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NO: 16056- Friday, January 24, 2014

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Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014

In my view

P2aKUWAIT: A flock of flamingos seen migrating to Kuwait in Sulaibiya, Kuwait City. — Photo by Sherif Ismail

Face it: Perfect is not good enough

By Priyanka Saligram

priyankasaligram@kuwaittimes.net

T

here’s constant pressure to work harder, be faster, think smarter, move quicker, dream bigger and over the past few years, look better. Once upon a time, looking “better” was relegated to maybe shedding a few extra pounds and getting a nice hairdo but now, even a nose job now is viewed as casually as say, getting your eyebrows tweezed.

Unless you’re living under a rock, there’s no escaping any form of media. Turn on any one of the gazillion TV channels and you get to see men and women (we’re not even talking movie stars) who look beyond perfect - tall and stately, chiseled features, youthful looks and flawless bodies. They might all be immortal vampires, if we didn’t know better. Back in the 80s, the public’s main reaction when they saw their favorite celebrities was “Wow! She’s so gorgeous!” or “Man, he’s handsome as hell!” Now the reaction is “Hmm... Nice nose, I wonder if her plastic surgeon is available next month”.

Botox, lip and cheek fillers, jaw line reconstruction, liposuction and augmentation - a billion-dollar industry thriving on sucking out fat and stuffing fat back in. No denying the fact that it’s great to be living in an age where a fat wallet can buy you a thin waist but my question is: Where’s the finish line? At which point can you sit back, look into the mirror and say “Yup! Now I look purrfect!”

The answer to that is - never. Plastic surgery has become yet another of society’s addictions. You get your big nose reshaped into something more delicate and aquiline until all of a sudden you realize that your new nose is making your lips look like dehydrated snails. So now your store-bought nose and bee stung lips match each other but suddenly you think “Wait, are those elephant ears? Why do they look like they’re flapping in the wind?” So you get your ears stapled to the back of your head and the doctor offers to plump your cheeks up at special discount rates. Life’s all beautiful and the sun is shining brighter and the grass looks greener till someone says “OMG! You look fabulous! Looks like you put on some serious weight though...”.

If we didn’t have society to judge us harshly or force airbrushed models down our throats, would we perceive ourselves as lesser mortals? When I consulted a dermatologist once to ask about the best sun-block with the highest SPF, she looked at me intently and said “I’m trying to imagine you with a sharper nose”. For a second, I thought of Pinocchio and asked her what she had in mind. She dramatically emphasized how much nicer she thought I would look with a sculpted nose. For the next few weeks (months, to be honest), any shiny surface that I could catch my reflection on, my nose was all that I could see. In my mind, my face didn’t have a nose; my nose had a face. After looking at it from every possible angle and trying to imagine myself with Cleopatra’s nose, I remembered Michael Jackson’s detachable nose and wondered if I wanted that.

The common idea was that women went under the knife to look desirable to men. But the reality is we often do it not for men as much as to beat back the judgments of other women. I pictured it more as - “Check out my new LV clutch... it matches my new Louboutin perfectly! Did you see my new butt? Doesn’t it look awesome, just like Kim’s?!” I truly believe that women do it for themselves mainly. Their families and best friends can tell them that they are stunners but if their reflection in the mirror doesn’t echo that thought, then the scalpel it is.

In this mad rush for picture perfect beauty, it’s distressing to see that health and fitness are being compromised. When it’s easier to get a “painless” laser liposuction done to shave off a few kilos, why would anyone eat right or hit the gym? Losing weight isn’t the big deal; keeping it off is. And to make that happen, you need to make serious lifestyle changes which take more time and effort than just lying on an operating table for a few hours. Sculpting washboard abs isn’t just about having something to post on Instagram, it’s more of a passport to good health but sadly, not many people think exercising or playing a sport (no, PS4 and Grand Theft Auto are not included) is worth their time or effort.

After everything is said and done, isn’t it ironic that many complain of their looks, but none of their brains?

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Conspiracy Theories

Surveillance and democracy?

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

S KUWAIT: MP Ali Al-Rashed argues during a session of the National Assembly in this recent photo. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

MP Rashed launches scathing attack on PM KUWAIT: MP Ali Al-Rashed said the government’s failure and its inability to run the government is because of Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah, saying that (former PM) Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah formed seven governments in five years while Sheikh Jaber formed seven governments in two years. He said this is evidence of his failure and inability. Rashed, who was speaking during the first gathering of the “Independent Masar” group that he formed, expressed hope to rescue the country through a prime minister that is able to give, achieve and develop.

He said that some MPs told him the prime minister said ‘wait until summer and I will change the government’, and he wondered “how are we to remain with a prime minister with this

mentality and this way of running things”.

“The prime minister is hypothetically and legally supposed to select the ministers, but in truth only two advisors form the government, and one of them when asked ‘why do not you become a minister because this is a good opportunity as the premier is your friend and the Assembly is cooperative’, his answer was ‘why do I demote myself and become minister, when I appoint and remove ministers now’,” Rashed said.

He added the aim is not to criticize but give solutions, saying that the first solution is an able premier who can give because the person who does not have anything cannot give. “We need a prime minister with a different vision, understanding and ability, who

puts a strategy and certain plans and a program about what he wants to do in Kuwait during 5 years as well as in the long run,” Rashed demanded.

He said we are in need of a constitutional revision as a whole for more freedoms and organization and called for a conciliatory national conference with all groups of Kuwait society. “We are not exclusionary, but we became at odds with a certain faction because of the way they handled things. The difference with them was on the method and how to solve Kuwait problems, not to take to the streets or resort to chaos, though our goal and theirs is one,” claimed Rashed. “We want to fight corruption and they want that too, and we do not have a problem with them nor with any other party in Kuwait.”

urveillance. Today I arrived at the office to find all the editors zooming in and out around an image of a hidden camera. There was a heated debate and everybody was throwing in ideas and suggestions. It was all about an image of a hidden camera that was going on the front page of the paper. That struck my mind. What is up with surveillance around the world? The debate is even here in the office. This reminded me of the heated issue between the United States and Europe - I mean, and the whole world. Though the two countries are friends, the Americans were accused of eavesdropping on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.

We discovered that not only the UK and Merkel were under the spying eye of their best friend the US; we discovered that the whole of Europe was shouting. All these activities resurfaced after the Edward Snowden affair - the American who is seeking refuge in Russia today. Of course, he was warmly welcomed by Kremlin. That reminded me of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, who also exposed the US government for gathering information about the whole globe.

Spying is an old job among countries and people. As technology advances, spy gear has advanced too. In the past, kings had to sneak somebody in the palace of another king usually they opted for women because it was easier - to spy on each other. You had to send a human being in disguise to do the job. Even if we talk about the more recent past, if a husband wanted to spy on his wife or vice versa, they would hire a detective. The detective would have to follow the target and climb up floors or windows or hide under the bed to snap a picture of the sinning spouse. Nowadays, there’s no need for well-trained CIA or MI5 tough guys to monitor your moves or conversations.

Today it is hidden cameras and implanted phone software that keep track and record conversations and take pictures.

You know what, the new smartphones have information about all of us. Our iPads, PCs and phones collect our data and store it. All our information is stored in the cloud or servers around the globe.

I think it is ugly that you cannot move freely. You cannot utter a word freely and yet we are talking about democracy.

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Are you being

watched?

Demand for illegal spy gear skyrockets

By Nawara Fattahova

E

very day after Ahmad’s wife leaves the family home, he sits on the sofa, opens his laptop and starts stalking her online, following every step she takes and every person she meets. He listens to her phone calls and records them. One day, however, the wife discovered the malicious surveillance equipment in her car and phone - an act that is punishable by law and yet common in Kuwait - and sought a lawyer’s assistance.

The demand for surveillance equipment, which is illegal in Kuwait, has seen an upward trend in the past few years. Parents are spying on their children and maids while leaving them unsupervised, spouses are spying on each other, employers are spying on staff and strangers are spying on other strangers. Spying in Kuwait is easy and cheap. The equipment is sold for as low as KD 25 and widely advertised across local newspapers. A reader will find tens of shops offering monitoring cameras of all kinds, even with delivery service.

These cameras and other spying gadgets are prohibited equipment according to attorney Saleh Al-Huseini. “All kinds of spying cameras are forbidden and should not be available in the local market. Unfortunately, the law in Kuwait is violated. Only a few companies have licenses and permits to sell these for a specific purpose, such as security,” said Huseini, adding that even such firms after installing these cameras should put a sign informing people that the place is monitored by cameras. This is done in banks, malls and other places. “The same applies to voice recording - the caller should be informed that his call will be recorded, otherwise it’s illegal and a breach of personal freedom,” Huseini told Kuwait Times.

Simply spying According to him, the law applies to corporate entities too. “It is illegal for a company to install surveillance cameras without notifying employees,” he said, adding that even if an employer has recorded any wrongdoing or illegal behavior of an employee, it won’t be accepted as proof, as such records are not considered evidences but presumptions only.” The shops and the sellers of such equipment are breaching the law because advertisers of such goods are obliged to list the license number of the shop. “There is chaos and many forbidden items are imported into the country such as drugs, alcohol and others.

I guess there are some smuggling operations at the Customs Department,” he said.

Snoop and get jailed Huseini himself has dealt with cases of spying equipment. “I had a case of a wife who was suing her husband for spying on her with cameras and recording machines. The case

was dropped as she forgave him because she didn’t want to get a divorce. Otherwise, the husband would have been imprisoned for up to one year. I also had many cases of victims threatened by publishing of their photos on social media, and here the sentence may be for up to three years,” he explained.

Easily available A shop in Farwaniya offers two kinds of cameras - both with images and sound. A livestreaming camera can be connected to the laptop or TV screen is available in the size of a 50 fils coin. This camera costs KD 20 and has a one-year warranty. It doesn’t need any special installation process as according to the sales-

All kinds of spying cameras are forbidden and should not be available in the local market. Unfortunately, the law in Kuwait is violated. Only a few companies have licenses and permits to sell these for a specific purpose, such as security.

man, it can be simply fixed on the ceiling or cupboard with tape. The other is a monitoring camera that records video on flash memory and comes in the shape of an alarm clock that is simply placed on a desk. It costs KD 45 and has no warranty. The salesman claimed that his work is legal and these cameras are not forbidden by law.

Size matters in spy gear According to Emad, the owner of a shop selling monitoring cameras, his goods are legal. “I only sell visible cameras that are used for monitoring in companies or public institutions. At the Customs Department, they have a list of forbidden items which include spying

cameras that are small and hidden, but my cameras are about 10 inch large. Even the shipping company has spying cameras on the list of forbidden items, and my cameras are classified as non-spying cameras. I have never faced any problem with the inspectors or the customs,” he pointed out.

Maj Naser Buslaib, Head of the Media Department of the Ministry of Interior, said the Ministry of Interior is not responsible for the illegal trade of spy gear. “The Ministry of Commerce is in charge of checking shops selling spying cameras and confiscate them, while the Customs Department is in charge of not allowing them to enter the country,” he stated.

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

The girl who cannot read

By Velina Nacheva

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he hardest part of Nora’s day is the time her children open their homework notebooks and start asking questions about math, Arabic or science. Instead of an answer, Noura, 26, says she gives them a smile and “endless love”. “Deep inside I am fighting my tears because I cannot help them. I am clueless about what they need,” Noura says, looking away from her husband’s sympathetic look.

Noura, a 26-year-old bedoon (stateless) girl, is an illiterate adult. She cannot read or write. That is why, she says, she has big plans for her three children. She wants her sons to become an engineer and a teacher, and her daughter to one day treat people in a hospital. She is determined that her daughter who fell very sick as an infant will one day become a doctor and save lives.

At a very young age, Nora had the dreams any other young girl had to raise a family, to be a lawyer and to travel the world to see new places.

Today, the longest journey she has taken are the few rare visits to Marina Mall. She is eager to go and see The Avenues after hearing her sisters’ stories about the grandeur, colours and the variety of materials in this “giant place”. Going out without a chaperone, however, is frowned upon.

That is why Noura waits impatiently for her husband’s rare days off to see the country beyond the two-bedroom apartment the family lives in.

She does not have a mobile phone because she cannot read the instructions or the caller ID. “But I can recognize the numbers. This is how I can tell when my sister calls,” she says. She loves looking at the pictures in the newspapers and on Instagram that her husband or sisters show her.

Schooling Noura is one of seven siblings. “Only two of my brothers went to school in Kuwait - something my father regrets deeply now,” she says, explaining that her family had to make a tough decision about which child to invest in. “There were many of us and my father could not afford to send everyone to study,” she says. Today she talks with great pride about her brother who has settled in London.

Noura herself plans to one day maybe get a job as a makeup artist.

“Makeup is my passion. I love looking at makeup and doing it. Sometimes my sisters visit me and we try different makeup tricks,” she says. “Plus, I want to help my husband. At times it is very hard for him to take care of the whole family on just KD 250 a month. He comes home very tired because of his many responsibilities for the whole family and the two jobs he juggles,” she says, and adds that she would not mind getting a job.

Routine Her days are full of household chores and caring for her husband and kids. “I rarely go out because I have to cook, clean and take care of the children. There are always pending tasks,” she says, expressing her happiness about having the chance to speak to Kuwait Times.

Struggling to guess which day it is, she shrugs off the question and looks at her husband for help: “Today is your birthday. You are turning 27,” he says, observing her astonished look. Watching TV is her favourite past time. “There is so much sadness in Iraq; there are so many suffering people. The people in Egypt also live in a mess,” she says, while her husband elaborates that sometimes regional events glue her to the TV. She hopes that one day she will be able to go for hajj or to visit her relatives in London. “I like Kuwait. It is our country,” she says, adding that many-a-time she tried to discourage her husband from participating in the demonstrations in Taima.”The government is good with us. We should respect it.”

If she had a magic wand, Noura says, she would like to give every bedoon a nationality. Currently her whole family is waiting for the final verdict on their application for Kuwaiti nationality. “There is a good chance that my children will grow up Kuwaiti and will not go through the same deprivation and lack of opportunities that I have faced.”

Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Local Spotlight

24/7 theory

Kuwait’s my business

Who are Kuwait’s critical thinkers?

By John P Hayes

By Muna Al-Fuzai

local@kuwaittimes.net muna@kuwaittimes.net

A

re maids suppose to work 24/7 all week long? Do male domestic workers get more freedom than females? Is this a gender issue? I don’t know of many places on earth that implement such a 24/7 theory in which maids are available at the sponsor’s beck and call. Some sponsors think it is all right to deal with the maid just like any piece of furniture that can be moved in and out any time they wish! The increase in complaints by maids on not getting a day off are becoming a matter of concern. I really think we need to adopt part-time services through agencies instead of the 24/7 fulltime service, which is not fair at all.

There are some sponsors who allow their maids a regular day off plus extra days on certain occasions such as Christmas and national holidays. They are not many, and it is common among many families here that maids are not given a day off. What really upsets me is the discrimination in this matter.

A male servant is allowed to go and enjoy a day off, but a female maid is not, even if both are working in the same house with the same pressure, if not more.

I think as much as we need awareness about maids’ rights with a day off and getting paid on time, we need to have local campaigns targeting the sponsors and how they would feel if they were forced to keep working all week long with no day off ! I’m sure if such a proposal is made, anger will be spread everywhere, calling such actions as inhumane.

Some sponsors thinks they are entitled to wake up the maid at night to prepare a late dinner or a snack. Some think it is okay to have their cars cleaned before they go to work by 7 am, so the maid has to wash the car earlier, and in this weather, I wonder if washing the car early in the morning is essential.

Not all sponsors are alike. Some are real kind to their maids and would never want to trouble them with extra work late at night, but there are other sponsors who are actual abusers. They want their maids available 24/7 for serving them like slaves and this creates more pressure on the maid and can lead to many serious problems, mental if not physical .

Another issue here for some maids is the fact that they don’t get enough rest during the day, especially those who work for large families. The problems here is that to whom they should or can complain? I know some would say that for any salary complaints, they can approach the ministry of social affairs and labour. The labour department is the right channel for them, but most maids are not educated and come from villages, and would not know how to lodge official complaints or who would help them there. The embassies are the wings of these helpless maids and they should always keep in touch with them and any complaints of abuse or mistreatment should not be ignored. The media also should be the voice of all helpless maids whose rights are withheld, and a day off is their right.

K

uwait needs a good dose of critical thinking, and yet I’ve been told many times that “criticism” is not welcome in Kuwait, especially when it comes from “foreigners.” But a nation that refuses to think deeply about important issues is a nation disconnected from its soul.

Critical thinking is important in all fields, including education, politics, business, science, and the arts. A nation that doesn’t think critically has little chance of turning ideas and innovative projects into reality. Of course, “thinking” can hardly become a national pastime in a country so enamored of the 140-character tweet. So what is Kuwait to do?

Asking ‘why’ isn’t impolite When I arrived in Kuwait four years ago, eager to help develop a future generation of decision makers, I couldn’t stop asking why.

• Why can’t they fix the sidewalks in Salmiya?

• Why is there so much trash, everywhere?

• Why can’t they stop the reckless driving that needlessly kills people every day?

• Why can’t they develop the seaside?

• Why is the water polluted?

• Why do they smoke, everywhere?

• Why do they cut in line?

• Why can’t they change the education system to get value for their money?

These were by no means “deep” questions that required critical thought - these were merely matters of curiosity but I quickly discovered they were not welcome questions.

During my first year at GUST, students regularly accused me of insulting Kuwait, or at least not understanding the culture, when all I was doing was asking why.

‘There are no answers’ One of my savvy American colleagues often chided me during my first year in Kuwait. “One day you will realize that not only are your questions unwelcomed, they are pointless.” He had already spent several years in Kuwait and decided, “There are no answers!” Even thoughtful Kuwaitis told me I was wasting my breath. “Critical questions are not asked because the country is corrupt and no one wants the truth.”

Consequently, today I ask fewer “why” questions, and I guess it doesn’t matter - I won’t live here forever - but it should matter to all who care about the future of Kuwait (including me).

Does Kuwait value positive change?

The ability to constantly ask why, to be curious about why things don’t work, or why they’re done this way and not another way, invites possibilities into our lives, our work, and our world. Thus begins the process of innovation, creation and positive change. It all begins with one simple question: Why? Critical thinking is a skill that we all can learn, but first, critical thinking must be encouraged. Sadly, it’s not in Kuwait (except in some diwaniyas). One of the greatest weaknesses I see among young people is the ability - and the courage - to think critically. When evaluating another student’s work in the classroom, a student will say, “Sir, it was perfect,” when in fact it was awful. The student will then come to me privately and say, “It wouldn’t have been kind for me to say otherwise.” Ah, I see. So it’s better to let your colleagues fail than to help them succeed by encouraging them to think about their work? Besides, critical thinking isn’t necessarily unkind - it can be constructive!

Leadership can foster critical thinking And if you’re one who believes that shallow thinking will never change because it’s “cultural,” or that it’s the same in the rest of the Gulf countries, you’re wrong. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai, recently asked his 2.5 million Twitter followers to use the hashtag “#UAE-Brainstorm” to offer creative ideas to help advance aspects of life in the UAE. This is one of the best examples of leadership using social media to enrich a country.

Enriching Kuwait depends upon critical thinking and the collaboration of people and leadership. Therefore, we (especially those of us in education) should require students, beginning at least in secondary school and continuing through university, to learn critical thinking skills and practice them.

Excuse me just one more time because I have to ask: Why doesn’t Kuwait require critical thinking in academic curricula?

NOTE: Dr John P Hayes is a critical thinker who teaches marketing and management at GUST. He’s honored to help students think critically (and not unkindly) about their goals and aspirations, and their ideas for Kuwait and the world beyond.

Contact him at questions@hayesworldwide.com.

KUWAIT: Firemen yesterday put out a fire that erupted at Mina Abdullah scrap yard. Firemen from five stations took part in putting out the blaze at the 3,500-sq-m site. The only casualties were material. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

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Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

US man’s challenge to no-fly list clears hurdle ALEXANDRIA, Virginia: A federal judge on Wednesday allowed a Virginia man’s challenge to his placement on the no-fly list to go forward, three years after he was stranded in Kuwait. US District Judge Anthony Trenga issued a 32-page written ruling rejecting arguments of government lawyers who wanted the case dismissed. Trenga said that Gulet Mohamed suffers significant harm from his apparent placement on the list and the Constitution gives him the right to challenge his no-fly status.

Trenga acknowledged that Mohamed’s travel rights must be balanced against the

government’s duty to protect its citizens from terrorism, but wrote that “the No Fly List implicates some of our basic freedoms and liberties as well as the question of whether we will embrace those basic freedoms when it is most difficult.” The Justice Department is reviewing the ruling, department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said in an email late Wednesday.

The government has refused to say why it would have placed Mohamed on the no-fly list; in fact, the government won’t even confirm that Mohamed, or anyone else, is on the list at all. The government says only that people are placed on the list when it has “reason-

able suspicion to believe that a person is a known or suspected terrorist.” Trenga wrote that a citizen’s right to due process should provide a meaningful opportunity to challenge the government’s rationale for placement on the list.

Mohamed, an Alexandria resident and naturalized US citizen, was 19 when he was detained by Kuwaiti authorities in 2011.

Mohamed says he was beaten and interrogated at the behest of the US and denied the right to fly home. US authorities allowed Mohamed to fly home after he filed a federal lawsuit, but Mohamed says he remains on the

list without justification. Mohamed’s lawyer, Gadeir Abbas, who is with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the ruling “a stinging rebuke to the government’s use of the no-fly list”. “The strong language of Judge Trenga’s ruling provides Gulet with what he has always wanted: his day in court,” Abbas said.

Both sides will now exchange discovery in the case. The judge could eventually rule in favor of either side, or let the case go to a jury.

Mohamed’s case is one of several at the leading edge of a wave of challenges to the constitutionality of the no-fly list. — AP

News

in brief

UN pays $1.03bn in compensation GENEVA: A UN panel that settles claims for damages resulting from Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait has paid out another $1.03 billion - bringing the total so far to $44.5 billion. The UN Compensation Commission said yesterday that the money went toward settling the last award that has still to be paid in full. It results from a claim by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation for production and sales losses from damage to the country’s oilfields. The commission says another $7.8 billion remains to be paid from that award, which at $14.7 billion was the largest the panel made. The Geneva-based commission was established by the UN Security Council in 1991 and is funded by a 5 percent tax on the export of Iraqi oil. It makes payments every three months.

Shuaiba still shut after power cut KUWAIT: One of Kuwait’s three oil refineries was still offline yestereday after a power cut shut all of them down on Wednesday, a spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) said. The 200,000 barrel per day (bpd) Shuaiba refinery had not yet restarted on Thursday morning, while the 460,000 bpd Mina Ahmadi and 270,000 Mina Abdullah refineries are not expected to be back to full production until today. “We managed to start the Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries and started to pump oil through them and we are still trying to run the Shuaiba refinery,” he said. Power cuts are common in the Gulf OPEC oil producer because of an antiquated and unstable electricity supply system. The three refineries were built next to each other on the Gulf coast south of the capital.

MoI officers barred from Army hospital KUWAIT: The army command issued in a surprise move a circular to stop medical care for Interior Ministry personnel. The circular said such services should be limited to police, special forces officers and soldiers only, effective April, adding that those who wish to continue their treatment should obtain an exemption letter from the defense minister or chief of staff. AlAnbaa local daily said that treatment of interior ministry officers at Jaber Armed Forces Hospital had always been through verbal orders and there is no actual law for this.

KUWAIT: The Cabinet holds an extraordinary meeting yesterday. — KUNA

Cabinet approves draft budget with big deficit Current spending accounts for 86.6% of budget

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The Cabinet yesterday approved the 2014/2015 draft budget projecting a KD 1.62 billion deficit even though it has raised the price of oil for calculating oil income. A statement issued after an extraordinary Cabinet meeting said the budget, which takes effect from April 1, projects revenues at KD 20.06 billion while it estimates spending at KD 21.68 billion, a 3.2 percent rise from the current year’s estimates or KD 682 million.

Oil income is estimated at KD18.8 billion, making up 94 percent of total revenues, while non-oil income is projected at KD 1.26 billion, the statement said. Oil income was calculated at a price of $75 a barrel from $70 in the current year, and a crude production of 2.7 million barrels

daily. The budget projects that KD 5.0 billion will be transferred into the Reserve Fund for Future Generations.

Subsidies for commodities and services are projected at KD 5.1 billion, up KD. 291.5 billion from the current year, the statement said. Wages accounted for KD 1.12 billion or 7.3 percent of the total spending. Current spending accounted for a massive 86.6 percent or KD 18.78 billion while investment spending accounted for the rest or KD 2.9 billion. Current spending consists of items that have no return on the country’s finances like wages, subsidies, defense spending and the like.

Kuwait projected a deficit in each of the past 14 years after calculating oil at a very low price, but ended up each year with a huge budget surplus. Last fiscal

year, Kuwait posted a budget surplus of KD 12.7 billion and in the previous year it posted a surplus of KD 13.2 billion, the highest ever in the country’s history. The country is highly expected to post a healthy surplus in the 2014/2015 budget because actual oil prices are above $100 a barrel and production normally exceeds 2.7 million barrels a day. The budget must be approved by the National Assembly to become effective and if the Assembly is absent through dissolution, HH the Amir can pass it through a decree that can be approved or rejected later by the Assembly in its first meeting. Kuwait has a sovereign wealth fund, run by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), and its holdings are estimated at over $400 billion mostly in foreign countries, mainly the United States, Europe and southeast Asia.

KRCS launches ‘Ragheef’ aid for Syrian refugees KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced yesterday the seventh stage of the “Ragheef” (loaf of bread) campaign in aid of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The month-long campaign is offering 14 loaves of bread every day to Syrian families in various parts of Lebanon, KRCS’ envoy Dr Musaed Al-Enezi told KUNA. This comes within the framework of humanitarian aid for Syrians in need for help, declared by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during the second international donors’ conference, which was held in Kuwait on Jan 15.

About 29,000 displaced Syrian families have benefited from this campaign in Lebanon and about 18 million loaves of bread have been distributed in the previous six campaigns. Several philanthropists, associations, and charities in Kuwait provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees in Lebanon along with the KRCS. Up to 880,000 Syrians have crossed into Lebanon fleeing insecurity and lack of necessities at home.

Most of them have settled in the north of the country. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) distributes bread as part of its ‘Ragheef’ to Syrian refugees. —KUNA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Texas executes Mexican despite diplomatic uproar

Israel foils Al-Qaeda plot on US Embassy

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India village council orders gang-rape as ‘punishment’

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MONTREUX: Non-profit activist website AVAAZ members take part in a street performance during a protest action calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war in Syria, in Montreux, where the so-called Geneva II peace talks are taking place. — AFP

European fighters in Syria swelling Britain, France, Belgium raise alarm PARIS: The increasing numbers of young jihadists heading to fight in Syria has sparked fear in Britain, France and Belgium that they could pose a major security threat upon return home as battle-hardened veterans. Scores of Europeans have already lost their lives in the bloody three-year-old conflict, which shows no sign of abating, and more and more are leaving for Syria, officials and experts said.

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls recently said there were 250 nationals fighting in Syria and at least 21 had died. The dead include two young men from a white middle-class family who converted to Islam. “The phenomenon worries me, to say the least,” said Valls on Sunday. “For me, this is the biggest danger we’ll have to face in the coming years.” Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said more than 20 of his countrymen had perished in combat. Belgian experts say there are more than 200 nationals fighting in the country.

According to German intelligence, more than 270 Germans have left for Syria and at least 15 have died. Usama Hasan, senior researcher at the Quilliam Foundation, a British counter-extremism think-tank, said estimates of the number of British jihadists who have headed to Syria range from 200 to 1,200. Hasan said while the bulk had gone there with the aim of ousting President Bashar Al-Assad, the British government was right in worrying that some could bring their jihadist skills home. “The British security services say they’ve seen a number of plots to attack Britain with links to Syria, and that

would not be surprising at all-we’ve seen the same thing with Afghanistan and Pakistan before, “ he said. “European jihadists are a burden and an embarrassment for the moderate Syrian opposition, which has given its commitment to these European governments not to take them in,” said French academic Mathieu Guidere, an expert on Islam. But they were being welcomed “with open arms” by groups allied to Al-Qaeda such as the Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), he said. Guidere said the while the French fighters “were not of much use militarily, the media attention reinforced the visibility of both the movements.” Eric Denece, the head of the French Centre of Intelligence Studies think-tank, said other groups which were less radical and more nationalistic “have enough foreigners, especially Chechens” in their ranks. British researcher Hasan said: “All of the confirmed cases have gone to ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra, with the exception of a few British Syrians who have joined moderate groups.”

