17th Aug 2013

IPT IO N SC R SU B

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

No: 15900

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New Zealand cities rocked by earthquake

Party over as Goa bans dance bars

150 Fils

SHAWWAL 10, 1434 AH

Dawn breaks over all-new Premier League

Egypt’s ‘Day of Rage’ turns violent; 70 die Saudi backs Egypt against ‘terrorism’

Max 48º Min 29º

Online forums provide havens for terror plots WASHINGTON: In secretive chat rooms and on encrypted Internet message boards, Al-Qaeda fighters have been planning and coordinating attacks - including a threatened if vague plot that US officials say closed 19 diplomatic posts across Africa and the Middle East for more than a week. It’s highly unlikely that Al-Qaeda’s top leader, Ayman Al-Zawahri, or his chief lieutenant in Yemen, Nasser Al-Wahishi, were personally part of the Internet chatter or, given the intense manhunt for both by US spy agencies, that they ever go online or pick up the phone to discuss terror plots, experts say.

But the unspecified call to arms by the Al-Qaeda leaders, using a multilayered subterfuge to pass messages from couriers to tech-savvy underlings to attackers, provoked a quick reaction by the US to protect Americans in far-flung corners of the world where the terror network is evolving into regional hubs. For years, extremists have used online forums to share information and drum up support, and over the past decade they have developed systems that blend encryption programs with anonymity software to hide their tracks.

Jihadist technology may now be so sophisticated and secretive, experts say, that many communications avoid detection by National Security Agency programs that were designed to uncover terror plots. “This creates a bit of a cat-and-mouse game between terrorist groups that can buy commercial technology and intelligence agencies that are trying to find ways to continue to monitor,” said Seth Jones, a former adviser to US special operations forces and counterterrorism expert at Rand Corp, a Washington-based think tank that receives US government funding. “Some of the technology you can buy is pretty good, and it evolves, and it is a game that is constantly evolving.”

A US intelligence official said the unspecified threat was discussed in an online forum joined by so many jihadist groups that it included a representative from Boko Haram, the Nigerian insurgency that has loose ties to AlQaeda. Two other intelligence officials characterized the threat as more of an alert to get ready to launch potential attacks than a discussion of specific targets.

One of the officials said the threat began with a message from Al-Wahishi, head of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, to Al-Zawahri, who replaced Osama bin Laden as the core Al-Qaeda leader. The message essentially sought out Al-Zawahri’s blessing to launch attacks. Al-Zawahri, in turn, sent out a response that was shared on the secretive online jihadi forum. All three intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the threat.

Continued on Page 11

CAIRO: An Egyptian youth mourns over the dead bodies at a mosque in Cairo yesterday as clashes broke out during a demonstration in support of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi. — AFP CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood protests plunged into violence across Egypt yesterday, with around 50 killed in Cairo alone on a “Day of Rage” called by Islamist followers of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to denounce a police crackdown. Automatic gunfire echoed across Cairo and black smoke billowed from the capital’s huge Ramses Square, a military helicopter hovering low overhead looking down on the chaos.

A Reuters witness saw the bodies of 27 people, apparently hit by gunfire and birdshot, wrapped in white sheets in a mosque. A Reuters photographer said security forces opened fire from numerous directions when a police station was attacked. At least 20 people died in clashes elsewhere in Egypt. The violence

followed Wednesday’s assault by security forces on two Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo that left hundreds dead, as the military-backed government tried to end weeks of turbulence that has pushed the Arab world’s most populous state to the brink of disaster.

Western governments urged restraint and Germany cautioned the new government that it was reviewing its ties. By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah said his country stood with Egypt in its battle against “terrorism”.

The army deployed armored vehicles on major roads around the capital and the Interior Ministry said police would use live ammunition against anyone threatening public buildings.

“Sooner or later I will die. Better to

die for my rights than in my bed. Guns don’t scare us anymore,” said Sara Ahmed, 28, a business manager who joined the demonstrators in Cairo. “It’s not about the Brotherhood, it’s about human rights,” said Ahmed, one of the few women in the crowd not wearing a headscarf, a sign of piety for Muslim women. Anger on the streets was directed at army commander General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who moved against Morsi last month after massive street rallies against the his administration that had been dogged by accusations of incompetence and partisanship.

“The people want the butcher executed,” said Mustafa Ibrahim, 37, referring to Sisi, as he marched with a crowd Continued on Page 11

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Speeding tickets dropped by half

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Rupee plunges to a new low

local

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Visa traffickers behind anti-Thekra campaign MP defends minister

By A Saleh

KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society has dispatched an equipped ambulance and six tons of dates by air to Somalia to help those in need for aid following widescale drought in the African nation. The ambulance and the dates will be delivered to a relief authority in Senak province. The Red Crescent Society thanked the Ministry of Defense for providing a military aircraft to transport the aid.

MPs’ grilling threats continue KUWAIT: Parliamentarians’ attack on ministers continued Thursday and moved from targeting certain Cabinet members to demands that the entire Cabinet resigns less two weeks after its formation. “The cabinet is required to leave if it was unable to enforce the law”, MP Dr Khalil Abdullah said. “Otherwise, it should prepare for political accountability”. Dr Abdullah expressed contempt from what he said was the government’s failure to enforce the Family Fund law properly, as well as lack of a plan fixed with a timetable to enforce the Development Plan.

“If you fail to reorganize the Central Bank’s regulations with regards to the Family Fund, then prepare for questioning”, the lawmaker was quoted by Al-Jarida yesterday addressing Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sheikh Salem Al-Abdul-Aziz AlSabah. Threats to file grilling motions after only one session since the parliament was elected on July 27 are already threatening calls for calm and cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities highlighted during the inaugural session. However, one lawmaker believes that interpellations shouldn’t be considered a hindrance. “Grilling motions are very normal and should not serve as a source of deep concern”, MP Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak said on Thursday. “If MPs find flaws in a minister’s performance, then we will wave him goodbye”. She further argued that ministers should be ‘thankful’ when MPs point out errors in their performance through interpellations “because a minister is not superman”.

“The old approach when an MP’s integrity is questioned after criticizing ministers is over”, she indicated, “and today ministers are required to expose the alleged corrupt agendas they claim MPs are working to serve”.

Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al-Shaya expressed regret over the fact that minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah was handed the health portfolio in addition to retaining his position as Minister of Cabinet Affairs. “The health ministry needs a full-time minister who can focus all of his or her efforts to address the problems that it faces”, Al-Shaya told Al-Jarida on Thursday.

He also indicated plans to “take constitutional and monitoring procedures” against any minister in case flaws were detected in their procedures.

In the meantime, Al-Rai reported that Al-Shaya attended a meeting Thursday as president of the parliament’s financial committee with Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs Dr Rola Dashti. According to sources familiar with the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest preparations regarding the cabinet’s work program and topics to be given priority in discussion when the parliament resumes sessions on Oct 29. According to reports, MPs want to give priority to 48 topics that revolve around improving citizens’ living standards and include increases to rent and child support allowances as well as retired servicemen’s pensions, in addition to addressing some pressing issues such as housing, unemployment and stateless residents.

Separately, MP Riyadh Al-Adasani announced plans to submit amendments to the state’s sports regulations and introduce privatization of sport clubs and professional competition. Clubs are currently state-owned and run through elected boards, while athletes mostly work part-time jobs in addition to their time with their clubs. “Current regulations do not go in line with our perceptions to improve Kuwait’s sports that must go through plans which include privatizing clubs, adopting professional competition and for the government to completely take its hand from clubs and the sports’ sector”, Al-Adasani indicated.

KUWAIT: A lawmaker believes that the “ongoing attack” on Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi over allegations of favoring relatives in hiring are motivated by efforts to “subdue her active work in tackling corruption and fighting visa trafficking”. “It is strange seeing Thekra attacked after achieving huge steps forward in introducing reform and fighting corruption within her ministry”, MP Hamad Saif Al-Harashani said in a recent statement.

He further suggested that the ‘organized campaign’ against the minister aims to “suppress her ongoing efforts to fight visa traffickers”, and argued that the alleged campaign against her is orchestrated by “people benefiting from visa trafficking” and “unproductive officials within the ministry”.

In other news, MP Abdurrahman Al-

Jeeran blamed the parliament for what he said was “the failure of the development plan that was placed six years ago as a top priority”. In a recent press statement, AlJeeran argued that the parliament legislated laws that contradicts with what the Development Plan requires since it was passed in 2010, and is required to ‘rectify’ the issue by making sure that future legislation do not contradict with the government’s plans.

VIP suites Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad AlAbdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah ordered directors of public hospitals and medical zones to evacuate one suit in each hospital in order to establish a VIP suite. According to sources familiar with the minister’s decision, the multipurpose suite would provide advanced services and ‘hotel experience’ similar to those found in private hospitals

as well as public hospitals worldwide, and that for a KD50 per day fee.

“The decision come as part of efforts to improve the quality of medical services in Kuwait which minister Al-Sabah made clear after assuming his new position can only be achieved through teamwork”, said the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Revival of laws Some members of the parliament are contemplating the revival of some laws and proposals which were at the parliamentary human rights and bedoons committee during the last annulled assembly, reports AlShahed local Arabic daily. A parliamentary source said several MPs will demand the formation of the committee among the temporary committees, and MPs already selected the names who will chosen as members, including the chairman.

Zain offers discount on SMS, calls to Indonesia KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, has announced that it will offer a 50% discount on all SMS messages and 20% discount on International calls to Indonesia in celebration of the Indonesia National Day on Aug 17..

Zain expressed its congratulations on this occasion to the people of Indonesia, represented in its leadership, the embassy, and Indonesian expatriates residing in Kuwait.

The company stressed that Zain is a global company which is always keen to participate in the celebrations of nations.

Zain added that the offer is extended to all SMS & International calls sent to Indonesia only today Aug 17 for both post-paid and pre-paid customers.

Kuwait looks to boost foreign investment KUWAIT: While Kuwait’s FDI figures were up in 2012, far more capital still leaves the country each year than enters it. However, the government is working to reverse this, in part by improving the legal framework for foreign investment. According to a report issued by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the end of June, Kuwait attracted almost $1.9 billion of FDI in 2012, a 117% increase on the previous year.

In its World Investment Report 2013, the UN organisation said the Gulf country had not only more than doubled its own FDI total but had outstripped several of its neighbours, including Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

The regional leaders were Saudi Arabia, with $12.2billion, and the UAE, at $9.6 billion.

Kuwait’s improved performance was also well above the global average, with worldwide FDI declining by around 18% in 2012, mainly due to “continued macroeconomic fragility and policy uncertainty for investors”, UNCTAD said. The agency added it was expected that there would be only a moderate rise in foreign investment flows around the world over the next two years.

However, the positive result for Kuwait in 2012 was mainly the product of a one-off investment, as Qatar Telecom nearly doubled its stake in the mobile telecoms provider Wataniya. In October the Qatari

firm increased its holding in the Kuwaiti operator from 52.5% to 92.1%, also giving it majority rights in two profitable North African subsidiaries, Nedjma and Tunisiana.

To do this, Qatar Telecom committed $1.8billion, representing almost all of Kuwait’s FDI in 2012.

Moreover, funds continue to flow out of Kuwait at a more rapid pace than they enter, with outward FDI totalling $7.5billion in 2012. This was by far the highest of any of the GCC states, with only Saudi Arabia coming close, at around $4.5 billion.

Another recently issued report - by Kuwait-based business consultancy Leaders Group - noted that Kuwaitis appear more inclined to look abroad for opportunities rather than invest at home. According to their analysis, the GCC state attracts 1% of investments coming into the Arab world, while at the same time accounting for 35% of Arab FDI within the region.

The consultancy attributed Kuwait’s relatively weak FDI inflows in part to the difficulties in obtaining approval for projects and the more competitive incentives offered to investors by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

This conclusion was in line with the findings published in the World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business Report, which ranked

Kuwait 82nd globally, down from its 77th placing in 2012. The slow pace of establishing a business, difficulties in trading across borders and dealing with construction permits all weighed down on the ranking.

However, Kuwait is moving to boost its investment credentials and improve its FDI profile. At the end of May, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced it would press ahead with long-mooted plans to establish a new agency tasked with attracting foreign investments. The new authority will replace the existing Foreign Investment Office and be a part of the ministry. Among its roles will be to assist in drafting improved legal and economic conditions to promote foreign investment. Under legislation put before the Kuwaiti parliament before the general election on July 27, the time to process business licences will be cut to 30 days, while incentives - yet to be defined - will be provided to eligible foreign investors.

It will take time for these measures to be refined and implemented, possibly too long to impact this year’s FDI results. Perhaps a better balanced gauge of whether Kuwait has opened the taps for foreign investment flow will come in 2014, when the proposed reforms have had a chance to take hold.

—- Oxford Business Group

LOCAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

KUWAIT: Minister of Information wishing young divers for the Pearl Diving trip

Skippers Al-Rashed from Kuwait and Al-Manae from Bahrain

Pearl diving expedition ships reach Khairan KUWAIT: In preparation for the 25th Diving Expedition due in the period of Aug 15 to 22, Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC)’s Marine Heritage Committee said that, after the Dasha ceremony held Thursday off KSSC’s beach in Salmiya with the attendance of Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud, diplomats, KSSC officials and participants parents, young sailors from Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain have reached the launch area yesterday morning pending the official launch ceremony.

In this regard, KSSC’s heritage committee chairman, Ali Al-Qabandi said that all the ships that had been granted by His Highness the Amir and from the late Amir had safely reached the diving area in Khairan. He added that the young sailors were very skillful in sailing them and that all crews were well-trained and ready for the expedition. He also noted that actual diving had started yesterday morning under the supervision of veteran skipper, Khalifa AlRashid from Kuwait and Bahrain’s veteran skipper, Abdurrahman Al-Menae. “Diving will be done daily during daytime till next Thursday when all ships will sail back to KSSC beach for

Ali Al-Qabandi the closing ceremony”, said Al-Qabandi.

Notably, KSSC’s media committee intends to organize a cruise taking media figures and journalists to the diving area tomorrow so that they can closely watch the activities. The journey will start at 5:30 pm from KSSC headquarters.

KUWAIT: A young pearl-diver in action.

Gulf Bank’s Ramadan TV commercials record 41,000 hits

Ali Al-Qabandi

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced that its community-focused Ramadan TV commercials achieved huge success on its social media channels and got more than 41,000 hits on YouTube during Ramadan. The commercials also proved to be a very successful tool that helped Gulf Bank increase its Instagram followers by 66 percent as well as record a 21 percent increase in its Twitter followers.

Ebtihaj Al-Roomi, Assistant General Manager, Marketing at Gulf Bank said: “We are very proud that our commercials received this positive feedback and generated such huge attention on our social media channels by viewers across Kuwait. With our TV commercials, we aimed to highlight

the unfavorable phenomena in the Kuwaiti society, and to emphasize that direct communication is best for deepening family bonds. We hope to continue to please our viewers with more creative and socially-engaging commercials in the future.”

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Gulf Bank had a dedicated hashtag entitled #belsej_ahala on its Twitter account and Instagram page on @Gulf_Bank to build on the TV commercial’s theme to engage with the public and have them post messages that encourage real-life communication. Customers wishing to view Gulf Bank’s latest Ramadan TV commercial can view it on: www.egulfbank.com/youtube.

Speeding tickets cut by half KUWAIT: The number of tickets issued for speeding dropped by nearly a half from the average rate during July and the first half of this month. According to sources familiar with Traffic General Department statistics, only 12,000 tickets were issued during that period while the monthly average reaches between 25,000 and 30,000.

Speaking to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity, the sources attributed the drop to strict procedures adopted in the past few months which include counting speeding violations in the ‘points’ system under which drivers’ licenses are suspended after reaching a certain number of points, in addition to suspending procedures at the Traffic General Department until fines are paid, as well as stiffer measures that include canceling a Kuwaiti driver’s license while deporting expatriates when both commit serious violations.

In the meantime, the sources indicated that the Traffic General Department studies issuing travel bans against drivers with speeding tickets, adding that news regarding this procedures are already making drivers ‘more cautious’ on the road.

The Traffic General Department collected nearly KD39 million in fines as of Thursday since extensive traffic campaigns started earlier this year. Meanwhile, Al-Rai also reported that the Traffic General Department launched operations to pursue owners of nearly 300,000 registered vehicles with expired registrations.

LOCAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Teen drowns; body of Asian found in Mangaf Youth dies of drug overdose KUWAIT: An investigation was opened into the death of a teenager who reportedly drowned off the Julaiah beach Wednesday afternoon. Rescue teams went in search for the youngster after he was reported missing. He was eventually found dead and preliminary investigations indicate that he must have drowned after being drifted away while swimming near the beach. The body was taken to the forensic department for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, Mangaf police launched investigations to determine the circumstances behind the death of an area resident which was reported recently. Police and crime scene investigators headed to a building in the area where residents reported finding their neighbor dead inside his apartment. The neighbors had sought help from the building’s keeper to break into the Bangladeshi man’s apartment after smelling foul odor coming from it. No evidence of foul play were found on the scene. The body was taken to the forensic department and police are currently waiting for the autopsy report to confirm the cause and time of death.

Work mishap A construction worker died after falling off from a high place at a major construction site in South Surra Wednesday. Paramedics accompanied by police officers rushed to the scene located at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital construction site after the incident was reported, and pronounced the man dead shortly afterwards.

Preliminary investigations based on coworker’ testimonies indicate that the 32-year-old Korean national lost balance and fell on the ground covered with sharp material used in construction. The body was taken to the forensic department and an investigation was opened into the case.

Shaab death A drug addict died of an overdose inside a Shaab house late Wednesday night. Paramedics and police had rushed to the scene after family members reported finding the man unconscious in his room. The 22-year-old Kuwaiti was pronounced dead on the scene as evidence of foul play was found. The body was taken to the forensic department where an autopsy revealed that the victim died as a result of circulatory failure caused by a drug overdose. A case was filed.

Family quarrel A child was hospitalized after he was accidently ran over during a family quarrel in Saad Al-Abdullah recently. According to the police report, the incident happened at the family house of the child’s mother where she had sought refuge following a dispute with her husband. The husband engaged in an argument with his brother-in-law which escalated into a fistfight outside the house. The 8-year-old boy was ran over by accident in the middle of the quarrel, after which he was hospitalized and his condition was described as stable. The news report does not specify whether the boy was hit by his father or uncle.

Fight at house Two women who share the same husband needed medical attention after brawling inside their house in Jahra recently.

According to the case papers filed at the Jahra police station Thursday, the women were involved in an altercation soon after their husband left the house, and then started exchanging punches before going on to throw small furniture at each other.

The two obtained medical reports showing diagnoses for bruises they sustained during the fight, then headed to the police station and pressed charges against each other. Police summoned the husband to testify in the ongoing investigation.

Suicide attempt A man interfered on time to save his driver before he could kill himself in a case reported recently in Jahra. In his statements to local police who arrived at the scene following an emergency call, the Kuwaiti man said that he went to check on his driver and found him tying a rope around his neck with the other side of the rope already tied to the ceiling of his room. The man stopped his driver before he could jump to his death, and called police. The Indian driver was taken to the police station where he told officers that pressure from financial and family-related issues in his home country drove him to commit suicide. The man remains in police’s custody pending further legal procedures.

KUWAIT: Firefighters from two fire stations tackled a fire reported in Hasawi yesterday and no human casualties were recorded. Fire trucks from the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Ardiya fire stations were dispatched to the scene after emergency calls were received. Firefighters found that the fire started at a tin-sheet room built on the roof of a house and used as a kitchen by its residents. Preliminary investigations indicated that the a cooking gas leak caused the blaze. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Qattan leads mourners in the funeral prayer.—Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Renowned Kuwaiti philanthropist Al-Sumait mourned by hundreds KUWAIT: Abdulrahman AlSumait, who passed away on Thursday due to heart failure after dedicating a large portion of his life to humanitarian and philanthropic works in Africa, was mourned here by hundreds in attendance at Sulaibikhat cemetery and by messages from Kuwait and the world over. AlSumait, who died at the age of 66, is known for building 840 educational facilities - including four universities - and 90 clinics and hospitals, constructing 12,000 artesian wells and helping thousands of people understand and embrace Islam in Africa.

He is also known for having founded the Africa Muslim Agency, later renamed as “Direct Aid” society, and conducting detailed studies on Africa’s political, social and economic affairs - Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Angola, being some of the 40 countries his work was focused on.

In recognition of these efforts, the Western-educated physician and Islamic practitioner received countless humanitarian awards and honours from Islamic world and Africa.

“Abdulrahman Al-Sumait was undoubtedly a man of great

deeds. His loss is one for the Islamic world, as a whole, not just Kuwait,” said Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled AlHamad Al-Sabah. For his part, Kuwaiti Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem AlHumoud Al-Sabah said that international and Islamic humanitarian efforts lost a valuable partner.

Earlier, Mohammed Badahdah, Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, described the icon’s death as “a big loss for the

Arab and Islamic Ummah.

“We can find only a few individuals like Al-Sumait among the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world,” he said. Kuwaiti Islamic scholar Khaled AlMathkour said that Al-Sumait “will be remembered for his generosity, humility, sacrifice and strong faith.” “The widows, orphans, hungry and poor of Africa know the name of Abdulrahman Al-Sumait well the evidence of this is the huge numbers of people gathered here to pay their respects.”

“Only last week, Kenya witnessed the opening of an Islamic university, and this is added to

Al-Sumait’s body is taken for the funeral prayer.

the many accomplishments of Al-Sumait,” said Sulaiman AlRajhi of the Saudi-based Al-Rajhi Foundation.

The university, which has received official recognition, is offering Kenyans degrees in medicine, engineering, business, information technology and strategic Arab and Islamic studies. It has been the brainchild of Al-Sumait since 1998.

Al-Sumait will be sorely missed for his great legacy and had come a long way from his days as a young student, when he purchased a car to drive less fortunate expatriate workers in Kuwait for free.— KUNA

local

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Al-Sumait is taken to his final resting place.

(Left) Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah offers his condolence. (Right) Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah is seen among the crowd.

(Left) Al-Sumait’s son kisses the forehead of Islamic scholar Dr. Khalid Al-Mathkour. (Right) Information Minister offers his condolences.

(Left) Interior Minister is seen with mourners. (Right) Ambassaors of several African nations attend the funeral.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

As Egypt lionizes police, activists worry

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‘Terror’s advocate’ Jacques Verges dies at 88 in France

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Pakistan police shoot gunman after televised standoff

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BEIRUT: Lebanese soldiers and policemen inspect the scene of the previous day’s car bomb explosion between the Bir El-Abed and Roueiss neighborhoods, in the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday. — AFP

Beirut bombing toll climbs to 22 Hezbollah bastion hit • Lebanon observes mourning BEIRUT: Lebanon was holding a day of mourning yesterday after a car bomb killed at least 22 people in a Beirut stronghold of Shiite group Hezbollah, which backs Syria’s embattled president.

A previously unknown group, apparently a Syrian rebel cell, said it carried out Thursday’s attack in the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut, between Bir al-Abed and Rweiss, districts where Hezbollah security is normally tight.

Police said the death toll had climbed to at least 22, while the Red Cross said 325 people were wounded.

The National News Agency reported that seven people, including a man and his three children, were missing. Yesterday morning, investigators were combing the scene for clues, as Hezbollah security personnel sealed off the area, an AFP photographer reported. Group members in civilian clothes stopped and searched cars in the southern suburbs.

The explosion, reminiscent of the frequent attacks during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, sent a plume of black smoke into the Mediterranean

sky, caused heavy damage to buildings and set several cars ablaze. Leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the bombing, and a day of mourning was declared. President Michel Sleiman said the “terrorist” bombing targeted all Lebanese, not just Hezbollah.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri, a Sunni leader and staunch critic of Hezbollah, said the attack was “part of a vicious terrorist scheme” targeting Lebanon. UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Lebanon’s fractious political scene to stay united, in a statement that condemned the bombing as “completely unacceptable”. “During this period of heightened tensions, the secretary general urges all Lebanese to remain united, to rally around their state institutions and to focus on safeguarding Lebanon’s security and stability,” the statement said. And the UN Security Council “strongly condemned the terrorist attack.” It called for “all Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country’s stability” and urged all parties “to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis.”

The blast came a day after Hezbollah chief

Hassan Nasrallah said his militant group was taking steps to ensure the security of the southern suburbs, after a July 9 car bomb in Bir al-Abed wounded dozens. A witness told a Lebanese television channel he saw a van drive past three times before its driver found a parking spot where he set off the bomb.

The explosion had the impact of an “earthquake,” another witness said. Hezbollah is a key supporter of President Bashar Al-Assad and has sent fighters across the border this year to bolster government forces, which have been battling a deadly anti-regime revolt since March 2011. The movement has become a hated foe of Syria’s rebels, most of whom are Sunnis, while Assad is a member of the Alawite offshoot of Shiite Islam. An online video surfaced shortly after the attack showing three masked men, two of them holding rifles, in front of a white flag inscribed with the Islamic profession of faith.

“You, the pig Hassan Nasrallah, we send you our second powerful message because you haven’t understood yet,” said one member of the group calling itself the Battalion of Aisha, an

apparent Sunni affiliation. Thursday’s blast comes six weeks after a car bomb attack in the same area wounded more than 50 people.

Another little-known Syrian rebel group, the Special Forces 313 Brigade, claimed that attack and said it was in revenge for Hezbollah fighting alongside the Assad regime. The mainstream rebel Free Syrian Army condemned the latest bombing, as it did the July blast. The FSA military command “condemns this criminal act targeting civilians,” Louai Moqdad, the group’s political coordinator, told AFP, adding that the three masked men did not claim to be Syrian rebels. “He who takes part in the murder of the Syrian people alongside the criminal is responsible for this crime,” he said.

Lebanon is deeply divided into supporters and opponents of the regime in neighboring Syria.

Sectarian tensions in Lebanon have soared as the Syrian conflict has raged on. Nasrallah is scheduled to speak on Friday in an event marking the anniversary of a devastating summer 2006 war that pitted his fighters against the group’s archfoe Israel. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

As Egypt lionizes police, activists worry CAIRO: As the bodies of hundreds of people killed by security forces lay at a Cairo mosque, ignored by Egyptian media, four of the policemen who died in the violence were feted as heroes in a funeral broadcast live on state television. “They died guarding this nation,” said the TV commentator, as the four coffins draped with Egyptian flags were placed on separate fire trucks for a procession accompanied by a brass band.

In sombre tones, the commentator said: “The coming period is one of security and safety.” The army-backed government is lionising the police force that crushed Cairo protests by supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi this week, killing at least 578 people in a day of bloodshed that outstripped anything seen in the 30-year rule of veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled in 2011.

Accompanied by the army’s move back to the heart of government, it is worrying those Egyptians who fear a newly assertive security apparatus will try to knock a badly shaken democratic transition even further off course. “It’s very troubling,” said Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 movement which helped to ignite the 2011 antiMubarak uprising fuelled by anger at police brutality. “They are trying to present the police as angels.” Since Morsi was toppled on July 3, the police force has shown confidence not seen since Mubarak’s downfall.

Kitted out with new gear, it is being lauded as the hero of a new war against an old enemy: Islamist militancy.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has said 43 policemen were killed, a toll the Brotherhood dismissed as part of propaganda to demonize the group and justify

an even tougher crackdown.

The burnt-out remains of police vehicles still lay abandoned on roads near where the main pro-Morsi sit-in was dispersed.

Ibrahim, a Morsi appointee, reflected the newly assertive mood, pointing to Mubarak-era policing as a model for the future as he detailed attacks on police stations across Egypt. “I promise that as soon as conditions stabilize and the Egyptian street stabilizes, as soon as possible, security will be restored to this nation as if it was before Jan. 25 (2011), and more,” he told a news conference on Wednesday. He also

said sit-in protests would no longer be tolerated. Last month, Ibrahim said he was reviving the “political security” agency, stirring memories of the days when secret police were used as an instrument of political oppression and riot squads deployed to crush even the smallest protest. While fear of the police appeared to have been smashed by the 2011 uprising, rights activists say there has been no real reform of the institution since Mubarak’s day. Both the army-led government that replaced him and the Morsi administration were faulted for failing to enact any reforms.

TUNIS: Tunisian supporters of the Islamist Ennahda ruling party and others, hold up their national flag and that of Egypt as they shout slogans during a protest against Egypt’s bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi yesterday following Friday noon prayers in Habib Bourguiba avenue in the capital Tunis. — AFP

Iran appoints Salehi to head N-program DUBAI: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed outgoing Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to head the Atomic Energy Organization yesterday, state media said, replacing a hardliner with a pragmatist to take charge of Tehran’s nuclear program.

Rouhani, a relative moderate who took office on Aug 3, has pledged to improve Iran’s ties with the outside world and ease stringent international sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program. Appointing Salehi is a further signal that Rouhani intends to pursue a more flexible approach to Iran’s nuclear dispute with the West than his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Western states and Israel say Iran’s atomic energy program is in fact an attempt to attain a nuclear weapons capability. Tehran denies the charge and says it only wants the technology to generate electricity and for medical research.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is not directly involved in nuclear negotiations with world powers, but is in charge of operating Iran’s nuclear facilities. He also represents Tehran at the annual member state gatherings of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna each September. Salehi, Iran’s foreign minister under Ahmadinejad from 2011 until Thursday when parliament approved his replacement, returns to his previous job as head of the AEOI. He takes the place of Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani who survived an assassination attempt in Tehran in 2010.

“It was another wise appointment. Salehi was the best of Ahmadinejad’s ministers, a pragmatist who understands how the world works. It made sense to keep him on in some capacity,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the non-proliferation and disarmament program of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. —Reuters

Allegations of police torture and excessive use of force have not eased, and fears are now growing that the force has a new license to crack down on political opponents.

“I don’t think they will be able to turn back the clock,” said Karim Ennarah of the Egyptian Institute for Personal Rights. “Not that they are not going to try. I think they are going to try, they might think this is the best opportunity to repackage themselves.” Since Morsi’s fall, signs have appeared in the streets of Cairo declaring the army, police and the nation as “one hand”. It is a message that appeals to many Egyptians who have complained about lax law and order since Mubarak’s time, with police appearing unwilling or unable to tackle crime. Some welcomed the declaration of a one-month state of emergency on Wednesday - another development with echoes of the Mubarak era - as a necessary step to restore order.

“Mubarak’s days were the best, there was security then. It’s good that now there’s more police in the street,” said Faten Kafrawi, 37, speaking at her tea stall in Tahrir Square. Prime Minister Hazem ElBeblawi, head of the interim government, praised the police on Wednesday for showing “self-restraint” in the face of attacks by protesters, a comment that drew a sharp riposte from New York-based Human Rights Watch.

“Purely on the basis of the extremely high death toll on the side of protesters, I think it is completely inappropriate for the prime minister to make those kind of comments,” said Heba Morayef, the group’s Egypt director. —Reuters

Syrian airstrike kills over 15, wounds dozens Syrian refugees pour into Iraq: UN BEIRUT: Activists say an airstrike by the Syrian military has killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens of others in the contested northern city of Aleppo.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Aleppo Media center say the airstrike targeted three buildings that were almost completely flattened in the rebel-held district of Kalassa, killing at least four children and trapping many people under the rubble.

It said the death toll was likely to rise.

The Aleppo Media Center, which tracks violence in the city, said 33 people were killed and over a hundred wounded in the airstrike. The different figures could not be reconciled. Aleppo has been the focus of a violent struggle for control since rebel forces pushed in and began fighting with government troops last summer. Thousands of Syrian refugees poured into the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq on Thursday, taking advantage of a new bridge along the largely closed border, the United Nations said yesterday.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 refugees followed a first group of some 750 people who crossed the pontoon bridge at

Peshkhabour over the Tigris River, and more buses were seen dropping off families on the Syrian side, it said.

‘Thousands of Syrians crossed into northern Iraq yesterday (Thursday) in a sudden, massive movement,’ Adrian Edwards, spokesman of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told a news briefing in Geneva.

Most were families with women, children and the elderly, mainly from Aleppo, Hassakeh and other embattled areas of Syria where fighting has intensified in the civil war, now in its third year, that has driven nearly 2 million refugees abroad. There are already more than 150,000 Syrian refugees registered in Iraq, according to the UNHCR which has urged all neighboring countries to keep open their borders to Syrians needing international protection. The border between Syria and Iraq has been largely closed since authorities of the Kurdish regional government shut the crossing on May 19, apart from a single formal crossing point at AlWahid in Anbar province.

Some Syrian refugees had been allowed in since mid-July for reasons of family reunification or dire humanitari-

an need, Edwards added.

Asked about growing insecurity in Iraq after a surge in sectarian violence, he said: ‘Kurdistan remains relatively safe and stable, however tensions are increasing in view of the forthcoming elections and also to do with other domestic factors there.

‘This does have impact on our (aid) delivery program in Iraq, but nonetheless it is the region where most refugees have come into.’

Overall the flow of Syrian refugees has dropped sharply since a peak earlier this year when 5,000 to 8,000 crossed every day into neighboring countries, according to the UNHCR. The agency is also monitoring the turmoil in Egypt, where there are 107,000 Syrian registered refugees, although the government estimates that the true number is closer to a quarter of a million, Edwards said. ‘It is a difficult situation for them at the moment, they of course are not alone in having difficulties in Egypt right now. We are looking at protection needs and trying to do what we can in the current very difficult situation for everyone,’ he said. — Agencies

I N T E R N AT I O N A L SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Turkey losing clout as Egypt crisis flares ANKARA: Turkey’s clout in the Middle East is taking a beating with the brutal sidelining of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood derailing Ankara’s hopes to lead a regional surge of Islamist political power, analysts say.

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was an early supporter of the 2011 uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak and subsequently nourished close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Turkey invested both politically and financially in the Arab world’s most populous country after Mohamed Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first democratically elected leader in June 2012, aiming to bolster Ankara’s influence and show that Turkey was not the only country where Islam and democracy could coexist.

Morsi’s ouster and the brutal crackdown on his supporters have now dealt a harsh blow to Turkey’s dreams of playing a leadership role in the broader Middle East region in the wake of the Arab Spring, analysts said. “Turkey hoped the transforma-

tion in the Middle East would work in its favour because it would gain clout if Muslim Brotherhood-type governments came to power in Egypt, Tunisia and Syria,” said Professor Ilter Turan at Istanbul’s Bilgi University.

