen for a Ravens berth even if it means pulling up roots in New Orleans and relocating to Baltimore. “It’s a great opportunity to stunt,” the one-time gymnast said, before going back to the basketball court turned rehearsal studio to work ever harder on her professional cheerleader dreams. —AFP

Barca opens up title race

ITALY: Juventus’ Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez reacts after missing a shot during the Italian Serie A football match against Catania. —AFP

Conte wary despite Juve’s title charge MILAN: Juventus host Europa League chasers Parma tomorrow in the first of two Serie A games this week that could see the champions move closer to a record-setting third consecutive scudetto.

Antonio Conte’s side had Carlos Tevez’s strike to thank for a fiery 1-0 win away to 10-man Catania on Sunday which restored the Bianconeri’s 14-point lead on Roma.

But with Juve still in contention for this season’s Europa League title-they face Lyon over two quarter-final legs on April 3 and 10 — and a difficult trip to Napoli on the horizon on Sunday, Conte remains on tenterhooks. Juventus are aiming to become the first Italian side to win the scudetto with at least 100 points and although Roma are a distant 14 points off the pace with a game in hand, Conte is wary of how their endeavours in Europe could affect their scudetto push.

“We’ve taken another step forward, but compliments to Roma. They’re having an incredible season,” said Conte. “Being in the Europa League means we will be playing every three days and Roma have shown they’ll keep fighting until the end, so we have to remain vigilant.”

With nine games remaining, Juve sit top on 78 points, 14 ahead of Roma and 20 ahead of Napoli, whose bid for the runnersup spot and the second automatic Champions League place suffered a setback in a 1-0 home defeat to Fiorentina.

Having pushed Juve all the way, Catania welcome Napoli on Wednesday hoping to reproduce a similar fighting spirit as they continue their fight to beat the drop. The Sicilians are rock bottom but only four points from the safety zone.

But Napoli, reduced to 10 men on Sunday when Faouzi Ghoulam was sent off on 37 minutes, will be desperate to get back to winning ways after defeat to Fiorentina left them six points behind Roma and only seven ahead of La Viola.

Coach Rafael Benitez remained defiant.

“Even though we’re now six points behind Roma, I still believe we can do well enough to challenge them,” said Benitez.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, will host Milan brimming with optimism and confidence after what coach Vincenzo Montella hailed as “an extremely positive day for us”.

But despite an overall positive performance which has restored La Viola’s dream of a third-place finish and next season’s Champions League, Fiorentina are likely to be without Mario Gomez after the German striker hobbled off with a sore left knee on Sunday.

Gomez only recently returned from injury but could be sidelined for several weeks, meaning he would also miss Sunday’s trip to Sampdoria.

Ailing Milan will travel to Florence with the tag of underdogs despite showing signs of improvement in a 1-1 draw away to Lazio on Sunday when coach Clarence Seedorf left Mario Balotelli on the bench in place of Giampaolo Pazzini.

Balotelli did not appear until the 54th minute when he replaced Japanese international forward Keisuke Honda. Amid what is one of Milan’s worst seasons of the modern era, Seedorf admitted he is happy to forego a beautiful game for collecting as many points as possible. The Rossoneri have dropped to 12th, and are now 32 points behind Juventus and 11 off Parma who sit fifth in the first available Europa League spot. “We always try to perform well but right now the priority is to be a solid and effective unit and to try to limit the scoring opportunities of our opponents,” said Seedorf.

Roma kick off the midweek fixtures when they host Torino on Tuesday while Inter, whose Europa League qualifying hopes suffered a setback in a 2-1 home reverse to Atalanta on Sunday, host Udinese at the San Siro on Thursday.—AFP

MADRID: La Liga is set for one of the most exciting finishes in years after Barcelona blew the title race wide open with a win at Real Madrid in Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ that left Atletico Madrid the masters of their own destiny.

Not since Real and Barca finished tied on 76 points in 2006-07, with Real crowned champions by virtue of a superior head-to-head record, and Sevilla stayed in the hunt down to the wire has there been such a close three-way fight for the title.

Barca’s 4-3 victory at the Bernabeu means Real and Atletico both have 70 points with nine games left, with champions Barca, chasing a fifth La Liga crown in six years, a point behind.

Atletico’s impressive achievements under Argentine coach Diego Simeone have shaken up a league increasingly dominated by Barca and Real, the world’s richest clubs by income.

Atletico have about a fifth of their wealthier rivals’ resources but the inspirational Simeone has managed to mould his unfancied squad into genuine contenders in Spain and on the European stage.

If they finish level on points with Real, Atletico will win the title, their first since 1996 when Simeone was a player there, as they have a better head-to-head record thanks to this month’s 2-2 draw at the Calderon and a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in September.

Likewise, Barca have a superior head-to-head over Real after beating them 2-1 at the Nou Camp in October, the last time the Madrid club lost before Sunday.

Atletico and Barca drew 0-0 at the Calderon in Madrid in January and play each other at the Nou Camp on the final day in what could turn out to be a nail-biting climax to the campaign.

In the next round of matches, Real face a

potentially tricky game at Sevilla tomorrow, when Barca host Celta Vigo and Atletico are at home to Granada.

“The league is starting again from scratch and we are back in the battle for the title,” Barca coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference after his side’s success at Real, the Madrid club’s first defeat in 32 matches in all competitions.

“I always thought the three teams would be up there until the end and that’s how it has turned out,” added the Argentine. “Today was our last chance and we did not want to be knocked out of the race.” A win for Real on Sunday would have restored their three-point lead over Atletico and all-but killed off Barca’s challenge but instead they are licking their wounds after suffering only their second home defeat this term.

Captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in the 63rd minute for tripping Neymar when he was through on goal and the centre back and his team mates criticised referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco, suggesting he had not been entirely objective.

KEY MATCH However, coach Carlo Ancelotti, like Martino in his first season in Spain, refused to be drawn into the debate and urged his players to focus on regrouping for the Sevilla game.

“Now we need to forget this match and think about the one tomorrow, which could be a key match for the season,” the Italian told a news conference.

“Luck was not with us but the team showed good physical condition and we are hopeful and capable of quickly putting this game behind us.

“I have said many times that this league is open until the final day. We are not happy because we

Blunder referee Marriner escapes EPL demotion

Nott Forest sack manager Davies LONDON: Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Billy Davies, the English secondtier club announced yesterday. The Scot’s second spell in charge of the Midlands side came following a poor run of results and a reported breakdown in his relationship with the club’s owner, Fawaz Al Hasawi.

Saturday’s 5-0 defeat by arch-rivals Derby County saw Forest’s run without a win extended to eight matches-a sequence which saw the club knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Sheffield United and drop out of the Championship play-off places as they try to return to the Premier League.

“Nottingham Forest Football Club have confirmed the termination of manager Billy Davies’ employment,” said a statement on the club’s website posted Monday.

“The club thank Mr Davies for his efforts during his second spell as manager since his re-appointment in February 2013 and wish him well for the future.

“Nottingham Forest will make a further

announcement in due course.” British media reports on Monday linked veteran English manager Neil Warnock with the vacancy at the City Ground.

The 65-year-old has been out of management since leaving fellow Championship side Leeds in April last year.

Davies returned to Forest in February 2013, having twice taken the team to the Championship play-offs in his first spell in charge before falling out of favour with then-owner Nigel Doughty. Forest enjoyed remarkable success under the late Brian Clough, being crowned champions of England in 1978 and winning back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

But the celebrated English manager’s final season in charge saw Forest relegated from the Premier League in 1993. They were back among the elite from 1999 to 2004 but dropped down to third-tier League One before being promoted to the Championship in 2008. —AFP

SPAIN: Barcelona’s midfielder Sergio Busquets steps on the head of Real Madrid’s Portuguese defender Pepe (left) during the Spanish League ‘Clasico’ football match on March 23. —AFP missed a good opportunity but not to worry.

“There are nine games left and it will be very intense for everyone. The league is open for the three teams and each match could be decisive.”—Reuters

LONDON: Arsenal’s English defender Kieran Gibbs reacts after being sent off by referee Andre Marriner during the English Premier League football match against Chelsea. —AFP

LONDON: Referee Andre Marriner was spared demotion from the Premier League list for his mistaken identity blunder at Stamford Bridge when it was announced yesterday he would be in charge of the match between Southampton and Newcastle at St Mary’s on Saturday.

In the midst of Premier League leaders Chelsea’s 6-0 thrashing of London rivals Arsenal last Saturday, Marriner sent off the Gunners’ Kieran Gibbs for handling a goal-bound shot on the line when it was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had committed the infringement.

Eden Hazard duly put Chelsea 3-0 ahead from the ensuing penalty.

Marriner later apologised for his error, which led victorious Blues manager Jose Mourinho to re-iterate his plea for officials to be given access to video technology.

However, that cut little ice with Clive Thomas, one of British football’s most respected referees. It may be more 30 years since the 77year-old Welshman, nicknamed ‘The Book’ for his strict adherence to football’s rules last controlled a senior match, but Thomas was in no doubt that Marriner and his linesmen should all face a lengthy ban.

“It was the most disgusting, shocking decision I’ve seen,” Thomas told the BBC before Marriner was appointed to the St Mary’s fixture.

“In my opinion these four wouldn’t officiate another Premier League game this season,” added Thomas. However, Dermot Gallagher-a more recently retired referee-disagreed with Thomas and said a lengthy ban was the last thing the 43-year-old Marriner needed.

“I can’t see how that would do Andre any good,” Gallagher told the BBC. “You’ve got one of the leading referees in not only England but in Europe, and you’re going to stand him down? That doesn’t do the Premier League any good because he is a top top-flight referee-he’s made one mistake and his confidence would be shattered if that happened,” added Gallagher, also speaking before Marriner’s latest appointment was confirmed.

In a statement released after the game, Professional Game Match Officials Limited said: “Andre is an experienced referee and is obviously disappointed that an error of mistaken identity was made in this case...He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made aware of the issue.”

Marriner was in charge when Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0 in last year’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

And Roberto Martinez, Wigan boss that day but now the manager of Everton, came to the West Midlands referee’s defence while distancing himself from Mourinho’s plea for officials to be given greater technological help.

“I think goal-line technology was a really important breakthrough but from that point on I think we need to allow referees to do their job,” Martinez said. “Andre Marriner has incredible experience and it was one of those situations that happens in football. “Errors are part of the game and there will be errors, misjudgments and mistakes but that is part of football and you need to accept it because that is what makes football what it is,” the Spaniard added. Marriner won’t be the only one in the spotlight at Southampton’s St Mary’s ground this weekend as Saturday’s match is also set to see the return of Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, with the Magpies boss now having served his threegame stadium ban for headbutting Hull’s David Meyler.—AFP

Webb bags Founders Cup

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Blunder referee Marriner escapes EPL demotion

19

15

Upbeat Man United plot City derailment

Page 18

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka cricketers celebrate the final wicket of the Netherlands during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament cricket match against Netherlands. — AFP

Sri Lanka crush Netherlands Dhoni backs Yuvraj to hit T-20 form MIRPUR: As he took off his helmet, tucked his bat under his arm and trudged back to the pavilion after a 19-ball struggle in the World Twenty20 on Sunday, Yuvraj Singh looked a shadow of the talismanic all-rounder who delivered two World Cups for India.

The dashing southpaw hitting England fast bowler Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over remains the defining moment of India’s victory in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007.

His player-of-the-tournament performance helped India win the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai four years later, and he showed his battling qualities off the pitch too by overcoming a cancerous lung condition. But it has not all been plain sailing.

Yuvraj, who has been dumped from India’s one-day side, managed just one run and conceded 13 off his only over in India’s opening World Twenty20 match against Pakistan.

And it was another forgettable outing on Sunday against defending champions West Indies. He dropped explosive opener Chris Gayle in the deep and was not even required to bowl his left-arm spin, a weapon which proved crucial in India’s 50-over World Cup victory in 2011.

When he came in to bat, Yuvraj struggled to middle the ball and was dismissed after a laboured 10. Needing five runs from two overs with eight wickets in hand, India eventually won with two balls to spare. Fortunately for Yuvraj, India won both matches with ease and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is willing to be patient with him.

“Yuvraj is perhaps the best player in Twenty20. You can say he’s not in his rhythm but it’s always tough after you’ve been dropped from ODI side and return in Twenty20,” Dhoni said after the victory against defending champions West Indies.

“There is invariably some pressure on an individual returning to the side. It takes a couple of games at least.

“We are only hoping that he gets a good match. We all know the kind of match winner he is. He can really turn the game around on his own.” — Reuters

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka crushed minnows The Netherlands by nine wickets after bowling their opponents out for the lowest-ever Twenty20 international total of 39 in Chittagong yesterday.

Ajantha Mendis took 3-12, Angelo Mathews grabbed 3-16 and Lasith Malinga grabbed 2-5, as the Netherlands suffered ignominy in their opening Group One Super10 match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Sri Lanka knocked off the target in just five overs for the loss of Kusal Perera for 14 — the biggest margin in terms of balls spared, 90 in this case.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was 12 not out and Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 11 as Sri Lanka had to hardly sweat for their second win in as many games after beating South Africa by five runs on Saturday.

It was a big embarrassment for the Netherlands, who made themselves proud for being the only Associate side to qualify for the Super-10 stage after their remarkable win over higher-ranked Ireland.

They were shot out in just 10.3 overs after Sri Lanka sent them in to bat on a flat batting pitch. Amidst the shambles, Tom Copper was the only batsman who reached double figures with 16, and his brother Ben Copper made eight while the rest flopped.

The previous lowest total in a Twenty20 international was 56 made by Kenya against Afghanistan at Sharjah in 2013. Five batsmen failed to score as the Netherlands, who qualified after beating Ireland in a high-scoring run-chase in the first round, were left embarrassed in their first big test.

Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal said Mathews did the initial damage. “Angelo gave a good start and Malinga and Ajantha finished it off. I am very happy. We won’t be underestimating any team,” said Chandimal.

The Dutch captain said his players were embarrassed. “We let a few people down. It

SCOREBOARD CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Scoreboard of the Group one Super-10 World Twenty20 match between South Africa and New Zealand in Chittagong yesterday.

South Africa New Zealand Q. de Kock c Ronchi b Mills 4 M. Guptill c de Kock b A. Morkel 22 Hashim Amla c and b Anderson 41 K. Williamson c de Villiers b Steyn 51 Faf du Plessis c N. McCullum b Southee 13 B. McCullum st de Kock b Tahir 4 AB de Villiers b N. McCullum 5 R. Taylor run out 62 JP Duminy not out 86 C. Munro c Amla b Tahir 7 D. Miller c and b Anderson 6 C. Anderson c Miller b Steyn 7 A. Morkel b Southee 13 L. Ronchi c de Kock b Steyn 5 D. Steyn not out 1 N. McCullum c du Plessis b Steyn 4 Extras: (w1) 1 T. Southee not out 0 Total: (for six wkts; 20 overs) 170 Extras: (lb2, w4) 6 Did not bat: M. Morkel, Imran Tahir, L. Total: (for eight wkts; 20 overs) 168 Tsotsobe.

Did not bat: K. Mills, M. McClenaghan.

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (de Kock), 2-32 (du Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Guptill), 2-66 (B. Plessis), 3-42 (de Villiers), 4-97 (Amla), 5-131 McCullum), 3-117 ( Williamson), 4-140 (Miller), 6-159 (A. Morkel).

(Munro), 5-148 (Anderson), 6-164 (Ronchi), 7-168 (N. McCUllum), 8-168 (Taylor).

Bowling: Mills 4-0-29-1, McClenaghan 4-0- Bowling: Duminy 3-0-30-0, Tsotsobe 4-0-2930-0 (1w), Southee 4-0-46-2, N. 0 (1w), Steyn 4-0-17-4, M. Morkel 3-0-50-0 McCullum 4-0-24-1, Anderson 3-0-28-2, (1w), A. Morkel 2-0-13-1, Tahir 4-0-27-2 (2w).

Williamson 1-0-13-0 Result: South Africa win by two runs

was just us representing the Associates and we’ve got to do a lot better,” said Borren.

“Everything was a bit of a rush. It’s not the first time the top-order has played at this level and it’s not been this bad,” he said.

“It was always going to be a struggle for the lower order against Mendis and Malinga.

The guys up in the dressing room are very embarrassed and hopefully we can show you guys in the next few games of what we can really do,” Borren said.

Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara struck with the third ball of the match when he dismissed Stephan Myburgh, Netherlands’ hero in the match against Ireland with 63, to give a fright to the Netherlands.

Mathews then dismissed Michael Swart and Wesley Barresi in the second over to leave the Netherlands reeling at 1-3.

Skipper Peter Borren followed in Mathews’s next over for nought before the Cooper brothers took the score to 25. The Netherlands lost the their last six wickets for just 14 runs. Netherlands’s previous lowest Twenty20 total was the 86 they made against Ireland at Dublin in 2010.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is banking on his spinners to pull off an upset win over defending champion West Indies in the World Twenty20 today.

“We know their strengths and weaknesses and if the wicket helps the spinners, we obviously have a plan,” Rahim said yesterday.

“Anyone can win in Twenty20 cricket and if we play to potential and execute our plans there is every chance that we’ll win tomorrow and we’re looking forward to that.”

The West Indian batsmen were made to struggle by Indian slow bowlers on Sunday with leg-spinner Amit Mishra continuing his fine form with a spell of 2-18 that helped control the game and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja supporting him with 3-48. — Agencies

SCOREBOARD CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Scoreboard of the Group One World Twenty20 Super-10 stage match between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium yesterday.

(Bukhari), 9-39 (Seelaar) The Netherlands Bowling: Kulasekara 2-2-0-1, Mathews 4-0S. Myburgh c Malinga b Kulasekara 0 16-3, Malinga 2-0-5-2, Mendis 2.3-0-12-3 M. Swart c Sangakkara b Mathews 0 W. Barresi c Chandimal b Mathews 1 Sri Lanka T. Cooper lbw b Mendis 16 K. Perera c Swart b Jamil 14 P. Borren lbw b Mathews 0 T. Dilshan not out 12 B. Cooper run out 8 M. Jayawardene not out 11 Mudassar Bukhari b Malinga 4 Extras: (nb1, w2) 3 L. van Beek b Malinga 1 Total: (for one wkt; 5 overs) 40 P. Seelaar c Mathews b Mendis 3 Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Perera) T. Gugten not out 0 Did not bat: K. Sangakkara, D. Chandimal, A. Ahsan Jamil lbw b Mendis 0 Mathews, T. Perera, N. Kulasekara, S. Extras: (lb6) 6 Senanayake, B. Mendis, L. Malinga Total: (all out; 10.3 overs) 39 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Myburgh), 2-1 (Swart), 3- Bowling: Van der Gugten 3-0-22-0 (1nb, 1w), 1 (Baresi), 4-9 (Borren), 5-25 (B. Cooper), 6- Jamil 2-0-18-1 (1w) 33 ( T. Cooper), 7-36 (van Beek), 8-39 Result: Sri Lanka won by nine wickets.

Duminy, Steyn star in SA win over New Zealand CHITTAGONG: Jean-Paul Duminy hit a fighting half-century and Dale Steyn took four wickets as South Africa recorded a thrilling two-run win over New Zealand at the World Twenty20 in Chittagong yesterday.

Duminy notched a 43-ball 86 to lift South Africa to 170-6, before Dale Steyn successfully defended seven runs in the final over to help the team win their first match in Group One of the Super-10 stage.

With three runs needed off the last delivery, Ross Taylor, who made 62, played straight into the hands of Steyn, who ran him out at the non-striker end to spark a South African celebration at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

New Zealand finished at 168-2 in their 20 overs. It was a much-needed win for South Africa, who lost their opening match to Sri Lanka by five runs on Saturday. Faf du Plessis praised destructive Steyn.

“I was thinking all the time, Steyn is my trump card,” said du Plessis. “I need to bring him back in

the game. Fantastic effort from him.” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum admitted winning in the final over was difficult.

“Credit to South Africa for the way they hung in there, we probably should have won it easily, can’t take it to the final over against a top bowler like Steyn. Little bit of luck and we’d have got across the line,” said McCullum.

Opener Kane Williamson (51) and Martin Guptill (22) put New Zealand on the right path for the chase with a brisk 57 for the opening wicket.

Williamson, who hit five fours and two sixes off 35 balls, added another 51 for the third wicket with Taylor after McCullum was out for just four.

Taylor, whose runs came off 37 balls with four boundaries, smashed three sixes off one Morne Morkel over to bring New Zealand within 37 runs to get in the last five overs.

Steyn conceded just eight in the 18th over, and had Corey Anderson caught for his 50th Twenty20 wicket, then wrapped up the match in his next over.

Earlier, Duminy hit ten boundaries and three sixes while Hashim Amla made a resolute 41 to guide South African, who were put in to bat.

South Africa’s start wasn’t ideal as they lost opener Quinton de Kock (four), du Plessis (13) and AB de Villiers (five) inside seven overs with the score at 42.

It was Amla and Duminy who steadied the innings during their 55-run fourth wicket stand to give some respectability to the total.

Amla was finally out in the 14th over, as his drive hit the non-striker batsman Duminy’s bat and looped in the air for Anderson to take the catch off his own bowling.

Anderson was the best New Zealand bowler with 2-28. South Africa were lucky to get their captain du Plessis back after he missed the first match.

He replaced Farhaan Behardien in the team, while New Zealand remained unchanged from the side which beat England via Duckworth-Lewis method.—AFP

Business

Tunisia cuts 2014 growth forecast to 2.8% Page 22 China slams ‘NSA spying’ on tech giant Huawei Page 23

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

KOGAS, Japan firm buy gas together

The new 2014 Dodge Durango

Page 25

Page 26

SEVASTPOL: People wait in a queue outside a branch of Russia’s Sberbank in the Crimean city of Sevastpol yesterday. The ruble entered force yesterday as Crimea’s official currency as Russia seized complete control of the peninsula, but businesses were still dealing mainly in the Ukrainian hryvnia. —AFP

China brakes as euro-zone gears up French business activity returns to growth LONDON: China’s huge manufacturing engine stuttered in the early part of 2014 while a return to growth in French business activity this month suggested a solid, broad-based recovery was taking shape in the euro-zone, surveys showed.

Weaker-than-expected readings from China pointed to a contraction in the first three months of the year and will raise market expectations of government stimulus to arrest a loss of momentum in the world’s second-largest economy. “It tells you something about the extent to which market concerns about a slowdown in China are justified,” said Peter Dixon at Commerzbank. “In the euro zone, the economy is bowling along at a reasonable pace.”

A solid expansion in both the euro zone’s manufacturing and services industries in March, and growth in its secondbiggest economy France, meant the bloc’s recover y pace barely slowed from February’s 2-1/2-year high. But the threat of deflation in the region was highlighted by surveyed firms’ increasing willingness to cut prices to attract customers.

Data due later from the United States is

expected to show manufacturing growth in the world’s top economy eased this month from February’s near four-year record high. China’s flash Markit/HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to an eight-month low of 48.1 in March from February’s final reading of 48.5. The index has been below 50 since January, indicating a contraction in the sector this year.

Output and new orders both weakened but new export orders grew for the first time in four months, the survey showed, suggesting the slowdown has been driven primarily by weak domestic demand.

“Usually, for the month of March, the PMI will rebound, because after Chinese New Year, there should be some activity coming back, but this PMI is disappointing,” said Wei Yao, China economist at Societe Generale in Hong Kong. “The government probably will have to provide some supporting measures.” Earlier this month, sources told Reuters the central bank in Beijing was prepared to loosen monetary policy in order to keep the economy growing at 7.5 percent. Last year, China’s economy grew 7.7 percent, the same pace as in 2012. Premier Li Keqiang

said last week investment and construction plans would be accelerated to ensure domestic demand expands at a stable rate.

Further signs of a slowdown in China pushed European shares lower yesterday, although robust data from France and Germany limited their decline.

Building bloc The euro-zone’s composite PMI, which is seen as a good growth indicator, edged down to 53.2 from February’s 32-month high but Markit said it indicated a 0.5 percent economic expansion this quarter, stronger than the 0.3 percent predicted in a Reuters poll earlier this month.

Having lagged the recovery in much of the euro zone in recent months, France’s index surged through the 50-point threshold to reach its highest level since August 2011, while German composite figures showed growth slowed from February’s 33-month high but remained strong.

“The best news in March saw manufacturing and services output not only return to growth in France but expand at the fastest rate for 31 months. Meanwhile, German expansion was pretty robust,” said

Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight.