Visions of ‘glorious jihad’ “Some of them have literally gone in their school or Christmas holidays,” Hasan said. “It’s a very enticing thing for a young man-even if they have a career or are at university, but even more so if they don’t. If they’ve dropped out of school or are stuck in an unglamorous job, it’s a powerful draw to say, ‘I’m going to escape all this and

go fight in a glorious jihad’.” “They are certainly receiving basic weapons training in the camps there-how to handle a gun-as well as more advanced techniques such as how to put together a bomb or suicide vest,” he said. Hasan said the British government is clearly monitoring fighters returning from Syria, as a string of arrests of people flying back into Britain indicates.

British police have in the past week made six anti-terror arrests involving travel to Turkey, which shares a border with Syria. British fighters generally arrive in Syria having already made contact with extremist groups, Hasan said. “It would be through safe-houses in Turkey as well as in Syria,” he said. “Those places don’t just accept anybody who comes in-they need to vet people because the regime and intelligence agencies will be trying to infiltrate them.”

Belgian strategic affairs expert Thomas Pierret said more than 200 nationals were fighting in Syria, and called the figure worrying.

“Statistically, there is a higher probability that some of them could pose a problem when they return,” he said. “During the past weeks, there have been several suicide attacks ... and one supposes that some of them were staged by foreigners. Such missions require a great deal of will and not necessarily a great military expertise.” “Even if they return without becoming experts, they could set up a reception centre in Europe in a few years and provide logistical aid,” he said. — AFP

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Israel foils Al-Qaeda plot on US Embassy JERUSALEM: Israel said it had foiled an “advanced” AlQaeda plan to carry out a suicide bombing on the US Embassy in Tel Aviv and bomb other targets, in what analysts said was the first time the global terror network’s leadership has been directly involved in plotting an attack inside Israel. The Shin Bet intelligence agency said it had arrested three Palestinians who allegedly plotted bombings, shootings, kidnappings and other attacks.

It said the Palestinian men, two from Jerusalem and one from the West Bank, were recruited by an operative based in the Gaza Strip who worked for Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri. Washington said the US was not yet able to corroborate the Israeli claims. While a number of groups inspired by Al-Qaeda have carried out attacks against Israel before, this appeared to mark the first time an attack was directly planned by Al-Qaeda leaders.

The Shin Bet said the Palestinians planned on attacking a Jerusalem conference center with firearms and then kill rescue workers with a truck bomb. AlQaeda also planned to send foreign militants to attack the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on the same day using explosives supplied by the Palestinians, it said. It said five men whose identity and nationality were not disclosed were to fly into Israel with fake Russian pass-

ports to attack the American embassy. It was not clear where the men are located.

The Palestinian operatives had planned on several other attacks, it said. One included shooting out the tires of a bus and then gunning down passengers and ambulance workers. The agency said it the plot was in “advanced planning stages” but gave no further information on how close the men got to carrying it out. It said the Palestinians from Jerusalem had used their Israeli resident cards to scope out and gather intelligence on targets. They were arrested in the past few weeks, it said.

A number of Al-Qaeda-inspired groups have carried out rocket attacks from Gaza and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, as well as shootings in the West Bank. Israeli intelligence calls these groups part of a “global jihad” movement.

Aviv Oreg, a former head of the Israeli military intelligence unit that tracks Al-Qaeda, said the plot marked the first time it has been directly linked to an attempted attack in Israel. “This is the first time that Ayman AlZawahri was directly involved,” he said. “For them, it would have been a great achievement.”

The Shin Bet said the three suspects made contact with Al-Qaeda over the Internet. It said they planned on traveling to Syria - where various jihadist groups are battling the forces of President Bashar Assad - for training.

Oreg said that many foreign fighters fighting the Assad regime are from Chechnya and predominantly Muslim parts of Russia and speculated that the militants with the phony documents would be from there.

Al-Qaeda-inspired groups are on the rise in the Gaza Strip, which is run by the Islamic militant Hamas. These groups accuse Hamas of being too lenient because it has observed cease-fires with Israel and has stopped short of imposing Islamic religious law, or Sharia, in Gaza. In the West Bank, Israel and the Palestinian Authority of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have cracked down on Islamic militants. Three Salafis, members of a movement that advocates a hard-line interpretation of Islamic law, were killed in a shootout with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank last November.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said US investigators and intelligence officials were not yet able to corroborate the Israeli information and declined comment on specifics of the case.

“Obviously we’re looking into it as well,” Harf told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t have reason to believe it’s not true. I just don’t have independent verification.” She said there were no plans to evacuate the US Embassy in Tel Aviv and was not immediately aware of stepped-up security measures there in light of the arrests.— AP

Morocco scraps law allowing rapists to marry their victims RABAT: Morocco has scrapped a highly controversial law allowing rapists of children to escape punishment if they marry their victims, as rights activists pressed the government to legislate to protect women from violence. The amendment to Article 475 of the penal code, first proposed by the country’s Islamist-led government a year ago, was adopted unanimously by lawmakers, parliamentary sources said. The offending article made international headlines in March 2012 when Amina Filali, 16, killed herself after being forced to marry the man who had raped her, and who remained free.

Right activists hailed the amendment, while stressing that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country.”It’s a very important step. But it’s not enough.... We are campaigning for a complete overhaul of the penal code for women,” Fatima Maghnaoui, who heads a group supporting women victims of violence said.

Global advocacy group Avaaz said it had handed a petition signed by more than a million people to Morocco’s parliament demanding that the government adopt promised legislation to combat violence against women. Amnesty International said Wednesday’s amendment was a step in the right direction but “long overdue,” and urged a comprehensive strategy to protect women and girls from violence in Morocco. “It took 16-year-old Amina Filali’s suicide and nearly two years for the parliament to close the loophole that allowed rapists to avoid accountability. “It’s time to have laws that protect survivors of sexual abuse,” the rights group’s deputy regional director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said.

As in numerous other Arab countries, sexual harassment of women is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it. An official study published last month said nearly nine percent of Moroccan women have been physically subjected to sexual violence at least once. More than 50 percent of violence against women is thought to take place within marriage, and marital rape is not recognized as a crime. A bill proposed by the Islamist-led government, threatening prison sentences of up to 25 years for perpetrators of violence against women, is still in the drafting stage.— AFP

BANI SUIEF: Egyptians carry five coffins of policemen killed after masked gunmen opened fire at a police checkpoint in ElWassta district in the province of Bani Suief, south of the Egyptian capital yesterday. — AP

5 Egypt policemen KILLED 3 years after revolt, Egypt quashing rights CAIRO: Masked gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire at a police checkpoint in central Egypt yesterday, killing five policemen and wounding two, the Interior Ministry said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Egypt has seen a sharp rise in drive-by shootings and attacks targeting police and the military in the aftermath of the popularly-backed coup last July in which the army ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The most prominent attack was a failed assassination attempt on the interior minister in Cairo in September and the December suicide car bombing that targeted a security headquarters in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, leaving nearly 16 dead, most of them policemen. In yesterday’s attack, assailants on two motorcycles and armed with automatic weapons opened fire on the police checkpoint in the ElWassta district in the province of Bani Suief, south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, according to a statement from the ministry. The gunmen then fled the scene, said two security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack came days before Egyptians mark the third anniversary of the Jan 25 uprising that toppled longtime authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt has experienced bouts of political violence since Mubarak’s 2011 ouster but attacks targeting police and the military increased after the coup that ousted Morsi. The military-backed government has blamed the Muslim Brotherhood group, from which Morsi hails, for the attacks, and designated it as a terrorist organization. The group has denied the accusations as baseless.

An Al-Qaeda-inspired group called Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, or the Champions of Jerusalem, has claimed responsibility for most of the recent attacks, saying they aimed to avenge the killings of Morsi’s sup-

porters in the months-long heavy security crackdown on protesters demanding his reinstatement and denouncing the coup. Islamists have announced plans for escalating the protests in the coming days while Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim has vowed to confront any act of violence with lethal force.

Amnesty’s report Egypt’s military-installed authorities are quashing dissent and trampling on human rights, three years after the revolt which toppled Hosni Mubarak, Amnesty International charged yesterday. “Egypt has witnessed a series of damaging blows to human rights and state violence on an unprecedented scale over the last seven months,” Amnesty’s Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said in a report, as Egypt prepares to mark on Saturday the anniversary of Mubarak’s overthrow.

“Three years on, the demands of the ‘25 January Revolution’ for dignity and human rights seem further away than ever.” She said unless the authorities changed course, “Egypt is likely to find its jails packed with unlawful detained prisoners and its morgues and hospitals with yet more victims of arbitrary and abusive force by its police.”

Since early 2011, political upheaval in Egypt has unseated two presidents, Mubarak and his successor Mohamed Morsi, and unleashed unrest that has deeply polarized the Arab world’s most populated country. Sahraoui pointed out the authorities have also jailed the architects of the anti-Mubarak revolt, adding that “repression and impunity” had become the order of the day. In November, the authorities passed a new protest law that bans all but police-sanctioned rallies, after which several leaders of the anti-Mubarak revolt were jailed for organising what officials say were unlicensed demonstrations.—Agencies

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Heavyweight’s absence hangs over Syrian talks Iran can be a spoiler or can pressurize Assad MONTREUX: It’s the regional heavyweight that few want at the table, but without it any attempt to end the Syria war may be futile. Iran’s backing is crucial for President Bashar Assad’s hold on power - and for the Iranians, Syria is key to their aspirations of regional power. As an international conference on Syria kicked off Wednesday with the participation of more than 40 countries, Iran’s absence hung over the meeting, following a diplomatic debacle that saw the UN withdraw a last-minute invitation after an uproar from the United States and the Syrian opposition.

The absence of Damascus’ strongest regional ally stood out even more given that the biggest supporters of the opposition were all present: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The question of Iran’s participation underlines how the international powers that have lined up behind either Assad or the rebels trying to topple him are as crucial to a solution as Syria’s warring parties themselves. Like any of the regional players, Iran can be a spoiler for a resolution it opposes or can be a force for pressuring its side to make concessions.

“The decision to exclude Iran from the Montreux talks is a huge diplomatic mistake,” said David Cortright, director of policy studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

“As a major backer of the current regime, Iran has enormous potential leverage in Damascus,” he said. Syria’s 3-year-old conflict is locked into a brutal, bloody deadlock - which in many ways favors Assad’s government. Neither side has been able to militarily overwhelm the other, but Assad’s forces have gained some momentum, and his government and military have remained cohesive, while rebels have fallen into infighting between Islamic extremist and more moderate factions.

The military dynamic on the ground has given Assad little reason to allow the creation of a transitional government in which he is not a part - and which the US and the opposition says is the peace conference’s goal. But the fight is also a proxy war, with the influence of international powers enabling both sides to dig in. Shiite-led Iran has poured money into keeping Assad’s government afloat financially, has supplied it with

HRW blasts UAE DUBAI: Human Rights Watch (HRW) hit out at the United Arab Emirates for preventing it from holding a news conference yesterday to release a report criticizing rights violations in the Gulf state. “Blocking Human Rights Watch from holding a news conference in the UAE sadly underscores the increasing threat to freedom of expression in the country,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s chief for the Middle East and North Africa. “If the UAE wants to call itself a global media centre, it needs to show that it respects freedom of speech and the open expression of critical ideas, not shut down media events,” said Whitson.

The New York-based watchdog said it had booked a room a month ago at a Dubai hotel for yesterday’s news conference, during which it was to release its 2014 report on rights abuses in the UAE. But hotel staff informed the UAE early in the morning that the reservation had been cancelled, saying the watchdog had failed to obtain a special government permit to hold the conference, said HRW. In the report seen by AFP, the watchdog accuses the UAE of having “stifled free expression, and subjected dissidents to manifestly unfair trials marred by credible allegations of torture” last year.

“Authorities are arbitrarily detaining scores of individuals they suspect of links to domestic and international Islamist groups,” it said. On Tuesday, a top UAE court jailed a group of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians to terms ranging from three months to five years for forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell.

The 10 Emirati citizens were among 69 nationals jailed in July for up to 15 years on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. “The UAE’s repressive laws and dysfunctional justice system belie the government’s efforts to present the country as moderate and progressive,” said Whitson. The Gulf state has not seen any of the widespread pro-reform protests that have swept other Arab states, but authorities have boosted a crackdown on dissent and calls for democratic reform.

“The UAE might seem like a safe place to shop, do business, or take a winter holiday but it’s becoming a very dangerous place to express a political opinion,” said Whitson. HRW also accused the UAE of failing to improve the rights of migrant workers. In May, the UAE slapped deportation orders on 43 migrants who joined a rare strike by workers at the Arabtec construction giant to demand better pay and conditions.—AFP

weapons and has backed the intervention of fighters from Lebanon’s Shiite guerrilla force Hezbollah and from Iraq’s Shiite militias on the side of the Syrian military.

Tehran is adamant in ensuring the survival of its vital ally that gives it influence squarely in the center of the Arab world.

Meanwhile, Russia, a longtime ally of Syria, has provided Damascus important diplomatic cover, blocking several resolutions against it at the UN Security Council. On the other side, Sunni Arab nations in the Gulf - particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar - as well as the United States have thrown their backing behind the rebellion, trying to stem the influence of their rival Iran. Given Tehran’s entrenched interest in Assad’s survival, it is unclear whether Iran’s presence at the conference would have helped in convincing him to bend on a transitional government.

But backers of Iran’s participation say it would at least have

brought engagement in these early stages. If the talks do lead to even small breakthroughs - like deals to create humanitarian corridors to besieged rebel-held areas - Iran couldn’t stand in their way by arguing it was not involved.

The Syrian ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, said the 40 countries present Wednesday were “seemingly pre-selected” and represent governments hostile to Damascus. Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem called Tehran’s exclusion a “big mistake,” saying that “it is not possible to ignore Iran’s important role in bringing stability to the region.” Asked about the subject at a press conference following the talks Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Iran’s ability to “make a difference” but reiterated that it has yet to accept the basis for the talks, which is the establishment of a transitional governing body for Syria.—AP

ALEPPO: A Syrian man inspects the damaged buildings following shelling by pro-regime forces in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. — AFP

Seven killed in tit-for-tat killings in Central Africa Red Cross finds 87 bodies in five days BANGUI: Seven people died in inter-religious attacks and reprisal killings in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui yesterday, a human rights campaigner said, underlining the challenge the new interim president faces in restoring peace. The local Red Cross said it also found another 11 corpses, most burnt beyond recognition. Close to one million people, or a quarter of the population, have been displaced in the former French colony by clashes that began when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in a coup in March.

Christian self-defense groups known as “anti-balaka” (antimachete) have since taken up arms against them, and the United Nations estimates that tit-for-tat violence has claimed more than 2,000 lives. Wednesday’s violence erupted after Seleka fighters left a military base looking for food and shot and killed two Christians, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. In reprisal, “the youth from the neighborhood went to the prison and took out five Seleka detainees and killed them,” Peter Bouckaert, an HRW researcher in Bangui, told Reuters.

The other 11 bodies were found behind a military camp in another part of the city. Antoine Mbao Bogo, president of the Central African Red Cross Society, said nine of the bodies collected in the mostly Muslim northern neighbourhood of PK11 had been set on fire. “They were not buried, they were dumped on the ground,” he told Reuters by telephone. He added that the Red Cross had collected 87 bodies in the past five days across the country. The figure did not include the seven people killed on Wednesday.

Out of control The arrival of a 1,600-strong French military mission and

another 5,000 African Union peacekeepers has so far failed to stop the violence in Central African Republic. A source with the French force said its soldiers were involved in overnight clashes after coming under attack from unidentified gunmen. This week the European Union said it would send 500 soldiers to support international troops already on the ground. And the United States said on Wednesday it was giving an additional $30 million to help ease the country’s crippling humanitarian crisis.

Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza, the mayor of Bangui, was appointed as leader on Monday and formally took office yesterday. She replaced former interim President Michel Djotodia, a former Seleka leader who stepped down on Jan10 amid intense international pressure. Samba-Panza has pledged to meet with armed groups in an effort to restore order. However, ending the cycle of violence will not be easy.

HRW researcher Bouckaert witnessed hundreds of Christians attack and embark on a looting spree in the mainly Muslim PK13 neighborhood on Wednesday. Rwandan peacekeepers, newly arrived in the country, were forced to intervene to protect around 30 Muslim civilians surrounded by the mob until they were evacuated by French soldiers.

Elsewhere, a Reuters witness said that a crowd of angry Christian residents armed with machetes and wooden weapons gathered in the neighborhood of Ngaragba, near the French embassy, to protest against ongoing attacks by Seleka. The protesters burned tyres as French troops tried to contain them. “Last night and even this morning they came to attack us. We don’t know where we will live next,” said former Corporal Bernard Desire Mariano, referring to Seleka attacks. — Reuters

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Romania arrests hacker of Bush family’s emails SAN FRANCISCO: Romanian authorities have arrested a man they suspect of being the hacker “Guccifer,” famous for breaking into the email accounts of former US President George W Bush’s family and other prominent political and entertainment figures. Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism said on its website on Wednesday that it had detained

a suspect with the initials LML in the county of Arad, near the border with Hungary.

The agency said there was “reasonable suspicion” that throughout 2013, the suspect “repeatedly and illegally accessed, breaking security rules, email accounts belonging to public persons in Romania with the aim of getting electronic mail confidential data.” Police declined to give LML’s

full name. A Romanian prosecutor, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters that the suspect is believed to be the hacker known as Guccifer and The Small Fume.

Guccifer has said he used a variety of methods, including guessing the answers to security questions, to get access to customer accounts at Facebook, Comcast Corp, AOL Inc and other companies. Romania’s public

radio Radio Romania identified the suspect as Marcel Lazar Lehel, who received a suspended sentence in 2012 after a hacking charge. Reuters could not independently verify the name. Guccifer claimed a wide range of victims, including Romanian officials, and provided documents to support those claims to a US website, The Smoking Gun. — Reuters

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Italy’s Renzi flexes muscles in electoral reform drive ROME: Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi’s brisk dismissal of party critics who opposed a deal with their old nemesis Silvio Berlusconi on electoral reform has injected momentum into a political system frozen in deadlock for months. The package now comes before parliament where a wily caste of lobbyists is long practiced in smothering ambitious reform plans in back-room amendments. But for the moment, the initiative lies with the 39-year-old mayor of Florence.

For years, as Italy’s economy slid deeper into crisis, politicians had wrung their hands but failed to act over an electoral system almost universally blamed for the alienation of voters and the chronic inability to create stable governments capable of passing effective reforms. “He’s succeeded in dealing with all sides that were willing to discuss the issue and came up with a deal that left no one completely satisfied but which was practical,” said Lorenzo De Sio, coordinator of the Italian Centre for Electoral Studies at Rome’s LUISS university.

As things stand, the proposals would favor big parties and squeeze out the host of smaller groups blamed for thwarting viable governments. They would also concentrate power in the lower house of parliament, all but eliminating the Senate, which at present has virtually exactly equal powers with the Chamber of Deputies. Renzi has promised that a successful conclusion of a deal on election rules will open the way for wider economic reforms, starting with a new “Jobs Act” to be unveiled shortly.

Boosted by a triumph in the Democratic Party (PD) primary in December, he has shown scant regard for his party colleague Prime Minister Enrico Letta, a careful, old-school consensus builder who has held a fragile coalition together during months of turbulence, but who has now been completely eclipsed. Renzi has also seen off two senior adversaries, former Deputy Economy Minister Stefano Fassina and former party chairman Gianni Cuperlo, who quit on Tuesday after Renzi steamrollered his electoral reform proposals through the PD leadership.

Despite rumblings from the left, where many have been angered by Renzi’s personal ambition and brusque contempt for the old guard, his supporters insist that the 2 million votes he secured in the primary showed that voters wanted change. “The point is that there’s a part of the old PD which has not admitted to itself that there’s been a change,” Manuela Ripetti, a senator close to Renzi, told RAI state radio. “There’s a big difference between people who vote for the left and (for) the PD machine,” she said.

Pure energy Tireless, fast-talking and apparently happier gulping Coca Cola and pizza than lunching in the discreet Rome restaurants favored by senior Italian politicians, Renzi has always represented a clear change of style. However the electoral reform deal is a first concrete sign that his fullfrontal approach could produce the kind of results that eluded the cautious moderates who have dominated Italy’s left for decades.

“This is Renzi’s real gift,” said De Sio, whose institute conducts regular surveys on how voters score politicians for competence, honesty, energy and sympathy. “Energy is a quality where Berlusconi has always dominated and where centre-left leaders have always been very weak. Renzi is the first centre-left leader to beat Berlusconi on this point and the electoral reform issue shows this clearly.”

Although not in government at present, Renzi has made no secret of his intention to seek the prime ministership in future. But there has been considerable uncertainty over where his real priorities and political instincts lie. Many on the left fear that the electoral reform agreed with Berlusconi will offer a way back to the 77-year-old media billionaire who had been struggling to regain his political footing after a tax fraud conviction that has shut him out of parliament.

The official text of the proposals has been filed with the Constitutional Affairs committee in parliament and is to come before the full chamber for debate, probably next week.—Reuters

Try a little tenderness, pope tells digital world Internet is a ‘gift from God’ for dialogue VATICAN CITY: The often superficial high-speed world of digital social media needs an injection of calm, reflection and tenderness if it is to be “a network not of wires but of people”, Pope Francis said yesterday. Francis, in his message for the Roman Catholic Church’s World Communications Day, also said that while Catholics should cherish and defend their ideas and traditions, they should never be so smug as to claim that “they alone are valid or absolute”. He again denounced the “scandalous gap” between the rich and poor, saying it was not uncommon to see the homeless sleeping on a street in the glow of opulent store window lights.

Francis said the media and the internet, which he called “something truly good, a gift from God,” could help bring people together, but that digital communications often impeded them from truly getting to know each other. “The speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for reflection and judgment, and this does not make for more balanced and proper forms of selfexpression,” he said in the 1,200-word message. Modern media can help “either to expand our knowledge or to lose our bearings”.

“The variety of opinions being aired can be seen as helpful, but it also enables people to barricade themselves behind sources of information which only confirm their own wishes and ideas, or political and economic interests,” he said. He challenged people to be more “neighborly” in the digital environment by not just tolerating others but also listening and trying to understand their points of view. “We need, for example, to recover a certain sense of deliberateness and calm. This calls for time and the ability to be silent and to listen,” he said.

Media’s ‘violent aggression’ The Argentine-born pontiff, 77, denounced the sometimes

“violent aggression” of media and communications that was primarily aimed at promoting consumption or manipulating others.

“We need tenderness. Media strategies do not ensure beauty, goodness and truth in communication. The world of media also has to be concerned with humanity, it too is called to show tenderness,” he said. “The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity; a network not of wires but of people,” he added.

Catholics should dialogue with other believers and non-believers but not in a condescending way. “To dialogue means to believe that the ‘other’ has something worthwhile to say, and to entertain his or her point of view and perspective,” Francis said.

“Engaging in dialogue does not mean renouncing our own ideas and traditions, but the claim that they alone are valid or absolute,” he said. Asked about that section of the message, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, head of the Vatican’s Council for Social Communications, said it was “not a dogmatic text but something intended to make us reflect”. When he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, former Pope Benedict, expressed concern that some involved in inter-religious dialogue were papering over differences with other religions and watering down doctrine for the sake of good relations.

“Pope Francis, on the other hand, believes that, for most people, the Gospel enters first through the heart not the head. He therefore stresses Christian witness, compassion and love,” said Father Tom Reese, who has written several books on the Vatican and the Church. Reese, a senior analyst for the National Catholic Reporter in the United States, said Francis wanted to stress that true dialogue presupposes “not just respect but also admitting that Catholics can actually learn something from others during dialogue”. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: Anti-abortion demonstrators protest in front of the US Supreme Court and US Capitol during the 41st annual March of Life in Washington, DC. — AFP

abortion foes rally in Washington WASHINGTON: Thousands of marchers braved freezing temperatures in Washington on Wednesday to demand an end to abortion in the United States, with Pope Francis tweeting his support. The annual March for Life marks the anniversary-in this case the 41st-of the US Supreme Court’s landmark Roe versus Wade decision that effectively legalized abortion nationwide.

“We’re pro-life because we believe in the rights of unborn children,” March for Life President Jeanne Monahan told the crowd on the snow-covered National Mall, with the Capitol in the distance.

On Twitter, where he has three million followers in English, Pope Francis sent from the Vatican a message of support to the protesters, including large numbers of Roman Catholics. “I join the March for Life in Washington with my prayers,” said the pontiff, who last year denounced abortion as a symptom of today’s “throw-away culture.”

“May God help us respect all life, especially the most vulnerable,” he added. US President Barack Obama, who has expressed admira-

tion for some of the pope’s messages and is due to meet him in Rome in March, is on the other side of the debate. In a statement to mark the anniversary, the White House reaffirmed Obama’s position that “every woman should be able to make her own choices about her body and her health. “We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to protecting a woman’s access to safe, affordable health care and her constitutional right to privacy, including the right to reproductive freedom,” it said.

At the rally on the nearby Mall, speaker after speaker mourned the estimated 56 million fetuses which, they said, have been “brutally slayed” in American abortion clinics over the past four decades. “Our society and our leaders must stop upholding abortion and start encouraging adoption,” said Vicky Hartzler, a Republican congresswoman and Tea Party favorite from Missouri. “Abortion hurts everyone,” she declared. Fifty-three percent of Americans support a woman’s right, in consultation with her doctor, to decide whether or not to undergo an abortion, the principle enshrined by Roe versus Wade, according to a Gallup poll at the end of last year.—AFP

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

News

in brief

Iraq executes 11 more BAGHDAD: Iraq executed 11 men convicted of charges related to “terrorism” yesterday, the justice ministry said, just days after another mass execution of 26 convicts. “The ministry executed 11 people today, after they were convicted of terrorism charges,” it said in a statement. “The total of those executed this week is now 37, all of them Iraqis.” Executions in Iraq are typically carried out by hanging, and large numbers are typically announced at once by the justice ministry.

On Sunday, 26 people were executed. Iraq has faced widespread criticism from diplomats, analysts and human rights groups who say that due to a problematic justice system, those being executed are not necessarily guilty of the crimes for which they were sentenced to die. UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Iraq to halt executions on a visit to Baghdad this month, but was publicly rebuked by Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki who said the country does not “believe that the rights of someone who kills people must be respected”. The country executed at least 169 people last year, according to an AFP tally based on statements from the justice ministry and reports from officials.

Maid falls to death HONG KONG: A foreign domestic helper aged 28 died yesterday after falling from a residential building in Hong Kong, police said. They said the helper, whose name and nationality were not given, fell from a building in the Wong Tai Sin district onto a concrete canopy and was certified dead when officers arrived. “It is understood that she fell off while cleaning windows in a flat,” a police statement said, adding the death was not being treated as suspicious. There have been a series of such deaths over the years in Hong Kong, where most people live in high-rise apartment blocks. Last August an 18-month-old boy and an Indonesian domestic helper fell to their deaths from the 19th-floor flat where they lived.

Police said the helper was collecting clothes from a drying rack outside the window. Conditions for the city’s 300,000 domestic helpers-mostly from Indonesia or the Philippineshave come under the spotlight recently following cases of abuse. A Hong Kong mother-of-two was charged Wednesday with a serious assault on her Indonesian domestic helper.

Bus crash kills 21 ANKARA: At least 21 people were killed yesterday when a bus rolled over several times in the dead of night in central Turkey in one of the deadliest accidents in recent years. The bus crashed in a town in Kayseri province at around 2 am when its driver lost control because of icy road conditions and intense fog, according to press reports. “The number of the dead has risen to 21, with one injured losing his life in hospital,” Kayseri governor Orhan Duzgun told Turkish television. The bus, which was travelling from Istanbul to the eastern province of Mus, was believed to have more than 40 people aboard at the time. Duzgun said some of the passengers died when they jumped out of the vehicle’s windows, adding that the death toll could rise as two people were seriously injured. Road accidents are frequent in Turkey, largely due to careless driving, and are often fatal.