“This plan did not work in Syria, and it collapsed in Egypt,” he told AFP. “Turkey is forced into isolation in the Middle East, losing its control of the situation in the region.”

NATO member Turkey had banked on expanding its influence in the Middle East thanks to robust economic growth under the AKP and an Arab power vacuum created by the region’s popular uprisings.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a popular leader on the Arab street because of his angry outbursts over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, has championed democracy movements across the region and sought to position his country as a role model and moral compass.

After the fall of dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, his government allied itself with the

Muslim Brotherhood and Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party Ennahda, which heads the country’s new coalition cabinet. And Erdogan has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of his former ally Bashar Al-Assad as the uprising against the Syrian leader turned into a fully-fledged civil war. Turkey sharply condemned Wednesday’s deadly crackdown on pro-Morsi protesters, which Erdogan termed a “massacre” and President Abdullah Gul called “unacceptable”. “The frustration voiced by Turkey’s leaders stems not only from the pictures of violence or failure of democracy in Egypt, but also from the collapse of the government’s dreams to become a regional player,” Turan said.

Morsi was overthrown by the military on July 3 after massive protests against his rule, leaving Egyptians divided between his supporters and those who argue he let the economy tumble while seeking to concentrate power in Islamist groups’ hands.

Erdogan condemned Morsi’s ouster as a “coup”, a stance that has infuriated the

interim government in Cairo and sharply curbed Turkey’s ability to influence events in Egypt.

“Turkey has responded morally to the crisis but politically it’s isolated,” said Huseyin Bagci a professor at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University. Analysts also said events in post-Mubarak Egypt had strained relations between a trio of Sunni powers-Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabiathat were once united in their stance.

Bagci argued that Turkey, already embarrassed by the unprecedented antiAKP protests that swept the nation in June, is now too isolated to claim a leadership role. “Turkey has lost its chances of leadership in the region,” he said. Sinan Ulgen, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, said that Sunni split would have regional implications.

“The Sunni coalition that was going to make Turkey stronger in the Middle East has collapsed after the Egypt crisis,” he told AFP. “This will impact regional policies, including on Syria.” —AFP

S Africa marks anniversary of Marikana bloodbath Ruling ANC boycotts event MARIKANA: Comrades and families of 34 striking miners shot dead by police marked the anniversary of the bloodbath at Marikana yesterday in an emotional event boycotted by South Africa’s ruling ANC. An estimated 10,000 people gathered at the foot of a dusty outcrop where on August 16, 2012, police unleashed a 284bullet barrage that plunged South Africa into crisis and shocked the world. The crowd, included workers wearing green trade union t-shirts and wielding sticks, chanted and sang, in scenes reminiscent of the day the young “Rainbow Nation” lost its innocence.

But the ruling African National Congress boycotted the event, which it said was being politicized after organizers invited a militant mining union and opposition leaders to speak. With many ANC members serving on the boards of mining firms and the government firmly defending police tactics, members of the party may not have been welcome. President Jacob Zuma, who launched a state inquiry into the deaths but has avoided becoming publically entangled in the

crisis, was in Malawi, ahead of a regional summit.

No-one has yet been held responsible for the 34 deaths, and with fury still raw, police in riot vans kept their distance as helicopters circled overhead.

“We want to know the truth. Who sent the police to come and kill us?” said 24-year-old Mzoxolo Magidwana who was shot eight times.

The chief executive of Lonmin, which runs the platinum mine, was among those addressing the emotional but calm crowd. “We will never replace your loved ones, and I say we are truly sorry for that,” said CEO Ben Magara. “It should not have taken so many lives for us... as a nation to learn that this should not have happened and this should never happen again.” He said the London-listed firm would pay for the schooling of dead mineworkers’ children.

The violence is seen by many as the worst since apartheid ended in 1994. In the run-up to the killings at least 10 other people-including two police officers-died amid a highly charged work stoppage over wages at the London-listed mining firm. The event will culminate in a

MARIKANA: Mine workers sit on a hill where a year ago, police opened fire on fellow workers killing 34 and injuring 78, during a memorial service to get under way, near the Marikana, South Africa, platinum mine yesterday. —AP

moment of silence shortly after 1400 GMT, around the same time a year ago police opened fire at the foot of a hill.

“We’ve come here to take a stand, to say never again will peaceful actions be countered with violence,” bishop Jo Seoka told the crowd. On the eve of the commemorations the national police commissioner called for calm. “We wish to appeal to everyone who will be in attendance to conduct themselves appropriately,” said Riah Phiyega, who as commanding officer gave evidence before the inquest. Many of those present said the low wages and poor living standards that sparked the upwelling of anger a year ago remain present. “These people died for nothing,” said Gabriel Shakhane, 42, a migrant miner from Lesotho. The inquest has yet to conclude, mired by delays and bogged down by disputes about the lack of state funding for the victims’ legal fees. A court ruling on the fees dispute was delayed yesterday. “We still haven’t got the facts of what happened at Marikana, the commission of inquiry hasn’t wrapped up its work - we are not close to knowing who is legally responsible for the deaths of 34 miners,” said political commentator Eusebius McKaiser. Amnesty International’s Noel Kututwa warned accountability was needed. “The long-term consequences for the respect and protection of human rights in South Africa will be severe should the South African authorities fail,” he said. The event is being organised by a group linked to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which has fought a sometimes bloody battle for power with the ANC-allied National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Several assassinations have taken place over the last year, with leaders from both sides dying amid the battle for supremacy. AMCU’s leader Joseph Mathunjwa, who had invitated NUM’s leaders to attend, said the event was “not about politicking”. He had earlier extended an invitation to NUM’s leaders “to be part” of the events. —AFP

BAARN: Dutch Princess Mabel Wisse-Smit (second left) walks with her daughters Luana and Zaria, Princess Beatrix, the royal family and guests to the Stulp Church in Lage Vuursche in Baarn, The Netherlands, yesterday where the funeral service of Prince Friso was held. —AFP

Romantic renegade prince Friso to be buried in Netherlands THE HAGUE: Dutch prince Friso, who excluded himself from the line of succession in the name of love, was to be buried yesterday after he died from injuries sustained in a 2012 skiing accident.

Friso was to be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by his widow Mabel and their two daughters Luana, 8, and Zaria, 7 amid tight security in the hamlet of Lage Vuursche, around 30 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Amsterdam. The ceremony was also to be attended by Friso’s godfather, Norway’s King Harald V, Friso’s brothers King Willem-Alexander and Prince Constantijn, their mother Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in April, and a few dozen friends and family members. Friso’s friend Florian Moosbrugger, who survived the avalanche near the upmarket Austrian resort of Lech that left the prince comatose and brain-damaged in February 2012, was also at the ceremony. The small Stulpkerk church is a stone’s throw from Beatrix’s Drakenstyn Castle, where Friso spent much of his childhood and to which Beatrix plans to retire later this year. The family moved from the privatelyowned castle to the Hague in 1981, when Beatrix became queen.

Friso, 44 when he died on Monday, is the first Dutch prince in generations not to be buried with other members of the House of Orange in the family crypt in the Nieuwe Kerk in the historic city of Delft, outside The Hague. Dutch media have speculated that he is being buried at a different church because he gave up his claim to the throne as well as his Royal House position to marry Mabel Wisse Smit in 2004. The government did not give the couple the required permission to marry after it emerged that his future wife had withheld details of her previous relationship with a Dutch drugs baron.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte nevertheless ordered flags on official buildings around the country to be flown at half-mast. Police closed streets in the hamlet off to traffic and state television showed police sniffer dogs checking flowerpots for explosives. —AFP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Online forums...

Continued from Page 1 Rita Katz, director of the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites, said it’s all but certain that neither Al-Zawahri nor Al-Wahishi would communicate directly online or on the phone. Al-Zawahri’s location is unknown, but he was last believed to be in Pakistan, and Al-Wahishi is said to be in Yemen. Given the nearly 2,000 miles between the two men, Katz said it’s most likely they separately composed encrypted messages, saved them on thumb drives and handed them off to couriers who disseminated them on secure websites.

Bin Laden, who was killed by US Navy SEALs in May 2011, issued his messages in much the same way. “These guys are not living in a bubble,” said Katz, who has been watching AlQaeda and other jihadi communications for years. “They live in a reality that is facing the American intelligence interception with the best, most advanced technology that can be created.

So they always try to find ways to get away from these interceptions to be able to deliver messages.”

She added: “I am sure they are delivering messages, through the message boards or by sending emails that are encrypted. But there is no way in my mind that Zawahri or Wahishi have access to the Internet, and I think Wahishi, at this stage of his life, is even afraid of going outside.” Tracking and eliminating Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen hasn’t been easy for the US. It took years for the CIA finally to kill the cleric Anwar AlAwlaki in a drone strike after an intense manhunt. By staying off the grid, Al-Wahishi and other senior Al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen, such as Qassim Al-Rimi and top bomb-maker Ibrahim Al-Asiri, have managed to remain alive. So frustrated was the CIA at one point, the spy agency considered killing the couriers passing messages in an attempt to disrupt the terrorist group’s plans, a former senior US official said.

The idea was dropped because the couriers were not involved in lethal operations. Exactly how US spy systems picked up the latest threat is classified, and Shawn Turner, spokesman for National Intelligence Director James Clapper, refused to confirm or deny Katz’s analysis on how it might have happened. Intelligence officials have suggested that the plot was detected, in part at least, through NSA surveillance programs that have been under harsh worldwide criticism for privacy intrusions in the name of national security. It’s not clear, however, that even the powerful US spy systems would be able to crack jihadists’ encrypted messages without help from the inside.

Earlier this year, an Al-Qaeda-linked extremist propaganda organization known as the Global Islamic Media Front released an encrypted instant-messaging system known as “Asrar AlDardashah,” or “Secrets of the Chat.” It was a texting version of the organization’s end-to-end encryption program that followers had been using for years. End-to-end encryption means messages are put into code so that only senders and receivers can access the content with secure “keys.”

After the NSA programs were revealed in June by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden, jihadi websites began urging followers to also use software that would hide their Internet protocol addresses and, essentially, prevent them from being tracked online. That aimed to add another layer of security to the online traffic. An Aug 5 discussion about the US embassy closings on a jihadi forum that is directly linked to AlQaeda underscored the need for “complete secrecy” in plotting attacks even while jeering at the American response to the message between Al-Zawahri and Al-Wahishi.

In a post on the Shumukh Al-Islam online forum, a writer who identified himself as Sayyed Al-Mawqif noted American news reports that said the terror threat possibly was intercepted though phone calls or surveillance of jihadist chat rooms or message boards. Shumukh Al-Islam is not an encrypted site, but it requires a password to access and does not frequently accept new visitors.

“Even if there will not be a jihadi operation, it is sufficient that the mujahideen brothers succeeded in putting fear in the hearts of the disbelievers and the human devils,” Al-Mawqif wrote, according to a SITE translation of the transcript. “We hope to hear more about psychological wars like this one if there are no actual jihadi operations on the ground.”

Encryption technology was once regulated by the US for national security purposes, but it has been available to the public and used globally since the 1990s, including by human rights and free speech advocates.

“You can encrypt things in such a way that you can assume that even the NSA can’t undo them - there’s no back door,” said Dan Auerbach, a technology expert at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which is challenging NSA eavesdropping in federal lawsuits. “We think it is very important to have tools for privacy,” Auerbach said. But “when you develop a strong privacy-enhancing tool, it will help everyone - and this may include people considered by many to be ‘bad guys.’” — AP

Legal tussle erupts over bones of Richard III Court rules on reburial of king’s remains LONDON: He’s been deposed, reviled, buried and dug up, and now a new battle looms over England’s King Richard III. A British High Court judge yesterday granted a group of Richard’s relatives permission to challenge plans to rebury the 15thcentury monarch in the central England city of Leicester, where his remains were found last year. Judge Charles HaddonCave said the Plantagenet Alliance could take action against the government and the University of Leicester - though he hoped the dispute could be settled out of court.

“In my view, it would be unseemly, undignified and unedifying to have a legal tussle over these royal remains,” the judge said, urging the opposing sides “to avoid embarking on the (legal) Wars of the Roses Part 2.” Richard was deposed and killed in a battle near Leicester in 1485, and quickly buried without a coffin in a now-demolished church in the city, which is 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London. A skeleton found under a Leicester parking lot last year was identified as the king through DNA tests, bone analysis and other scientific scrutiny.

The discovery thrilled history buffs but sparked a scuffle over where the last British monarch to die in battle should be reburied.

The government gave Leicester Cathedral a license to rebury the king, but the relatives’ group wants him interred in the northern England city of York, claiming it was Richard’s wish.

Richard belonged to the House of York, one of two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty involved in a 15th-century battle for the crown known as the Wars of the Roses. Haddon-Cave said in his ruling that it was inevitable there would be “intense, widespread and legitimate public interest and concern in many quarters as to the treatment and final resting place of Richard III’s remains.”

He said the case “involves the remarkable, and unprecedented, discovery of remains of a king of England of consider-

able historical significance, who died fighting a battle which brought to an end a civil war which divided this country. The obvious duty to consult widely arises from this singular fact alone.”

The judge said the Plantagenet Alliance could take its case to court, but hoped legal battle could be avoided by setting up an independent advisory panel to recommend the best burial site.

Neither the alliance nor the government had any immediate comment on the ruling.— AP

LONDON: A painting of England’s King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral in central England. The British public should be consulted on the final resting place of Richard III, the 15th-century king whose skeleton was found under a car park, a judge ruled yesterday.—AFP

Egypt’s ‘Day of Rage’ turns violent; 70 die Continued from Page 1 of several thousand on downtown Cairo under blazing summer sun.

Emergency services said eight protesters were killed in clashes in the Mediterranean town of Damietta, five in Fayoum south of Cairo, four in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia and four in the Nile delta town of Tanta. One person was killed in Alexandria, Egypt’s second city.

A police conscript was killed in a drive-by shooting in the north of the capital, state news agency MENA reported. Nile TV showed footage of a gunman among Islamist protesters firing from a central Cairo bridge. Signaling his displeasure at the worst bloodshed in Egypt for generations, US President Barack Obama said on Thursday normal cooperation with Cairo could not continue and announced the cancellation of military exercises with Egypt next month.

“We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest,” he said, but stopped short of cutting off the $1.55 billion a year of mostly military US aid to Egypt. The Brotherhood accuses the military of staging a coup when it ousted Morsi on July 3. Liberal and youth activists who backed the military saw the move as a positive response to public demands.

But some fear Egypt is turning back into the kind of police state that kept the disgraced Hosni Mubarak in power

for 30 years before his removal in 2011, as security institutions recover their confidence and reassert control. In calling for a “Day of Rage,” the Brotherhood used the same name as that given to the most violent day of the uprising against Mubarak. That day, Jan. 28, 2011, marked the protesters’ victory over the police, who were forced to retreat.

Ironically, the centre of the antiMubarak protests, Tahrir Square, was deserted yesterday, sealed off by the army.

Underscoring the deep divisions in the country, local residents helped the army block access to Cairo’s Rabaa AlAdawiya mosque, the site of the main Brotherhood sit-in that was swept away during Wednesday’s police assault. “We are here to prevent those filthy bastards from coming back,” said Mohamed Ali, a 22-year-old business student. The Egyptian presidency issued a statement criticizing Obama, saying his comments were not based on “facts” and would strengthen violent groups that were committing “terrorist acts”. Pro-army groups posted videos on the Internet of policemen they said had been tortured and killed by Islamist militants.

Washington’s influence over Cairo has been called into question following Morsi’s overthrow. Since then Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have pledged $12 billion to Egypt, making them more prominent partners. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its people and government stood and stand by today with its brothers in Egypt

against terrorism,” King Abdullah said in an uncompromising message read out on Saudi television.

“I call on the honest men of Egypt and the Arab and Muslim nations ... to stand as one man and with one heart in the face of attempts to destabilize a country that is at the forefront of Arab and Muslim history,” he added. Obama’s refusal so far to cut off US aid to Egypt suggests he does not wish to alienate the generals, despite the scale of the bloodshed in the army’s suppression of Morsi supporters.

Egypt will need all the financial support it can get in the coming months as it grapples with growing economic problems, especially in the important tourism sector that accounts for more than 10 percent of gross domestic product. The United States urged its citizens to leave Egypt on Thursday and two of Europe’s biggest tour operators, Germany’s TUI and Thomas Cook Germany, said they were cancelling all trips to the country until Sept 15.

When a military helicopter flew low over Ramses Square, protesters held up shoes chanting “We will bring Sisi to the ground” and “Leave, leave, you traitor”. As the sound of teargas canisters being fired began, protesters including young and old, men and women - donned surgical masks, gas masks and wrapped bandannas around their faces. Some rubbed Pepsi on their faces to counter the gas.

“Allahu akbar! (God is Greatest)” the crowd chanted. — Reuters

I N T E R N AT I O N A L SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Young ‘Dreamers’ push for US immigration reform WASHINGTON: With immigration reform facing an uncertain fate in Congress, young people brought to the United States as children are pushing to win residency papers in the country they consider home.

They are known as the “Dreamers”-after the DREAM Act that would have given them citizenship had it passed Congress-and now there’s a chance their dreams will become true.

President Barack Obama has put a temporary system in place to accord them work papers, and 430,236 people qualified to take advantage of it, out of 573,404 who applied.

To qualify for the pilot scheme they had to be under 31, have arrived in the US before they were 16, have graduated high school, have a clean criminal record and pay a $426 processing fee.

Now they want Congress to pass a law making the arrangement permanent, and they’re not shy about leading their own attention-grabbing campaigns to promote it.

Although raised in the US, many of these

young people-generally Latin Americanscannot get a driver’s license, open a bank account, receive scholarship money or work legally.

Deportation to the land of their parents would mean discovering a sometimes unknown country and culture, and even relearning a language in which some are no longer fluent.

The Dreamers themselves have been the most effective advocates for immigration reform, said Gary Segura, co-founder of the polling firm Latino Decisions.

“They are really helpful at making the immigration cause more palatable, and the more acceptable it is to general Americans, the more likely that Congress would be to eventually vote,” he said.

In 2011, young, undocumented immigrants called on US President Barack Obama to stop deportations and change the American immigration system under a bill called the DREAM Act, which would have provided a path to citizenship for undocu-

mented immigrants who were brought to the US as children.

A year later, a revamped version of the measure gave Dreamers work permits and protection from deportation.

Individuals aged 15 to 30 who came to the US before they were 16, are studying or have graduated from high school, and have not been in legal trouble are able to request consideration.

According to official figures, some 365,000 young people have applied under the measure, which does not provide legal status.

Now, as a more ambitious bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants makes its way through the Republican-led House after passing the Senate, the Dreamers are stepping up their noisy public campaign.

Activists delivered hundreds of cantaloupes at the beginning of the month to Republican lawmakers.

The stunt followed Republican

Congressman Steve King’s assertion that for every undocumented immigrant who is a valedictorian there are another hundred with “calves the size of cantaloupes” hauling marijuana across the desert.

Earlier, in July, nine young, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US by their parents as children demonstrated against immigration law by attempting to reenter the US from Mexico.

They were arrested at the border then released on parole and now await possible asylum.

The Dreamers’ “highly visible and controversial tactics could help mobilize favorable opinion and pro-migrant movement participants,” said Matthew Ward, an immigration specialist at the University of Southern Mississippi.

“It’s easy for the public to treat undocumented aliens as if somehow they are wildly different from other Americans, and these young people just want to get a driver’s license and go to college,” Segura said. —AFP

California teen welcomed home after kidnapping DiMaggio ‘tortured and killed’ mother and son LAKESIDE: A 16-year-old girl got a warm welcome home reception five days after FBI agents killed a longtime family friend suspected of torturing and killing her mother and brother and escaping with her to the Idaho wilderness.

Hannah Anderson was mobbed by reporters as she entered and left a restaurant that hosted an all-day fundraiser.

News crews were told to wait outside while Hannah and her father stayed for hours. She did not make a statement.

“I don’t know what I want to say. I just want to give her a hug,” said Alyssa Hawgum, a classmate of Hannah’s in Lakeside, an east San Diego suburb of 54,000 people.

Brett Anderson said his daughter was taking things one day at a time. He said he spoke with the horseback riders who saw the pair in the Idaho wilderness and alerted authorities, thanking them for saving Hannah’s life. “Right now, she’s with her family and, of course, with some friends, and she’s just happy to be here,” he told reporters outside the restaurant Thursday. Firefighters found the body of Christina Anderson, 44, near a crowbar and what appeared to be blood next to her head. DiMaggio is believed to have shot and killed their family dog, found under a sleeping bag in the garage with blood close to its head.

Investigators found 8-year-old Ethan’s

LAKESIDE: Hannah Anderson arrives at the Boll Weevil restaurant for a fundraiser in her honour to raise money for her family, Thursday in Lakeside, California. The father of Hannah Anderson, the 16-year-old girl who was abducted by a longtime family friend and rescued during an FBI shootout in the Idaho wilderness says his daughter is spending time with family and friends and happy to be home. —AP

body as they sifted through rubble.

DiMaggio “tortured and killed” the mother and son, San Diego County Sheriff’s Detective Darren Perata wrote, offering no elaboration, in the warrants released Wednesday.

Investigators who searched DiMaggio’s home found letters from Hannah, an incendiary device, a handcuff box and “arson wire,” according to one warrant, which does not elaborate on the content of letters or nature of the devices.

The warrants say DiMaggio and Hannah exchanged about 13 phone calls before she was picked up from cheerleading practice Aug. 4, hours before firefighters found DiMaggio’s burning garage in Boulevard, a rural town 65 miles east of San Diego. They do not indicate the time, duration or nature of the calls.

Jan Caldwell, a San Diego County sheriff’s spokeswoman, said they may have been discussing pickup times. San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore has been adamant that Hannah was an unwilling victim from start to finish. “I can’t make it any clearer,” he said at a news conference Monday. DiMaggio was extraordinarily close to both children, driving Hannah to gymnastics meets and Ethan to football practice. The warrants say the former telecommunications technician took Hannah on multi-day trips, most recently to Malibu and Hollywood.

Asked on her ask.fm social media account this week if she would have preferred DiMaggio got a lifetime prison sentence instead of being killed, she said, “He deserved what he got.”

The account was disabled but there were postings on an Instagram account linked to Hannah’s now-disabled ask.fm page.

“Dad is not taking this very well,” she wrote late Wednesday. “None of us are but please watch over him. I’m all he’s got left. Even though your gone we are still a team. Love and miss you.“ —AP

GUADALAJARA: Mexican soldiers patrol the surroundings of Guadalajara international airport, in Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, on Thursday as Mexican authorities wait for the arrival of Sandra Avila Beltran, known as the “Queen of the Pacific” for her links to the drug trade, to arrest her after the United States deports her. —AFP

New Mexico boy set to go to court in dad’s killing ALBUQUERQUE: The 10-year-old New Mexico boy lived in an abusive, filthy home and had tried desperately to get help to stop the beatings he and his younger siblings had for years faced at the hands of their abusive father, his attorney says. Then, one day in 2009, prosecutors say, he put a gun to the head of his 250-pound father and killed him at their Belen, N.M., home. After years of stops and starts, the boy is scheduled to face a jury this month for first-degree murder in a rare prosecution expected to highlight the debate over whether children that young are capable of the pre-meditation required for such a serious charge.

Experts say the boy, now 14 and living in Oklahoma, is just one of a handful of very young children in the nation’s history to face such a conviction.

“I’ve been practicing law for 20 years and this is the saddest case I’ve ever seen,” said the boy’s attorney, William J. Cooley. “I don’t know why this is even going to court.” Lemuel L. Martinez, 13th Judicial District Attorney, declined to talk about the case with The Associated Press. But he defended the decision to pursue the first-degree murder charge. “We are going to court because we believe we have enough evidence to meet the burden of proof,” Martinez said.

The case is scheduled to go to trial Aug. 26 in a Valencia County courtroom, but defense attorneys wanted a change of venue and sought to have the 911 call made by the boy thrown out. The boy’s attorneys argued the father, 42-year-old Byron Hilburn, had strong ties to law enforcement members in the area and that might taint a potential jury pool. But a judge Thursday denied both motions. The AP is not naming the boy since he is being tried as a child in children’s court. If found guilty, the boy will be in state custody until he is 21 and must take part in a plan for rehabilitation.

There have been few other cases where young children have faced murder charges, according to the Robert Schwartz, executive director of the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia. The most well-known example came in 1989 when Cameron Kocher, then 9, shot a 7-year-old playmate with a high-powered rifle in rural Pennsylvania after the playmate said she was better at the video game than he was. Kocher was tried as an adult but eventually pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter. He was placed on probation until he turned 21. —AP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Police defend response to Islamabad gunman ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police defended yesterday their response to a gunman who shut down the heart of the heavily guarded capital for five hours in a standoff that ended with him being shot and wounded.

Waving two semi-automatic guns and occasionally firing into the air, Mohammad Sikandar was accompanied by his wife and children throughout the tense drama late Thursday that took place close to Islamabad’s political quarter. Broadcast live on Pakistan’s freewheeling rolling news channels, hours of stalemate came to a chaotic end when Zamarud Khan, a senior member of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party sent to negotiate, made a sudden lunge at the gunman.

Khan slipped and missed his man, but police opened fire, seriously wounding Sikandar in the chest and leg before arresting him, dragging him off as blood poured from his wounds. Doctors said he was improving on Friday. The drama in the centre of the normally sleepy capital drew a huge crowd of onlookers and media, and Islamabad police chief Muhammad Rizwan said they were to blame for the slow response, denying his men had dithered in the face of the challenge.

“The commando operation was delayed because we needed proper space between the general public and

the gunman,” he said on Geo TV. “We had asked media and the general public who had gathered there to stay at least 300 metres away for their own safety, but they did not move away.”

Rizwan said there was a gap of only 50 metres (160 feet) between the crowd and Sikandar, making it impossible to tackle him safely.

He said it appeared Sikandar was not part of any extremist outfit. “The preliminary investigations suggest that this man is not associated with any group and it was his own individual act,” he told Geo TV. The standoff began around 5:30 pm (1230 GMT) when police flagged down the car for a traffic offence on the central Jinnah Avenue neighbourhood-just over a kilometre from the presidency and parliament buildings.

Sikandar then started firing into the air, forcing markets and shops in the area to close, before making a series of rambling demands including the resignation of the government, the imposition of Sharia law and the release of a son from prison in Dubai.

Some police officials said he appeared to have mental health problems but Rizwan said this was yet to be confirmed. He underwent three hours of surgery during the night, doctor Wasim Khawaja, spokesman for the

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, said.

“Hopefully he will be normal in 24 hours. We have put him on a ventilator and he is maintaining his blood pressure,” Khawaja told AFP. Sikandar’s wife was also shot in the leg as the scene reached its conclusion but doctors said she was out of danger yesterday.

As the standoff played out during the evening, Sikandar smoked cigarettes and spoke to TV stations on his mobile phone while his children played around his car. The politician Khan, hailed a hero by some local media, said he felt he had to intervene. “I was sitting at home and watching this whole drama on TV,” he told Geo TV. “I came out with a commitment that I will catch this guy, even if it takes my life.”

Pakistan’s outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari praised the intervention of his party colleague. Zardari “lauded the courage of PPP leader Zamarud Khan who, risking his own life, has helped law-enforcing agencies getting hold of the armed man tonight in Islamabad”, a statement from the presidency said.

“The president also appreciated the role of security agencies who have handled the situation in a discreet manner and have averted any mishap,” it added. — AFP

Party’s over as Goa bans dance bars PANAJI: India’s popular holiday state of Goa has announced a ban on dance bars, further restricting the party scene in a destination once famous as a raver’s paradise.

The state has progressively tightened controls on nightclubs and outdoor parties over the last few years after a series of high-profile crimes including the rape and murder of a British teenager in 2008.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, elected in the southwestern state last year, has made cleaning up Goa’s palm treelined beaches a priority to make them more family-friendly.

“Dance bars will not be allowed in Goa. There has been a lot of image-beating for the state due to the existence of drugs and prostitution on the beaches. We will clean it up,” Parrikar announced on Thursday.

His administration has initiated a string of measures to safeguard foreign tourists and has ordered police to remain present on the beaches until midnight. Previously police would withdraw after sunset.

Goa-once a laid-back hippy beach hangout known for drugs, free love and music-retains an image as a free-wheeling oasis in straitlaced India and draws 2.3 million foreign and domestic visitors annually.

But its sleazy and criminal sides were exposed in 2008 by the death of 15-year-old British teenager Scarlett Keeling, who was raped by two men and left for dead after she consumed a cocktail of illegal drugs at a beach cafe.

Her death prompted a crackdown on nightclubs and rave parties, with many forced to close or finish early.

“Silent discos”-in which party-goers wear headphones to listen to the music-have developed as a way to work around the restrictions on outdoor noise. Local activists say prostitution has also mushroomed in the state in recent years. — AFP

MUMBAI: Indian Navy divers are seen on board an inflatable craft next to the conning tower of diesel-powered INS Sindhurakshak (covered with red and white sheet) as it lies submerged inside the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai yesterday.

India’s navy have retrieved four charred bodies from a submarine that exploded in a Mumbai dockyard, and said it was unlikely any of the other 15 missing crewmen would be found alive. — AFP

India navy finds 3 bodies in submarine Sinking of submarine biggest blow for navy

GOA: In this photograph taken on March 14, 2008, a tourist walks past a row of sunbeds on Baga Beach in Goa. India’s popular holiday state of Goa has yesterday, announced a ban on dance bars, further restricting the party scene in a destination once famous as a raver’s paradise. — AFP

NEW DELHI: India’s navy said yesterday divers had found the bodies of three sailors who were on board a submarine badly damaged by a fire and explosions and that it was unlikely any of 15 other missing crew members would be found alive.

Eighteen sailors were missing after weapons stored in the forward section of the Russian-built INS Sindhurakshak exploded in the middle of Tuesday night, causing a fire as it lay berthed in Mumbai, the navy’s worst losses in more than four decades.

“The state of these bodies and conditions within the submarine leads to firm conclusion that finding any surviving personnel within the submarine is unlikely,” the navy said in a statement.

“The damage and destruction within the submarine around the control room area indicates that the feasibility of locating bod-

ies of personnel in the forward part of the submarine is also very remote as the explosion and very high temperatures, which melted steel within, would have incinerated the bodies too.” The sinking of the dieselpowered submarine is the biggest blow for the navy, both in terms of lives and the loss of a vessel, since a frigate was sunk in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

It has turned the spotlight on the navy’s ageing submarine fleet even as it spends billions of rupees on aircraft carriers to counter the rising influence of the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean.

The Sindhurakshak is a Kilo class vessel, which were built in former Soviet and later Russian shipyards for the Indian navy from 1985 to 2000. The navy has 10 of the submarines and four German HDW boats.

A defence source said the navy did not

have a deep submergence rescue vehicle that other navies use to save trapped sailors, although in this case the incident occurred while it was docked and not in the deep seas.

The navy said divers couldn’t enter the Sindhurakshak for more than 12 hours because of boiling water inside parts of the vessel. Access was “almost impossible due to jammed doors and hatches, distorted ladders, oily and muddy waters”.

Only one diver could work at a time initially to clear a path inside the submarine.

Divers are trying to reach further inside to find the remaining bodies, the navy said. A naval board of inquiry has been ordered into how weapons went off while the vessel was berthed in the high-security Mumbai base.

Weapons on board such a submarine include torpedoes and missiles that are launched over long ranges above water. — Reuters

I N T E R N AT I O N A L SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

China upholds jail term for Nobel laureate’s relative BEIJING: A Chinese court yesterday upheld an 11-year prison sentence given to a relative of jailed Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, a lawyer said, in a verdict the family claimed was littered with “lies”.

Police detained Liu Hui in January on suspicion of committing fraud in connection with a real estate deal. His brother-in-law Liu Xiaobo was jailed four years earlier for “subversion” after he circulated a charter calling for democratic reforms.

Liu Hui’s brother, Liu Tong, said he refused to believe government promises that his family was not being targeted because of Liu Xiaobo’s political activism, which earned the dissident a Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.

“We feel uncomfortable with the verdict. It is painful. There are a lot of

lies in it,” he told AFP. “At this rate all of our family will be in jail at some point.”

Liu Hui, who manages a real estate firm in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, was alleged to have defrauded another man, together with a colleague.

“The government is saying in public that it wants fair trials, but then this happens which is completely ridiculous,” Liu Tong told AFP. “They say it (Li Xiaobo’s activism) is unrelated, but I can’t agree with them. “We feel like there is nothing we could have done about this and that we are helpless,” he said. The Nobel laureate’s wife, Liu Xia, left home after years under house arrest in April to attend the opening trial session for Liu Hui, her brother.

She also attended the sentencing in June, but not Friday’s appeal, as she

felt unwell during the journey to court and returned home, Shang Baojun, one of Liu Hui’s lawyers told AFP. “It is difficult for us to understand this decision,” he added. “But it is difficult to say if the judgement was affected by other factors,” he added, refusing to be drawn on whether the family was being targeted. Lawyers said previously that Liu Xia believed the charges against her brother were “political persecution”. Liu Tong said the entire family has been devastated by the failure of the appeal. Foreign diplomats and journalists were barred from entering the court for the appeal hearing, media reports said. An official who answered the phone at Beijing’s Huairou District People’s Court on Friday could not immediately confirm the decision to uphold the sentence.

In June Liu Xia appealed to President Xi Jinping to choose “justice” over “merciless oppression”, in a rare public statement. She warned in an open letter that rights violations jeopardised Xi Jinping’s recent calls for a national renaissance.

“Don’t let the Chinese dream for people like us become a ‘Chinese nightmare’,” she wrote. “What we should see from national authorities is justice, not merciless oppression.”

Since taking office as president earlier this year, Xi has touted the catchphrase “Chinese dream” which, though vaguely defined, is meant to encourage national rejuvenation and pride.