But worryingly for policymakers, firms have discounted prices to drum up business for two years now - and they did so in March at a steeper rate than last month.

Inflation across the currency union was just 0.7 percent in February, well below the European Central Bank’s 2 percent target ceiling, and the latest PMI will do little to allay fears of deflation in the region. A significant number of economists have doubts about the ECB’s view that deflation is not a threat and that the recovery will take hold without any more policy action.

Finland’s central bank said yesterday inflation in the bloc could stay low for longer than previously thought, potentially making it harder to rebalance the economy.

The ECB has little room to manoeuvre, having already slashed its main interest rate to near zero and given more than 1 trillion euros of cheap cash to banks for a three-year period, and it held policy steady when it met earlier this month. “The further signs of recovery will encourage the ECB in refraining from further monetary easing, at least in the short term,” said Martin van Vliet at ING.— Reuters

Kuwait’s Agility profit rises 37%

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew speaks on US finances and the international economy at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. Lew will undergo surgery today in New York to treat a benign enlarged prostate. Lew, 58, has served as treasury secretary for the past year after replacing Timothy Geithner in early 2013. — AFP

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti company Agility, the largest logistics group in the Gulf Arab region, reported a 37 percent rise in full-year net profit yesterday and raised its dividend.

Net profit in 2013 was 46.2 million dinars ($164.1 million) compared to 33.7 million dinars a year earlier. The filing did not give a quarterly breakdown of earnings. Reuters calculations based on previous financial statements indicated profit was KD12.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Agility initially reported a net profit of KD9.65 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, but it said yesterday that it had restated 2012 earnings, without giving details. The company’s board recommended a cash dividend of 40 percent and 5 percent bonus shares, the filing said.

This compared to 30 percent cash and 5 percent bonus shares for 2012.

In the fourth quarter, the company signed two deals worth $200 million each covering periods of several years. It reshuffled its management in January to comply with new company regulations in Kuwait.

“Agility is continuing to gain strong ground.

We will continue to grow along two main

fronts. One, by improving performance in the core Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business through technology-driven transformation, ongoing focus on global accounts and field sales, and maintaining financial discipline. Two, by growing the individual companies within our Infrastructure portfolio, expanding their geographic reach, and diversifying their customer base,” Agility’s CEO Tarek Sultan was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Our diversified business model allows us to hedge risk and take advantage of niche market segments in emerging markets, while making steady progress in improving our underlying business,” he said.

Revenue for Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) for the full year 2013 was KD 1.13 billion, a decrease of 4.5 percent from FY 2012, he added. Earlier, sultan remarked EBITDA stands at KD 94.0 million, a 19 percent increase from the year before, he said, adding that Agility revenues for the FY 2013 are KD 1.37 billion, a decrease of 3 percent from KD 1.4 billion in the same period in 2012. Agility’s net revenues increased by 4.4 percent over the same period, he concluded. — Agencies

Dubai ends rally; Bahrain slumps MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Dubai’s bourse ended a six-day rally yesterday as retail investors took profits, while banks dragged down Bahrain after a merger in the sector fell apart. The rest of the region was mixed.

The main Dubai market index opened higher but then moved into the red as heavyweight Emaar Properties slid 0.8 percent in low-volume trading.

Other property-related names and small-cap stocks favored by retail investors followed suit, and the index closed down 0.7 percent. Some of Dubai’s real estate names were still in the black, however; Union Properties rose 1.0 percent and Deyaar gained 0.8 percent.

Abu Dhabi’s bourse closed up 0.2 percent thanks to blue chips such as National Bank of Abu Dhabi, which added 1.8 percent. Bank of Sharjah dropped 6.6 percent after going ex-dividend.

Bahrain banks Bahrain’s bourse was the Gulf’s biggest loser yesterday, shedding 1.4 percent. Khaleeji Commercial Bank fell 2.0 percent after the lender and unlisted Bank Al Khair failed to agree on the terms of a merger and dropped the plan. The central bank has been encouraging mergers to help the sector recover from a real estate crash and political unrest that erupted in 2011.

Arab Banking Corp plunged its daily limit of 10 percent as it went ex-dividend. It jumped its daily limit for five straight sessions earlier this month in anticipation of its 5 US cents a share dividend.

“This is the first time since 2007 that the bank distributes a cash dividend. The movement in the stock over the last few weeks reflects market expectations regarding this dividend,” brokerage Mubasher said in an email. Meanwhile Qatar’s bourse slid 0.7 percent, down for a fourth straight session. Local individual investors and institutions as well as foreign retail investors were all net sellers on Monday; foreign institutions were buying.

Kuwait’s Agility, the largest logistics group in the Gulf Arab region, surged 7.4 percent after the company reported a 37 percent rise in 2013 net profit and proposed a higher cash dividend of 40 fils per share plus 5 percent bonus shares. It was the third most heavily traded stock in Kuwait. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

BUSINESS

China growth on track, no need for stimulus: ADB Urbanization, consumption to support growth BEIJING: China’s economy may still grow around 7.5 percent this year despite signs of a slowdown, and there is no immediate need for the government to roll out fresh stimulus measures, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao said yesterday.

Nakao, former Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs, told Reuters he expects China’s annual economic growth to be still roughly in line with the government’s target, although there may be “ups and downs”.

ADB is revising its forecast on China’s growth for 2014, currently at 7.5 percent, he said, but did not elaborate.

Chinese leaders face a challenge to keep the world’s second-largest economy on an even keel while forging ahead with a long list of market-based reforms announced at a key party meeting late last year, he said. He said that some short-term stimulus might be necessary to smooth out volatility in the economy, but there was no immediate need as growth remains healthy due to the country’s ongoing urbanization and rising consumption.

“At this moment, I don’t think China needs to resort to a stimulus package,” he said, adding that the economy will likely grow at a rate of around 7.5 percent.

“China is still in the process of urbanization, and people need places to live. Consumption is growing very fast, more than growth of the economy,” he said. Concerns about the health of the Chinese economy are mounting

after a string of data showed growth is slowing more sharply than expected in early 2014, raising doubts if the growth target can be met in the absence of fresh stimulus.

Activity in China’s factories slowed for a fifth straight month in March, a preliminary private survey showed yesterday, raising market expectations of government stimulus to arrest a loss of momentum in the world’s secondlargest economy this year. Economists in a Reuters poll had earlier predicted China’s growth will slow gradually over the next two years as the government forges ahead with structural reforms and seeks to curb elevated debt levels to help create long-term sustainable growth. The economy expanded 7.7 percent in 2013, hovering near its weakest pace since the late 1990s.

Debt problems Nakao said he was impressed by Chinese leaders’ commitment to market-oriented reforms to help put the economy on a more sustainable footing, but they needed time to implement them. Liberalizing interest rates and the currency regime in China should “go hand in hand”, and interest rate liberalisation could be carried out in a step by step manner to ward off possible banking risks, he said.

China’s debt problems remain manageable as the economy grows steadily, but public finance reforms -

including giving provinces more revenues to match their responsibilities - will be vital for dealing with the root cause of the issue, he said. “Some companies or local government financing vehicles can go bankrupt if their management is not strong enough, this can happen in any country, but the issue is whether it becomes a systemic issue for the economy or not,” he said.

Earlier this month, loss-making Shanghai Chaori Solar Energy Science and Technology Co Ltd missed a bond interest payment, the first such domestic bond default of its kind and an event seen as a landmark for market discipline in the economy. He said Asian economies were more prepared to cope with any economic turbulence and the region’s fundamentals were much stronger than there were during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. “They are more prepared to take action quickly if there are signs of instability,” he said. “Fragility? I don’t buy that idea. Of course, we cannot be complacent, we should always be prepared.”

Japan’s monetary policy easing, which has supported the economy and boosted the country’s foreign direct investment flows to the rest of Asia, could help offset any impact from the withdrawal of US monetary stimulus, Nakao said. Nakao was named ADB chief in April 2013, replacing Haruhiko Kuroda, who became Bank of Japan governor. —Reuters

Centamin profit up as production jump offsets weak prices LONDON: Egypt-focused gold miner Centamin is on track to boost production further, it said as it posted 1 percent rise in full-year core profit after increased output offset a sharp fall in gold prices.

Many gold producers have been battered by last year’s 28 percent dive in bullion prices, which caught them by surprise and put balance sheets under pressure.

Centamin, however, was able to offset a 17 percent drop in its average realized prices in 2013 with a 36 percent output increase to 357,000 ounces, beating its production targets.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were a little more than $234 million for the year to Dec 31, slightly below analysts’ expectations of $239 million, according to Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said the expansion of its Sukari mine in Egypt will help to boost output by 18 percent this year to 420,000 ounces, reaching 450,000 to 500,000 ounces a year from 2015. Sukari, the first large-scale modern gold mine in Egypt, emerged largely unscathed from political turmoil in Egypt over the past two years and Centamin said the operating environment in the country had improved greatly from 2012.

Risks ramin The company’s reliance on Egypt is not without risk, however, and it continues to seek resolution to legal battles over its right to operate Sukari and the suspension of fuel subsidies it received from the Egyptian government.

The company’s head of business development, Andy Davidson, said it has the support of the government in the Sukari case and is confident of a positive outcome. It is hopeful of reaching a compromise on fuel subsidies, he said, perhaps in the form of a credit rather than cash payments. Centamin is also awaiting a license from the government to allow it to use more ammonium nitrate as it steps up its mining rate. The market reacted positively to the earnings report, with the shares climbing 7.8 percent by 1115 GMT - the biggest gainer on the FTSE 250 index.

“In our view, Centamin remains a good-value exposure, albeit higher-risk with the potential for tail outcomes from the legal issues,” Nomura analysts said in a note.

The company, which in December made an all-share takeover offer for Burkina Faso-focused gold explorer Ampella Mining, said it plans to continue to diversify through acquisitions in the Middle East and Africa. The miner said it will outline its dividend policy during the course of the year as its expansion program moves towards completion. “Centamin remains well placed to declare dividends in the future, though our estimates are that this is likely to happen in 2015,” Peel Hunt analysts said. —Reuters

HONG KONG: (L to right) Sinopec chief finance officer Wang Xinhua, chairman Fu Chengyu, president Li Chunguang and secretary of the board of directors Huang Wensheng arrive at a press conference to announce the company’s annual financial results in Hong Kong yesterday. China’s major onshore oil firms Sinopec and PetroChina said profits rose in 2013, despite weakness in the world’s second largest economy. —AFP

Ukraine risk may speed up US gas export approvals GOYANG, South Korea: Tension between Russia and the West may spur the US to speed up approvals for more projects to export gas, said the head of a UK-based unit of France’s Total group, as Europe looks for other sources of fuel supply.

European worries about the security of energy supplies have grown since Russian forces seized control of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine this month. Moscow has in years past cut gas supplies amid regional disputes. Yet, the gas supply partnership between Russia and Europe is not likely to fall apart easily, Philippe Sauquet, president of Total

Gas & Power, told Reuters in an interview yesterday.

“Even if we are concerned, ultimately we are confident. ... There is a balance that has been achieved over time ... (and) we anticipate this will continue,” he said.

“Russia and Europe cannot at least easily divorce.” Sauquet is in South Korea for an international gas conference this week.

Given the escalating risks in gas supply through Ukraine from Russia, though, Sauquet said he thinks the US congress and energy policymakers will speed up the process on further approvals for US gas shipments. Signals

out of the United States have been mixed, however, with some lawmakers wanting to maintain a slow approach on export approvals. Others point out that quicker approvals would not help in the current crisis as US LNG exports are not likely to be broadly available before 2017. The US Department of Energy is working its way down a list of more than 20 applications for LNG export licenses. It has approved six since 2011, but the first project is not expected to begin exporting until late next year.

The other five still need approvals from the Federal Energy Regulator y Commission. —Reuters

Tunisia cuts 2014 growth forecast to 2.8% TUNIS: Tunisia’s government has cut its economic growth forecast to 2.8 percent for this year, which is in line with the IMF’s forecast, Finance Minister Hakim Ben Hamouda said yesterday after meeting with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund. The government had previously forecast 4 percent growth. Three years after the uprising that toppled long-time ruler Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and heralded the start of the Arab Spring, Tunisia is heading for elections later this year after ending a political crisis that damaged its economic stability and threatened to upset its transition to democracy.

But the government still faces the challenge of reducing a wide budget deficit, securing enough external financing and tackling the subsidy reforms and public spending cuts demanded by its international lenders. “We see growth at 2.8 percent given the global economic situation and the context of the country ’s transition,” Hamouda told reporters. “We have to be realistic.”

Tunisia’s economy grew 2.6 percent last year. The IMF, which at the start of last year agreed to give Tunisia a $1.7 billion loan in several tranches, expects Tunisia’s budget deficit to be at around 8 percent of gross domestic product this year, compared to 8.4 pct last year. —Reuters

News

in brief

Ithmar eyes $270m of Gulf PE deals ABU DHABI: Private equity firm Ithmar Capital, which manages over $800 million in investments, expects to close deals worth at least 1 billion dirhams ($270 million) this year as economies in the Gulf continue to recover from the global financial crisis, its top executive said yesterday. The Dubai-based firm, founded in 2005, invests in growth and buyout opportunities in Gulf-based or related companies. “We expect to do deals in excess of 1 billion dirhams in 2014 in the healthcare and education sectors across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council),” Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, founder and managing partner of Ithmar, told Reuters.

He declined to name the companies or give details of the expected deals. “The market is very promising due to the rebound in the economies since the crisis, reflecting positively in the private equity space,” Belhoul said on the sidelines of an event in Abu Dhabi.

Ithmar currently has a portfolio of six companies, including Abu Dhabi-based Al-Noor Hospitals, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange last year after an initial public offer. Ithmar now holds 27.3 percent of shares in Al-Noor, said Belhoul.

Amlak to resume trading in H2 2014 DUBAI: Dubai’s indebted mortgage lender Amlak, whose shares have been suspended since 2008, will resume trading on Dubai’s bourse in the second half of this year, the United Arab Emirates’ economy minister said yesterday. “Our target is to list the company in the second half of this year,” Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Abu Dhabi. Amlak has not traded since November 2008, when its shares were suspended along with rival Tamweel, as credit markets dried up and Dubai real estate prices began a slump which would see them fall more than 50 percent from their peak.

Egyptian pound remains stable CAIRO: The Egyptian pound did not change against the dollar at a central bank sale of foreign currency yesterday, but weakened on the black market. The central bank sold $38.8 million to banks at the auction, with a cut-off price of 6.9501 pounds to the dollar, the same price as the last sale on Thursday. On the black market, the dollar was offered at 7.39 pounds on Monday, weaker than Thursday’s rate of 7.37, one market participant said. The pound has been under pressure during three years of political turmoil. Egypt’s foreign currency reserves stood at about $17.3 billion pounds in February, down from $36 billion before the uprising that led to President Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow in 2011. The central bank introduced dollar currency sales more than a year ago. In January, it held a $1.5 billion exceptional auction, its largest, to restock the market with dollars and curb unofficial currency trading.

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal transfer Irani Riyal cash Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.757 4.653 2.888 2.158 2.915 222.710 36.396 3.631 6.250 8.712 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 75.337 77.625 733.890 750.370 76.938

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.695 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.134 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.318 Tunisian Dinar 179.640 Jordanian Dinar 398.950 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.895 Syrian Lira 2.014 Morocco Dirham 35.522 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 282.400 Euro 390.980 Sterling Pound 466.950 Canadian dollar 252.370 Turkish lira 126.690 Swiss Franc 321.270 Australian Dollar 257.550 US Dollar Buying 281.200 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

GOLD 240.000 121.000 62.500

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 259.98 258.85 327.41 395.49 281.25 471.17 2.83 3.620 4.608 2.155 2.888 2.758 76.64 748.57 40.40 400.29 731.43 77.67 75.13

SELL CASH 256.98 258.85 325.41 396.49 284.25 474.17 2.85 3.890 4.908 2.590 3.423 2.790 77.11 750.64 41.00 405.94 738.73 78.22 75.53

2.950 3.835 86.130 45.745 9.700 126.625

Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

0.006350 0.000069 0.218323 0.020138 0.001867 0.009136 0.008403

0.006630 0.000075 0.224323 0.028638 0.002447 0.009316 0.008953

Bahrain Exchange Company

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

Arab 0.742616 0.036806 0.000078 0.000181 0.394084 1.0000000 0.000138 0.023427 0.001193 0.727474 0.076858 0.074670 0.001751 0.175000 0.124392 0.075905 0.001283

0.750616 0.039906 0.000079 0.000241 0.401584 1.0000000 0.000238 0.047427 0.001828 0.733154 0.078071 0.075370 0.001971 0.183000 0.131392 0.077054 0.001363

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi Thai Bhat Turkish Lira

COUNTRY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen

Selling Rate 282.150 254.510 467.135 390.885 320.150 745.010 76.795 78.345 76.110 397.630 40.482 2.158 4.624 2.870 3.627 6.232 693.015 3.755

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar

SELL CASH Europe 0.007339 0.459791 0.008027 0.048139 0.384309 0.042594 0.081485 0.008078 0.04000 0.313750 0.124392 Australasia 0.248347 0.234994

SELLDRAFT 0.008339 0.468791 0.018027 0.053139 0.392309 0.047794 0.81485 0.018078 0.045000 0.323950 0.131392 0.259847 0.244494

Al Mulla Exchange Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint

America 0.247171 0.278300 0.278800

0.255671 0.282650 0.282650

Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee

Asia 0.003247 0.044454 0.034325 0.004376 0.000020 0.002682 0.003348 0.000251 0.081623 0.002940 0.002615

0.003847 0.047954 0.037075 0.004777 0.000026 0.002862 0.003348 0.000266 0.087623 0.003110 0.002895

Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 281.800 390.550 466.400 252.250 4.620 40.105 2.155 3.625 6.233 2.875 750.150 76.700 75.250

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

BUSINESS

Fed guessing game intensifies as West isolates Russia GLOBAL ECONOMY WEEK AHEAD BRUSSELS: The guessing game over US interest rates is likely to intensify this week after new Fed Chair Janet Yellen raised the prospect of a hike early next year, while Russia’s annexation of Crimea will keep investors focused on its next move. In a week heavy with diplomacy US President Barack Obama will meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping yesterday in The Hague - markets will seek clarity from the US Federal Reserve on its monetary policy and from Russia over its intentions in Ukraine.

While the US data calendar is relatively light, Yellen has got investors talking by suggesting interest rates could start rising next spring, compared with most economists’ expectations for the second half of 2015. The question is whether the host of Fed policymakers due to speak this week, including the Fed’s Chicago President Charles Evans, will try to distance themselves from Yellen.

“We have to consider the possibility of the first rate hike coming in April 2015,” said James Knightley at ING in London. “Market pricing is still favouring the third quarter of 2015, but a decent rise in employment and business activity may see this change,” he said. Last week

the Fed, in its first policy-setting meeting under Yellen, said it would factor in a wide range of economic measures as it judged the correct timing for raising rates. Investors are wondering how much of the slowdown in the US economy this winter was due to bad weather.

Data this week may not clear up that uncertainty because home sales, goods orders and consumption data will be from February, rather than March.

Still, a Reuters survey of economists shows that Yellen’s comments have not altered their views. Ten dealers of 17 polled see rate hikes in the second half of 2015, with another four saying increases would not start until 2016. That suggests a normalization of US interest rate policy has yet to be factored into the US dollar exchange rates versus the yen and the euro, economists say.

“We can only conclude that despite all the Fed’s for ward guidance and efforts to improve its communication, the Fed’s probable course of action is not fully priced into dollar exchange rates,” said Ulrich Leuchtmann at Commerzbank.

“A phase of serious dollar strength will only set in later in the year. But then

it will do so with a vengeance,” he said.

G7 meets International diplomacy will be dominated by the response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Leaders of the world’s leading industrial democracies will hold a Group of Seven meeting without Russia on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague this week to consider further responses to the crisis.

Russian markets ended last week by taking fright at a US decision to slap sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle of money men and security officials. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Russia might cancel its foreign borrowing for 2014, though it has enough foreign reser ves and a low enough budget deficit to be able to put off borrowing plans.

Russian stocks may be in for an easier ride if investors have a sense that the stand-off with the West is not intensifying for now, even though big risks remain. Given that US sanctions targeting Russian elites were stronger than anticipated and that EU leaders added more names to their list, retaliation from Russia cannot be ruled out.

“While the situation remains tense, it likely remains stable in the coming weeks,” said Mujtaba Rahman, a political analyst at Eurasia Group. “Wildcards include the possibility of a flare-up of Ukrainian versus Russian violence in eastern Ukraine, which would heighten the possibility of Russian invasion.”

Difficult as it may be to look beyond Russia, China’s release on Monday of the HSBC flash manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) will be arguably the most watched release in Asia, as investors question how the Chinese economy has fared in the first quarter.

“The February round of data pointed to the weakest growth momentum since the global financial crisis,” said Mole Hau at BNP Paribas, referring to the recent slump in investment, retail sales and factory output.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said the economy faced “severe challenges” in 2014. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has cut its first-quarter growth forecast to 7.3 percent from 8.0.

The Paris speech A week before the European Central Bank’s (ECB) monetary policy meeting

on April 3, President Mario Draghi has investors wondering what it will take for him to counter the very low rate of inflation in the euro-zone.

Draghi will speak in Paris today to try to drive the message home that the ECB will stick to its very accommodative policy stance for a long time, not raising rates even if inflation picks up.

Draghi has said the ECB would keep a close eye on the euro exchange rate, one of the key parameters affecting inflation that is at a four-year low. The Fed’s rate hike talk has taken some steam out of the euro’s rise, though that might not last. A string of euro zone PMIs will also give a sense of the bloc’s recover y, with many economists expecting a slight increase in the euro area composite PMI, driven by a modest rebound in the manufacturing sector.

Economists expect French PMIs to improve, while in Germany better manufacturing surveys could compensate for last month’s weakness. “The gradual recovery continues,” Citi economists said in a note to clients. “We still expect the ECB to cut rates in June but the window seems to be narrowing gradually.” —Reuters

China slams ‘NSA spying’ on tech giant Huawei NSA defends its operations

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (right) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), Managing Director Christine Lagarde (left) chat during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. —AP

China faces ‘serious obstacles’: IMF chief BEIJING: International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde yesterday urged China to carry out reforms to make its economic growth model more inclusive, cleaner and sustainable. “ While headline growth numbers remain impressive, this disguises some serious obstacles that need to be overcome,” Lagarde said in a speech at a forum in Beijing. “The challenge is clear: to make growth more inclusive, friendlier to the environment, and more sustainable,” she said, according to the text of the speech as prepared on the IMF’s website.

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.7 percent in 2013, unchanged from the year before. Though stronger than most other economies, it remained the country’s worst result since 1999.

A string of economic indicators announced recently have suggested that the economy has continued to lose momentum this year. Manufacturing activity contracted in March at its worst rate in eight months, according to British bank HSBC’s preliminary purchasing managers’ index (PMI) released yesterday. To unleash China’s next-stage growth potential, the government should increase the role of the service sector and private investors, Lagarde said.

A globally integrated financial system will be “essential” to support China’s

next transformation, she said, adding more competition and transfer of knowledge will benefit Chinese banks.

A gradual opening up of China’s capital account will make the economy more resilient to shocks and strengthen the potential role of the yuan as a global currency, she said. China has been pursuing such an agenda since the global financial crisis.

Inequality and environmental pollution have been deteriorating as China’s economy grows, Lagarde said. “For growth to be sustainable, it needs to be inclusive, its benefits need to be more widely shared, and it needs to be environmentally viable,” she said. China’s leadership says it wants to transform the country’s growth model away from an over-reliance on often wasteful investment, and instead make private demand the driver for the country’s future development, even if it may lead to slower growth rates. I t has also declared “war” on pollution, vowing to shut down tens of thousands of coalfired furnaces and remove millions of high-emission vehicles from the roads this year.

Beijing earlier this month has set its growth target for this year at 7.5 percent, the same as that set last year. Many economists expect actual growth this year to miss the target, something that has not happened in 16 years. —AFP

Egypt expects unit to import LNG to be in place by Jul/Aug CAIRO: Egyptian Oil Minister Sherif Ismail said yesterday that the country would have a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) for gas imports in place by July or August.

Egypt hopes to import liquefied natural gas to stave off an energy crunch this summer. If it fails to secure a means of importing LNG, Egypt would have even more limited options for fuel supplies as already painful shor tages are set to become more acute with the approach of summer.

“The target is to have the FSRU come on stream with some shipments in July,” Ismail said. “However I can tell you July is difficult. However we are working to have it by August.”