Bomb-maker jailed JAKARTA: An Indonesian court yesterday jailed an Islamic extremist bomb-maker for seven-and-a-half years for his role in a plot to attack the Myanmar embassy to avenge the killing of Rohingya Muslims. Separiano is the fourth person to be jailed over the failed plot to bomb the mission in Jakarta, which came amid rising anger in Muslim-majority Indonesia at the plight of the Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar. The 29-year-old was arrested in May the night before the attack was due to take place, carrying a backpack full of pipe-bombs as he rode a motorbike with another alleged plotter in Jakarta. At a previous hearing the court heard he had plotted with other militants over Facebook and had attended sermons by firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the alleged spiritual leader of the terror network behind the 2002 Bali bombings. Bashir is now in jail. The South Jakarta District Court Thursday found Separiano, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, guilty of charges under antiterror laws. “The defendant Separiano... has been proven guilty legally and convincingly of making and transporting the bombs for an act of terrorism,” said presiding judge Suwanto.

Pentagon gives leeway for religious clothing, beards New US waiver policy for religious observances WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has took steps to give individual troops greater latitude to wear turbans, head scarves, yarmulkes and other religious clothing with their uniforms, but advocacy groups said the new policy fell short of what they were seeking. “The military departments will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) of service members” unless it might affect military readiness or unit cohesion, the updated policy on religious accommodation said.

The policy was mainly expected to affect Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and members of other groups that wear beards or articles of clothing as part of their religion. It also could affect Wiccans and others who may obtain tattoos or piercings for religious reasons. Lieutenant Commander Nate Christensen, a Pentagon spokesman, said for the first time the Defense Department’s policy encouraged acceptance in the military of beards, long hair and articles of clothing worn for religious reasons so long as they do not interfere with good order and discipline.

A service member who wants to wear a beard or article of clothing for religious reasons must seek permission, or an accommodation, from the military. The Pentagon previously made only a small number of accommodations to its uniform policy to enable Sikhs to wear turbans.

Advocacy groups expressed concern that the updated policy does little to protect Sikhs and others from the whims of their commanders. Amardeep Singh, a spokesman for the Sikh Coalition, said it was the first time the Pentagon had indicated it was willing to accommodate long hair grown for religious purposes.

Noting that the religious accommodation would have to be approved each time a service member changed assignments, Singh said, “What is disappointing ... is that

the presumptive bar on the Sikh articles of faith remains. “So a Sikh can’t just sort of enlist in the US military and expect that they won’t down the line have to make the false choice between their faith and their service to the country,” he said. Army Corporal Simranpreet Lamba, one of only three currently serving observant Sikhs to have received permission to keep their hair and turban, said the updated policy was a small step in the right direction.

“I really appreciate that the Army has looked into the matter and tried to add something, but at the same time it doesn’t provide any kind of accommodation for all the Sikhs who want to join,” he said.

Lamba said it took him nine months to receive permission to keep his hair, beard and turban and he has not had problems with the accommodation in his 3.5 years in the service. He said he uses a thin turban

like a bandana while wearing a helmet, and has been able to get an effective seal with his gas mask despite his beard, a common concern for people with beards in the military.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he welcomed any move to broaden religious accommodation in the US military. “We’ve dealt with this issue on a number of occasions, whether it was with beards or with head scarfs or even in support of the Sikh community on the issue of turbans and skullcaps for the Jewish military personnel,” he said. “I’d have to see how it’s carried out in practice,” Hooper said. “If it’s subject to the whim of individual commanders that becomes problematic because that’s what we’ve seen in the past - some are allowed, some are denied.”— Reuters

WASHINGTON: People wait to have their copies of ‘DUTY: Memoirs of a Secretary of War’ by Robert M Gates, signed by former Secretary Gates at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The book details his experiences as Secretary of Defense including his experiences with the Obama Administration. — AFP

Texas executes Mexican WASHINGTON: Texas has executed a Mexican convicted of killing a policeman, despite a diplomatic outcry and pressure from the US federal government to further review his case. Edgar Tamayo Arias’s case had sparked widespread protests as he was not advised of his right to receive consular assistance at the time of his arrest in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. “The Mexican government urges effective action and calls for avoiding other sentences issued in contempt of the International Court of Justice’s ruling in order not to damage the regime of consular assistance and protection agreed between the countries,” a Foreign Ministry statement read.

It said that Tamayo’s remains would be sent to Mexico, in accordance with the family’s wishes. The inmate’s lawyers had hoped to win a last-minute reprieve from the US Supreme Court after failing to persuade lower courts, only to have their appeal for a stay of execution denied in a matter of hours. Tamayo, 46, was pronounced dead at 9:32 pm (0332 GMT) in the execution chamber of Huntsville prison after declining to make a final statement, spokesman Jason Clark said.

His lawyers said he spoke very little English at the time of his arrest for the 1994 murder of a policeman in Houston and is mentally handicapped. “If he had had the assistance of the Mexican consulate at the time of trial, Tamayo would never have been sentenced to death,” defense attorneys Sandra Babcock and Maurie Levin said in a statement. In 2004, the UN’s International Court of Justice ordered the United States to provide judicial review of the convictions and sentences of Tamayo and 50 other Mexican nationals who were denied consular assistance.

Tamayo was the third Mexican national to be executed in

Texas without proper judicial review, and a fourth is scheduled to be put to death in April. “The execution of Tamayo violates the United States’ treaty commitments, threatens the nation’s foreign policy interests and undermines the safety of all Americans abroad,” his lawyers added. “It is now imperative that Congress promptly act to ensure passage of legislation that will bring the US into compliance with its international legal commitments and provide judicial review to the Mexican nationals who remain on death row in violation of their consular rights.”

The 1963 Vienna Convention treaty, to which 176 nations are party including the United States, sets out how authorities must act when foreign nationals are arrested or detained. This involves notifying the individuals in question of their right to have their consulate informed of their arrest. They subsequently also have the right to consular assistance. “There are many other foreign nationals on death row who were denied their consular rights, and some of them may be completely innocent,” Mark Warren of Human Rights Research said. “The damage to America’s international reputation worsens with each execution, but the solution is simple: just pass a federal law requiring a fair judicial review of these claims.” Mexico complained bitterly ahead of Tamayo’s execution and repeatedly asked for it to be postponed. In Tamayo’s native central Mexican state of Morelos, relatives and friends formed a circle and held hands in prayer Wednesday before the execution. Many broke down in tears upon learning he had been put to death. Amnesty International condemned his execution and the actions of the state of Texas. “When Texas authorities took Edgar’s life they defied our nation’s international obligations,” it said in a statement. —AFP

International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

HK tycoon doubles bounty to marry off gay daughter HONG KONG: A Hong Kong tycoon may double a “marriage bounty” to find a male suitor for his gay daughter to US$130 million, despite his initial offer attracting 20,000 candidates, a report said. Two years ago, wealthy property developer Cecil Chao made global headlines by offering a reward of HK$500 million ($65 million) to any man who could persuade daughter Gigi to marry.

He is now considering increasing his offer, a report in a Malaysian financial publication said. The 77-yearold tycoon “hinted this figure could be doubled (to HK $1 billion) if someone could capture her heart”, The Edge said. “I don’t want to interfere with my daughter’s private life. I only hope for her to have a good marriage and children as well as inherit my business,” Chao told

the publication. But this fresh attempt at a financial sweetener for any man who can win Gigi’s heart has left her upset and her female partner of nine years Sean Eav “distraught”, the South China Morning Post said.

“I don’t think my dad’s offering of any amount of money would be able to attract a man I would find attractive,” the 33-year-old daughter told the Hong Kong newspaper. “I would be happy to befriend any man willing to donate huge amounts of money to my charity Faith in Love, provided they don’t mind that I already have a wife. “Third and lastly, thank you Daddy, I love you too,” she said. Gigi is reported to have married Eav in a ceremony in France in 2012, though samesex marriages are not recognized in Hong Kong. Chao’s initial dowry offer issued the same year attracted 20,000

responses from around the world but failed to change Gigi’s mind.

She has thus far taken her father’s behavior in her stride, previously telling a newspaper she believed it was an indication of how much he loved her. But she told the SCMP she had repeatedly asked him to stop mentioning the financial reward to the press. British movie maker Sacha Baron Cohen is reportedly working on a film based on the story. Neither Gigi nor Chao, who owns publicly listed property developer Cheuk Nang, could be reached for comment yesterday. Chao is a fixture of Hong Kong high society and regularly appears at public events with his latest young girlfriend. He reportedly once claimed to have slept with 10,000 women. — AFP

China anti-graft activists on trial Beijing crushes any challenges to its rule

DAVOS: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his special address during the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Davos.— AFP

Abe sees WWI echoes in Japan-China tensions TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Japan and China should avoid repeating the past mistakes of Britain and Germany, which fought in World War One despite their deep economic ties, according to his main government spokesman in Tokyo.

Abe was speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His comments were provided by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga after the Financial Times said Abe had told reporters that China and Japan were in a “similar situation” to Britain and Germany before 1914, whose close economic ties had not prevented the conflict.

He also said China’s steady rise in military spending was a major source of regional instability, the newspaper reported. Suga said earlier in the day that Abe’s comments should by no means be interpreted to mean that war between the two Asian giants was possible, noting that Abe had said dialogue and the rule of law, not armed forces and threats, were needed for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Sino-Japanese ties, long plagued by what Beijing sees as Japan’s failure to atone for its occupation of parts of China in the 1930s and 1940s, have worsened recently due to a territorial row, Tokyo’s mistrust of Beijing’s military buildup and Abe’s December visit to a shrine that critics say glorifies Japan’s wartime past. Suga told a news conference that Abe - noting that this year is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One - said Britain and Germany clashed despite their deep economic ties. Asked if China and Japan might clash militarily, Abe replied that such a conflict “would be a great loss not only for Japan and China but for the world and we need to make sure such a thing would not happen,” according to Suga. China and Japan, the world’s second- and third-largest economies respectively, have deep business ties and bilateral trade that was worth nearly $334 billion in 2012, according to Japanese figures.

China criticized Abe’s historical reference. “It would be better to face up to what Japan did to China before the war and in recent history than to say stuff about pre-World War One British-German relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference in Beijing. US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, on a visit to Beijing this week, stressed that all sides should avoid unilateral action to assert maritime claims, and that China should work with its neighbors to reduce tension in the East and South China seas.—Reuters

BEIJING: China yesterday put on trial two activists who agitated for officials to disclose assets, the second day in a series of prosecutions of anti-corruption campaigners that highlight the government’s resolve to crush any challenges to its rule. The trial of Zhao Changqing, a veteran Chinese dissident, was adjourned earlier yesterday after he dismissed his two lawyers, a decision that would help him delay his case, one of his lawyers, Zhang Xuezhong said. China’s government has waged a 10-month drive against the “New Citizens’ Movement”, of which Zhao was a member. The movement advocates working within the system to press for change, including urging officials to disclose their assets. Zhao initiated dinner gatherings in Beijing where citizens discussed the campaign to urge disclosure. He is charged with “gathering a crowd to disturb public order”, punishable by up to five years in prison. Zhao told a Beijing courtroom that he was not guilty of any crime, Zhang said. “He said that all his actions, including promoting the asset disclosure of officials, promoting equal access to education in China and pursuing the realization of constitutional democracy are completely legitimate and legal, and in keeping with the basic principles of modern civilization,” Zhang said.

“He felt that the court was being totally unjust and that their allegations were unfair.”

Zhao would be given 15 days to select two new lawyers. “Only in this way can he avoid a hasty court trial that would be wrapped up before the Chinese New Year,” Zhang said. “If you delay the time a little, there’s always the opportunity that there might be a change.”

Zhao has been jailed three times for prodemocracy activities, including a threemonth sentence for his involvement in the June 4, 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square.

The campaign against the movement exposes the ambivalence in Beijing’s bid to root out pervasive corruption, even as President Xi Jinping leads a new campaign to tackle graft. China has detained at least 20 activists involved in pressing for asset disclosure, although not all are from the New Citizens’ Movement. Another activist, Hou Xin, stood trial in a Beijing court yesterday.

Hou was one of four activists who unfurled a banner in Beijing last year urging officials to declare assets.

Hou, who is out on bail, is also charged

with “gathering a crowd to disturb public order”, her lawyer, Ding Xikui, told Reuters ahead of Hou’s trial. Hou will plead not guilty, said Ding, adding that he will argue that a reasonable form of expression does not constitute disturbing public order. Prominent rights advocate Xu Zhiyong, who founded the “New Citizens’ Movement”, went on trial on Wednesday, but his lawyer said he refused to offer any defence and called the court unjust.

US concerned Diplomats said they were shut out of Zhao’s trial, which was surrounded by heavy security. Police hauled a dozen petitioners away from the courthouse and kept foreign reporters from getting close. “As you can see by our continued presence today, the United States remains deeply concerned that Chinese authorities are prosecuting individuals as retribution for their peaceful expression

of views,” said Daniel Delk, second secretary for the political section at the US embassy.

Delk urged Chinese authorities to immediately release all political prisoners involved in these cases. The Global Times, a popular tabloid owned by Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily, said China should not be “overly sensitive” about the West giving special attention and support to China’s dissidents. “But the Chinese people will never allow the attitudes of external forces to guide the country’s attitude in its internal affairs,” it said in a comment. A Beijing court said Wang Gongquan, a close friend of Xu’s and a venture capitalist who was arrested last October, had confessed to “planning and inciting a mob to disturb public order” together with Xu, according to the microblog account of the Beijing No 1 Intermediate Court. Zhang Qingfang, Xu’s lawyer, disputed the posting, saying it was a “complete distortion of facts”.—Reuters

Tokyo governor race kicks off with focus on nuclear power TOKYO: The race to become the next governor of Tokyo kicked off yesterday in an election widely seen as a referendum on Japan’s energy policy, almost three years after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. Observers say the election on February 9 will be a twohorse race between the anti-nuclear former prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa and Yoichi Masuzoe, an academic and former health minister, who served as a member of a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government. “We have to stop (the policy of) restarting nuclear plants as soon as possible and adapt to a new era,” Hosokawa said on the campaign trail yesterday.

Japanese voters have become wary of nuclear power since the tsunami-sparked disaster at Fukushima began in March 2011, but the issue failed to materialize in the national polls that swept Shinzo Abe to power, with his opponents’ apparent haplessness neutralizing their anti-nuclear stance. The governor of Tokyo has no actual power to change national energy policy, but the sheer size of the city, with 13 million inhabitants and a pivotal place in the eco-

nomic, political and cultural life of Japan, means its verdict will be tough to ignore.

Hosokawa, whose 1993-4 premiership is little more than a footnote to modern political history, has the backing of wildly popular one-time prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. The abundantly-coiffured Koizumi has shunned the limelight since his fiveyear premiership ended in 2006, but he emerged as an anti-nuclear convert midway through 2013 and began agitating for the permanent shuttering of Japan’s nuclear reactors. That put him at odds with current Prime Minister Abe, his one-time protege who has vowed to get the plants back on line when they have passed new, more stringent safety tests. Popular memories of the 2001-2006 Koizumi premiership remain overwhelmingly positive, and his backing is expected to give Hosokawa a significant boost, say analysts. “At this point Masuzoe seems to be the strongest candidate as Hosokawa has been largely mum about the details of his policy stances,” said Sadafumi Kawato, professor of politics at Tokyo University.—AFP

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International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Australia’s police bust money-laundering ring SYDNEY: Australian police revealed yesterday they had cracked a major global money-laundering ring with operatives in more than 20 countries and funds syphoned off to groups reported to include Hezbollah. The Australian Crime Commission said more than Aus$580 million (US$512 million) of drugs and assets had been seized, including Aus$26 million in cash, in a year-long sting codenamed Eligo targeting the offshore laundering of funds generated by outlaw motorcycle gangs, people-smugglers and others. According to the ACC, the operation had disrupted 18 serious and organized crime groups and singled out 128 individuals of interest in more than 20 countries, tapping information from agencies including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The full details of which countries had been involved were not revealed but acting ACC chief Paul Jevtovic said “the reality is that the Middle East and Southeast Asia have featured prominently”.

“Drug importations into Australia continue to be the main profit source by organized crime here in this country, but there is a range of other things, serious organized investment frauds, identity theft,” Jevtovic said. Eligo saw 105 people arrested on 190 separate charges and resulted in the closure of three major clandestine methamphetamine labs and Australia’s largest-ever urban hydroponic cannabis hothouse in Sydney last November. It was described as “one of the most successful money-laundering investigations in Australian law enforcement history” by the ACC. “The task force focused on high-threat money-laundering activities and, as a result, revealed a range of different crime types which has led to these extraordinary outcomes,” said Australia’s Justice Minister Michael Keenan. “Seizing more than $550 million worth of drugs and cash is a significant blow to the criminal economy,” he added. Legitimate international cash wiring services were a major focus of the operation, with the government’s anti-laundering agency AUSTRAC saying they had been identified as at “high risk of being exploited by serious and organized crime groups”.

Record seizure A Fairfax media expose on the operation found criminals targeted foreign nationals and students in Australia awaiting remittances from overseas, hijacking the transaction by depositing dirty money to the payee and then taking the cash wired from offshore.

Fairfax said at least one of the exchange houses used in the Middle East and Asia delivered a cut from every dollar it laundered to Lebanon’s powerful Shiite movement and Syria ally Hezbollah, which is banned as a terrorist organization in Australia. “It was just never-ending,” said ACC acting chief Col Blanch. “We were regularly finding bags of $500,000 and $400,000.”—AFP

Thailand court defers election date ruling BANGKOK: Thailand’s Constitutional Court yesterday deferred a ruling on whether a general election scheduled for Feb 2 can be postponed, as protesters who say they will boycott the vote kept up pressure on the government to step down. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared a 60-day state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas from Wednesday, hoping to prevent an escalation in the protests now in their third month. The Election Commission says the country is too volatile to hold a general election now and that technicalities mean it is anyway bound to result in a parliament with too few lawmakers to form a quorum.

The government says the decree to hold the election on that date has been signed by the king and cannot be changed. “The Constitutional Court has accepted this case and we will look at the legal issues involved. If there is enough evidence, we may hand down a decision tomorrow,” said court spokesman Pimol Thampithakpong. The protests are the latest eruption in a political conflict that has gripped the country for eight years. The emergency decree failed to clear the demonstrators, though the capital has been relatively calm this week.

Broadly, the conflict pits the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mainly poorer supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006. Nine people have been killed in outbursts of violence, including two grenade attacks in Bangkok last weekend. A leading pro-government activist was shot and wounded on Wednesday in Thailand’s northeast, a stronghold of the Shinawatra family, in what police said may have been a political attack, adding to fears the violence could spread. —Reuters

BIRDHUM, India : Suspects in a gang-rape case are led by police to a district courthouse in Birdhum district near the village of Subalpur, some 240 kilometers west of Kolkata yesterday. — AFP

India village council orders gang-rape as ‘punishment’ Father sues son for marrying outside caste KOLKATA: A woman was gang-raped by some 12 men on the orders of a village council in eastern India as punishment for apparently having an affair, a police officer said yesterday. The council ordered the horrific penalty to be carried out in a village in West Bengal state on Tuesday night after the 20-year-old woman was discovered with a man from another community, a senior officer said.

Police have arrested 12 people over the attack which was meted out after the woman’s parents said they could not pay the fine of 25,000 rupees (400 dollars) imposed by the council for having the affair.

“The girl was gang-raped for having an affair with a youth of another community and failing to pay the fine which was imposed by the village council,” district police superintendent C Sudhakar said.

“We have so far arrested 12 people in connection with the incident.” The attack again casts India’s record on sexual violence back into the spotlight after national outrage over the fatal gang-rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012.

The incident also echoes an attack on a woman in neighboring Pakistan in 2002 on orders of a village council to avenge her 12-year-old brother’s alleged impropriety with a woman from a rival clan. Six men were sentenced to death for the rape of the illiterate Pakistani woman Mukhtar Maiher in a landmark ruling there. But five were later acquitted and the main culprit had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment. The incident in India took place in Subalpur village, about 240 kms west of state capital Kolkata, after the couple was discovered on Monday.

“The head of the village council held an urgent meeting in the village square on Tuesday when the girl and her lover were called,” Sudhakar said. “The girl and her lover were tied to two separate trees and fined 25,000 rupees each as a fine for having an affair,” he said. “As the parents of the girl, who were also present at the meeting, expressed their inability to pay the fine, the head of the village council ordered that she should be raped by the villagers as punishment,” he said. The man apparently involved with the girl was freed after he agreed to pay the fine within a week, he said.

The woman was recovering from the attack in a hospital. Last month, India marked the first anniversary of the death of the 23-year-old student who was gang-raped in New Delhi on a moving bus, in an attack that sent shockwaves across the nation. Despite tougher laws and efforts to change attitudes to women in India’s deeply patriarchal society, the number of reported sex crimes continues to rise. Earlier this month, a Danish woman was allegedly gang-raped and robbed in the capital after she became lost on her way back to her hotel.

Marrying outside caste In another development, a father in eastern India is suing his only son for defamation after he married a woman from a lower caste, saying he has damaged his reputation and social standing.

Sidhnath Sharma is seeking 10,000,000 rupees ($162,000) in damages from his son Sushant Jasu and wants to prevent him from using the family surname, with a court hearing set to resume this weekend in Bihar state.

Sharma, a lawyer from the upper-caste Bhumihar group, said the marriage last year broke 400-odd years of tradition.

“For ages, it has been an accepted tradition of arranged marriages within your own caste,” Sharma told AFP from his home in the town of Danapur, just outside the state capital Patna. “But when my only son ended that, it not only stunned me, it also affected my social status,” Sharma said on Tuesday. “Neither it is forgotten nor forgiven for me.”

The hereditary-based caste system is deeply rooted in many parts of India, including in Bihar, one of the country’s poorest and most populated states. The system still pervades aspects of daily life, particularly in remote and rural areas, and can dictate marriage, education, employment and land ownership, despite the fact that caste-based discrimination is outlawed. So called honor killings are also still carried out, with mainly young couples who marry outside their caste or against their relatives’ wishes killed to protect what is seen as the family’s reputation and pride.

Sharma filed the case against Jasu last month and a court in Danapur will resume hearing legal arguments today.

Jasu, a tax official who works in the western state of Gujarat, married his now wife, a bank officer from Danapur, last November. Sharma said that if his son continues to use the surname, he will ask for 10,000 rupees in copyright fees each time he is known to use it. “I have simply sought the court’s directive for compensation for hurting my social reputation and for the return of my time and money that I spent to make him what he is today,” Sharma added.— Agencies

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International FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

No justice for Nepalese slave girls KATHMANDU: Nine-year-old Manjita Chaudhary had never spent a night away from her parents when her father sold her to a Nepalese policeman for $25. She left her family in western Nepal and travelled some 200 kilometers to her employer’s home near the Indian border. Her harsh new life began at 4am, the start of a daily routine in which she would clean her employer’s house, wash dishes, cook and then go to his relatives’ homes to do the same, before falling asleep just shy of midnight. “I couldn’t cope with the work, so my employer’s wife would beat me with pots and pans, and threatened to sell me to another man,” Chaudhary, now 22 said.

“I was so scared, I couldn’t even cry in front of them, I would just cry quietly in the bathroom,” she said. When she met her father a year later, she begged to return home, but her father, a bonded laborer, said they couldn’t afford to raise her or her younger sister, whom they had also sold into domestic slavery. Nepal’s indentured “kamlari” girls - some as young as six - are among the Himayalan nation’s most vulnerable citizens, subject to beatings and sexual violence while being kept as virtual prisoners by their employers.

Every January, when Nepal’s Tharu community celebrates the Maghi festival, marking the end of winter, destitute Tharu families also sign contracts worth as little as 2,500 rupees ($25) a year, leasing their daughters to work in strangers’ homes. The annual tradition is unusual even in a region where illegal, bonded slavery and child labour are rife and where it is common to see children working in tea-shops, homes and even on construction sites.

A century ago the Tharu, said to be descendants of the Buddha, owned their farms and lived in relative isolation in the malaria-infested Terai plains, enjoying a natural resistance to the disease that the higher castes lacked. But when malaria was eradicated from the fertile region in 1960, the Tharu were displaced by higher-caste farmers, becoming indebted serfs in their own land. Many, like Chaudhary’s impoverished parents, resorted to selling their daughters into domestic slavery, establishing the kamlari tradition, which, although outlawed in 2006, persists across the country.

Chaudhary worked for three years as a kamlari, enduring violence and sexual harassment, before activists from the USbased Nepal Youth Foundation approached

her father and offered to support and educate his daughters if he ended their contracts. At the age of 12, Chaudhary learnt to read and write. Today, the business undergraduate cuts a confident figure, fashionably dressed in a trench coat and conversant in three languages. But the childhood scars remain, compelling her to volunteer as an advocate for kamlari rights. “I was robbed of my childhood. It was a horrible time and I will do whatever I can to end this practice, to free other girls,” she said.

Uphill battle for freedom Although the kamlari tradition originated in the plains of southwestern Nepal, activists say it now survives on the patronage of wealthy families in the capital. Kamal Guragain, legal officer at the Nepalese nonprofit CWISH (Children-Women In Social Service and Human Rights), estimates that Nepal is home to at least 1,000 kamlaris, with nearly half of them working in Kathmandu.

So far, no employer has been punished for hiring or mistreating kamlaris, despite Guragain filing a stack of cases demanding prosecution and compensation to victims.

“Kamlaris still exist because their employers are not jailed or prosecuted, even though

they are breaking the law,” Guragain said.

After a 12-year-old kamlari died of burns in the custody of her employer last March, sparking huge protests, the government said it would end the illegal practice. But nearly a year later, little has changed. Ram Prasad Bhattarai, spokesman for the ministry of women, children and social welfare said that the activists were “too provocative and rights-oriented”. “We are focused on empowering kamlaris by offering them education and training opportunities as beauticians and seamstresses (after they leave work),” he said. But “we have no intention of going to every household in Kathmandu and organising raids,” he added.

Lost childhoods At one of the raids in Kathmandu, activists rescued a nervous teenager, Jayarani Tharu, who had worked as a kamlari for so long that she couldn’t remember when she left home.

Her employer, who runs a furniture business and owns a restaurant, paid her father 6,000 rupees a year for his daughter. As former kamlaris, including Chaudhary, helped the young woman pack up her belongings, her employer’s wife, Ramba Uprety burst into tears. —AFP

Pakistan counter-terrorism funds spent on luxury gifts Revelations cast a spotlight on high-level corruption

QUETTA: Pakistani Shiite Muslims sit beside coffins bearing the remains of those killed in a bombing during a protest in Quetta yesterday. — AFP

Pakistan Shiites protest over bombings, attacks QUETTA: Thousands demonstrated in cities across Pakistan yesterday against the killing of 24 Shiite Muslim pilgrims in a bomb attack, as their relatives refused to bury their bodies in a powerful gesture of protest. The roadside blast on Tuesday hit a bus around 60 kilometers west of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province, which has been the focus of growing sectarian violence in Pakistan. Up to 2,000 people, most of them Shiites, demonstrated on Quetta’s busy Alamdar Road with the bodies of the bombing victims, refusing to bury them until action is taken against militants. There were also demonstrations in Karachi and the Punjab cities of Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, against what protesters called the “genocide” of Pakistani Shiites.

Members of Quetta’s Hazara ethnic community, which is largely Shiite, began their protest on Wednesday and braved freezing temperatures to spend the night in the open. They say they will not bury the victims’ bodies until a military operation wipes out militants and their sanctuaries from the outskirts of Quetta and nearby Mastung district, where Tuesday’s attack happened. “We will not bury our dead bodies until a clear assurance from the government that it will launch a crackdown against terrorists and their sanctuaries,” Abdul Khaliq Hazara, head of the Hazara Democratic Party said. Refusing to bury bodies is an extreme statement in Islamic society where it is customary to inter the dead as soon as possible. Shiites in Quetta staged similar protests last year after two devastating bomb attacks targeting their community, prompting Islamabad to sack the provincial government.