China’s ruling Communist Party keeps a tight grip on power, dealing harshly with dissidents and other potential threats to its authority. —AFP

Powerful quake jolts major N Zealand cities Wellington shook ‘like jelly’ WELLINGTON: A powerful earthquake rattled major cities across New Zealand yesterday, sending terrified office workers fleeing as central Wellington shook “like jelly”, but authorities reported no major damage.

The 6.5-magnitude quake struck at 2:31 pm (0231 GMT) near an area where a series of quakes hit last month, the US Geological Survey said. It was felt from Christchurch in the South Island to Auckland in the North Island.

The USGS, which initially measured the quake at 6.8 magnitude, said it was centred five kilometres (three miles) east of the town of Seddon at a relatively shallow depth of 9.9 kilometres. A cluster of major aftershocks measuring up to 5.9 followed but no tsunami alert was issued.

The tremors caused violent jolts in Wellington, where office workers dived under their desks for cover as buildings swayed and police had to rescue a num-

ber of people trapped in lifts.

“Lots of aftershocks. ‘Beehive’ wobbling around like a jelly, but all OK,” Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said on Twitter, referring to New Zealand’s distinctive parliament building in the capital.

Local resident Juli Ryan tweeted: “That was pretty wild, I was sitting in my parked car watching buildings shake like leaves.” Other witnesses said the powerful shaking felt like a jackhammer and left them struggling to stay on their feet.

“I feel a bit queasy, it was swaying so much. I waited about ten seconds and got under my table, then we decided to get out,” Sam Stanley, who works in the New Zealand stock exchange building, told Fairfax Media.

Workers poured into the streets as aftershocks continued to rock high-rise blocks through the afternoon, with businesses telling staff to leave early and get out of the downtown area, causing grid-

TAIMATE: Kieran Hickman surveys the damage to his property at Taimate, New Zealand yesterday, after a 6.5 magnitude trembler. Strong earthquakes shook central New Zealand yesterday, damaging homes and roads and sending office workers scrambling for cover in the capital. No serious injuries were reported. —AP

lock in the capital.

Trains were also out of action due to potential danger from buckled rails, leaving masses of commuters struggling to get home. There were power cuts to areas of the South Island, where a rockfall closed the major highway.

Police said there was some damage to buildings in the area, with pictures on news websites showing a farmhouse in the area shifted on its foundations with a collapsed chimney.

But authorities said while there were a few unspecified incidents involving broken glass, no major injuries or significant damage were reported anywhere in the country.

Another 6.5 tremor hit on July 21 and there have been hundreds of aftershocks since then, with residents fearing a repeat of a devastating quake that hit Christchurch in February 2011, killing 185 people.

“This area in particular is very active in the last couple of months. This is a continuation of that activity,” a seismologist from Geoscience Australia told AFP. Wellington lies near five seismic faultlines and was the scene of the country’s most powerful earthquake in 1855. That devastating 8.2-magnitude quake caused four deaths and changed the city’s entire geography, pushing the shoreline out 200 metres (660 feet) as it thrust the harbour floor upwards.

Anna Kaiser, a seismologist with the official GNS monitoring service, said it was impossible to predict how long the latest burst of activity would last.

“Certainly we expect aftershocks following an event like this,” she told TV3.

“Unfortunately when we have something like this there’s also an elevated chance of getting another earthquake of a similar magnitude.” New Zealand is on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, forming part of the so-called “Ring of Fire”, and experiences up to 15,000 tremors a year. —AFP

KYOTO: Police investigators gather at the site of a Thursday’s blast in Kyoto, western Japan, yesterday. An explosion at a summer fireworks festival near Kyoto, Japan, has injured 59 people, Japanese media reported. —AP

Japan probes festival blast that injured 59 TOKYO: Japanese police were yesterday investigating the cause of an explosion at a fireworks festival which left at least 59 people injured including some with serious burns when it ripped through the crowded site.

Witnesses recounted seeing victims, including children, screaming as they rolled around on the ground to try to extinguish the flames, while the thousands who had gathered for the Thursday night festival fled in panic.

The explosion is believed to have erupted at one of hundreds of concession stands lining a nearby riverbank at the festival, which is held annually outside the ancient capital of Kyoto and attracts upwards of 100,000 people.

Video footage showed the stalls, which had been selling drinks and snacks, going up in flames and sending smoke into the night sky, before a larger blast erupted. Early accounts said the incident was believed to have been caused by a gas cylinder, but Jiji Press news agency said police suspect the fire may have started when a vendor added gasoline to a running power generator.

“I heard a bang and then saw a billow of smoke,” one 37-year-old man, who had been volunteering near the site, told Kyodo news agency. Pictures from the scene showed charred concession booths and an abandoned baby stroller among the picnic blankets and clothing left behind after the crowd fled in the aftermath of the blast.

Of the 59 injured, at least 19 people suffered major burns and other serious injuries, according to police. One 10-year-old boy remained in intensive care yesterday. “I heard a boy crying, ‘atsui, atsui (hot, hot)’,” one middle-aged man told Nippon Television from the scene yesterday morning.

“People gathered ice cubes from wherever they could and used them to cool peoples’ burns,” he added. The fireworks display was cancelled after the incident.

It was unclear how many spectators were in the immediate vicinity of the festival, which was held in Fukuchiyama city, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Kyoto. A 27-year-old male witness told the top-selling daily Yomiuri Shimbun that he saw the fire start near a jerry can sitting next to a generator at the back of a concession stand.

When a man, who appeared to be the vendor, opened the can’s lid, a hissing noise was heard just before a fire started, the Yomiuri said.

“We’ll have to see the results of our on-site investigation to determine the cause of the fire,” a local police officer told AFP yesterday.—AFP

Ecuador to open Amazon’s Yasuni basin to oil drilling

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Euro-zone inflation flat, trade surplus edges up

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Business SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

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US worker productivity up modestly in April-June

Summers, Yellen lead in race for new Fed chieft

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NEW DELHI: A customer pays for a single cigarette at a roadside stall in New Delhi. India’s rupee plunged to a new record low against the dollar yesterday and stocks slid 2.66 percent over fears that foreign capital could flow back to the United States as the US economy improves. —AFP

India’s rupee plunges to new low Stocks fall 3.85% as RBI measures fail MUMBAI: India’s rupee plunged to a new low yesterday and stocks fell nearly four percent on fears that foreign capital could flow back to the United States as the US economy improves.

The rupee, one of Asia’s worst-performing currencies this year, hit a record of 62.03 rupees to the greenback, slipping past its previous low of 61.80 rupees on August 6.

It recovered marginally to 61.79 to the dollar in afternoon trade. India’s stock markets saw relentless selling pressure, with the BSE benchmark 30-share Sensex index plunging as much as 3.85 percent or 746.20 points-its sharpest single-day fall in nearly two years-to a day’s low of 18,621.39 points.

The drop reflects fears that recent measures by the Reserve Bank of India may not be able to help slow down foreign fund outflows and the ailing currency, dealers said.

India’s markets were closed Thursday, so yesterday was the first day the markets reacted to new measures announced by the central bank to control forex outflows and prop up the rupee.

On Wednesday, the RBI said that Indian firms can invest

only 100 percent of their net worth abroad, down from an earlier 400 percent. Resident Indians will be able to send only $75,000 out of the country each year-down from $200,000 previously — the bank said on its website. “(Wednesday’s) measures have caused fresh concern, suggesting that one can bring in capital (into India) but it is difficult to take it out,” said Sonam Udasi, head of research with investment bank IDBI Capital.

Udasi said investors were worried that despite India’s longterm growth potential, “things are not in shape in the interim period”.

“This is a panic fall,” said Ajay Bodke, an investment strategist with Mumbai brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher, as demand for the dollar has risen on expectations of a scaling back of US stimulus in September. Since June 1, overseas funds have pulled out a combined $11.58 billion in equities and debt from India’s markets, over concerns about the weakening economy, regulatory data shows.

“There is complete lack of faith in the markets. There are fears that the RBI measures may not help improve the rupee,”

Param Sarma, chief executive with NSP Forex, a consultancy firm said.

The fall for the rupee is part of a wider trend as most emerging market currencies have depreciated in recent months against the dollar, which is strengthening as its economy recovers.

Dealers said there was no immediate sign of an intervention by the RBI to prop up the rupee, which at Friday’s low had depreciated 13.2 percent against the dollar in 2013.

The falling rupee stokes inflation by raising the cost of everything India imports from crude oil to chemicals and pulses. The rupee’s woes come as the government is struggling to turn around India’s once red-hot economy by pledging new steps to narrow the gaping current account deficit-the broadest measure of trade-which hit a record level last year.

The economy grew at a decade-low 5.0 percent in the year to March. The high current account deficit, slowing domestic growth and weak exports put heavy pressure on the rupee.

The RBI has said until the rupee stabilizes it cannot lower borrowing costs to spur a slowing economy. —AFP

BUSINESS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Economic recovery boosts Cameron’s political capital UK’s economy showing multiple signs of recovery LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron may be close to pulling off one of the most significant feats of his premiership: delivering a solid economic recovery ahead of a 2015 election.

Two consecutive quarters of growth have shifted the sands of British politics: six months ago, lawmakers in his ruling Conservative party warned him that failure to lead Britain out of stagnation could cost him, and them, the election. Those fearful voices have fallen silent.

After cutting Britain’s biggest budget deficit since World War Two by a third, Cameron leads what could be the fastest growing major economy in the European Union this year. “Will the better economic data change the political landscape?

Well, economics is the biggest issue,” said Steven Bell, director of multi-asset investment at F&C Asset Management which has about 98 billion pounds ($151.52 billion) under management.

“Having pursued a policy of austerity, the government will get credibility both for prudent management and for the recovery,” said Bell. “They will get the credit for this.”

Britain’s $2.5 trillion economy grew by 0.6 percent in the second quarter after a 0.3 percent rise in the first quarter, putting it on course to grow by at least 1.4 percent this year. That would be the strongest annual growth since 2010, the year Cameron forced Labor’s Gordon Brown from office by forming a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats after no party won an outright majority in a general election.

Some investors say Cameron’s policies may in fact be partly to blame for the recovery’s long wait. But they still expect the government to benefit. “The recovery could have happened a lot sooner with a bit more government support for infrastructure spending in particular,” said Trevor Greetham, asset allocation director for Fidelity’s Investment Solution Group, who has responsibility for $14 billion of assets.

“But that is not the way things tend to

work in the minds of the electorate - you cannot say ‘well actually this would have happened earlier and we would all be a lot wealthier with a policy that didn’t happen’. In reality it is the strength of the economy at the time of an election that tends to matter most.”

For Cameron and his finance minister, George Osborne, the political gamble was always on economic growth. But even as signs emerge that their bet may be paying off, they remain cautious.

Party sources say they are acutely aware of the risk of premature triumphalism 21 months before the election. When asked on almost a daily basis whether Britain is seeing “the green shoots of recovery”, Cameron’s spokesman says only that the economy “is healing” or “out of intensive care”. He always stresses that tough times still lie ahead.

Staking their reputation on reducing Britain’s debt mountain and nursing the economy back to health, Cameron and Osborne knew they had just a few years to make inroads into what they said was the profligate legacy of the 1997-2010 Labor governments. But as the economy stagnated, Britain’s two most powerful men were branded “dipsticks” by Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspaper and their privileged backgrounds - both went to expensive schools and were members of the same exclusive high-society dining club at Oxford - were mocked.

One outspoken Conservative lawmaker even called them “arrogant posh boys” who “don’t know the price of milk”.

Cameron’s party lost ground in opinion polls and was convulsed by internal rebellions over Britain’s ties with the European Union and over gay marriage, while the opposition Labor party warned voters austerity was killing off the recovery. But from services and consumer spending to house prices, Britons’ best loved measure of economic virility, data now shows the world’s sixth largest economy may be about to do better than at any time since the onset of the 20072008 financial crisis.

TOKYO: A woman walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. Expectations that the US Federal Reserve will start to phase out its monetary stimulus had a mostly negative impact on Asian stock markets yesterday. —AP

Under its new governor, Mark Carney, the Bank of England upgraded its mean growth projection this month by 0.8 percentage points to 2.5 percent in 2014. If achieved, that would be Britain’s fastest annual growth rate since 2007.

“A renewed recovery is now underway in the United Kingdom, and it appears to be broadening,” Carney said at his first news conference as Bank of England chief while unveiling a promise- with caveats-not to raise interest rates above 0.5 percent until unemployment falls below 7 percent.

While a recovery is underway, the economy is a long way from regaining its pre-crisis strength. Britain remains vulnerable to any more shocks from the euro zone debt crisis and voters’ incomes are at some of their lowest levels in a decade.

Yet ultra-loose monetary policy, support for the housing market, the potential of North Sea oil production, and the ability to ease the pain of austerity with tax revenues give Cameron one of the best economic backdrops of his premiership.

If he can keep the recovery on track right up to the next election, Cameron’s chances of winning - possibly even the Conservatives’ first outright victory since 1992 - increase.

If he wins, Cameron has promised an in-out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by the end of 2017. Economic growth could ease voter unease at immigration - one of the drivers of anti-European Union feeling in Britain. Growth leaves the opposition Labour Party and its leader, Ed Miliband, in a tough spot. Labour’s drive to convince voters it can run the economy has fallen flat so far: support for Conservative economic management soared to 40 percent from 28 percent in June, according to a Guardian/ICM poll.

The poll put Labor’s overall support at 35 percent, a mere three percentage points higher than the Conservatives.

Labour’s lead was 12 percentage points in the same poll in February.

Now it is Miliband and Labor finance chief Ed Balls, rather than Cameron and Osborne, who are mocked by the domestic press. After a protester threw an egg at Miliband’s head during a visit to an East London market in August, the Sun branded him “Scrambled Ed” and cast him in a cartoon as the broken-egg character from the English nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty.

But Labor says improving economic data shows no signs of translating into higher living standards. “It may be a recovery for those at the top, but it is not a recovery for most people,” a senior Labor source told Reuters. “For most, living standards are being squeezed as inflation outstrips wages more and more.

This is what we’re going to be pointing out.”

In a change of tack, Miliband has put the cost of living at the heart of his economic policy, noting rising costs for everything from utilities to train fares. He plans to attack Cameron with the slogan: “They’re out of touch. You’re out of pocket.” —Reuters

HONG KONG: A man walks past luxury shops in Hong Kong yesterday. —AFP

Maersk raises outlook after strong Q2 COPENHAGEN, Hovedstaden: Danish shipping and oil conglomerate A.P. Moeller-Maersk raised its 2013 earnings forecast yesterday after registering a much better-than-expected second quarter.

The group’s net profit fell by 15 percent to 4.48 billion kroner (601 million euros, $801 million) in the April to June period, but that figure was significantly higher than the 3.05 billion anticipated by analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires. Sales slid by nine percent to 80.9 billion kroner, owing primarily to a drop in oil production and prices as well as shipping freight rates, which were down by 13 percent on average.

In the container transport business, where Maersk Line is the world’s biggest operator, “the global market showed only modest growth”, mainly because of the economic crisis in Europe, the group said in a statement. Volumes rose by 2.0 percent and Maersk tried to cut costs by maximizing the use of its vessels. “The outlook for container transportation remains challenging as demand is expected to continue to be weak in 2013,” it added.

In its oil unit, Maersk Oil, daily production plunged by 21 percent from a year ago. It fell in Qatar, Denmark, where the group encountered technical problems, and Britain, but was stable in Algeria, Brazil and Kazakhstan.

The company said oil production had “bottomed out now and will return to growth in the second half of the year.” The two units together account for 60 percent of A.P. Moeller Maersk’s sales.

The group raised its net profit forecast for the full-year to $3.3 billion, up from the 2.9 billion previously expected. That is however lower than the 4.0 billion the group reported in 2012. Yesterday’s earnings report cheered investors, as the share price climbed by 6.97 percent in early afternoon trading on a Copenhagen stock exchange that was largely flat. —AFP

Iraq says Sept maintenance will not affect oil exports BAGHDAD: Iraq will carry out routine maintenance work on its southern oil export terminals in a way which will not affect exports in September, an oil ministry spokesman said yesterday. Investors and European refiners are closely watching for maintenance at the major Iraqi terminal in Basra after plans emerged at the end of July that exports could be cut by 400,000-500,000 barrels per day (bpd).

“Iraq will carry out a plan for a gradual maintenance work for the southern export terminals in Basra and this plan will ensure that exports keep flowing normally without disruptions,” Asim Jihad said. The physical oil market is already tight due to low exports of Russian Urals, on-off disruptions of Iraq’s other exports through Turkey and outages in Libya.

Iraq’s oil exports averaged 2.324 million bpd in July, down slightly from 2.328 million bpd in June, the oil ministry said last week. Jihad said Iraq expected oil exports to be higher in September than in the previous two months thanks to the start of production from the southern Garraf oilfield. There are also plans to increase exports from Kirkuk, he said. —Reuters

business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

China’s bloated steel units to face market forces BEIJING: Momentum is growing in China to allow market forces to end a titanic capacity glut in heavy industry that a decade of state interventions has failed to resolve, according to speeches made by high-ranking officials this month at a closed-door event. The speeches indicate that China’s reform-minded cabinet is considering a dose of deeper structural reform to remedy bloated, inefficient and debt-laden sectors such as steel.

China has around 300 million tons of surplus steel output capacity, equivalent to nearly twice the output of the European Union last year.

Encouraged by easy financing and cheap energy supplies, local governments looking to meet job and growth targets have steadily built many more steel mills than the country needs.

The steel sector is likely to be the first

to feel the pain of a new approach based on tighter regulation and market economics. If it works, steel may become a model for how the government deals with other sectors such as aluminum, cement and shipbuilding.

Beijing has yet to make clear whether it would begin to allow loss-making firms to go bankrupt. Until local governments stop propping up firms, any reform will be slow and partial.

“The current methods of management do not suit the requirements of the industry,” said Miao Zhimin, vice-head of the raw materials department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), responsible for the steel sector.

According to transcripts of speeches made to a China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) gathering last week, Miao said his ministry had already decid-

ed to stop micromanaging the sector and would instead try to ensure the market runs smoothly by establishing a level playing field and stronger rules. It has started to implement a new registry to ensure steel mills operate under the same rules and standards, with the aim of making competition fairer across regions. It has also vowed to let the market rather than government pick which firms merge.

China’s cabinet, the State Council, has identified overcapacity as one of its policy priorities this year, and it has been the driving force behind efforts to slash red tape and increase the role of the market in key industries.

Experts say a market-based approach would need a system that allows firms to exit. If Beijing is unwilling to countenance mass bankruptcies due to concerns about job losses, it should at least make it hard-

er for new firms to enter by breaking up a support structure in which they are cosseted with subsidies and cheap credit, they say. “We’ve got 21,000 steel companies and there are still more being created every year,” said Scott Kennedy, director of the Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business at Indiana University, who has studied China’s steel firms. “Banks shouldn’t be giving those start-ups money.” The 30 largest listed steel firms are estimated to have racked up nearly 760 billion yuan ($124 billion) in debt, largely as a result of rapid expansions and high costs.

A Reuters survey of 15 listed firms, including market leader Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel), showed that despite receiving 3.49 billion yuan in subsidies in 2012, they still made losses of 5.29 billion yuan over the year.— Reuters

US worker productivity up modestly in April-June Labor costs move up at 1.4% annually

SHANGHAI: Stock investors sit in front of electronic screens showing index numbers at a brokerage in Shanghai yesterday. Chinese stock prices swung wildly yesterday after a brief trading frenzy blamed on a brokerage’s computer error. —AP

Oil steady above $109, boosted by supply fears LONDON: Brent crude oil steadied above $109 per barrel yesterday, consolidating after a week of strong gains as turmoil in Egypt and Libya stoked worries over the security of oil supplies from the Middle East and North Africa. Concerns that violence in Egypt could affect the Suez Canal, conduit for up to 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil and a vital seaway for bulk carriers, helped drive Brent to a four-month high on Thursday.

The deeply polarised country braced for more confrontation on Friday after the Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide march of millions in protest against a security crackdown on Islamists that killed hundreds. Next door in Libya, oil production has been crippled by the collapse of civil society, violence and strikes, pushing exports, the lifeblood of the economy, to their lowest since the civil war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Brent crude futures for October were up 17 cents at $109.77 a barrel by 1050 GMT, positioned for a weekly rise of about 1.3 percent. US crude oil futures for September rose 8 cents to $107.33, also up around 1.3 percent this week.

“The risk premium is high and is rising,” said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “Given the worsening geopolitical situation, with rising tension across North Africa and the Middle East, another run-up above $110 for Brent could be on the cards,” Fritsch added.

Ben Le Brun, analyst at OptionsXpress, agreed: “Unrest in Egypt is definitely ... putting a floor (under) prices.”

The Suez Canal and Egyptian ports were operating normally, shipping sources told Reuters on Thursday. Although Egypt is not a major oil producer, investors were wary that unrest could spread around the region.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Thursday his government would use all means, including military force if necessary, to prevent striking security guards at the country’s main ports from selling its oil independently.— Reuters

WASHINGTON: US worker productivity accelerated to a still-modest 0.9 percent annual pace between April and June after dropping the previous quarter. The second-quarter gain beat economists’ expectations and reversed a decline in the January-March quarter, when the Labor Department’s revised numbers show productivity shrank at a 1.7 percent annual pace.

Labor costs rose at a 1.4 percent annual pace from April through June, reversing a revised 4.2 percent drop the previous quarter. Productivity measures output per hour of work. Weak productivity suggests that companies may have to hire because they can’t squeeze more work from their existing employees - that is, if demand for a company’s products is growing.

Productivity growth has been weaker recently, rising 1.5 percent in 2012 and 0.5 percent in 2011.

Annual productivity growth averaged 3.2 percent in 2009 and 3.3 percent in 2010. In records dating back to 1947, it’s been about 2 percent. The economy so far hasn’t been growing fast enough to fuel a hiring spree. Growth came in at a lackluster 1.1 percent annual rate from January through March and a still-weak 1.7 percent annual rate from April through June.

The economy has been pinched by tax increases, federal spending cuts and weakness overseas. Economists expect US growth to pick up in the second half of 2013 as the effects of the tax increases and budget cuts begin to fade.

“Companies will have to start to

increase their work force and start hiring more aggressively should the upward trend in the economy continue,” Annalisa Piazza, an analyst at Newedge Strategy, wrote in a note to clients. The economy has added 192,000 jobs a month so far this year, on average, a modest improvement on last year’s average 183,000 new jobs a month.

For now, the modest rise in labor costs means wages aren’t growing fast enough to raise worries about inflation. The Federal Reserve monitors productivity and labor costs for any signs that inflation could pick up. Mild inflation has allowed the Fed to keep short-term interest rates at record lows and to buy bonds to try to keep long-term rates down. —AP

NEW YORK: Specialist Stephen Naughton works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Expectations that the US Federal Reserve will start to phase out its monetary stimulus had a mostly negative impact on global stock markets yesterday.—AP

EU wants WTO panel to rule on Chinese duties BRUSSELS: The European Union has asked the World Trade Organization to rule in a dispute over Chinese anti-dumping duties on imports of high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes from the EU. The EU lodged a complaint at the WTO over the duties in June and consultations were held in July but they did not resolve the dispute and the EU is now asking the WTO to set up a panel to rule on the case.

The case is one of a series of high-pro-

file trade disputes that have broken out between China and the 28-nation EU, led by a quarrel over alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Europe that was defused in July. “The EU continues its fight against unjustified Chinese trade defense measures, which do not comply with WTO rules and often seem to be motivated by retaliation,” EU trade spokesman John Clancy said in a statement yesterday.

EU exports to China of high-perfor-

mance stainless steel seamless tubes, used in power plants, were worth around 90 million euros ($119 million) in 2009, but fell to under 20 million euros around the time that China imposed definitive antidumping duties in November 2012, the EU says. Since then, it said the duties of 9.7 percent to 11.1 percent imposed on imports of steel tubes from the EU were significantly hampering access to the Chinese market. —Reuters

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

HK economy grows 3.3% on Chinese tourists HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s economy picked up a little steam in the second quarter as local consumption and mainland Chinese tourist spending in the trade-reliant Asian financial center helped make up for weak global demand. Growth remained subdued because of what government economists said yesterday was continuing weakness in the advanced markets where Hong Kong sends its exports.

Economic output in the April-June period grew 3.3 percent over a year ago. On a seasonally adjusted basis, it grew 0.8 percent from the previous quarter. Export growth slowed to 6.2 percent. Hong Kong is a major transshipment hub for goods moving from mainland Chinese factories to markets overseas.

The former British colony has prospered because of open markets and a busy port, but those factors also leave it highly vulnerable to the fluctuations of global trade.

Strong tourist spending helped shore up the numbers, illustrating how the semiautonomous Chinese region’s

economy is catering more to freespending visitors from the mainland.

Hong Kong has been seeing a rising number of visitors from the world’s No. 2 economy, with 18.8 million mainlan-

ders visiting the city of 7.1 million in the first half of the year, up 20 percent from the year before and accounting for more than two-thirds of total visitors, tourism board statistics show.

HONG KONG: A man and a woman (left) talk by their stall in a street market in Hong Kong yesterday. Hong Kong’s economy grew “moderately” year-on-year in the second quarter, with domestic demand and growth in the mainland Chinese economy offsetting a weak environment in the West, officials said. — AFP

Asian markets fall on Fed stimulus fears HONG KONG: Asian markets tracked Wall Street lower yesterday on renewed uncertainty among investors over when the US Federal Reserve will begin cutting back its huge stimulus program.

Tokyo shares ended down 0.75 percent, or 174.59 points, at 13,578.35, mirroring overnight falls in the United States that were stoked by disappointing corporate earnings results and better-than-expected unemployment data. Seoul also finished down, 0.2 percent, or 3.8 points, at 1,920.11, while Sydney closed down 0.75 percent, or 38.5 points, at 5,113.9.

Chinese markets experienced a turbulent morning of trade. Shanghai shares ended down 0.65 percent, or 13,43 points, at 2,068.45. During mid-morning, the index briefly jumped more than five percent, a spike which was later blamed on a trading glitch.

Hong Kong shares spiked shortly afterwards but fell in line with Shanghai, finishing 0.10 percent, or 21.44 points, down at 22,517.81. Everbright Securities later said it found “problems” with its trading system, though it did not take direct responsibility for the surge. Trading in Everbright shares was suspended for the afternoon.

Across the rest of Asia, markets were broadly reacting to events on Wall Street. Weekly US jobless claims declined to their lowest level in six years, data showed Thursday, triggering stock sell-offs as investors saw the figures as a sign the Fed could begin to reduce its $85 billion a month quantitative easing program as soon as September.

On Thursday the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.47 percent while the tech-rich Nasdaq lost 1.72 percent.

“The jobs data was a shock to the market, and put the whole tapering issue back on the front burner again,” said Hiroichi Nishi, SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities.

“In these thinly traded markets, the initial sell-off is likely to be sharp before things stabilise,” Nishi told Dow Jones Newswires. US shares suffered as Cisco and Walmart spotlighted a weak economic outlook in their earnings reports.

Shares in information technology giant Cisco lost 7.2 percent after it reported a “softening” outlook in emerging economies and announced it would cut 4,000 jobs.

Walmart released disappointing earnings and slashed its 2013 forecast, citing weak consumer spending in the US and foreign markets.

India’s stock market also took a beating, falling by 3.97 percent, or 769.41 points, to 18,598.18 as the rupee plunged to a new record low of 62.03 against the dollar. Elsewhere in afternoon forex trade, the dollar stood at 97.38 yen, up marginally from 97.36 in New York Thursday. —AFP

Mainlanders like to buy up everything from luxury goods to baby formula because Hong Kong has no sales tax and a reputation for authentic goods.

Acting government economist Andrew Au said that Hong Kong’s export growth “was actually rather modest” without a surge in exports of “nonmonetary gold,” a reference to the surge in mainland Chinese buying up gold jewelry after prices for the precious yellow metal fell.

“Exports of travel services remained the key growth driver, with visitor spending accelerating markedly in the second quarter,” Au said in a statement.

The government predicted full yeargrowth of 2.5 to 3.5 percent, in the upper half of a range it previously forecast.

Au said the global outlook is still shaky, given uncertainty over US monetary policy, continuing sovereign debt problems in the 17-nation euro-zone and slowing growth in major emerging markets. But he said China’s economic growth would be an “important stabilizing force” in Asia. — AP

Ecuador to open Amazon’s Yasuni basin to oil drilling Protesters mill into streets against move QUITO: Ecuador will open up part of the Amazon rainforest to oil drilling after rich nations failed to back a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to explore in the area, President Rafael Correa said on Thursday.

Correa launched the initiative in 2007 to protect the Yasuni area of the Amazon basin, which boasts some of the planet’s most diverse wildlife, but said he had now scrapped it after it attracted only a small fraction of the sum it aimed to raise. “I have signed the executive decree for the liquidation of the Yasuni-ITT trust fund and through it, end the initiative,” Correa said in a televised address. ITT refers to three untapped oil blocks known collectively as Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini.

Scores of protesters, some with placards gathered in front of the presidential palace shortly after the announcement, angered by the decision, while others opposing them, waved flags in the color of Correa’s political movement.

Ecuador, OPEC’s smallest member, had planned to forgo opening the Yasuni basin, its more than 800 million barrels of crude and $7.2 billion in income from beneath the jungle floor as part of the conservation plan.

It was aimed at protecting wildlife - a single hectare (2.47 acres) of the Yasuni national park contains more tree species than in all of North America - and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples who fear oil drilling would damage their ancestral homeland. In return, the government had hoped to receive some $3.6 billion from the international community over 12 years, or about half the value of the oil it would be leaving in the ground, through the fund administered by the United Nations.

QUITO: People protest against the exploitation of oil in the Yasuni National Park, an incredibly biodiverse part of Ecuador’s Amazon, in front of the Carondelet presidential palace in Quito on Thursday after the country’s president, Rafael Correa, gave a statement authorizing to exploit oil reserves there. — AFP In five years, however, only about $336 million had been pledged, mostly from European countries and various environmental groups, the campaign’s manager, Ivonne Baki, said in April.

Correa said the plan had only actually received $13.3 million, less than half a percent of its goal. Last month, Correa set up a commission to evaluate the plan’s progress which concluded that “the economic results were not what the state had been hoping for,” according to a statement published this week by the vice president’s office.

Correa said he had now commissioned technical, economic and legal studies on the basis of which he would seek the backing of the national assembly for drilling in the region, a step required by the country’s constitution.

Correa played down the potential

impact of oil drilling in the area, saying it would affect only 0.01 percent of the Yasuni basin while his spokesman, Fernando Alvarado, said on Twitter that exploration could be carried out safely in the region.

But opponents will be hard to appease. Adrian Soria, a biologist, 38, and one of the protesters gathered outside the presidential palace, said the Yasuni basin’s ecological worth was far greater than that of any oil it could offer.

“Yasuni is important for humanity and as Ecuadorians, we can make the difference ... Yasuni must be preserved and that is more important than the oil,” he said.

Correa, a US-trained economist, has won broad popular support among Ecuador’s low-income majority with heavy spending on welfare, health, education and infrastructure projects. —Reuters

BUSINESS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Bricks, finance shortages hit British housing hopes Banks reluctant to finance smaller builders

Larry Summers (left) and Janet Yellen

Summers, Yellen lead in race for new Fed chief WASHINGTON: It’s one of the most important decisions President Barack Obama says he will make over his eight-year presidency: who to lead the Federal Reserve after Ben Bernanke leaves in January.

With the US economy still struggling to gain traction five years after the crash, and the global economy sagging, Obama left markets on edge Friday, saying he would only announce his nominee “in the fall”, suggesting around October.

But he confirmed that former Treasury secretary Larry Summers and veteran central banker Janet Yellen were on the White House shortlist, along with “a couple of other candidates.”

The choice has already turned into a fight, with Summers attracting criticism from both the left and the right over his record in government, Yellen branded as too soft on inflation, and Obama facing resistance from Republicans in Congress to any of his appointees. But it has taken outsized importance, with the economy’s pace now heavily dependent on how the Fed manages its huge stimulus program and steers interest rates. “It is definitely one of the most important economic decisions that I’ll make in the remainder of my presidency,” Obama told reporters last week.

“The Federal Reserve chairman is not just one of the most important economic policymakers in America, he or she is one of the most important policymakers in the world.”

Bernanke, 59, winds up a second four-year term as Fed chairman in January 2014, having led the body through the economic crisis to widespread praise. The debate over his replacement has become uncommonly heated. “It is the first time I can remember that the public and private discussions have been so open,” said Steve Pearlstein, economics writer for the Washington Post. He called such debate a good thing in general, “particularly for an institution so steeped in a kind of ‘holy-of-holies’ secrecy such as the Fed has been.”

However, he said, “What is less attractive is that it has now turned into something more like a political campaign.” Obama called both Yellen and Summers “highly qualified” for the job, which pays $199,700 a year-a fraction of what either could make working for a bank on Wall Street.

Both are considered by their peers in economics and finance as brilliant economists and solid organizational leaders. Summers, 58, has been chief economist at the World Bank, Treasury secretary in the Clinton White House, the president of Harvard University, and in 2009-2010, Obama’s top economic advisor at the height of the economic crisis.

Yellen, 67, is a veteran of the Federal Reserve who has also served as a White House economic advisor under Bill Clinton, and an economics professor at both Harvard and Berkeley.

Since 2010 she has been vice chairperson at the Fed, Bernanke’s top deputy, and if chosen would be the first woman to head the central bank.

Both face opposition. Conservatives say Yellen is too “dovish” on inflation that she, like Bernanke, does not fear enough the risk that the Fed’s $85 billion a month bond-buying stimulus and ultra-low interest rates will fuel an uncontrollable surge in prices.

Summers has critics on both sides of the spectrum. Conservatives assail him for his crucial role in the finance and auto industry bailouts of the early Obama years that sent the US budget deficit soaring.

Liberals allege a history of being too soft on US banks and the securities industry, supporting the deregulation that led to the finance industry disaster of 2008-09. They worry that he will bend to Wall Street’s fierce resistance against new regulations.