Terminal providers say Egypt could have a terminal in place to receive LNG within six months of a contract award, casting doubt on whether the minister’s

target is realistic. Egypt has LNG plants and a pipeline to export gas but has no facilities to impor t LNG. The tender process to find a company to provide the terminal began around 18 months ago, well before the army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi last July. Talk since last autumn from the militar ybacked interim government about securing an LNG import terminal has not yet resulted in a tender award.

Ismail told Reuters last month that Egypt needed $1 billion worth of petroleum products and to secure significant natural gas supplies to meet energy needs this summer.

Negotiations are under way with foreign firms, including Algeria’s Sonatrach, to secure natural gas imports to run power plants in Egypt this summer, Ismail was quoted as saying last week. He said yesterday that these talks were ongoing. —Reuters

BEIJING: Beijing yesterday condemned Washington over reports that the US National Security Agency had for years had been secretly tapping the networks of Chinese telecoms and Internet giant Huawei.

The New York Times and Germany’s Der Spiegel said that the NSA had accessed Huawei’s email archive, communications between top company officials, and even the secret source code of some of its products. The reports were based on documents provided by fugitive NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Beijing is “seriously concerned” about reports that the US had compromised Huawei’s networks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters at a regular briefing yesterday.

“China has launched representations to America on many occasions,” Hong said, citing reports of US surveillance activities in countries across the globe. “We ask America to give a clear explanation and stop such behavior.” Beijing itself has repeatedly been accused of large-scale cyber-espionage, which it vehemently denies.

The Chinese reprimand came after a top Huawei official similarly denounced the NSA. “If the actions in the report are true, Huawei condemns such activities that invaded and infiltrated into our internal corporate network and monitored our communications,” Roland Sladek, Huawei’s vice president for international affairs, said in a statement.

He added that Huawei “disagrees with all activities that threaten the security of networks” and stressed the company’s willingness to “jointly address the global challenge of network security”.

‘Networks of interest’ Shenzhen-based Huawei was founded in 1987 by former People’s Liberation Army engineer Ren Zhengfei and is now among the world’s top makers of telecommunications equipment.

Washington has long seen it as a security threat due to perceived close links to the Chinese government, which the company denies, and both the United States and Australia have barred it from involvement in broadband projects over espionage fears. The original intent of the NSA’s Operation “Shotgiant” was to search for connections between the tech giant and the Chinese military, according to a 2010 document cited by the Times.

But the program’s goal eventually grew to include the penetration of Huawei communications products sold to third countries in order to “gain access to networks of interest” across the globe, the paper said. The New York Times website is blocked in China and the report could not be accessed on the Chinese Internet.

The NSA defended its intelligence-gathering operations, which it maintained were focused only on “valid foreign intelligence targets”. In a

statement, the NSA did not cite the New York Times or Der Spiegel by name but criticized the “continuous and selective” publication of details on its surveillance methods, arguing that such reports endanger US national security.

It insisted that NSA activities “are focused and specifically deployed against-and only against-valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements”.

It also pushed back against suggestions by

scope of the NSA’s sur veillance activities.

Obama said last year that he and Xi had “very blunt conversations” about hacking at the summit. Beijing maintains a vast domestic surveillance network, including a “Great Firewall” that blocks online content deemed unfavorable by the ruling Communist Party.

A report released last year by the security firm Mandiant said that China was devoting thousands of people to a military-linked unit that has pilfered intellectual property and gov-

BEIJING: An employee (left) deals with a customer at a Huawei store in Beijing yesterday. Chinese telecoms and Internet giant Huawei condemned the US National Security Agency yesterday after reports revealed the organization had been secretly tapping the company’s networks for years. —AFP Snowden and others that spy agencies were waging an industrial espionage campaign on behalf of US businesses. “We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of-or give intelligence we collect to-US companies” to enhance their competitiveness, the NSA said.

‘Great Firewall’ The New York Times and Der Spiegel reports were published days ahead of a planned meeting between US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of this week’s Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague. The last summit between the two-at the secluded Sunnylands estate in California last June-also came amid revelations about the

ernment secrets abroad.

In November, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in its annual report to Congress that China has not curbed rampant spying on American interests.

The report accused China of “directing and executing a large-scale cyber-espionage campaign,” penetrating the US government and private industry. In his remarks to reporters yesterday, Hong said that China was “firmly opposed to hacking” and believes that telecom activities “should not be used for surveillance, spying or espionage”. “China has always maintained that the international community must make joint efforts to work out regulation and (defend) a peaceful, open, comprehensive cyberspace,” he said. —AFP

China oil giants enjoy profit rises despite weak economy

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right) speaks with Caterpillar Inc Chairman and CEO Douglas Oberhelman (left) during his meeting with participants of the China Development Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. The China Development Forum is a two-day meeting with the theme of “China: To Comprehensively Deepen Reform”. —AFP

SHANGHAI: China’s major onshore oil firms Sinopec and PetroChina said profits rose in 2013, despite weakness in the world’s second largest economy. Sinopec-a listed unit of China Petrochemical Corp-saw net profit edge up 3.5 percent year on year to 66.1 billion yuan ($10.6 billion), it said in a statement on Sunday, with revenue up 3.4 percent at 2.9 trillion yuan thanks to “stable” domestic demand. “China’s economy kept turning for the better, so demand for oil and petrochemical products in the domestic market grew stably,” Sinopec chairman Fu Chengyu said in the statement.

This year “China’s industrialization and urbanization push will facilitate stable growth in demand from the oil and petrochemical markets, and provide room for development of the company,” Fu said.

Sinopec was held partly responsible for a deadly pipeline explosion that killed more than 60 people in the eastern city of Qingdao in November, and caused losses of more than $100 million.

Fu said the company had learned “unforgettable painful lessons” from the incident and vowed to improve safety, but gave no details on how it affected the bottom line. —AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

BUSINESS

China hits Europe shares, Crimea keeps nerves taut LONDON: European shares fell yesterday after data showed Chinese manufacturing contracted in the first quarter, raising worries over global growth.

Geopolitical concerns jangled nerves as US President Barack Obama began talks with his European allies on their response to the Crimea crisis. The euro gained against the dollar and German Bund futures extended losses after the flash composite purchasing managers’ index for France jumped to 51.6 in March from 47.9 last month. But the currency gave up its gains after figures showed growth slowed in Germany. Data from the euro-zone as a whole dipped com-

pared with February.

By late morning, the FTSEurofirst 300 index, which rose 1.8 percent last week, was down 0.4 percent. The flash Markit/HSBC China Purchasing Manager index fell to an eight-month low of 48.1 in March from February’s 48.5. The index has been below 50 since January. A score over 50 indicates expansion; anything under, contraction.

“China’s slowdown is sharper than what most people had expected, which fuels worries about the impact on global growth,” said Philippe de Vandiere, an analyst at Altedia Investment Consulting in Paris. “But Chinese authorities have

plenty of tools to avoid a hard landing, and we know that the country’s transition to an economic model more focused on consumer spending will lower its growth rate a bit, so no big concern here.”

A string of weak numbers has reinforced concern over a slowdown in the world’s secondlargest economy. The impact on Asian shares was limited, though, because the data raised expectations China would take steps to stimulate its economy. MSCI’s broadest index of AsiaPacific shares outside Japan rose 1 percent and Japan’s Nikkei share average gained 1.8 percent.

China’s CSI300 index of leading Shanghai and

Shenzhen A-share listings rose 0.8 percent.

Wall Street looked set for a higher open.

S&P e-mini futures were up 0.2 percent.

Analysts said markets would partly be driven this week by geopolitics, as Obama began talks with Europe on their response to Russia’s annexing Crimea from Ukraine.

In the biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War, the United States and the European Union have imposed visa bans and asset freezes on some of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies. But they have held back so far from measures designed to hit Russia’s wider economy.

Russian shares gave up early gains and were last down 0.1 percent. The ruble strengthened against the dollar. “There have been no further sanctions imposed over the weekend, investors can more soberly assess the threat of sanctions already imposed,” Vasiliy Tanurkov, an analyst at Veles Capital, said in a morning note.

MSCI’s emerging stocks rose 0.9 percent.

Dollar firms The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies,

ticked up to 80.258, not far from Thursday’s three-week high of 80.354. The euro last stood at $1.3764, down 0.2 percent on the day, after the French data helped it touch a high of $1.3875. The dollar rose 0.2 percent to 102.50 yen. “It doesn’t look like the ECB (European Central Bank) will do anything,” said Alvin Tan, a currency strategist at Societe Generale. “So the next leg in the euro/dollar pair has to come from the dollar’s side. And for that we need US data to outperform and investors to price in expectations of Fed rate hikes.” ECB Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said monetary policy would remain accommodative well into the recovery.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange traded flat at $6,483.00 a tonne, erasing losses from immediately after the China data. Spot gold dipped to $1,323.60 an ounce, following a sharp fall triggered by comments last week from Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen that suggested US interest rates could rise sooner than many in markets had expected. Brent crude edged above $107 a barrel, supported by supply disruption worries. — Reuters

Brent stays below $107 on China PMI SINGAPORE: Brent crude futures slipped yesterday after a two-day rise, weighed down by weak Chinese factory data that could dent demand in the world’s second biggest oil consumer, although hopes Beijing may unleash stimulus measures capped losses. China’s manufacturing activity shrank for a third straight month in March, a preliminary private survey showed, adding to a string of weak indicators this year that have reinforced concerns about a slowdown. The government is seeking to reduce the economy’s dependence on exports, but investors are worried the growth is cooling faster than expected.

Brent crude for May delivery eased 18 cents to $106.74 a barrel by 0800 GMT. The oil benchmark fell for a fourth straight week last week. US oil edged up 5 cents to $99.51 a barrel.

“There is no real support for Brent,” said Tony Nunan, oil risk manager at Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. “I think the market is going to focus on supply (and it) is balanced to oversupplied.”

But the weaker-than-expected numbers is also raising investor expectations the government could step in to stimulate the economy. While other commodities including copper came under pressure due to the weak numbers, Chinese equities climbed on hopes of a stimulus. “I think it will be done in a Chinese style,” said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of commodity research firm Barratt’s Bulletin in Sydney, suggesting they could be targeted measures.

“The key is how it is actively worked.”

Brent crude has lost almost 4 percent this year, eventually giving up gains after rising to $112 in early March, a more than two-month high, amid geopolitical risks as Russia took control of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

The spread between the two benchmarks held at around $7 a barrel, narrow-

ing from more than $10 in mid-March.

Concerns that tensions in the region could still worsen also helped stem further declines. NATO’s top military commander said on Sunday Russia had built up a “very sizeable” force on its border with Ukraine and Moscow may have a region in another ex-Soviet republic, Moldova, in its sights after annexing Crimea.

Russian troops, using armored vehicles, automatic weapons and stun grenades, seized some of the last military facilities under Ukrainian control in Crimea on Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin formally annexed the Black Sea peninsula the day before.

Brent support “Further EU sanctions on Friday should support Brent on short covering early this week, despite seasonal demand remaining weak,” analysts at ANZ said in a note.

Worries of continued unrest in Libya and other oil exporting countries have also a put a floor on oil prices, even though the market has come off with the end of the severe winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere, Nunan said.

Rebels have occupied ports and oilfields, disrupting Libya’s oil production to less than 250,000 barrels per day, the state-run National Oil Corp said. A pipeline problem further hit production at the southwestern el-Feel oilfield to between 50,000 and 60,000 bpd from 80,000 bpd, the state-run National Oil Corp (NOC) said on Sunday.

A commercial oil tanker seized by US forces after it loaded crude at a Libya port held by anti-government rebels has docked back in the capital Tripoli, a Reuters witness said. US special forces boarded the tanker a week ago off Cyprus, days after it left Es Sider port, which is controlled by rebels who demand more autonomy and oil wealth in defiance of the central government. — Reuters

Gold falls 1% as dollar edges up LONDON: Gold fell 1 percent yesterday as expectations that US interest rates could rise in early 2015 supported the dollar and prompted investors to cash in gains made during gold’s recent rally to six-month highs. Palladium prices hit a 21/2 year peak meanwhile as an ongoing strike in South Africa, simmering tensions over Ukraine and the launch of two palladium-backed exchange-traded funds in Johannesburg fuelled concerns that demand could outpace supply.

Spot gold was down 0.9 percent at $1,322.14 an ounce at 1037 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for April delivery were down $12.60 an ounce at $1,323.40.

The metal fell 3.5 percent last week, dropping sharply after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen surprised world markets on Wednesday by signalling that US interest rates could rise sooner than had been expected previously. “Gold started dropping once the Fed came out with the rate news,” Natixis analyst Bernard Dahdah said. “ We saw increasing strength in the dollar, and 10-year US yields increased quite sharply.”

“With higher yields you get a higher opportunity cost of holding gold, and with the stronger US dollar there is less of a fear of currency debasement,” he said. “We could see gold dropping below $1,300 in the next month if we get the necessary US data, a strengthening dollar and higher yields.”

The dollar index was up 0.2 percent on Monday, holding near last week’s three-week high, as traders increased bets on a possible US interest rate hike early next year.

Traders said further gains for the dollar now depended on the strength of economic data, with any acceleration in the US recovery likely to bolster expecta-

tions of an earlier normalization of Fed policy.

A lack of activity in the physical sector in Asia overnight added to pressure on gold, with demand from top consumer China likely to be subdued because of a weak yuan, which hit a 13-month low last week, and the discounted prices on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, which discourage imports. The 99.99 percent purity gold on the Shanghai Gold Exchange traded below cash and US gold futures.

Premiums for gold bars in Hong Kong were unchanged from last week at $1 to the spot London prices. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed hedge funds and money managers raised their bullish bets in gold futures and options to the highest since December 2012, as worries about Ukraine and China’s slowing economy boosted speculative interest for a sixth straight week. “(Gold’s drop) is due no doubt to further profit-taking after net long positions in gold were increased for the sixth week running in the week to 18 March,” Commerzbank said in a note on Monday.

“At 121,100 contracts, they are currently at their highest level since the end of November 2012. Meanwhile, the net long positions have probably been reduced in part.”

SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed ETF, said its holdings rose 0.52 percent to 816.97 tons on Friday from 812.78 tons on Thursday. Spot palladium hit its highest since August 2011 at $799.50 an ounce. The autocatalyst metal was later up 0.6 percent at $793.50 an ounce. Spot platinum was down 0.1 percent at $1,429.74 an ounce, while spot silver was down 0.7 percent at $20.11 an ounce. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

BUSINESS

Cubans with money revel in booming social circuit HAVANA: It’s Saturday night at El Cocinero, a chic rooftop bar that has arguably become Havana’s hippest watering hole in the year since it opened, and there’s no getting in without a reservation.

There are plenty of foreigners, but also not a few sharp-dressed Cubans lounging in the butterfly chairs, sipping $3 mojitos and talking art, culture and politics. It’s an image that stands in stark contrast to common perceptions overseas of Communist Cuba as a poor country where nobody has the disposable income to blow on a night out.

“Where they get the money from, I don’t know, and I don’t have a crystal ball,” said one of the Cubans at the bar: Lilian Triana, a 31-year-old economist who works for the local offices of Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA. She suggested some may have relatives sending money from abroad.

Havana is seeing a boom in stylish, privately run bars and clubs like El Cocinero, evidence of a small but growing class of relatively affluent artists, musicians and entrepreneurs on an island where many people earn about $20 a month and depend on subsidized food, housing and transport to get by.

Cuba’s nouveau riche are coming out of the woodwork, if not quite flaunting their personal wealth.

It’s a departure from years past, when Fidel Castro fulminated against newly rich Cubans who were getting ahead of their compatriots during an earlier

economic opening. Cuba is still far from a consumer’s paradise.

Nonetheless, there are more things here every day to spend money on, from home improvements and beach vacations to the hordes of smartphones and Xboxes imported for resale by islanders who are traveling abroad in record numbers. Foreigners visiting and living in Cuba have long been able to afford such luxuries. So have Cubans like Triana who work for foreign companies or embassies that pay hard-currency salaries competitive with elsewhere in Latin America. Now they have been joined by the most successful of the 440,000 small-business owners and employees who are working independently of the state under President Raul Castro’s economic reforms.

Some benefit from relatives abroad who send back an estimated $2.6 billion a year. Then there’s the art-world elite, which historically has been a core part of Cuba’s monied class. An artist who sells a single painting for a few thousand dollars or a musician who performs on an overseas tour is already earning hundreds of times what most Cubans make. It’s a phenomenon that New York visual artist Michael Dweck documented in his 2011 book “Habana Libre,” the product of nearly three years photographing the unlikely fashionable lives of Havana’s hip creatives.

“They are part of the elite. Not because they are in banking or importing or real estate - these people are the creative class,” Dweck said. “There is a privileged class living a pretty good life in Havana, which is the opposite of what we were told as Americans about what’s going on in Cuba.” It’s on the bar circuit that Cuba’s Yuppies are most visible.

Artists and intellectuals abound at places like El Cocinero and the Fabrica de Arte Cubana next door, opened last month by renowned musician X Alfonso as a combination gallery, concert hall and bar with a $2 cover.

Others head to Bohemio, a breezy porch-turnedbar, to nosh on cheese and serrano ham tapas, or Cafe Madrigal, which began the private bar boom when it was opened by a filmmaker in 2011 and is now a favorite of the film and theater crowd. Julio Carrillo, a 52-year-old screenwriter, said in years past he and his partner went out less because staterun bars tended to be dreary joints with deafening music and lousy service. Moreover, displays of personal wealth could be seen as ostentatious and attract questions about where the money came from. So many Cubans with means tended to stay in and host private get-togethers.

But as islanders increasingly get their hands on nice things, there’s less stigma attached to the good life. “It used to be we’d go to someone’s house.

There’s a dinner or a party and I bring a bottle, and it stays low profile, you know?” Carrillo said. “Now it’s more comfortable. We can go somewhere else and meet (friends) there. ... It makes me really happy, to tell the truth. Being able to go to places like these is like a normalization of life.”

There are also privately run clubs that cater to the young offspring of Cubans with wealth and connections: places like Sangri La, an overly air-conditioned basement nightclub in the tony Miramar district, and Palio, a smoky offshoot of a private restaurant. Some patrons say they sometimes see the scions of Cuba’s most powerful political clans living it up in raucous joints like these, as plainclothes state security agents hang around outside.

The scene is a dramatic change from just a few years ago, when most Cubans were shooed away from tourist hotels such as the Habana Libre or Melia Cohiba, both home to expensive nightclubs.

It’s still a small segment of the population, however, and a far cry from the scene along the Malecon seafront boulevard where working-class Cubans gather by the thousands on weekends to sip from 90-cent cardboard boxes of rum. “Here on the Malecon to have fun, look at girls,” said Adan Ferro, a 20-year-old street sweeper, adding sarcastically: “Where else am I going to go? The Habana Libre?” — AP

KOGAS, Japan firms

buy gas together More joint deals to come: JOGMEC

LONDON: A construction worker cuts into the brickwork as work goes ahead to lower the original floor inside the Connaught tunnel, an old Victorian tunnel which is being brought back into use for the Crossrail project in London yesterday. Work is taking place to deepen, strengthen and widen the structure to ensure it is ready for the arrival of Crossrail trains, which will link central London with Maidehead in the west and Shenfiled in the east, upon its expected completion in 2018. — AFP

Top Chinese JPMorgan exec leaving amid probe NEW YORK: One of JPMorgan Chase’s top Chinese executives will resign, according to a bank memo, as regulators probe whether the financial giant violated anti-bribery laws in Asia.

Fang Fang, who served as chief executive of JPMorgan’s China investment banking unit before being appointed to vice chairman of investment banking for all Asia in 2009, “has informed us of his desire to retire,” said a memo from Therese Esperdy, co-head of Asia-Pacific banking at JPMorgan. The memo did not elaborate on his reason for stepping down. Esperdy said Fang, who joined JPMorgan in 2001, should be credited with helping the bank achieve a leadership role in the region.

“During his time with JPMorgan, the firm has become one of the most influential investment banks in China that can rightfully claim leadership in terms of product capabilities, depth of client franchise and the strength of our team,” Esperdy said.

Esperdy announced promotions for three other executives to lead Chinese banking.

The resignation comes as JPMorgan faces probes from the US Department of Justice

and Securities and Exchange Commission on whether it hired friends and relatives of powerful government officials to win business in Asia Pacific.

JPMorgan said it was cooperating with the US probes and with parallel inquiries by other governments, according to a February US securities filing.

US investigators are looking at Fang’s role in the hiring of the son of China Everbright Group Chairman Tang Shuangning and whether the job placement helped JPMorgan win business with the conglomerate, the Wall Street Journal reported. Executives such as Fang would make hiring recommendations to a JPMorgan recruitment program that targeted the children of powerful Chinese executives, the Journal said, citing unnamed sources.

Investigators are also looking at JPMorgan’s hiring of a daughter of former Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao as a consultant whose company helped JPMorgan land business with state-run China Railway Group, the New York Times reported previously. — AFP

Saudi strategic barley reserves at 4m tons ABU DHABI: Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest barley importers, has a strategic reserve of 4 million tons to last the kingdom for around eight months, a Gulf-based industry source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The country imported 10.65 million tons of barley in 2013, mostly from the Black Sea but also from France, Argentina, Australia and Canada, the source said.

“This year imports are expected to go down slightly as the government has already stockpiled the strategic reserve it

had planned for,” he said.Barley imports for calendar year 2014 could be around 6 to 7 million tons. Saudi Arabia consumes slightly less than 500,000 tons of barley a month. The grain is used for animal feed.

Unlike its wheat purchases, Saudi Arabia buys barley in direct deals rather than tenders. The Saudi Grain and Fodder Company (SGAF) is the only entity assigned by the government to import barley. Since being assigned the task in 2011, SGAF does not comment on its purchases or stockpiles. — Reuters

HARARE: Zimbabwean economist John Mangudya who was appointed central bank governor poses in his office yesterday in Harare. Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has appointed economist John Mangudya as governor of the country’s central bank, state media reported Sunday. Mangudya succeeds Gideon Gono, whose term expired in December after a 10-year tenure marred by world-record hyperinflation that eventually forced the country to abandon its currency. — AFP

GOYANG, South Korea: State-run Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS) and a Japanese company bought natural gas jointly yesterday and such rare cooperative purchases will become more common, the head of state-run Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) said. The world’s top two buyers Japan and South Korea, along with China and other Asian gas importers, have been unhappy about paying higher prices than the United States and Europe due to strong regional demand. Asian buyers took about 70 percent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports last year.

Besides earlier talks between Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co and India’s gas utility GAIL on a joint purchase, Asian buyers have also been discussing forming a gas buying group to command better contract terms and pricing. Asked about progress in forming a gas buyers’ club, Hirobumi Kawano, president of JOGMEC told Reuters in an interview: “We know there is a discussion. Maybe that will happen.”

He provided no further details on Monday’s joint deal and did not identify the Japanese company. “This kind of activity will increase for getting cheaper prices and strengthening bargaining positions,” said Kawano, who is in South Korea this week for an international gas conference. Spot LNG prices in Asia are running around

$18 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), including processing and shipping costs, against US prices of around $4.35 per mmBtu. A spokesman at KOGAS, the world’s largest corporate buyer of LNG, said he had no knowledge of the joint deal. China, India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan held talks on forming a buyers’ group last year but made no firm plans. They were set to meet in February to discuss the club and other ways of cutting prices, but the meeting was delayed.

Japan’s political tensions with its neighbors China and South Korea have partly contributed to the slow progress towards forming a buyers’ group, according to some industry sources.

In January, Tokyo Electric Power Co said it was planning to enter talks this year with domestic and foreign firms for joint procurement in an effort to reduce costs.

Japan gas demand Kawano said he expected Japan’s natural gas demand in 2014 to be about level with last year, despite the chance that some of the country’s nuclear power plants might be restarted. “It’s limited to a certain number of plants. On the other hand, Japan’s economy will grow from last year, so maybe demand for LNG by Japan will stay almost the same level,” he said.

He expected gas prices in Asia to remain high. Supply from Australia, East Africa, North America and Russia should increase in coming years, however, and that could change the pricing framework, said Kawano separately in the gas conference yesterday.

A massive earthquake that struck Japan’s east coast in 2011 crippled the Fukushima nuclear plant, which continues to leak radiation. The disaster and leak have turned the Japanese public against nuclear power, and all of the country’s 48 operable reactors remained shut down.

That has prompted higher use of coal and gas, with imports of LNG and thermal coal both rising to record levels last year. In 2013, Tokyo imported a record 87.49 million tons of LNG, paying a highest-ever 7.06 trillion yen ($68.98 billion) for the fuel.