Relatives put pictures of the victims with their bodies and sat on the road.— AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials used a secret counter-terrorism fund to buy wedding gifts, luxury carpets and gold jewelry for relatives of ministers and visiting dignitaries, according to documents seen by AFP. The revelations cast a spotlight on high-level corruption in Pakistan as the impoverished but nuclear-armed country battles a surge in Taleban violence. They concern the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of Pakistan’s interior ministry, formed in 2000 to coordinate between the country’s intelligence agencies and federal and provincial governments on national security matters.

The US and other Western countries have poured billions of dollars into Pakistan since the 9/11 attacks of 2001 to help in its fight against Taleban and Al-Qaeda linked militants. The NCMC received some 425 million rupees ($4.3 million) from Pakistani government coffers from 2009-2013, according to files obtained by Umar Cheema, an investigative journalist for Pakistani daily The News, and seen by AFP. During that time the interior ministry was headed

by Rehman Malik, a flamboyant loyalist of former president Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

Watches, carpets, gold, goats Many of the documents deal with payments to intelligence sources, routine maintenance of vehicles and overtime for employees. But the files also include receipts for gifts for US and British embassy officials, as well as flowers and sweets for journalists. One receipt for 70,000 rupees ($700) is itemized as a “Pair of wrist watches for marriage of nephew of minister for interior”.

The documents show that on a trip to

Rome for an Interpol conference in November 2012, Malik took a necklace, wooden tables and a TouchMate tablet computer as gifts.

The counter-terror fund was also used to buy three rugs as wedding gifts for the son of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf early last year. A set of 21-carat gold jewelry worth $3,000 was bought for one unnamed individual, while another was the recipient of a $1,500 set. A handicrafts store in Islamabad was paid some $23,000 in December 2012 for carpets and crafts given to local officials and delegations from the EU, Iran and India. Among the more bizarre items paid for from the fund was the $800 cost of four sacrificial goats, plus butchery costs-listed as “stabbing charges”-for the festival of Eid-ul-Adha. Alms to the poor and donations of sweets, flowers, and cash to a local Sufi saint were also made from the fund in 2012, the documents show.

How Pakistan works Pakistan’s present government, led

by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has ordered an audit of the interior ministry accounts from 2010-2013. Ministry spokesman Danyal Gilani confirmed the audit was ongoing but declined to indicate a timeframe for its completion. The director general of the NCMC, Tariq Lodhi, did not respond to repeated attempts to seek comment. Upon coming to power in June last year, Sharif’s government abolished secret funds in 16 ministries in an effort to curb corruption and rein in spending.

Malik, who as minister was famed for his expensive ties and purple hair-dye, mounted a firm defence of his conduct on Twitter, denying he had used the

fund and saying it was “never under the control of the minister”. Asked why some receipts contained hand-written instructions saying they were the minister’s directives, Malik said: “You know how Pakistan works. Just because it mentions me does not mean I personally authorized the payments.”

In a tweet, he said using funds to entertain dignitaries and offer gifts was “routine for 15 yrs”. But Moinuddin Haider, who served as interior minister from 1999 to 2002, said the NCMC fund was not set up to pay for “gifts abroad”.

“The purpose of these funds was to establish offices in the provinces, primarily to be spent on communications equipment and data analysis,” he said.

Cheema, who won the Daniel Pearl journalism fellowship in 2008, said the affair was indicative of how officials had turned the national terror crisis, which has killed thousands of people across the country since 2007, to their own benefit.

“This abuse clearly explains how our leaders convert a tragedy into an opportunity for personal gains,” he said.

“If history is any guide it’s not going to be resolved nor will the abolition of secret funds lead to any corrective measures.” Ayesha Siddiqa, a security analyst, termed the use of the funds “sad”, but said a lack of clear counterterrorism policy direction by successive governments was also to blame, as well as the way Pakistan’s bureaucracy works. “There is also this problem with the government where if a department gets funds you’re in a hurry to spend them, because if the funds lapse they will be deducted the next year and the department will be reprimanded,” she said.—AFP

Business FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014 S Africa braces for mass platinum strike

Euro-zone business starts 2014 on a high PAGE 20

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DAVOS: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gestures as he speaks during a session of the World Economic Forum yesterday. — AP

Rouhani takes Davos spotlight Iran extends energy olive branch to West DAVOS: Iran yesterday stepped up its efforts to woo investors and normalize its relations with the West with an offer to help create a new multilateral body tasked with stabilizing global energy supplies. President Hassan Rouhani told the World Economic Forum in Davos that Tehran was ready to put some of its extensive oil and gas reserves at the disposal of the proposed new body in an initiative designed to underline his government’s desire for a new relationship with the West following the partial easing of crippling sanctions under an interim deal on Iran’s nuclear capacity.

Rouhani told the annual gathering of business and political leaders from across the world that energy provided an important link between economic and security interests. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to engage in constructive cooperation in promoting global energy security by relying on its vast energy resources in a frame-

work of mutual interest,” Rouhani said.

“We are prepared to engage in a serious process to establish a reliable institution for this long-term partnership.” Iran’s oil exports are currently running at around half the level they were at before the UN sanctions were applied in 2006 over Tehran’s suspected attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

An agreement to partially ease the sanctions took effect this week in line with an interim accord on Iran’s nuclear capacity agreed between Tehran and major world powers in November. The interim agreement is intended to pave the way for a fuller accord and a further lifting of sanctions and Iran is already seeking to persuade oil majors to start planning for a large-scale resumption of investment in the country.

Rouhani has had a string of private meetings with senior oil executives here and also met with

Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, which is home to Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell. In his speech, Rouhani described the nuclear accord, which limits his country’s ability to enrich uranium and provides for inspections of its facilities, as marking the start of a new phase in relations with the United States.

He also said Iran was moving quickly to normalize its relations with neighboring and European states. But he reiterated Tehran’s stance that it will never give up its right to join some 40 other countries in acquiring the capacity to generate nuclear power and use nuclear technology for other peaceful ends. “We have never sought anything other than peaceful use of nuclear technology and we will not accept obstacles being put in the way of our scientific progress,” he said.

In an apparent reference to Israel, Rouhani said he saw the major impediment to a full nuclear

accord as “a lack of serious will by other parties or pressure influenced by others.” “It is a long, winding and difficult road but if we stay serious and have enough will, we can push through and it will benefit Iran, the West and the whole world.” Israel believes Iran remains dangerously close to the capacity to build a nuclear missile which would threaten the Jewish state’s existence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also in Davos, yesterday denounced Rouhani’s latest charm offensive as a typical piece of deception.

“Rouhani has admitted that a decade ago, he deceived the West in order to advance the Iranian nuclear programme,” Netanyahu said.

“He is doing this today as well. “The goal of the ayatollahs’ regime, which is hiding behind Rouhani’s smiles, is to ease sanctions without conceding on their programme to produce nuclear weapons.” — AFP

Business FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Euro-zone business starts 2014 on a high US PMI expected to show continued growth LONDON: The global economy started 2014 on a disjointed note with the euro-zone’s private sector in better shape than expected and China’s vast manufacturing industry contracting for the first time in six months. Surveys yesterday showed stronger growth across the now 18-member euro-zone was marred only by an ongoing contraction in France, although the pace of that slowed. Apart from that, the upturn appeared broad-based with decent growth in both the services and manufacturing industries.

But in the first indication of sentiment for the new year in China’s 56.9 trillion yuan ($9.4 trillion) economy - the world’s second-largest - factories were hit by weaker domestic and export demand. “Overall, the message from the euro-zone PMIs (purchasing managers’ indexes) were a good, positive surprise. It gives some support to the idea that we are going to get stronger activity growth in the earlier months of this year,” said Peter Dixon at Commerzbank. “(The Chinese PMI) is consistent with the idea that China has shifted to a lower growth path, which is exactly in line with what the government is calling for. Is it a concern? Not at this stage. It’s a bit of a warning signal but that’s it.”

Markit’s Flash Euro-zone Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which gauges business activity across thousands of companies and is seen as a good guide to economic health, jumped to 53.2 in January from 52.1 last month. That was well

above the 50 mark that denotes growth and was its highest since mid-2011, beating all forecasts in a Reuters poll of 25 economists. An earlier composite PMI from France, the bloc’s second-biggest economy, showed activity contracted for the third month running in January, although the downturn was less pronounced with both services and factory PMIs beating expectations. In neighboring Germany, the composite PMI rose to a 31-month high. “The euro-zone economy started 2014 on a positive footing, which is encouraging news and will reinforce hopes of a sustained recovery this year,” said Martin van Vliet at ING. Markit said if the data held near current levels, the bloc’s economy would grow around 0.3-0.4 percent in the first quarter, stronger than the 0.2 percent suggested in a Reuters poll last week. New orders rose for the sixth month, indicating the PMIs might rise higher next month. That comes after Ireland and Spain drew strong demand for bonds in auctions this month, while European shares climbed to fresh 5-1/2 year peaks on Tuesday as investors become increasingly bullish. A Markit manufacturing survey for the United States, comparable with the euro-zone and Chinese ones was due later and is expected to show sustained growth.

Not so happy new year A Reuters visit to southern China’s manufacturing heartlands this month showed many factories have closed earlier

than usual for the upcoming Lunar New Year, the nation’s biggest holiday, discouraged by weak orders and rising costs.

China’s Flash Markit/HSBC PMI fell to 49.6 in January from December’s 50.5, showing a faster rate of decrease in new export orders and employment. “Such a reading highlights the deteriorating growth outlook as policymakers are tightening their monetary stance, pushing through with an austerity campaign, and withdrawing stimulus measures,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, a senior economist and strategist for Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong.

Leaders in Beijing have pledged to push reforms to unleash new growth drivers as the economy loses steam, burdened by industrial overcapacity, piles of debt and soaring home prices.

China’s annual economic expansion slowed to 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 from 7.8 percent in the previous quarter, putting full-year growth at 7.7 percent, slightly ahead of the government’s target of 7.5 percent.

While the economy narrowly missed expectations for fullyear growth to fall to a 14-year low in 2013, some economists say a further cooling will be inevitable this year as officials hunker down for difficult reforms. “Today’s PMI figure reinforces our expectation of growth momentum easing further this year. We expect GDP growth to progressively slow towards the pain threshold of 7 percent later this year,” said Nikolaus Keis at UniCredit. — Reuters

Toyota keeps No. 1 title

ISTANBUL: A woman counts Turkish lira banknotes at a currency exchange office yesterday. — AFP

Turkey central bank steps in after lira hits new low ANKARA: The beleaguered Turkish lira recovered from all-time lows yesterday after the central bank intervened directly in foreign exchange markets for the first time in two years. The lira tumbled to around 3.11 to the euro and 2.29 to the dollar in morning trade but recovered to 3.0922 and 2.2674 in the early afternoon after the “aggressive” central bank action.

It has lost about 10 percent since mid-December-hitting new lows almost daily this year-battered by an escalating corruption scandal rocking the government and concerns about Turkey’s gaping currency account deficit. The bank said in a statement it was intervening with direct foreign-exchange sales because of “unhealthy price developments”. Bankers estimated it had spent between $1.5 billion and $2 billion to prop up the currency as it neared the key threshhold of 2.3 to the dollar. Ali Cakiroglu, senior investment strategist at HSBC Bank, said it was an “aggressive intervention” by the bank. “However, it is only a temporary measure,” he warned. “Because the market needs motivation. This could be done either by increasing additional tightening days, or explicitly raising interbank rates to nine percent”. The central bank has so far refrained from hiking interest rates to defend the lira with the government reluctant to jeopardize its growth and inflation targets. At its highly-anticipated monthly policy meeting on Tuesday, it said it was holding its key overnight rate at 7.75 percent.

‘Impact of currency volatility limited’ However, it gave itself room for manoeuvre, saying it would raise interbank rates to nine percent on “additional monetary tightening days”-nevertheless confusing the markets about its intentions. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan told Bloomberg HT television the government did not have any exchange rate targets but said the negative economic impact of the currency volatility was limited. —AFP

TOKYO: Toyota sold a record 9.98 million vehicles last year, it said yesterday, outpacing rivals General Motors and Volkswagen to maintain its title of world’s biggest automaker. The Japanese auto giant’s highest-ever annual sales volume came thanks to a weaker yen as well as strong US and China sales, signalling it had recovered from a series of damaging safety recalls and Japan’s 2011 quake-tsunami disaster. The figures beat US-based GM, which said it sold 9.71 million cars last year, while Germany’s Volkswagen logged annual sales of 9.5 million.

Toyota broke GM’s decades-long reign as world’s top automaker in 2008 but lost the crown three years later as the quake-tsunami hammered production and disrupted the supply chains of Japanese automakers. However, in 2012 it once again overtook its Detroit rival, which sells the Chevrolet and luxury Cadillac brands. GM’s strong results come after it emerged from bankruptcy and a government bailout during the 2008 global economic crisis.

Toyota, maker of the Camry sedan and Prius hybrid, also said yesterday it expects this year to become the first automaker to break the 10 million vehicle sales barrier. That growth would be driven by overseas demand-Toyota expects volume at home to slip 5.0 percent this year as consumer demand takes a hit from an April sales tax hike.

Toyota has outmanoeuvred other automakers with a “comprehensive edge” in product lineup, sales network and cost structure, said SMBC Nikko Securities auto analyst Shotaro Noguchi.

“They have maintained that balance well, compared to its rivals,” he said.

“Toyota should have reached the 10 million mark sooner if they had not faced major negative factors like the impact of the quake disaster and flooding in Thailand.” But he warned that the auto giant should not get complacent, adding: “If they only pay attention to production and sales figures, they could

MIYAGI: This file photo shows Toyota workers checking paints and bodies of Toyota Motor’s best-selling car ‘Corolla’ at Toyota Motor East Japan’s Ohira at Ohira village in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan. — AFP lose their competitive edge and wind up in trouble.”

China, emerging markets driving sales The sales figures cap off an impressive comeback for Toyota, which took a heavy blow from a series of mass recalls affecting millions of cars that damaged its once-stellar reputation for quality and safety and led to US congressional hearings in 2010. The firm has said it expects a net profit of 1.67 trillion yen ($16.02 billion) in the fiscal year to March thanks to a sharply weaker yen and improving sales in North America.

Toyota has ramped up its drive to tap emerging markets while key US demand has also been on the upswing, helping the firm book ever-increasing profits with its half-year earnings surging 82.5 percent. Japanese industry has benefited from the big-spending and easy-money policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with huge monetary easing measures from the premier’s hand-picked team at

the Bank of Japan helping push down the currency. The weaker currency boosts Japanese manufacturers’ bottom line by making them more competitive overseas and inflating repatriated overseas profits.

The latest sales also signal improving demand in China after Japanese automakers were hammered in 2012 by a damaging consumer boycott in the world’s biggest vehicle market that was sparked by a territorial spat between Tokyo and Beijing.

Toyota has also announced plans to develop components for hybrid vehicles with two Chinese automakers, in an unprecedented technology-sharing deal aimed at increasing green car sales in the fast-growing market. The move marked shift away from Japanese carmakers’ traditional reluctance over such deals for fear of losing their competitive edge.

Previously, Toyota would make key components such as batteries and motors in high-cost Japan and then ship them to joint ventures overseas. —AFP

Business FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

‘Mac’ turns 30 in changing tech world SAN FRANCISCO: Decades before changing the world with iPhones and iPads, Apple transformed home computing with the Macintosh. The friendly desktop machine referred to as the “Mac” and, importantly, the ability to control it by clicking on icons with a “mouse,” opened computing to non-geeks in much the way that touchscreens later allowed almost anyone get instantly comfortable with smartphones or tablets. The Macintosh computer, introduced 30 years ago Friday, was at the core of a legendary rivalry between late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft mastermind Bill Gates.

Thousands of Apple faithful are expected for a birthday party this weekend in a performing arts center in Silicon Valley, not far from the company’s headquarters in the city of Cupertino.

‘Quantum leap forward’ “The Mac was a quantum leap forward,” early Apple employee Randy Wigginton told AFP. “We didn’t invent everything, but we did make everything very accessible and smooth,” he continued. “It was the first computer people would play with and say: ‘That’s cool.’” Prior to the January 24, 1984 unveiling of the Mac with its “graphical user interface,” computers were workplace machines commanded with text typed in what seemed like a foreign language to those were not software programmers.

Credit for inventing the computer mouse

WASHINGTON: Macintosh computers and flowers are placed in front of the Apple Store as a tribute to Steve Jobs in this file photo. — AFP in the 1960s went to Stanford Research Institute’s Doug Engelbart, who died last year at 88. “The Mac’s impact was to bring the graphical user interface to ‘the rest of us,’ as Apple used to say,” Dag Spicer, chief content officer of the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley, told AFP. “The Mac GUI was picked up by Microsoft, who named it Windows.” The man remembered today as a marketing magician was a terrified 27-year-

old when he stepped on stage to unveil the Mac, then-chief executive John Sculley said of Jobs in a post at the tech news website CNET. “He rehearsed over and over every gesture, word, and facial expression,” Sculley said.

“Yet, when he was out there on stage, he made it all look so spontaneous.”

Orwellian Super Bowl ad Apple spotlighted the arrival of the Mac

S Africa braces for mass platinum strike Wage demands ‘unaffordable, unrealistic’ MARIKANA: South African mines producing half the world’s platinum shut down yesterday as the sector’s main union began a strike for hefty wage hikes their employers say they cannot pay. Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), walked out at Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin, the top three producers of the metal used in catalytic converters in cars.

The chief executives of the three companies have said the wage demands are “unaffordable and unrealistic” and warned the industry could ill afford further production and job losses.

The latest wave of labour unrest put the rand on the ropes, knocking it to a new-five year low of 10.9795 against the dollar as investors fretted about the impact of the strikes on an already fragile economy.

Amplats said the strike had affected mining at its Union, Rustenburg and Amandelbult sites, where low attendance was recorded.

All processing operations were operating normally. Implats closed its mines, processing units and smelter at Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg, on Wednesday ahead of the strike to ensure the safety of its employees.

Lonmin said only 15 percent of the workforce at its Marikana mines reported for duty and the company was expected to lose about 3,100 platinum ounces per day during the strike. AMCU, whose emergence two years ago has thrown labour relations in the mining industry into turmoil, has as many as 100,000 members in the platinum belt, 120 km (70 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.

It was unclear if all AMCU members had

MARIKANA: A man wears a zebra-mask as striking miners chant slogans while marching to Wonderkop Stadium near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana yesterday. — AFP heeded the call to strike but about 3,000 strikers gathered for a rally near Lonmin’s Marikana on Thursday. Several AMCU activists danced and sang songs calling on President Jacob Zuma and the African National Congress (ANC) officials to “stop the foolishness”. “We are paid peanuts. And the cost of living is too high,” said one striker at an Amplats mine. “If they don’t meet our demands, we will keep striking.”

Government mediation The government, led by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, has offered to mediate to try to end the dispute, which threatens to

further squeeze an already struggling economy. Besides economic damage, Zuma and the ANC want to end labour unrest before general elections due in about three months.

But the government has been unable to soothe tensions in the platinum belt, where miners are angry about their lack of economic progress two decades after the end of apartheid.

“There is no concrete government action to prevent the kind of rolling strikes that we are seeing now for eleven months of the year,” labour economist Loane Sharp said. “I think government has lost control of the labour movement in South Africa.” —Reuters

with a television commercial portraying a bold blow struck against an Orwellian computer culture. The “1984” commercial directed by Ridley Scott aired in an expensive time slot during a US Super Bowl football championship in a “huge shot” at IBM, Daniel Kottke of the original Mac team told AFP. “In the Apple board room, there were strong feelings that it was not appropriate; there was a big battle,” Kottke said. “Fortunately, Steve Jobs and his reality distortion field won the day and it left a strong memory for everyone who saw it.” There was a drive to keep the Mac price within reach of consumers in a market where computers costing $10,000 or more were typical. While clicking an on-screen icon to open a file appeared simple, memory and processing demands were huge for the computing power of that time. “Every time you move that mouse, you are re-drawing the screen,” Kottke said. “It is almost like video.”

The original vision of launching a Macintosh with 64 kilobytes of RAM and a $1,000 price gave way to introducing one with 128 kilobytes of RAM at $2,500. “Steve really was crazy about details,” Wigginton said. “He wanted everything to be just right.

Compared to the IBM PC of those days, it is just gorgeous.” Macintosh also arrived with a new feature called “drop-down menus.” “The Macintosh brought a new level of accessibility for personal computing to a much wider market in the same way the iPad did 25 years later,” Kottke said. —AFP

Spain jobless rate tops 26% MADRID: Spain announced yesterday its unemployment rate topped 26 percent in the final quarter of 2013 as the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy emerged only haltingly from a long, job-wrecking recession. After five years of stop-start recession sparked by a 2008 property crash, Spain began to show economic growth in the third quarter of 2013 but activity has been too meager to deliver a significant number of new jobs.

Spain’s unemployment rate rose to 26.03 percent in the last three months of the year from 25.98 percent in the previous quarter, the National Statistics Institute said. The deterioration, though minor, spoilt an otherwise brightening picture for the battered economy, which grew by 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2013, signaling the end of a double-dip recession. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative government and the Bank of Spain both estimate that the economy grew by a still-meagre 0.3 percent in the final quarter of 2013, though official figures have yet to be released.

Such slow rates of growth generated comparatively few jobs, said Catalonia-based independent economist Edward Hugh. “This is what was expected,” Hugh said in an interview.

The latest report showed that the number of people in work declined by 65,000 to 16.76 million in the final quarter of 2013.

The Spanish unemployment queue shrank by 8,400 people to 5.90 million in the quarter, however. Over the whole year, the jobless numbers were down by 69,000 — the first annual decline since mid-2007.

But in a sign that many people simply gave up searching for employment in Spain and were therefore no longer showing up as job-seekers, the number of people either in a job or actively seeking one fell by 73,400 in the quarter to 22.65 million. That amounted to 59.43 percent of the working-age population, the lowest ratio since early 2008. “The rate of people leaving the labor force-the same as we are seeing in the United States-more than accounts for the drop in unemployment,” Hugh said. Spain is still struggling to overcome the aftermath of a decade-long property bubble that imploded in 2008, throwing millions of people out of work, and racking up huge debts for the government, banks and people. Rajoy’s government, which took power in December 2011, says its labor market reforms, which made it easier for firms to change work practices and cheaper to lay off workers, have stopped the rot in the jobs market. —AFP

Business FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Cubans can start renting homes, commercial space HAVANA: For the first time in half a century, Cubans are being allowed to rent homes and commercial properties under a decision announced by the government Wednesday. The measure allows “Cuban individuals residing in Cuba” to use “real estate leasing services offered by authorized real estate entities,” according to the resolution in the Communist-run nation’s Official Gazette.

It also stipulates that Cubans cannot rent properties for use as “international schools, news agencies and NGOs.” Newspaper Juventud Rebelde noted that leased property could be used for “housing, offices, shops and warehouses.”

Until now, only institutions or foreign residents could rent property from real estate agencies in Cuba which are either state-owned or mixed capital ventures.

“This is great. Up until now there were people who had the money, but could not rent through a real estate agency,” said Grisel Espinosa, 43, who sells T-shirts in the main handicraft fair in Old Havana. Trinket seller Illinois Borges, 38, said he liked the idea “that if you make a good deal, you can rent a space, even if it’s small.” The rule is the latest in a series of reforms by the government of President Raul Castro that is very slowly opening the island’s communist economy to limited private enterprise.

With thousands more workers privately employed, the new measure gives Cubans broader alternatives to state-provided housing and commercial space. With a population of 11.1 million, Cuba now has some 445,000 private or “self-employed” workers, largely clustered in the service industries, creating a growing demand for commercial property.

Newspaper Juventud Rebelde said that the move marked “new impetus and support for self-employment and other forms of non-state management,” by President Raul Castro in his drive to “update” the country’s exhausted Soviet-style economic model. The resolution fixed the rate per square metre of housing at five convertible pesos ($5) and between seven and 10 CUCs for office premises, shops or warehouses.

Such fees are prohibitive to most Cubans, in a country where the average wage is under $20 per month. Another rule stipulates rates for services such as electricity, water and parking to be paid by tenants. But the change could also be aimed at making it easier for Cubans who left the country and return-something which did not happen before travel reforms last year-to rent pricey apartments, if they can afford them, as well as business space. —AFP

Rapidly-dropping peso pushes Argentine soy farmers to hoard beans BUENOS AIRES: Argentine soy farmers have lost faith in the country’s currency and are hoarding beans even as prices are expected to be weighed down over the months ahead by heavy global supply. The country is the world’s top exporter of soymeal and soyoil as well as its third biggest soybean and corn supplier at a time of booming food demand. But, as inflation soars and confidence falls in Latin America’s No. 3 economy, a bean in the bag is better than a peso in the bank for local farmers.

The spot price of soy in grains hub Rosario is $325 per ton, way above the $288 for beans to be delivered in May. Growers are nonetheless hoarding their stocks because, as low as prices may go this year due to heavy global supply, to sell would expose them to a currency ground down amid high inflation and falling central bank reserves. They are betting that inflation would erase any gain derived from selling now. “Normally, you would want to sell now at $325,” said Leandro Pierbattisti, an analyst with Argentina’s grains warehousing chamber. “But the market in Argentina is not normal because of the devaluation of the peso.”

The unofficial peso weakened 2.47 percent to more than 12 per US dollar, on Wednesday, leaving it about 70 percent weaker than the official exchange rate. The peso’s fainting spell followed a 37 percent drop in its value over the preceding year. Also on Wednesday the government vowed to crack down on black market peso trade. But investors eager to exploit Argentina’s promising shale oil and other natural resources say the only tighter fiscal and monetary policy can restore faith in the economy. —Reuters

BARCELONA: In this file photo, Stephen Elop, chief executive officer of Nokia, speaks during a conference at the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile phone trade show. Nokia Corp yesterday reported a fourth-quarter net loss of 25 million euros ($34 million) as the struggling company saw smartphone sales plunge 29 percent. — AP

Venezuela creates new dual-rate forex system Critics cry devaluation CARACAS: Venezuela revamped its 11year-old currency controls on Wednesday, creating a dual-rate system intended to stem rampant embezzlement of oil dollars, a change critics pilloried as a disguised devaluation. The OPEC nation’s widely expected reform kept a preferential rate of 6.3 bolivars to the dollar for essential goods such as food and medicine, while doubling the volume of dollars offered at a higher rate of around 11.3 bolivars. Officials offered few clear details about how they would control the black market rate for greenbacks, now more than 10 times the preferential rate.

Critics predict the measures will simply spur inflation, which hit 56.2 percent in 2013, the highest in the Americas. Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said the new system would crack down on the widespread practice of buying cheap dollars and flipping them on the black market. This diverts billions of dollars of hard currency that could be used to address basic needs.

“Should we give dollars to people who resell them on the black market, or should we bring in medicine? Should we give dollars to travelers, or should we bring in food?” said Ramirez, who is also vice president for the economy.

The new measures expand the central bank’s Sicad system of weekly currency auctions by boosting the amount offered to $220 million, from about $100 million.

Expenditures such as travel allowances, airline tickets and remittances previously calculated at the preferential rate will be moved to the less favorable Sicad rate, currently 11.3.

Government critics flooded the Twittersphere with vitriolic messages calling the announcements a disguised devaluation

that will boost the cost of living without solving underlying problems. “It looks like a devaluation, it quacks like a devaluation, it hurts like a devaluation: it’s a devaluation,” wrote one.

“Enemy’s spin” Ramirez said he was bemused by the negative reaction from some, and insisted that the 6.3 rate would still cover 80 percent of Venezuela’s dollar needs, in the food, agriculture, industrial, health, education, science and technology sectors. “So we can’t call this a devaluation, that is the enemy’s spin,” he told state TV. “We ask our people for understanding, we would never betray them.” Critics said the currency controls are the cornerstone of a failing economic system created by late socialist leader Hugo Chavez that now faces slowing growth, soaring prices and nagging shortages of staple products from bread to milk.

President Nicolas Maduro blames the situation on an “economic war” that he vaguely links to opposition figures and ideological adversaries in Washington, though officials widely recognize the currency controls are rife with corruption.

Maduro has struggled to keep the economy on track while also seeking to maintain Chavez’s economic legacy of generous social spending and aggressive regulation of private industry. The currency plan could fuel inflation for some goods and services, but could reduce shortages if dollars previously destined for foreign travel are freed up to import food and medicines.