Policy-wise, the main issue facing the Fed’s next chief is how quickly to reel in the quantitative easing stimulus program, and to eventually move to raise interest rates to forestall inflation, one of the two mandates of the Fed. Bernanke has kept the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee focused on the second mandate, to bring down unemployment, which remains high at 7.4 percent.

The issue has analysts debating the relative inflation “hawkishness” or “dovishness” the known nominees, as well as the unknown names that Obama says he has on his shortlist. Those could include former Fed officials Donald Kohn and Roger Ferguson, and former Obama economic advisor Christina Romer, among others. —AFP

LONDON: When the British housing market finally showed signs of life earlier this year, Stephen Stone’s company tried to order concrete building blocks for a new homes project, only to find he would have to wait months and import them from Germany. The experience of Stone, chief executive of housebuilder Crest Nicholson, typifies the industry’s difficulties in responding rapidly to government pressure for more new homes to ease a shortage and help a weak economy.

“Imagine if you haven’t got raw materials like bricks and blocks and you’re waiting for three months to get them. It’s a problem,” Stone said. Bricks and blocks aren’t the only problem for a sector that shrank sharply to survive the property downturn after the 2008 financial crisis. It now faces rising costs, and financing conditions remain tough, on top of long-standing difficulties in getting projects approved under Britain’s strict planning rules.

With housebuilding at its lowest in about 90 years, finance minister George Osborne has launched the first part of a scheme to lend and guarantee billions of pounds in mortgages, aiming to help Britons buy newly built homes with relatively small deposits. But the chances of his “Help to Buy” scheme drawing a rapid response are slim, due largely to the shrunken state of an industry that had relied heavily on foreign workers, many of whom left Britain during the downturn because of a lack of jobs.

Britain is therefore unlikely to achieve anything near the 250,000 homes needed each year to keep up with a growing population, and critics fear this shortfall means Osborne’s scheme will fuel house prices rather than house building.

“The government hopes that we can turn the tap on right away but it doesn’t happen that way,” Stone told Reuters.

“It’ll take at least four to six months for the supply chain to respond. The construction industry is 50 percent of what it was. The overseas workers have all

gone home.”

The government declined to comment on its expectations for the industry. Housebuilding in Britain has fallen to levels not seen since the 1920s, according to property consultancy Savills, after the largest housebuilders, such as Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, retrenched during the downturn to concentrate on raising profit margins

more homes they want built under the scheme. Its second phase, in which the government will guarantee loans for people buying second-hand homes, will start in January. “There are a lot of other obstacles that the government is not only not overcoming but in some respects is making worse,” said Roger Humber, strategic policy adviser to lobby group House Builders Association.

LONDON: With housebuilding at its lowest in about 90 years, finance minister George Osborne has launched the first part of a scheme to lend and guarantee billions of pounds in mortgages, aiming to help Britons buy newly built homes with relatively small deposits. rather than their sales. Private housebuilders completed 88,000 homes last year, well below an annual average of 115,000 over the past four years, Savills said.

The country’s 10 biggest housebuilders, such as Barratt Developments, which construct about two thirds of new homes, have not committed themselves to firm completion targets.

However, some say they are aiming to sell 20-30 percent more homes annually in the next few years.

Osborne and his department, the Treasury, have also not said how many

Stone’s lengthy wait shows how building materials makers, such as Wienerberger, Michelmersh and HeidelbergCement’s UK arm Hanson, also retrenched in Britain and continental Europe. Such suppliers have shut 19 plants in the last five years as brick production halved due to the waning demand. About 358,000 workers have left the British construction industry, a 15 percent drop since 2008, government data showed. Many building materials makers are now adding shifts and hiring workers, but say a sharp rise in production will take months. —Reuters

Indonesia unveils election year budget JAKARTA: Indonesia’s president unveiled an ambitious 2014 draft budget yesterday aimed at boosting a slowing economy before elections next year as his scandal-plagued party struggles to claw back popularity.

Once a darling with investors, Southeast Asia’s top economy has this year been faced with slowing growth, high inflation and a plunge in the value of the rupiah.

With the economy set to be a key battleground at presidential and legislative polls in 2014, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is desperate to restore the nation’s financial health.

Announcing the $173-billion budget to parliament, Yudhoyono insisted the package would ensure that “Indonesia will be in a better position to overcome the challenges that may emerge”.

The main themes of the budget were boosting consumer spending, a main driver of Indonesia’s economic boom, over-

hauling the nation’s ageing infrastructure to encourage investment, and narrowing current account and budget deficits. He said the government would implement a “keep buying strategy” to make sure consumer spending remained strong, something economists believe is key to maintaining economic growth as global demand for Indonesian commodities weakens.

“We acknowledge our infrastructure is far from perfect,” he conceded, vowing that major road, port and airport projects would be completed.

Investors often complain that doing business in the sprawling archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is complicated by potholed roads, a creaking train network, leaky old boats and poor aviation infrastructure. He also said the country would look at new markets to try to put the brake on a widening trade deficit, blamed on falling Chinese demand for Indonesian exports such as coal and palm oil. —AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Euro-zone inflation flat, trade surplus edges up Consumer prices fell: Eurostat data

MADRID: A banner reading “No more families without house, It is our right” as Jose Gonzalez Del Pliego, 71 years old, gestures while he waits for the police to evict his family and demolish the house by a forced expropriation in Madrid yesterday. — AP

European car market grew nearly 5% in July: Data FRANKFURT: Europe’s ailing car market grew in annual terms for only the second time this year in July, supporting hopes of a much-needed stabilization for battered producers in the second half of 2013.

Registrations of new cars in Europe rose 4.8 percent compared to the same month a year ago to 1.02 million vehicles, according to data published yesterday by the German auto industry association VDA. Second quarter corporate results have also surprised by suggesting some mass-market producer are closer to breaking even in Europe than previously thought. But it is all happening at a very low base - sales are around the lowest in 20 years and overall are set to fall for the fourth year running.

“The positive July result ... is a good start for the stabilisation we expect in the second half,” VDA President Matthias Wissmann said in a statement. “The emerging economic recovery in western Europe appears to be reflected in the development of car demand,” he said.

He saw hope in double-digit gains in austerity-hit Spain, Portugal and Greece, where sales have roughly halved from peaks before the 2008 financial crisis.

An extra working day in Germany, the region’s economic engine of growth, helped lift domestic sales slightly in July over the previous year’s month, but Frankfurt-based market researcher Dataforce calculates that volumes there still shrank 2.3 percent when adjusted for this calendar effect.

Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen reported sales in its home market dropped 4.1 percent, diluting gains in China and the United States to reduce its global growth to the slowest in four months.

“Conditions in some markets were at times extremely challenging,” VW sales chief Christian Klingler said.

“The economic climate remains difficult.” Overall VW group sales rose 3.2 percent to 757,700 cars, sport-utility vehicles and light vans. Its seven-month European sales, including luxury brand Audi and sports-car maker Porsche, fell 3.1 percent to 2.16 million autos.

VW withstood most of last year’s slump in Europe, the destination of 40 percent of its global deliveries, thanks to growth overseas and a wide range of models from small fuel-efficient vehicles like the Up! city car to ultra-luxury saloons including Bentley’s Continental.

By contrast, automakers dependent on European markets such as PSA Peugeot Citroen have been suffering for months from the region’s economic crisis, seeking to close factories and lay off staff to counter heavy losses. Registrations in the first seven months of the year fell 5.2 percent to 7.46 million vehicles, but demand is expected to cease dropping materially as sales rates have started to recover and year-on-year comparisons become easier given the second half of 2012 was weak.

A senior Ford executive told Reuters earlier this week that a manufacturers’ price war would not let up until sales increase significantly. — Reuters

BRUSSELS: Inflation in the 17-nation euro-zone was flat in July at an annual rate of 1.6 percent, official data showed yesterday.

The data also showed a big increase in a euro-zone trade surplus on a monthly and 12-month basis.

Compared with June, euro-zone consumer prices fell 0.5 percent, the Eurostat data agency said, confirming earlier figures.

Euro-zone inflation hit a 38-month low of 1.2 percent in April but has picked up as the economy has recovered from a record 18-month recession which data earlier this week showed ended in the three months to June with quarterly growth of 0.3 percent.

For the 27-member European Union, inflation ran at 1.7 percent in July, unchanged from the level in June, Eurostat said, while on a monthly basis, EU prices were down 0.4 percent. In July 2012, the euro-zone inflation rate was 2.4 percent and the EU 2.5 percent. For the month, the Netherlands had the highest annual rate of inflation at 3.1 percent with Greece the lowest, at a negative 0.5 percent.

The European Central Bank aims to keep inflation to just below a 2.0 percent in the medium term.

ATHENS: An elderly beggar passes by a tram station in central Athens yesterday. Greece is beating its budget targets by a wide margin so far this year, a sign the country’s painful cost cuts and tax increases, combined with international bailout funds, are paying off. — AP Eurostat also said yesterday that the euro-zone had a trade surplus with the rest of the world of 17.3 billion euros ($23.0 billion) in June, up from 14.5 billion euros in May and 12.8 billion euros in June 2012.

Exports rose 3.0 percent and imports were up 2.5 percent in the month. For the EU, the June trade surplus fell to 9.9 billion euros from 15.7 billion euros in May and compared with a deficit of 1.0 billion euros in June 2012. — AFP

Gold below 2-month high, set for best week in month LONDON: Gold dipped below an earlier twomonth high yesterday as the dollar firmed, but the metal was still heading for its biggest weekly gain in a month as investors continued to cover short positions and on strong physical appetite from China.

Traders added that the crossing of a technical resistance level was also adding to buying, although the move upwards seen in the past week looked to have lost some momentum.

“After such a strong move up there is always the risk of a retracement... however after gold broke through its resistance at $1,350 last night things are looking somewhat more encouraging,” Heraeus trader Alexander Zumpfe said. “Expect initial resistance around the 100-day moving average at $1,375, which is slightly above today’s intraday high.”

Spot gold reached a two-month high of $1,372.51 an ounce earlier in the session but was at $1,360.01 an ounce, down 0.4 percent by 0944 GMT. It has risen around 3.5 percent so far this week, having gained for the last six sessions out of eight. US gold futures for December lost 0.1 percent to $1,360.40 an ounce.

Gold found technical support once prices crossed $1,350 on Thursday, traders said, as well as some safe-haven demand on escalating tensions in Egypt. It had lost more than one percent after strong US jobs data on Thursday indicated the Federal Reserve could soon start tapering its $85 billion monthly bond purchases.

An early end to the Fed’s quantitative easing program could hurt assets such as gold that had been boosted by central bank liquidity and a low interest rates environ-

ment, which encourages investors to put money into non-interest-bearing assets. The Fed’s next policy meeting is on Sept 17-18, while the July FOMC minutes will be released next Wednesday.

The dollar rose 0.1 percent, drawing support from a rise in US Treasury yields around their highest in two years, hit on Thursday.

Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed ETF, fell just 0.3 tons to 912.92 tons on Thursday. Rare inflows were

seen in the fund twice over the past six sessions but holdings remain at four-year lows.

Shanghai gold futures rose 2 percent yesterday, with premiums to London spot prices up about $3 overnight to $24, indicating strong demand ahead of the fourth quarter.

Analysts also expect demand to start returning in India in coming weeks, ahead of the winter wedding season and festival celebrations and despite government’s imports restrictions. —Reuters

Russia denies ‘trade war’ against Ukraine MOSCOW: Russia denied yesterday that it was waging a trade war with Ukraine to discourage its ex-Soviet neighbor from establishing closer political and economic relations with the European Union.

The Ukrainian Employers’ Federation reported on Wednesday that all goods destined for Russia were being held up at the border without an explanation and subjected to rigorous checks.

The claim-supported by such Ukrainian giants as the mining firm Metinvest and the beer maker Obolon-follows the suspension in July of Russian imports from the popular chocolate brand Roshen over alleged quality concerns. The head of Russia’s consumer rights protection agency confirmed yesterday that Ukrainian goods were being put to more exacting inspections but denied any link to politics.

“We have a long and specific list of

complaints ... relating to the protection of consumer rights,” Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare chief Gennady Onishchenko was quoted as saying by Interfax. “If you want to call this a trade war, then call it a trade war,” he added. “But we are conducting professional work.”

Russia remains Ukraine’s closest trade partner and is responsible for nearly a quarter of its total exports. But the authorities in Kiev are keen to reverse that dependence and have been leading negotiations with Brussels over a trade agreement that could serve as a stepping stone for Ukraine’s eventual membership in the 28-nation bloc. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov acknowledged “difficulties” at the border on Thursday but urged the media not to play up the scale of the dispute. —AFP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Thousands honor Elvis Presley at Graceland vigil Page 25 www.kuwaittimes.net

Actress Eva Longoria arrives for Telemundo’s Premios Tu Mundo Awards at American Airlines Arena on Thursday in Miami, Florida. — AFP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

The Beatles have made an annual turnover of £43.5m

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he ‘Hello Goodbye’ hitmakers’ business, Apple Corps Limited, has amassed the staggering figure - £2 million more than they made in 2012 - landing Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the estates of late members John Lennon and George Harrison £5.1 million each. Despite forming more than 50 years ago, The Beatles received £2,037,500 each in dividends, £1,936,500 in promotional activities fees and £1,175,375 for name and likeness payments. A source told The Sun newspaper: “The Beatles have been the most famous band in the world since the 60s and it keeps on paying. “The obsession with the Fab Four has never stopped, even half a century after they started. “So the money just keeps rolling in.” Ringo recently said he believes the group would have reformed and gone on tour by now had John and George still been alive today. The band split in 1970 and John was shot dead by a fan in New York in 1980, while George died of lung cancer in 2001. When asked whether the band would have reunited, Ringo said: “I’d like to think, yes, we would. Paul still goes out with his band, I go out with mine and John would have probably been going out with his. “George was not big on touring so I’m not sure about him. But who knows ... it could have come together.”

Nadine Coyle’s bandmates congratulate her on pregnancy

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he 28-year-old star announced she is expecting her first child through social networking site Instagram on Thursday (15.08.13), and her close pals Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding have now followed in Cheryl Cole’s footsteps by expressing their delight at the news. Flame-haired Nicola, 27, tweeted: “@NadineCoyleNow Congratulations on your lovely news x (sic)” Former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star Kimberley, 31, then added: “@NadineCoyleNow congrats on your exciting news!” Finally, blonde beauty Sarah, 31, congratulated Nadine on being the first member of the chart-topping ‘The Promise’ girl group to get pregnant. She tweeted: “@nadinecoylenow Congrats babe!!!

1 down...4 left to go lol!! X (sic)” ‘Call My Name’ hitmaker Cheryl - who is currently in the US -

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was the first of Nadine’s Girls Aloud bandmates to send her well wishes on Thursday afternoon. She wrote: “I just woke up to the news that there is to be a baby aloud!! This is so crazy. But amazing!! “Congratulations @nadinecoylenow. Can’t believe you’re going to be a mummy!!!!!!!!!!! ??? (sic).” Nadine announced her pregnancy by posting a picture of herself on Instagram with “I’m having a baby. Xx” written on it. The Irish beauty has yet to confirm the identity of the baby’s father, but it is thought she recently reconciled with ex-fiancee, NFL football player Jason Bell.

Nadine shot to fame as a member of Girls Aloud in 2002 and the popular girl group enjoyed a string of hits before announcing they would disband following a 10-year anniversary tour earlier this year.

Lindsay thanks fans for support

he Canyons’ star has launched a new website since completing 90-days of court-ordered treatment at the Cliffside Malibu centre in California on July 31, and is eager to get her life back on track. She wrote: “To my fans, Welcome to my new site... Your support has been everything. I’m so excited for what’s next. xo All my love, Lindsay.” The 27-year-old actress went to rehab as part of a plea deal to avoid jail after violating her probation by lying to police about driving after a car accident last year, and she has since appeared eager to take responsibility for her problems and legal troubles. In a sneak peak teaser of an interview with Oprah Winfrey she is asked by the talk show legend: “Do you think you can turn things around?” and “What is it that you’re addicted to?” The actress emotionally replies: “I’m my own worst enemy. I know that.” Oprah, 59, has taken a vested interest in Lindsay’s well being following her well-documented troubles, as the actress is now filming a documentary series about her road to recovery for Oprah’s TV channel, OWN. Shortly after their recent interview, Oprah insisted that she believes Lindsay is ready to move on with her life. She previously said: “I just interviewed her, and I was deeply moved by her desire to move forward in her life at this time ... I really do believe that she’s ready.” She also said she felt the ‘Mean Girls’ star was “honest” and “authentic” during their chat, adding: “She looked good. She looked strong. She looked healthy.”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Rita Ora hates Calvin Harrisʼ music

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he 29-year-old DJ is convinced the ‘How We Do’ hitmaker dislikes his catchy tracks as she seems less than enthusiastic about turning up for his gigs, but he insists he doesn’t mind because their relationship is built on a strong foundation. Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: “Rita doesn’t really like dance music. “She doesn’t really like my music but I like hers. “We’re not together for musical reasons, which is great.” The 22-year-old singer - who began dating Calvin in May - previously admitted that it can be tough having a relationship in the public eye, but she felt they were in a “great position” to decide on the nature of their romance and deal with the spotlight together. She said previously: “It’s always a bit difficult. There isn’t really a clear answer when you have somebody that you really like and people take pictures of you liking that person. “It’s a bit of a weird scenario but I always just ignore them. But it depends on where you choose to go as a couple, what you choose to do and how private you really want things to be. “We are in a great position right now with the Internet to put out what we want to put out and go with the flow, it’s OK.”

Simon Cowell asks pregnant lover to stay away from him

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auren Silverman - who is expecting a child with the music mogul following a passionate affair- is eager to join the star on his Mediterranean yacht after settling her messy divorce with ex-husband Andrew Silverman earlier this week, but Simon has warned to her keep her distance until the dust has settled. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Simon thought the divorce would take longer to finalise and he is insisting he needs time to sort out his head. “Lauren has asked Simon to charter his private jet so she can join him but he is making excuses and just doesn’t know what to do.” Simon’s former pal, Andrew - who filed for divorce four weeks ago after discovering Lauren was pregnant - listed ‘The X Factor’ boss as the co-respondent in the legal documents, as well as alleging adultery and “cruel and inhuman treatment” as the reasons behind his marriage failing. However, the 53-year-old star avoided the court hearing - which saw the former couple agree on shared custody of their seven-year-old son, Adam - by holidaying with a bevy of beauties aboard his £30 million Slipstream vessel in St. Tropez, France. A source explained: “The yacht is the ultimate floating bachelor pad. There are magnums of Dom Perignon champagne in ice buckets all over the place. “Simon is spending a lot of time alone in his cabin. The atmosphere is very sedate.”

Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose to hold lavish wedding

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he couple - who welcomed their first child, Sebastian Taylor Thomaz, in February - tied the knot secretly in a Los Angeles courthouse last month and plan to have a larger wedding this weekend. A source told PopCrush the couple will host the ceremony at a country club in Wiz’s native Pittsburgh. In July, Wiz took to Twitter to share the happy news, writing: “Me and Amber got married today. Weddings this fall.

Thought I’d let yall know .” Wiz, 25 and Amber, 29, became engaged in March last year and Amber has been excited about it ever since. She previously said: “I think about it constantly. Like all day. No matter what I’m doing I always have my wedding on my mind. So I’m really excited.” Meanwhile, the couple are completely besotted with their son and Wiz admitted he just spends his time trying to make Sebastian smile. He recently told BANG Showbiz: “He just kills us with his smile, we do whatever we can to make him smile.” Amber added: “Motherhood is amazing, I’m so happy. He’s big, he’s like the size of a six month old. The doctor says he’s above average, he’s going to be tall like the both of us.”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Lauren Conrad happier since meeting William Tell

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he 27-year-old former reality TV star - who is reported to be preparing to tie the knot with the 33-year-old rocker turned law student - posted a photograph of them both on Instagram along with a touching message, to celebrate their one-and-a-half year anniversary. She wrote: “Just looked at the calendar and realized it was a year and a half ago today that I met this guy...And I sure am glad I did.” Lauren recently insisted she and William are perfect for each other because they have so much in common.

She said: “‘He is very good for me because we have a lot in common as far as where we grew up. It’s the first time I’m with someone and I’m not explaining things. “He also has experience in the entertainment industry, so he understands a lot of things that people don’t always get.” Lauren also said she will never appear on a reality show again because starring on ‘The Hills’ and ‘Laguna Beach: The Real OC’ caused people to judge her harshly. She said: “It feels done for me. I’m OK with it being done. “I only ever got to tell half my story. People are very quick to judge these days, especially behind the anonymity of a screen name. “It’s very easy to say, ‘I hate her, I hate what she wore, she seems mean.’ But you’re only seeing a small fraction of her life.

“There is always gonna be a little bit of...negativity, which just comes with the territory.

Adam Levine wants to get married as soon as possible

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he Maroon 5 singer only got engaged to model Behati Prinsloo in July but he has told the 24-year-old beauty he wants the wedding to take place immediately. A source told the new issue of America’s Star magazine: “Adam is in a mad rush to marry Behati ... the sooner the better.” The ‘Payphone’ hitmaker has let Behati know that money is no obstacle when it comes to planning their nuptials and he is happy to spend a million dollars on their big day. The source added: “He’s ready to become a husband and father so he told Behati to spend whatever she wants, even a million dollars, as long as the wedding is in the near future.” Adam, 34, popped the question to the Namibian-born beauty at a romantic location in Los Angeles. Although she delighted to be engaged, Victoria’s Secret Angel Behati recently admitted she is pretty relaxed about planning her wedding. She said: “I’m so laid back about it.”

Shailene Woodley to donate her hair to children’s charity

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he 21-year-old actress is set to cut off her hair to play a teenage cancer patient in the big screen adaptation of John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and the author has revealed she will donate her locks to Children with Hair Loss. He wrote on his Tumblr page: “Shailene Woodley is cutting her hair this weekend to prepare for her role as Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars movie. And she’s donating her hair to Children with Hair Loss, an organization that provides free wigs to kids who’ve experienced hair loss due to cancer, burns, or other medical conditions. “I want to be clear that this was entirely Shai’s idea. (I don’t even think the studio knows about it.) I hope if you’re able, you’ll consider joining Shai in donating. Thanks! .” John encouraged readers of his blog to participate and even revealed Shailene’s mother will join her daughter in donating her hair. He said: “When Shailene told me about this, I immediately thought there might be people in nerdfighteria who want to join her. (We already have one convert joining in: Shailene’s mom!) So if you have eight or more inches of spare hair, consider donating it to Children with Hair Loss. “And if you do, let me know via the tags hairforhazel or itgrowsback, so I can put together some pictures/reblog your beautiful faces.”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Elvis Presley fan Jill Gibson lights candles outside Graceland, Presley’s home, before the annual candlelight vigil on Thursday, in Memphis, Tenn.

Fans of the late Elvis Presley gather at Graceland, Presley’s home, for the annual candlelight vigil.

Eli Crain Nicholas Woodlief, 7, left, his sister Annabelle Woodlief, 11, and friend, Eli Crain, 11, right, strike an Elvis Presley pose at Graceland, Presley’s home, before the annual candlelight vigil on Thursday, in Memphis, Tenn.

Presley fans from around the world made their annual pilgrimage to Graceland to pay their respects to the rock n’ roll icon with a solemn candlelight vigil on the 36th anniversary of his death. — AP

Thousands honor Elvis Presley at Graceland vigil E

lvis Presley fans from around the world made their annual pilgrimage to Graceland on Thursday to pay their respects to the rock n’ roll icon with a solemn candlelight vigil on the 36th anniversary of his death.

Thousands of Presley fans carried lit candles as they walked silently through the Mediation Garden at Graceland, Presley’s longtime Memphis home. The garden is the location of Presley’s grave and also is the spot where his mother, father and grandmother are buried.

Wreaths of flowers and pictures of Presley encircled the grave, while shadows cast by the glowing candles danced along the stone wall surrounding the garden. Soft music played in the mild night, as some in the procession bowed their heads or cried quietly.

Each year, fans of Presley’s music and movies come to Memphis for Elvis Week, the weeklong celebration of his life and career. Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack after battling prescription drug abuse.

The vigil is the highlight of Elvis Week, which this year featured a listening party at Stax Records for the recent release of the three-CD box set “Elvis at Stax.” Performances by Presley

tribute artists and a screening of the “Aloha from Hawaii” television program from January 1973 are other featured events of the weeklong reunion, which wraps up Saturday.

Police estimated 35,000 people would attend the vigil. Last year, an estimated 75,000 people descended on Graceland for the event. Elvis’ exwife Priscilla Presley and his daughter Lisa Marie Presley spoke at last year’s event, the first time they appeared together at the vigil since it began. Christine Jeffords made her fifth trip to Graceland with her husband Jon and three other members of a fan club called the Elvis Midwest Mafia, whose members are from Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. They wore red T-shirts with Presley’s image emblazoned on a king of hearts playing card on the front.

The back of their shirts had a quote that gives one reason why fans have made repeated trips to Memphis for Elvis Week and the vigil: “If you have a friend who is an Elvis fan, you have a friend for life.”

“Where else can you go where you meet people from year to year who have the same passion?” said Christine Jeffords, a pre-school teacher from Traverse City, Mich.

Jeffords, 52, smiles when she talks about buying her first Presley 45, “Let Yourself Go,” which she bought as a young teen with money she had saved from babysitting jobs. She said the vigil is a way to remember not only his career, but also his giving personality and ability to make people happy with his music.

“If you were sad or happy or whatever, he was such a big part of your life,” Jeffords said. “I always felt in my heart that he was a good person, a beautiful person.”

The vigil started as an informal gathering the year after his death. It has blossomed into a major tourist event. Fans begin lining up along the outer wall of Graceland about 12 hours before the vigil, and many will stay until the early morning hours of the next day.

The event also has become an international affair and a tribute to the Tupelo, Miss., native’s worldwide popularity, hosting fans from Australia, Brazil, England and Japan and other foreign countries.

Miguel Salinas Caceres, 53, came with other members of a fan club whose members are from Chile. Making his first visit to Graceland, Salinas Caceres recalled making scrapbooks of newspa-

per article clippings about Presley when he was a teen.

The articles and scrapbooks were a way he and his family followed and learned about Presley because they could not afford a record player or even the records themselves. He said his family used to pay a neighbor who owned a television so that they could watch Presley movies and other TV programs at the neighbors’ house. “For a person who is an Elvis fan and has the chance to come to the place he lived, it’s emotional for me,” said Salinas Caceres, of Santiago, Chile. “It’s hard to believe that I’m here on the street where he walked, the street corners where he stood, the restaurants where he ate.” His fellow fan club member Rodrigo Gandarillas, a native Chilean who now lives in Houston, is on his second visit to Graceland. An Elvis tribute artist himself, the 39-year-old Gandarillas said the vigil is a way to give thanks for the enjoyment Presley has given him.

“The thing that impacts me the most about the vigil is the large amount of people from different countries, different races and different languages who understand ‘the King’s’ musical message,” Gandarillas said. — AP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

This May 28, 2009 photo released courtesy Patrice deAvila, shows Patrice deAvila with her cat Pinkertonn in Portand, Oregon. DeAvila adopts older and medically needy cats.

DeAvila says that a kitten will always get adopted, but the older cats, especially the Persians and Himalayans, will be put down. — AP

This June 21, 2013 photo courtesy of Lori Fusaro shows photographer Lori Fusaro hugging her two dogs: Gabby, 10, left, and Sunny, 17, at Playa del Rey in Los Angeles. Fusaro is is working on “Silver Hearts,” a photo book of old dogs. She plans to turn proceeds over to rescues that save old dogs and also hopes the book will encourage others to adopt old dogs. —AP

Pet adopters urged to

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unny was 16 when she was left at an animal shelter by the family she had lived with all her life. The 75-pound (34kilogram) bulldog-pit bull mix had cancer and infected eyes, and shelter workers figured the family probably couldn’t handle medical costs. “She was so sad and depressed, lethargic, sick looking. She wouldn’t even lift her head for a treat,” said photographer Lori Fusaro, who was taking pictures of old dogs at the Los Angeles shelter that day in June 2012. Those who rescue and care for old pets say it seems more are being left at shelters for health reasons and more owners are facing personal age or health problems and can’t keep their pets.

Fusaro, 44, had always avoided adopting older dogs because she didn’t think she could handle it when they died. Sunny changed her mind. “No old dog should be left to die alone, unloved and broken-hearted on a concrete slab in a strange place,” she said.

That day, Fusaro adopted Sunny and started making plans for “Silver Hearts,” a photo book of old dogs that she hopes will encourage people to consider such animals. She plans to turn proceeds over to rescue organizations that save aging dogs.

When she took Sunny home, Fusaro figured she had a couple weeks, perhaps months at most. She never imagined Sunny would live long enough to be part of “Silver Hearts.”

But Sunny rebounded and was soon eating, playing and loving trips to the beach. It’s been over a year and Sunny is 17 now.

Fusaro’s book is about 80 percent finished.

She used shelter dogs, dogs of friends, Facebook, Sunny and her other dog Gabby.

To photograph dogs for shelters, Fusaro has to spend time with them, play with them and put them at ease, said Jan Selder, director of field operations for Los Angeles Animals Services.

If people don’t get hooked on the photos,

they won’t come in to the shelter to see any pets, Selder said.

Abby was an old, blind cocker spaniel when animal control found her on the streets of New York seven years ago. At the shelter, she just stood in a corner and barked. She was deemed unadoptable and put on the euthanasia list. An adoption organization took her from the rescue and called foster worker Val Sorensen in Stratford, Conn. At home, Abby stood in place and barked because she didn’t know where to go. It took

three weeks of bumping into walls and doors to learn her way around, find her food, how to get to the backyard and how to get petted.

Sorensen said she had to remember not to leave anything in her path.

“After three weeks, she started wagging her tail. If you open a jar of peanut butter she will come running from the other room,” Sorensen said.

Sorensen jokingly refers to the dog these days as Ancient Abby since she’s between 16 and 17 now. She’s slowly going deaf but she’s

Val Sorensen kissing her 17-year-old dog “Abby,” who is blind and going deaf in Stratford, Conn. Sorensen is co-founder of Wigglebutt Warriors, a fundraiser for rescues.—AP

yet to miss any peanut butter.

Sorensen is co-founder of Wigglebutt Warriors, a fundraiser for rescues. The group’s primary fundraiser in 2014 will benefit Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue in Newington, Virginia, which helps old and special needs cocker spaniels.

“Adopting a dog that is deaf or blind doesn’t mean they won’t still have a great quality of life. I wish more people would adopt older or special needs dogs,” Sorensen said.

Patrice deAvila of Portand, Ore., has always adopted older and medically needy cats Persian cats Murphy and Newton were 6 when she got them two years ago. They came from an abusive home. Murphy had half his tail cut off, which caused neurological and hip problems. Newton, a feral cat, lived behind the stove for nearly three months before he decided to come out. “We are still taking baby steps, but last week, he allowed me to pet him. I hope he can be a lap cat in six months,” she said.

It’s hard to say goodbye to any of them, but every once in a while, you lose a soulmate, she said. For deAvila, that was Oliver, who was with her nearly five years.

“He met me at the door every single time I came home. If I was crying, he would reach up with his paw and touch my tears. He always slept on my shoulder. He had respiratory issues and would snore and snort all the time.

For a long time, I couldn’t sleep because it was so quiet without him,” deAvila said.

She does it because it is the right thing to do, she explained. A kitten will likely get adopted, but the older cats will be put down.

Fusaro agreed, even though the time will come soon when Sunny will break her heart.

“I want her time here to be as happy as it can be. I didn’t want to open my heart for that kind of pain but how much sadder and more horrible for me would it be to leave her at the shelter. It will be terrible to lose her but much worse to leave her to die alone.” —AP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Unusual rock star rabbi roons on Broadway Theater Review

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ure, the sexual revolution was a culture shock for much of American society when it arrived in the 1960s.

But imagine the conflict it posed for a rabbi who was eager to embrace it but had never so much as shaken hands with a woman because of strict social constraints steeped in 3,000 years of religious tradition.

The new Broadway musical “Soul Doctor” examines the life and times - and music - of Shlomo Carlebach in a unique, if plodding, study of a charismatic holy man who finds himself stuck between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.

Carlebach, widely considered to be the modern era’s father of Jewish popular music, makes for a fascinating biographical subject, even if the re-orchestrations of his staid, folksy compositions aren’t quite lively or diverse enough to fill a two-hour, 30-minute musical. The unusual score is lifted somewhat by a couple of pleasing gospel numbers and engaging performances by Eric Anderson in the title role and Amber

Eric Anderson, left, and Amber Iman during a performance of the Broadway musical “Soul Doctor.” — AP

This theater image released by Richard Kornberg & Associates shows Eric Anderson, left, and Amber Iman during a performance of the Broadway musical “Soul Doctor.” — AP

Iman as Nina Simone, one of Carlebach’s biggest influences.

The son of an Orthodox rabbi, Shlomo’s family fled Vienna to escape the Nazis when he was a boy. He came of age in New York and eventually moved to San Francisco, where he established the House of Love and Prayer and his own progressive style as a religious leader.

In eschewing certain aspects of his Orthodox Jewish upbringing, particularly with regard to the intermingling of men and women, he made his message more accessible to the flower child generation but also drew significant backlash from conservative circles.

And he did it all with a smile and guitar slung over his shoulder.

Carlebach, who performed with stars like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and the Grateful Dead, used song and celebrity to spread the Torah to a wider, younger audience. In “Soul Doctor,” a colorful but largely tuneless tribute that opened Thursday at Circle in the Square Theatre, writer-director Daniel S. Wise focuses heavily on Carlebach’s association with the singer, pianist and civil rights activist Simone, who opens Shlomo’s ears to jazz and gospel and encourages him to push the envelope of religious conventions.

The first encounter between the “Rock Star Rabbi” and the “High Priestess of Soul” comes in a chance meeting at a New York jazz club with Simone sitting at the piano. It is one of show’s most memorable and emotionally charged scenes, with the two forming a bond while singing and trading horror stories about

the Holocaust and racism.

It’s hard to know how much of this portrait is pure embellishment, but it seems to contain large parts of both factual biography and historical fiction.

Wise’s Carlebach is steadily saintly and heroic with only faint hints of character flaws or ambiguities.