A Tokyo Gas Co official, meanwhile, said he expected Japan’s gas demand to fall with the nuclear restarts. Two to three nuclear reactors will be restarted, and with each unit, LNG purchases for the year will drop about one million tons, said Shigeru Muraki, vice chairman of Tokyo Gas. “And then that program will accelerate, I hope, and in the next three years, 15 to 20 units will be restar ted, so it means (a decline of around) 15 million to 20 million tons,” he said. — Reuters

9bn rubles withdrawn since sanctions: Russia MOSCOW: Russian bank SMP showed the impact of US punitive measures over Ukraine yesterday, saying around 9 billion rubles ($248 million) had been withdrawn by depositors since Washington imposed sanctions against two of its shareholders last week.

Washington imposed sanctions on Thursday against 20 Russians close to President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis, including Boris Rotenberg and his older brother Arkady, the co-owners of SMP Bank.

SMP CEO Dmitry Kalantyrsky told a news confer-

ence that an estimated 4 billion rubles had been withdrawn by individuals and 5 billion by organizations. On Friday, SMP said Visa and MasterCard had stopped providing services for payment transactions for its clients. On Sunday service had resumed, it said.

Kalantyrsky said the stoppage of services had been an over-zealous reaction because sanctions were imposed on the shareholders, not the bank. “(The shareholders) expressed their willingness, if necessary, to support the bank with money,” Kalantyrsky said, but stressed the bank

has enough liquidity.

St Petersburg-based Bank Rossiya, which was sanctioned alongside its chairman and largest shareholder Yuri Kovalchuk, said separately in a statement it had asked its clients to refrain from making foreign currency payments to accounts at the bank due to the US sanctions. Kovalchuk said in a television interview on Sunday the sanctions had backfired by helping him win new clients among patriotic Russians. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he would open an account at the bank. — Reuters

US stocks edge lower as Russia tensions simmer NEW YORK: US stocks are falling in midday trading yesterday as tensions with Russia escalate. Nine of 10 industry sectors in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell, led by health care. Apple and Herbalife rose.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average shed 57 points, or 0.4 percent, to 16,245 as of 12:20 pm (1620 GMT). The S&P 500 fell 12 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,854. The Nasdaq composite lost 65 points, or 1.5 percent, to 4,212.

JITTERS IN EUROPE: Europe markets fell as Russia troops seized Ukrainian ships and military installations in the Crimean peninsula following Russia’s annexation of the region last week.

Germany’s DAX fell 1.4 percent and France’s CAC-40 1.3 percent. Britain’s FTSE-100 fell 0.5 percent.

DRUG STOCKS SLUMP: A sell-off in drug makers continued. Pfizer fell 2.4 percent, the biggest loss in the Dow index. Biotech companies fell sharply Friday after US lawmakers questioned the pricing of a Hepatitis C drug made by Gilead Sciences. Bioegen Idec fell $6.02, or 2 percent, to $312.50. Health care stocks have soared 28 percent over the last 12 months, the most of the 10 industries in the S&P 500.

APPLE UP: Apple rose $4.12, or 0.8 percent, to $536.99 after the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is in talks with cable giant Comcast to offer HERBALIFE SURGE: The embattled health supplements company rose $4.26, or nearly 9 percent, to $53.80 after agreeing to back billionaire Carl Icahn’s three nominees for its board. Icahn is a supporter of the company in its fight with another famed investor, William Ackman, who has accuses the company of operating a pyramid scheme.

CHINA WATCH: Asian markets rose on hopes that China would take more steps to stimulate its economy after a manufacturing index in the world’s

second largest economy signaled contraction in that sector. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 1.9 percent and Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.8 percent. “If China continues to slow, the Chinese government will offer additional stimulus,” said Mike Meyer, Assistant Vice President at EverBank. “I think we have a floor there.”

TREASURYS AND COMMODITIES: Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.73 percent from 2.74 percent late Friday. Gold sank $24.90, or 1.9 percent, to $1,311.10 an ounce. The price of crude oil rose 29 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $99.75 a barrel. — AP

TUNIS: Tourists strolling through the souks of the medina of Tunis. Tunisia is working against the clock to salvage its 2014 tourist season after three turbulent years, by revamping the country’s image — with the help of online media and a few Star Wars characters. — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

BUSINESS

Samsung achieves formidable mobile sales growth in Kuwait KUWAIT: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, yesterday released its most recent mobile phone sales growth figures in Kuwait which recorded a remarkable 41.8 percent growth from 2012 to 2013. This growth was fueled by the wide acceptance of Samsung’s successful line-up of smartphones in the country.

The company has performed exceptionally well in the rest of the GCC markets. In the Gulf, Samsung recorded a 42.2 percent increase from 2012 to 2013 following the launch of the Galaxy

S4, Galaxy Note 3 and its comprehensive portfolio of mid-range feature phones and smartphones. Assessing the numbers, Hayssam Yassine, Head of Telecommunications Group at Samsung Gulf Electronics said, “The mobile phone market in Kuwait is developing exponentially, and Samsung has kept up by doubling down on innovative features and superior hardware across all of our mobile phone lines.”

“Last year, we introduced a range of mobile phones to the market that were intelligently

designed to seamlessly integrate into the lives of our customers-whether they were looking to get the best in gaming, viewing, or photographyand to do so at different price points,” Yassine said. “These numbers show that our efforts have been successful, and are on par with what people really want from their handhelds”.

Samsung has made its mark by manufacturing phones for every demographic, and has increasingly become known for leading the market through user inspired innovation.

The new 2014 Dodge Durango DUBAI: The Chairman of the UAE Banking Federation Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair, the Chief Manager, Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of the UAE Habib Kazim and NBK Group CEO Isam Al-Sager cutting the ribbon.

NBK opens its new UAE Head Office in Dubai UAE CB chief patronizes ceremony KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) yesterday (March 24, 2014) opened its new Head Office in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai under the patronage of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the UAE Banking Federation Abdul Aziz AlGhurair, the Chief Manager, Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of the UAE Habib Kazim, NBK Group CEO Isam Al-Sager and NBK officials.

“The opening of the new UAE Head Office in Dubai comes in line with NBK strategy to strengthen grow its position in the regional markets, especially the UAE and other GCC markets that offer growth opportunities,” said Al Sager. “The UAE enjoys positive economic prospects and we are glad to reinforce our presence in the UAE market.”

Tareq Al-Mudhaf, NBK UAE General Manager, said that “NBK has been present in the UAE market since 2008 and, last year, it opened a new branch in Abu Dhabi, the second in the UAE. The opening of this new Head Office reflects NBK’s commitment to provide the best services and products to its growing customer

base in the UAE.” NBK’s new UAE Head Office is located in Latifa Tower on Skeikh Zayed road, Dubai. NBK provides its customers in the UAE with complete banking solutions including Murabaha deposits, corporate FX hedging solutions and mortgage services.

NBK has the widest banking presence with more than 170 branches worldwide.

NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai). Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

NBK continues to enjoy collectively the highest ratings from the three international rating agencies Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor’s. The Bank’s ratings are supported by its high capitalization, prudent lending policies, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to its highly recognized and very stable management team. NBK was also named among Global Finance’s list of the 50 safest banks in the world for the eighth consecutive time.

Group photo of the officials at the new head office

Elysees Lady Round: The dynamic companion for today’s active women

T

he present century salutes women of action - those who today are forging ahead in the professions and trades as well as in the arts and in sports, not to mention public service - without sacrificing an ounce of their femininity. Among the personal assistants they need is a watch that’s both operational and suitable around the clock.

For that, Balmain’s Elysées Lady Round fits the bill to perfection as the ideal companion piece to a busy life.

When good taste meets expertise, one name comes to mind: Pierre Balmain. Born in the world of Parisian haute couture, he redefined the fashion codes of his time. Today, his heritage is celebrated by a watch brand belonging to a major Swiss group. This heritage gifts Montres Balmain with technical and commercial resources, along with historical watch-making expertise.

This combination of resources has led to the development of the Elysées Lady Round line in the Downtown collection, with over a dozen models designed for today’s fast-

paced life. They all sport a round case 34 mm in diameter and less than 7 mm thick, perfectly attuned to an active life.

The case itself houses a Swiss quartz movement displaying the three main time functions plus a date calendar. Made of stainless steel, the case is sometimes enhanced with a yellow PVD bezel, set with 60 diamonds on a few models - the sort of discreet touch of luxury often found on Pierre Balmain’s own creations. Watch faces display styling to match the case’s own solid good looks. Some feature white mother-of-pearl enhanced with 12 diamond markers, others a black sunray brushed finish or silvery finish with a classic Balmain modern arabesque.

Easy to read, easy to like...

Elysées Lady Round watches come with either a black near-leather strap or a steel bracelet, sometimes with yellow PVD center links. So an Elysées Lady Round on the wrist says a lot about its wearer’s personality - a go-getter, charging ahead in today’s competitive world.

The ultimate no compromise SUV raises the bar for performance KUWAIT: The Dodge brand is upping the ante in the fast-growing full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and crossover segments with the introduction of the new 2014 Dodge Durango.

This new SUV is built on the Dodge brand’s pillars of performance, style and innovation, delivering a new standard state-of-the-art class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission that improves fuel economy up to 9 percent, the Chrysler Group’s award-winning Uconnect easy-to-use touchscreen technologies and the Dodge brand’s signature racetrack LED tail lamps to driving enthusiasts in the market for a three-row family performance SUV. When Dodge re-introduced the Durango in 2011, it immediately earned accolades from customers and critics alike. Its combination of sleek yet muscular lines, comfortable three-row seating, large cargo volume, class-leading power, driving range and towing capability and overall driving enjoyment was unlike anything ever seen in the SUV segment before. For the 2014 model, the engineers and designers at Dodge have made the ultimate “no compromise” SUV even better.

The latest Dodge Durango takes everything that customers love about Durango and adds the latest advancements in technology to enhance its design, capability and functionality. With a new standard eight-speed automatic transmission, improved fuel economy and performance, new LED exterior lighting, two new interior touchscreens, a new programmable instrument cluster, and an available high-definition dual-screen Blu-ray entertainment system, the 2014 Dodge Durango reaches even higher levels of sophistication building on its proven performance, utility and comfort.

“When the Durango was first launched in 1998, it represented a breakthrough in power, size and style,” said Jack Rodencal, Managing Director of Fiat Chrysler Middle East. “Now for 2014, we’re upping the ante by making it our most technologically advanced, fuel efficient and dramatically styled Durango ever. With countless class-exclusive features and best-in-class attributes, the latest Durango represents the ultimate no-compromise full-size SUV.” The 2014 Durango offers a host of premium features, such as high-end interiors, the latest infotainment technology and impressive powertrain options, along with exterior design that is distinctively Dodge.

High-tech exterior look The Dodge Design team went to work to create a new exterior that conveys how advanced the Durango is, while maintaining the muscular body and confident personality customers expect from Dodge. The new face of Durango is still distinctly Dodge and features a new, slimmer “split crosshair” grille with mesh textures unique to each trim level. Combined with the redesigned projector-beam headlamps and a raised front bumper, the 2014 Dodge Durango has an even more sinister look than the previous model. Durango’s sculpted hood and grille complete the unique to Dodge forward-leaning profile that continues through the deeply browed headlamps.

For a more monochromatic appearance, the R/T is equipped with dark-tinted headlamp bezels, body-color front and rear lower fascias, wheel flares, grille and sill moldings, all of which are unique to this package.

The R/T’s ride height has also been lowered by 20mm, further enhancing its sporty appearance and driving dynamics.

The 2014 Dodge Durango now features projector beam headlamps, with LED daytime running lamps on Limited, R/T and Citadel models. The LED lamps run horizontally along the bottom edge of the headlamp and form a unique “hockey-stick” shape. Bi-xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps are standard on R/T and Citadel, turning night into day, while autolevelling technology adjusts the headlight beam aim for slight changes in elevation.

The new front-end design features new projector fog lamps and fog lamp surrounds and matching crosshair grille texture. Combined with the taller front bumper, the new lower fascia gives the 2014 Dodge Durango a wider and more aggressive look. In line with Dodge Charger, the side profile of the Durango maintains its powerful shape, accented by muscular fender arches and curves that flow back in through the doors, resembling the iconic shape of a coke bottle.

The greenhouse of the new Durango blends seamlessly into the body, and a body-color rear spoiler significantly reduces drag while adding visual drama to the side profile. The 2014 Dodge Durango also receives allnew 18” and 20” aluminum wheel designs for every trim level.

The rear of the Durango sees the addition of the dramatic LED racetrack tail lamp design inspired by the Dodge Charger. Still immediately recognizable as a Durango, this latest evolution of the racetrack design features a new technology that blends the individual LEDs into one seamless looking ribbon of light. In total, there are 192 LEDs in the new tail lamp assembly that give Durango a presence on the street and make it instantly recognizable as a Dodge. The rear fascia has been re-sculpted to fully integrate the trailer hitch. This gives Dodge Durango a cleaner, more premium look.

Large 3.5-inch (88.9mm) dual exhaust tips are standard on V8 equipped vehicles, while V6 powered Durango models have a 3-inch (76.2mm) single tip.

A driver’s three-row SUV The new 2014 Durango continues to deliver excitement and refinement with world-class suspension and performance. Benchmarked against premium performance SUV’s in the market, Durango delivers modern refinement with electronics, suspension and structural characteristics that are usually found at much higher price points.

The unibody structure is built with a selection of high-strength and ultra-high strength steels that improve driving dynamics by integrating the suspension with the body - reducing flex and weight when compared with body-on-frame designs.

The short/long arm front suspension and isolated multi-link rear suspension features isolated front and rear cradles to deliver precise on-road handling and

comfort. The four-wheel independent suspension, combined with the Durango’s nearly 50/50 weight distribution, transmits to a solid driving feel and fun-todrive characteristics.

Dodge Durango delivers on the pavement with aggressive shock and spring rates and large sway bars to handle body roll in hard turning manoeuvers.

Electro-hydraulic power steering, unique caster and camber settings along with standard electronic stability control also contribute to maintain tyre grip and vehicle stability.

The 2014 Dodge Durango’s rear-wheel-drive-based drivetrain is the foundation for its outstanding on-road driving performance. Available all-wheel drive (AWD) further enhances driver confidence by leveraging the SUV’s 50/50 weight distribution.

The Durango’s two AWD systems - one for the HEMI(r) V8 and one for Pentastar V6-powered models greatly enhance the vehicle’s traction and handling by delivering a smooth driving experience on a wide range of road conditions. While competitors have switched to front-wheel-drive car-based platforms, the HEMI-powered AWD Durango features a low-range transfer case with a neutral position. Low range improves light off-road performance and helps ease manoeuvers, such as pulling a boat up a steep launch or backing up with a trailer. The neutral position in the transfer case allows the vehicle to be flat-towed without damaging powertrain components.

A robust structure, impressive braking and unexpected stability also contribute to the Durango’s bestin-class trailer tow capability. On models equipped with the Pentastar V6 engine, the Durango can tow up to 6,200 pounds (2,812kgs). When coupled with the 5.7-litre HEMI(r) V8 engine, the new 2014 Dodge Durango offers trailer tow capability of up to 7,400 pounds (3,356kgs) - more weight than a 24-foot boat and trailer, and up to 65 percent more than the competition.

two shift elements are open at any time. With fewer open shift elements, drag losses due to multiple parts rotating relative to one another are reduced, improving fuel efficiency.

All-new class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission The new 2014 Dodge Durango now features Chrysler Group’s new eight-speed automatic transmission with rotary shifter and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters as standard equipment on all models.

This state-of-the-art transmission improves fuel economy up to 9 percent, along with enhanced performance and smoother shifts. All these attributes perfectly enhance Durango’s fun-to-drive nature.

Fully electronic, the eight-speed automatic features on-the-fly shift map changing, with manual shifting capability using steering-wheel paddle controls. More than 40 individual shift maps for specific conditions optimize shift quality and shift points for fuel economy, performance and drivability. The intelligent software is attuned to the performance requirements of almost any driving demand.

The transmission efficiency and wide ratio spread provide the best possible fuel economy by operating at a lower engine rpm in both city and highway environments. The addition of more gear ratios also helps reduce the gaps normally associated with upshifting and downshifting.

Gear changes are nearly imperceptible due to the evenly spaced gear steps between each gear ratio.

Internally, the transmission has four gear sets and five shift elements (multi-disc clutches and brakes). Only

Advanced interior with premium craftsmanship For 2014, Dodge designers have brought Durango to the forefront of technology in the three-row SUV segment, while taking nothing away from the utility and build quality for which Durango is known.

The new instrument panel features a redesigned centre stack that houses the new 5” (127mm) or 8.4” (213.4mm) Uconnect touchscreens. Under these large, easy-to-use touchscreens are traditional button and knob controls for audio and climate functions. The bottom of the centre stack houses a new media hub with an SD card slot, USB outlet and auxiliary jacks, as well as a storage bin.

The centre console features a new segment-first rotary shifter for the standard eight-speed automatic that adds another level of refinement over the traditional gated automatic shifter. Manual shift functions have moved to paddle shifters on the back of the Durango’s new steering wheel. These paddle shifters are standard on all 2014 Dodge Durango models. The instrument cluster has also been given the high-tech treatment and now includes a full colour 7-inch (177.8mm) thin-film transistor (TFT) screen. Standard on all models, this screen allows drivers to customize how information is presented in more than 100 ways.

Framing the new instrument cluster is a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with standard paddle shifters.

Powertrain Choices Named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for three years, Durango’s standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine paired with the new standard eight-speed transmission delivers up to a 9 percent improvement in fueleconomy when compared with the previous transmission, not to mention improved performance. The standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine generates an impressive 290hp, 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and can tow up to a best-in-class 6,200 pounds (2,812kgs).

The 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine produces a best-inclass 360hp and 390 lb.-ft. of torque with a best-inclass tow rating of 7,400 pounds (3,356kgs). The 5.7litre engine’s Fuel Saver Technology with cylinderdeactivation seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V8 mode when more power is in demand. This optimizes fuel economy when V8 power is not required, without sacrificing vehicle performance or capability.

All-new eco mode The 2014 Dodge Durango features a new Eco Mode that contributes to its improved fuel economy. Eco Mode optimizes the transmission’s shift schedule, as well as throttle sensitivity, and Fuel Saver Technology with cylinder deactivation in V8 models, to maximize fuel economy. The Eco Mode also manages interactive deceleration fuel shut-off (IDFSO), which cuts fuel delivery when the vehicle is coasting to reduce fuel consumption. Eco Mode is automatically engaged upon vehicle startup. A button on the Durango’s centre stack allows drivers to disengage Eco Mode if more spirited performance is desired.

Warba Bank postpones its annual general assembly KUWAIT: Warba Bank postponed its Annual General Assembly on March 24, 2014 to discuss its financial statements for the year ending 31 December, 2013, in addition to other

items on the agenda. The General Assembly has been postponed due to lack of legal quorum required. The Annual General Assembly will be held again on March, 31, 2014.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

technology

US news readers less engaged when referred by Facebook NEW YORK: Readers of some of the top US news sites are more engaged when they go directly to the website rather than through Facebook, according to a study from the Pew Research Center released yesterday. The research found that users who come directly to a news site spend about three times as long per visit, or almost five minutes on average. Those who find the news by searching or through Facebook spend about two minutes.

Direct visitors also view about five times as many pages per month as those coming through Facebook referrals or through search engines such as Google Inc. The study is revealing because increasingly news organizations are relying on social media

platforms to distribute content especially to reach younger readers. And yet the research shows that those readers who come to an article or video through Facebook are younger and more fickle in their loyalties.

The Pew study, conducted in collaboration with the John S and James L Knight Foundation, analyzed Internet traffic from online measurement firm comScore Inc to 26 of the most popular news sites during April, May and June of 2013. They included sites owned by Yahoo Inc, AOL Inc’s Huffington Post, Twenty-First Century Fox Inc’s Fox News, the New York Times Co, BuzzFeed and the BBC. The report looked at three ways people come to news articles: directly, through Facebook and

through searching. The study analyzed the online reading behavior of 1 million people who use desktop or laptop computers. Data from a smaller group of readers on smartphones and mobile devices suggested a similar pattern, the authors said.

“Converting social media or search eyeballs to dedicated readers is difficult to do,” the authors of the report wrote. “Even sites such as digital native BuzzFeed and National Public Radio’s npr.org, which have an unusually high level of Facebook traffic, saw much greater engagement from those who came in directly.”

Some of the sites that exhibited high levels of engagement included Foxnews.com, where the

average visitor spent almost eight minutes per visit. By comparison, the average visitor to CNN spent about a minute and a half. The range of sites getting referral traffic from Facebook varied. The New York Times for instance gets 37 percent of its traffic from direct visitors and only 7 percent from Facebook.

BuzzFeed receives 32 percent of its referrals directly while 50 percent are from Facebook.

“Facebook and search are critical for bringing added eyeballs to individual stories, and they do so in droves,” the authors wrote. “But the connection a news organization has with any individual coming to their website via search or Facebook is quite limited.” — Reuters

E-commerce revolution drives European retail Shopping habits favor convenience

THIMPU: A Bhutanese resident speaks on his mobile phone as he stands on a street in Thimpu. — AFP

‘Shangri-La’ Bhutan gets modern makeover with new smartphones THIMPU: Sitting in his office in Bhutan’s sleepy capital, newspaper editor Tenzing Lamsang muses on the dramatic impact of cell phone technology on a remote Himalayan kingdom known as the “last Shangri-La”. “Bhutan is jumping from the feudal age to the modern age,” said Lamsang, editor of The Bhutanese biweekly and online journal. “It’s bypassing the industrial age.” As the last country in the world to get television and one which measures its performance with a “Gross National Happiness” yardstick, Bhutan might have been expected to be a hold-out against mobile technology.

While monks clad in traditional saffron robes remain a common sight on the streets of the capital Thimpu, they now have to dodge cell phone users whose eyes are glued to their screens. It has a largely rural population of just 750,000, but Bhutan’s two cellular networks have 550,000 subscribers. And the last official figures in 2012 showed more than 120,000 Bhutanese had some kind of mobile Internet connectivity. Wedged between China and India, the sparselypopulated “Land of the Thunder Dragon” only got its first television sets in 1999, at a time when less than a quarter of households had electricity.

Thanks to a massive investment in hydropower in the following decadeand-a-half, nearly every household is now hooked up to the electricity grid.

The radical change in lifestyle has coincided with an equally dramatic transformation of the political system, with the monarchy ceding absolute power and allowing democratic elections in 2008.

The second nationwide elections took place last year, bringing Tshering Tobgay, a charismatic former civil servant, into office. In a recent interview with AFP, Tobgay underlined how he regarded technology as a force for good and not something to be resisted. “Technology is not

destructive. It’s good and can contribute to prosperity for Bhutan,” the prime minister said. “Cellular phones became a reality 10 years ago. We adopted it very well, almost everybody has a cellular phone, that’s the reality.” The prime minister’s own Facebook page has more than 25,000 followers who can get updates on everything from his talks with Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to photos of police recruits in training.

Influencing government Lamsang says social media had “a largely positive role” to play in the fledgling democracy as a way of raising awareness in government circles about a range of issues. He said there were now 80,000 Facebook users and the number was rising by the day. “That gives you an idea of how popular the Internet has become in such a short time, he explained. As the number of households with Internet connections remain limited, Bhutan has seen a proliferation of cybercafes.

Jigme Tamang, an employee at Norling Cyber World in Thimpu, says the best time of year for business comes when students need to check their exam results and then register online for courses. “We are a little bit worried about the rise of smartphones, because if people can connect through them they will not come here to use our system,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old Suraj Biswa said his smartphone was a fundamental part of his life.”With my smartphone linked to the Internet, I can use Facebook and various software for editing photos,” said Biswa, a high school student from Samtse in southern Bhutan. “I use Facebook to exchange with friends or relatives abroad. For example I have cousins in Nepal-without Internet and Facebook I cannot communicate with them.” — AFP

LONDON: European retailers are flocking to list in 2014 but traditional high-street chains are notable by their absence, replaced instead by the online, discount and convenience players that are shaking up shopping. The flood of retail initial public offerings (IPOs) after a long drought is partly driven by recovering consumer confidence, but also by the fundamental changes wrought on the industry by the advent of e-commerce and shifting shopping habits. “There is definitely a degree of optimism that hasn’t been seen for some time,” said Kate Ball-Dodd, a partner at law firm Mayer Brown who advises companies listing in London.