Economist Asdrubal Oliveros of Caracasbased Econalitica called the new system a “slow-motion devaluation” that will help shore up state finances by providing more bolivars for dollars sold at the higher rate.

But he said added the measure alone will not resolve the problems created by controls and heavy state intervention. “The currency shortages will continue until the government recognizes that a fixed exchange rate is not the solution,” he wrote on the widely read website Prodavinci.

BLACK MARKET The announcements were nominally positive for investors holding Venezuelan bonds, the most high-yielding of any emerging market notes, because the new system will reduce dollar outflows and thus signals greater ability to service foreign debt. But the bond market reaction was muted, with the country’s benchmark Global 2027 remaining in negative territory.

The black market bolivar rate, however, slipped nearly 10 percent following the news conference, according to one website that attempts to track the price.

Ramirez said the state had created a “dollar budget” that would administer hard currency to ensure it is used for imports that stimulate the economy and not go to shell companies. He acknowledged that some enterprising foreigners had figured out that by buying bolivars on the black market they could acquire plane tickets at a fraction of the ordinary price due to the huge differential between the two rates.

“We’re not going to allow people to come from other countries to buy cheap plane tickets in bolivars. They can pay for them with dollars,” Ramirez said. The government has offered few details on how it will address demand for dollars, which far outstrips supply at any rate offered by the government.

Officials said the Sicad rate may fluctuate somewhat from its current level of 11.3, but declined to elaborate. —Reuters

Pe t s FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Ehh... What’s up, doc?

R

abbits may be easy to love, but they’re not quite as easy to care for. These lovable, social animals are wonderful companions for people who take the time to learn about their needs. Though providing care for these adorable creatures isn’t difficult, rabbits have a long lifespan-more than 10 years-and many specific care requirements. Anyone considering adding a rabbit to their family should carefully research books and web sites on rabbit care before making a decision. Here are some quick tips to get you started:

HOME SWEET HOME Indoors or Outdoors?

Every rabbit owner should know that the safest place for a rabbit to live is indoors. Rabbits should never be kept outdoors! Domestic rabbits are different from their wild relatives-they do not tolerate extreme temperatures well, especially in the hot summer months. Even in a safe enclosure, rabbits are at risk from predators. Merely the sight or sound of a nearby wild animal can cause rabbits so much stress that they can suffer a heart attack and literally die of fear.

CAGED OR FREE TO ROAM? Whether you decide to let your rabbit roam free in your entire home or just a limited area, it is important that you make everything rabbit-safe.

One little bunny can easily find a whole lot of trouble in an average home. Because rabbits like to chew, make sure that all electrical cords are out of reach and outlets are covered. Chewing through a plugged-in cord can result in severe injury or even death. Their chewing can also result in poisoning if the wrong objects are left in the open or in unlocked low cabinets. Aside from obvious toxins like insecticides, rodenticides, and cleaning supplies, be aware that common plants such as aloe, azalea, Calla lily, Lily of the Valley, philodendron, and assorted plant bulbs can be poisonous to rabbits.

If kept in a cage, rabbits need a lot of room to easily move around. A rabbit’s cage should be a minimum of five times the size of the rabbit.

Your rabbit should be able to completely stretch out in his cage and stand up on his hind legs without bumping his head on the top of the cage.

Additionally, cages with wire flooring are hard on rabbits’ feet, which do not have protective pads like

Did you know that rabbits are wonderful indoor companions? those of dogs and cats. If you place your rabbit in a wire cage, be sure to layer the floor with cardboard or other material. Place a cardboard box or “rabbit condo” in the cage so the bunny has a comfortable place to hide, and respect your animal’s need for quiet time (rabbits usually sleep during the day and night, becoming playful at dawn and dusk).

When rabbits are kept in a cage, they need to be let out for several hours each day for exercise.

Aside from running and jumping, rabbits also enjoy exploring their surroundings. This is an ideal time to play and interact with your rabbit. Make sure that he has a safe area to play and explore.

BUNNY BATHROOMS Just like cats, rabbits can easily learn to use a litter box. Place a litter box in the cage to encourage this behavior. If your rabbit roams freely through multiple rooms of your home, it’s a good idea to have litter boxes in several places. Many rabbits enjoy spending time relaxing in their litter box, so make sure that it is of ample size. For bedding (litter), stay away from cedar or other wood shavings, which may cause liver damage or trigger allergic reactions in rabbits. Also avoid clumping or dusty kitty litters, which can cause serious health problems if eaten. Instead, stick with organic litters made of paper, wood pulp, or citrus. Newspaper can work too, but may not be as absorbent. Be sure to put fresh hay in the litter box daily, as many rabbits like to have a snack while sitting in their litter box.

A BALANCED DIET Rabbits have complex digestive systems, so it’s very important that they receive a proper diet.

Many health problems in rabbits are caused by foods that are incompatible with their digestive physiology. A basic rabbit diet should consist of the following foods: HAY Rabbits need hay-specifically, Timothy grass hay. Rabbits should have access to a constant supply of this hay, which aids their digestive systems and provides the necessary fiber to help prevent health problems such as hair balls, diarrhea, and obesity. Alfalfa hay, on the other hand, should only be given to adult rabbits in very limited quantities, if at all, because it’s high in protein, calcium, and calories.

VEGETABLES In addition to hay, the basic diet of an adult rabbit should consist of leafy, dark green vegetables such as romaine and leaf lettuces, parsley, cilantro, collard greens, arugula, escarole, endive, dandelion greens, and others. Variety is important, so feed your rabbit three different vegetables at a time. When introducing new veggies to a rabbit’s diet, try just one at a time and keep quantities limited.

FRUITS AND TREATS While hay and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet, rabbits also enjoy treats. Cartoons and other fictional portrayals of rabbits would lead us to believe that carrots are the basis of a healthy rabbit diet. Many

rabbits enjoy carrots, but they are a starchy vegetable and should only be given sparingly as a treat. Other treats your rabbit might enjoy are apples (without stems or seeds), blueberries, papaya, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, or melon. Extra-sugary fruits like bananas, grapes, and raisins are good too, but should be given on a more limited basis.

FOODS TO AVOID With such sensitive digestive systems, there are a number of foods that rabbits should avoid eating. These include iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, potatoes, beets, onions, rhubarb, bamboo, seeds, grains, and many others. Also, don’t feed your rabbit chocolate, candy, anything moldy, or most human foods. If you are not sure about a certain food, ask your rabbit’s veterinarian.

PELLETS If you choose to make pellets a part of your rabbit’s diet, it is best to use them as a supplement to the dark green, leafy vegetables, not as a substitute. These pellets should only be given in small quantities (1/8 -1/4 cup per five pounds of body weight per day, spread out over two daily feedings). Also, make sure to purchase Timothybased pellets. Many brands of rabbit feed contain seeds, corn, and other foods that are too high in calories to be the basis for a healthy rabbit’s diet.

WATER Rabbits should always have an ample supply of fresh water available. Be sure to change your rabbit’s water at least once each day. Water can be kept in a sipper bottle or bowl. If you use a sipper bottle, watch new rabbits to make sure they know how to use the bottles, and clean bottles daily so the tubes don’t get clogged. If you use a bowl, make sure that the bowl is heavy enough to avoid tipping and spilling.

CHEW ON THIS Chewing is part of a rabbit’s natural behavior, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. To keep rabbits active and amused, you may want to put untreated wood blocks or cardboard in their cages. Bowls, balls, and rings made of willow wood are big hits with many rabbits and

Pe t s FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Rabbits 101 Don’t waste valuable time. Call your veterinarian immediately if you see: Diarrhea with listlessness Sudden loss of appetite with bloat and abdominal gurgling Loss of appetite with labored breathing Loss of appetite with runny nose Head tilt Incontinence (urine-soaked rear legs) Abscesses, lumps or swellings anywhere Any sudden behavior change

can be purchased online or in specialty stores.

You can also use paper-towel rolls, toilet-paper rolls, and other chewable cardboard materials that can be tossed in the trash once they’ve served their purpose. Avoid objects with sharp edges, loose parts, or soft rubber that rabbits could chew into pieces and swallow.

HANDLE WITH CARE Rabbits are fragile animals who must be handled carefully. Their bones are so delicate that the muscles in their powerful hind legs can easily overcome the strength of their skeletons. As a result, if not properly restrained, struggling rabbits can break their own spines.

To pick up your rabbit, place one hand underneath the front of the rabbit and the other hand underneath his back side, lifting him carefully with both hands and bringing him against your body. Never let a rabbit’s body hang free, never lift by the stomach, and never pick a rabbit up by his ears.

Don’t forget that rabbits are prey animals and many will not enjoy being picked up. Be sure to go slowly with your rabbit and practice. Let your rabbit get accustomed to being handled. Rabbits groom each other around the eyes, ears, top of the nose, top of the head, and down the back, so they’ll enjoy it if you pet them on their heads. Like any animal, each rabbit will have an individual preference about where he likes to be touched.

Rabbits lack the ability to vomit or cough up hairballs like cats, so try to remove loose fur when you have the opportunity to do so. Simply petting or brushing your rabbit for a few minutes each day should remove most of the excess fur.

Some rabbit breeds, such as angoras, have extra grooming needs because of their distinctive coats.

DOCTORS NEEDED Just like cats and dogs, rabbits need to receive proper medical care, including annual check-ups.

While there are plenty of veterinarians who are able to treat cats and dogs, the number of veterinarians able to treat rabbits is much smaller. It is extremely important that any veterinarian treating a rabbit has experience with rabbits. Many veterinarians who treat rabbits will be called

“exotics” veterinarians, meaning that they treat a number of non-traditional pets. Make sure that you have a regular, rabbit-savvy veterinarian as well as a listing of emergency clinics in your area that treat rabbits.

FIX THAT BUNNY Spaying or neutering your rabbit is very important. Aside from preventing unwanted litters of kits, spaying or neutering has health and behavior benefits. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce aggression and territory-marking behaviors.

Female rabbits have extremely high rates of reproductive cancers as they get older, but spaying them can eliminate those potential problems.

I NEED A FRIEND Rabbits are social animals and most will be much happier as a part of a pair or trio than on their own. If you don’t have a rabbit yet, consider adopting a bonded pair instead of a single rabbit.

Most animal shelters and rabbit rescue groups have pairs available for adoption. If you already have a rabbit, you should consider adding another one to the family. Local rabbit groups can usually find a good match for your rabbit and help with the introduction and bonding process.

When thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, please remember that rabbits are not toys and they are typically not appropriate pets for children. Rabbits are complex creatures-socially, psychologically, and physiologically. They require a great deal of special care and supervision. If you make the decision to add rabbits to your family, please don’t buy from a pet store; instead, adopt from your local animal shelter or rabbit adoption group. www.petfinder.com

HOUSING Roomy cage Resting board Litterbox (in cage) Pellet bowl or feeder Water bottle/crock Toys (chew & toss) Pet carrier RUNNING SPACE

Petroleum laxative (when needed for passing hair)

INDOORS Bunny-proofed room(s) Litterbox Toys (chew & dig) Outdoors: Fenced patio/porch/playpen (with floor)

GROOMING Flea comb Brush Flea products safe for rabbits (no Frontline!)

Toenail clippers

CONSUMABLES Limited pellets daily Fresh water Hay /straw (for digestive fiber and chewing recreation) Fresh salad veggies/fruit (add gradually) Barley/oats (verysmall amounts) Wood (for chewing recreation) Multiple enzymes (digestive aid)

SUPPLIES Dust-free litter (not wood shavings) Pooper scooper Whiskbroom/dustpan White vinegar (for urine accidents) Hand vacuum Chlorine bleach (for disinfecting) Newspapers

Opinion FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Riyadh seeks stronger union with Gulf states

By Rye Druzin

egional power Saudi Arabia, with the world’s second largest oil reserves, hopes to consolidate its power even more with a Gulf Union. Like the European Union, it would create new institutions including a common currency and a joint military command for defense issues. The Saudi efforts come amid tensions with the US over an international agreement to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran freezing its nuclear program. Saudi Arabia does not trust Iran to freeze its nuclear program. In Lebanon this week, visiting Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country would like to improve ties with Saudi Arabia.

Gulf States already have a loose confederation - the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It was created by these majority Sunni countries to counteract the rise of Shiite Iran. Turning the GCC into a union would bring it more in line with the likes of the European Union, linking the economies together and reducing tariffs.

But tensions and disagreements on policy are making the future of such a union uncertain. Oman, which occupies the easternmost corner of the Arabian Peninsula, has been unusually public in its opposition. Its foreign minister, Youssef bin Alawy bin Abdullah, declared at a GCC meeting in Kuwait late last year that the sultanate opposed the creation of a union and would “withdraw from the new body unless it saw the light”. “Oman is not resistant to creating the Gulf Union, but thinks that now is not the proper time to form it,” Abdullah Al-Maani, an assistant researcher at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman told The Media Line. “There are lots of decisions that have been made by the GCC, yet they have not been implemented. I can sadly say we are still fighting about the borders of some Gulf states.”

R

Unique Oman is unique because of its independent foreign policy and warm relations with Iran. The sultanate hosted months of secret talks between the US and Iran to create a framework for discussion on Iran’s nuclear program. This engagement went against the grain of the Saudis, who have since decried international negotiations with the Iranians. “Oman is not worried about Iran. Oman’s view toward Iran is neutral and clear right from the beginning, whether Iran is with or against the West,” Al-Maani said. “Oman is trying to spread peace in the whole area of the Gulf.

If Iran and the West learn to look eye to eye, then the Gulf will benefit a lot, especially economically.”

Dubai has also raised its own policy differences, which were clarified after the West and Iran concluded an interim nuclear agreement in early 2014. The prime minister of the small emirate, the

A Saudi special forces new graduate bites off the head of a live desert snake in this June 26, 2011 file photo during a ceremony held at the special forces base near the capital Riyadh. — AFP

economic hub for the UAE, said that his country does not want any problems with Iran. In an interview with the BBC, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum said that “Iran is our neighbor and we don’t want any problem. Lift their sanctions and everybody will benefit.”

A Saudi advisor responded to the Sheikh’s comments, saying that “this will surely not impact the GCC policy on Iran and it is mind-boggling that he would say this when the Iranians are still occupying legitimate sovereign islands belonging to their brothers in Abu Dhabi”. Despite these disagreements, the Saudis have continued to push ahead, hoping to create a customs union by early 2015 with the vision of eventually uniting the GCC’s economies. If the Gulf states combined in an economic union similar to the European Union, they would create the world’s 11th largest economy at over $1.63 trillion in trade, trailing behind India’s $1.75 trillion economy.

Big Brother Combined, the Gulf countries control 36 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves. Military strength is also a factor, with the Saudis envisioning increasing the regional Peninsula Shield Force (PSF) from 40,000 to a 100,000-strong standing army.

While the benefits seem enticing, Saudi Arabia has had a hard time convincing its

smaller neighbors that such a union would not affect their independence. “The GCC states still do not agree with the concept of Saudi Arabia acting as a big brother to them,” Theodore Karasik, director of research and consultancy at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) in Dubai told The Media Line.”They want to make sure that any integration is done on an equal level. That is why, at the Kuwait summit, the discussion of a joint command was put forward in that all countries, excluding Oman, would have a voice in this joint command structure.”

But regional events have brought one GCC state closer to its big neighbor.

Bahrain, which struggled to contain mass protests against the government in March 2011, used PSF troops to secure key installations, allowing Bahrain’s beleaguered security forces to suppress the protests.

The protests in Bahrain were part of the wider Arab Spring movement that has threatened autocratic governments in the Middle East and North Africa, collapsing some of them outright. Since the assistance was provided, the island nation has become an ardent supporter of the creation of a Gulf Union.

“A Gulf Union provides security in numbers, and it provides support,” Karasik said.

“As we saw from the US, a presidential directive came out for selling weapons to

the GCC as a whole as opposed to individual agreements. Such group weapons sales may be more palatable to the US Congress.”

Yet, economic proposals by the Saudis have come up against strong opposition and sometimes open fighting. When discussing where the proposed Arab Central Bank would be based, the Saudis and Emiratis clashed over whether it would be located in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, or in the UAE. No compromise was been reached. “The economic question has always been the showstopper,” Karasik said. “We’ve seen the GCC attempt at a currency union, a better customs union, and other means to integrate the economies. But disparities between the states are so great that it makes this kind of union very difficult to achieve.”

The West’s reengagement with Iran and the potential for the sanctioned country’s economy to suddenly open up has added to Saudi Arabia’s worries. The release of such pressure against Iran would leave open a market ripe for investment, and in a region that’s not short of cash, it could be enough for the Gulf States to make major breaks with their Saudi allies. “The question becomes how Saudi Arabia can induce its neighbors not to be a part of this economic rebirth because the kingdom does not trust Iran,” Karasik said. — Media Line

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

www.kuwaittimes.net

An acrobat balances on a man's head during the Limbo circus-cabaret show during Sydney Festival in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Limbo is an aerial acrobatics show filled with stunts and staggering illusions set to a thrilling live score of brass, electronics, hip-hop and club beats. Sydney Festival is an arts based event held in January each year boasting local and international artists in contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama and visual arts. — AP

Beauty FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Put your best

winter foot forward Fight off the drying effects of cold weather and sometimes-painful problems caused by closed-toe shoes and boots with these simple steps

A

s soon as winter arrives, people get very cautious about their skin and physical health. Many people have a tendency of getting cracks in their skin layers especially on foots during the winter season. If you don’t care about it, these can give rise to severe problems. Some people tends to get bleeding along with crack heals. Even if you are willing to wear a beautiful footwear according to your desire, these cracked heals will get you reach nowhere. It is important to keep extra care of your feet when the winter season approaches.

Using socks One of the important ways to keep your feet protected is through the socks. Just after winter hats and gloves, socks are also equally important. If your skin near the heels gets wet, this can easily soften your tissue on feet and makes it more likely towards skin trauma. Even, blisters, cuts and abrasions are quite common in this situation. There is also a risk of frostbite, if individuals are exposed to the extreme climate without any protection. Thus, using socks for both male and females during the winter days is very important.

Getting arch support It is quite common for women to go through the pregnancy or post pregnancy periods. Weight gain is quite a common procedure. In such a situation, getting strains in arches is quite common. Arch support is an important consideration. As soon as a lady gains extra weight, strains on arches can be a common factor. This becomes very severe when winter arrives.

You must add some arch supports into your shoes to get an excellent coverage. There are many branded shoes available in the market that is backed with the arch support.

Shoes according to needs Special shoes are manufactured during the winter months to keep your feet cozy and warm. Cold wind blowing outside must not touch your feet. Thus, you must choose the shoes according to your needs. Keeping your feel warm and cozy must be one of an important objective. If your feet is very sensitive and are prone to injuries, it is important to select the right type of shoe according to your need.

Moisturizing Before going to bed at night during the winter season, you must moisturize your feet very well. This will be an important step for both male and female during the winter days. Keeping feet over the floor can cause cold to affect your feet immediately. You must be very cautious about such situation.

Break to feet If you are using your feet while doing several activities throughout the day, this is the time to give your feet some rest. If you are walking on high heels, this might harm your ankle position. You must wear flat shoes and sandals for some time to give your feet some rest. Avail some shoes with stretchable fabrics that can fit your feet really well without any complications. Even if you are walking for the entire day, this is the time to provide some break.

Winter foot care for diabetics During the winter time reduced circulation is an even bigger concern for diabetics. The cold weather is not the only factor reducing circulation. People also tend to be more homebody like during the winter, getting minimal activity. This can cause poor circulation and feet/ankles to swell. Be sure to keep feet active and take extra care of them as you would during the other times of the year. — www.beautyhealthtips.com

Food FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Stack it

like it’s hot!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients Original recipe makes 12 pancakes 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 egg 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions 1. In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, all spice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Classic Pancake Ingredients Original recipe makes 8 servings 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups milk 1 egg 3 tablespoons butter, melted Directions 1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Blueberry Flax Pancakes Ingredients 1 1/2 cups dry pancake mix 1/2 cup flax seed meal 1 cup skim milk 2 eggs 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen blueberries Original recipe makes 4 servings Directions 1. Set a nonstick skillet over medium heat.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together the pancake mix and flax seed meal. In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the milk and eggs. Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients, and stir just until moistened.

3. Spoon 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the hot skillet. Sprinkle with as many blueberries as desired. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, then flip and cook until browned on the other side.

30 Dial V for Vitamins!

HEALTH

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

The importance of vitamins and minerals in human body

V

itamins have specific role to play in the natural wear and tear of the body. There are many vitamin benefits that have a major impact on our overall health.

Vitamins are divided into two types: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E and K) are stored in the fat tissues and liver. They can remain in the body up to six months. When the body requires these, they are transported to the area of requirement within the body with help of special carriers. Water soluble vitamins (B-vitamins and vitamin C) are not stored in the body like the fat soluble ones. They travel in the blood stream and need to be replenished everyday.

Below is a list of the 13 major vitamins and what each does for your body: VITAMIN A Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene) is a natural antioxidant. It belongs to a class of pigments known as carotenoids which include the yellow, red and orange pigments that give many vegetables and plants their coloring. Vitamin A has been found to enhance immune system functions by supporting and promoting the activities of white blood cells as well as other immune related cells. It also helps to inhibit free radicals and their damaging effects which have been associated with arthritis, heart disease and the development and progression of malignant cells (cancer). Beta-carotene is a precursor for vitamin A (approximately 6 mg of Bcarotene = 1 mg vitamin

A). Beta-carotene is best known for the body’s ability to convert it into retinal, which is essential for good vision and visual health, skin, and immune functions.

Natural sources of beta-carotene include carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, kale, collard and turnip greens, and winter squash.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult male should be getting 900 mcg of vitamin C each day. Females should be getting 700 mg a day. Individuals with special needs (women who are pregnant, smokers) may have different requirements and should consult their health professional.

VITAMIN B1 Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is a water-soluble Bvitamin involved with many cellular functions including carbohydrates metabolism, break down of amino acids, production of certain neurotransmitters and multiple enzyme processes (through the coenzyme thiamin pyrophosphate, or TPP). Thiamin can be found in small amounts in a wide variety of foods.

Sunflower seeds, yeast, peas and wheat are a few examples. Very little thiamin is stored within the body and must be consumed on a regular basis. A deficiency may result in weakness, loss of appetite, nerve degeneration and irritability.

VITAMIN B2 Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), like most B-vitamins, is involved in many cellular functions.

Riboflavin is important in energy metabolism, folate synthesis, conversion of tryptophan to niacin and acts as important coenzymes (FAD/FMN) involved in many reactions. It can be found in liver, mushrooms, spinach, milk, eggs and grains. Because it is water-soluble, there is minimal storage of riboflavin within the body and when dietary intake is insufficient, deficiency can occur (usually accompanied with other vitamin deficiencies).

VITAMIN B3 Vitamin B3 (Niacin), also referred to as nicotinamide and nicotinic acid, is another water-soluble, B-vitamin involved with energy metabolism. The coenzymes of niacin (NAD/NADH/NADP/NADPH) are necessary for ATP synthesis (the body’s main energy source), synthesis of fatty acids and some hormones and the transport of hydrogen atoms. When niacin levels are low, the body can use L-tryptophan (an essential amino acid) to manufacture the vita-

min. This process is not ideal, however, as it can rapidly deplete L-tryptophan in the body and take away from its other needs such as maintaining optimal levels of serotonin and melatonin. Niacin can be found in grains, liver, fish and chicken.

VITAMIN B5 Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), along with most other B-vitamins, is water-soluble and plays an important role in cellular metabolism, cognitive health and function, enhancing the immune system and supporting the functions of the nervous system. It also aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats (for energy). Vitamin B5 plays a critical role in synthesizing coenzyme A (CoA), which is involved in the biosynthesis of many important compounds including fatty acids, the transport of carbon atoms and energy metabolism. Small amounts of vitamin B5 are found in numerous foods, with high concentrations found in meats, whole grains, legumes, eggs and broccoli.

VITAMIN B6 Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin which plays a variety of important roles in numerous biological processes. Humans cannot produce vitamin B6 so it must be obtained from the diet. Adequate sources of B6 include meats (salmon, turkey, chicken) and whole grain products, such as spinach,

nuts and bananas.

There are three forms of vitamin B6: pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN) and pyridoxamine (PM). Pyridoxal-5?-phosphate (PLP) is the principal coenzyme form and has the most importance in human metabolism. It acts as a cofactor for many enzymatic reactions involving L-tryptophan, including Ltryptophan’s conversion to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the brain.

Pyridoxal-5?-phosphate is also involved in other enzymatic reactions where other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are synthesized. This plays a critical role in the functions of the nervous system.

Regarding cardiovascular health, there is an association between low vitamin B6 intake with increased blood homocysteine levels and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which has been documented in several large observational studies. Vitamin B6, along with folic acid, vitamin B5, vitamin B12 and niacin, is involved in cell metabolism, enhances the immune system, supports the functions of the nervous system, aids in carbohydrate metabolism to produce energy and promotes cognitive health. Vitamin B6 is necessary for the conduction of nerve impulses, regulation of steroid hormones, catabolism of glycogen to glucose, heme synthesis, and the synthesis/ metabolism of amino acids and neurotransmitters.

31

HEALTH FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

VITAMIN B12 Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin essential for numerous processes in the body.

The richest food sources of vitamin B12 include animal products such as meat, poultry and fish. It is not generally present in plant products with the exeption of peanuts and soybeans which absorb vitamin B12 from bacteria-filled nodules growing on the roots of these plants. Cyanocobalamin is the form most commonly used in supplements but it must be converted into methylcoblamin before it can join the metabolic pool and be properly utilized by the body. Vitamin B12 is also available as methylcobalamin, which is the methylated form, allowing it to become active quicker and be more effective.

Vitamin B12 is necessary for countless processes within the body; it transfers methyl groups, plays a part in DNA synthesis and regulation, helps facilitate cell synthesis, maturation and division, helps convert homocysteine to methionine playing a role in cardiovascular protection, aids in the proper functioning of the nervous system, participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, helps produce SAMe for mood and cognitive health and also helps produce energy.

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin and is classified as a B-complex vitamin. It is found in small amounts in foods with its richest sources being egg yolk, liver and yeast. Biotin functions as an enzyme cofactor involved in metabolic reactions such as the synthesis and oxidation of fatty acids, the formation of glucose and some amino acid metabolism. It has also been shown to improve blood sugar levels and promote the reduction of risk of insulin resistance.

VITAMIN C Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble antioxidant essential for human health and life. It has been proven necessary for healthy immune responses, wound healing, nonheme iron absorption (coming from grains and vegetables), reduction in allergic responses, development of connective tissue components such as collagen, and for the prevention of diseases. Vitamin C has also been shown to be important for cardiovascular health, reducing free radical production and free radical damage, and good cognitive health and performance.

Due to human’s inability to produce vitamin C, it is essential to ingest sources containing vitamin C on a regular, if not daily basis.

Natural sources of vitamin C include oranges, guavas, peppers (green, red, yellow), kiwis, strawberries, cantaloupes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and many other fruits and vegetables.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult male should be getting 90mg of vitamin C each day. Females should be getting 75mg a day. Individuals with certain needs (women who are pregnant, smokers) require more.

VITAMIN D Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for normal growth and development, the formation and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and influences the absorption and metabolism of phosphorus and calcium. It is necessary for proper muscle functioning, bone mineralization and stability, and multiple immune functions. Primarily the vitamin D used by the body is produced in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight.

Lack of exposure to sunlight, reduced ability

to synthesize vitamin D in the skin, age, low dietary intake, or impaired intestinal vitamin D absorption can result in deficiency.

Deficiency has been associated with rickets (poor bone formation), porous or weak bones (osteopenia, osteoporosis), pain and muscle weakness, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, impaired cognitive health, and the development and progression of malignant cells (cancer).

Natural food sources of vitamin D are few; these foods are eggs from hens that have been fed vitamin D or fatty fish such as herrings, mackerel, sardines and tuna. Due to low vitamin D levels, countries such as the United States and Canada have opted to fortify foods such as milk and other dairy products, margarines and butters, some natural cereal and grain products.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult should be getting 600IU of vitamin D each day. Individuals with special needs (the elderly, women who are pregnant) may have different requirements and should consult their health professional.