In the lead role, Anderson (Broadway casts of “Kinky Boots” and “South Pacific”) displays a formidable presence and beard - with a disarming mix of placid shyness and childlike bursts of kinetic energy. He also played Carlebach in last year’s production of “Soul Doctor” at off-Broadway’s New York Theater Workshop, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for best lead actor in musical.

Thanks to a strong, textured voice, the burly Anderson makes the most of his vocal numbers despite the score’s mostly muted melodies, as well as the threat of being upstaged when sharing the spotlight with his lovely and talented co-star.

Amber Iman makes her Broadway debut as Nina Simone, oozing with effervescence and consistently thrilling the audience with her sterling voice and glamorous costumes. She deepens her timbre and tweaks her articulation just enough to recall Simone’s distinctive style of speech, without stooping to parody.

Iman has terrific chemistry with her leading man and leaves the audience wanting to see more of her, in part because she makes only sporadic appearances in Wise’s book, which is devoted to covering the entire span of Carlebach’s life.

And what a span it is, beginning with his childhood in Vienna under the shadow of Nazi domination and progressing through the rocking ‘50s in New York and the trippy ‘60 and ‘70s in San Francisco, before a triumphant return to Europe and a late-life pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The brief adventures of young Shlomo (played on a recent night by Teddy Walsh and in alternating performances by Ethan Khusidman) provide a welcome dose of vitality to a script that tends to drag in sections and is loaded with plenty of stodgy Jewish humor.

Early in his career, when asked by record producer if he knew of Peter, Paul and Mary, Shlomo responds sheepishly, “I don’t know so much the New Testament.” Absent in this production is Circle in the Square’s familiar theater-inthe-round configuration and the usual “thrust” stage surrounded on all sides by stadium seating.

Instead, the stage is pushed to one side of the theater, with a section of floor seats in its place. The problem is many of the seats along the rounded periphery don’t directly face the stage, forcing the people sitting in them to crane their necks just a bit.

“Soul Doctor” should please Carlebach devotees and, for the uninitiated, the details of his exceptional life will stir enough curiosity to send them to Google for more. But despite the spectacular life journey of this socio-religious phenomenon, the use of his solemn hymns as the basis for musical theater is at best an ambitious, if godly, pursuit. — AP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Kate to attend

first public event since royal birth

Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson’s former wife and mother of two of his children, leaves Los Angeles County Superior Court after testifying in the negligence lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, against AEG Live, in Los Angeles. —AP

Jackson’s ex-wife says med visits concerned her

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rince William’s wife Kate will next month attend her first public engagement since giving birth, when she takes part in a charity event with her husband, the palace said on Thursday.

William is a patron of the wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust and the couple are expected to attend its awards ceremony on September 12, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Kate, 31, has not been seen in public since the couple left St Mary’s Hospital in London with their new son, Prince George, who was born on July 22.

She was expected to keep a low profile for several months so she could spend time with her baby away from the cameras. William, who is second in line to the throne, has made several public appearances since the birth.

On Wednesday he revealed that he is leaving his job as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in Wales, though he did not say where he was going or whether he would be staying with the Royal Air Force.

At an agricultural show on the Welsh island of Anglesey, close to his air base, he said his family would be moving “elsewhere” when his three-year tour of duty finishes next month.

Reflecting on his first weeks of fatherhood, he joked to the crowds: “I have to say that I thought search and rescue duties over Snowdonia were physically and mentally demanding, but looking after a three week-old baby is up there!”

He described his son, who is third in line to the throne, as “pretty loud but of course very good-looking”. — AFP

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ichael Jackson’s ex-wife acknowledged Thursday that she was concerned that some of his frequent medical visits were motivated more by a desire for drugs than by the treatments he received.

Debbie Rowe testified during the trial of a lawsuit that she told Jackson about her concerns when he would go to his longtime dermatologist more than once a week in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Rowe worked in the office of the dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein.

“I didn’t understand why he would come in twice in one week,” Rowe said, adding that she was concerned he might be in search of drugs rather than treatments for blemishes with collagen injections. “I didn’t necessarily see what he wanted to have done.”

Rowe has offered a conflicting portrait of Jackson’s medical treatments during her testimony, saying earlier that she never saw him engage in doctor shopping or request specific pain medications. She said many of the visits were legitimately tied to treatments for the skin-lightening condition vitiligo and scars he sustained after being burned during a Pepsi commercial shoot.

Rowe, clutching a tissue and breaking down at times, described Jackson as suffering debilitating pain throughout the nearly 20 years that the pair were close friends.

She said her husband trusted his doctors and depended on them to give him proper medications.

“When it came to the pain ... it was more begging for relief than anything,” Rowe said. “He respected doctors so he wouldn’t

question what they were doing.” Rowe is the mother of the singer’s two oldest children, Prince and Paris Jackson. She and the pop star were married from 1996 to 1999.

She is testifying in a lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother against AEG Live LLC, the promoter of Jackson’s ill-fated “This Is It” comeback concerts.

Rowe hugged Katherine Jackson and held her hand during a break in testimony.

Rowe was called to the witness stand by AEG Live attorneys but told the jury on Wednesday that she was not testifying for either side and wouldn’t have come to court if she hadn’t received a subpoena.

Jackson’s scalp was badly burned when his hair caught on fire while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial. The injuries left his scalp with painful scarring that required surgeries and injections of medications to try to lessen the pain and repair the damage.

Rowe said the injuries as well as the effects of vitiligo left Jackson feeling like he was disfigured. The singer was forced to wear wigs and de-pigment his skin and struggled to deal with the effects while in the public eye.

On another matter, Rowe said Jackson was devastated by his divorce from Lisa Marie Presley and because he didn’t have any children. Rowe said she told him they should have a baby together.

By that time, she and Jackson had been friends for more than a decade, with Rowe holding the singer’s hand as he received injections for numerous medical procedures and talking with him several times a week.

“I wanted him to be a father,” she said. “I

wanted him to have everything he didn’t have growing up. I wanted him to experience it with his own child, with his own children.”

Rowe broke down when describing her recent relationship with her daughter Paris.

She said she had been in daily touch with the teen until she had to be hospitalized on June 5, when paramedics were summoned to the Jackson family home in Calabasas.

Paris, 15, took Motrin pills and cut her arm with a kitchen knife, according to emergency dispatchers.

Rowe was asked how Jackson’s death had affected his only daughter. “She is devastated,” Rowe said. “She tried to kill herself.

She is devastated. She has no life. She doesn’t feel she has a life anymore.”

Jackson family representatives have not provided an update or publicly classified her hospitalization as a suicide attempt.

Jurors have heard from her older brother, Prince, but have only seen Paris through a couple clips of her deposition and have heard references to her struggling with her father’s death.

Katherine Jackson claims in her lawsuit that AEG Live failed to properly investigate the doctor later convicted of giving her son an overdose of the anesthetic propofol while he prepared for a series of comeback shows in 2009.

AEG denies it hired Conrad Murray or bears any responsibility for the singer’s death. Marvin S. Putnam, the company’s lead defense attorney, said in opening statements that the case was about Jackson’s personal choices and his desire to use propofol as a sleep aid. — AP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

‘The Butler’:

Is the Civil Rights drama a masterpiece or maudlin?

“L ee Daniels’ The Butler” is already generating Oscar buzz ahead of its Friday release. Strong reviews for the movie should help its case with Academy members and viewers looking for a reprieve from summer blockbuster fare. The movie focuses on a quiet White House butler who serves the most powerful men in the free world under eight presidential administrations, examining the Civil Rights movement and changing attitudes towards social and political equality in the process.

Some critics have carped that the film is overly didactic and complained that Daniels’ direction lacks subtlety, but the performances of stars Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey have earned high marks.

Titled “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” in a concession to a dragged out title dispute with Warner Bros., the film has earned a sterling 79 percent “fresh” rating on the critics aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Of course, not everyone was feeling the love.

TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde praised the acting and admired the film’s ambition, but groused that it was over-stuffed and emotionally bombastic. The culprit, he wrote, is a fierce desire by the filmmakers to hear their names called after an envelope is opened and the words “and the winner is...” are intoned.

“Where the movie falls apart is in its desire to deliver Oscarclip money shots; I counted three or four occasions where the score by Rodrigo Le„o wells up for what’s supposed to be a ‘cry now’ moment, but the intended sweep just isn’t there,” Duralde wrote. Yes it suffers from a case of Oscar-itis, Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly wrote, but the actors and the scenes of Whitaker’s domestic clashes with his restless son and alcoholic wife give the film its lift. “‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ is an ambitious, sweeping period drama that manages to be incredibly affecting and feel as if the words “For Your Consideration” are stamped across every frame,” Nashawaty wrote.

In the New York Times, A.O. Scott praised the film for its exuberance, even as he noted that it was history painted in neon with dabs of humor and pageantry mixed in. That tone, he implied, helped rescue the film from being overly instructional.

“The history of racism in America, and of efforts to overcome it, is usually addressed by Hollywood with a solemn, anxious, churchly hush and flattened into a tableau of villains and saints,” Scott wrote. “Mr. Daniels and the screenwriter, Danny Strong, understand that both the horror and the heroism are connected with everything else that makes America such a complicated, interesting, appalling and glorious place: our politics, our popular culture, our deepest desires and our simplest habits. Making the topic safe and boring is no good for anyone.”

Jocelyn Noveck of the Associated Press opined that some performers failed to rise to the challenge-Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower proved a particular distraction-but wrote that the film works because of the dynamic between Whitaker and his rebellious son (David Oyelowo).

“Their relationship gives structure to the broad story of civil rights in America - a story crucial to tell, and crucial to hear,” Noveck wrote. “Daniels and company may not have made a masterpiece, but they have made a film you should see.”— Reuters

Fans pose with cardboard versions of Zayn Malik and Harry Styles during the opening of a temporary store selling merchandising of British-Irish boy band One Direction yesterday, at the Waasland Shopping Center in Sint-Niklaas. The shopping center issued extra security to receive the band’s fans. — AFP

‘The Butler’ star-studded cast highlighted in film’s poster.

Wrecker’s ball menaces French village churches N

eo-Gothic and solidly 19th century, the church of Sainte-Gemmesd’Andigne in western France stands as a testament to a long-gone village way of life.

The limestone church with its fourbay nave and high stained glass windows towers above the village, now home to just a fraction of the people it was built to serve in 1865 when an earlier one on the same site was deemed too small.

Nearly a century-and-a-half on and the fall in church attendances combined with migration to cities and the soaring cost of maintenance has put the future of such churches in jeopardy, leading some to think the once unthinkable.

After grappling with the thorny problem of the up to 1.5-million-euro- ($1.9 million-) cost of repairs, Mayor JeanClaude Taulnay has proposed that the nave be pulled down and instead replaced with a circular concrete building that would adjoin the old church tower. The idea has horrified many of Sainte-Gemmes-d’Andigne’s 1,500 inhabitants who say it will tear the heart out of the village in France’s Maine-etLoire region and leave it permanently scarred.

“The whole of the nave could disappear!” Benoit Patier, president of the association formed to save the church, told AFP. “Restoring the church would cost between 1.2 and 1.5 million euros (but) the mayor’s project would cost 2.7 mil-

lion euros. Keeping the church would be half as expensive,” he said.

“We don’t understand,” added Christian Boullais, the association’s vice president. The plight of the villagers is far from an isolated one. Across France, five such Catholic churches have already fallen victim to the wrecker’s ball since the start of the year.

Historian Philippe Boutry says nearly all France’s churches of special historic, architectural or artistic interest are already “classified” and that others that do not fall into the same category have no official protection.

“The style of these churches-neoGothic, neo-Roman, neo-Byzantine or modern in the style of the 1930s or 1950s don’t resonate with contemporary sensibilities,” he said.

For now, to the relief of villagers at Sainte-Gemmes-d’Andigne, the state has intervened, initiating a process that could lead to the church being given a classification that protects it from demolition.

Villages ‘disfigured’ by church demolitions — In the meantime any attempt to pull it down is effectively frozen for one year-to the frustration of Mayor Taulnay, who declined to comment on the subject to AFP. “The mayor is now threatening us with a lawsuit,” said Isabelle Marechal, head of heritage at the Culture Ministry, adding however, that the state cannot classify every church.

France has around 45,000 parish

churches, 35 percent of which were built in the 19th century and do not fall into any protected category.

“Mayors are drawing the wrong conclusion that they can demolish them,” she said. But with only 4.5 percent of French people attending church regularly, the problem of how local authorities will foot the bill for maintaining such churches is unlikely to go away.

For their part, French Catholic church leaders have largely shied away from confrontation.

Among those criticised for failing to take a stand on the issue is the Bishop of Angers, Emmanuel Delmas, in whose diocese two churches dating from the 1860s-Saint-Aubin du Pavoil and SaintPierre-aux-Liens de Geste-have just been demolished.

Elsewhere, three other churches have also been pulled down: Saint-Blaise in Auvergne; Saint-Pie X in Herault; and Saint-Jacques d’Abbeville in Picardy.

However, churches at Plounerin in Brittany and Lumbres in the Pas-deCalais have been saved while at Arc-SurTille in Burgundy, the local mayor was kicked out by voters over a planned demolition project.

According to opponents, demolitions endanger not just the individual buildings but also the traditional image of French villages. “A village that has had its church demolished is disfigured,” said Jean-Louis Hannebert, of the Society for the Protection of French Landscape and Aesthetics.—AFP

technology

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

In the cloud, an often hazy grasp of security risks LOS ANGELES: When Thomas Trappler talks clouds, companies listen. But he’s not warning about rain. Rather, Trappler is a “cloud” consultant, who tells attorneys, executives and fellow information technology experts what to look out for when they put company databases in the so-called cloud. As more companies rely on remote cloud servers to store their files, Trappler has become a highly sought-after security adviser, a celebrity of sorts in the rapidly growing cloud computing industry.

“No one’s teaching people about this,” Trappler said. “At the moment, I don’t think there are very many people like me.”

Trappler is the director of software licens-

ing at UCLA - a job that opened the door to his lucrative moonlighting. For years, he had been buying licenses for programs, such as Microsoft Office, so that UCLA faculty, students and staff could use them. But the rules started to change five years ago as these programs moved into the cloud, turning into apps such as Office 365.

Trappler studied until he became a go-to expert nationwide.

“It’s easy to overlook security because of the virtual nature of the cloud, but really your data is going over the Internet to another computer and not to some magical world where everything’s going to be fine,” he said. The $40 billion cloud indus-

try, as measured by the research firm IDC, is attractive to companies. By transferring files via the Internet to a hard drive located in a data center or server farm, users can access the data from any Internet-connected device. Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. is one of the largest data center providers, housing data on behalf of thousands of companies including Netflix Inc., Dropbox Inc. and Autodesk Inc. Other large cloud providers are Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Rackspace Inc. What troubles Trappler is that not every company considers security issues before agreeing to bounce consumers’ data onto the cloud services. Half of companies surveyed in December by

Ponemon Institute, an independent research firm, reported that they had not taken security risks into account when striking cloud deals.

“What most of us are used to is ‘I buy it, I maintain it,’” Trappler said. “If something’s broken, I can beat on someone’s door down the hall and get them to fix it.” Now “it” and “someone” are far away. “And the question is, how do I ensure they do it right,” Trappler said. With spies after trade secrets, hackers out to steal sensitive financial information and the federal government demanding online communications records, the threats are as prominent and varied as they have ever been.— MCT

Microsoft to roll out Windows 8.1 CALIFORNIA: Microsoft will roll out the first major update for Windows 8 nearly a year after the operating system made its debut. Windows 8.1 will be available to existing Windows 8 users as a free update that they can download from the Windows Store starting at 4 am PDT on Oct 17. The update will also be available at retail stores the next day. “Windows 8.1 continues the vision we began with Windows 8 and is an example of our commitment to continuous innovation and improvement for our customers,” Microsoft said in a blog announcing the release date.

Among the changes in the new version of the Microsoft operating system is a search feature powered

by Bing that shows users results from their own files as well as links and information on the Web. Users will also have more customization options in Windows 8.1.

On the Start Screen, users will be able to choose animated images for their backgrounds or use any of their pictures for their backgrounds - as opposed to just color backgrounds.

They will also be able to set up slide shows for their lock screens, rather than just a static image. Other changes include a new version of Internet Explorer, files saving to the SkyDrive cloud storage service by default, and overall quicker performance. Eager users can sign up to try an early, preview version of Windows 8.1 now. “It’s very exciting to be delivering Windows 8.1 to consumers just before Windows 8 celebrates its one-year anniversary,” Microsoft said.— MCT

LIMA: A man controls a drone (unmanned vehicle) in Lima. This remote control vehicles, popularly known as ‘drones’, begin to formally sail the skies of Peru with scientific purposes to conduct research in agriculture and archeology. — AFP

In Peru, drones used for agriculture, archeology Unmanned aircrafts monitor crops, study ancient ruins LIMA: Drones are most often associated with assassinations in remote regions of Pakistan and Yemen but in Peru, unmanned aircraft are being used to monitor crops and study ancient ruins. Forget Reapers and Predators-the drones used here are hand-held contraptions that look like they were assembled in a garage with gear from a hardware store.

They are equipped with a microcomputer, a GPS tracker, a compass, cameras and an altimeter, and can be easily programmed by using Google Maps to fly autonomously and return to base with vital data.

“These aircraft are small in size, are equipped with high-precision video or photo cameras and go virtually unnoticed in the sky,” said Andres Flores, an electrical engineer in charge of the UAV program at Peru’s Catholic University. Flores

heads a multidisciplinary team brainstorming the best ways to use drones for civilian purposes.

“Up to now we have managed to use them for agricultural purposes, where they gather information on the health of the plants, and in archeology, to better understand the characteristics of each site and their extensions,” Flores said. One UAV model built by Catholic University engineers is made with light balsa wood and carbon fiber.

At a glance the devices look like souped-up hand-held glider. One limitation is that these drones must fly below the clouds. If not their instruments, especially the cameras, could fail, said Aurelio Rodriguez, who is both an aerial model-maker and archeologist.

MAPPING ANCIENT CITIES Some of the earliest human set-

tlements in the Americas are found in Peru. There are thousands of archeological sites, many unexplored, dotting the Peruvian landscape, most of them pre-dating the Incas, a major civilization which was defeated by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Along the dry coastline, where the main construction material was adobe brick, whole societies flourished. After centuries of abandon some of these ancient cities have deteriorated to the point that they are hard to distinguish in the sandy, hilly region.

Archeologist Luis Jaime Castillo is using drones to help map the 1,300 year-old Moche civilization around San Idelfonso and San Jose del Moro, two sites on the Peruvian coast north of Lima.

“We can convert the images that the drones provide into topographical and photogrammetry data to

build three-dimensional models,” Castillo said. “By using the pictures taken by drones we can see walls, patios, the fabric of the city.”

Separately, Hildo Loayza, a physicist with the Lima-based International Potato Center, is perfecting ways to apply drone technology to agriculture. “The drones allow us to resolve problems objectively, while people do it subjectively,” he said.

“In agriculture drones allow us to observe a larger cultivation area and estimate the health of the plants and the growth of the crops.

The cameras aboard the drones provide us with 500 pieces of hightechnology data, while with the human eye one can barely collect ten,” Loayza said. Precise, high-quality images allow experts to measure the amount of sunlight the plants are getting, and study plant problems like stress from heat, drought

or lack of nutrients, he said. Other potential civilian drone use, Flores said, includes closely observing areas of natural disasters or studying urban traffic patterns.

In the thick Amazon jungle, where access by ground is often extremely difficult, drones can be used to study wild animals. “Every time an animal goes by, it can snap a picture,” said Flores. There are no laws in Peru regulating the civilian use of drones, which allows advocates to push for all kinds of projects. Their use in urban surveillance, however, could be seen as an invasion of privacy. While experts are still dreaming up new ways to use the aircraft, security officials do use drones for military and police intelligence purposes, especially in Peru’s rugged and remote valleys where coca-the source plant for cocaine-is grown. — AFP

technology

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

With balloons and fiber, Google experiments in Web access SAN FRANCISCO: From sending solar-powered balloons into the stratosphere to offering free Wi-Fi in parks, Google is quietly spending hundreds of millions of dollars on nascent Internet services that may one day challenge the telecom and cable companies. In recent months, Google Inc has announced plans to bring free wireless Internet access to 7,000 Starbucks cafes across America, eventually displacing AT&T Inc; it has asked US regulators for broader access to wireless airwaves; and it has launched 30 solar-powered balloons over the South Pacific ocean, designed to beam the Internet to remote regions.

Then there is Google Fiber, the highspeed cable TV and Internet service that was introduced in Kansas City late last year and that will be expanded soon to Austin and Provo, Utah. Fiber delivers Internet speeds at 1 gigabit per second, as much as 100 times faster than the average US network. Google is happy with customer

responses in Kansas so far and may roll Google Fiber out to a few more US cities, according to several people close to the project.

“Fiber is considered the golden child right now within Google because of its disruptive nature and the applause that they get from the communities using it,” said a former member of Google Access, a group headed by Vice President Milo Medin, who drives the company’s Internet access projects. Medin, a networking industry veteran who founded the seminal @Home cable broadband network in the 1990s, leads a few hundred employees. The group operates autonomously with its own engineering, finance and marketing units, according to the source.

As Google delivers more music, videos and other content to mobile devices, it has become increasingly invested in ensuring it gets the bandwidth it needs. Web access projects like Fiber could help Google grow

revenues beyond its maturing search business, and give it more insight into consumers’ online habits, crucial to making ads more effective. But Google would be venturing into territory far afield from its traditional strengths and margins may suffer as a result, analysts said. The company would also be competing against well-established Internet service providers, such as AT&T or Time Warner Cable Inc. Content providers have clashed with distributors in the past. For instance, Netflix Inc, which streams billions of hours of video every month, has accused cable company Comcast Corp of giving its own content preferential treatment. The future of US federal regulations that forbid Internet service providers from blocking or slowing another company’s online offerings are currently up in the air, with Verizon Communications Inc challenging the rules in court. “Users want more speed. They don’t want artificial ceilings imposed on

what’s possible on the Web,” said Kevin Lo, general manager of Google Access. Lo said Google was pleased with the customer response to Fiber in Kansas City so far, but he declined to give details such as subscriber numbers, financial goals, or expansion plans.

Building high-speed networks is a cumbersome process that requires tearing up streets and working with local governments to get access to utility poles and approvals. Given Fiber’s small footprint and the limited amount of online services that actually need such high bandwidth today, the immediate threat to cable and telecom companies may be limited, according to some industry observers.

Time Warner Cable President Rob Marcus said in April he believed Google Fiber “passed” only 4,000 homes in Kansas City at the time. “The number of defections we’ve seen is de minimis at this point,” Marcus said. — Reuters

Google Glass sees all- and that raises privacy concerns Critics view Glass as an invasive new technology

PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (center) inspects the production process of the new touch-screen mobile phone ‘Arirang’ at the May 11 factory.—AFP

Skepticism as N Korea shows its smartphone SEOUL: North Korea’s announcement that it is mass producing a home-grown smartphone has been met with skepticism in the tech industry in South Korea and abroad. The North’s state media last week showed leader Kim Jong Un inspecting “Arirang” phones at a Pyongyang factory. The Korean Central News Agency’s Aug 10 report said the factory began manufacturing smartphones “a few days ago” and they were already in high demand.

North Korea has promoted the development of science and technology as a means of improving its moribund economy. It says it developed a tablet computer last year and has its own Red Star operating system. But access to the global Internet is severely restricted and mobile phones used on the state authorized network cannot make overseas calls. The North’s Intranet gives access to government sanctioned sites and works with its own browsers, search engine and email programs, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry. Factory workers in photos released by the state news agency are inspecting and testing finished phones but no manufacturing is shown, said tech expert Martyn Williams on the northkoreatech.org blog. “Despite KCNA’s reporting that the handsets are made at the factory, they are probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer,” said Williams, who writes for PC World and other publications. South Korean computer experts say North Korea is strong enough in software technology to have launched cyberattacks that disrupted banking and government websites in the South but it lags in hardware capabilities behind South Korea.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and the Korean Peninsula remains technically at war. Since then, the South has prospered and produced giant corporations such as Samsung Electronics Co, which is the world’s biggest maker of smartphones, computer memory chips and displays. The North’s economy has languished under socialist central planning though the capital Pyongyang is an oasis of relative affluence.— AP

SAN FRANCISCO: On a recent afternoon, Homer Gaines hiked with girlfriend Tami Stillwell to the gusty peak of Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay, bent down on one knee and slipped a topaz and whitesapphire ring on her finger, capturing the entire marriage proposal on a computerized device that he was wearing like a pair of glasses.

Gaines, a 41-year-old Web developer from Fort Myers, Fla is one of 10,000 “explorers” testing Glass, the much talked about hands-free wearable computing device from Google that lets users take photos and videos, make phone calls, send and receive text messages, search the Internet and get turn-by-turn directions.

“I would not have been able to pull off that level of spontaneity with any other device and instantly share it with the world,” Gaines said. “Glass gave me the ability to share with everyone that special moment from my point of view - the surprise on her face, the way she jumped around, the ring on her finger and the tears of joy in her eyes.”

Glass won’t be widely available for purchase until early next year, but it’s one of the most anticipated new technologies in years. The question many are asking: Can Google make digital goggles the world’s next must-have gadget? As Google sees it, Glass is a revolutionary new way to quickly and effortlessly connect people with information.

Critics view Glass as an invasive new technology that - if it takes off - could rob people of what few shreds of privacy they have left. Lawmakers are alarmed by the privacy implications and have begun asking pointed questions of Google. And some commercial establishments - most notably casinos and bars - have already banned Glass. Google is downplaying the privacy and security risks, assuring the public that it will not permit facial recognition apps (or porn apps, for that matter).

Google says it’s obvious when someone is taking pictures or recording a video on Glass.

But some developers have already built

a way to get around Google: an alternative operating system that runs on Glass but is not controlled by Google. One developer is making a facial recognition app that will help users remember the hundreds of people they have met and should recognize but don’t. That in-your-face quality of Glass could wake up more people to their ever shrinking privacy in the rapidly advancing digital age, University of Washington law professor Ryan Calo said.

Not only will people be more keenly aware that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public, Glass and devices like it could make it easier for government authorities to gain access to everything they see and record without a warrant, he said. And, with a warrant, the government might even be able to remotely turn on Glass’ video recording capability without the user’s knowledge, the way it has done with OnStar systems in cars, Calo said. To counter that kind of growing apprehension, Google is trying to make the new technology seem as normal as possible. Google co-founder Sergey Brin constantly has a pair perched on his nose. He has worn Glass to the Oscars, to the TED conference, in the Hollywood film “The Internship,” and last year he stole the show at Google’s annual developers conference by wearing Glass. His cohort, Google Chief Executive and co-founder Larry Page, recently sported a pair as a groomsman in a wedding ceremony in Croatia. And he talked up Glass as the future of technology during Google’s second-quarter earnings conference call with analysts.

Still, even inside the high-tech industry, some aren’t too keen on Glass. Los Angeles technology entrepreneur and investor Jason Calacanis has asked friends to remove Glass in his presence, banned Glass from poker games and coined a new term to describe what he feels like doing when he spots Glass wearers: “Glass-kicking.”

And Glass hasn’t been able to ditch what could be its true Achilles’ heel: its dorky image. Labeled “Segway for your face,” it has become the butt of jokes on

late-night television and on the Internet.

Not only have Glass wearers been subjected to public ridicule for looking “glassed out,” they are referred to as a cross between Glass and a curse word. Google is the first to admit that Glass is not quite ready for prime time, with widely reported glitches. The battery drains quickly (but also charges quickly).

The capabilities are still very limited, with only a smattering of apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. And some complain that it’s not easy to hear notifications or phone calls with the bone conduction speaker. Perhaps the most glaring omission: A way for the 64 percent of the US population who wears glasses to use Glass. Google has made a prototype of prescription frames designed to be compatible with Glass and said the company will release specifications for frames manufacturers.

“We still have bumps in the road and obstacles,” Glass product director Steve Lee said. “Right now, you need to be an early adopter who is excited about the technology.” Glass is the first major product from Google X, the company’s supersecretive research laboratory for “moonshots,” big scientific bets such as self-driving cars. The lab is located in two nondescript brick buildings about a half-mile from Google’s Mountain View, Calif., campus. A row of electric cars - including Teslas - is parked and charged out front.

In a conference room inside Google X, Lee showed off an early prototype of Glass: safety glasses with a Nexus One smartphone attached to the right temple and the phone’s battery attached to the left. The device clearly didn’t win any style points and was not terribly comfortable (“guaranteed to give you a headache in 10 minutes,” Lee said). Over the last three years, Google has dramatically refined Glass. The latest incarnation weighs about the same as a pair of normal glasses and is more attractive and less obtrusive.

To keep careful watch over every detail, Google turned to Foxconn to manufacture Glass near its campus but won’t disclose the exact location. — MCT

TV listings

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

05:50 Alli Presents 06:40 World Combat League 07:30 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2008 08:00 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 09:00 Ticket to Ride 2010/11 10:40 Cape Epic 12:20 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 14:00 Carpocalypse 14:50 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 15:40 Sports Jobs 17:20 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 18:10 Clay Marzo: Just Add Water 19:00 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 19:50 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 21:30 Carpocalypse 22:20 Clay Marzo: Just Add Water

00:45 I Was Bitten 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 02:25 Big Five Challenge 03:15 Worst Shark Attack Ever: Ocean Of Fear 04:55 The Snake Buster 05:20 Shamwari: A Wild Life 05:45 Bondi Vet 06:35 Call Of The Wildman 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 08:15 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 09:10 Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous...

10:05 Escape To Chimp Eden 10:30 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 11:00 Bondi Vet 11:25 Natural Born Hunters 11:55 Wild France 12:50 Queens Of The Savannah 15:35 Wildwives Of Savannah Lane 16:30 Wildwives Of Savannah Lane 18:20 Nick Baker’s Beautiful Freaks 19:15 South Georgia: Life Under The Furious 50 20:10 Predator’s Playground 21:05 Into The Pride 22:00 My Cat From Hell 22:55 My Pet’s Gone Viral 23:20 My Pet’s Gone Viral 23:50 Untamed & Uncut

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 06:00 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 10:20 11:10 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00

00:05 00:30 01:00 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:45 18:35 19:00 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 United Tastes Of America 01:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:35 Food Wars 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Unique Eats 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 08:40 Cooking For Real 10:20 Tyler’s Ultimate 10:45 Tyler’s Ultimate 12:00 Staten Island Cakes 12:50 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Reza’s African Kitchen 15:45 Charly’s Cake Angels 16:10 Charly’s Cake Angels 16:35 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 17:25 Food Wars 17:50 Food Wars 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 22:00 Food Wars 22:25 Food Wars 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

Fast N’ Loud Overhaulin’ 2012 Fifth Gear Mythbusters Auction Kings Auction Hunters Auction Kings How Do They Do It? How It’s Made American Guns Head Games Dynamo: Magician Impossible Mythbusters Hillbilly Handfishin’ Top Hooker River Monsters Destroyed In Seconds Destroyed In Seconds Aircrash Confidential Overhaulin’ 2012 Gold Divers Alaska: The Last Frontier Sons Of Guns Auction Kings

The Tech Show Mean Green Machines Mighty Ships The Gadget Show The Tech Show Cosmic Collisions James May’s Man Lab Storm Chasers The Gadget Show The Tech Show Finding Bigfoot Mean Green Machines The Gadget Show The Tech Show James May’s Man Lab Brave New World Scrapheap Challenge Alien Mysteries What Is That?

How Stuff’s Made James May’s Man Lab Storm Chasers The Gadget Show The Tech Show James May’s Man Lab Storm Chasers The Gadget Show

00:45 Ultimate Cars 01:10 A Racing Car Is Born 01:35 Hell On High Water 02:30 Welcome To India 03:25 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India 04:20 Into The Unknown With Josh

THE IRON LADY ON OSN CINEMA Bernstein 05:10 Trashopolis 06:05 Discovery Atlas: France Revealed 07:00 Joanna Lumley’s Nile 07:50 Joanna Lumley’s Nile 08:45 Joanna Lumley’s Nile 09:35 Animal Armageddon 10:30 Animal Armageddon 11:20 Ultimate Cars 11:45 A Racing Car Is Born 12:10 Ultimate Cars 12:35 A Racing Car Is Born 13:05 Ultimate Cars 13:30 A Racing Car Is Born 13:55 I Shouldn’t Be Alive 14:50 I Shouldn’t Be Alive 15:45 Secrets Of...

16:40 Welcome To India 17:35 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India 18:25 Treasure Quest 19:20 The Aviators 19:45 The Aviators 20:10 Guns: The Men Who Made Them 21:05 Danger Hunters 22:00 Secrets Of...