“The IPOs also reflect expectations of what the retail market will look like in coming years.”

Appetite for new listings-particularly of British firms is supported by hopes of a return to growth in retail sales in western Europe in 2014 after years of decline.

Robert Foster, co-head of European consumer and retail at investment bank Jefferies, said there had been as many British retail offerings in the past six months as there were in the previous 10 years, noting there were many more to come. “For the first time in a long time, public investors are getting real access to all this innovation, entrepreneurship and growth,” he told the Retail Week Live conference.

Limited liquidity Foster advised one of the highest-profile recent listings, that of online domestic appliances retailer AO World, which jumped about 40 percent on its debut last month as investors bet it could mimic the success of fashion e-commerce site ASOS. It is still up about 30 percent. ASOS shares have more than doubled in the last year, helped by the fact that there are few listed online retailers for investors looking for exposure to booming e-commerce, seen doubling in Europe between 2012 and 2018. While e-commerce expands, most highstreet stores, apart from discounters and high-end

retailers, have stagnant sales.

ASOS trades on 84 times expected earnings, compared to a fashion sector average of just 19 times. Meanwhile, AO World is trading at a rich value of 140 times enterprise value to EBITDA, almost double ASOS on 78.5, according to Eikon data. In comparison UK high street stalwart Marks & Spencer trades at an EV/EBITDA of 7.6. Part of the online valuation boom is down to a lack of supply. The listings of Indian e-commerce venture Koovs and fashion retailer boohoo.com on Friday added to only a small number of listed online retailers.

But Foster said UK retail “growth” companies expected to list this year would probably only add about 4 billion pounds ($6.6 billion) of additional liquidity to a market of less than 20 billion pounds. “This remains a very small opportunity set,” he said, noting that pure online stocks were up 150 percent since last January, outperforming a retail sector rise of about 15 percent. “As seen in the US market, we expect growth companies to continue to be rewarded for a long time to come.”

Those dynamics would likely drive investor appetite if Europe’s biggest online fashion retailer Zalando decides to proceed with a multi-billion euro float this year in what could be the continent’s biggest technology offering since 2000.

Another potential IPO candidate is the Cdiscount online business of French retailer Casino.

However, some observers urge caution given lofty valuations for e-commerce, particularly as established chains fight back with their own online sales, leveraging store networks to provide more flexible delivery options than pure players.

“People forget it is difficult to make money selling online,” said Sophie Albizua, a former investment banker who co-founded eNova Partnership, a consultancy that advises traditional retailers on e-commerce. “Just like in the early 2000s, you have to wonder if it is sound investment if you can’t make money out of it,” she said,

referring to the bursting of a bubble in listed Internet companies that ultimately failed to turn a profit. ASOS made a pre-tax profit last year of 55 million pounds. According to their listing documents, boohoo made pre-tax profit of 3.2 million pounds while AO made 8.7 million.

Cautious consumers Those nervous about e-commerce might choose to seek exposure to a more down-toearth retail trend which has its roots in the recession-the growth of discount stores. Poundland, which sells items for a pound, rose by a third when it listed on Wednesday. Another discounter expected to come to market this year is B&M chaired by former Tesco boss Terry Leahy.

“Six years after the downturn started, consumers are still quite cautious,” said Euromonitor retail expert Daniel Latev. “Poundland is not as international as some online retailers but it has quite a lot of opportunity for development in countries like Ireland and Spain.” Another trend of shopping more frequently at local stores has helped shares in McColl’s, the British convenience and newsagent retailer, hold up since floating last month, outperforming the European retail index.

Another recent expansion focus for European retailers - emerging markets - has been looking less attractive for listings in recent months as expectations of tightening US monetary policy has triggered capital outflows. German retailer Metro’s plan for an imminent stock market listing of a stake in its Russian wholesale business is under threat because of market turmoil over the crisis in Ukraine, sources told Reuters last week.

The Ukraine crisis overshadowed last month’s debut of Russian hypermarket chain Lenta, which is down 8 percent since listing. Carrefour has said it would decide by the end of the year whether it would sell a stake in its business in Brazil, its largest market after France, or proceed with an initial public offer of shares in 2015. — Reuters

This photo shows the video game, “Guacamelee!” At last week’s Game Developers Conference, independent game makers - those risk-taking tinkerers who self-publish their own titles - were again a dominant force. After capturing legitimacy in recent years, the biggest challenge now facing these upstarts is no longer figuring out how to make, fund or publish their creative visions, but convincing people to play their games.— AP

California to finish driverless car rules

TOKYO: This picture shows Sony’s hard disc audio player system, the “HAP-S1”, and speaker system “SS-HA1” in Tokyo. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: California is trying to do something unusual in this age of rapidly evolving technology - get ahead of a big new development before it goes public. By the end of the year, the Department of Motor Vehicles must write rules to regulate cars that rely on computers - not the owner - to do the driving. That process began Tuesday, when the DMV held an initial public hearing in Sacramento to puzzle over how to regulate the vehicles that haven’t been fully developed yet. Among the complex questions officials sought to unravel: How will the state know the cars are safe? Does a driver even need to be behind the wheel? Can manufacturers mine data from onboard computers to make product pitches based on where the car goes or set insurance rates based on how it is driven?

Do owners get docked points on their license if they send a car to park itself and it slams into another vehicle? Once the stuff of science fiction, driverless cars could be commercially available by decade’s end. Under a California law passed in 2012, the DMV must decide by the end of this year how to integrate the cars - often called autonomous vehicles onto public roads. That means the regulation’s writers will post draft language regulations

around June, then alter the rules in response to public comment by fall in order to get them finalized by the end of 2014.

Three other states have passed driverless car laws, but those rules mostly focus on testing.

California has mandated rules on testing and public operation, and the DMV expects within weeks to finalize regulations dictating what companies must do to test the technology on public roads. Those rules came after Google Inc had already sent its fleet of Toyota Priuses and Lexuses, fitted with an array of sensors including radar and lasers, hundreds of thousands of miles in California. Major automakers also have tested their own models.

Now, the DMV is scrambling to regulate the broader use of the cars. With the federal government apparently years away from developing regulations, California’s rules could effectively become the national standard. Much of the initial discussion Tuesday focused on privacy concerns. California’s law requires autonomous vehicles to log records of operation so the data can be used to reconstruct an accident. But the cars “must not become another way to track us in our daily lives,” John M Simpson of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog said at the hearing.

Simpson called out Google, saying the Internet

giant rebuffed attempts to add privacy guarantees when it pushed the 2012 legislation mandating rules on testing and public operation.

‘Self-driving car’ project Seated across from Simpson at the hearing’s head tables was a representative from Google, who offered no comment on the data privacy issue. Discussion also touched on how to know a car is safe, and whether an owner knows how to properly operate it. Ron Medford, Google’s director of safety for its “self-driving car” project, suggested that manufacturers should be able to self-certify that their cars are safe. He cautioned that it would get complicated quickly if the state tried to assume that role.

In initial iterations, human drivers would be expected to take control in an instant if the computer systems fail. Unlike current technology - which can help park a car or keep it in its freeway lane - owners might eventually be able to read, daydream or even sleep while the car did the work. Responding to a question received over Twitter, DMV attorney Brian Soublet acknowledged that the department is still grappling with the most fundamental question of whether a person will need to be in the driver’s seat. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Guinea scrambles to contain deadly Ebola outbreak CONAKRY: Aid workers and medics battled yesterday to contain west Africa’s first outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus as tests on suspected cases in Conakry allayed fears that it had spread to the capital. More than 60 people have died in an outbreak of the virulent virus raging through Guinea’s southern forests but tests on three haemorrhagic fever cases two of them fatal-in Conakry were negative, the government said.

“The Pasteur Institute in Dakar worked urgently all last night on samples taken from suspected cases here in Conakry which were all negative,” said Sakoba Keita, the health ministry’s chief disease prevention officer. “So for now, there’s no Ebola in Conakry, but haemorrhagic fever whose nature remains to be determined.” The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement on Sunday that the Ebola virus “has quickly spread from the communities of Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou to the capital, Conakry.” Keita said however that the

Pasteur Institute was still working on identifying the virus behind the fever cases in the capital and would know more “in the coming hours”. Officials from the health ministry and the World Health Organization met on Sunday in Conakry for urgent talks on the crisis.

“From January to March 23 Guinea has recorded a total of 87 suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever, including 61 deaths,” they said in a statement yesterday, indicating that most cases had been reported in the south of the west African country.

Virus overwhelms immune system The first analyses of samples conducted by the Pasteur Institute in the French city of Lyon showed that the cases in the south of Guinea were due to Ebola virus. To date, no treatment or vaccine is available for Ebola, which kills between 25 and 90 percent of those who fall sick, depending on the strain of the virus, according to the World Health

Organization. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with blood, faeces or sweat, or by sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses. UNICEF said on Sunday at least three victims of the outbreak were children and eight health workers had been among the first to die after treating infected patients. The organization urged Guineans not to attend funerals wherever possible and to avoid all contact with the sick and the dead.

Ebola, one of the world’s most virulent diseases, was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1976 and the country has suffered eight outbreaks.

The most recent epidemic, also in the DRC, infected 62 people and left 34 dead between May and November 2012, according to the country’s health ministry. Although there have also been outbreaks among humans in Uganda, CongoBrazzaville and Gabon, the disease had never before been detected in people in west Africa. According

to researchers, the virus multiplies quickly, overwhelming the immune system’s ability to fight the infection.

Aid organization Plan International warned that the epidemic risked spreading to neighboring countries. “Communities in the affected region stretch across the borders and people move freely within this area. This poses a serious risk of the epidemic becoming widespread with devastating consequences,” Ibrahima Toure, Plan’s country director in Guinea, said in a statement.

“Communities, especially children, in the border areas between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are vulnerable and need immediate support. A large scale preventive action will need to be put in place rapidly,” he added. Plan said that its staff in southern Guinea were reporting that there was a “strong fear” of Ebola among locals. “A few people have even left the affected area for Conakry,” Mamady Drame, Plan’s program unit manager in Macenta, said. — AFP

32,000 kids infected with drug-resistant TB 2m people worldwide may be infected by 2015

DHAKA: Bangladeshi fisherman feed their otters as they catch fish in Narail some 208 kms from Dhaka. — AFP

Bangladesh’s otter fishing tradition faces extinction NARAIL: Swimming in circles alongside a fishing boat, the excited cries of two short-haired otters ring out across a river in southern Bangladesh that feeds into the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. The fishermen lower a net into the water close to the banks of the river, and one by one, tails up, the animals dive under the water with a splash.

It is a rare technique that relies on coordination between man and trained otters, a centuries-old fishing partnership that has already long died out in other parts of Asia. “Our job depends on the otters,” says Shashudhar Biswas, a fisherman in his 50s, whose family has trained the animals to help them fish for generations. The otters do not catch the fish themselves, instead they chase them towards the fishing net placed next to the boat. “ The otters manage to spot fish among the plants, then the fish swim away and we stay close with our nets. If we did it without them, we wouldn’t be able to catch as many fish,” says Shashudhar’s son Vipul, standing as he steers the boat along the leafy canal.

Fishing is usually done during the night when the fishermen can expect to catch between four and 12 kilograms (8.8 and 26 pounds) of fish, shrimp and crabs. The family earns around 250 dollars a month selling their catch at the local market.

But in recent years, once abundant fish are increasingly scarce and when they drag up the nets they are often empty.

“The kinds of fish we used to find with our father, we don’t see here anymore,” says Vipul.

‘Wiped out’ Natural fish populations have reduced drastically in recent years, says Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz, a zoology professor at Dhaka’s Jahangirnagar

University, because “the fish simply cannot breed”. “Over-sedimentation, water pollution from oil and the use of pesticides in (rice) paddy fields, as well as over catching are all having an impact,” Feeroz told AFP. Feeroz has been studying otter fishing in Bangladesh for 25 years and over this period the number of families involved has dropped from 500 to just 150. “Go back 50 years and the practice has declined by about 90 percent,” he says. If the trend continues he believes otter fishing will be “completely wiped out” within the next two decades. Though still in his 20s, fisherman Vipul is equally pessimistic. “If there are no fish, then there’s no point in having the otter fishing system,” he says.

“Just look at my family’s situation. My brothers and sisters, they all want to study. They don’t want to get into the river and catch fish. If they study then they will obviously move out of the village to find better jobs or they will buy fish from the wholesale and sell them,” he adds. He worries that his only source of income will soon no longer be profitable. Each month almost half of his earnings are spent on feeding his five otters two fully trained adults and three young apprentices-who consume 3-4 kilograms of fish a day. And wildlife experts fear it is not only the livelihoods of the fishing families that are under threat. Short-haired otters are an endangered species in Bangladesh and otter fishing plays a key role in their conservation, according to Feeroz. “The captive population here is very healthy because of the fishing,” he says. Sometimes fishermen release otters into the wild which strengthens that population, research shows. “But as the practice gradually decreases, the wild population will face increased pressure,” he adds. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Kavi, a male Sumatran Tiger, takes a drink from the pool in his enclosure at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. — AFP

CHICAGO: As many as 32,000 children worldwide become sick each year with a drug-resistant “superbug” strain of tuberculosis, according to new estimates by US researchers that for the first time quantify rates of this difficult-to-treat form of TB. Overall, as many as 1 million children become sick with TB each year, about twice the number previously thought, and of these, only a third of the cases are ever diagnosed, the study found.

“A huge proportion (of children) are suffering and dying from TB unnecessarily,” said Helen Jenkins of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of Global Health Equity, the lead statistician on the study published on Sunday in the Lancet. The findings, published as part of a special theme issue of Lancet to commemorate World TB Day on March 24, offer the clearest picture yet of the global burden of tuberculosis among its youngest victims, and for the first time estimate the burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis or MDR-TB. “Despite children comprising approximately one quarter of the world’s population, there have been no previous estimates of how many suffer from MDR-TB disease,” said Dr Ted Cohen,

also of the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a co-author on the paper.

For decades, researchers had largely ignored tuberculosis infections in young children, in part because children are less likely to transmit the disease than adults.

TB infections are especially hard to diagnose in children because the infection looks different in children than adults. The disease is caused by bacteria that typically attacks the lungs and is often spread through the air when people who have an active infection cough. Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs and is spread through the air when people who have an active infection cough.

“In kids, you are much more likely to have TB disease in other parts of the body, not necessarily in the lungs,” Jenkins said. Even when children do have TB in their lungs, there are fewer TB pathogens present, “making kids with TB invisible” to current diagnostic methods, she said. To arrive at their estimates, Jenkins and colleagues scoured publicly available databases and devised a way to correct for chronic underreporting of TB in children.

“What we found was that whereas previous

estimates for the total number of TB cases in kids were about half a million, when you account for (underreporting) in your estimates, it’s more like 1 million children develop active TB disease ever y year,” she said. The World Health Organization estimates that 8.6 million people developed TB in 2012 and 1.3 million died from the disease. According to the WHO, half a million people became sick with dangerous superbug strains of tuberculosis in 2012, it estimates that up to 2 million people worldwide may be infected with drug-resistant TB by 2015.

Keeping track of TB rates in children is important for two reasons, Jenkins said. First, children with drug-sensitive forms of TB generally respond ver y well to treatment. Second, because TB disease develops very quickly in children, often within weeks of exposure, finding an infected child can offer key clues about TB transmission within a community. “That’s telling you you’ve got some kind of system failure going on there,” Jenkins said. She said the findings illustrate the need for better methods of collecting data on childhood TB, including better diagnostics and more systematic data collection. — Reuters

Warming is big risk for people TOKYO: Top climate scientists are gathering in Japan this week to finish up a report on the impact of global warming. And they say if you think climate change is only faced by some faroff polar bear decades from now, well, you’re mistaken. In fact, they will say, the dangers of a warming Earth are immediate and very human.

“The polar bear is us,” says Patricia Romero Lankao of the federally financed National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, referring to the first species to be listed as threatened by global warming due to melting sea ice.

She will be among the more than 60 scientists in Japan to finish writing a massive and authoritative report on the impacts of global warming. With representatives from about 100 governments at this week’s meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, they’ll wrap up a summary that tells world leaders how bad the problem is. The key message from leaked drafts and interviews with the authors and other scientists: The big risks and overall effects of global warming are far more immediate and local than scientists once thought. It’s not just about melting ice, threatened animals and plants. It’s about the human problems of hunger, disease, drought, flooding, refugees and war, becoming worse. The report says scientists have already observed many changes from warming, such as an increase in heat waves in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Severe floods, such as the one that displaced 90,000 people in Mozambique in 2008, are now more common in Africa and Australia. Europe and North America are getting more intense downpours that can be damaging. Melting ice in the Arctic is not only affecting the polar bear, but already changing the culture and livelihoods of indigenous people in northern Canada.

Past panel reports have been ignored because global warming’s effects seemed too distant in time and location, says Pennsylvania State University scientist Michael Mann. This report finds “It’s not far-off in the future and it’s not exotic creatures - it’s us and now,” says Mann, who didn’t work on this latest report. The United Nations established the climate change panel in 1988 and its work is done by three groups. One looks at the science behind global warming. The group meeting in Japan beginning Tuesday studies its impacts. And a third looks at ways to slow warming.

Extreme weather Its reports have reiterated what nearly every major scientific organization has said: The burning of coal, oil and gas is producing an increasing amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. Those gases change Earth’s climate, bringing warmer temperatures and more extreme weather, and the problem is worsening. The panel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, months after it issued its last report.

Since then, the impact group has been reviewing the latest research and writing 30 chapters on warming’s effects and regional impacts.

Those chapters haven’t been officially released but were posted on a skeptical website.

The key message can be summed up in one word that the overall report uses more than 5,000 times: risk. “Climate change really is a challenge in managing risks,” says the report’s chief author, Chris

NUSA DUA: In this file photo, Oxfam activists wearing polar bear costumes stage a demonstration outside the venue of the UN climate change conference in Indonesia. — AP Field of the Carnegie Institution of Science in California. “It’s very clear that we are not prepared for the kind of events we’re seeing.”

Already the effects of global warming are “widespread and consequential,” says one part of the larger report, noting that science has compiled more evidence and done much more research since the last report in 2007. If climate change continues, the panel’s larger report predicts these harms: VIOLENCE: For the first time, the panel is emphasizing the nuanced link between conflict and warming temperatures. Participating scientists say warming won’t cause wars, but it will add a destabilizing factor that will make existing threats worse.

FOOD: Global food prices will rise between 3 and 84 percent by 2050 because of warmer temperatures and changes in rain patterns. Hotspots of hunger may emerge in cities.

WATER: About one-third of the world’s population will see groundwater supplies drop by more than 10 percent by 2080, when compared with 1980 levels. For every degree of warming, more of the world will have significantly less water available.

HEALTH: Major increases in health problems are likely, with more illnesses and injury from heat waves and fires and more food and waterborne diseases. But the report also notes that warming’s effects on health is relatively small compared with other problems, like poverty.

WEALTH: Many of the poor will get poorer.

Economic growth and poverty reduction will slow down. If temperatures rise high enough, the world’s overall income may start to go down, by as much as 2 percent, but that’s difficult to forecast.

According to the report, risks from warmingrelated extreme weather, now at a moderate level, are likely to get worse with just a bit more warming. While it doesn’t say climate change

caused the events, the report cites droughts in northern Mexico and the south-central United States, and hurricanes such as 2012’s Sandy, as illustrations of how vulnerable people are to weather extremes. It does say the deadly European heat wave in 2003 was made more likely because of global warming.

Texas Tech University climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, who was not part of this report team, says the important nuance is how climate change interacts with other human problems: “It’s interacting and exacerbating problems we already have today.”

University of Colorado science policy professor Roger Pielke Jr, a past critic of the panel’s impact reports, said after reading the draft summary, “it’s a lot of important work... They made vast improvements to the quality of their assessments.” Another critic, University of Alabama Huntsville professor John Christy, accepts manmade global warming but thinks its risks are overblown when compared with something like poverty. Climate change is not among the developing world’s main problems, he says.

But other scientists say Christy is misguided.

Earlier this month, the world’s largest scientific organization, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, published a new fact sheet on global warming.

It said: “Climate change is already happening.

More heat waves, greater sea level rise and other changes with consequences for human health, natural ecosystems and agriculture are already occurring in the United States and worldwide.

These problems are very likely to become worse over the next 10 to 20 years and beyond.” Texas Tech’s Hayhoe says scientists in the past may have created the impression that the main reason to care about climate change was its impact on the environment. “We care about it because it’s going to affect nearly every aspect of human life on this planet,” she says. — AP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Experts warn over Nigerian ‘viagra’ drinks LAGOS: Nike Ajibade and three of her colleagues sit on a Lagos pavement with small plastic bottles of liquids tucked inside weather-beaten plastic buckets. The hidden bottles of so-called ‘viagra’ drinks sell for about $2 (1.4 euros) and are much soughtafter for their supposed aphrodisiac qualities. But medical professionals warn that rather than enhancing sexual prowess, regular users could be putting their long-term health at risk. “Sales are high because of good patronage,” Ajibade, 27, told AFP. “Most of my customers are manual labourers who need to boost their energy in bed after a hard day’s job under mostly inclement weather.” Hundreds of hawkers ply the bustling streets of Lagos and other Nigerian towns and cities selling such “viagra” drinks, despite their unknown and untested effects on the male sex drive. “They are creating health problems for themselves,” warned the dean of the University of Lagos’ faculty of pharmacy, Olukemi Odukoya. “Unknown to them, some of these liquids have chemical substances which can cause liver or kidney problems, which are very expensive and difficult to manage.”

A promise of sexual potency Viagra, taken to treat erectile dysfunction, costs between $5 and $11 per little blue pill in Nigeria-way beyond the means of most people who live on just $2 a day. As a result, that

creates a ready market for cheaper, apparent alternatives. Besides the locally produced $2 bottles, others are imported, including socalled Alomo bitters which come from Ghana.

The Ghanian liquid is a blend of rich medicinal herbs and roots that are believed to cure back pains and piles but are considered an aphrodisiac in Nigeria.

Bootleg versions of the drink-with 42 percent alcoholic content-are available in the local market for about $4 for a 750 milliliter bottle. Such drinks-all with names promising a nir vana of sexual potency-flood the Nigerian market every day, mostly via the country’s porous borders and seaports or past officials who turn a blind eye.

“I feel high and alright each time I have sex after consuming ‘koboko’ (horse whip) or ‘kondo’ (baton) drinks and my partner gives me a feeling of satisfaction,” said one young motor mechanic after buying a bottle. Similar “aphrodisiac” drinks are found in other West African countries such as Togo and Benin under names such “XXL”, “Rox” and “Atomic”, finding a ready market of young male consumers. There is no official control and medical warnings against their consumption are regularly ignored.

Unknown health risks A senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy studies at the University of Lagos, Aderemi Williams, said no known scientific studies

have been carried out on the drinks. But reports indicate they could be harmful. Most have not been tested or approved by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulator and accreditation can be faked by unscrupulous distributors. “We therefore can-

not vouch for their efficacy,” said the agency’s spokesman, Abubakar Jimoh.

“We are really concerned about the distribution of these illicit drugs and we are trying our best to put it in check.” Health professionals warned that possible side effects could include anaemia, increased risk of cancer and

LAGOS: Bottles of local “viagra” drinks for sale are pictured. — AFP

stroke, cirrhosis and reduced fertility, as well as enlargement of the prostate gland. “If they were good, we would have them on our hospital shelves, dispensaries and pharmacies,” said pharmacist Kunle Abifarin. “And I am sure that most of them are not formally approved by the regulatory agencies.”

Fertility problems Nigeria has a wider problem with fake and adulterated drugs, with officials estimating that more than 70 percent of medication is bogus. NAFDAC has arrested and prosecuted dozens of suspected dealers in counterfeit drugs and herbal products, destroyed seized goods and closed shops and warehouses where they were distributed, said Jimoh.

One University of Lagos clinical pharmacist said that instead of enhancing libido, regular drinkers of liquid aphrodisiacs may be risking their future fertility-and even life. “They (consumers of the drinks) are only courting cheap death and creating employment for grave diggers,” he added on condition of anonymity. But Moruf Adeyemi, 29, a mechanic in the rundown Lagos district of Obalende, is unperturbed about the potential risks-and is convinced that they aid his performance in bed.