VITAMIN E

Vitamin E is one of the most powerful fatsoluble antioxidants in the body. It has been proven to help promote cardiovascular health, enhanced immune system function, aid in skin repair and to protect cell membranes from damage caused by free radicals.

Vitamin E contributes to proper blood flow and clotting as well as cognitive health and function.

Natural sources of vitamin E include herbs such as cloves and oregano, whole grains, nuts and seeds, wheat germ, avocado, egg yolks, and vegetables/fruits such as dark leafy greens, peppers (red, yellow, orange, green), tomatoes, and mangos. Other sources are vegetable oils, margarines, and fortified cereals.

FOLIC ACID Folic Acid is water-soluble vitamin important for many aspects of health. Sources of folic acid include dark, green leafy vegetables such as spinach or asparagus, fortified cereals, orange juice and legumes. Folic acid (folate) must go through a series of chemical conversions before it becomes metabolically active to be properly utilized within the body.

Natural source of vitamins Sources of Vitamin A (carotenoids) • Orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin • Dark-green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collards, turnip greens • Orange fruits like mango, cantaloupe, apricots • Tomatoes Sources of Vitamin C • Citrus fruits and juices, kiwi fruit, strawberries, cantaloupe • Broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes • Leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, turnip greens, spinach Sources of Folate • Cooked dry beans and peas, peanuts • Oranges, orange juice • Dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and mustard greens, romaine lettuce • Green peas Sources of Potassium • Baked white or sweet potato, cooked greens (such as spinach), winter (orange) squash • Bananas, plantains, dried fruits such as apricots and prunes, orange juice • Cooked dry beans (such as baked beans) and lentils

Folinic acid is the highly bioavailable, metabolically active derivative of folic acid and does not require the action of the enzyme dihydrofolinate reductase to become active, so it’s not affected by medicines and herbs that inhibit this enzyme. Adequate folate is necessary for proper DNA and RNA synthesis in regards to fetal growth and development. Due to these effects, the US Public Health Service recommends all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 mcg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects.

In addition to its clear effects on fetal growth and development, folic acid also plays an important role in cardiovascular health. By aiding in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, it has been shown to reduce the levels of homocysteine, a sulfur containing amino acid. In the absence of adequate folic acid levels, homocysteine levels increase and high homocysteine levels are associated with atherosclerosis and the reduced circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, ears and other organs. These results have been documented in countless studies. Folic acid, along with vitamin B6, vitamin B5, vitamin B12 and niacin, is involved in cell metabolism, enhances the immune system, supports the functions of the nervous system, aids in carbohydrate metabolism to produce energy and promotes cognitive health.

VITAMIN K Vitamin K, a generic term for a group of fat soluble vitamins, are involved mostly in the process of blood clotting, but also needed in metabolic pathways of bones and other tissues. The most well known are vitamin K1, also known as phylloquinone, and vitamin K2, known as menaquinone. Vitamin D and vitamin K work together in bone metabolism and development. Vitamin K works against oral anticoagulants such as warfarin, and excessive vitamin K intake, either through supplementation or a change in diet, can reduce the anticoagulant effect. Vitamin K1 is mainly found in leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, swiss chard and kale), avocado and kiwi fruit; vitamin K2 can be found in meat, eggs, and dairy and is also synthesized by bacteria in the colon. www.exploresupplements.com

Books FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

REVIEW

By Joe Moran

W

riting in the 1950s, the French cultural critic Roland Barthes argued that cars were “almost the exact equivalent of gothic cathedrals: I mean the supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists, and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them purely as a magical object”. Those of us who congregate for the Top Gear liturgy on irregular Sundays have noticed that church attendance has dwindled recently, but the car remains an object that invites worship. As well as being loaded with the symbolic baggage of money, status and competitiveness, it is a pretext for grown men (and occasionally women) to engage in the unembarrassed sharing of esoteric knowledge and aesthetic delight. And yet, like other religions, car worship increasingly provokes anger and resentment from nonbelievers. In his epic anti-car poem Autogeddon, Heathcote Williams described streets as “open sewers of the car cult”. At Reclaim the Streets events in the 1990s, protesters carried mock road signs with the slogans “Cars Come Too Fast”. One way or another, people get worked up about cars.

Golden age The car is thus an object ripe for cultural and historical analysis, and here are two books that attempt this in different ways.

Steven Parissien’s The Life of the Automobile is a global history of the motor car, from Benz to biofuels. It begins in earnest in 1891 with the French engineer Emile Levassor effectively inventing the modern automobile by moving the engine to the front and adding a front-mounted radiator, crankshaft, clutch pedal and gearstick. The book reminds us that Henry Ford created not only the mass market in automobiles but also the market in car accessories, for his Model T was so lacking in refinements that the Sears, Roebuck catalogue included over 5000 items that could be attached to it. It was Alfred P Sloan, the president of General Motors, who introduced the notion of planned obsolescence and of gradually trading up from entry-level Chevrolet to top-of-the-range Cadillac.

Parissien takes us through the golden age of the car in the 1950s and 60s, when models such as the Citroen DS, the 1959 Cadillac, the E-Type Jaguar and James Bond’s beloved Aston Martin DB5 combined beauty and functionality. Then, as the car came to be pilloried for causing congestion and pollution, the automobile industry responded by forging new markets in southern Asia and China and experimenting with alternative fuels and hybrids that mostly sought to eke out the diminishing reserves of oil. But it also responded with the single-fingered salute that is the gas-guzzling SUV, the global market for which continues to grow, undaunted by either austerity or ecopolitics.

Epitome of luxury Parissien’s is mostly a work of synthesis, culled from secondary sources, but some overarching themes present themselves.

You discover how much the car (like so much else) relied on world wars as mothers

of technological invention and opportunities for global branding. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, for instance, established itself as the epitome of luxury in the first world war when it was used to chauffeur generals to the front, and TE Lawrence granted it perfect product placement in Seven Pillars of Wisdom, describing it as “more valuable than rubies”. During the second world war, the first Volkswagen Beetles were designed with a high clearance so they could be deployed on the Russian front. Although mainly an account of the car industry, Parissien’s book offers some interesting sidelights in social history. We learn that Vermont was a remote backwater until its

Bureau of Publicity began marketing the state to pioneer motorists for leaf-peeping in the fall and skiing in winter, and that in 1931 Barbara Cartland organized a race for MG Midgets at Brooklands to demonstrate the skillfulness of women drivers.

Parissien’s heroes are the resourceful and lateral-thinking engineers - the usually unknown artists - who design these magical objects. While he gives the high-end models their due, he seems equally charmed by serviceable cars such as Flaminio Bertoni’s Citroen 2CV, an “umbrella on four wheels” launched in 1948 for France’s still largely rural population and designed to be driven by a clog-wearing peasant across a ploughed field without

breaking the eggs on the back seat. Not all the industry’s efforts at make-do-and-mend were so dependable and lovable. Parissien devotes much space to the tragic products of the British Leyland assembly line, such as the Morris Marina, a “skip on wheels” which arrived at showrooms with the paintwork already stippled with rust, and the Austin Allegro, whose pointlessly futuristic square steering wheel did not prevent it being nicknamed “the Flying Pig”. At least neither were as bad as the East German Trabant, made from Duroplast, an unrecyclable phenolic resin strengthened by Soviet cottonwool waste and compressed brown paper, which released noxious fumes that made

its assembly-line workers ill and killed quite a few of them.

The Life of the Automobile leaves you with the sense that the car is both an extraordinarily sophisticated object - made from tens of thousands of component parts, capable of delivering its occupants long distances in extreme comfort, and now fitted with stop-start engines, voiceactivated controls, automatic parking systems and radar technology to read road markings - and a surprisingly primitive one.

After all, its basic technology, the internal combustion engine, is a 19th-century invention and it remains, as the Japanese say, “a third-class machine”, needing a reasonably skilled human to work it properly.

Parissien sees the automobile’s contradictions already encapsulated near the start of its life in the personality of Henry Ford “daringly innovative, yet at the same time intrinsically conservative; brashly aggressive, yet apprehensive and hesitant; socially progressive, yet politically reactionary”.

‘A biscuit tin on wheels’ Mark Wallington’s The Auto Biography is more personal and idiosyncratic, his idea being to tell the story of the last 60 years of British motoring through his own encounters with cars. The book begins in 1953 with his father’s purchase of a Ford Popular - a “biscuit tin on wheels”, which has only a single windscreen wiper - to bring his son back from the maternity ward. Wallington’s narrative runs from the excitements of the early motorway age to the disenchantments of the present, symbolized by his father turning road protester when a bypass is built at the back of his house. The book ends bathetically with the author’s purchase of a charcoal-grey Ford Focus, “a car that specializes in not being noticed”, although “perhaps it’s got a little more grey over the last two years”.

This convivial book is hard to dislike and there are some nice vignettes. Wallington’s father, who plans journeys along the virgin motorways of the 1950s and 60s with the same meticulousness he brought to his role as an RAF navigator in the war, warms his car’s spark plugs in the oven on winter mornings, so that breakfast smells are “offset by the piquant aroma of engine oil”. In her first trip on the M6, his mother buys a postcard of it at a service station to send to her hairdresser. During the suffocating summer of 1976, as long queues of hitchhikers form at Staples Corner at the foot of the M1, the asphalt melts and “you could peel it off the side of the roads”.

New revelations But as these details suggest, this book does not veer wildly from the main routes, presenting us with a series of stock figures from Tufty the road safety squirrel to Swampy the tunneling road protester. It has that slight air of condescension you sometimes find in popular histories of the recent past, in which our immediate ancestors are seen as naive or quaint for getting excited about phenomena such as the motorway service station or the Gravelly Hill Interchange that, from our more knowing and enlightened present, are revealed as quite mundane.

Like modern cars, both these books rumble along nicely but seem largely cocooned in their own comforting microenvironment, cut off from the world beyond the dashboard. Neither of them seem much concerned with what the excitements, passions and anxieties generated by the car tell us about ourselves or our society. The car still awaits a social and cultural history that would explore how this miraculous and mundane object, what JG Ballard called this “huge metalized dream”, has come to penetrate so deeply into the routines and reveries of our waking lives.

Lifestyle

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

In this file photograph, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gestures during an interview at his residence in Mumbai, India. — AP

Shah Rukh Khan injured during movie shoot

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hah Rukh Khan’s office says the Bollywood superstar has suffered a minor injury while shooting a new movie. He was shooting for director Farah Khan’s new film at a luxury hotel in Mumbai when a door fell on him. A statement from his office yesterday says Khan was in a hospital being treated for injuries to his face and hands. The film titled “Happy New Year” also features top stars Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan. The 48year-old Khan has acted in more than 80 films in a career spanning more than two decades. It is not immediately clear how the door came off its hinges. Khan often refuses to use a stunt double in action films. —AP

Top chefs bring ready meals to NYC elderly

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hivering in Arctic temperatures and reeling from a brutal winter snowstorm, elderly New Yorkers got the surprise of their lives when five top chefs suddenly appeared with meals on wheels. Whipped up in the kitchens of some of the world’s finest chefs in some of Manhattan’s most expensive restaurants, once a month older people can dine at home as if at an award-winning table. The launch menu was a mouth-watering embarrassment of riches: lamb navarin with chard marmalade, beef bourguignon with turnips or Caesar salad and cheese cake. And the first delivery by the chefs themselves-some kitted out in their kitchen whites-couldn’t come at a better time. After Winter Storm Janus dumped 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow on America’s biggest city Tuesday, New York hunkered down in temperatures hovering around 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius).

Community centers for the elderly have closed and sidewalks have been reduced to a perilous mix of mucky brown slush and ice. The idea came from two chefs involved for years in the Citymeals-on-Wheels organization that harnesses an army of volunteers to deliver meals to 18,000 elderly people each day. Among them no less is star French chef Daniel Boulud, who owns a string of restaurants and whose eponymous Daniel on the Upper East Side has the ultimate accolade of three Michelin stars.—AFP

Italian chef Cesare Casella delivers a meal cooked at his restaurant to Wilda, 86, as part of Citymeals-on-Wheels, a non-profit organization which provides food and care to New York City’s homebound elderly, in New York, January 22, 2014.— AFP

The Duomo (right) of Orvieto is seen in this partial view. — AFP photos

Italy’s ‘Slow City’ goes global

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ven as city living booms around the world, the Slow City movement directed by an intrepid Italian is gaining a global following with a back to basics campaign to make small towns the new place to be. From his hometown of Orvieto-a hilltop mediaeval gem surrounded by castles and vineyards in central Umbria-Pier Giorgio Oliveti has helped expand Cittaslow to 28 countries including South Korea, Turkey and the United States. “Cittaslow is about appreciating what we are and what we have, without being self-destructive and depleting values, money and resources,” Oliveti told AFP. “It is an antidote against negative globalisation,” the bushybearded former journalist said. Founded in 1999 by a Tuscan mayor eager to extend the healthy living philosophy of Italy’s Slow Food movement to urban life, Cittaslow currently boasts 183 members, with another dozen applications for membership pending.

The movement’s symbol-derived from that of the Slow Food movement-embodies their philosophy: a snail carrying a town built on its shell. Would-be candidates must have fewer than 50,000 inhabitants and city halls have to respect strict criteria like promoting organic and urban farming and introducing food appreciation classes in schools. Orvieto, one of the first towns to sign up 15 years ago, has become the movement’s international headquarters and its showcase town.

Small family-run trattorias dish out locally-sourced delicacies-another requirement for Cittaslow towns-and farmers hawk their wares at the market, which also serves as the community’s lively social hub. The town hosts a family-friendly jazz festival and locals such as fireman Luciano Sabottini pride themselves on offering such a relaxing atmosphere to tourists that “those who come from Rome or Milan leave again mellowed out.” Pollution levels are low: visitors park in large underground carparks, masked from sight behind earthy walls which blend into the rockface, and take escalators installed in old aqueduct tunnels up to the pedestrianised centre.

‘Neither difficult nor odd’ Schoolchildren are walked to school every day in groups by parent volunteers in an initiative dubbed “PiediBus” (FootBus) in a procession through town streets. Mayor Antonio Concina says running a Slow City is “neither difficult nor odd”. “It’s not a matter of stopping progress to allow a town to respect the slow rules. They can go hand in hand.” But Cittaslow’s message of environmentally-friendly, human-sized policies to improve urban life is being challenged by an economic crisis in Italy that has pushed unemployment to record-high levels.

Orvieto has not been spared: according to a report by town assembly members, “entire sectors have closed”, with 153 businesses shutting shop in the past four years and unemployment at 35.4 percent-far higher than the national average.

“We are fighting to keep our heads above water. Orvieto was once full of carpenter workshops, there was one on every street. I think we’re the only ones left,” said Gaia Ricetti, whose family has worked wood for seven generations.

The large, 18th-century Michelangeli workshop hidden down a cobbled street in the centre of Orvieto is abuzz with electronic saws-the sound of industry Concina says he would be keen to hear more of, slow city or not. “Not having largescale industries does hamper economic development,” and multinationals like coffee chain Starbucks “would mean work, a living economy”, although Concina said he would definitely prefer not to have any Starbucks around.

Oliveti believes the Cittaslow philosophy can be used to the same end, by “privileging a community’s qualities, such as craftmanship, technology or tourism, and using them as a key to overcome the economic crisis.” Orvieto prides itself on its remaining traditional artisans, printers and potters, working in old laboratories dotted around the town centre.

“We have clients from Italy and abroad, but no plans to move away to expand the business. It’s not about money, it’s about living a tranquil life,” said ceramics maker Walter Ambrosini, as he put freshly-crafted cups into a kiln. Despite the crisis, Ricetti agrees: “We would not be able to produce the same quality of product without the slow component. We weather our wood for five years before working it and Orvieto gives us the time and space to do so.” While the movement is currently limited to small towns, Oliveti said he hopes to persuade larger cities from Barcelona to Seoul to adopt some of the movement’s ideas and generate “islands of Cittaslow culture” in the bustle. —AFP

Picture taken of a street in Orvieto.

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

This photo provided by Sesame Workshop shows new Muppet Dr. Ruster (center, with, from left) Grover, Rosita, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Ernie and Bert. — AP

Muppets’ mini-makeover aims to boost kids’ health B

ert and Ernie jump rope and munch apples and carrots, and Cookie Monster has his namesake treat once a week, not every day. Can a Muppets mini-makeover improve kids’ health, too? A three-year experiment in South America suggests it can. Now, the Sesame Street project is coming to the United States. Already, a test run in a New York City preschool has seen results: Four-year-old Jahmeice Strowder got her mom to make cauliflower for the first time in her life. A classmate, Bryson Payne, bugged his dad for a banana every morning and more salads. A parent brought home a loaf of bread instead of Doritos.

“What we created, I believe, is a culture” of healthy eating to fight a “toxic environment” of junk food and too little exercise, said Dr. Valentin Fuster, a cardiologist at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. Six years ago, he started working with Sesame Workshop, producers of television’s Sesame Street, on a project aimed at 3-to-5-year-olds. “At that age they pay attention to everything” and habits can be changed, he said. The need is clear: A third of US children and teens are obese or overweight. Many don’t get enough exercise, and a recent study found that kids’ fitness has declined worldwide. They’re at high risk for heart and other problems later in life.

“The focus is younger and younger” to try to prevent this, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and a spokesman for the American Heart Association. The group’s annual conference in November featured Fuster’s experiment as one of the year’s top achievements in heart disease prevention.

For Sesame Street, the project offered a chance to improve the lives of young viewers and give a makeover to certain Muppets.

“While Cookie Monster is an engaging figure, we felt there was an opportunity there to really model healthy eating,” said Jorge Baxter, regional director for Latin America for Sesame Workshop.

In this photo provided by Sesame Workshop, Dr. Valentin Fuster, a cardiologist at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, stands with a Muppet character based on him, “Dr. Ruster,” in the Sesame Street studios in the Queens borough of New York. — AP

The new message is that certain things like cookies are “something you can eat sometimes, but there are some foods that you can eat all the time,” like vegetables, he said. The healthy messages have been gradually incorporated into the television show, and its producers even made a doctor Muppet - Dr. Ruster (pronounced “Rooster”) - in Fuster’s image for the preschool project.

It launched in Colombia because US schools that Fuster approached years ago were reluctant, but a wealthy family’s foundation was willing to sponsor the experiment in Bogota. It involved 1,216 children and 928 parents from 14 preschools. Some were given

the program and others served as a comparison group.

Kids had training on healthy habits and how the body works for an hour a day for five months using Sesame Workshop-produced videos, a board game (the “heart game”), songs, posters and activities.

Parents were involved through take-home assignments and workshops that focused on overcoming barriers to good food and exercise.

For example, in areas with poor access to parks or play spaces, parents were coached to encourage kids to use stairs instead of elevators and to walk instead of taking a bus.

Children’s weight and exercise habits were measured at the start and 1 1/2 and 3 years later. Although many moved or dropped out by the time the study ended, researchers documented a significant increase in knowledge, attitude and health habit scores among kids in the program versus the comparison group.

The proportion of children at a healthy weight increased from 62 percent at the start to 75 percent at three years for those in the program. Ironically, in Colombia, that mostly meant that more undernourished kids grew to reach a healthy weight. In New York, where the program plans to launch in several early childhood and Head Start programs this spring and fall, project leaders will have to tackle underand overweight kids.

“A lot of the kids are from low-income families, shelters,” and many have poor access to healthy foods, said Rachael Lynch, director of educational services for an Episcopal Social Services preschool, The Learning Center, in Harlem. “It’s a mecca for fast food around here.

We’re trying to get them to walk past the Chinese food or pizza or McDonald’s, to go home and make something.”—AP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

A Lamborghini (right) and a Ferrari (left) allegedly involved in a drag race are shown in an impound lot yesterday in Miami Beach, Fla. — AP photos

In this file photo, singer Justin Bieber performs during a concert at Bercy Arena in Paris.

Justin Bieber arrested in Miami

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op star Justin Bieber has been arrested after police say he drag raced on a Miami Beach street in a yellow Lamborghini and failed a sobriety test early Thursday. Miami Beach police confirmed the 19-year-old singer’s arrest in a tweet from the department’s official account. Officers saw two cars racing at 4:09 am Thursday, with two vehicles apparently used to block the area off, Miami Dade-Police spokesman Sgt Bobby Hernandez told WSVN in South Florida. He says the second car was a red Ferrari, and that driver was also arrested. Both cars were towed.

Bieber failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Miami Beach police station for a Breathalyzer and processing, Hernandez said. Bieber will be transported to the Miami-Dade County jail, Hernandez said. An email seeking comment from publicist Melissa Victor was not immediately returned. The street where police say Bieber was racing is a palm-tree-lined residential area in mid-Miami Beach. Along one side of the street are small apartment buildings, and on the other side are a high school, a youth center, a golf course and a city firehouse.

Under Florida law, people under the age of 21 are considered driving under the influence if they have a blood-alcohol content

of .02 percent or more - a level he could reach with one drink. For 21 and over, it is .08 percent. For a first drunken driving offense, there is no minimum sentence and a maximum of six months, a fine of $250 to $500, and 50 hours of community service. For anyone under 21, there is an automatic six-month license suspension.

First offense of a drag-racing offense nets a sentence of up to six months, a fine of $500 to $1,000, and a one-year license suspension. Earlier this month, officials said that detectives in California searched Bieber’s home looking for surveillance footage that might serve as evidence the pop star was involved in an egg-tossing vandalism case that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbor’s home. Officials said Bieber was at the home and cooperated with authorities In that case, authorities arrested one member of Bieber’s entourage on suspicion of drug possession: Lil Za, a rapper whose real name is Xavier Smith.

After being taken to jail, Smith had felony vandalism added to his potential charges and was released on bail at about 8:15 pm.

The singer lives in a gated community in Calabasas, a celebrity enclave about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Previous investigations into Bieber’s conduct by the

sheriff’s department have not resulted in charges.

In October, prosecutors declined to charge Bieber after a neighbor complained he drove recklessly through the area.

Prosecutors in November 2012 also declined to charge the singer after a paparazzo accused him of punching and hitting him after leaving a Calabasas movie theater. Justin Bieber was only 15 when his platinum-selling debut “My World” was released. The singer from Ontario had placed second in a local singing contest two years earlier and began posting performances on YouTube, according to his official website. The videos caught the attention of a talent agent who helped Bieber land an audition with R&B singer Usher. Usher, along with Island/Def Jam chairman LA Reid, signed him to a recording contract. — AP

Sundance film spotlights Palestinian spy for Israel

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Actors Julie Estelle and Iko Uwais pose for a portrait during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2014 in Park City, Utah. — AFP

he son of a founder of Hamas who spent 10 years as an Israeli “mole” at the heart of the Palestinian Islamist movement is thrown into the spotlight, in a film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. From 1997 to 2007, Mossab Hassan Youssef, the oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, worked for Israel’s Shin Bet internal security services, before relocating to the United States and converting to Christianity.

In 2010 he published a book about his life, which has been adapted into “The Green Prince,” in competition at the major independent film festival, which runs until Sunday in the ski resort of Park City, Utah. Israeli director Nadav Schirman said he discovered the story when the book came out. “I realized that we knew nothing of Hamas. (Mossab) was giving such an insider description there,” he told AFP. “We, as Israelis, we’re living next door, we are neighbors and we know nothing.”

He contacted Mossab and arranged to meet him in New York. He also met Gonen Ben Yitzhak, the Palestinian mole’s Shin Bet handler-and decided to focus his movie on the astonishing relationship between the two men. Shin Bet arrested Mossab in 1996 for arms possession when he was 17 years old, and a devout follower of his father’s beliefs. Gonen proposed that he became a spy for Israel. Mossab accepted, planning to become a

double agent, to work against the Israelis.

But in prison he came into contact with other Hamas members, and said he saw a side of the movement he did not recognize: torture, intimidation and summary executions, and so he decided to work for Israel. Over the course of a decade, he said he prevented dozens of suicide attacks, helped secure the arrest of key Hamas figures, and even stopped a planned attack on Shimon Peres, now Israel’s president.

These results were only achieved because of the trust built up, little by little, between Mossab and Gonen, according to Schirman. “They had to take a leap of faith to trust one another,” he said. “And when I look at the political map today the Palestinian leaders don’t trust the Israeli leaders and the Israeli leaders don’t trust the Palestinian leaders. And without trust they will never get anywhere. But trust implies taking risks-that’s the only way to really create a valuable relationship.”—AFP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Von Teese at Gaultier, Paz Vega hits Saab

US dancer Dita Von Teese presents a creation by Jean Paul Gaultier during the Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2014 collection show, on January 22, 2014 in Paris.

—AFP/AP photos

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housands of hours of fastidious couture burst out onto the catwalks for Wednesday’s dramatic Paris shows including displays from Valentino, Elie Saab and Viktor & Rolf. The spring-summer 2014 collections provoked applause, gasps, cheers and generally so much enthusiasm that one fashion journalist even fell off the stage trying to speak to Jean Paul Gaultier. The Associated Press also caught up with a real life haute couture client who owns over 1,500 astronomically-priced gowns. Here are the reports, tidbits and highlights from the day:

Models present creations by Jean Paul Gaultier. embroidery time on just one garment. And it showed in the delicacy of the gowns. Medieval images of fawns, mixed with youthful frothy tutus, silken cream Asian pajama suits, a bronze Celtic pattern and even a Grecian toga dress in alabaster white with an enviable cape attached to the sleeves. If references were myriad, one thing held it all together: luxury. From dentelle lace, to natural tussah silk, feathers, pearls and crystals - this collection shimmered.

Dita Von Teese’s cameo Guests at the Jean Paul Gaultier show gasped when American burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese walked out for a cameo appearance at this

Elie Saab is fit for a 50s princess Elie Saab used the delicate colors of turn-ofthe-century painter Lawrence Alma-Tadema as a starting point of his show. It pushed the Lebanese designer, who’s better known for traditional red carpet traffic-stoppers, to produce an unusually subtle collection. There were, of course, the predictable bread-and-butter cinched silhouettes. But the display achieved a rare mood which evoked the progression of day: From the blush pinks of dawn, the pure white of high noon, the purples of dusk, and then to resolution in midnight black. There was also a nostalgia for yesteryear.

Impressive crinolines appeared on several looks, all with the traditional couture embellishments, harking back to the styles the 1950s Hollywood actresses. Several looks would not have looked out of place on Grace Kelly.

Appropriately from the front row applauded Spanish actress Paz Vega, who stars in the upcoming biopic “Grace of Monaco.”

London. Gaultier is no stranger to corsets and became world famous for putting singer Madonna in one in 1990 as part of her “Blond Ambition Tour.”

haute couture show in a death-defying small corset. The diminutive brunette’s body looked distorted in the tight, laced blue green bodice that cinched even her tiny 22-inch waist. The corset flourished with a butterfly embellishment that Gaultier said was inspired by seeing mounted butterflies in a shop on a recent trip to

Valentino’s encyclopedic couture opus An incredible hand-painted set with butterflies and foliage met guests at Valentino’s encyclopedic couture show, thanks a to collaboration with Rome Opera House. Valentino can always be counted on to produce the most archetypally couture show of the season. Here, their army of indefatigable Italian seamstresses - the “petites mains” - spent sometimes up to 2,500 hours of

Meet a real life couture client Haute couture, the artisan-based method of making clothes that dates back over 150 years, is bought by a core group of no more than 100 rich women around the world for tens of thousands of dollars apiece. One of these legendary women, Monaco-based Mouna Ayoub, sat in pride of place on the front row of the Jean Paul Gaultier show. She told The Associated Press she’s bought over 1,500 couture gowns over 33 years. “I wear haute couture every time I go out in public, I cannot stand ready-to-wear. Except when I go shopping where I wear jeans,” she said. Houses such as Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior each possess special mannequins created with Ayoub’s exact measurements to create the personalized, perfect fit.

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Jean Paul Gaultier’s butterfly effect If the irreverent French designer was aiming for design transformations on Wednesday, after recent lukewarm show reviews, channeling chrysalises and butterflies was not it. Gaultier always makes for one of the most exciting couture shows of the season- admired in equal measure for their celebrity appearances as for the endearing positive energy the designer personally exudes. And here there was plenty of vibrancy: Butterfly sleeves, peaked shoulders, leather evening gloves, see-through lace pants, conical bras, feathers in the hair and a bride who looked like a showgirl. But the recurring imagery of butterflies - on large hats and shaped in organza dresses was sometimes overused, at times cluttering the otherwise beautiful silhouettes. There were great ideas, like netting in skirts that evoked a butterfly catcher’s net. The best looks, like one single orange coral butterfly blouse whose little organza ruffles seemed to flutter, were often the simplest.