22:55 The Aviators 23:20 The Aviators 23:50 Guns: The Men Who Made Them

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:20

Hannah Montana Hannah Montana Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Replacements Replacements Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers

03:45 04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:30 06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:40 10:45 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:10 16:15 16:35 17:00 17:20 17:45 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:50

Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Replacements Replacements Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates A.N.T Farm A.N.T Farm Jessie That’s So Raven That’s So Raven Dog With A Blog Shake It Up Jessie Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Teen Beach Movie First Look Bolt A.N.T Farm Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Austin And Ally That’s So Raven That’s So Raven A.N.T Farm Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Jessie Teen Beach Movie First Look Jessie A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Austin And Ally Austin And Ally That’s So Raven That’s So Raven That’s So Raven Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm

21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25

That’s So Raven Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up A.N.T Farm

00:30 Opening Act 01:30 E!es 02:00 Live From The Red Carpet 05:00 E!es 06:00 THS 08:00 E! News 08:55 THS 09:20 Married To Jonas 09:45 Married To Jonas 10:15 THS 12:05 Ice Loves Coco 12:35 Ice Loves Coco 13:05 Giuliana & Bill 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 E!es 16:00 THS 18:00 E! News 19:00 THS 20:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:00 Live From The Red Carpet

00:00 00:50 01:40 02:05 02:30 03:20 04:10 05:00

TNA: Greatest Matches M1 Selection 2010 Dr Danger Dr Danger World Combat League TNA: Greatest Matches M1 Selection 2010 Alli Presents

00:15 00:45 01:10 01:40 02:05 02:35 03:00 03:30 03:55 08:30 09:00 09:55 10:20 10:50 11:15 11:45 12:10 12:40 13:05 13:35 14:00 15:50 16:20 16:45 17:15 18:10 18:35 19:05 22:55 23:50

Market Values My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet Eat Street Delinquent Gourmet Don’t Tell My Mother Deadliest Journeys Finding Genghis Bondi Rescue Danger Beach Scam City Street Food Around The World Market Values My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet Eat Street Earth Tripping Don’t Tell My Mother Deadliest Journeys Finding Genghis Bondi Rescue Danger Beach Maverick Chef Eat Street Scam City Street Food Around The World Market Values Bondi Rescue Mega Food Eat Street

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00

Inside Touching The Dragon Mystery Caves Of Guangxi Shark Men Hunter Hunted Blowdown Big, Bigger, Biggest World’s Toughest Fixes Inside Touching The Dragon Mystery Caves Of Guangxi Shark Men Hunter Hunted Blowdown Big, Bigger, Biggest

15:00 World’s Toughest Fixes 16:00 Inside 17:00 Journey To The Edge Of The Universe 19:00 Naked Science 20:00 Alaska Wing Men 21:00 Inside World War II 22:00 Banged Up Abroad 23:00 Ultimate Disaster

00:20 01:10 02:00 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55

Wild Nights The Phantom Cat Aerial Assasins World’s Deadliest Killer Three Man vs Monster Dangerous Encounters Camera Trap Monster Fish Fish Tank Kings Search For The Giant Octopus World’s Deadliest Killer Three How Big Can It Get Cameramen Who Dare Hooked American Eagle

06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:20 07:45 08:10 08:35 08:45 09:00 Ninja 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:00 16:15 16:40 17:05 Ninja 17:15 Ninja 17:30 17:55 18:20 18:45 18:55 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 Ninja 21:15 21:40 22:05 22:35 23:00

Kid vs Kat American Dragon Kickin It Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Lab Rats Lab Rats Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 07:45 10:30 12:15 13:45 16:30 18:15 20:00 22:00 23:45

Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines-18 Virtuosity-PG15 Meteor Storm-PG15 Ice Quake-PG15 The Da Vinci Code-PG15 Riddle-PG15 Pizza Man-PG The Da Vinci Code-PG15 Superman vs. The Elite-PG15 Pizza Man-PG Broken Path-PG15 Nitro Circus: The Movie-PG15 Hell-18

Max Steel Slugterra Crash & Bernstein Kickin It Lab Rats Pair Of Kings Lab Rats Max Steel Kickin It Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Crash & Bernstein Pair Of Kings Lab Rats Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Scaredy Squirrel I’m In The Band Crash & Bernstein Zeke & Luther Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Phineas And Ferb Almost Naked Animals Rekkit Rabbit Scaredy Squirrel Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

01:15 The Iron Lady-PG15 03:15 Dreamgirls-PG15 05:30 The Wild Thornberrys Movie-PG 07:15 Sammy’s Adventure: The Secret Passage-FAM 09:00 The Iron Lady-PG15 11:00 Horrid Henry-PG 13:00 The Wishing Well-PG15 15:00 Web Of Lies-PG15 17:00 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom-PG 19:00 Summer Coda-PG15 21:00 The Devil Inside-18 23:00 Meet Monica Velour-R

TV listings

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

The Daily Show The Colbert Report Web Therapy The Neighbors Friends How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Hope & Faith The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Hope & Faith The War At Home Arrested Development Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Hope & Faith Hope & Faith How I Met Your Mother Go On Happy Endings Arrested Development The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The War At Home Hope & Faith Hope & Faith Arrested Development How I Met Your Mother Go On Happy Endings The Daily Show The Colbert Report The War At Home Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Ben And Kate Ben And Kate Community Happy Endings The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Daily Show The Colbert Report Saturday Night Live The Ricky Gervais Show

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Good Morning America American Idol Good Morning America Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Necessary Roughness Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Survivor: Philippines The Bachelor Supernatural Live Good Morning America Survivor: Philippines Necessary Roughness The Bachelor Survivor: Philippines Once Upon A Time The Bachelor Glee American Idol

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Revenge One Tree Hill Sons Of Anarchy Homeland Made In Jersey One Tree Hill Revenge Eureka Grey’s Anatomy Glee Made In Jersey One Tree Hill Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Grey’s Anatomy Revenge Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Grey’s Anatomy Body Of Proof C.S.I. New York White Collar Sons Of Anarchy

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 09:45 12:30 14:15 15:45 18:30 20:15 22:00

The Last Exorcism Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines Virtuosity Meteor Storm Ice Quake The Da Vinci Code Riddle Pizza Man The Da Vinci Code Superman vs. The Elite Pizza Man Broken Path

00:00 Rushmore-PG15 02:00 Friday After Next-18 04:00 Another Stakeout-PG15 06:00 Barnyard-PG 08:00 Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol-PG15 10:00 Problem Child-PG 12:00 Another Stakeout-PG15 14:00 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach-PG15 16:00 Problem Child-PG 18:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 20:00 Peep World-PG15 22:00 Rushmore-PG15

01:15 03:00 05:45 07:45 09:30 11:15 13:30 15:00 17:00 19:15 21:15 23:30

Toast-PG15 Munich-18 The Lincoln Lawyer-PG15 Me And You-PG15 The Artist-PG Departures-PG15 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 Dolphin Tale-PG Departures-PG15 Neds-PG15 Anonymous-18 Straw Dogs-18

01:45 The Descendants-PG15 03:45 Arbitrage-PG15 05:30 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 07:00 We Bought A Zoo-PG 09:00 The Beaver-PG15 10:45 The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice-PG15

12:30 The Vow-PG15 14:30 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One-PG15 16:00 The Beaver-PG15 18:00 This Means War-PG15 20:00 House At The End Of The StreetPG15 22:00 Margaret-18

01:00 Ploddy Police Car 02:45 Arthur Christmas 04:30 Snowmen 06:00 Ploddy Police Car 08:00 A Fairy Tale Christmas 10:00 Brave 11:30 Tony Hawk: Boom Boom Sabotage 12:45 Arthur Christmas 14:30 The Ugly Duckling In The Enchanted Forest 16:00Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas 18:00 Brave 20:00 The Muppets 22:00 A Fairy Tale Christmas 23:30 The Ugly Duckling In The Enchanted Forest

01:45 Hotel Paradiso-PG 03:20 Scarecrow-18 05:10 The Bad And The Beautiful-PG 07:00 Abbott And Costello In Hollywood-FAM 08:20 Hotel Paradiso-PG 09:55 The Clock-FAM 11:25 Gun Glory-FAM 12:55 House Of Wax-PG 14:20 Dark Victory-PG 16:00 Singin’ In The Rain-FAM 17:45 Les Girls-PG 19:40 Ice Station Zebra-FAM 22:00 Get Carter-18

00:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 01:00 Xtreme Waterparks 01:30 Bert The Conqueror 02:00 Off Limits 03:00 Globe Trekker 04:00 Bizarre Foods America 05:00 Bizarre Foods America 06:00 Hotel Impossible 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Off Limits 09:00 Off Limits 10:00 Piha Rescue 10:30 Piha Rescue 11:00 Piha Rescue 11:30 Piha Rescue 12:00 Ultimate Braai Master 13:00 Ultimate Braai Master 14:00 International House Hunters 14:30 International House Hunters 15:00 International House Hunters 15:30 International House Hunters 16:00 Hotel Impossible 17:00 Hotel Impossible 18:00 Ultimate Braai Master 19:00 Ultimate Braai Master 20:00 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 20:30 Jonathan Phang’s Caribbean Cookbook 21:00 America’s Wildest Roads 22:00 Xtreme Waterparks 22:30 Xtreme Waterparks 23:00 Insane Coaster Wars 23:30 Insane Coaster Wars

00:05 00:15 00:40 00:55

Special Agent Oso Imagination Movers Jungle Junction Jungle Junction

THIS MEANS WAR ON OSN MOVIES HD

01:10 Handy Manny 01:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:00 Little Einsteins 02:25 Special Agent Oso 02:40 Special Agent Oso 02:50 Imagination Movers 03:20 Handy Manny 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Special Agent Oso 04:00 Timmy Time 04:10 Imagination Movers 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:15 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:00 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Higglytown Heroes 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 08:35 The Little Mermaid 09:00 The Hive 09:10 Doc McStuffins 09:20 Zou 09:35 Henry Hugglemonster 09:50 Henry Hugglemonster 10:00 Sofia The First 10:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:45 Sofia The First 11:10 Sofia The First 11:40 Sofia The First 12:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 12:05 Higglytown Heroes 12:20 The Hive 12:30 Doc McStuffins 12:45 Doc McStuffins 13:00 Zou 13:15 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 13:30 Henry Hugglemonster 13:45 Henry Hugglemonster 13:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 14:45 Higglytown Heroes 14:55 The Hive 15:05 Sofia The First 15:35 Sofia The First 16:00 Sofia The First 16:25 Sofia The First 16:45 Art Attack 17:10 Lilo And Stitch 17:35 The Little Mermaid 18:00 The Hive 18:10 Henry Hugglemonster 18:25 Henry Hugglemonster 18:35 Sofia The First 19:00 Timmy Time 19:10 Pajanimals 19:25 Doc McStuffins 19:35 Zou 19:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 20:25 Pajanimals 20:35 Doc McStuffins 20:45 Mouk 21:00 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 21:25 Pajanimals 21:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:00 Timmy Time 22:10 The Hive 22:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Little Einsteins 23:50 Special Agent Oso

00:40 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:45 03:10 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 06:30 06:55 07:00

Chowder Bakugan Battle Brawlers Bakugan Battle Brawlers Foster’s Home For...

Foster’s Home For...

Courage The Cowardly Dog The Amazing World Of Gumball Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Adventure Time The Powerpuff Girls Generator Rex Ben 10 Ben 10 Angelo Rules Casper’s Scare School

07:30 08:00 08:25 08:45 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:20 17:40 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 23:00 23:25 23:50

Casper’s Scare School Mucha Lucha Johnny Test Adventure Time Total Drama World Tour Total Drama World Tour Ben 10: Omniverse Young Justice Thundercats Regular Show The Amazing World Of Gumball Foster’s Home For...

Foster’s Home For...

Courage The Cowardly Dog Powerpuff Girls Angelo Rules Batman: The Brave And The Bold Young Justice Ben 10: Omniverse Transformers Prime Johnny Test Level Up The Amazing World Of Gumball Adventure Time Regular Show Mucha Lucha Total Drama World Tour Total Drama World Tour Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Hero 108 Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Grim Adventures Of...

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Ben 10: Ultimate Alien The Powerpuff Girls

03:05 03:55 04:45 05:30 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:30 16:20 16:45 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:05 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

Kidnap And Rescue I Faked My Own Death Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Jones Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Jones Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Murder Shift Disappeared Forensic Detectives Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Jones Stalked: Someone’s Watching Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Fatal Encounters Ghost Lab

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30

Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Ancient Aliens Mountain Men Grave Trade Miracle Rising: South Africa Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Storage Wars Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Grave Trade Mountain Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Grave Trade Mountain Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars

W H AT ’ S O N SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Greetings

I

slam Ahmad Eisa celebrated his graduation from the British School.

Announcement Indian Embassy sets up helpline he Indian Embassy in Kuwait has set up helpline in order to assist Indian expatriates in registering any complaint regarding the government’s ongoing campaign to stamp out illegal residents from the country. The embassy said in press release yesterday that it amended its previous statement and stated if there is any complaint, the same could be conveyed at the following (as amended): Operations Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. Fax: 22435580, Tel: 24768146/25200334. It said the embassy has been in regular contact with local authorities regarding the ongoing checking of expatriates. The embassy has also conveyed to them the concerns, fears and apprehensions of the community in this regard. The authorities in Kuwait have conveyed that strict instructions have been issued to ensure that there is no harassment or improper treatment of expatriates by those undertaking checking. “The embassy would like to request Indian expatriates to ensure that they abide by all local laws, rules and regulations regarding residency, traffic and other matters,” the release read. It would be prudent to always carry the Civil ID and other relevant documents such as driving license, etc. In case an Indian expatriate encounters any improper treatment during checking, it may be conveyed immediately with full details and contact particulars to the embassy at the following phone number 67623639. These contact details are exclusively for the abovementioned purpose only.

T

KERA badminton rominent badminton association IBACK is organizing a badminton tournament to be held on 24th and 31st August 2013. Total prize money is 475KD & last entry registration is 15th august 2013. Interested to participate in the same as Team KERA shall be entertained, Please contact 97156575.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

S

arah Ahmad Eisa celebrated her second birthday.

8th Expo Pakistan to commence in September

T

he 8th Expo Pakistan will be held from September 26 to 29 in Karachi. Held annually, Expo Pakistan is the biggest trade fair in the country showcasing the largest collection of Pakistan’s export merchandise and services.

Foreign Exhibitors also use the event to launch their products. Expo Pakistan 2012 was visited by delegates from 52 countries and generated a business of over $ 518 million. A 16 member delegation from Kuwait including reputable companies like AlYasra Foods also took part in the last exhibition.

Expo Pakistan 2013 is being held under the auspices of the Trade Development Authority Pakistan.

Details about the event can be viewed www.expopakisan.gov.pk. Further information and details of sponsorship can be obtained from the office of Commercial Secretary, Pakistan Embassy, Jabriya (25356594) during office hours.

Issue of online visa

by Indian embassy

F

oreigners requiring visas for India need to apply it online from 16th June 2013. Applicants may log on to the Public portal at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in. After successful online submission, the hard copy, so generated, has to be signed by the applicant and submitted with supporting documents in accordance with the type of visa along with the applicable fee in cash at any of the two outsource centres at Sharq or Fahaheel. It is essential that applicants fill in their personal details as exactly available in their passports. Mismatch of any of the personal details would lead to non-acceptance of the application. Fees once paid are non-refundable. All children would have to obtain separate visa on their respective passports.

Enjoy the taste of true Espresso at Vergnano Cafe at Olympia Complex

T

he superior quality of the blends comes from the meticulous selection of the best raw materials available, and from an extraordinary production process.

Cafe Vergnano is the first to introduce an innovation that brings all the passion and pleasure of the perfect espresso to everyday life at home. Espresso is now available in Kuwait, through Al-Sanabel Al-Thahabiya Est. Tel: 22413795/98.

Espresso Vergnano can be ordered through www.taw9eel.com Espresso Vergnano capsules are compatible with other espresso machines.

TIES Center announcement

T

IES Center cordially invites all those interested to its movie entitled, “Islam: An American Faith,” on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 7:00 pm. Because of misconceptions, some people believe that Islam and America are not compatible. Some on both sides feel that there is a great divide and that America can never reconcile with Islam. This film aims to dispel that myth. This film shows how Muslims live in peace within America. In addition to that, Muslims are productive, law-abiding citizens that contribute a lot to the well-being of American society. If you are interested in the movie, you are welcome on Monday, August 19 at 7:00 pm You are also invited to TIES’ presentation entitled, “Polyglots” - A Linguistic Study by Tony Braun on August 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm. A polyglot is someone who speaks more than one language. Tim Doner is a 17year-old American who speaks over 20 languages fluently.

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

W

hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

W H AT ’ S O N SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Embassy Information TEMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Embassy of Australia has announced that Kuwait citizens can apply for and receive visit visas in 10 working days through www.immi.gov.au.

All other processing of visas and Immigration matters are handled by the Australian Visa Application Centre located in Al Banwan Building, 4B, 1st Floor, Al Qibla Area, Ali Al Salem Street, Kuwait City.

Visit. www.vfs-au-gcc.com for more info.

The Embassy of Australia does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters is conducted by the Australian ConsulateGeneral in Dubai. Email: Info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VIS), immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office), Tel: +971 4 205 5900 (VFS), Fax: + 971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). Notary and passport services are available by appointment.

Appointments can be made by calling the Embassy on 22322422.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA

IEI Kuwait bids farewell to Mohan

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he Institution of Engineers (India), Kuwait chapter bid farewell to HK Mohan, First secretary (Education &Community services), Embassy of India, Kuwait , who is leaving Kuwait after completing his term.

Dr Rumane Abdul Razzak , Chairman, Kuwait chapter thanked Mohan and embassy staff for their cooperation and support to IEI, Kuwait chapter to conduct AMIE Examination.

The meeting was attended by a delegation consisting of Karunagaran, General Secretary, IEI,Kuwait chapter, Fareed ul Haq Imadi, Treasurer, IEI, Kuwait chapter, Somusundaram, Executive Member, Joseph Panickar, ex-officio chairman and S.M.H.Zaidi, former chairman of Kuwait chapter.

The delegation wished Mohan a success in his future endeavor. A memento was presented to Mohan on

behalf of IEI, Kuwait chapter as a token of appreciation for his support and cooperation.

Discounts for NBK credit card holders at Regency’s Ladies Lounge

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ational Bank of Kuwait (NBK) continues offering its’ female Credit Cardholders an exclusive discount at the Regency Hotel.

Valid until Oct 31, NBK female cardholders of Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club will receive up to 50% instant discount on a three month membership at the Ladies Lounge of the Regency Hotel Kuwait.

NBK understands the needs of professional women, and supports their lifestyles by providing them with exclusive offers and services that cater to their needs and preferences. NBK will continue to bring valuable offers that will make a difference in the lives of its Female customers.

NBK’s leadership in the cards market in Kuwait has been established by consistently delivering superior value to its Cardholders. NBK always strives to

develop promotions to reward them.

NBK Credit Cards are accepted worldwide and are the safest, most convenient and rewarding way to pay.

For more information log onto nbk.com or contact Hala Watani on 1801801, or follow NBK on Twitter @NBKPage, and on Instagram @NBKPage.

The Ladies’ Lounge at The Regency is the most exclusive ladies-only sanctuary in Kuwait offering an elegant swimming pool, a private lounge area with an extensive menu and a discreet private beach with wonderful views over the Arabian Gulf that is ideal for sun lovers and the perfect venue for alllady gatherings.

The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday.

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EMBASSY OF UK As of July 22, the British Embassy’s Visa Application Center (VAC) will be extending opening hours to be from 08:00 to 15:00 (previously from 09:30 to 14:30). This will generate more appointments in addition to the ones created from the Iftar opening time from 20:00 - 22:00. This step comes in response to the increasing number of applicants during summer.

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EMBASSY OF GREECE The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad AlSalem Street, Al-Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait.

health & science SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Voyager left solar system last year CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA’s long-lived Voyager probe crossed into interstellar space last year, becoming the first man-made object to leave the solar system, new research shows.

Scientists have been waiting for Voyager to detect a magnetic field that flows in a different direction than the solar system’s magnetic field. But the new research shows that scenario is not accurate.

“We think that the magnetic field within the solar system and in the interstellar are aligned enough that you can actually pass through without seeing a huge change in direction,” University of Maryland physicist Marc Swisdak said in an interview.

That would mean that Voyager actually reached interstellar space last summer when it detected a sudden drop in the number of particles coming from the sun and a corresponding rise in the number of galactic cosmic rays coming from interstellar space.

Not everyone is convinced, however.

Voyager lead scientist Edward Stone, now retired from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said Swisdak’s research is interesting but different computer models are portraying different scenarios to explain the Voyager data.

“We know where Voyager is in terms of distance and we know what it is observing. The challenge is relating that to these complex models of the interaction between the interstellar medium and the heliosphere,” Stone said, referring to the bubble of space that falls under the sun’s influence.

Stone and other scientists believe Voyager is in a previously unknown region, dubbed a “magnetic highway,” that exists between the heliosphere and interstellar space.

Voyager 1 and a sister probe, Voyager 2, were launched in 1977 to study the outer planets.

Voyager 1 is now about 120 times farther away from

the sun than Earth. Voyager 2 is heading out of the solar system in a different direction.

The probes are powered by the slow decay of radioactive plutonium. Voyager 1 will begin running out of energy for its science instruments in 2020. By 2025, it will be completely out of power.

If Swisdak and colleagues are correct, Voyager 1’s magnetic field readings will stay pretty much the same throughout the remainder of its mission.

“If they see a strong shift in the magnetic field, a big jump, then that means that what we’ve outlined can’t be correct,” Swisdak said.

“I’m perfectly willing to be proven wrong here and if I were, that would be kind of cool. But it agrees with all the data that we have so far,” he added. More evidence may come when Voyager 2 crosses the solar system’s boundary as well. The research appears in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. — Reuters

Somalians battling polio outbreak amid insecurity 105 cases confirmed

Video to show lives of Hawaiian monk seals HONOLULU: The public will get an upclose view of how Hawaiian monk seals eat, sleep and swim this weekend as researchers share footage taken by cameras attached to the backs of the animals.

Researchers collected the video over the past year after capturing several seals on Kauai, Oahu and Molokai and attaching the cameras to their hides with epoxy while they were sedated.

The effort was part of a study led by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists that aims to help the public better understand a critically endangered species that was rarely seen until recently among Hawaii’s most heavily populated islands.

Now, it’s not unusual for seals to haul up on the white sands of Poipu on Kauai and the rock shoreline of Oahu’s Kaena Point.

They have even appeared amid throngs of sunbathing tourists in Waikiki.

The seals are returning to areas they inhabited long before humans moved to Hawaii. Still, some people see them as new arrivals competing for resources. Some fishermen complain the seals are stealing their catch from lines and nets.

“We realize that we’re going through a period of pretty dramatic transition in the Main Hawaiian Islands where just in over a decade, really, have monk seals shown up in any great number and become part of our lives,” said Charles Littnan, lead scientist for the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research

Program at NOAA Fisheries.

“With that change comes some stress and discomfort and everyone kind of having to shift to the new norm,” he said.

Video from the cameras provided by the National Geographic Society will be shown at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theater on Saturday. Some of the footage has already been shown on Kauai.

Littnan said he hopes the research will correct misconceptions that the seals are devouring Hawaii’s fish stocks.

For example, he said some people mistakenly believe monk seals eat 600 pounds of fish a day even though adult seals don’t even weigh that much. “There’s this idea that they’re just these eating machines,” he said. The footage shows, however, that they’re not eating such significant amounts, he said. Instead the clips show mostly swimming and an “amazing amount of sleeping.”

When they do eat, the animals can spend a lot of time getting the food, like one seal that spent 30 minutes trying to pull an octopus out of its hiding place.

The scientists will spend another two years putting cameras on the seals.

Normally with a project like this, Littnan said, scientists would tell the public about their research only after they’ve finished collecting and analyzing their data. But there’s too much conflict over the seals and bad information about them circulating that it would be “negligent” to wait, he said. —- AP

MOGADISHU: Aid workers in war-torn Somalia are struggling to contain a dangerous outbreak of the crippling polio virus, with rampant insecurity hampering efforts, the United Nations said yesterday. Six years after the Horn of Africa nation was declared free of the virus, at least 105 cases have been confirmed in Somalia, the “worst outbreak in the world in a non-endemic country,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Its warning came just two days after medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced it was pulling out of Somalia after more than two decades, a move that affects hundreds of thousands of needy people.

“The polio outbreak plaguing Somalia has spread despite significant efforts to curb the disease,” OCHA added in a statement.

While some four million people have been vaccinated, getting drugs to more than 600,000 children in southern and central Somalia-areas partly under control of the AlQaeda linked Shebab, who block vaccination efforts-is “extremely challenging”, it said.

“The inability to fully access these areas constitutes a major threat to the control of the outbreak,” it said, warning that “Somalia remains one of the most difficult and dangerous environments in the world for aid workers.”

While over 100 cases of polio have been recorded, “the fact that this number of children show symptoms of paralysis means that there are probably thousands more with the virus, who do not have symptoms, but are capable of spreading it,” OCHA added.

Around 10 cases have also been reported in northeastern Kenya, which hosts almost half a million Somali refugees in sprawling camps.

In Somalia, while the bulk of cases are in the southern and central regions, the outbreak has also spread to self-declared independent Somaliland in the northwest.

With only 223 polio cases worldwide recorded last year, according to the World

Health Organisation (WHO), the number affected in Somalia is alarming, although cases worldwide have dropped by over 99 percent from some 350,000 in 1988.

Highly infectious polio is spread by personto-person contact, exacerbated by poor sanitation and a lack of clean water.

Affecting mainly children aged under five, it can cause total paralysis within hours, WHO warns.

Multiple armies are fighting for control of southern Somalia, including rival warlords, Islamist extremists and a rag-tag national army backed by a 17,700-strong African Union force.

Aid workers report growing attacks on their staff.

On Wednesday, MSF closed all its operations in Somalia after 22 years of working in the troublespot, warning of growing insecurity and “extreme attacks”.

The pullout by MSF, an aid agency that has earned a reputation for working in the toughest of conditions, will cut health care for hundreds of thousands of Somalis.

MSF blamed “armed groups and civilian leaders” who it said “increasingly support, tolerate, or condone the killing, assaulting, and abducting of humanitarian aid workers”.

While many of the areas MSF has left are not under the control of central government, the withdrawal is also a major blow to the reputation of the authorities in Mogadishu.

When Mogadishu’s government took power last year, it was hailed by the international community as offering the best chance for peace in Somalia since the collapse of central government in 1991.

Somalia’s government said it was “deeply saddened” by MSF’s decision, noting that the aid agency had previously remained working even through “the darkest periods” of Somalia.

“We fear that this decision will lead to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” Development Minister Maryan Qasim said Thursday, pleading for MSF to stay on. —- AFP

health & science SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

NASA, Navy practice space-capsule recovery NORFOLK: During the glory days of the US space program in the 1960s and ‘70s, astronauts returning to Earth splashed down at sea in their capsules and were picked up by the Navy in a triumphant moment that made for stirring TV. Now, NASA and the Navy are training again for the first such recovery in a generation.

On Thursday, they completed several days of tests, practicing the retrieval of an unmanned mock-up of the Orion capsule that the US hopes to send someday to an asteroid and Mars.

Navy divers and the crew of the USS Arlington carried out the exercise in the calm waters of the Elizabeth River at a Naval Station Norfolk pier. In a statement, Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of Navy’s US Fleet Forces Command, welcomed the chance to take part again in recovering NASA astronauts “just as we did nearly a half-century ago in support of

America’s quest to put a man on the moon.”

From 1961 to 1975, teams of Navy ships tracked and recovered Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft after they re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down.

Typically, frogmen would swim up to the pitching, bobbing spacecraft and help the astronauts out. Then helicopters would hoist the men and their capsule and fly them to a waiting aircraft carrier. In a few instances, the astronauts would remain inside the capsule while a crane lifted it aboard a ship.

After Apollo ended, US astronauts began flying the space shuttle, which returns to Earth on a landing strip like an airplane. With the end of that program in 2011, astronauts began hitching rides aboard Russia’s Soyuz capsule, which parachutes to a landing on the steppes of

Kazakhstan. Now, with Orion still under development, the Defense Department and NASA have to dust off their old recovery playbook and update it to achieve something they haven’t done since 1975.

“The test we’re seeing today is really the first time that we’ve worked together with DOD to recover a capsule, really since that mission. So it’s a pretty historic start to this program that we’re doing,” said Scott Wilson, NASA’s manager of production operations for the Orion program.

In a break with the past, the Navy doesn’t plan to use helicopters to retrieve Orion, although they will be available on standby.

Instead, an amphibious transport ship will come close to the capsule and dispatch divers and small boat teams to go secure it.

As they did on Thursday, those crews will attach a winch line to Orion and tow it into the

amphibious ship’s well deck, a compartment that can be deliberately flooded. Then the well deck will be drained, allowing the astronauts to step out of the capsule.

NASA decided to employ an amphibious ship about seven years ago, in part because it is less expensive than using a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It also allows for astronauts who may be weakened by space travel to avoid a physically draining extraction at sea. The crew can stay inside the capsule while it is being recovered.

Another reason for using the amphibiousship method: The Orion capsule will be bigger and much heavier than the Apollo spacecraft that came before it. More training and testing of the procedure are planned in the coming years.

Astronauts will not fly into space aboard Orion until 2021 at the earliest. —- AP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Kuwait

SHARQIA-1 KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) SHARQIA-2 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) SHARQIA-3 RED 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

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1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) 12:30 PM ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA 3:30 PM CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) 6:30 PM HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) 9:30 PM PACIFIC RIM (DIG) 11:45 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (15/08/2013 TO 21/08/2013) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET PACIFIC RIM

10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-1 KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-2 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

1:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-1 HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG)

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

AL-KOUT.3 RED 2 (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.4 HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) PACIFIC RIM (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

BAIRAQ-1 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:45 PM

BAIRAQ-2 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

MUHALAB-2 KILLING SEASON (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-2 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI)

12:30 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-3 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-3 EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG)

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

BAIRAQ-3 KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) PACIFIC RIM (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM

PLAZA THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:45 PM

LAILA DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM

AJIAL.1 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI)

6:00 PM 9:00 PM

AJIAL.2 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI)

5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

FANAR-1 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) 1:00 PM RED 2 (DIG) 3:00 PM DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) 5:30 PM ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA 7:30 PM RED 2 (DIG) 10:30 PM RED 2 (DIG) 12:45 AM FANAR-2 KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) FANAR-3 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) FANAR-4 THE WOLVERINE (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-5 THE SMURFS 2 PACIFIC RIM THE SMURFS 2 EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

12:30 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

2:00 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM

AVENUES-4 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SAT 360º- 1 RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

360º- 2 THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

1:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 1:00 AM

360º- 3 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.1 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) AL-KOUT.2 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

12:30 PM

AJIAL.3 ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA 5:30 PM ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA 8:30 PM AJIAL.4 555 (DIG) (TAMIL) THALAIVAA (DIG) (TAMIL)

5:45 PM 8:45 PM

METRO-1 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

METRO-2 555 (DIG) (TAMIL) THALAIVAA (DIG) (TAMIL)

6:00 PM 9:00 PM

MATRIMONIAL

CHANGE OF NAME

Senior Engineer, south Indian, working for KOCKuwait, looking for Indian bride/divorcee above 30 years, settled in Bangalore with parents. Staying in Mangaf/Kuwait.

Email: narayanakailashshankar@gmail.com

(C 4479) 14-8-2013 Inviting marriage proposal 29 years/CSI girl/B.Sc (N)/working in MOH, invites proposal from God-fearing and well educated boy. Email: jeba_twinkle12@yahoo.com (C 4478) 13-8-2013

I, Bhaskar Hungarkatha of Indian Passport No. G 0638528 hereby wish to change my name to JOHN B. ALMEIDA. (C 4482) 15-8-2013 SITUATION VACANT For a family of two adults, a live in house boy and home care. Good English and Arabic is preferred, transferable visa.

Contact: 99060969.

11-8-2013

Prayer timings

FOR SALE Nissan Tiida 2011 model, silver color - (CC 1800) hatchback, km 61,000. KD 1,650.

Tel: 66729295. (C 4480) Mitsubishi Galant 2007 model, light green color, KD 1,650.