“Each of us has to die somehow. I don’t believe the consumption of these sex-enhancing drinks has any side-effects,” he said. “My wife commends my performance in bed when I take them and that gives me joy.” — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

Wataniya Telecom celebrates Mother’s Day at 360 Mall

I

n recognition of the important role of mothers in their families and society, Wataniya Telecom, a member of Ooredoo Group, celebrated Mother’s Day at the 360 mall last Friday.

On this occasion, Wataniya Telecom stated “We normally celebrate many days throughout the year, and Mother’s Day is one of those important days that we cannot miss to celebrate. It’s a chance for families to get together and express appreciation and love for their mothers.

We made sure to come closer to our customers in this day as an integral part of our social responsibility and continuous support to all segments of our society.”

The event was a great success with the participation of both children and adults in the activities at the booth.

The crowd showed a great level of engagement with the activities on Wataniya’s booth. Everyone had the chance to received free gifts and cards written in Arabic calligraphy with their own words to give to their mothers.

Wataniya has also introduced a special one-day offer at its branches on the same day. Customers had the opportunity to get latest handsets at special prices.

This initiative was launched so that customers could purchase gifts for their family at competitive discounts.

ACK awards scholarships to high achievers

T

he Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has awarded six scholarships to highachieving Diploma students with fulltuition for a single semester. Students Fatima Ali, Rawan Ahmad, Nourhan Shaker, Rasha Safawi, Neshay Mall and Hrayr Sarkissian obtained their award in a ceremony held at the college with the presence of ACK’s President, Professor Mohamad Terro, and the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr Gad Elbeheri.

In announcing the scholarship recipients, the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr Gad Elbeheri commented: “I am extremely proud of our students who obtained the ACK scholarship based on their merit and hard work. ACK values excellence in teaching and learning and endeavors to prepare its students for the labor market equipped with necessary knowledge, skills and attitude that would enable them to contribute positively and effectively to the development of their communities. I am overjoyed

AIS students host ‘Ward Al-Funoon’

T

he Diploma Program students at the American International School of Kuwait had the opening of their culminating Visual Arts exhibition, ìWard Al-Funoonî at the AIS Art Gallery on March 11, 2014. The result of one-and-ahalf-years of effort in multiple media, the exhibition features over 50 exciting, conceptual thought-provoking artwork, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, digital media and installations.

You can follow them on instagram @wardalfunoon. The exhibition opening was a huge success with many VIPs attending to compliment and praise the studentsí efforts.

The American International School of Kuwait, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in the Visual Arts, is a rigorous two-year investigation of art

making, art criticism and art history.

Students engaged in this process select a concept that is deeply analyzed and investigated. Studentís interview and research artists of influence and artworks of inspiration, they focus on technical processes, and cultural and contextual meaning. Graduates of the AIS DP Visual Arts program are thoroughly equipped for university level study and beyond with tools that will serve them throughout their art careers. In 2013 our Visual Arts DP students were in the top five percent of the world ranking. They continued to be educated in the most prominent universities around the world. The Visual Artís IBO DP program at AIS encourages, and promotes students to be creative, conceptual thinkers.

that ACK is increasingly perceived as a college of choice for students wishing to study engineering and business with an emphasis on its practical curriculum focus and that, as apparent from the Scholarship winners, ACK is attracting outstanding students”.

ACK extends the merit scholarship award to new and existing Diploma students with outstanding academic qualifications in recognition of their hard work, efforts and perseverance. Each semester, the college invites high achieving students to apply for this academic scholarship whereby recipients are selected by the ACK scholarship committee.

ACK academic scholarships are available for existing and new students enrolled in Diploma level courses at the college. For more information, students may contact the Manager of the Registration Unit, and find more about ACK scholarships on the college’s website.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

Al-Sayer Group holds 7th blood donation campaign

D

riven by Al-Sayer Group Holding commitment to carry out its social duty and commitment to its social responsibility around the year to the Kuwaiti society, and belief in the importance of participating in such activities and contribution to the promotion of health awareness and highlighting the importance of blood donation at both social and health levels.

Corporate Events and Quality Assurance Department at AlSayer Group Holding, one of the biggest business groups in Kuwait, organized its 7th annual blood donation campaign in cooperation with Central Blood Bank. The campaign was held on March 17, where a large number of the group employees from different operations, departments and divisions donated their blood in the building of Al-Sayer Group head office in the Free Zone.

Al-Sayer Group organizes the blood donation campaign every year for the noble humanitarian goals of supporting the needy, in which the blood donations save the lives of many patients who are in urgent need of blood transfusions, and highlight the simplicity of blood donation process and the absence of any side effects with negative repercussions on the health of the blood donor.

On this occasion, Dr Khaled Ahmed Al-Anzi, Senior Manager of Corporate Events and Quality Assurance in the Sayer Group in Kuwait expressed his delight for the support and participation of the group staff in this campaign and said: “The blood donation campaign is a social responsibility to the nation and we in Al-Sayer Group are proud of our initiatives that aim to help those who are in urgent need of blood, in addition to the remarkable growth of the number of employees and donors year after year and their response to this humanitarian appeal, giving others an opportunity to move forward in life filled with health and wellness. The importance of Al-Sayer Group 7th blood donation campaign is to continually stimulate the process of communication between AlSayer Group staff and the local community”.

Al-Anzi assured that blood donation has many advantages that many people don’t know about it, the advantages are beyond saving the lives of others but it also benefit the health of the donor himself. In which it activate the blood circulation and stimulates the bone marrow to produce different blood cells after the completion of each donation of blood, in addition to reduce the risk of heart disease and clogged arteries because the blood donation reduces the percentage of iron in the blood which proved correct in many medical and scientific research. The blood donation campaign was held under the supervision of a group of specialist doctors and experienced nurses of the Central Blood Bank of Kuwait.

Al-Sayer Group is always eager to continue meeting the sentimental and humanitarian calls just like providing support and assistance to Central Blood Bank staff on their continual announcements of the need for donors and spread the knowledge of blood donation in the Kuwaiti society and to encourage its people to play such a high role and contribute to the development of the society.

Infunity Entertainment Center arranges special celebration for Mother’s Day

O

n the occasion of Mother’s Day and in honor of all mothers, Infunity Entertainment Center, located at the 360 MALL, organized a distinguished celebration presented by the famous celebrity Mohamed Al-Shuaibi. The celebration was attended by a huge audience of kids and mothers.

The festival included several entertainment activities and programs full of fun and joy reflecting the mothers’ role in spreading happiness and smiles for kids. It also included several competitions in which the winning participants received gifts and prizes. The participating children enjoyed the celebration through lots of activities such as games and face painting.

The festival was concluded by the distribution of flowers to all the attendees.

It’s worthy to mention that Infunity is always keen and interested to have the contribution and participation of all the family members in all the prominent occasions and activities, given the strong belief of the center in the importance of its role in such social and entertaining events, and the devotion of all possible capabilities of the center to translate these events into full success and overwhelming pleasure for attendees.

KSNA Ad-Hoc committee

A

d-Hoc committee of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi’s (KSNA) Kuwait Chapter will be reconstituted at a meeting at 4 pm on Thursday, April 10 at Indian Community School (Senior), Salmiya which will be presided over by KSNA Chairman Soorya Krishnamoothy.

Malayali associations in Kuwait are requested to depute one or two representatives of their associations to participate in the meeting.

NAFO Kuwait to present live in concert ‘Desert Rain’

I

One Love

J

amaican Day brought to you by Vision Academy for Advanced Natural Talent March 28, 2014, Movenpick HotelBidaa. Event line-up: Jamaican cuisine, Jamaican dancing, DJ & live band, Jamaican tourism booth, win a trip to Jamaica, Limbo dancing, tug-of-war, treasure hunt, face painting, domino tournament, fashion show, make-up tent, performance by Vaant, access to beach, fun and games.

n order to celebrate its 11th anniversary, NAFO-Kuwait is organizing a ‘Live in Concert’ titled ‘Desert Rain’, a cocktail of beats, steps and theater of acts topped with the sweetest nostalgia of Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and English melodies, on Friday, May 9, 2014, at the American International School, Maidan Hawally.

Contemporary musical events of this type are being presented by NAFO, in concurrence with its policies and that is to spread the value of universal friendship, unity and harmony through music, art and culture. This first-ever exclusive concert in Kuwait will be performed by the astounded sensational super band ‘Thaikkudam Bridge (T-Bridge),’ comprising 17 artists from Mumbai, Chennai and

Kerala, having more than a million hits on YouTube, several of them associating with legendary maestros such as, A R Rehman and Rashid Khan. They are also popular stars in TV shows aired by Sony TV, Star-Asianet, Kappa Channel etc.

The band is earning phenomenal popularity worldwide with international touring, especially in the Middle East through their sensational shows staged/booked in Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi etc, and through more than 38 live shows staged in Indian metro cities during a span of last four months time.

The music of the band got popularized primarily through social media sites and has grown to become one of the most popular bands in India. In spite of it not

being specifically classified either under pop, rock or metal etc, it will be no wonder if the band makes its presence felt in Kuwait as an example of how the modern generation is influenced by music, that is not of a specific genre, but music of class.

The program flyer was released

by Dr T A Ramesh, Country Head of Gulfmart, Kuwait, in presence of Major Ravi, eminent Indian filmmaker and several other distinguished personalities. An expected crowd of more than 1,500 spectators is expected to attend and witness this unique musical extravaganza. Event convener, Krishnan K Pillai, informed that admission to the show will be strictly restricted through invitations only and requested to contact NAFO officials for enquiries.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

TV PROGRAMS 00:20 Doctors 00:50 New Tricks 01:40 My Family: The Heart Of Christmas 02:10 Walk On The Wild Side 02:40 Being Erica 03:20 Spooks 04:15 The Weakest Link 05:00 Tweenies 05:20 Teletubbies 05:45 Jollywobbles 05:55 Me Too! 06:15 Tweenies 06:30 Teletubbies 06:55 Jollywobbles 07:05 Me Too! 07:20 The Weakest Link 08:05 My Family: The Heart Of Christmas 08:35 Little Britain 09:05 Eastenders 09:35 Doctors 10:05 Upstairs Downstairs 10:55 New Tricks 11:45 My Family: The Heart Of Christmas 12:15 The Vicar Of Dibley 12:45 Little Britain 13:15 Eastenders 13:45 Doctors 14:15 Upstairs Downstairs 15:05 New Tricks 15:55 The Vicar Of Dibley 16:25 The Weakest Link 17:10 Eastenders 17:40 Doctors 18:10 Being Erica 19:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 19:30 The Vicar Of Dibley 20:00 Upstairs Downstairs 20:50 Mistresses 21:40 The Omid Djalili Show

00:00 The Planners 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 01:35 Come Dine With Me 02:25 Out Of The Frying Pan 03:15 Holmes On Homes 04:05 Antiques Roadshow 04:55 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 05:40 Bargain Hunt 06:25 Come Dine With Me 07:10 Holmes On Homes 08:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 08:45 The Planners 09:35 Bargain Hunt 10:20 Antiques Roadshow 11:15 Chef At Home 11:40 Come Dine With Me 12:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 13:20 Holmes On Homes 14:10 Antiques Roadshow 15:05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 15:50 Out Of The Frying Pan 16:40 Bargain Hunt 17:30 Chef At Home 17:55 Chef At Home 18:20 Antiques Roadshow 19:15 Homes Under The Hammer 20:10 Nigellissima 20:35 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 21:00 Food & Drink 21:30 Come Dine With Me 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 23:15 Bargain Hunt

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30

Gold Rush Alaska Gold Diggers Gold Divers: Under The Ice You Have Been Warned Border Security Auction Kings Container Wars How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made

06:00 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:25 13:15 14:05 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

One Man Army You Have Been Warned Flying Wild Alaska Fast N’ Loud Border Security Auction Kings Container Wars How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made Gold Rush Alaska Gold Diggers Gold Divers: Under The Ice Border Security Auction Kings Container Wars North America Fast N’ Loud Ultimate Survival Wheeler Dealers You Have Been Warned One Man Army How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made Auction Kings Container Wars Dual Survival Survive That!

Yukon Men

00:40 01:30 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:45 04:35 05:25 06:15 06:40 07:05 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:05 10:30 11:25 12:20 13:10 14:00 14:50 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:55 18:45 19:35 20:30 21:20 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:50

The Colony Bang Goes The Theory Food Factory How Tech Works Mega Builders Kings Of Construction Scrapheap Challenge How The Universe Works Food Factory How Tech Works X-Machines Brave New World Eco-Tech Food Factory How Tech Works What’s That About?

X-Machines Scrapheap Challenge How The Universe Works Kings Of Construction Bang Goes The Theory Food Factory How Tech Works Mega Builders How The Universe Works Scrapheap Challenge X-Machines What’s That About?

Junkyard Wars Flying Anvils Food Factory How Tech Works Stuck With Hackett Stuck With Hackett Flying Anvils

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:20 03:45 04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:40 11:05

The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin & Ally Dog With A Blog Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm Wolfblood Gravity Falls That’s So Raven Jessie Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Dog With A Blog Suite Life On Deck

11:25 11:50 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:10 17:00 17:20 17:40 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 23:35

Jessie That’s So Raven Hannah Montana Hannah Montana Good Luck Charlie Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Jessie Dog With A Blog Good Luck Charlie Gravity Falls Austin & Ally Violetta Dog With A Blog Austin & Ally Gravity Falls Jessie Good Luck Charlie A.N.T. Farm Violetta Jessie Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:00 Chelsea Lately 00:30 The Spin Crowd 00:55 The Spin Crowd 01:25 Style Star 01:50 Style Star 02:20 THS 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 THS 05:05 THS 06:00 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks 07:50 Style Star 08:20 E! News 09:15 Opening Act 10:15 Married To Jonas 10:40 Chasing The Saturdays 11:10 The Wanted Life 12:05 E! News 13:05 Extreme Close-Up 13:35 THS 14:30 Style Star 15:00 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 16:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 17:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 18:00 The Drama Queen 19:00 E!ES 20:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 20:30 Giuliana & Bill 22:30 Fashion Police 23:30 Chelsea Lately

00:35 01:30 02:25 02:55 Britain 03:25 04:20 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:05 Britain 07:30 08:25 08:50 09:20 10:15 11:10 12:00 12:30 13:25 14:20 15:10 Britain 15:35 16:30 18:20 19:10

The Jonathan Ross Show Emmerdale Coronation Street The Adventurer’s Guide To Please Marry My Boy Miranda Miranda House Guest In The Sun The Jonathan Ross Show The Adventurer’s Guide To Please Marry My Boy Miranda Miranda House Guest In The Sun May The Best House Win Emmerdale Coronation Street The Jonathan Ross Show House Guest In The Sun May The Best House Win The Adventurer’s Guide To The Hungry Sailors Vera May The Best House Win Coronation Street

Joe McGinniss, author of ‘Fatal Vision,’ dies at 71

J

THE EXPATRIATE ON OSN MOVIES HD

00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:30 Girls 02:00 Getting On 02:30 Ja’mie: Private School Girl 03:00 How I Met Your Mother 03:30 How I Met Your Mother 04:00 All Of Us 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 05:30 Better Off Ted 06:00 The War At Home 06:30 Arrested Development 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 08:00 All Of Us 08:30 Better Off Ted 09:00 How I Met Your Mother 09:30 2 Broke Girls 10:00 Trophy Wife 10:30 Arrested Development 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 12:00 The War At Home 12:30 All Of Us 13:00 Better Off Ted 13:30 Arrested Development 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 2 Broke Girls 15:00 Trophy Wife 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 The War At Home 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Raising Hope 19:00 The Crazy Ones 19:30 Trophy Wife 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The Big C 23:00 Legit 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

00:00 The Mob Doctor 02:00 The Blacklist 03:00 Game Of Thrones 04:00 Revenge 05:00 Betrayal 06:00 The Mob Doctor 07:00 Last Resort 08:00 Necessary Roughness 09:00 Revenge 10:00 Last Resort 11:00 The Blacklist 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 14:00 Necessary Roughness 15:00 The Mob Doctor 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Necessary Roughness 19:00 Once Upon A Time In Wonderland 20:00 Grey’s Anatomy 21:00 Mistresses 22:00 The Killing 23:00 Game Of Thrones

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:15 14:15 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

CRIMSON TIDE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

Underground-18 Death Race: Inferno-18 The Blood Bond-PG15 Vanishing On 7th Street When A Stranger Calls-PG15 Prometheus-PG15 Absolute Fear-PG15 When A Stranger Calls-PG15 Crimson Tide-PG15 Absolute Fear-PG15 Dead Man Running-PG15 Crimson Tide-PG15

00:00 Slums Of Beverly Hills-18 02:00 Loser-PG15 04:00 The New Guy-PG15

06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 23:45

The Big Bus-PG The Animal-PG15 From Prada To Nada-PG15 The New Guy-PG15 Rookie Of The Year-PG From Prada To Nada-PG15 Ghostbusters-PG A Few Best Men-18 Slums Of Beverly Hills-18 Midnight Run-PG15

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:15 14:15 15:45 17:30 19:00 21:00 23:00

Beautiful Creatures-PG15 Cinderella PT 1-PG15 Cinderella PT 2-PG15 The Philly Kid-PG15 Beautiful Creatures-PG15 Quiet Flows The Don-PG15 Courage-PG15 Down The Shore-PG15 Hide Away-PG15 Morning-PG15 Drive-18 Sound Of My Voice-18

02:00 03:45 06:00 08:30 10:15 PG15 11:45 13:45 15:30 17:15 19:15 21:00 23:00

The Prey-PG15 Marie Antoinette-PG15 Into The Wild-18 Planet Ocean-PG15 The Woman In The Fifth-

01:00 02:45 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:45 18:45 21:00 23:00

Over/Under-PG15 Anna Karenina-PG15 The Expatriate-PG15 Wreck-It Ralph-PG Pitch Perfect-PG15 The Wild Girl-PG15 Another Harvest Moon-PG15 Remember Sunday-PG15 Pitch Perfect-PG15 The Host-PG15 Alex Cross-PG15 On The Road-R

The History Boys-PG15 The Forger-PG15 Will-PG The History Boys-PG15 The Tall Man-PG15 Love Is All You Need-18 The Paperboy-18

01:00 Toyz Goin’ Wild 02:45 Camp Nowhere 04:30 A Cat In Paris 06:00 Krazzy Planet 07:45 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling 09:30 Arthur Christmas 11:15 A Cat In Paris 12:45 Camp Nowhere 14:30 Tommy & Oscar 16:00 Gabe The Cupid Dog 18:00 Arthur Christmas 20:00 Freddy Frogface 22:00 Tommy & Oscar 23:30 Gabe The Cupid Dog

00:00 Flypaper-PG15 02:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 04:00 Charlotte’s Web-PG 06:00 Three Investigators And The Secret Of Terror...-PG 08:00 Love Birds-PG15 10:00 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two-PG15 11:45 Trouble With The Curve-PG15 14:00 Flicka 3-FAM 16:00 Love Birds-PG15 18:00 Clear History-PG15 20:00 Jeff, Who Lives At HomePG15 22:00 The Sessions-R

01:00 Trans World Sport 02:00 PGA Tour Highlights 03:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 04:00 Snooker The Welsh Open 07:00 LV Cup 09:00 Super Rugby 11:00 Super Rugby 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 PGA Tour Highlights 15:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 16:00 Snooker The Welsh Open 19:00 Champions Tour Highlights 20:00 Golfing World 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:30 Snooker The Welsh Open

00:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 01:00 Golfing World 02:00 WWE Bottom Line 03:00 Live NHL 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 NRL Premiership 09:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 10:00 Champions Tour 12:00 Trans World Sport 13:00 LV Cup 15:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 16:00 NHL 18:00 Golfing World 19:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 20:00 NRL Full Time

00:30 ICC Cricket 360 01:00 ICC T20I World Cup 04:30 ICC Cricket 360 05:00 ICC World T20 Highlights 07:00 ICC Cricket 360 07:30 Asia Cup Highlights 09:30 ICC World T20 Highlights 11:30 ICC Under 19 World Cup 2014 Highlights 14:30 Asia Cup Highlights 15:30 ICC Cricket 360 16:00 Live OSN Studio 16:30 Live ICC T20I World Cup 20:00 Live OSN Studio Post Match 20:30 ICC Cricket 360 21:00 ICC T20I World Cup

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

Pawn Stars UK Haunted History Storage Wars Storage Wars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars UK Haunted History Pawn Stars Storage Wars Storage Wars Texas Counting Cars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens Storage Wars Texas Counting Cars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Storage Wars Storage Wars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars UK Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Storage Wars Storage Wars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars UK Pawn Stars

ournalist Joe McGinniss, an author who got up close to his subjects for revealing books such as “The Selling of the President” and “Fatal Vision,” died on Monday at age 71, his friend and attorney said. McGinniss died of complications from prostate cancer at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, lawyer Dennis Holahan said in an email. The author had announced last year that he was in the advanced stage of the disease. His 1983 book “Fatal Vision” became a classic of the true crime genre and was based on unlimited access he gained to former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald and his attorneys during MacDonald’s 1979 murder trial in the deaths of his pregnant wife and two young daughters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

MacDonald, who at the time of the 1970 killings was an Army doctor, was found guilty and is serving three life sentences. He has maintained the murders were committed by drug-crazed intruders. McGinniss had begun by expressing support for MacDonald but ended by concluding in his book that he was guilty of killing his family. “I kept trying to find any reason I could to believe that he was not guilty,” McGinniss testified at a 2012 court hearing where MacDonald sought to be granted a new trial.

New Yorker magazine writer Janet Malcolm, in a 1989 article, accused McGinnis of displaying the underside of journalism by deceiving MacDonald with a show of support and then betraying his confidence, an argument McGinnis vehemently denied.

Born in New York, he attended college in Massachusetts and early on became a sports reporter before winning a job as a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

He gained national attention with the 1969 publication of “The Selling of the President.” The bestseller gave a behind-the-scenes account of how advertising and media professionals packaged Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon in his successful 1968 campaign for the White House. One of the main subjects of Nixon’s team portrayed in the book was television producer-turned-media-strategist Roger Ailes, who is now chairman of Fox News Channel.

McGinniss is also the author of the 2011 book “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin,” an unflattering portrait of the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. For the book, he took up residence next to Palin’s home in Wasilla, Alaska. The author had in 1980 published a book about Alaska, titled “Going to Extremes”, that explored the vestiges of the state’s frontier culture and gave personal descriptions of everyone from bush pilots to teachers. He wrote a dozen books in all, including his 1972 novel “The Dream Team.” — Reuters

Mexico fetes Cuaron’s Oscars, but filmmakers keep feet on ground

A

s Mexico basks in the glow of its first best director Oscar for Alfonso Cuaron and his blockbuster film “Gravity,” a new generation of homegrown filmmakers wonders if the magic of the golden statuette will rub off on them.

Cuaron’s 3D space thriller scooped seven Oscars, the most of any film on Sunday, and was lauded for groundbreaking special effects conveying space and weightlessness, though it lost the best picture award to drama “12 Years a Slave.” The movie, which stars Sandra Bullock as an astronaut cut loose from her space shuttle, has already earned $700 million at the worldwide box office and Cuaron’s win is the first best director Oscar for a Latin American.

However, the 52-year-old Cuaron has spent most of his career outside Mexico, after he struggled to raise financing for projects back home, and fellow leading directors Guillermo Del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu also both moved abroad.

Back in his homeland, a new generation of Mexican directors has been quick to point out Cuaron’s work has had little to do with the domestic industry. “Gravity” was made for an estimated $100 million by Warner Bros. Pictures, while directors in Mexico have to scramble to drum up just $2 million for a film.

Many Mexican independent filmmakers have had more commercial success abroad than in their home country, where filmmakers complain they can’t compete against the big budgets of Hollywood studios, whose films dominate screens at cinemas. “The only place where you cannot see Mexican film is in Mexico,” said Ivan Avila Duenas, who debuted his fourth feature film at the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s International Film Festival, FICUNAM, on Sunday.

Though Cuaron cut his teeth in Mexico, most of his best known works have been Hollywood-backed projects. In the 1990s, he left Mexico to work in the United States, then Britain, and became more known for his movie adaptations of British authors, including the third installment of J.K. Rowling’s work, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” as well as PD James’ dystopian “Children of Men.” Ironically, success abroad enabled Cuaron to direct with bigger budgets in Mexico, where his 2001 Spanish-language road trip film “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” helped launch the international careers of actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.

When Cuaron scored his first hit in the 1990s, Mexican film output was anemic, with only 10 or so films a year. Last year yielded over 100, aided by tax breaks for corporate sponsors and co-productions between Mexican and foreign companies.