Viktor&Rolf create balletic fashion illusion Dutch design duo Viktor&Rolf played clever visual tricks in the second outing of their relauched couture line. Models on pointe in ballet shoes, donned trompe l’oeil outfits that appeared three-dimensional, but were in fact flat. Guests had to look twice at one look - it appeared to be a white lycra sports top and separate skirt below an exposed midriff. In reality, both pieces were part of the same single garment, that featured a trickster flesh colored stomach and arms. Were they trying to say that ballet, a performance - like couture - is all artifice, where nothing can be trusted? It was a highly creative collection by Rolf Snoering and Viktor Horsting who already seem to be developing a unique, minimalist couture style. — AP

Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab acknowleges the public.

Models present creations by Elie Saab.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Kuwait

NO SUN+TUE+WED

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KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (23/01/2014 TO 29/01/2014)

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05:19 06:41 12:00 14:59 17:19 18:39

Te c h n o l o g y FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Picking the tab: Do you use technology for work or play?

H aving more choices is not always a good thing. Take tablets for example: When you could only buy the Apple iPad, it was a clear-cut decision. Now that there are numerous brands, different sizes and multiple platforms, it actually requires some work to find the best device for you. Here are some important points that you should consider when selecting a tablet.

For work or play?

The first question you should really ask: Do you need a tablet? As a device that falls between a full-fledged notebook and a smartphone, it’s only natural for some consumers to believe that they can substitute a laptop with a tablet. Now, this could be true for some that mainly use their slates for browsing the Web or playing games, but it’s not always the case.

For instance, you may be used to transferring files between computers with a USB drive, but few tablets have full-sized USB ports. This could mean adjusting how you do things or even not getting a tablet after all. Others may feel that tablets complement their existing phones and laptops and are worth buying because they are more appropriate for certain scenarios, such as reading a digital magazine on the couch.

Once you’re sure that you need a tablet, you should consider what you’re mainly using it for.

Is it for work, such as taking notes at meetings and reading documents? Or would you be using it for entertainment, like watching videos and playing games? Most tablets can fulfill both roles pretty well, but there are some which are more suitable than others. Lenovo’s ThinkPad Tablet and the BlackBerry PlayBook are examples of slates that are marketed for the workplace and have additional features for their target audience. Microsoft is also empha-

sizing the full functionality that you’ll get with tablets that run its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

What’s the right size?

Tablets can start from a modest 5.5-inch display and go up to 13 inches. In-between, you’ll find models with screens ranging from 7 inches to 9.7 inches. Obviously, the devices with the larger displays will be heavier and less portable-one can barely hold a 9- or 10-inch tablet for prolonged use with just one hand. A larger screen may also shorten the battery life or require a more powerful battery, which goes back to the issue of weight. The downsides of a larger display are why there’s much talk about Apple releasing a smaller version of its iPad. On the other hand, you may need that extra inch for your favorite 720p HD movies.

Besides the size of the display, one should also look at the screen resolution. Here’s where Apple has continued to lead the market with the Retina display on the latest iPad. Android slates from Acer and Asus have also upped the native resolution on their high-end slates to full-HD. Then, there’s the aspect ratio to consider. Apple has gone for a 4:3 aspect ratio while the majority of tablets favor 16:10. The 4:3 aspect ratio may appear more suited for certain tasks, such as e-books, as we’re used to this ratio in print format. In short, there’s no right or wrong size, as it boils down to your individual preferences.

Which is the right platform?

Buying a tablet is similar to getting a mobile phone. You’re basically tied to the platform upon purchase, as there’s no easy way to change the operating system like you do on a laptop. With this in mind, you should treat a tablet like an appliance. Out of the box, it

should have all the features and software that you need. You should not get one with the expectation that it will improve in a future update. It’s all about the apps For most consumers, the number and variety of apps available for their tablets is an important concern. A tablet may have a great operating system with built-in apps that do almost everything that you can think of, but a lack of third-party apps will still affect its viability in the market. This is because it’s no longer just a contest of hardware specs-it’s a constant struggle between platforms to attract developers to code apps for them. Just like consoles, if an app you really need is exclusively available on a certain platform, there’s really nothing you can do, except to wait and hope that the developer will port it to your tablet’s OS. Currently, Apple’s iOS platform continues to lead in the total number of apps, though Google’s Android equivalent is rapidly catching up. According to the most recent official statistics from both companies, there are 650,000 apps on iOS compared with 600,000 on Android. While this gap seems pretty small, note that these numbers refer to the entire platform.

Specifically for the iPad, there are around 225,000 apps, of which you can expect a smaller number that are optimized for the Retina display on the new iPad-we have complied a shortlist of Retina display-ready games.

Although most Android apps will run fine on both smartphones and tablets, there are no official numbers on tablet versions for Google.

Ultimately, it could all boil down to whether your favorite app is on the platform. Here’s a list of excellent free apps (for both Android and iOS) to start you off.

What features do you need?

As there are many vendors using the

Android OS for their tablets, they have tried to differentiate their products in terms of software enhancements and hardware features.

Hence, there are Android slates that come with full-sized USB ports while others have more radical designs, such as the Asus Eee Pad Slider.

Other manufacturers, such as Samsung, have gone the software route with its TouchWiz interface on top of Android.

Some of the hardware features that you should take note of when looking at the specs include: Processor (number of cores and clock speed) Screen resolution Camera (rear and front-facing) Ports, video outputs, connectors Wireless connectivity (3G/Wi-Fi) Stylus support Internal and expandable storage Is there a right price?

Apple’s iPad has set a $499 price for a 10.1inch tablet that other competitors are finding hard to match. The company is able to source components, such as the high-resolution Retina display at better rates than its rivals due to its large number of orders. If you factor in the $399 price for the older but still capable iPad 2, it’s not difficult to see why the iPad has done so well. In other words, tablets of a similar size as the iPad should not attempt to price themselves higher than Apple’s.

However, when it comes to smaller form factors, such as 7 inches, $199 appears affordable enough to appeal to most consumers.

The Kindle Fire, which was the first to reach this price point, was a success last year.

Google’s Nexus 7 appears to be doing extremely well, too. www.asia.cnet.com

Stars

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Usually you prefer to approach events with a practical and scientific attitude, Aries, but today you're feeling especially intuitive and more aware of the other worlds, so it might be difficult to hang on to your usual mindset. Some uncomfortable feelings you've had about events in the news could prove to be accurate, which might be a bit disconcerting. Remember that there is so much in the Universe that can't be explained through logic or science!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

If you've been thinking about taking up the study of astrology, numerology, alchemy, or any other occult science, this is the day to get started, Taurus. Scientific adherence to facts and rules combines with enhanced telepathic abilities to bring about a burgeoning skill in such fields. Look up some friends who share your interest and arrange to attend a class or workshop on whatever subject appeals to you the most.

At day's end your mind could be spinning!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Some rather intense and vivid dreams could inspire you to embark on some in-depth study of a subject that specifically interests you, Gemini. This could involve the arts, philosophy, or metaphysics. Travel plans to one of the world's great spiritual centers, such as Jerusalem, Glastonbury or Vrindavana, might be on your mind as a result. Your level of intuition is very high today, so whatever you dream of doing, give it some serious thought. It might be just what you need!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Family and friends may gather for an intimate get-together at your home or perhaps at the home of a neighbor. At some point, expect an exciting phone call. You should be feeling pretty secure in relationships of all kinds, Cancer, from business partnerships to close friends to love partners. Information provided by someone else could give you some ideas as to how to fix up your house in a new and different way.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Today you might attend more than one group activity or social event involving spiritual or metaphysical matters. Your sense of intuition is very high, Leo, and your level of understanding is especially acute. Therefore, concepts that could be confusing at other times could seem as clear as a bell today. You might form strong bonds with others who are also present, and you might make plans to meet with them again in the future. Enjoy!

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Intellectual or artistic work could take up a lot of your time today, Virgo. Your level of inspiration is high, and you're apt to be full of ideas that others would find beneficial. You're also likely to sense the thoughts and feelings of those around you before they themselves are consciously aware of them. This not only increases your career standing, it can help you in the love department. Enjoy your day!

COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22)

Study of religion and spiritual matters could well be of particular interest for you today, Libra. You're likely to discuss your knowledge and beliefs regarding such matters with a close friend, which could prove rather enlightening for both of you.

Whatever you learn will prove to be artistically inspiring, so don't be surprised if you find yourself spending some time writing down your thoughts or turning them into pictures. Don't limit yourself!

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Today communication with others is more likely to be on a subtle rather than verbal level, Scorpio. When the phone rings, you might already know who's on the other end of the line before you pick it up. You could also pick up telepathically on the thoughts of others. Books and articles about people who have had similar experiences could increase your understanding of them. Don't fight it! Go with the flow.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Inspiration drawn from recent religious or spiritual occurrences could have you writing down accounts of your experiences, Sagittarius, perhaps with the idea of someday publishing them.

Your concentration could well be intense, as writing for you today may not be only creative but therapeutic as well. It will also help to attend classes or workshops or simply to discuss the subject with a friend. Knowledge is essential.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

You should be feeling especially strong and healthy today, Capricorn. The drive to exercise, particularly if you do it alone and outdoors, is likely to get the endorphins going and thus give you a natural high, which could lead to an increased level of inspiration and intuition. After you finish, it might be a good idea to sit in a park, preferably near water, to allow yourself to come down. Meditate and take a close look at your inner state.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

Today, Aquarius, you might find yourself picking up uncanny telepathic messages from a friend who lives some distance from you. A telephone call might reveal that this person has just received some good news, and that they were just thinking of calling you! This probably won't be the only ESP experience you have today. Your level of intuition is very high, so be prepared for some unusually strong psychic messages.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Creative inspiration flows freely today, Pisces, enabling you to channel it in more than one way. An opportunity to earn a sizable fee doing something artistic could come your way. Spiritual or metaphysical studies may be involved. This might represent the attainment of a long-term goal you've been striving to reach, and therefore you're apt to be rather excited about it. Tonight, go out and celebrate your success with your friends.

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African Republic 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062 Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677 Somalia 00252 South Africa 0027 South Korea 0082 Spain 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Sudan 00249 Suriname 00597 Swaziland 00268 Sweden 0046 Switzerland 0041 Syria 00963 Taiwan 00886 Tanzania 00255 Thailand 0066 Toga 00228 Tonga 00676 Tokelau 00690 Trinidad 001868 Tunisia 00216 Turkey 0090 Tuvalu 00688 Uganda 00256 Ukraine 00380 United Arab Emirates00976

L e i s u re

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Word Search

Yesterdayʼs Solution

C R O S S W O R D 4 3 8

ACROSS 1. An inn in some Eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravans.

5. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.

11. (computer science) A unit for measuring the execution speed of computers.

15. A rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders).

16. Highly seasoned fatty sausage of pork and beef usually dried.

17. On or toward the lee.

18. (Norse mythology) One of the Aesir known for his beauty and skill with bow and skis.

20. Line across a billiard table behind which the cue balls are placed at the start of a game.

22. A military trainee (as at a military academy).

24. A conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.

25. Either of two large African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus having short spirally twisted horns in both sexes.

26. Fudge made with brown sugar and butter and milk and nuts.

29. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.

30. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

34. Any of several tropical American trees of the genus Andira.

39. Island country in the Atlantic east of Florida and Cuba.

42. 100 avos equal 1 pataca.

43. Submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers.

46. One related on the mother's side.

49. Lower the rated electrical capability of electrical apparatus.

50. Someone who plies a trade.

51. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993).

53. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

54. A hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons).

55. Make synchronous and adjust in time or manner.

57. Praise, glorify, or honor.

60. An international organization created in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty for purposes of collective security.

62. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

66. Related by common characteristics or ancestry.

68. Of or relating to Iraq or its people or culture.

70. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

71. A city of central China.

72. Expected hopefully.

74. A fluorocarbon with chlorine.

75. A republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland.

76. South African statesman who was released from prison to become the nation's first democratically elected president in 1994 (born in 1918).

77. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

Daily SuDoku

DOWN 1. German arms manufacturer and son of Friedrich Krupp.

2. A city in the Saxony region of Germany on the Saale River.

3. American filmmaker and comic actor (1935- ).

4. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube.

5. Of southern Europe.

6. Social status or position conferred by a system based on class.

7. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

8. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

9. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

10. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning.

11. Any of several low-growing Australian eucalypts.

12. A Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer) describing the siege of Troy.

13. English Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania (1644-1718).

14. A small hard fruit.

19. Make steady.

21. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

23. Genus of East Indian trees or shrubs.

27. All of the inhabitants of the earth.

28. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

31. A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element.

32. An edible tuber native to South America.

33. German mystic and theosophist who founded modern theosophy.

35. Connected with or belonging to or used in a navy.

36. A long loincloth worn by Hindu men.

37. (Old Testament) The first of the major Hebrew prophets (8th century BC).

38. Measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects.

40. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

41. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as

by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

44. Of or relating to or in the manner of the playwright Henrik Ibsen.

45. (statistics) Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value.

47. Move the upper body backwards and down.

48. Feeling or showing extreme anger.

52. Everything you own.

56. Not very intelligent or interested in culture.

58. Being two more than forty.

59. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

61. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall.

63. The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable.

64. A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold.

65. Type genus of the family Arcidae.

67. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or water or to keep out the sea.

69. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

73. A state in northwestern United States on the Pacific.

Yesterdayʼs Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Hurricanes stop Flyers

DOHA: Steve Webster of England hits his tee shot on the16th hole during the second round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club. — AP

Rafa leads Qatar Masters DOHA: Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello continued his excellent desert form to take a handy two-shot cushion after the second round of the Qatar Masters yesterday.

The 29-year-old, who finished tied fourth at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and had won the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic, carded a fluent 65 for a 13-under 131 total at the Doha Golf Club.

In the process he overtook overnight leader George Coetzee who recorded a second round 69 for an 11-under 133 to occupy sole second spot, while Englishmen Steve Webster and Mathew Baldwin were a further shot behind along with rising Swedish star Johan Carlsson on 134.

Coetzee had retained his one-shot advantage after finishing his round in the morning, but Cabrera-Bello stormed up the leaderboard in the afternoon with a brilliant show over the back nine during which he picked up five strokes.

The Spaniard finished his round in style by draining a putt from 10 feet on the 18th hole, and but for a par on the 17th hole could have had a string of five successive birdies beginning on the 14th. Coetzee, the runner-up in Qatar last year, was not complaining despite dropping four shots, which included a doublebogey six on the 474-yard 11th hole, his second.

“Just told myself, make some putts, and luckily I did. Yeah, I felt quite good. There were some bogeys out there but definitely some birdies, too, said Coetzee.

“I enjoy this place, so obviously I’ll be trying to do one better than last year, and just keep doing what I’m doing and make some putts.” Webster’s record albatross on Wednesday however continued to be the talking point in Doha with many wondering if he could repeat the feat on the same hole in the second round.

The Englishman, too, admitted that the thought of an encore had been playing on his mind although he eventually had to settle for a birdie.

“I had perfect yardage again but I pulled it a bit and ended up 40 feet away. It was on my mind,” Webster said after his round which was blighted by three bogeys.

“Yeah, I was disappointed how I played today. Warmed up on the range this morning at half five and it was quite early and never really quite got going on the course, so to shoot 69, I’ve scrambled a little bit which is great.” Rookie Carlsson, however, was pretty happy with his 65, the best round of the day, along with Cabrera-Bello. “Well, of course I’m happy, I got the putter going, same as last week, the last round where I shot 7?under as well,” said Carlsson.“Always helps when you get the putter going.

When you get the putter going, everything seems so much easier.” American John Daly, meanwhile, rolled back the years with a calm 69 to go with his first round 67 and was tied for 10th in a bunch of six players with 136.

Without a title for the past 10 years, the colourful American eschewed his trademark flamboyant and was pretty pleased with his bogey-free round. “This isn’t an easy golf course. It’s in great shape but it’s a tough golf course. The fairways are not the easiest to hit, and you know, you miss it a little too far right and left, no telling what it can happen,” said the two-time major winner.

“But I kept it close to the fairway a lot today and hit a lot of fairways, so my irons were really good today.” He added that he is now much stronger mentally and that his passion for the game has also grown. “Probably I think as we get older, especially more for myself, it’s more passion about it, and whether I win or not, just playing good makes me feel really well and it would be great to be in contention. But I like the way I’m playing. I like my patience and I like my mentality right now.” — AFP

PHILADELPHIA: Jiri Tlusty scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Nathan Gerbe had a highlight-worthy goal and Alexander Semin also scored for Carolina, which improved to 3-0 against Philadelphia this season.

Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell scored for the Flyers, who lost for just the second time at home in their last 14 games. Tlusty beat Flyers goalie Steve Mason from close range high to the glove side with 6:10 remaining.

RED WINGS 5, BLACKHAWKS 4 Darren Helm scored on Detroit’s sixth attempt in the shootout and Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaw’s shot, lifting Detroit past Chicago. The defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks faced Detroit for the first time since beating them in overtime in Game 7 of their secondround series last year to complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews scored on his team’s first attempt in the shootout and Patrick Sharp scored on the second before Patrick Kane was stopped with a chance to win the game. Gustavsson, playing for the injured Jimmy Howard, made 31 saves in his first game in nearly a month. Corey Crawford gave up four goals on the first 17 shots he faced and finished with 27 saves for the Blackhawks.

FLAMES 3, COYOTES 2 Sean Monahan scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season and Matt Stajan got the game-winner as Calgary snapped its team-record seven-game home losing streak.

CALGARY: The shot of Lee Stempniak No. 22 of the Calgary Flames is stopped by Mike Smith No. 41 of the Phoenix Coyotes during an NHL game. — AFP Lance Bouma also scored for Calgary, which scored more than two goals for the second time in 14 games since Christmas and had been outscored 22-4 during its home skid.

Karri Ramo finished with 30 saves for the Flames. Antoine Vermette and Shane Doan scored for Phoenix, which has lost eight of its last 11.

PENGUINS 5, CANADIENS 1 Jussi Jokinen scored twice and Pittsburgh cruised past Montreal. Evgeni Malkin added a goal and an assist, Sidney

Crosby picked up his 26th of the season and Taylor Pyatt added a rare score for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves as Pittsburgh bounced back from a dismal loss to Florida on Monday by trouncing hapless Montreal.

Jokinen picked up his third multi-goal game of the season Rene Bourque had his seventh goal for the Canadiens but Montreal spent most of the night chasing the Penguins. Carey Price stopped just 16 of 21 shots before being pulled late in the second period. Montreal has lost four of six. —AP

Tiger likes look of firm and fast Torrey Pines SAN DIEGO: Tiger Woods could not wish for a better place to launch his 2014 PGA Tour campaign than at the Torrey Pines Golf Club for this week’s Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego where he will be hunting a record eighth victory.

Not only was the picturesque venue perched above the Pacific Ocean the scene of his remarkable playoff win at the 2008 US Open but the firm, fast and difficult conditions this week mirror those of six years ago.

“The greens, I haven’t seen them this firm maybe since the (2008) Open,” the defending champion told reporters on the eve of the tournament on Wednesday. “It’s hard to imagine watching wedges, nine-irons and some of the short irons, balls bounce up as high as the top of the flagstick but that’s what was happening this morning.

“If they keep the golf course like this it’s going to be one hell of a test as the week progresses. It’s going to get really difficult to post some good numbers.”

Asked whether he liked the challenging, sun-baked conditions at Torrey Pines, the world number one smiled broadly. “I find it good,” said Woods. “I’m hitting it well. I have the option now as my swing has evolved working with (coach) Sean (Foley) that I can start elevating it again.

“Probably going to need it a little bit this week. We’re going to have to start setting some balls up, but it’s important to get the ball in the fairway. The rough is thick.” Woods, who won last year’s Farmers Insurance Open by four shots in a fog-delayed Monday finish, has always relished competing at Torrey Pines.

“I feel comfortable here, there is no doubt,” said the 14-times major champion, who will launch his title defence on the South course, one of two layouts cohosting this week’s event.

“It’s fantastic to be able to have had the success that I’ve had on this golf course, and not just playing here in the Tour event but also putting a stamp on it with a US Open win.

“That was a very special week, especially considering the circumstances, the things that I had to kind of go through to get to that point.”

Woods won the 2008 US Open in a playoff with fellow American Rocco Mediate, sealing victory at the 91st hole despite having suffered a double stress fracture in his left shinbone two weeks.

He has not landed another major title since then but, at the age of 38, believes he has enough time to pile up the additional five he needs to overhaul the record total set by Jack Nicklaus.

“All I know is that I’m still in I feel my peak years, I’m still playing well,” he said.

“There have been a number of guys who have gone on even in their early 40s to win major championships.

“Mark (O’Meara in 1998) did it, he’s the oldest one to do it, to win multiples in the same year. Jack won in his 40s, (Ben) Hogan won multiples in his 40s, actually 38 and above. “I feel like I’ve got a number of years ahead of me and I’m really looking forward to that.”

This week, Woods will attempt to win his 80th PGA Tour title with only Sam Snead (82) ahead of him in the all-time standings.

However, he faces a strong field that includes three-times champion Phil Mickelson, Australian world number 10 Jason Day, England’s Ian Poulter and Americans Brandt Snedeker and Jordan Spieth, the 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Also playing is England’s former world number one Lee Westwood, who is back at the event for the first time since 2004 but finished third in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.

“I forgot how beautiful a spot it was and my memory didn’t do it justice,” said Westwood. “I’m looking forward to this week. It’s a good golf course for me this week.”— Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Bulls charge past Cavaliers CLEVELAND: DJ Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Chicago Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading Luol Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Augustin and Mike Dunleavy hit 3-pointers down the stretch to pace the Bulls, who at 21-20 moved over .500 for the first time since Nov. 22. Deng went just 2 of 11 from the field in his first game against Chicago. The Bulls dealt the two-time AllStar forward to Cleveland on Jan. 6 for future draft picks. Kyrie Irving scored 26 to lead Cleveland, which has dropped the first two games of a five-game homestand.

THUNDER 111, SPURS 105 Kevin Durant had 36 points to offset Tony Parker’s seasonhigh 37, and the Thunder survived a testy victory over the Spurs for their third win this season over the defending Western Conference champions. Reggie Jackson had 27 points and Serge Ibaka added 14 points for Oklahoma City (33-10), which reclaimed the West’s best record.

Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw scored 14 points each and Duncan added 13 rebounds, but San Antonio (32-10) struggled to overcome the loss of their top defensive stopper, Kawhi Leonard. Leonard left the game late in the first half after sustaining a non-displaced fracture in his right hand. His status was not yet known.

SUNS 124, PACERS 100 Gerald Green scored 23 points against his former team, leading six Phoenix players in double figures, and the Suns snapped Indiana’s five-game winning streak by handing the Pacers their most one-sided loss of the season.

Indiana, owner of the NBA’s best record (33-8) and the league leader in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, gave up the most points it has all season.

Goran Dragic scored 21, Markieff Morris 20, P.J. Tucker 13, Miles Plumlee 11 and Channing Frye 10 for the Suns. Paul George scored 26, George Hill 16 and David West 13 for Indiana.

HAWKS 112, MAGIC 109 Paul Millsap had 24 points, Jeff Teague added 23 and the Hawks hung on to beat the Magic. Atlanta opened a 19point lead in the third quarter, but lost it the fourth before coming back to hit six free throws in the final 40 seconds for the win.

Victor Oladipo led Orlando with 24 points. Tobias Harris had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson finished with 17 points. The Magic have lost 12 of 13, and fell to 1-14 this season without starting center Nik Vucevic, who continues to recover from a concussion.

RAPTORS 93, MAVERICKS 85 DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 40 points, Greivis Vasquez had 17 and the Raptors snapped a two-game skid by beating the Mavericks.

Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who overcame a 21-point, first-quarter deficit. Monta Ellis had 21 points and Jose Calderon and Brandan Wright each had 13 for Dallas, but the Mavericks hurt themselves with 21 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter. Dallas played without forward Dirk Nowitzki, who got the night off to rest as the Mavericks played for the 11th time in 18 days.

BOBCATS 95, CLIPPERS 91 Al Jefferson had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bobcats to their first win over the Clippers in their last seven tries. The veteran center was 12 of 23 from the field as the Bobcats won for the third time in their last four home games.

Gerald Henderson scored 13 points and put the Bobcats ahead for good with 22.5 seconds left with a dunk off Ramon Sessions’ air ball.

Blake Griffin was dominant early on and finished with 27 points, but was 0 for 4 from the field in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Crawford had 20 points for the Clippers, who fell to 11-12 on the road.

CELTICS 113, WIZARDS 111 Gerald Wallace made a driving layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in overtime and the undermanned Celtics broke a 10-game road losing streak with a win over the Wizards, who

CLEVELAND: Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah (right) dunks on Cleveland Cavaliersí Anderson Varejao, of Brazil, in the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP

wilted yet again in their long and laborious quest to get above .500. Jeff Green scored a season-high 39 points, including career highs in 3 pointers attempted (16) and made (8), and rookie Phil Pressey added a career-high 20 points for Boston.

The Celtics played without Rajon Rando, Avery Bradley and Jerryd Bayless and blew a 19-point first-half lead before winning for only the second time in 14 games. John Wall had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career tripledouble for the Wizards, who haven’t won a game to move above .500 since Halloween 2009.

76ERS 110, KNICKS 106 Evan Turner scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the 76ers to a victory over New York that snapped a three-game skid and sent the Knicks to a fifth straight loss. Michael Carter-Williams and Thaddeus Young each added 19 points for the 76ers, who won for just the second time in nine games. James Anderson finished with 18 points.

Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points after a slow start for the Knicks, who were at least competitive after losing the previous four by a combined 75 points.

ROCKETS 119, KINGS 98 Dwight Howard and James Harden combined for 50 points in just three quarters to help the Rockets cruise to their third straight win. Howard had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Harden added 24 points with nine assists before the pair went to the bench for the fourth quarter.

The Rockets took the lead midway through the first quarter and didn’t trail again. The Kings struggled after losing top scorers Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins to injuries before halftime.

Gay, who tied a career high with 41 points on Tuesday night, injured his left Achilles tendon in the first quarter and Cousins sprained his left ankle in the second. Derrick Williams scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and Isaiah Thomas added 20 points for the Kings.

BUCKS 104, PISTONS 101 Caron Butler scored 30 points and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter for a victory over Detroit that snapped a nine-game losing streak.

Brandon Knight added 16 points against the team that traded him in the offseason and backup center Miroslav Raduljica had eight points and eight rebounds.

The Bucks trailed 76-63 in the third quarter, largely due to Brandon Jennings, who finished with 30 points. Josh Smith missed two foul shots with about 5 seconds left, and Rodney Stuckey missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer to tie. — AP

NBA Results / Standings Charlotte 95, La Clippers 91, Chicago 98, Cleveland 87, Atlanta 112, Orlando 109, Toronto 93, Dallas 85, Boston 113, Washington 111 (Ot), Philadelphia 110, Ny Knicks 106, Houston 119, Sacramento 98, Milwaukee 104, Detroit 101, Oklahoma City 111, San Antonio 105, Phoenix 124, Indiana100

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

Oklahoma City Portland Denver Minnesota Utah LA Clippers Golden State Phoenix LA Lakers Sacramento San Antonio Houston Dallas Memphis New Orleans

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W L 21 20 18 22 15 27 15 29 14 28 CENTRAL DIVISION 33 8 21 20 17 25 15 27 8 33 SOUTHEAST DIVISION 30 12 22 19 20 21 19 25 11 32 WESTERN CONFERENCE NORTHWEST DIVISION 33 10 31 11 20 20 20 21 14 29 PACIFIC DIVISION 29 15 26 17 24 17 16 26 15 26 SOUTHWEST DIVISION 32 10 29 15 25 19 20 20 16 25

PCT 0.512 0.45 0.357 0.341 0.333

GB 2.5 6.5 7.5 7.5

0.805 0.512 0.405 0.357 0.195

12 16 .5 18.5 25

0.714 0.537 0.488 0.432 0.256

7.5 9.5 12 19.5

0.767 0.738 0.5 0.488 0.326

1.5 11.5 12 19

0.659 0.605 0.585 0.381 0.366

2.5 3.5 12 12.5

0.762 0.659 0.568 0.5 0.39

4 8 11 15.5

44

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Preview

Bayern must shed holiday spirit as league resumes BERLIN: Leaders Bayern Munich must quickly ditch any lingering holiday spirit or risk a bumpy Bundesliga restart at Borussia Moenchengladbach today, midfielder Thomas Mueller warned.