Tel: 50994848. (C 4481) 13-8-2013

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:52 05:17 11:52 15:27 18:27 19:49

Hospitals Sabah Hospital Amiri Hospital Maternity Hospital Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital Chest Hospital Farwaniya Hospital Adan Hospital Ibn Sina Hospital Al-Razi Hospital Physiotherapy Hospital

24812000 22450005 24843100 25312700 24849400 24892010 23940620 24840300 24846000 24874330/9

Clinics Rabiya Rawdha Adailiya Khaldiya Khaifan Shamiya Shuwaikh Abdullah Salim Al-Nuzha Industrial Shuwaikh Al-Qadisiya Dasmah Bneid Al-Ghar Al-Shaab Al-Kibla Ayoun Al-Kibla Mirqab Sharq Salmiya Jabriya Maidan Hawally Bayan

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information SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers use seats Airlines BBC QTR THY JZR JZR RJA SAI THY ETH GFA PIA UAE ETD THY KAC FDB MSR RBG OMA QTR RJA THY DHX FDB BAW KAC JZR KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC ABY IRC IRM ABY FDB QTR ETD IRA GFA IAW JZR IRM MSC JZR JZR TBZ UAE JZR MSR SYR MSR THY KNE FDB KAC QTR FDB KAC IRC IRM MSR SVA KNE SYR KAC KNE JAV FDB KAC KAC MRJ RJA KAC JZR QTR ETD JZR UAE ABY UAL GFA SVA JZR KAC

Arrival Flights on Saturday 17/8/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 5464 SABIHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 644 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 441 LAHORE 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 239 ISLAMABAD 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 768 ISTANBUL 504 BEIRUT 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 555 ALEXANDRIA 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 648 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 416 JAKARTA 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 1541 CAIRO 529 ASYUT 382 DELHI 206 ISLAMABAD 503 LUXOR 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 362 COLOMBO 125 SHARJAH 6588 SHAHRE KORD 1186 TEHRAN 123 SHARJAH 55 DUBAI 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 3407 MASHAD 213 BAHRAIN 157 BAGHDAD 165 DUBAI 1188 MASHAD 401 ALEXANDRIA 325 NAJAF 241 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 5483 MASHAD 871 DUBAI 359 MASHAD 610 CAIRO 1257 DAMASCUS 579 SOHAG 766 ISTANBUL 480 TAIF 8057 DUBAI 672 DUBAI 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 790 MEDINAH 6692 MASHAD 1184 SHIRAZ 575 SHARM EL SHEIKH 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 341 DAMASCUS 788 JEDDAH 470 JEDDAH 621 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 8053 DUBAI 538 SOHAG 804 CAIRO 4813 MASHAD 640 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 134 DOHA 303 ABU DHABI-INTL 357 MASHAD 857 DUBAI 127 SHARJAH 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 176 GENEVA

Time 00:05 00:05 00:10 00:20 00:40 00:30 01:30 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:05 02:25 02:30 02:50 02:55 03:10 03:15 03:15 03:20 03:30 03:10 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:30 06:35 06:20 06:15 06:25 06:40 07:30 07:25 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:05 08:15 08:20 08:25 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:10 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:30 10:35 10:40 11:00 11:35 11:45 12:00 12:25 12:35 12:40 12:45 12:50 13:00 13:00 13:05 13:10 13:20 13:35 13:40 13:45 13:50 13:55 14:00 14:05 14:15 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:35 15:40 15:40 15:45 15:55 16:00 16:10 16:15 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:45

JZR NIA IZG TGZ KAC QTR KAC KAC FDB GFA KAC JZR KAC KAC MSC JAI RBG KAC FDB OMA ABY IRA MEA MSR AXB KNE KLM ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA JAI QTR JZR FDB AIC JZR KNE UAL JZR KAC KAC KAC DLH JAI JZR MSR THY Airlines AIC LZB JAI UAL DLH MSR KLM THY JZR RJA BBC THY SAI THY ETH PIA THY UAE FDB RBG MSR OMA ETD QTR QTR FDB RJA JZR GFA JZR THY JZR KAC BAW FDB KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC KAC ABY KAC UAE FDB

777 JEDDAH 251 ALEXANDRIA 4167 MASHAD 1553 BATUMI 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 104 LONDON 502 BEIRUT 63 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 618 DOHA 269 BEIRUT 674 DUBAI 774 RIYADH 405 SOHAG 572 MUMBAI 553 ALEXANDRIA 562 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 61 DUBAI 647 MUSCAT 129 SHARJAH 607 MASHAD 402 BEIRUT 618 ALEXANDRIA 489 COCHIN 462 MEDINAH 415 AMSTERDAM 229 COLOMBO 859 DUBAI 307 ABU DHABI-INTL 136 DOHA 217 BAHRAIN 576 COCHIN 146 DOHA 189 DUBAI 59 DUBAI 975 CHENNAI 239 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 474 JEDDAH 981 BAHRAIN 185 DUBAI 786 JEDDAH 154 SARAJEVO 614 BAHRAIN 636 FRANKFURT 574 MUMBAI 513 SHARM EL SHEIKH 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL Departure Flights on Saturday 17/8/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 7788 VARNA 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 413 AMSTERDAM 5465 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 502 LUXOR, EGYPT” 645 AMMAN 44 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 442 LAHORE 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 621 ADDIS ABABA 240 SIALKOT 769 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 70 DUBAI 649 AMMAN 358 MASHHAD 212 BAHRAIN 240 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 164 DUBAI 537 SOHAG 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 803 CAIRO 324 AL NAJAF 534 CAIRO 153 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 789 MADINAH 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 855 DUBAI 56 DUBAI

17:50 18:00 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:55 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:30 20:35 20:35 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:55 22:00 20:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:40 22:40 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:10 23:20 23:20 23:30 23:45 Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:30 00:55 01:10 01:30 01:30 01:30 02:20 02:30 02:40 02:45 03:35 03:40 03:45 03:50 03:55 04:15 04:20 04:20 04:25 05:15 06:30 06:35 06:55 07:00 07:10 07:10 07:25 07:45 08:25 08:25 08:55 09:10 09:10 09:15 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:50 09:55

IRC ABY ETD QTR KAC IRM JZR KAC GFA KAC IRA KAC IAW JZR MSC IRM JZR JZR JZR MSR TBZ MSR SYR THY KNE UAE FDB FDB KAC QTR IRC MSR KAC IRM KNE KAC SYR SVA JZR KAC KNE FDB JAV MRJ RJA KAC JZR JZR QTR ETD JZR ABY UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR JZR NIA IZG TGZ QTR FDB GFA KAC KAC RBG MSC JAI FDB ABY KAC OMA KAC IRA MEA MSR KAC KNE DHX KLM ETD ALK UAE KAC QTR KAC GFA FDB KAC JAI QTR JZR KNE JZR KAC JZR

6589 124 302 133 101 1185 356 501 214 541 3406 165 158 776 406 1189 176 124 268 580 5484 611 1258 767 481 872 8058 58 561 141 6693 576 673 1187 473 617 342 505 188 773 461 8054 622 4812 641 785 238 512 135 304 538 128 858 216 511 982 184 266 252 4168 1554 145 64 220 613 283 554 402 571 62 120 331 648 351 604 403 607 543 475 171 415 308 230 860 381 137 301 218 60 205 575 147 554 471 1540 411 528

SHAHRE-KORD SHARJAH ABU DHABI DOHA LONDON SHIRAZ MASHHAD BEIRUT BAHRAIN CAIRO MASHHAD ROME AL NAJAF JEDDAH SOHAG MASHHAD DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT SOHAG MASHHAD CAIRO DAMASCUS ISTANBUL-ATATURK TAIF DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI AMMAN DOHA MASHHAD SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI TEHRAN JEDDAH DOHA DAMASCUS JEDDAH DUBAI RIYADH MADINAH DUBAI AMMAN MASHHAD AMMAN JEDDAH AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA MASHHAD BATUMI DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DHAKA ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT KOCHI ISFAHAN BEIRUT LUXOR CAIRO JEDDAH BAHRAIN DAMMAM ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DELHI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD ABU DHABI DOHA ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH CAIRO BANGKOK ASYUT

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

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Word Search

Yesterdayʼs Solution

C R O S S W O R D 2 8 2

ACROSS 1. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

4. Having the lower score or lagging position in a contest.

12. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

15. An ancient Hebrew unit of capacity equal to 10 baths or 10 ephahs.

16. Tadpole-shaped parasitic larva of a trematode worm.

17. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

18. Used of a single unit or thing.

19. Colorless watery fluid of blood and lymph containing no cells and in which erythrocytes and leukocytes and platelets are suspended.

20. A major European river carrying more traffic than any other river in the world.

21. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

23. Fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill.

25. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

26. (Phoenician) A fertility goddess.

28. Antibacterial drug (trade name Nydrazid) used to treat tuberculosis.

30. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

31. System founded in Persia in the 6th century b.c. by Zoroaster.

36. English architect (1746-1813).

40. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

41. English essayist (1775-1834).

42. Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality.

45. United States educator who introduced reforms that significantly altered the system of public education (1796-1859).

46. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal.

48. A strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide.

50. An inhabitant of ancient Thebes.

52. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

53. A deep bow.

54. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

55. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

57. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

58. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

60. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

64. A woman's large folded hooped hood.

70. City in Sudan.

71. A large gathering of people intended to arouse enthusiasm.

74. (Scottish) Bluish-black or gray-blue.

75. Take in solid food.

76. Affected with palsy or uncontrollable tremor.

78. Of or relating to near the ear.

79. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

80. The craniometric point on the sagittal suture near the lamboid suture.

81. The act of traveling by foot.

2. 1 species.

3. Something considered choice to eat.

4. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to another.

5. Make a logical or causal connection.

6. A genus of orb-weaving spiders including common garden spiders and barn spiders.

7. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

8. Genus of Old World herbs.

9. A theocratic republic in the Middle East in western Asia.

10. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion.

11. A semiautomatic rifle.

12. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

13. A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically.

14. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

22. Everyone except the clergy.

24. An ancient Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile opposite Cairo.

27. Any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse.

29. Relating to the blood vessels or blood.

32. American novelist (1909-1955).

33. Tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pinktinged fruit.

34. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the fantastic adventures he had in his voyages.

35. The capital of Bahrain.

37. Not only so, but.

38. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt.

39. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

43. A large fan consisting of a frame covered with canvas that is suspended from the ceiling.

44. Any tropical gymnosperm of the order Cycadales.

47. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

49. A small canoe consisting of a light frame made watertight with animal skins.

51. Glazed yeast-raised doughnut-shaped roll with hard crust.

56. United States swimmer who in 1926 became the first woman to swim the English Channel (1903- ).

59. Ox of southeast Asia sometimes considered a domesticated breed of the gaur.

61. Austrian composer who influenced the classical form of the symphony (17321809).

62. Hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.

63. A republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean.

65. Being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time.

66. The head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate.

67. A spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter.

68. Horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits.

69. Any of various floor-like platforms built into a vessel.

72. The sign language used in the United States.

73. Being two more than fifty.

77. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

Yesterdayʼs Solution

DOWN 1. Jordan's port.

Daily Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

sports SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Marquez, the man to beat in Indy INDIANAPOLIS: Marc Marquez will be the man to beat tomorrow as the sensational Spanish rookie tries to stretch his lead atop the MotoGP standings at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A bevy of more established stars, including his Respol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa and Yamaha factor rider Jorge Lorenzo, will be gunning for him with Pedros and Lorenzo in particular hoping to reassert themselves in the second half of the season after overcoming injury.

“Now we start the second half and we have recharged our batteries over the summer,” said Marquez, who closed out the first half of the season with a triumph at Laguna Seca in California on July 21. “It will be difficult and interesting because Dani and Jorge have recovered. It’s one of the tracks I seem to ride quite well, so I hope to do the same with the MotoGP bike. The conditions change a lot from first practice to the race, it’s so slippery.

“We will see how we will do with the Bridgestone tyres, but it will be the same for everybody. We will try to find our way, starting with FP1.” The race at the famed “Brickyard” is one of three US stops on the MotoGP calendar. In addition to his triumph at Laguna Seca, Marquez won the inaugural event at the new circuit in

Austin, Texas, in April. He also won a race in Germany and with three victories this season tops the standings with 163 points. Pedrosa is second on 147. Lorenzo third on 137 and Italy’s Valentino Rossi fourth on 117.

Pedrosa had been leading the world championship chase when he broke his collarbone in practice for the German Grand Prix in July. He’s eager to see how his rehabilitated body will stand up to riding.

“Basically it was all about not moving a lot and staying quiet,” Pedrosa said of his rehab. “The healing process is getting better and over these last days we have seen some signs of the bones recovering, so that is good.

Now I’m just waiting to go out, checking how everything is on the bike.”

Lorenzo broke his collarbone in practice for the Dutch GP, then fell again in Germany. He managed a sixth-placed finish at Laguna Seca, but says he’s fitter now. “Obviously I’m not like I was before Assen, but much better than Laguna,” the reigning world champion said. “I have spent the holiday trying to recover the collarbone, so let’s see how it goes.” In addition to Marquez, Britain’s Cal Crutchlow will be in the spotlight this week after announcing during the mid-season break that he has signed with Ducati for the next two seasons. —AFP

Cardinals beat Pirates ST LOUIS: Matt Carpenter had four hits and scored the winning run on Matt Hollidayís single in the 12th inning, helping the St Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Thursday for their second extra-inning triumph over the NL Central leaders in three days. The Cardinals took two of three in the series to pull within two games of the sagging Pirates, who have dropped five of six. St Louis won 4-3 in 14 innings in the series opener on Tuesday night. Rookie Kevin Siegrist (1-1), St Louisí seventh pitcher, struck out two in a perfect 12th against the heart of the order. Russell Martin and Clint Barmes homered for Pittsburgh, which blew a 4-0 lead in one inning. Jose Tabata had three straight hits after entering as a pinch hitter.

Carpenter sparked the winning rally with a one-out walk. He went to third on Jon Jayís single before Holliday grounded a single up the middle off Bryan Morris (5-6).

GIANTS 4, NATIONALS 3 Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, helping San Francisco get the win. Down to his last strike, Sanchez connected off closer Rafael Soriano (2-3) on a full-count pitch. The drive landed just inside the right-field foul pole in the second deck. Sergio Romo got three outs for his 29th save. Javier Lopez (2-2) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. The loss snapped Washingtonís five-game winning streak and spoiled Dan Harenís six-inning, one-run effort. Ian Desmond doubled home two runs and Jayson Werth added two hits for the Nationals.

REDS 2, BREWERS 1 Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and Tony Cingrani pitched solidly into the seventh, lifting Cincinnati over Milwaukee. Cingrani (62) allowed only a second-inning home run to Khris Davis. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances. The Reds have won five straight and 10 of 13. Their starters are 4-1 with a 1.35 ERA in the last seven games. Vottoís homer was the only earned run allowed by Kyle Lohse (8-8) in seven innings. The right-hander also allowed an unearned run on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.

METS 4, PADRES 1 Marlon Byrd lined a two-out double over a hesitant right-fielder Chris Denorfiaís head in the eighth inning, Mets outfielders saved two runs with outstanding plays and New York snapped a three-game skid by beating San Diego. Zack Wheeler struck out a career-high 12 for New York. Eric Young Jr saved a homer by leaping above the wall and knocking the ball back onto the field in the third inning.

Center fielder Juan Lagares then threw out a runner at home plate in the fifth.

Byrd doubled off reliever Luke Gregerson (5-7), who had intentionally walked the left-handed hitting Daniel Murphy to pitch to the righty Byrd.

Denorfia made his first step in on Byrdís hard-hit ball. He then hesitated and never recovered as the ball sailed over his head. Scott Atchison (3-1) got the victory by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.— AP

Tigers maul Royals DETROIT: Prince Fielder homered for the first time in three weeks, hitting a two-run shot in the first inning to help the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Andy Dirks added two doubles and two singles for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who took the opener of this five-game series with third-place Kansas City. Detroitís Anibal Sanchez (11-7) allowed a run and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. Bruce Rondon finished the eighth, and Joaquin Benoit pitched a hitless ninth for his 16th save in 16 chances. Jeremy Guthrie (12-9) allowed four runs and 13 hits in seven innings. Kansas City now trails the Tigers by 8Ω games. Second-place Cleveland is 6Ω back.

RAYS 7, MARINERS 1 Alex Cobb pitched five strong innings in his first big league game since being hit in the head by a batted ball two months ago and the Rays beat the Mariners. Cobb (7-2) ended his night by striking out Nick Frankiln on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth. He received a standing ovation as he walked off the field. The right- hander gave up one run and three hits, striking out six and walking two, Wil Myers, who had four RBIs, drove in two with a double and Evan Longoria added a two-run homer off Joe Saunders (10-12) that put the Rays up 5-1 in the fifth.

ANGELS 8, YANKEES 4 Chris Nelson hit his first two home runs of the season, including a grand slam against his former team, to send CJ Wilson and the Angels past the Yankees. Josh Hamilton and rookie J.B. Shuck each had an RBI single to help the struggling Angels prevent a four-game sweep. Wilson (13-6) won his fifth consecutive decision, keeping Alfonso Soriano in the ballpark after the streaking slugger piled up four homers and 13 RBIs the previous two nights.

Soriano extended his sensational tear, going 4 for 5 with an RBI single, but the Yankees managed little else until a three-run ninth. Nelson hit a solo homer

off Phil Hughes (4-12) to make it 3-1 in the fourth.

He added his first career slam off Boone Logan in a five-run eighth.

ATHLETICS 5, ASTROS 0 Sonny Gray struck out nine on the way to an impressive first major league victory, using Nate Freimanís two-run homer and four RBIs to lead the Athletics to a victory over Houston that averted a three-game sweep by the lowly Astros. The 23year-old Gray (1-1) allowed four hits and walked one over eight innings, throwing 118 pitches in his second career start and fourth big league appearance. Oakland jumped on Erik Bedard (3-9) in a hurry. He dropped to 0-6 over eight starts since a win against St Louis on June 26.

BLUE JAYS 2, RED SOX 1 Pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, Mark Buehrle pitched seven innings to win his fourth straight decision and the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox. Buehrle (9-7) came in 0-4 with a 4.97 ERA in his previous eight starts against the Red Sox, a team he hadnít beaten since Sept 7, 2009, with the White Sox. The lefthander allowed one run and 10 hits, walked two and struck out four. Red Sox starter Jake Peavy (9-5) allowed two runs and five hits in six-plus innings.

He walked none and struck out four.

TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 3 Chris Herrmannís pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth scored pinch-runner Doug Bernier and lifted Minnesota to a victory over the White Sox. The Twins trailed 3-2 heading into the eighth, but Joe Mauer doubled and scored on a base hit from Justin Morneau to tie it. Herrmann came through against Ramon Troncoso (1-4) in the ninth to complete the comeback. Trevor Plouffe hit a solo homer and Mike Pelfrey gave up three runs and struck out four in 6 1-3 innings for the Twins. Jared Burton (2-6) pitched the ninth for the win.— AP

MINNEAPOLIS: The ball hit by Alejandro De Aza #30 of the Chicago White Sox hits off the glove of Oswaldo Arcia #31 of the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of the game on August 15, 2013. — AFP

sports SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Pistorius due back in the dock JOHANNESBURG: South African double-amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius will return to court Monday, when he is expected to be indicted for murdering lover Reeva Steenkamp and receive a date for trial. The 26-year-old sprinter will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court six months after shooting dead girlfriend Steenkamp in the toilet of his upscale home.

The platinum blonde cover girl and law graduate died on Valentine’s Day after being shot in the head, elbow and hip. She would have turned 30 on Monday, when prosecutors are expected to unveil a five-page indictment against Pistorius for premeditated murder, according to sources close to the investigation. The hearing is expected to be brief, and according to Pistorius family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess the “chances are very high that a trial date will be set.”

Pistorius, who is out on bail and faces a life sentence if found guilty, has denied murder, saying he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door because he believed she was an intruder.

The trial is not expected to start until 2014, given the backlog in South Africa’s regional high courts. A single senior judge will hear the case. South Africa does not have a jury system. The indictment could detail key aspects of the police investigation into Steenkamp’s death that came under scrutiny during a lengthy bail hearing.

These may include ballistics information from the bathroom door suggesting Pistorius’s height at the time of the shooting.

Prosecutors assert he donned his two prosthetic legs before firing four shots through the bathroom door, a delay they say proves the murder was premeditated. The athlete, who was born without calf bones and had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, claims he was on his stumps. The indictment could also shed light on phone records from four cell phones found outside the room where Steenkamp had locked herself in.

Investigators had to contact mobile manufacturer Apple in the United States as well as Interpol to access one of the phones, Pistorius’s iPhone 5. The athlete apparently could not remember the four-digit pass code to unlock the phone, according to media reports. South Africa’s much-maligned police force is under immense pressure to help secure a conviction, after the bail hearing showed up shoddy police work that led to the whole investigation team being replaced. Police failed to find all the bullets fired, potentially contaminated the crime scene and misjudged the distance to the spot from which a witness claimed to have heard shouting earlier in the night. — AFP

Offense not clicking; Bears beat Chargers CHICAGO: This new and supposedly improved offense is producing some awfully familiar results for the Chicago Bears.

Jay Cutler looked shaky again and the defense made up for it, harassing Philip Rivers early on and setting the tone for the Bears in a 33-28 victory over the San Diego Chargers in a preseason game on Thursday night. All eyes remain on the quarterback after the Bears made some big changes on offense in the offseason, hiring coach Marc Trestman to replace Lovie Smith and revising their line.

So far, the results are mixed at best. Cutler played a quarter and completed 4-of-5 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown, but the only receiver he targeted was Brandon Marshall. That’s not a good sign for the Bears, considering they want to distribute the ball more evenly this year. Nor was Cutler getting intercepted trying to hit Marshall in double coverage.

On a more positive note for the Bears’ offense, Matt Forte ran for 74 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts after carrying just once in a loss at Carolina in the preseason opener.

His 58-yard run around the left end set up the game’s first touchdown, a 5-yard strike from Cutler to Marshall. Devin Hester also showed a spark, returning the game’s opening kickoff 45 yards. And reserve Michael Ford ran one back 100 yards in the third quarter, leading to a 3-yard scoring run by Michael Bush. The first-team defense sacked Rivers three times and forced two turnovers, even though star defensive end Julius Peppers (hamstring), defensive tackle Henry Melton (concussion) and linebacker D.J. Williams (strained right calf) sat out with injuries. Rivers got swarmed as soon as he stepped on the field, and the Chargers fell again after getting pounded by Seattle last week. He was 5 of 9 for 50 yards with an interception, and he lost a fumble on a sack by Shea McClellin, leading to a 3-yard run by Forte that made it 14-0 near the end of the first quarter.—AP

South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius

Biles steals show at the US Gymnastics Championship HARTFORD: Simone Biles blew her first chance to show Martha Karolyi she could handle the big stage. There was no way she was going to let a chance at redemption slip away. The stunningly powerful 16-year-old soared to the top of the US women’s gymnastics championships Thursday night, posting a score of 60.500 to lead a field that includes Olympic gold medalists Kyla Ross.

Bounding across the arena with the kind of hops that would make LeBron James do a double-take, the 4-foot-8 spring-loaded Texan found a pretty simple way to avoid the jitters that led to a disastrous meet in Chicago last month.

Told by her more experienced teammates to just ignore all the noise that comes with moving up to the sport’s stratosphere, Biles took a deep breath and went back to work. “It’s kind of easy because I block out my parents, my siblings,” Biles said, laughing. Biles’ score certainly blocked out the bold-faced names behind her.

Ross and McKayla Maroney are considered the standardbearers of the women’s program while the rest of their Olympic gold-medal winning “Fierce Five” teammates slowly rebuild their programs after a lengthy break. While they certainly looked like their old selves - Ross is second after putting up a score of 59.750 while Maroney edged Biles for the top spot on vault - they also had pretty good seats to watch Biles resurrect her bid to make the 2013 US world championship team. “She blows my mind with her stuff,” Maroney said.

“She’s amazing.”

Even more, she’s confident thanks to a receiving a series of pep talks, the most important one coming from US women’s program coordinator Karolyi.

Worried Karolyi lost faith in her after faring so poorly in the qualifier, Biles

exhaled when the legendary coach urged her to get back to the selfassuredness that helped her grab the title at a key international meet in Europe this spring. “She said, ‘I saw what you did in Italy, so just turn the page,’” Biles said. “It made me feel a lot better knowing she’s behind me.” Brenna Dowell was third, followed by Peyton Ernst and Maggie Nichols.

Maroney, the silver medalist on vault in London, posted the highest score on her signature event in her first major competition since undergoing a series of leg surgeries last fall. Maroney averaged 15.5 on her two vaults, edging Biles by a tenth of a point. It wasn’t perfect. It doesn’t have to be yet. Maroney is still building toward worlds, hoping to put her disappointing silver medal in London behind her - the one that launched the infamous “not impressed” face. A world championship gold medal to bookend the one she captured in Tokyo two years ago would help.

“I felt good,” Maroney said. “I felt a little bit better than I did in Chicago. The nerves weren’t in your head as bad.”

And the nerves are there, even if the stage isn’t quite as big as the one Ross and Maroney faced with the world watching last summer. While Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman took a break following their dominant performance in London in which they won the team gold and brought home a fistful of individual medals, Maroney and Ross instead opted to get back to work quickly.

Though she lacks the explosive presence of her Olympic teammates, Ross makes up for it with an uncommon elegance that can make even the most difficult combinations look effortless. The 16-year-old, whose father is a former professional baseball player, glides over

the beam as if the 4-inch wide piece of wood perched 4 feet off the ground is the width of a football field. When she is on uneven bars, she doesn’t lunge as much as she floats.

“It’s gorgeous,” Maroney said about Ross’ bar routine. “I almost passed out.”

Still, her lights-out 15.5 on her final event couldn’t close the gap on Biles.

The compact kid from Spring, Texas, who is all muscle and kinetic energy. At times, that has gotten the best of her.

Biles expected some jitters when she went to the Secret Classic. She didn’t expect to fall on each of her first three rotations. Things went so badly her coaches told her to not even bother vaulting, fearing she may aggravate an ankle injury.

Four weeks and a steady stream of texts from Ross and Maroney later, Biles looked like a pro. She breezed through uneven bars and avoided any major miscues on the beam. Her confidence growing with each successful set, Biles soared on floor exercise. Generating the kind of hangtime that makes it appear she’s going up for an alley-oop pass, Biles played to the crowd, embracing the spotlight she shrunk from last month.

Biles wasn’t done. While Maroney is considered the best vaulter of her generation, Biles served the gap between Maroney and the rest of the world is narrowing. She actually outscored Maroney on the Amanar - the most difficult vault currently being done in competition putting up a 15.8 to Maroney’s 15.7.

Biles’ second vault isn’t quite as hard, giving Maroney just enough wiggle room to remain in front. Still, Biles clapped her hands after coming back to earth after clearing her first major hurdle toward worlds. “It was important,” Biles said. “I needed to show myself I could do it.”— AP

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Springboks set to triumph and bury jinx JOHANNESBURG: South Africa are favored to bury a Soccer City stadium jinx today by defeating Argentina in the 2013 Rugby Championship opener. The Springboks have twice played at the 95,000-seat Soweto venue that hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, and fell 2922 and 32-16 to the New Zealand All Blacks. Originally set for central city Bloemfontein, the Argentina Test was moved to form part of a Nelson Mandela Sports Day with the national football team playing Burkina Faso earlier.

Mandela, 95, the first black president of the republic and a worldwide icon, is in a Pretoria hospital more than two months after being admitted for a recurring lung infection. Although “critically ill”, an official announcement last weekend said the revered figure known to South Africans by his clan name ‘Madiba’ is making “slow but steady” progress. While president, Mandela had a huge influence on rugby and football, inspiring the Springboks to win the 1995 World Cup and Bafana Bafana (The Boys) to win the Africa Cup of Nations one year later.

Honoring the elder statesman includes transforming the Soweto stadium from a football pitch to a rugby pitch during a 90-minute break between the internationals. While debutants Los Pumas proved competitive in the southern hemisphere tournament last year, they remain the weaklings of a quartet completed by Australia. They have also been hit by late injury blows with inspirational No. 8 and skipper Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza forced to withdraw.

Leonardo Senatore is the loose-forward replacement, veteran centre Felipe Contepomi is the stand-in skipper, and young Matias Diaz enters the front row.

South Africa warmed up by defeating Italy, Scotland and Samoa in a tournament they hosted and 13 of the starters against the Pacific islanders in the final are retained. Duane Vermeulen replaces long-term casualty Pierre Spies at No. 8 and Juandre Kruger regains the lock slot he temporarily ceded to Flip van der Merwe.

The replacements include scrum-half

Fourie du Preez, 31, back in the greenand-gold mix after being part of the side beaten by Australia in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals. Du Preez is among seven foreign-based stars in the matchday 23 - a sign of the tough economic times as South Africans are lured abroad by far fatter salaries. Although coach Heyneke Meyer kept faith with Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, Du Preez will play part of the game and is seen as a key cog in the 2015 World Cup plan.

“Fourie has been a world-class player since I started coaching him at the Bulls when he was a teenager. His small touches on the ball are brilliant and he has lost none of them.”

Meyer says he is seeking improvement in all areas after ultimately comfortable wins over Italy (44-10), Scotland (30-17) and Samoa (56-23) last June. Since those wins, the scrum laws have changed to crouch-bind-set, consigning the ‘hit’ to history and putting greater emphasis on cohesion and endurance. Springboks scrum coach and former France prop Pieter de Villiers admitted that all Test

front rowers must brace for a steep learning curve.

“It is now very important for the scrum to stand together and have endurance and it is going to become a much tougher battle,” he stressed. Argentina are famed for the ‘bajada’ scrum with the eight forwards working as a unit and channeling power through the hooker. “The Pumas’ passion for scrumming will always be there-they are short, stocky guys, difficult to move, and we expect them to be strong come today.”

While there may not be a big gap between the packs in the set pieces and loose exchanges, the Springboks backs appear stronger. Labeled a conservative, Meyer surprised critics by choosing adventurous full-back Willie le Roux, and wings Bjorn Basson and Bryan Habana and centres JJ Engelbrecht and Jean de Villiers possess pace and power. The Argentine backline missed injured Juan Martin Hernandez for much of last season, but it was too predictable and leaden footed, and many parts of the unit remain. — AFP

Wallaby Slipper getting to grips with new laws

SYDNEY: New Zealand All Blacks players practice during a captain’s run in Sydney yesterday. The All Blacks will face the Australian Wallabies in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test today. — AFP

All Blacks target Toomua, Folau SYDNEY: The All Blacks will target Australia’s uncapped fly-half Matt Toomua and explosive winger Israel Folau in today’s Bledisloe Cup opener, New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw said. New Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie opted for Toomua as playmaker ahead of Quade Cooper and the World Cup champions have made their intentions known that they want to make life as difficult as possible for the Test rookie. McCaw said the Kiwis needed to shut down Toomua to cut off Australia’s ball supply to potential match-winning winger Folau. “I have been impressed with the way he (Toomua) led the Brumbies around the park,” McCaw said yesterday.

“We have to make sure we don’t allow him to do that. It’s up to us to deny him time and good ball and put him under pressure.

That’s one of our jobs. “Test rugby is different, but you look across the skills of those guys and there’s no reason why they can’t do a job if it’s put on a plate for them.” Wallabies vice-captain Will Genia, who will partner Toomua in the halves, said he has no doubts the 23year-old will handle the Bledisloe Cup pressure in Sydney. “He’s a very composed sort of guy,” Genia said. “He’s been thrown the five-

eighth (fly-half) jumper for his first Test against the All Blacks, but he’s taken it in his stride throughout the week and I’ll be expecting nothing less tomorrow.” Folau has had a spectacular first season since switching from Australian Rules and Rugby League, claiming a dazzling try-scoring double on his Test debut against the British and Irish Lions, before being crowned Australia’s Super Rugby rookie of the year last week. McCaw, back for his first Test in almost nine months after a rugby sabbatical, said dual international Folau must be contained. “He’s a skillful athlete. He’s a big man. His skills under the high ball are pretty good but, again, if we don’t give him much time to show those, hopefully we can limit his impact,” McCaw said.

McCaw’s only game time since New Zealand suffered a shock loss to England at Twickenham last November has been an 80-minute club match, two late bench appearances for the Canterbury Crusaders and half a game against Canterbury in an All Blacks squad hitout last Friday. Yet the open-side flanker said he was preparing to last the full 80 minutes in his 118th Test match this weekend. “I feel mentally in a good shape and I’ve done a lot of training,” he said. — AFP

SYDNEY: Australia prop James Slipper is still not entirely sure what impact new scrum laws will have this weekend but he is certain that every single Wallaby will need to play out of their skins to beat their “little cousins” New Zealand. Like all the front row forwards in the Rugby Championship, looshead Slipper will step into the unknown when he packs down for the first set scrum against the All Blacks at the Olympic Stadium today.

The main impact of the new laws, aimed at reducing the number of re-sets and penalties at the set piece, is expected to be the removal of the intimidating “big hit” with which the front rows have came together in recent years. While he is still feeling his way with the new techniques required, Slipper foresees something of a return to the days of hooking hookers and front row wrestling. “I packed my first scrum under the new rules last week so I’m reasonably new to it and most of the boys are,” Slipper told Reuters this week.

“There’s no way we’ve got it at par at the moment but we’re working hard at it. “It’s got to be a stable scrum, so what that does is bring the hooking back again and that means the defensive scrum can really have a crack at the team with the ball. “So I guess it’s back to the old school, which is good.” Slipper’s return to the Wallabies starting XV for the first time in eight tests - his last being in the draw against the All Blacks last year - came after his former Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie won the Australia job. Former test prop McKenzie controversially dumped stalwart loosehead Benn Robinson from his squad and installed Slipper in his stead with 21-year-old Scott Sio backing up from the bench.

FAVOURING TECHNIQUE Slipper, still only 24, has long been valued for his versatility he can pack down on both sides of the front row - and his mobility around the park. He is well aware, though, that to secure a long-term starting spot, good scrummaging is essential and hopes the new laws might help him. “I guess you have to outwit the other prop, and I guess stay in the scrum for as long as possible, and work together,” he said.

“The engagement isn’t as heavy as it was in the past, so the props who relied on that big engagement, not so much technique but size and brute force, might struggle.” Slipper thinks his versatility has contributed to him starting 28 of his 37 test on the bench and is hoping another relatively new law, requiring cover for all three front row players among the replacements, might change that. “I’ve always played both, which is probably why I’ve spent so much time on the bench because I can cover both,” he said. “But now with two props on the bench, there’s no need to.

But at the end of the day, I’d really like to nail one and stay in the team.” —Reuters

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

‘Big 4’ reach star-studded Cincinnati quarters Nadal, Federer meet for 31st time; Djokovic, Murray in last 8 CINCINNATI: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer all picked up third round wins at the Western and Southern Open on Thursday to set up a starstudded last eight in Cincinnati. The ATP Tour’s big four were joined in the quarter-finals by 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, the only other man to hoist a grand slam trophy since Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open.

Djokovic, Murray, Nadal, Federer and Del Potro have accounted for the last 34 grand slams and it is just the second time this year all five have reached the last eight of a tournament. The marquee matchup late yesterday would see world number five and 17-time grand slam winner Federer take on long-time rival Nadal, the world number three.

Nadal, whose grand slam resume lists 12 titles, and Federer will clash for the 31st time, adding yet another chapter to what will go down as one of the sport’s all-time great rivalries. Nadal has been in superb form coming off a win Montreal and ran his hardcourt winning streak to 12 matches with a 6-2 5-7 6-2 win over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Thursday. “Always play against Roger is a special feeling,” said Nadal, who has reached the finals in 10-of11 events he has entered this season, claiming eight titles.

“We have a great history behind us in our confrontations,

so it’s another quarter-finals. “It’s a special one because you’re playing against a very special player. Our matches were very special always. “But, again, it’s a quarter-finals match, not the final, so that’s a big difference.” Federer, the five-time defending champion in Cincinnati, also needed three sets to see off evergreen German Tommy Haas 1-6 75 6-3 as he struggles to build some momentum going into the US Open after missing the start of the North American hardcourt season with a sore back.

CRUISE CONTROL In contrast, the world’s two top-ranked players, Djokovic and Murray, cruised into the quarter-finals with no-nonsense straight sets decisions. Looking to end a run of four runner-up finishes on the Cincinnati hardcourts, world number one Djokovic needed just 50 minutes to hand Belgian qualifier David Goffin a 6-2 6-0 tennis lesson.

While Cincinnati has been a happy hunting ground for Federer, it has been a frustrating tournament for Djokovic.

But if the big Serb is the last man standing on Sunday he would become the first player to complete what the ATP Tour has dubbed the ‘Career Golden Masters’, winning all nine World Tour Masters events. “I played four times (in the) finals, so it’s been one of the tournaments where I’ve

performed well actually in the last five, six years,” said Djokovic. “Never managed to take final step and hopefully this year I can do so.