Not made in Mexico Cuaron’s fellow expatriates Del Toro and Inarritu, to whom he paid tribute in his Oscar acceptance speech, have also both been backed by big US studios. The fact is not lost on those still working in Mexico. “These three do not make Mexican film.

They do not make their film in the Mexican system and their themes do not result from living here in the society where the rest of us live,” said Julian Hernandez, whose brooding, homoerotic films have won international awards and foreign distribution, but which have seen little commercial success in conservative Mexico. “This makes us all happy, to see a Mexican recognized,” Hernandez said. “But this doesn’t mean that it will get any better for Mexican cinema.” Since the “three amigos” Cuaron, Del Toro and Inarritu - rose to international fame, another generation of filmmakers has matured and won a string of international awards.

But the new crop have struggled to achieve the same level of box office success and support from Hollywood. Mexico’s art-scene directors have won honors at the world’s top festivals in Cannes, Berlin and Venice, with gritty, personal visions that mix elements of fiction and documentary. Mexican drama “Despues de Lucia”, or After Lucia, by writer-director Michel Franco, took the top prize in Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard category in 2012. —Reuters

Classifieds TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED SHARQIA-2 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NO SUN+TUE+WED SHARQIA-3 NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED MUHALAB-1 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) MUHALAB-2 MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) MUHALAB-3 DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG)

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/03/2014 TO 26/03/2014) DIVERGENT (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:45 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 AM

FANAR-5 HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 1:00 PM 3:45 PM 6:30 PM 9:15 PM 1:45 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

FANAR-2 NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-3 DIVERGENT (DIG) 2:00 PM MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) 7:00 PM DIVERGENT (DIG) 9:45 PM

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-1 MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-1 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 AM

6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-2 DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-3 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NEED FOR SPEED (DIG-3D) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-1 THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) THE DOUBLE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-2 HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) HAUNT (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-3 NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 5:00 PM

2:00 PM 4:00 PM

AVENUES-4 DIVERGENT (DIG) DIVERGENT (DIG)

CHANGE OF NAME 1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

I have changed my name Abbas holding Indian Passport No. Z1922769 issued at Kuwait to Abbas Mashrak for all purposes. 158, Kharol Colony, Fatehpura, Udaipur (Raj.) (C 4675) 25-4-2013

2:15 PM 5:15 PM

I, Saud Ali Vettukattu Kuniyil holder of Indian Passport No. L1164641, hereby change my name to Saud Ali Koya.

Address: Mishkath, Thuvvakkode, Cheman Chery, Kozhikode Dt, Kerala, India. (C 4674) 24-3-2014

Joharbhai holder of Passport No. K3652369, hereby change my surname to Bhabhrawala Husain Joharbhai. (C 4671) I, Eliyas Johnson S/O Elias holder of Passport No. A8968226 hereby changed Elias Johnson Kuriakose, no.3 Bishopwallers Avenue west

Mylapore, Chennai 4.

(C 4672) I, Mohinder Pal Singh, holder of Indian Passport No. G 1687598 hereby change my name to Mohinder Singh. (C 4673) 20-3-2014

I, Dahodwala Husain

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

Airlines BBC JAI KLM JZR THY QTR PIA DLH PGT ETH GFA THY JZR UAE ETD JAI TAR OMA MSR RJA QTR FDB THY DHX FDB KAC BAW KAC KAC QTR FDB KAC KAC SVA KAC UAE KAC KAC ABY ETD FDB QTR IRA GFA JZR MEA TMA UAE JZR MSR

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 25/3/2014 Flt Route 043 Dhaka/Doha 574 Mumbai 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 539 Cairo 772 Istanbul 1084 Doha 239 Sialkot 637 Dammam 858 Istanbul 620 Addis Ababa 211 Bahrain 764 Istanbul 267 Beirut 853 Dubai 305 Abu Dhabi 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 328 Tunis/Dubai 643 Muscat 612 Cairo 642 Amman 1076 Doha 067 Dubai 770 Istanbul 170 Bahrain 069 Dubai 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 157 London 412 Manila/Bangkok 206 Islamabad 1086 Doha 053 Dubai 302 Mumbai 352 Kochi 512 Riyadh 332 Trivandrum 855 Dubai 362 Colombo 284 Dhaka 125 Sharjah 301 Abu Dhabi 055 Dubai 1070 Doha 619 Lar 213 Bahrain 165 Dubai 404 Beirut 213 Beirut 871 Dubai 561 Sohag 610 Cairo

Time 00:05 00:10 00:30 00:40 00:45 00:55 01:05 01:10 01:30 01:45 02:10 02:15 02:30 02:35 02:45 02:50 02:55 03:05 03:10 03:15 03:45 04:20 05:35 05:40 05:50 06:25 06:40 06:45 07:40 07:50 07:50 07:55 08:10 08:15 08:15 08:40 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:20 09:40 09:55 10:05 10:40 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:50 12:55 13:00

KAC FDB QTR KAC SVA KNE JZR UAE QTR ETD KAC RJA UAL SVA ABY GFA KAC JZR KAC QTR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC AXB KAC KAC GFA KAC OMA MSR FDB JAI ABY IRA DLH ALK MEA ETD UAE GFA FDB QTR KLM JZR UAL JZR AIC JZR ETH

514 057 1078 546 500 472 325 857 1072 303 562 640 982 510 127 215 542 177 742 1080 786 063 678 618 166 393 674 774 217 104 647 618 061 572 129 605 636 229 402 307 859 219 059 1074 415 135 981 239 981 185 3718

Tehran Dubai Doha Alexandria Jeddah Jeddah Al Najaf Dubai Doha Abu Dhabi Amman Amman IAD Riyadh Sharjah Bahrain Cairo Dubai Dammam Doha Jeddah Dubai Muscat/Abu Dhabi Doha Paris/Rome Kozhikode Dubai Riyadh Bahrain London Muscat Alexandria Dubai Mumbai Sharjah Esfahan Frankfurt Colombo Beirut Abu Dhabi Dubai Bahrain Dubai Doha Amsterdam Bahrain Bahrain Amman Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad Dubai LGG

13:45 13:50 13:55 14:05 14:30 14:35 16:05 16:40 16:40 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:25 17:30 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:30 19:35 19:55 20:05 20:05 20:10 20:20 20:25 20:55 21:10 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:45 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:30 23:20 23:30

Airlines AIC PIA AXB JAI BBC KLM DLH PIA ETH THY PGT TAR UAE ETD OMA MSR QTR FDB QTR JZR FDB JAI JZR THY RJA KAC GFA THY FDB BAW QTR SVA KAC ABY KAC UAE ETD FDB QTR IRA KAC GFA KAC KAC KAC JZR MEA KAC JZR TMA

Departure Flights on Tuesday 25/3/2014 Flt Route 976 Goa/Chennai 206 Lahore 490 Mangalore/Kochi 573 Mumbai 044 Chittagong/Dhaka 411 Amsterdam 637 Frankfurt 240 Sialkot 621 Addis Ababa 773 Istanbul 859 Istanbul 328 Tunis 854 Dubai 306 Abu Dhabi 644 Muscat 613 Cairo 1085 Doha 068 Dubai 1077 Doha 560 Sohag 070 Dubai 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 164 Dubai 765 Istanbul 643 Amman 545 Alexandria 212 Bahrain 771 Istanbul 054 Dubai 156 London 1087 Doha 513 Riyadh 513 Tehran 126 Sharjah 101 London/New York 856 Dubai 302 Abu Dhabi 056 Dubai 1071 Doha 618 Lar 561 Amman 214 Bahrain 541 Cairo 165 Rome/Paris 677 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 324 Al Najaf 405 Beirut 785 Jeddah 176 Dubai 223 Dubai/Beirut

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:10 00:15 01:10 01:45 01:45 02:10 02:20 02:45 02:55 03:20 03:45 03:50 04:00 04:05 04:10 04:15 05:00 05:15 06:20 06:30 06:45 06:55 07:05 07:05 07:15 07:15 07:30 08:30 08:45 08:50 09:15 09:25 09:40 09:50 09:55 10:05 10:20 10:55 10:55 11:25 11:25 11:30 11:50 12:20 12:40 12:55 13:00 13:45 13:45

MSR UAE FDB QTR KAC KAC KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR ETD QTR JZR UAE RJA ABY SVA UAL GFA JZR JZR FDB QTR AXB GFA KAC FDB OMA ABY KAC MSR KAC JAI IRA KAC DLH DHX ALK MEA ETD GFA KAC FDB UAE KAC KAC KLM QTR KAC

611 872 058 1079 673 741 617 473 501 773 238 304 1073 538 858 641 128 511 982 216 184 134 064 1081 3942 218 283 062 648 120 361 607 351 571 604 343 636 171 230 403 308 220 301 060 860 381 205 415 1075 411

Cairo Dubai Dubai Doha Dubai Dammam Doha Jeddah Jeddah Riyadh Amman Abu Dhabi Doha Cairo Dubai Amman Sharjah Riyadh Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Bahrain Dubai Doha Kozhikode Bahrain Dhaka Dubai Muscat Sharjah Colombo Luxor Kochi Mumbai Esfahan Chennai Dammam Bahrain Colombo Beirut Abu Dhabi Bahrain Mumbai Dubai Dubai Delhi Islamabad Dammam/Amsterdam Doha Bangkok/Manila

14:00 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:05 15:20 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:05 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:40 19:10 19:25 19:40 20:15 20:15 20:30 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:10 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:50 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:50 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:55

34

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

s ta rs CROSSWORD 497

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) After the crossword puzzle this morning, you may look for more challenges.

You enjoy figuring things out and solving problems and your family may be the type of family that always has a puzzle sitting on a card table in the corner of a room.

When someone passes by the card table, that person might stop and put a piece in the puzzle. This year might be a good time to consider creating your own puzzles. Send in a couple of your puzzles to the newspaper and see what sort of response you get.

Professional responsibilities are easy to complete and with your business expertise, there may be a bit of political involvement today. Fortunately, there is always time for play with family members and they want to show off for you this evening. Happy birthday!

Taurus (April 20-May 20) A slow day calls for creative thinking and you are just the one to create a change, if change is needed. Your lighthearted, easygoing manner soon turns a frustrating day into a successful day. You can attract attention and get a line forming fast-any company would be fortunate to have you on their side. This could mean you are involved with some type of demonstration work that is catchy and grabs the attention of the customer.

You end this workday with the feeling of a job well done. This evening you will do well in activities that include children, young people and your home. You could feel real harmony at this time for circumstances and those around you. Tonight you enjoy a long soak in a bath, or at the least, a good foot soak to relax.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A young woman making her debut into society.

4. Smallest guenon monkey.

12. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

15. The capital and largest city of Japan.

16. Genus of perennial rhizomatous herb of southern and southeastern United States.

17. A dark-skinned member of a race of people living in Australia when Europeans arrived.

18. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

19. Of or pertaining to or characteristic of Nepal or its people or language or culture.

20. Realistic Norwegian author who wrote plays on social and political themes (1828-1906).

22. A genus of fungus belonging to the family Tricholomataceae.

24. Having winglike extensions.

25. An effortful attempt to attain a goal.

28. Informal terms for a mother.

30. Neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front.

31. 36th President of the United States.

32. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

36. Scale-like structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged fly.

41. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the genus Iva with small greenish flowers.

42. Of or relating to or in the manner of the playwright Henrik Ibsen.

46. An orange-brown antelope of southeast Africa.

47. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

48. Numbered or proceeding by tens.

49. Mountain goats.

52. A musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms.

53. (informal British usage) Aggravation or aggression.

54. Strong lightweight wood of the balsa tree used especially for floats.

56. A long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head.

57. A doctor's degree in music.

58. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

60. The brightest star in Cygnus.

66. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

70. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

72. Any plant of the genus Erica.

74. The cry made by sheep.

75. A machine-readable version of a standard dictionary.

76. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

78. A cgs unit of work or energy.

79. An inflammatory disease of connective tissue with variable features including fever and weakness and fatigability and joint pains and skin lesions on the face or neck or arms.

80. A mixture of nectar and pollen prepared by worker bees and fed to larvae.

81. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix.

DOWN 1. Made of fir or pine.

2. At or constituting a border or edge.

3. (Irish) Goddess.

4. Of or relating to the city of Tunis or its residents.

5. A line of approach.

6. Any of several forms of ulcerative skin disease.

7. By bad luck.

8. A close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities.

9. A city of east central Mexico (west of Veracruz).

10. Being one more than one.

11. Submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers.

12. An independent group of closely related Chadic languages spoken in the area between the Biu-Mandara and East Chadic languages.

13. Assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing.

14. Any cone-shaped artifact.

21. An indistinct shapeless form.

23. A heading that names a statute or legislative bill.

26. Being five more than one hundred fifty.

27. A person who announces and plays popular recorded music.

29. A city and port in northern Jutland.

33. Someone who operates an aircraft.

34. Fly a plane.

35. 1 species.

37. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan and neighboring areas.

38. English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943).

39. Squash bugs.

40. Law intended to eradicate organized crime by establishing strong sanctions and forfeiture provisions.

43. An electrically charged particle.

44. Flat tableland with steep edges.

45. A loud harsh or strident noise.

50. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt.

51. A port city in southern Kenya on a coral island in a bay of the Indian Ocean.

55. A way of access consisting of a set of steps.

59. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

61. A British peer ranking below a Marquess and above a Viscount.

62. A connecting point at which several lines come together.

63. A German man.

64. Chocolate cookie with white cream filling.

65. Being two more than ninety.

67. In bed.

68. An outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals.

69. Mentally or physically infirm with age.

71. (music) The pace of music measured by the number of beats occurring in 60 seconds.

73. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

77. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

This is a good time to enroll in a night school or take a correspondence course. You are unusually self-assertive with all the proper finesse that happily sways people to your way of thinking. Your willingness to be true to yourself makes you more appealing to others. Your power is showing and you use it well. This is a time during which circumstances bend to your will and things have a way of working out smoothly. Here are real opportunities to complete and work out any difficulties and projects that require both long-term effort and a high degree of discipline. There are many positive love signals in your sign now. Sex, power and money are compelling aphrodisiacs.

Secrets, taboos and mysteries are appealing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Theories are important but they cannot come into fruition without some creative or intuitive help. This is where you come onto the scene today. Working through problems acted out with others may be the order of the day and hard to avoid. Lady luck smiles brightly on you and nothing seems to slow your progress. Hint . . . Finish one job before tackling another. An unexpected announcement can make you feel ten feet tall. A career achievement puts you on display. This afternoon, you will plan ways to reach out to others in order to help those who suffer. This could come about through a community program; whether you or someone else starts this program, the end results are most positive. Candles and good smells create a form of relaxation this evening.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You work to gather and exchange information today that will help you stay aware and alert to important professional matters. You have a need to be respected and you work hard to gain respect and appreciation from all with whom you interact. You can expect a little boost today, some sort of extra support or recognition from someone very important in your workplace. You have a knack for organizing things and people.

Appointments, phone calls and conferences gain your attention. An interest in a new intellectual pursuit may be fostered. Poetry and art may be possible later this afternoon-your way of relaxation. All types of relationships are favorable. Your emotions are in balance, making sexual relations particularly meaningful.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Financial savvy and a practical turn of mind are qualities that take on greater importance in your life now. A wheeler-dealer attitude is prevalent now. A disciplined approach to work is especially important now. This is not the time to switch careers or try to force change. This is a time that will stimulate your creativity and experimentation. You will find that you cannot keep everything the same and still get what you need, so adjustments in your life flow may be necessary. Learn when to let go of the old perhaps even comfortable things in order to make room for the new. Your communication skills with friends and loved ones are positive and you may enjoy some time with them this evening. A get-together full of sharing would be fun.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Some of the people around you today are difficult to understand. This does not necessarily mean a different language. It could be that people are visiting around your work area and causing distractions. You may feel the need to become involved with their conversation but it would be best to tend to your own work now. You have a strong need for nurturing others just now and this energy could be best spent in a volunteer organization. Many organizations would be happy to have you working with them-think about this. Your family may want to join you in this endeavor so it may be time to sit down and talk about helping others and choices. This is an outgoing and very expressive cycle of experience for you. You enjoy creating new things.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There are enthusiasm and quick-minded activity today. Your judgment is good and will lead to success. This is a time for imagination and creativity when it comes to ideas and thinking. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate and charm others. Perseverance in your work today should be exercised as much as possible, especially since slow and steady wins the race. An unhappy friend comes to visit you this afternoon. Your ability to listen helps this person to hear what he or she needs to do to make some positive life changes. Emotions in particular, or the feelings of those around you, may be very clear. You appear perhaps more charming and refined this evening when you visit a friend.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You display an urge to be recognized by co-workers for your hard work.

Ideas and interaction with authority figures or older people may come about this morning. You may not appreciate the emotional energy of someone you meet today, but things will smooth out, given time. Someone could appear aggressive or pushy. You do not like the way a situation feels at the gut level, but there is not enough information to make any statement. Learning what makes people tick helps you to understand about life.

Your instinctive orientation at this time is getting down to healing the roots of some disturbance. This evening there are thoughts of running away to join a circus as life does get stressful occasionally. All in good fun, you have a few friends that would join you.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) There is a heightened interest in health and diet today. This may have come to your attention while stepping on the scales this morning. Aim for achievement and create a plan. In the workplace today, you have an urge to get things organized into a rational system in order to make projects move along at a faster pace. Contacts with faraway people and places play a part in your afternoon. You and a friend will discuss education and travel-you may feel you need to further your education in another country.

Higher education or philosophical contacts have a part in making good things happen. This evening you will be able to buy a special item you have been wanting for some time. Do not spend more than necessary just now.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You are the one to notice that the plants in the office are few and far apart.

You encourage the transition of springtime to enter the workplace by suggesting new plants. Plants help to keep stress in the workplace low and the color, aroma and oxygen tends to increase the energies in positive ways. Put your mind to work and take care of any details that you may have-mental discipline should come easily. Cautious and meticulous is the mode of the day. Checking and rechecking business at hand makes you one of the executive types of employees. A positive, take-charge type of attitude will take you farespecially if you have your own business. This concentration calls for deliberately taking fun breaks in order to balance your energies.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You may be considering ways in which to improve your financial status now.

Without a short-term extra job, there may not be any opportunities right away to solve this dilemma. Creative endeavors, however, may bring surprises your way. Plan to show off your special talents as often as possible. You may still have time to prepare for a flea market or creative art show in your area-check it out! You may be pleased at the positive feedback that is just waiting to come your way. You communicate well with others. This evening you might work on your artistic talent, listen to a book or lecture on tape, plant some spring flowers, repair and complete jobs around the house or begin work on a family vehicle. You are never still. Sleep comes quickly tonight.

Word Search

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Jay Z addresses Drake’s art reference criticisms

J

ay Z has hit out at Drake in a new track. The Roc Nation boss addressed the ‘Hypher’ hitmaker during his verse on Jay Electronica’s new song, ‘We Made It’, after the rapper called him “corny” for using art references in his music. Jay Z raps: “Sorry Mrs Drizzy for so much art talk/ Silly me, rappin’ ‘bout that I really bought/ While these rappers rap about guns that they ain’t shot/ And a bunch of other silly thing that they ain’t got.” The reference comes after Drake’s controversial interview with Rolling Stone magazine in February, during which he criticized Jay Z and slated Kanye West’s “questionable” rap lyrics on his ‘Yeezus’ album. He said: “It’s like Hov can’t drop bars these days without at least four art references. I would love to collect [art] at some point, but I think the whole Rap/art world thing is getting kind of corny.” Speaking about ‘Yeezus’, Drake added: “There were some real questionable bars on there.” Itr isn’t the first time Drake has criticized the two rappers, as he admitted he wasn’t on good terms with the stars when he slated Jay Z and Kanye West’s collaborative album ‘Watch The Throne’ on his 2011 track ‘I’m One One’. He admitted: “It was a lack of communication paired with natural competitiveness. But those two are Gods to me.”

Liam Gallagher’s ex to write new book L

McBusted to support One Direction on tour

M

cBusted are to support One Direction on their upcoming stadium tour. The super-group - comprised of McFly’s Harry Judd, Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter, as well as Busted’s Matt Willis and James Bourne - will join the ‘Midnight Memories’ hitmakers this summer for their ‘Where We Are’ world tour in Paris, France. McBusted wrote on Twitter: “AWESOME NEWS! We’re @onedirection’s special guest 21 Jun Paris Stade De France. Merci beaucoup (sic) New dad Tom also wrote: “YES we’re @onedirection’s special guests on 21 June Paris Stade De France. Gonna be trés awesome! (sic)” Niall Horan is close friends with the members of McFly and has recently been writing new music with the band. Last year, the stars worked together on several tracks for One Direction’s third studio album ‘Midnight Memories’, with one of the songs - ‘Don’t Forget Where You Belong’ - featuring on the record.

McBusted aren’t the only acts set to join One Direction - consisting of Niall, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson - on tour as they will also be supported by Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer.

The ‘Where We Are’ stadium tour begins in Bogota, Colombia, on April 25 and ends in Miami, Florida, in October.

iam Gallagher is “very nervous” about former lover Lisa Moorish’s autobiography. The former Oasis singer had a fling with the singer, with who he has 15-year-old daughter Molly, just months after he married his first wife Patsy Kensit in 1997, and is reportedly worried about what will be revealed in the book. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Liam is understood to be very nervous about what will come out.”

Lisa will write about the experiences of being a groupie in the 1990s, when Liam’s old band Oasis were one the most talked about acts during the Britpop era. The singer-songwriter also has an 11-year-old son, Astile, with Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty. Liam, 41, also has a 14-year-old son, Lennon, with Patsy, who he was married to from 1997 until 2000, and he split from his second wife Nicole Appleton after it emerged he had fathered a secret child with New York journalist Liza Ghorbani. The pair had been married for five years when they split in 2013 and have an 12-year-old son together, Gene. Liam is now dating his former personal assistant, Debbie Gwyther, and the pair spent the New Year together on a romantic holiday in Thailand. Meanwhile, New York writer Liza has reportedly filed a £2million lawsuit against Liam, who is yet to have a DNA test, for child support.

Williams says music works best without egos

P

harrell Williams says the secret to making great music is ditching your ego. The ‘Happy‘ hitmaker insists a big ego can often make people delusional, helping them to believe they did an excellent job when they haven’t, and thinks the best tunes are a result of musicians tapping into their “feelings”. He told Red Bulletin magazine: “Is the music legible to people’s interpretation? “It might not be because your ego told you that you killed it. But if you could remove your ego and only use your feeling, that is when the best stuff comes out.” The 40-year-old singer also believes the music industry works “off emotion” but insists success isn’t his “doing” since he can’t control the records people buy. He said: “Our business works off emotion, and it is not really easy to quantify it outside of what it is. It is like saying ‘Well, are you afraid of how the ball is going to react to the ice hokey rink?’“No, because that is not what it is meant for.

The puck is for that world and the ball is for another world. Emotions are just emotions. So when a song works, you should just be thankful, because that is not why you do it. “So any kind of success that I have ever had on a song is not my doing. So you don’t do it for that, because I can’t control that. I do it because I feel like it feels good and it may resonate with other people. So it is not really good to mix the idea of what success is and the purity of why you do something.”

Watson says Harry Potter was tough for directors

Dakota Johnson in talks for Black Mass

E

mma Watson says ‘Harry Potter’ was a “huge burden” for its directors.

The actress played Hermione Granger in the wizard saga, and she admitted the filmmakers across the series - Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates - all faced a huge amount of pressure. She told the Mail on Sunday newspaper’s Event magazine: “I do know what it takes. “Each of the ‘Harry Potter’ directors looked as if they had aged about 10 years by the time they’d finished. It’s a huge burden to carry.” Her experiences working on the eight movies - adapted from J.K. Rowling’s seven-part book series - means she sympathized with the task facing ‘Noah’ director Darren Aronofsky on the biblical blockbuster. She said: “Darren doesn’t shave during films, so there was this kind of dilapidation that happened throughout, where by the end of it he looked like this mad caveman.” Watson - who stars in the film as Ila - admitted she wasn’t sure about taking on the role until Aronofsky laid out his vision for her. She explained: “To be honest, the idea of making a film of Noah seemed really cheesy to me - the dove and the rainbow the two-by-two ... Darren is the lord of darkness and grittiness. “And then he explained it to me as this really interesting post-apocalyptic world - not set in the past, but not set in the future, and not a sandal in sight.”

Lawrence’s character struggle

J

ennifer Lawrence “struggled” with Mystique’s darker side.