The Bavarians suffered a surprise 3-0 defeat to Austria’s Salzburg in a friendly last week and Mueller said the result was proof that the runaway leaders needed to up the tempo against Gladbach.

“Gladbach will make our lives very difficult,” Mueller said yesterday. “We have to snap out of that holiday atmosphere because there are three points up for grabs.”

“Saturday’s defeat was good in a way because it showed us that with just half of our commitment you cannot achieve anything,” said the Germany international.

Bayern stormed into a seven-point

Bundesliga lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and a further 11 from third-placed Gladbach before the traditional break in December. Borussia Dortmund are a further point behind in fourth. They are through to the Champions League Last 16 where they will face English leaders Arsenal as they seek to become the first club to win backto-back titles. They are also on track to defend the German Cup. Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will have to deal with some injury problems, though, with Arjen Robben back in training in the last few days following a seven-week absence. “I am obviously not at 100 percent yet,” the 30-year-old Dutchman told reporters on Wednesday.

Holding midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is also still nursing an

Preview

ankle injury and missed training this week, making his participation also doubtful and raising questions about his fitness for the rest of the season. The Germany international has failed to hit top form this season, plagued by the nagging injury that required surgery last year and saw him miss the start of the season.

Gladbach will be a tough nut to crack, having set a string of club records en route to a third-place finish at the start of the winter break. They have dropped just two points in their nine home games this season. The five-times German champions will be without defenders Tony Jantschke and Roel Brouwers but will have Spaniard Alvaro Dominguez back after he broke his shoulder in October.

“We are ready for Bayern,” said Dominguez, whose were unbeaten in

eight games before the winter break.

“We have been training hard and we are third in the league after all. We want to give Bayern in their own stadium a run for their money.”

Leverkusen, eager to remain on Bayern’s heels and secure second spot, travel to lowly Freiburg tomorrow. Fellow Champions League competitors Dortmund, still without injured Ilkay Guendogan, Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic, host Augsburg and are in desperate need of a home win after losing their last three league matches at their stadium. Schalke, the fourth German team to advance in the Champions League, will be hoping striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will make his comeback after a five month injury absence when they travel to Hamburg on Sunday. —Reuters

Preview

Barca eye league boost from in-form Messi Fredy Guarin

Guarin situation adds to the confusion at Inter ITALY: Inter Milan are hoping that their decision to pull out of an agreed swap involving Fredy Guarin, which critics say has badly damaged the club’s credibility, will have at least placated their restless fans. Inter, joint fifth in Serie A, host joint-bottom club Catania on Sunday (1400) after a turbulent week in which fan power appeared to be decisive in persuading club president Erick Thohir to call off the deal to exchange Guarin for Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic. The Indonesian business tycoon abandoned the deal after fans wrote an open letter of protest and then gathered outside the club offices on Tuesday.

The decision angered Juventus, who said their bitter rivals had shown a lack of respect to both players and treated them unfairly. Inter have won only one out of eight Serie A games since Thohir replaced Massimo Moratti in November and the new president has upset fans by warning them that the club are in a transitional period. Thohir took over after the International Sports Capital consortium, owned by himself and two Indonesian partners, paid 75 million euros ($101.73 million) and took on all of Inter Milan’s debt of about 180 million euros in exchange for a 70 percent stake. Guarin’s future remains uncertain, with media speculation now saying that he may move to an English Premier League club before the end of the transfer window. The Colombian midfielder, who joined Inter two years ago, has been given two days’ off following the collapse of the deal, according to Italian media.

Forward Diego Milito said there were no hard feelings against Guarin, who has reacted angrily to being substituted on a couple of occasions. “We’ll welcome him as we always have done because he’s a great team-mate and he’s always given so much,” the Argentine striker told Inter’s website (www.inter.it).

“I’m not going to put myself in his shoes because it’s between him and the club and we hope the issue can be resolved in the best way for everyone.

“All I can say is that Fredy needs to stay calm, whether he stays or goes...the rest of us are just thinking about Sunday’s match.” “(I hope) that the fans support us on Sunday as they’ve always done, they’ve shown how close they are to us over the years, in the good times and bad.—Reuters

BARCELONA: Barcelona will hope Lionel Messi’s return to form and full fitness can inspire them to victory at home to Malaga this weekend after a rare back-to-back winless run opened up the La Liga title race. The Argentine laid on three assists for Cristian Tello on Wednesday as Barca came from behind to beat Levante 4-1 in the first leg of their King’s Cup quarter final tie — Messi’s 400th appearance for the Catalan club.

It was a very different encounter to when the two side’s met in the league last weekend, where Levante managed to frustrate the champions and temper the Argentine’s flair in a 1-1 stalemate.

Messi has been brought back slowly after several hamstring injuries during 2013, the latest in mid-November seeing him sidelined until after Christmas. He was initially introduced twice as a substitute but is now firing on all cylinders.

“When Messi plays like he did in the second half he was able to open up the game and could open up any other,” Barca coach Gerardo Martino told reporters after the Levante cup match.

“Leo came more into the contest and it changed. When you have little space and the rival closes you down you need players like Messi to create that space. He didn’t score but gave three key assists to turnaround the game.

“When we need him most, like today, he has come and helped us.” The return to form of Messi is all the more important with Neymar’s ankle injury, picked up against Getafe, likely to see him miss several matches. Barca’s draw with Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, followed by both sides again failing to win last weekend has opened up the title race. Real Madrid are now just one point behind.

Real, who face Granada, have found consistency following a stuttering start to the campaign. They have won their last eight games in all competitions and haven’t conceded a goal in seven of those.

“This is the line to follow for us as if we can keep secure at the back then we know we will get chances in attack with the quality we have there,” Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters. “There is a good relationship in the dressing room with the coach and we need to keep this run going.”

Atletico remain behind Barcelona on goal difference and now have a derby with struggling Rayo Vallecano. Knowing that Barca had only managed a draw against Levante, they wasted the chance to go two points clear as they were also held 1-1 by Sevilla last Sunday. “Normally we have been playing before Barcelona and if it had been the other way round then we would be happy,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference, refusing to be downhearted. “(Real) Madrid are now where we expected them to be

15 matches ago. It is what we expected and so the situation now is not surprising. We have always been in a contest with Barca and Madrid.”—Reuters

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi

45

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Moyes suffers nightmares at Theatre of Dreams LONDON: When Alex Ferguson took the microphone at Old Trafford in May to implore Manchester United supporters to back his self-appointed successor, David Moyes, he did so with a warning of tough times ahead. Few, though, would have expected it to be this trying.

“I’d like to remind you that we’ve had bad times here,” Ferguson said after signing off his last match in charge at United’s fortress home he had spent 27 years building up with a 2-1 win over Swansea City.

“The club stood by me. All my staff stood by me. The players stood by me. So your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important.”

Following Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final exit at the hands of struggling Sunderland, that request is being severely tested by United fans all over the world who have gorged on the glory of trophy after trophy arriving at Old Trafford.

Their trophy hopes this season now lie only in the Champions League, where the English champions will remain confident of beating Greeks Olympiakos Pireaus in the Last 16 next month but less so of taking out others after that.

The challenge of European giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich looks far beyond a confidence

sapped side who have seen long unbeaten home records against Everton, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion all end this season.

The absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie from the starting lineup in recent weeks has been greatly felt, with reports linking both forwards away from the club, but the problems lie deeper than their return to fitness.

Defenders are making mistakes, midfielders are being overrun, chances not being created, while commentators question why Moyes is opting to be more defensive and shy away from the crowdpleasing, attacking style his predecessor implemented.

“Of course, you would expect a better standard because, don’t forget, there are a lot of internationals out there,” Moyes said after the penalty shootout loss to Sunderland, who will play Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

“In the end, I just don’t think we got the level of performance we needed to go through the game. If we had got through, I would have been disappointed with the performance, but I’m doubly disappointed that we haven’t got to the final.”

United are not in action this weekend as their rivals City, Liverpool, Arsenal and

Chelsea compete in the fourth round of the FA Cup, a tournament Ferguson once famously shunned in favour of going after what is now the Club World Cup. Moyes was unable to clear the first hurdle as Manchester United manager when his side suffered a third round exit to Swansea, who registering their first ever victory at Old Trafford earlier this month.

The club’s success, though, has never been measured on their ability to win either of the two domestic cup tournaments with Ferguson adding two League Cups and no FA Cups to his magnificent trophy haul in the last seven years in charge.

Instead, his consistency to ensure United never finished a league campaign outside the top three from 1992 until May with 13 titles is what helped set him apart.

Moyes, however, has United languishing in seventh in the league, five points behind his former club Everton, who have excelled under his replacement Roberto Martinez, and 14 back of leaders Arsenal. A trophyless campaign is something that not even the much lauded Ferguson managed to avoid during his 27 years in charge but the domineering Scot always was quick to assess his flaws

and rebuild in double quick fashion.

Moyes appears to have reacted to that by moving for Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata, with the Spaniard close to moving to Old Trafford according to British media reports.

While the flair and creativity will be welcome, pundits and fans believe a solid central midfielder in the mould of former captain Roy Keane, who fell out spectacularly with Fergsuon, is what is of greater need. The failure of Marouane Fellaini to make an impact at Old Trafford after following Moyes from Everton leave many questioning the manager’s transfer acumen, with a slumping share price hardly helping the pressure on him.

In his autobiography released last year covering his final years in charge, Ferguson said Moyes was, despite a few “defensive frailties”, inheriting a squad of players and staff of the highest calibre.

“I was proud and relieved to be delivering this fine group of players and staff into David’s care. My work was done,” he said of a team that strode to the title by 11 points.

The stuttering start by Moyes, who ditched Ferguson’s staff in favour of his own, has left many United fans hopeful Ferguson might see there is still work for him to do. —Reuters

Milan suffer shock Cup exit ITALY: AC Milan suffered a shock exit from the Coppa Italia when they lost 2-1 at home to Serie A strugglers Udinese in Clarence Seedorf’s second match in charge on Wednesday. An individual goal by 20-year-old Uruguayan Nicolas Lopez, only two minutes after coming on as a substitute, condemned Milan to the inevitable chorus of jeers from a sparse San Siro crowd after their quarter-final defeat.

Milan had given Seedorf a winning debut by beating Hellas Verona 1-0 in Serie A on Sunday and made a flying start to the tie when Mario Balotelli tapped in from close range after six minutes.

Milan failed to build on their early goal and Udinese levelled with a penalty converted by

Colombian forward Luis Muriel four minutes before halftime following Urby Emanuelson’s clumsy tackle on Silvan Widmer.

Udinese looked far more dangerous after halftime and were only prevented from going ahead by a dreadful double miss midway through the second half.

Substitute Maxi Pereira scuffed his shot in front of a gaping goal, then managed to scramble it back to Muriel who also miscued from a good scoring position.

Lopez showed them how it should be done when he collected the ball just inside the Milan half, surged forward and fired his shot into the corner. Milan, 11th in Serie A, had no answer and trudged off after writing another chapter in a dismal season. —Reuters

COQUIMBO: Chile’s Pablo Hernandez (left) and Esteban Pavez (right) double up on Costa Rica’s Carlos Hernandez during a friendly soccer match. —AP

Chile thrash Costa Rica 4-0 World Cup countdown

ITALY: AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli (right) scores as forward Robinho (center) and Udinese defender Thomas Heurtaux look on during the Italian Cup soccer match. —AP

SANTIAGO: Chile beat Costa Rica 4-0 in a onesided friendly between two of this summer’s World Cup finalists with Swedish-born defender Miiko Albornoz and Argentinian-born midfielder Pedro Pablo Hernandez both scoring on their debuts. Malmo defender Albornoz, 23, put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes of the match played in the northern city of Coquimbo when he connected with a cross from Gonzalo Fierro.

Hernandez, 27, who plays for O’Higgins in Chile, marked his debut by scoring twice in four minutes early in the second half.

He doubled Chile’s lead after 50 minutes and made it 3-0 in the 53rd, both times taking advantage of mistakes by Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton. Carlos Munoz buried any hopes of a Costa Rica revival with the fourth 13 minutes from time. Albornoz, whose father is Chilean, represented Sweden at youth level 38 times but never

played for the senior team. In December, he said he wanted to play for “La Roja (the reds) and Chile’s Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli heeded his plea. “He is a young kid and now we had the chance of knowing him better in a difficult environment for him. He played really well,” Sampaoli said after the match. Chile displayed their usual pressing game, keeping Costa Rica on the back foot for long periods and the central American side had little impact in front of goal.

Chile are tipped to do well in the World Cup despite being grouped with world champions Spain, Netherlands and Australia in the opening phase. Costa Rica, one of the outsiders are in the same first round group as three previous world champions: England, Italy and Uruguay.

Chile’s next friendly is in Germany in March while Costa Rica’s next warm-up games are against South Korea and Paraguay. —Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

What next for

Man United?

By Ahmad Al Othman KUWAIT: Out of the title race in January, knocked out shamefully by Swansea in the FA Cup and now, eliminated by survival strugglers Sunderland in the Capital One Cup. It just couldn’t get any worse for David Moyes in a single month. Once called “The Chosen One” by United followers after retired legend Sir Alex Ferguson handpicked him to be his successor, Moyes is looking more like “The Losing One”! Fans are still baffled by their team’s performance since the Scot took charge, with 4 unpleasant defeats since the turn of the year. Some have been pointing the finger towards their new manager by labeling him incompetent and unqualified to manage such a massive club, while others have been condemning the players for underachieving and slacking in matches when it mattered most.

During Fergie’s regime, United were knocked out only once from the FA Cup third round in 27 years, while Moyes acquired the unprivileged status in his debut season. The lack of transfer activity is having a frustrating effect on their fans, especially with the Marouane Fellaini capture proving to be an inadequate one to say the least. The welcoming signing of out of favor Juan Mata from title chasers Chelsea will surely lift the pace at Old Trafford and retrieve the self belief they have been missing since Fergie waved goodbye last May. The 25-yearold Spaniard is expected to slot directly in the United team sheet against Cardiff City next Tuesday and would most certainly have an instant impact.

I am sure that most neutrals were rooting for United against Sunderland when it went down to penalties, in order to witness a mouth-watering clash against their arch rivals Manchester City, who convincingly thrashed West Ham 90 on aggregate. Losing on penalties was never a humiliating defeat, but it was United’s approach to the contest and style of play that frustrated their supporters. The fashion of their exit was overshadowed by an injury to midfielder Michael Carrick.

It’s still early to write off United’s chances in their current Champions League campaign, with an unpredictable encounter against Greek giants Olympiakos only a month away. To credit where it’s due, they have performed reasonably well in Europe and are one of 3 teams who were unbeaten in the group stages along with Spanish giants Real and Atletico Madrid. The minimum expectations should be reaching the quarter finals along with the continent’s top elites and competing with its best.

Their aim in the meantime should be to solemnly concentrate on acquiring the Premier League’s fourth spot and a guaranteed qualification for the Champions League. If they fail to do so, the financial meltdown would simply be too enormous to sustain and a huge club like United is surely too big to suffer such an experience, especially with millions of fans in Asia and all over the world. Would the Glazers even consider keeping Moyes in charge if he underperforms and doesn’t meet their aspirations or are they already impatient?

United hit new low in shootout defeat LONDON: Manchester United’s troubled season took another turn for the worse when they lost 2-1 to Sunderland in an error-strewn penalty shootout in their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

United looked to be heading for the final against Manchester City when they led 1-0 two minutes from the end of extra time before a dreadful error by goalkeeper David de Gea gifted Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley an equaliser.

Javier Hernandez’s dramatic intervention moments later gave United a 2-1 win on the night and a 3-3 draw on aggregate which sent the tie to penalties.

But to Old Trafford’s disbelief, England striker Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj, Phil Jones and Rafael failed to convert their spotkicks and it was Sunderland - who missed three penalties of their own - who scraped through to the March 2 showpiece at Wembley. The outcome left David Moyes facing more scrutiny in his first season as United manager and under pressure to add to his lacklustre squad in the January transfer window. Media reports around kickoff time suggesting United were on the verge of buying Juan Mata from Chelsea for 37 million pounds ($61.4 million) were timely all round.

Asked if criticism of him and his players was fair, Moyes told Sky Sports: “It’s fair if you don’t win at this football club. I understand that.” The Scot, whose side are seventh in the Premier League and in danger of failing to even qualify for next season’s Champions League, added: “David de Gea’s been very good this season. It happens (making mistakes) but that was a costly one.

“The shootout was really poor. I expect better. We didn’t play well tonight ... overall we didn’t really deserve to go through after the way we played.

“That’s football, we’ll get on with it, pick ourselves up and go again.” United had been on course to make the final on away goals

OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s Alexander Buttner (right) fights for the ball against Sunderland’s Phillip Bardsley during their English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match. — AP after Jonny Evans scored with a close-range header shortly before halftime to put them one up. But they labored throughout and were clinging on for victory when De Gea failed to stop a routine 20-yard shot from Bardsley - a former United player - in the 119th minute and watched as the ball squirmed off his palm and into the corner of the net.

United stunned the visitors by hitting back in final minute of extra time, Hernandez sweeping home off the underside of the bar from Januzaj’s low cross to force penalties.

Yet Hernandez could have put the outcome beyond doubt but for a glaring miss in extra time. Januzaj did well to wrestle free on the right and feed the striker on the break, but Hernandez, running unopposed on keep-

er Vito Mannone, decided to take on an early shot and wafted a left-foot effort well wide.

Uruguayan Poyet has invigorated Sunderland since taking over from Paolo Di Canio in October last year but they still lie second-bottom of the Premier League table.

The Black Cats are now looking forward to their first Wembley appearance since 1992 when they lost the FA Cup final to Liverpool and another chance to add to their famous win in the 1973 FA Cup final. “To have a day of football like this is great for everybody, great for football too,” Poyet said. “Let’s see if we can go one better. “The things that happened today were incredible, the players have been outstanding, they have been trying to learn the way I want them to play so credit to them.” — Reuters

Watford next to challenge City LONDON: Manchester City will launch their imposing strike force against Watford in the FA Cup tomorrow and challenge the struggling Championship club to end their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple. City have scored 106 goals this season to advance on four fronts, and their latest test arrives in the fourth round of the game’s oldest cup competition.

Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also in action this weekend, when Bournemouth will be aiming to replicate their 1984 FA Cup heroics, holders Wigan Athletic host Crystal Palace and Kidderminster Harriers the only non-league club in the last 32 - travel to 1973 winners Sunderland. City have generated ominous momentum this season, shrugging off early defeats by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Chelsea in the league to put together a run of 18 games unbeaten — 16 of them victories.

They are second in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal, into the knockout phase of the Champions League - where they face Barcelona - and can look forward to one Wembley occasion, the League Cup final.

Watford’s credentials are not as impressive.

They have won three of their last 18 games, the latest a 2-0 victory over third-tier Bristol City at home which set up their trip to Manchester.

In that spell they have scored 19 times and lost seven games and one manager in Gianfranco Zola who guided them to a Championship playoff final defeat last season but who resigned in December.

His successor, Italian Giuseppe Sannino, in his 15th managerial appointment from 14 clubs has hardly revived the Hornets. Watford, 15th in the division, are two places lower than when Zola departed. As such, their sights will be set low - perhaps only to better the result when the teams met in the FA Cup third round 12 months ago, when City won 3-0. That day, 6,000 Watford fans made the journey to Manchester; this time the figure is likely to be no more than 2,500.

Bournemouth, one place below Watford in the Championship, at least have a home tie to relish - a televised match tomorrow against seventimes winners Liverpool.

The south-coast club will need to evoke the spirit of ‘84, when as a third-tier side managed

by Harry Redknapp they beat holders Manchester United 2-0 in one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history.

The opening goal at Dean Court that day was scored by Milton Graham, now a supervisor for an energy management company near Leicester.

He told the Bournemouth Echo newspaper on Wednesday: “People still talk to me about the

United game, and it was more than 30 years ago.

That tells you how much of a shock it was.

“My advice to the (current) Bournemouth players would be to make sure they enjoy the day and don’t go on to the pitch with any fear. It will fly by and they need to make the most of it.”

Liverpool will be without Brazilian midfielder Lucas, who damaged knee ligaments during last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Kidderminster, of the Conference, meet Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with dreams of a previous giant-killing run on their minds, when they reached the fifth round in 1994 with wins over Birmingham City and Preston North End. The Harriers had an average attendance of 2,200 last season but are set to take at least 4,000 fans to the north-east, and hope to earn approximately 250,000 pounds from gate receipts, a critical sum for a club that was in financial peril in 2011.

“This has been a team effort,” said chairman Mark Serrell. “The players and management have done very well to get us this far (in the competition), but everyone has rallied to help us.” Arsenal host third-tier Coventry on Friday and Nottingham Forest play Preston - the two clubs first met in the FA Cup in 1892, when Forest won 2-0. —Reuters

47

Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

Wawrinka reaches first grand slam final Li to meet Cibulkova MELBOURNE: Stanislas Warwinka edged Tomas Berdych in the tightest of duels to reach his first grand slam final at the 36th attempt yesterday and set up a possible all-Swiss Australian Open title showdown against Roger Federer.

Federer will have to get past world number one Rafa Nadal in the second semi-final on Friday first, but 28-year-old Wawrinka did his part by the narrowest of margins with a 6-3 6-7(1) 7-6(3) 76(4) victory over the tall Czech.

The earlier women’s semi-finals were one-sided affairs with China’s Li Na beating teenager Genie Bouchard 6-2 6-4 to get to her third Melbourne final and diminutive dynamo Dominika Cibulkova downing Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-2 to reach her first. There was nothing uneven about the battle between the seventh seed Berdych and eighth seed Wawrinka that followed on Rod Laver Arena in which three of the four sets were decided by tiebreaks.

While Wawrinka’s victory over defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals was all about guts and shotmaking, the arm-wrestle with Berdych was a study in big serving and heavy hitting.

Wawrinka grabbed the only break of serve in the contest to take the first set and exactly three hours later he clinched the fourth-set tiebreak on his second match point, a thumping unreturnable serve providing a fitting climax. “It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to make a grand slam final in my career,” Wawrinka said before turning his mind to the possibility of facing Federer.

“To play a Swiss final will be amazing, first for Switzerland, for the country. He is the best player ever. For me it’s my first final. To imagine to play against Roger would be amazing.”

The bald statistics showed the Swiss won 143 points to Berdych’s 142, the Czech edged the ace count 21-18 and had more winners (60-57), while there were 49 unforced errors apiece. “It was one point and one break, that’s it,” said a crestfallen Berdych, who earned just one break point at 4-4 in the third set but failed to convert it.

“If I could tell what was the difference (between us) then I would be nearly a genius. “We both play great. We play a good match. Stan was the one that just took it, and that’s it.”

With top three seeds - Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova - all victims of upsets, Li knows she will rarely have a better chance of adding another grand slam title to her 2011 French Open crown.

The 31-year-old, who dodged a bullet when she faced match point against Lucie Safarova in the third round, set off at a blistering pace and won 20 of the first 23 points to take a 5-0 lead.

It could not last and the 19-year-old Canadian broke and held serve for 5-2 before fourth seed Li upped her game again and wrapped up the first set with a forehand volley.

The second set was a closer affair with Bouchard grabbing an early break but Li ramped up the power on her groundstrokes and added another 22 winners to the 13 she smashed in the opening stanza to seal victory.

“I think the beginning of the match I played very well,” said Li. “The second set was a little bit tighter because I was feeling that I already had one foot in the final. “I think is the third time (in the final), so I’m pretty close to the trophy.” Bouchard, the world number 31, again reiterated that she had not been surprised to reach her first grand slam semi-final.

“I wouldn’t say I exceeded my expectations, but I’m happy with how I did,” the former Wimbledon junior champion said.

“I’ve slowly been making my way up. I don’t want to stop here.

“I feel like I belong in the top levels of the game.” Cibulkova lay down on the court and kicked her legs in the air in delight after the quickfire victory over fifth seed Radwanska that made her the first Slovakian woman to reach a grand slam final. The 24year-old has been on fire at Melbourne Park this year, belying her lowly seeding by upsetting Sharapova and doling out a string of thrashings as she made her way to the last four.

The 20th seed scuttled around the Rod Laver Arena feasting on the lethargic Pole’s second serve and blasting winners from both sides.

She grabbed three breaks of serve to take the first set with a crunching backhand winner and was celebrating her victory just 33 minutes later when Radwanska netted. “It’s like a dream. It’s something so unbelievable,” she said. “I was 100 percent ready for it and I was just doing what I had to do. That’s why I won.”

Radwanska was as bad yesterday as she had been brilliant in beating double defending champion Azarenka on Wednesday and blamed her quarter-final effort for her lacklustre display. “I think I feel like in slow motion today. I had a couple tough matches, especially yesterday. I think I was not fresh enough,” she said.

“I was late for pretty much every ball. I could really feel that it was not really my day.” —Reuters

MELBOURNE: Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland makes a forehand return to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championship. —AP

Nadal’s bad blister could hand Federer crucial edge MELBOURNE: Rafa Nadal has suffered a number of career-threatening injuries in the past yet a bad blister on the Spaniard’s hand could be all Roger Federer needs to gain a vital advantage in their Australian Open semi-final today.

The 27-year-old Nadal has been forced to play the season opening grand slam with strapping across his left hand due to the sore, which is painful enough to compromise his aggressive style of play. Holding the racket is not a problem and he remains able to hit his powerful topspin forehand but the world number one has found it increasingly difficult to control his serve as the tournament has progressed. “Serving with this injury leads to problems

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in this file photo.

with the rest of my game,” he said. “When you lose confidence with one shot, an important shot, then you are not able to feel comfortable about the rest of your shots. “I will try to improve that.

If not, I won’t have a chance of being in the final.” That Nadal has identified such an innocuous injury, given his creaky knees have been bothering his scampering play for years, as a potential key to winning his semi-final shows how aware he is that Federer may be playing as well as ever.

The 32-year-old Swiss had a terrible 2013, winning just one tournament and falling to sixth in the rankings. He entered the Australian Open with his lowest seeding at a the season opening grand slam since 2002, when he was ranked 13th in the world.

Last year’s performances allowed pundits to suggest the Swiss’s time had come. He had reached only one grand slam semifinal since claiming a 17th major title by beating Andy Murray at Wimbledon in 2012 and was losing more games to players outside the ‘Big Four’ than he had previously.

In the past 10 days at Melbourne Park, however, Federer has appeared to be close to his free flowing best, none more so in his fourth round victory over France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and then in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Murray.

“It’s an amazing result for me to be in the semis again. This one feels different because of the tougher times I’ve had in slams, Wimbledon, at the US Open,” the four time champion at Melbourne Park said. “I definitely sensed that... I am back physically. “I’m explosive out there. I can get to balls. I’m not afraid to go for balls. “Of course, last year at times I couldn’t do it, but the important thing is that I can do it now.”

Despite his blister, Nadal will enter the semi-final as the favorite having racked up an impressive 22-10 career record against Federer. The Spaniard has won the last four times the pair have met and Nadal also triumphed in their Melbourne Park semi-final two years ago. “He’s been tough to play against, no doubt. I’m happy I get a chance to play him in a slam again. I don’t remember the last time we played,” Federer said. “The head-to-head record is in his favor. I’m looking forward to speaking to (coach) Stefan (Edberg), because when we spoke together, when he came to Dubai and we spoke about the game, we clearly spoke about playing Rafa, as well. “He thought he had some good ideas, so I’m looking forward to what he has to say.”—Reuters

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014

United hit new low in shootout defeat Page 46

www.kuwaittimes.net

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MELBOURNE: Li Na of China follows through on a shot to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada during their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championship. — AP