“I have an extra motivation and an opportunity to make history in this tournament, so I’m very inspired to play well day after day.” World number two Murray was no less ruthless, the Wimbledon champion looking right at home as he steamrolled Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-2 6-2 in 69 minutes. The Scot will be chasing his third Cincinnati title as he continues to prepare for the defense of his US Open crown later this month at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic will take on top-ranked American John Isner in the last eight while Murray will meet Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

“You want to try and get off quickly because you need to play the next day,” said Murray. “But also in 10 days’ time, we’re going to have to play best-of-five sets, so sometimes the long matches can kind of set you up for that well.

“But in terms of winning this event, better to get off quick because you have to play five days in a row if you want to win.” Seventh seed Del Potro battled into the quarter-finals with a 6-4 1-6 6-4 win over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and will meet Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov, who pulled off the upset of the day dumping world number four David Ferrer of Spain 6-2 6-4. — Reuters

Top seeds advance but Bartoli’s buzz remains Williams looks for first Cincinnati title CINCINNATI: As the tennis world took stock of Marion Bartoli’s shock decision to retire, Victoria Azarenka tried to put the focus back on court with a controlled display against Magdalena Rybarikova at the Western and Southern Open on Thursday. The world number two’s 6-3 6-4 third round victory was impressive but it could not turn attention away from Bartoli, the Wimbledon champion having stunned the sport 24 hours earlier by announcing she was quitting following a second-round defeat.

Even when world number one Serena Williams closed out the action under the center court floodlights with a 63 minute 6-4 6-1 demolition of Germany’s Mona Barthel, Bartoli’s departure remained firmly in the spotlight at the sprawling Lindner Family tennis center. “Marion Bartoli is such a great fighter and she has a great attitude,” Williams told reporters. “I remember the first time I saw her, I was actually in Paris for the Paris Indoor Championships. “It was a long, long, long time ago, probably in like the early 2000s, and I just remember her being so young and working so hard, and that was her whole career.

“It just shows you how much and how far you can go by working so hard. She’s had a great career by winning Wimbledon as well. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Williams, however, could soon be back making headlines as she tries to fill one of the few holes in her glittering resume this weekend with a first Cincinnati crown. In a career that has garnered 54 singles titles, including 16 grand slams, Williams has won just about everything there is to win in her sport but one of the WTA Tour’s most prestigious tournaments remains absent from that long and impressive list.

After a sluggish performance against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in her open-

CINCINNATI: Serena Williams returns a shot to Mona Barthel of Germany during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. — AFP ing match, Williams was firing on all cylin- I did in my first match,” Azarenka said. “I ders against an overmatched Barthel. “I was much more controlling the game. It didn’t know much about her, though, but I was really up to me today, I felt. “I was knew her name,” said Williams, who will doing everything I wanted to do but I still next face Romanian Simona Halep, who feel there can be a lot more improvement.”

Li Na’s Cincinnati title defence also beat Bartoli in what was the final match of the Frenchwoman’s career. “She’s an inter- picked up steam as the fifth-seeded esting player. She seemed so light and so Chinese rolled to a 6-4 6-4 win over ninth smooth so you don’t expect a ball to come seed Angelique Kerber of Germany. Before that hard. “That was a little surprising but Thursday action was completed, Li found herself through to the semi-finals when once I got used to it, it was a little better.”

Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Elena Vesnina 6-0 6-2, withdrew RADWANSKA WITHDRAWS There was nothing surprising about from the tournament to attend her grandAzarenka’s third round match as she father’s funeral. In other third round action, moved easily into the quarter-finals, Italian doubles partners Sara Errani and despite problems with her serve during an Roberta Vinci went toe-to-toe for a spot in uneven match that featured 13 breaks. the final eight with the 12th seeded Vinci “Today there was sometimes a little bit of coming out on top, beating her sixth seedtrouble serving but overall I felt better than ed compatriot 6-4 6-3. —Reuters

Boxing: Brother’s memory inspires title-chasing Barker LONDON: Britain’s Darren Barker says he will be driven by more than personal ambition in today’s world middleweight title fight against Australia’s Daniel Geale in Atlantic City, USA. The Briton is determined to capture the Australian’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight belt so he can dedicate it to the memory of his brother, Gary. Barker, 31, almost retired from boxing when his younger sibling was killed in a car accident aged 19 in December 2006, but keeping alive Gary’s memory has been one of the Londoner’s main sources of motivation after he decided to resume his boxing career.

“Through my boxing success Gary’s name gets spoken about and he is remembered, and that helps motivate me,” Barker told AFP from New York earlier this week.

“There’s no doubt he would have won a bundle of titles and he was better than me. He was a very talented boxer. I nearly quit after Gary died. I didn’t want to go near the gym after it happened because we did everything together. “It took me a long time to get the motivation back to get back into the ring but ever since I did, he’s been in the ring with me. “It’s a good feeling knowing that through me doing well, his name lives on.

I miss him loads. He was my best friend. “I will think of Gary in those final moments in the changing room. I think about him before every session and even more so before the fight. “Winning this title would be for him. I badly, badly, want to win this fight and dedicate it to my brother. So many people have helped me to get this far, but I’m only going to dedicate it to Gary-that’s it.” Barker once again contemplated retirement a year ago after being forced to pull out of a fight with a torn bicep, the latest injury in a stop-start 26-bout career that has seen him lose just once.

The former European champion, who will not have trainer Tony Sims in his corner due to a visa problem, insists he is in prime condition thanks to yoga, meditation and training in a swimming pool at Stamford Bridge, the home of English football giants Chelsea. Barker, who was stopped by Argentine Sergio Martinez in the 11th round two years ago in a previous bid for the WBC belt, has had two four-round bouts since recovering from his bicep injury and feels he is in the best shape of his career. “I thought about quitting last year, it’s true,” he told AFP. “I had made a decision after I had to pull out of the fight on September 8 last year. I just thought I had had enough.

“But when the injury healed, I reminded myself it wasn’t a sensible decision. I’ve managed to get a bit of momentum with two fights behind me since December and the hunger is still there. —AFP

sports SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

CAF Champions League

Battling Ahly desperate for points in Congo JOHANNESBURG: Bottom of the table without a win is not a situation CAF Champions League title-holders Al-Ahly are used to. But that is where the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ find themselves in Group A ahead of a matchday 3 clash today at rising force AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville. And as the struggling Egyptian stars arrived in central Africa they learnt that politics-induced violence at home had claimed at least 578 lives nationwide.

Most of the deaths during clashes between security forces and backers of ex-president Mohamed Morsi occurred in Cairo, where Ahly have millions of followers. After drawing with Cairo rivals Zamalek, record seven-time African champions Ahly crumbled 3-0 to South African visitors Orlando Pirates, a record home loss in the competition. Leopards have been heading in the opposite direction with an away draw against Pirates

followed by a home victory over fivetime title-holders Zamalek.

The Congolese, a second-tier club just four years ago, and Pirates have four points each and Zamalek and Ahly one each, making the matches this weekend vital for the Egyptians. Were Ahly to lose in Dolisie and Zamalek to suffer a similar fate against Pirates in Soweto a few hours later, they would be six points adrift with three rounds remaining. But coaches Mohamed Youssef of Ahly and Helmy Toulan of Zamalek are confident they can steer the most successful Champions League clubs away from danger.

Youssef attributed the unexpected hiding from Pirates to several factors, most notably having to play in oppressive heat while on a dawn-to-dusk fast during the Ramadan Muslim holy month.

Facing the South Africans behind closed doors was a blow after the authorities

SPL Preview

Celtic urged to focus on the task in hand GLASGOW: Celtic winger James Forrest insists his team-mates can’t afford to let their minds wander to next week’s Champions League qualifier as they prepare to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The Scotland international, who shone for his national side during their 3-2 defeat by England at Wembley on Wednesday, says it’s vital the Hoops qualify for the lucrative group stages of Europe’s elite competition. Celtic will take on Aberdeen in today’s early kick-off before jetting off to Kazakhstan to face Shakhter Karagandy in the first leg of their play-off round tie.

Forrest - who has now racked up over 100 appearances for Celtic - is conscious of the number of points the Hoops dropped before and after European games last season as they secured a place in the last 16 in the Champions League. And with the newlook Dons sitting second in the Scottish Premiership, Forrest who has his eyes on securing a domestic treble - knows Celtic can’t afford to let their concentration levels drop against a side expected to do well this season. “They have signed a lot of good players and they will be definitely up there with a couple of other sides,” the Celtic winger said. “They have Niall McGinn and Gregg Wylde, so they have good players going forward. It will be a tough game up there. “All the boys want to try to win the league, the two cups and reach the group stages. “I think we can get the treble but it’s vitally important we get into the Champions League and try to win the league title again.”

Just goal difference is keeping Aberdeen off top spot as the Dons sit on maximum points so far under new manager Derek McInnes. McInnes is looking to improve on last season’s eighth place finish in the league and wins against Kilmarnock and Motherwell in their first two fixtures have seen the side justify their pre-season optimism. The Dons manager knows his side will face a tougher test when Celtic visit Pittodrie today, though.

McInnes has faith in his players but insists a defeat won’t derail the Dons.

“I love working with the boys,” McInnes said. “I trust them. I trust their workrate, I trust how strong they are, how fit they are and I trust that they’ll go the full way. “When you’ve got that trust as a manager it’s brilliant to put your team out there regardless of the opposition. “Regardless of who we’re playing, whether it’s a team in good form or in poor form, it’s about us and what we do in the game “For us it’s about getting a reputation as a good side and a tough side to play against. “I do believe that win, lose or draw the game it won’t stop us from what we are trying to do.” Elsewhere, yesterday crisis club Hearts continued their quest to pick up vital points to stave off relegation when they take on Partick Thistle at Firhill. The Jambos, who sit bottom with minus 12 points after a deduction imposed for entering administration, will have been boosted by last weekend’s derby win over Hibernian but Thistle have made an unbeaten start to the season. —AFP

barred spectators because of security concerns, and Ahly were serving a CAF ban anyway over flare-throwing during a qualifier.”It is crucial that we succeed in Congo,” admitted former Ahly defender Youssef.

“A victory would give us the push we need to reach the knockout stages.”

Recently appointed Toulan said: “Our loss to Leopards is not the end of the world-we can recover and reaching the semi-finals remains our immediate target.” Both coaches were cheered by medical bulletins with talismanic midfielder Mohamed Abou Trika set to play for Ahly and likely lone Zamalek striker Ahmed Eid also fit to start.

Leopards, who boast two-metre-plus Malian Arouna Drame and an equally dangerous striker in captain Rudy Guelord Bhebey-Ndey, have won 15 of 17 home CAF games and drawn one. But Pirates, who reveled in the freedom

afforded by Ahly, failed to find a way past a massed Leopards rearguard in Soweto and Zamalek are likely to prove equally efficient defenders. “Bigger, better and stronger than Ahly,” was the verdict of ‘Buccaneers’ coach Roger de Sa when quizzed about Zamalek, who are back in South Africa after a 20-year absence.

There is Group B gridlock with Sewe San Pedro of Ivory Coast, Esperance of Tunisia, Recreativo Libolo of Angola and Coton Sport of Cameroon collecting three points each. Each club won their first home game so the odds slightly favour Coton and Sewe on Sunday when they host Libolo and two-time champions Esperance respectively. It will boost the Cameroonians and Ivorians that they have two of the sharpest Champions League strikers this season with Alexis Kada and Kevin Zougoula claiming five goals each.—AFP

French League Preview

PSG make home bow PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain play their first home game since Laurent Blanc replaced Carlo Ancelotti as coach of the Ligue 1 champions when they entertain Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes tomorrow evening, with memories of last season’s struggles against the Corsicans still fresh.

The capital club were held to goalless draws in both meetings with Ajaccio in 2012-13, but those results did not prevent them from comfortably winning the Ligue 1 crown in May. Former France coach Blanc has been at the helm for six weeks now, and oversaw the Champions Trophy win against Bordeaux in his first competitive game at the helm before a 1-1 draw in Montpellier in last weekend’s league opener. In both games, PSG have had to come from behind, with Brazilian full-back Maxwell earning them a draw at the Stade de la Mosson after they had trailed at the interval against opponents who pressed and harried tirelessly.

With Corsican sides renowned for their aggression, and Ajaccio coach Fabrizio Ravanelli determined to make his team difficult to beat, PSG could face a frustrating evening tomorrow.

However, Blanc will hope that 64 millioneuro (US$85.4m, £54.6m) record signing Edinson Cavani can have an impact on his home debut after almost scoring as a substitute in Montpellier. “Certainly,” Blanc said when asked if the Uruguayan former Napoli striker, who started preseason training late, will feature against Ajaccio. “But the question is will he start.

That is a decision we will take. He is a little bit behind with his preparation and has had some fitness problems.”

Ajaccio lost 1-0 to Saint-Etienne last weekend, but Ravanelli will relish the occasion in the capital having already experienced the heat of the Parc des Princes during his days as a Marseille player. In November 1997, the Italian striker played a central part in a controversial victory at the ground for PSG’s bitter rivals, diving to win a penalty that was

converted by...Laurent Blanc. “It is a great thing to return to Paris, especially as a coach. It is a real pleasure,” said Ravanelli.

“We know we will be playing against an extraordinary team with extraordinary means. But even if we lose we will come

Confidence is also high in Marseille after OM cruised to an opening-day win in Guingamp. They play host to Evian today, although recent signing Saber Khalifa is unlikely to make his debut against his former club in that encounter

CLAIREFONTAINE-EN-YVELINES: Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (3rd left) takes part in a training session with teammates yesterday in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, outside Paris.—AFP out with our heads held high, because we know we can enjoy a good season.”

Earlier tomorrow, Monaco, tipped as PSG’s most likely title challengers, will look to build on their opening-day win at Bordeaux when they welcome Montpellier to the Stade Louis II. Claudio Ranieri’s side. a mixture of expensive summer acquisitions and exciting young talent, won 2-0 in Bordeaux, with Radamel Falcao netting a debut goal after his 60 million-euro move from Atletico Madrid. And in midweek they won an appeal against a three-point deduction handed down as a punishment for a trouble at the end of a game last season, so confidence will be high at the principality club.

as he builds up his fitness. After thumping Nice 4-0 last weekend, Lyon travel to Sochaux on Friday, the match being brought forward to help Remi Garde’s side prepare for next midweek’s Champions League play-off, first leg against Real Sociedad.

“Sochaux are a team that like to play football and don’t worry about their opponents. That’s the club’s culture,” said Garde. “We are expecting a tough game.

We need to confirm our good form and try and cause them as many problems as possible.” In the pick of the other matches, Nice face Rennes at the Stade du Ray, although that match will be played behind closed doors as a punishment for fan misbehaviour last season.— AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Photo of the day

Oil boom fuels rise of football in Azerbaijan

Sebastian Vettel prepares for his race at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Herten, Germany.

— www.redbullcontentpool.com

Asian chief backs Qatar World Cup KUALA LUMPUR: Asia’s football chief has underlined his support for Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup after English officials suggested the event should be moved elsewhere.

Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said Qatar would “make Asia proud” with the tournament, despite ongoing concerns over playing it in the harsh Gulf summer.

“The AFC is confident that Qatar will host a magnificent World Cup, under the guidance of FIFA, and with it only being the second time that Asia plays host to a FIFA World Cup,” Sheikh Salman said in a statement. “We are sure that Qatar will make Asia proud.” The timing of the event has become a vexed issue with FIFA and UEFA, the world and European governing bodies, and footballers’ union FIFPro all calling for it to be held during the winter.

Greg Dyke, the new chairman of England’s Football Association, said the tournament could also be moved away from Qatar, a view endorsed by English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore this week. “At the end of the day, FIFA made a decision which is for none of us to comment on,” Scudamore said on Thursday. “They decided the World

Cup will be in the summer in Qatar. “Our view is, if that is deemed not possible by FIFA, they need to move the location.

We can’t just, on a whim, decide to move to the winter.”

South Korea and Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup in the hot East Asian summer, the only time the region has hosted football’s showpiece event. Tiny, oil-wealthy Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 tournament has been controversial since it won hosting rights in 2010 after a bidding process hit by corruption allegations. Shaikh Salman was elected president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in May after the departure of Qatari businessman Mohamed bin Hammam, who is battling corruption claims and was also involved in his home country’s World Cup bid. Shaikh Salman, a member of the royal family in Bahrain, which neighbours Qatar, also raised the prospect of an Asian winner for the Qatar tournament. “Based on the performance and achievements of Asian nations in all FIFA competitions and the recent Olympics in both the male and female categories... we are now world-beaters and worthy contenders for any competition, and why not winning it in 2022 in Asia?” he said. — AFP

Israel to let Arab youth teams into West Bank AMMAN: Israel has bowed to pressure from UEFA to allow Arab youth football teams into the Palestinian territories, having initially denied them entry, a Jordanian official said yesterday. Israel’s refusal to grant West Bank entry to players and coaching staff delayed the West Asia Football Federation’s Under-17’s Championship, which was to begin on Thursday. “WAFF President (Jordan’s) Prince Ali Bin alHussein and FIFA’s vice-president intervened with UEFA to settle this issue,” WAFF secretary-general Fadi Zureiqat said.

“Israel capitulated (to the pressure) and allowed entry permits for all the teams and officials,” he said.

“The delegations have prepared to set off for the West Bank via the King Hussein crossing (with Jordan). WAFF will hold a meeting this evening to decide the official program, following the delay.” The Palestinian territories and their

own team are to host the tournament, welcoming the Iraqi, Jordanian and Emirati under-17’s squads. The Palestinian Football Association’s (PFA) director-general told AFP: “the Israeli civil administration informed me they have issued all the permits, and the teams can begin crossing into the West Bank from today.”

The tournament would now start tomorrow, he added.

Zureiqat said WAFF had sent the PFA the participating players’ and managers’ details six weeks ahead of the tournament so they could get the permits from Israel on time. The teams were initially due to arrive three days ahead of Thursday’s scheduled start. It is the first time an Iraqi team will travel to the Palestinian territories. Several Arab countries refuse to play in the Palestinian territories, opposing the fact that Israel decides whether or not they can enter. —AFP

BAKU: For a manager who has coached at Europe’s most successful club, signing up at a provincial Azerbaijani football team might not seem a likely career move. After a conversation with the billionaire owner of Azerbaijan’s Khazar lankaran, however, former Real Madrid coach John Toshack says that he was convinced enough to take the plunge earlier this year. “I am the sort of person who is always ready for a new challenge and so I said, ‘why not?’” Toshack, who has also coached the Wales national team and played for Liverpool, told AFP. Few football fans outside the oil-rich former Soviet state would likely be able to point out on a map lankaran-a town of just over 80,000 on the Caspian Sea-or know much about Azerbaijan and the state of the game in the country. Buoyed by billions of dollars in oil revenues, over the past decade Azerbaijan has seen an economic boom under the authoritarian rule of strongman President Ilham Aliyev that has seen ritzy skyscrapers shoot up in the capital city Baku and the country play host to events such as the Eurovision song contest. Now, football seems to be catching up.

Owned by Azeri-Turkish shipping magnate Mubariz Mansimovwho served as a Soviet-era intelligence officer and is also known by his adopted Turkish surname Gurbanoglu-Khazar lankaran is one of the clubs leading the way. The current squad has a smattering of South Americans and Spaniards and the club was linked to a megabucks contract offer for former Arsenal winger and Russia captain Andrey Arshavin last season-although officials there say it was all just rumors. “When I got here I was really surprised in a good way about the level of football in Azerbaijan,” says Toshack. “In our team we’ve got some pretty top-class players.” Khazar lankaran is not the only team that has significant financial backing. Current champions Neftci Baku are supported by state oil and gas giant SOCAR, which earlier this year became one of UEFA’s major sponsors. Across town, FC Baku are backed by Hafiz Mammadov, the founder of a business group with interests in sectors from oil to transport, who also has links to French club Lens and Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

Elsewhere, Gabala FC in central Azerbaijan is run by the sons of one of the country’s richest and most powerful politicians and boasted former Arsenal defensive legend Tony Adams as coach a few years back. This has all seen Azerbaijan touted as the next former Soviet state that could have an impact on the European stage. Last season, Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk-owned by multi-billionaire Rinat Akhmetov-won plaudits as it reached the latter stages of the Champions League.

For the time being, Azerbaijani football still has a long way to go and although facilities have improved, matches are often played in front of miniscule crowds. This year only one team is still involved in European qualifiers, Karabakh, and Khazar lankaran was thrashed 100 on aggregate by Israeli club Maccabi Haifa in Europa League qualifying. “In Europe there are clubs with budgets of 200 to 300 million euros ($270 million to $400 million) which still struggle to win anything,” says Tuygun Nadirov, Khazar lankaran’s vice-president.

“In Azerbaijan the club budgets do not yet reach over 20 or 30 million. “I think a time will come though when the level of our football will be high and star footballers won’t have any doubts about coming here.” One of the foreign players who has already made the move is Brazilian Flavio Beck-a journeyman midfielder who came to Baku side Inter after stints in a series of minor European leagues. “My agent told me that there are some good teams in Azerbaijan and I said of course it is possible to play there and I came without problem,” the South American player said. “Baku is a beautiful city, the people here are normal but I spend most of my time at home with my family.”

NO PROPER STADIUMS While the level of some of the foreign imports may not yet be high enough, for local players football in Azerbaijan is unrecognizable from where it was a few years ago. “In Azerbaijan a few years ago there weren’t even proper stadiums,” says national team striker Vagif Javadov, who also plays for Inter Baku. “Now pretty much every team has its own stadium.” Experts say that while the change is evident fans may soon be demanding more return for the money the clubs are pouring into the game. “It could be argued that with the amount of money being invested we would want to have greater development,” says Ikhtiyar Asgarov, who runs football website Apasport.

“However much we might wish it, in the next few years it’s impossible to imagine our teams reaching the latter stages of the Champions League.” As for Welshman Toshack, lankaran may be a far cry from the famous arenas like Santiago Bernabeu or Anfield that he has worked in before but when the football starts it will be business as usual. “Despite the fact that lankaran is very different from places I’ve been before, I don’t see myself having a problem settling in,” he says. — AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Matches on TV

EPL Preview

(Local Timings)

Dawn breaks over all-new Premier League LONDON: When the sun rises on the 2013-14 Premier League campaign today, it will reveal a landscape that has changed immeasurably in the 91 days since last season. Familiar faces like Alex Ferguson, Jamie Carragher, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen have moved on, with new managers and a raft of multi-million-pound signings hoping to plug the holes that they have left behind. Heightening the sensation of new beginnings is the pioneering introduction of goal-line technology, with Hawk-Eye systems now in place at all 20 Premier League grounds.

The sense of unfamiliarity will be nowhere more apparent than at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium, where champions Manchester United will play a league game with a manager other than Ferguson in the dug-out for the first time since November 1, 1986. Former Everton manager David Moyes is the man charged with the weighty task of stepping into Ferguson’s shoes, and with games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to follow in quick succession, he cannot afford a slow start.

“I think it’s the hardest start for 20 years that Manchester United have had,” Moyes complained to BBC Sport. “I hope it’s not because Manchester United won the league quite comfortably last year that the fixtures have been made much more difficult.” The first few weeks of Moyes’ Old Trafford tenure have been dogged by speculation about

the future of striker Wayne Rooney, whose fitness will be assessed prior to the game after he made his return from injury in England’s 3-2 friendly win over Scotland on Wednesday.

United’s two closest rivals from last season are also under new management, with Manuel Pellegrini replacing the sacked Roberto Mancini at Manchester City and Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea to succeed Rafael Benitez. City, who have spent an estimated £90 million ($139 million, 105 million euros) on new players, do not begin their season until Monday, when they host Newcastle United, with Chelsea in action a day earlier when promoted Hull City are the visitors to Stamford Bridge. Tomorrow will also witness another encounter between a promoted club and a budding title contender, with Tottenham Hotspur travelling from north to south London to take on Crystal Palace. Like City, Spurs have also spent heavily in the close season, with Thursday’s acquisition of France midfielder Etienne Capoue from Toulouse nudging their total outlay towards the £60 million mark.It is Gareth Bale’s mooted move to Real Madrid that has most occupied manager Andre Villas-Boas’ thoughts this summer, however, although the Welshman will be absent at Selhurst Park with a foot injury.

Once again, Spurs begin the season with the aim of pipping north London rivals Arsenal to a Champions League spot, having narrowly failed to

meet that objective last season. Arsenal are yet to add any new players to their squad, to the consternation of their fans, and manager Arsene Wenger also has injury concerns in midfield ahead of today’s visit of Aston Villa. Santi Cazorla may be short of fitness after turning out for Spain against Ecuador, while Mikel Arteta is a doubt with a thigh problem.

“Cazorla played almost a full game. He only lands in London tonight (Thursday), so we will see how he is tomorrow,” Wenger said. “Mikel has a slight thigh problem. We have to check that. I don’t know if he will be out for the weekend.” The new season kicks off at Anfield, where Liverpool come up against a Stoke City side with a new manager in Mark Hughes.With unsettled striker Luis Suarez absent as he completes his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season, Rodgers has been boosted by the news that Daniel Sturridge has overcome an ankle problem.

Former Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez takes his new club Everton to Norwich City today, while Cardiff City, promoted as winners of the second-tier Championship, visit West Ham United for their first top-level match since 1962.

Paolo Di Canio’s Sunderland, and their 10 new signings, begin the campaign at home to Fulham, while Southampton will have club-record £12.5 million signing Victor Wanyama on board for their trip to West Bromwich Albion. —AFP

English Premier League Liverpool v Stoke

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Aljazeera Sports HD 1 Arsenal v Aston Villa

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Aljazeera Sports HD 1 Norwich v Everton

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Aljazeera Sports HD 2 Sunderland v Fulham

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Aljazeera Sports HD 3 Bromwich v Southampton

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Aljazeera Sports HD 5 West Ham v Cardiff

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Aljazeera Sports HD 4 Swansea v Man United

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Aljazeera Sports HD 1 SPANISH LEAGUE Real Sociedad v Getafe

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Aljazeera Sports HD 2 Valladolid v Athletic de Bilbao

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Aljazeera Sports HD 2 Tomorrow

Wilshere backs Arsenal to end trophy drought

Valencia v Malaga CF Aljazeera Sports HD 2

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA Stuttgart v Bayer 04

LONDON: Jack Wilshere insists Arsenal are desperate to put another dispiriting pre-season behind them and finally end the club’s eight-year trophy drought. Last season finished promisingly as Arsenal claimed fourth place on the final day ahead of rivals Tottenham. But the Gunners remain without silverware since 2005 and boss Arsene Wenger’s failure to land any major signings has added to the growing sense of unease ahead of today’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa.

The frustrating barren spell helps explain the discontent among the club’s supporters during periods when the team struggled last season and that will undoubtedly resurface if Wenger’s side again fail to challenge for major honors. But England

EPL warns clubs LONDON: Going into a new season that will bring more exposure than ever, Premier League officials have written to clubs to emphasize the need for good conduct by players and managers after a series of high-profile disciplinary cases in recent years.

There will be increased attention on the world’s richest league when it starts this weekend, with a new series of television deals generating around $8.5 billion over the next three seasons.

The closing weeks of last season were marred by Liverpool striker Luis Suarez biting an opponent and being handed a 10match ban - having previously been banned the previous campaign for racist abuse. And Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said that at end-of-season debriefing with clubs “a lot of it was about players’ conduct, ethical conduct.”

“We get hugely involved in the ethics of the game,” Scudamore said Thursday. “In the email I have sent out to clubs preseason there is stuff in there about players’ behavior, (club) officials’ behavior.”

Scudamore, though, insists that the conduct of players on the pitch is improving. “Look at the amount of mass confrontations there were last season,” Scudamore said. “There wasn’t actually a single incident of mass confrontation at a Premier League game last season.” Although the league has lost one fiery manager in Alex Ferguson, who retired in May after almost 27 years at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho is back at Chelsea. —AP

star Wilshere says there can be no more excuses for underachievement because Wenger’s squad have the talent and desire to restore the club to its’ former glory.

“We understand the fans’ frustration, because we care as well,” Wilshere said.

“Arsenal used to be a team that won everything, you know, trophies and titles. But now we haven’t won anything for eight years, so we know what we have to do. “It’s time to start producing trophies and being closer to the top of the league at the end of the season. “We don’t just want to be fighting for fourth place - we want to be up there with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. We feel we’re good enough to be there.”

Wilshere has been eased into action during pre-season but should start against Villa after appearing for England against Scotland this week, although Theo Walcott is a more significant doubt after limping out of the Wembley clash.

Wenger needs every weapon at his disposal ahead of a testing opening week, with the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce following four days after the Villa clash. They will start the campaign without the big-name signing Wenger has been pursuing after losing out to Napoli in the race to sign Gonzalo Higuain and failing to persuade Liverpool to part with Luis Suarez.

Yaya Sanogo remains Wenger’s sole acquisition during another frustrating close-season, but he is adamant a marquee signing is still possible before the transfer window closes on September 2 “We are active,” Wenger said. “We are in a situation like Manchester United, like Chelsea, where everybody expects signings and at the moment not a lot has happened. “There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active. “I cannot certify what the number (of players coming in will be) but we will be active until the end, that is for sure.”

Meanwhile, Villa manager Paul Lambert has defended his treatment of Darren Bent as the striker prepares to join Fulham on a season-long loan after undergoing a medical with the Cottagers on Thursday.The £24 million (US$37.5m, 28.1m euro) signing from Sunderland quickly found himself in Christian Benteke’s shadow at Villa last term, however the Scot insists his decision was purely for footballing reasons. “It’s well documented he’s down there having a medical,” said Lambert.

“There has been not one crossed word between us. I don’t know where people have got that from.

“I brought in Benteke. If anyone can tell me it was the wrong decision (to pick him ahead of Bent) then they’d take you away in a white van! “It’s just the way I play and the way I look for people to play under me. “That’s football. All over the world that’s the game. It’s nothing to do with faces, I just had to make decisions about who I played. “The big man (Benteke) came in and he’s been exceptional.” —AFP

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Dubai Sport Wolfsburg v Schalke 04

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Dubai Sports Werder Bremen v Augsburg

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Dubai Sports Hamburger SV v TSG Hoffenheim 16:30 Dubai Sports Eintracht Frankfrut v Bayern

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Dubai Sports Borussia v Hannover 96

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Dubai Sports FRENCH LEAGUE Marseille v Evian Thonon

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Aljazeera Sport +4 Saint Etienne v Guingamp

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Aljazeera Sports HD 5 OGC Nice v Stade Rennes

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Aljazeera Sports HD 3 Stade Reims v Lille OSC Aljazeera Sport +4

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Sports

Top seeds advance but Bartoli’s buzz remains

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MOSCOW: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (second left) leads Britain’s Delano Williams (second right) as they cross the finish line in the men’s 200 meters qualifying event at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium yesterday. — AFP

Bolt breezes through 200 heat Under-fire Isinbayeva backtracks

MOSCOW: Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva sought to limit the fallout from her comments supporting her country’s controversial anti-gay law yesterday as Usain Bolt returned to the Luzhniki stadium after an injury scare. Sprint king Bolt, who regained his 100 meters title on Sunday, appeared with strapping on his right foot and told reporters after jogging through his morning 200m heat that he had suffered a mishap in training. “I accidentally dropped a starting block on it,” the Jamaican, chasing a third successive world title at the sprint distance he prefers, said after barely breaking sweat to ease into the semi-finals later in the day. “My foot is feeling better. It was sore. I’ve worked on it for the last four days.”

While Bolt admitted he was “not a morning person”, Australia’s eager Sally Pearson began the defence of her 100m hurdles crown with a season’s best time. Isinbayeva has hogged the headlines since winning a third pole vault world title on Tuesday in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

The 31-year-old basked in the adulation but found herself facing a barrage of negative headlines when she criticized a gesture of support for the Russian gay community by Swedish high-

jumper Emma Green-Tregaro.

STANDARD PEOPLE Isinbayeva told a news conference in English on Thursday that Russians considered themselves “normal, standard people.” “We just live boys with women, girls with boys,” she said, GreenTregaro competed in qualifying with her fingernails painted in the colors of the rainbow flag used by the gay movement. Isinbayeva’s comments were condemned as “behind the times” by American 800 meters silver medalist Nick Symmonds and the Russian, in a statement released by the International Association of Athletics Federations, said she respected the views of fellow athletes.

“English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday,” Isinbayeva’s statement said. “What I wanted to say was that people should respect the laws of other countries particularly when they are guests. “But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality.”

HOT POTATO The controversial Russian law has become a political hot potato ahead of next year’s Sochi Olympics, when it will apply to athletes and spectators. The anti-gay law, which was passed in June, has threatened to overshadow the world championships where the sport’s top names have competed in a Luzhniki stadium that has not been full for a single session. Bolt, on autopilot, went through the motions on a bright and sunny morning as he clocked a pedestrian 20.66 seconds.

The Jamaican still hoped, he said, “to do something special” when it came to showtime.

“Anything is possible once I’m in the final,” said the world record holder who, with compatriot Yohan Blake not competing in Moscow, lacks a serious rival to his sprint dominance. While Bolt cruised, Pearson let a “caged tiger” out on to the track, the Australian putting days of frustration of waiting to appear behind her with a season’s best effort. Pearson, the finest female hurdler since the versatile Gail Devers won three world titles in the 1990s, brushed off the cobwebs to register 12.62, but the 26-year-old said she had plenty to work on.

CAGED TIGER “It was good to finally be out there. I feel like a caged tiger again. I hate being at the end,” she said. “The start was good... (I) have a bit of tidying up to do at the end of the race. I thought I had a faster time but I screwed up the last hurdle and a half.” Pearson will have to up her game in the semi-finals and final today, though, with young American Brianna Rollins a potent threat for gold.

Rollins, 21, ran the fastest time in 21 years when she clocked 12.26 seconds to win the US trials in June and her 12.55 was the best of the morning heats.

Defending triple jump champion Christian Taylor progressed safely through to Sunday’s final with the third best leap in qualifying, five centimeters shy of Frenchman Teddy Tamgho.

Russia’s defending champion Maria Abakumova topped the list in javelin qualifying but there was disappointment for Jamaica’s women’s 4x400 relay team who were disqualified and will miss the final following a lane violation. There should be plenty of track excitement later when American Allyson Felix goes for a fourth world 200 meters title and Briton Mo Farah seeks to add 5,000 metres gold to his 10,000 title.— Reuters