The 23-year-old actress plays the villainous, blue-hued mutant shapeshifter in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ and she often contemplated going off-script for the darker scenes. She said: “I was struggling back and forth with wanting to get darker ... There was one scene where I couldn’t get past thinking she’d shoot someone where she doesn’t in the script. We filmed it both ways, but I don’t know which one they’ll use.” The actress also gushed about her time working with director Bryan Singer and was delighted when she found out he was going to helm the project. Quizzed on working with Singer, she told Total Film magazine: “It was amazing! There was a tiny fan boy inside of me jumping up and down and screaming when he decided to direct.” Talking about Singer sharing the experience with fans on Twitter, Lawrence added: “He took pictures of everything. He always had his phone out. He was like a 13-year-old girl at a premiere.”

D

akota Johnson is in talks to play Johnny Depp’s love interest in ‘Black Mass’. The ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ star will play Lindsey Cyr, the girlfriend of Depp’s character Boston crime kingpin-turned-fugitive, Whitey Bulger, and mother to his six-year-old son Douglas who dies tragically, in the film directed by Scott Cooper, according to deadline.com.

Bulger, who was the leader of the notorious Winter Hill Gang, topped the FBI’s list of most wanted criminals before disappearing for a decade. ‘The Great Gatsby’ actor Joel Edgerton had been slated to star opposite Depp as a crooked FBI agent, John Connolly, who was tasked with bringing down Bulger but aided him in his disappearance. Guy Pearce has been cast as Bill Bulger, brother of the mobster who was president of the Massachusetts Senate. Bulger was arrested in California in 2011 and is currently serving time in a Massachusetts state prison for second-degree murder. The film was titled after Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill’s 2001 New York Times best-seller ‘Black Mass: The True Story of An Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob’.

David James Kelly to pen Wolverine 3

D

avid James Kelly will pen the next installment of ‘The Wolverine’. Hugh Jackman will reprise his signature role as the titular character and James Mangold will helm the film, according to deadline.com. Lauren Shuler Donner is being lined up to return and produce again, after her work on 2009’s ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ and 2013’s ‘The Wolverine’. The storyline for the upcoming project is being kept under wraps, but some believe the plot could follow on from the character’s antics in the hotly anticipated ‘XMen: Days of Future Past’. Jackman recently said Wolverine is going to have “fun” with Michael Fassbender’s character, Magneto, in the forthcoming American superhero film when his alter-ego travels back in time to save the mutant race. He said: “It’s fair to say we don’t get on that well. I get sent back to the past and he has no idea who I am, but you can imagine Wolverine has a bit of fun with that.” ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, released in 2009, was the fourth installment in the X-Men film series, and grossed over $373 million worldwide, while last year’s ‘The Wolverine’made $414.8 million. ‘The Wolverine 3’ is set for a March 3, 2017, release. —Bang Showbiz

37

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Review

Gloomy, glorious ‘Les Miz’ hits Broadway

T

Indian filmmaker Major Ravi makes a point during the interview.

Friendship in the line of fire Major Ravi scoffs at new generation ‘flicks’

By Sajeev K Peter

S

omewhere in an icy terrain on the India-Pakistan border, two soldiers face each other. The soldiers, seemingly enemies at a hostile frontier, faced with isolation, an extreme climate and boredom, find solace in each other’s company.

Sharing a common destiny, they become friends and emotionally bond.

Indian filmmaker Major Ravi’s new movie ‘Picket 43’, tells the gripping story of the two soldiers and a dog and their extraordinary camaraderie on the volatile border.

As the story evolves, the Indian soldier, played by Prithviraj, battles to

and we are waiting for summer. ‘Picket 43’ is slated for an Onam release,” he said.

Major Ravi, who has so far directed six full-fledged feature films, most of them multilingual, is also planning a new family drama soon with Mohanlal playing the lead. “It will tell the tale of a strong family bonding,” he informed.

Major Ravi has come a long way from an ordinary army soldier to a well-known Indian filmmaker. Ravi says, “I joined the Indian army as a soldier in 1975 and passed out as an officer after graduation in 1984.” He joined the Military Academy and was admitted into the national security guards. “I became a black cat commando and participated in many mili-

Indian actors Prithviraj and Jaaved Jaffrey (right) at the location of ‘Picket 43’. save the life of his Pakistani counterpart, played by Jaaved Jaffrey, on the other side of the fence.

“It is yet another army thriller with all those war sequences and all,” says Major Ravi. “But it poses a question. If these two soldiers who you call enemies can become friends and die for each other, why can’t India and Pakistan have the same kind of relationship? Why can’t they start extending their hands of friendship instead of fighting?”

In conversation with Kuwait Times during an interview, Ravi said, “In any country, it is not the soldiers who start a war. It is the decision-makers who start it for their own ‘geopolitical reasons’. But in the process, soldiers have to sacrifice their lives and people lose their money,” he said, summing up the message of the movie underlining the need to avert wars.

“The shoot in snow season is over

tary operations in Punjab and Kashmir between 1988 and 1991. I won a gallantry award from the Indian president,” he said.

When asked what brought him into the world of glamour and glitz, Ravi replied, “I always had a flair for movie-moving. I used to watch a lot of films. After my voluntary retirement from the army, I worked as an assistant director with Priyadarshan and did some minor roles in a few Malayalam films.”

Major Ravi made his debut film ‘Punarjani’, a children’s movie in 2002 in which Mohanlal’s son played the main role. The film won many accolades including the award for best child artist.

Path-breaking Major Ravi’s first feature film ‘Keerti Chakra’ (2006), a film on Kashmir militancy, became a blockbuster. “The

film became such a big hit that even I could not match it with any of my other movies,” Ravi said. Thanks to a two-decade-long experience in the Indian Army, he became a military consultant for many Indian films. He has worked with celebrities like Priyadarshan, Rajkumar Santhoshi, Kamal Haasan, and Mani Ratnam.

Major Ravi was also part of the mission codenamed ‘Operation Oneeyed Jack’ commissioned to capture suspects of Rajiv Gandhi assassination. His face-to-face encounters in the case inspired him to make his second film ‘Mission 90 Days’ in 2007. It was based on his own experiences of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

“Now my prediction has come true. Our country’s prime minister was assassinated and the killers were freed after 20 years. Now, we ask ourselves the same old question after 20 years. Who killed Rajiv Gandhi? If these people have killed him, why did you leave them? Can anybody come to India, kill our prime minister and walk off after 20 years?”

Major Ravi’s movies invariably dwell on one common theme: patriotism. “Above caste and creed, there is one spirit that binds all Indians. It is patriotism,” he reasons.

‘Mission 90 Days’ followed his other movies such as ‘Kurukshetra’, ‘Kandahar’ and ‘Karma Yodha’.

New generation flicks Ravi said new generation movies are just an excuse for some people to churn out mediocre films and get away with them. “I have yet to understand the concept behind these new generation movies. There was a wave when Shakeela movies were made.

Even superstars were scared of her films. But it was a momentary craze, lasting only one or two years. Today, Shakeela is not there, but superstars are there,” he explained.

He cited the example of Mohanlalstarrer ‘Drishyam’ that broke all collection records. “People are there to watch good films always,” he added.

Talking about his foray into real estate, Ravi said “Man’s greed knows no limit. But at the end of the day, you have to limit yourself to some sixfeet of land”. Major Ravi arrived in Kuwait as the brand ambassador of ‘Elam development project’ which is coming up in Munnar, Kerala. “Why shouldn’t we be a part of a project and make use of the opportunity to enjoy nature’s serenity?” he asks.

Lost Cash album shows love for good songs

T

tale. Karimloo, a Mackintosh favorite in London, makes a tremendous Broadway debut, starting out as a feral, muscular animal out of chains and leaving an unsteady old man in grace.

His falsetto sung prayer “Bring Him Home” is sublime.

Swenson is ramrod straight as Inspector Javert, a man so in control of his emotions that even his speech is hyperpunctuated. Unrelenting and stingy with mercy, Swenson has the slightly unhinged quality of a bloodhound, a performance that explains why he must take desperate measures when doubt creeps in.

Levy as the doomed Fantine is lovely and her “I Dreamed a Dream” mixes rage and pitifulness into a tour de force. Samantha Hill as Cosette, James as Eponine and Andy Mientus as Marius are glorious in their romantic triangle. Even the little kids in the cast are cool. With so many scenes veering toward the overwrought, the directors have wisely offered comedic moments - a masterful “Master Of The House” led by the ribald Cliff Saunders and Keala Settle - and ones to reflect quietly, as in the simple, ghostly, candlelit Marius-sung “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.”

There is a cinematic quality to this production though it predates the Tom Hooper film version - that includes fast scene changes and even the title superimposed on the back wall, in case we needed reassurance which show was on. The barricades are smartly backlit and the action spills into the theater’s box seats. The hits keep coming, and thanks to reprises, keep coming: “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and “One Day More.” The melodies are as grandiose as the story. And here, the voices and look of the show wonderfully match. Bring your flag.—AP

‘Homeland’ actor James Rebhorn dies at 65

J Review

hirty years after getting shelved, a nearly forgotten Johnny Cash album is being made public for the first time. “Out Among The Stars” may not rank with the legendary material that made Cash an American icon, but it carries plenty of quality work typical of his recordings from the early 1980s, when these songs were originally cut. Working with producer Billy Sherrill - who at the time was creating top hits with George Jones and David Allan Coe - Cash breezes through a well-selected series of songs, mixing the sentimental (“Tennessee”) with the spiritual (“I Came To Believe”) and the humorous (“If I Told You Who It Was”) .

Sherrill keeps the mood light, even on darker fare like “She Used To Love Me A Lot,” an album standout.

Fans will find plenty to enjoy, including two rollicking duets: a cover of Hank Snow’s “I’m Movin’ On” with Waylon Jennings and a sprightly “Baby Ride Easy” with

he barricades have once again gone up on Broadway. Are they worth dropping everything and joining this time? The answer is a resounding “Oui!” Bring your flag. The well-traveled “Les Miserables” has rolled into town for its third bite at the Broadway apple not to mention fresh off a celebrated 2012 film - but there’s nothing tiresome about its gloomy, aching heartbeat. Directed this time by Laurence Connor and James Powell, with new orchestrations, stagecraft and costumes, this terrific “Les Miserables” opened Sunday at the Imperial Theatre, capping a national tour that began in 2010.

It’s beautifully sung and acted - Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy and Nikki M. James as leads can do no wrong - and the clever sets, superb lighting and moving projections highlight a creative team fully embracing Victor Hugo’s epic novel about good and evil, revolution and romance, in 19th-century France. It boasts music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Producer Cameron Mackintosh was sold on reviving the show after learning that set designer Matt Kinley was inspired by the paintings of Hugo, which are often brooding, eerie and romantic.

His images of Paris infuse the production - augmented by enough fog to host a heavy metal festival - and, together with golden beams of lighting by Paule Constable, leave the actors looking a bit like they’re in paintings themselves. Projections by Fifty-Nine Productions are subtle until brilliant, especially the plunge into the sewers in Act 2. There is no massive spinning turntable on the stage, as in previous incarnations, but it isn’t missed.

Karimloo stars as Jean Valjean, the former prisoner No. 24601 who is the moral center of Hugo’s historical

ames Rebhorn, the prolific character actor whose credits included “Homeland,”“Scent of a Woman” and “My Cousin Vinny,” has died. He was 65. Rebhorn’s agent, Dianne Busch, said Sunday that the actor died Friday at his home in South Orange, New Jersey, after a long battle with skin cancer. Busch said Rebhorn was diagnosed with melanoma in 1992 but managed to work until the last month.

In five decades of television and film work, Rebhorn amassed more than 100 credits, ranging from a shipping magnate in the Matt Damon film “The Talented Mr Ripley” to the prosecutor in the series finale of the TV comedy “Seinfeld,” in which he famously sent the group to jail.

The lanky but piercing Rebhorn, raised a Lutheran in Indiana, often

played astringent authorities, like the headmaster in “Scent of a Woman” or the Secretary of Defense in “Independence Day.” On Showtime’s “Homeland,” he played the father of Claire Danes’ CIA officer Carrie Mathison. He also had a recurring role on the USA Network series “White Collar” playing the head of an FBI white-collar crime unit. Other credits of the Philadelphia-born Rebhorn, who received his masters in acting from Columbia University, include “The Game,”“Real Steel,”“Law & Order,” “Carlito’s Way” and “Meet the Parents.”

Rebhorn also frequently worked in theater, starring on Broadway in revivals of “Our Town,”“12 Angry Men” and the original 1985 production of “I’m Not Rappaport.” He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Linn, and two daughters. —AP

In this Nov 4, 2009 file photo, actor James Rebhorn attends the premiere of “The Box”, in New York. —AP

Russell Crowe slates Rio’s traffic chaos

T wife June Carter Cash (on a song previously cut by her daughter, Carlene Carter). At the time, Cash was a decade beyond when he regularly released top country hits and a decade prior to his creative resurrection with the series of

American recordings made with producer Rick Rubin from 1994 until the singer’s death in 2003.

But the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s love for good songs shines bright on “Out Among the Stars.” —AP

Russell Crowe

en weeks before the city expects to welcome throngs of World Cup fans, Hollywood star Russell Crowe slated Rio’s chaotic traffic during a visit to promote biblical epic Noah. Although happy to visit Brazil, Crowe admitted he found the traffic a challenge-not least as he braved the cars for a bicycle ride around the metropolis. “What I found was chaos,” he told Broadcaster Globo’s Fantastico program in an interview broadcast Sunday, adding that coming out of the airport the surrounding area

was none too scenic.

“The bit I came in, to be honest ... needed a bit of cleaning up,” he reflected in a pre-recorded interview. Rio is straining to revamp its image as the World Cup and the Rio 2016 Olympics approach, but is struggling with the mammoth task of reversing decades of urban decline.

During his stay-Sunday’s program was broadcast after Crowe left Brazil for the United States-the actor had tweeted his incredulity at the urban mayhem that Rio residents know so well. —AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

lifestyle T R A V E L

5 free things to do in

I

Montreal

t’s a taste of French culture in North America: Montreal. The city on the St Lawrence River in Quebec offers walks down centuries-old streets lined with elegant architecture and historic sites. Locals chat in French but easily switch to English to accommodate visitors. French treats like croissants, crepes and macarons are easy to find, while maple syrup, smoked meats and poutine - brown gravy and cheese curds over french fries - add Canadian charm to local menus.

Best of all, many of the city’s best attractions can be experienced for free, from Old Montreal to Mount Royal Park to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Here are five free things to do on a visit to Montreal.

Mount Royal You can look up and see the towering trees of Mount Royal from nearly everywhere in Montreal. The nearly 500-acre (200-hectare) park tops out at 770 feet (235 meters) and boasts running, hiking and biking trails, an overlook onto downtown Montreal and a large lake.

Frederick Law Olmsted, the man behind New York’s Central Park, drew the plans for the park, which was dedicated in 1876.

There’s no charge to explore its monuments,

cemeteries, public art and pavilions. Highlights include the tall Mount Royal Cross, which is lit at night. The park also offers opportunities to swim, skate, ski, sled and picnic.

Old Montreal and Old Port The historic Old Montreal or Vieux Montreal district stretches along the St Lawrence River in the southern part of Montreal. You could spend

Photo shows macaroon cookies in Montreal’s Jean Talon Market.

Rembrandt and Monet to Inuit sculpture, JeanMichel Basquiat and other modern and contemporary works. Admission to the general collection and outdoor sculpture garden is free but there is a charge for special exhibits.

Photo shows macaroon cookies in Montreal’s Jean Talon Market.

Notre Dame De Bon Secours Chapel A large statue of the Virgin Mary stands atop this church on the St Lawrence River, leaning forward to welcome sailors into harbor. The origins of this ornate church date to the 1650s and the chapel visitors see today dates to the 1770s.

Inside frescos, statues and altar artwork rival that of European churches.

But the chapel earns its charm from the small replicas of sailing boats that hang from the ceiling like chandeliers, each with vigil candles. Note that this church at is different from the larger Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal, which costs $5 for those who aren’t pilgrims.

Jean Talon Market Small markets dot the Montreal streets but one of the larger and more interesting is Jean Talon Market or Marche Jean-Talon. The market has both covered and uncovered stalls filled with seasonal produce, cheeses, pastries and breads and other local specialties, like maple syrups. It all makes for a colorful and lively walk past vendors speaking French and English to customers trying to find the freshest fruits and vegetables, fish and meats. Shoppers are here to spend money but the colorful photo ops are free: carrots in dark red and yellow, brussels sprouts on the stalk, macaron cookies in pastel hues, dozens of types of peppers. — AP

A vendor’s colorful carrots are displayed for sale at Montreal’s Jean Talon Market.

A runner makes his way through Montreal’s Mount Royal park.

hours wandering the twisty, narrow walkways, where French signs dot the shops, cafes and restaurants, advertising poutine and smoked meats among other fare. Along the banks of the river at the Old Port, watch barges, cruise ships and other vessels from a tree-lined park. A walking tour (some free tours are available) could include the Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal City Hall and the historic square, Place JacquesCartier.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts The collection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts ranges from the European Renaissance,

A vendor sells eggs at Montreal’s Jean Talon Market.

Photo shows Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica illuminated at night.

Photo shows Notre Dame de Bon Secours Chapel in Montreal.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal.

Photo shows Place Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Fashion

Infection

Toronto

Models present creations by Lithuanian designer Egidijus Sidaras at the “Fashion Infection” festival in Vilnius, Lithuania. — AP/AFP photos

Miranda Kerr:

Fashion Week

I use perfume on ends of hair

Models present creations

by Stephan Caras while walking the runway during Toronto Fashion Week in Toronto.

M

iranda Kerr sprays perfume on the ends of her hair. The 30-year-old supermodel has revealed her secret tip to smelling good constantly, saying she spritzes her favorite fragrance on the tips of her luscious locks. Quizzed about her perfume spraying routine, she said: “I like to spritz on the ends of my hair, and also on my clothing before I get dressed - just a little spritz on my clothing. It’s a subtle way when you enter the room for people to feel your presence, but not be overwhelmed by it.” The former Victoria’s Secret beauty also admits she is a loyal fragrance wearer and tends not to change her signature scent once she’s found one she likes.

Miranda told People.com: “I like to keep it consistent. If I like a fragrance it just kind of becomes my signature. These days, if you find something that works, you might as well go with it.” Miranda is the face of Escada’s new perfume Joyful, which reminds her of her childhood and experimenting with different scents. She explained: “I remember playing with my mother’s perfumes. She had quite a collection. On her dresser she had all the different perfumes. It was her thing. I didn’t really get my own perfume until I was older, maybe in my teens. I remember using rose oils and sandalwood oil-mixing those two together. I liked that balance of the fresh flowers with something that’s very grounding. I think that’s a nice mix of freshness and strength.” — Bang Showbiz

Zoe curates

vintage jewelry line for Hunter’s Fashion

R

achel Zoe has curated a vintage jewelry line for Hunter’s Fashion. The stylist to the stars has partnered with the new online destination for stunning second hand pieces, sourcing some of her favorite unique pieces for fans to buy. She told E! News: “Jewelry, more often than not, tells a story. I still remember the gold ring with dangling hearts that I received as a gift for my bat mitzvah. “It was feminine and flirty and represents a time during my adolescence when I really embraced my girly side.”

Rachel - whose new book ‘Living in Style: Inspiration

and Advice for Everyday Glamour’ is out now - has kept the costs down for customers, with prices starting at $25.

Highlights from the line include rhinestone earrings, a snake wrap bracelet and a chunky punk-inspired necklace.

The designer cancelled her New York Fashion Week show this season for the first time since she started showing at the US fashion capital in February 2011. She became a mother to baby Kaius in December and already has Skyler, two, with her husband Roger Berman, and has admitted raising her sons is her priority at this moment in time. — Bang Showbiz

Friendship in the line of fire

37

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

People walk past illuminated buildings on Burj Plaza in downtown Dubai, with in the background Burj Khalifa tower and the Address Downtown Dubai tower, yesterday during the Dubai Festival of Lights.

Inspired from the French city of Lyon’s Festival of Lights (Fete des Lumieres de Lyon), illuminations and artistic light installations are displayed in the Emirati city from March 20 to 29, 2014. — AFP photos

Rihanna to be honored with CFDA Fashion Icon award

R

ihanna earned an icon award at the American Music Awards last year. Now she’s receiving a similar honor from the fashion world. The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced yesterday that the 26year-old pop star will receive the CFDA Fashion Icon Award on June 2 in New York City.

The award is given to one whose style has made a tremendous impact on pop culture around the world. Past recipients include Lady Gaga, Iman, Kate Moss and Nicole Kidman. The 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards will be held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Rihanna will launch a three-date co-headlining tour with Eminem on Aug 8 in Los Angeles. The artists have collaborated on the No. 1 hits “The Monster” and “Love the Way You Lie.” — AP

Rare stamp from murderer’s estate seen setting record

A

In this July 10, 2013 file photo, singer, songwriter Rihanna performs at “Le Sporting” in Monaco during her “Diamonds World Tour”. — AP photos

File photo shows singer Rihanna performing on stage at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles.

(Above) This March 4, 2014 file photo shows singer Rihanna posing as she arrives to Chanel’s ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris. (Right) This March 5, 2014 file photo shows singer Rihanna arriving at Miu Miu’s ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris.

rare One-Cent Magenta postage stamp printed in British Guiana in 1856 and most recently owned by the estate of a du Pont chemical company heir convicted of murder is expected to fetch a record price of $10-$20 million, Sotheby’s said yesterday. The stamp is being sold by the estate of the late John du Pont, who died aged 72 in a Pennsylvania prison in 2010 where he was serving a sentence for the 1996 shooting of Olympic champion US wrestler David Schultz.

Du Pont, whose wealth was estimated at $250 million at the time of his 1997 trial, was one of the richest murder defendants in US history at the time of his conviction.

Sotheby’s said experts from the Royal Philatelic Society London had re-authenticated the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, the only one of its kind known to exist, and the auctioneer would offer the stamp at auction in New York on June 17.

“It is one inch by one and a quarter inches, it’s tiny and when it sells it will be the most valuable object by weight and size ever sold,” David Redden, Sotheby’s vice chairman and director of special projects, told Reuters. “Our estimate on this stamp is $10 million to $20 million. That seems like an awful lot, but in the great scheme of things, across the entire collecting world, the most extraordinary objects in every field, that price suddenly becomes a little modest.”

Chris Harman, chairman of the Philatelic Society’s expert committee, said the stamp printed in what is now called the Republic of Guyana was without peer.

“It’s one of the first stamps in the world, 1856, British Guiana was one of the first countries in the world to issue their stamps, and this was a locally printed stamp, of which there are very few Four-Cent, and there’s only one One-Cent, so it has gained this iconic status,” he said.

It has not been on public view since 1986, when it was exhibited at a stamp show in Chicago. The last time it was certified as authentic by the Royal Philatelic Society was in 1935, since when several attempts at forging

it have been made. The current auction record for a single stamp is 2,875,000 Swiss francs (approximately $2.2 million), set by the Treskilling Yellow in 1996.

Family fortune Du Pont, who purchased the One Cent in 1980, was a great-great-grandson of E.I. du Pont, who in 1802 founded the chemical firm that bears his name and created one of America’s largest family fortunes. Du Pont was found guilty but mentally ill in connection with Schultz’s death. During the trial, his attorney said du Pont suffered from delusions. The One-Cent Magenta was printed in British Guiana in 1856 after a shipment of stamps from England was delayed, which threatened a disruption of postal service throughout the colony.

The postmaster turned to the printers of the local Royal Gazette newspaper, and commissioned a contingency supply: the One-Cent Magenta, a Four-Cent Magenta, and a Four-Cent Blue. The sole-surviving example of the One-Cent was first rediscovered not far from where it was initially purchased.

In 1873, L. Vernon Vaughan, a 12year-old Scottish schoolboy living with his family in British Guiana, found the stamp among a group of family papers bearing many British Guiana issues.

A budding stamp collector, Vaughan added it to his album and later sold the stamp to another collector in British Guiana.

The One-Cent entered Britain in 1878, and shortly after, it was purchased by Count Philippe la Renotiere von Ferrary, one of the greatest stamp collectors in history.

France seized his collection, which had been donated to the Postmuseum in Berlin, as part of the war reparations due from Germany, and sold the stamp in 1922. It changed hands several times after that before du Pont, an avid philatelist, paid $935,000 for the stamp in a 1980 auction, marking its most recent record-setting price. “I don’t think any of us will probably see it again in our lives, and so that is a milestone,” Harman said. —Reuters