30 Jan

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

6-in-1 vaccination successful in Kuwait

Erdogan visits Iran to improve ties after split over Syria

Mata eclipses Solskjaer on Man United debut

Shibori: An ancient art now revamped and revisited

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NO: 16062

20 38 MP proposes 5-year cap on

expat residence, numbers

40 PAGES

150 FILS

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www.kuwaittimes.net

RABI ALAWWAL 29, 1435 AH

Draft law bans expats from sponsoring families

Max 21º Min 11º High Tide 12:26 & 22:59 Low Tide 05:48 & 17:29

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attend the fourth edition of the Popular Heritage Festival at the Sheikh Sabah Cultural Village yesterday. The event included a parade of camel and horse riders, a display of falconry, a traditional dance and recitals of traditional bedouin poetry. — KUNA (See Page 3)

Oil workers plan to strike over pay cut KUWAIT: Thousands of oil workers in OPEC member Kuwait plan to go on strike over a government decision to cut their wages, the head of the oil workers union said yesterday. “Trade unions of all oil companies have taken a decision to go on strike and authorised me to announce the date of the strike which will be determined within the next two days,” Abdulaziz AlSharthan told AFP. “After making a number of legal procedures, I will set the date of the strike which will be within two weeks,” he said after lengthy talks Tuesday night with new Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair and top oil executives “ended without resolving the problem”.

Sharthan said the crisis was the result of a decision by Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC), the national oil

conglomerate, to “cut some benefits and increments” from oil workers. The minister and oil executives refused to scrap the decision during the meeting and “tried to add some cosmetic procedures to it which we did not accept,” he said.

The two-week period is to give the government a final ultimatum to withdraw the decision and then negotiate the dispute with the oil trade unions, Sharthan said. The strike will be total and include all production operations, exports, petrochemicals and others, he said. The country’s oil sector employs around 19,000 Kuwaitis. Kuwait currently pumps around 3.0 million barrels per day, around a quarter of which is exported in the form of refined products.

Continued on Page 13

Patriotism rules at P2BK expo

By Velina Nacheva KUWAIT: The seventh edition of the Proud to Be Kuwaiti (P2BK) expo opened at the Mishref International Fairgrounds yesterday to much fanfare.

Held under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the exhibition was opened

by Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud AlSabah. State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah was also in attendance.

The main highlights of the fair - an increasingly important avenue to showcase local talent and entrepreneurs - include a gigantic sand sculpture park and heritage village. More than 30,000 exhibitors are participating in the fair this year, with more than 1,000 volunteers at hand. Attendees are expected to be much more than the half million who visited the expo last year, one of the volunteers told Kuwait Times.

For Sumayya, 19, a volunteer with the social media team at the event, P2BK means pride. ‘I am proud as a Kuwaiti to be a part of such great event,” she gushed.

Sumayya, who is studying marketing at the American Continued on Page 13

damaged by disease or accident. One of the obstacles, though, is ensuring that these transplanted cells are not attacked as alien by the body’s immune system. To achieve that, the stem cells would have to carry the patient’s own genetic code, to identify them as friendly. In 1998 came the first gain: the use of cloning technology pioneered with Dolly the sheep - to harvest stem cells from early-stage embryos grown from the donor’s own DNA. Hugely versatile, these “pluripotent” stem cells are controversial as the method entails destroying the embryo, something opposed by religious conservatives and others.

In 2006, a team led by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who was a co-recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Medicine, created so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). With this, the team took mature cells and coded them with four genes, “rewinding” the cells’ genetic programs to return them to a juvenile state. The technique had to overcome an early hurdle of causing tumours in cells and still faces problems with efficiency - less than one percent of adult cells typically are reprogrammed successfully. The latest breakthrough, pioneered by Haruko Obokata at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, takes an entirely different and surprisingly low-tech approach. — AFP (See Page 28)

KUWAIT: Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah (center), State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah (right) and leading Kuwaiti businessman Jawad Bukhamseen (second left) are seen during the opening of the P2BK expo yesterday. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh (See Page 4)

Give diplomacy a chance: Obama

Mature stem cells turned embryonic PARIS: Scientists yesterday reported a simple way to turn animal cells back to a youthful, neutral state, a feat hailed as a “game-changer” in the quest to grow transplant tissue in the lab. The research, reported in the journal Nature, could be the third great advance in stem cells - a futuristic field that aims to reverse Alzheimer’s, cancer and other crippling or lethal diseases. The latest breakthrough comes from Japan, as did its predecessor which earned its inventor a Nobel Prize.

The new approach - provided it overcomes safety hurdles - could smash cost and technical barriers in stem-cell research, said independent commentators.

“If it works in man, this could be the game-changer that ultimately makes a wide range of cell therapies available using the patient’s own cells as starting material,” said Chris Mason, a professor of regenerative medicine at University College London. “The age of personalised medicine will have arrived.” Stem cells are primitive cells that, as they grow, differentiate into the various specialised cells that make up the different organs - the brain, the heart, kidney and so on.

The goal is to create stem cells in the lab and nudge them to grow into these differentiated cells, thus replenishing organs

KUWAIT: Independent Shiite MP Abdullah Al-Tameemi yesterday proposed a draft law to impose tough new rules on expatriates limiting their stay to five years and requiring that the size of any foreign community should not exceed 10 percent of Kuwaitis, or a maximum of 124,000. If accepted, the law would mean that hundreds of thousands of expatriates must leave Kuwait within three months, mostly Indians and Egyptians, the two largest communities in the country.

The draft law, which is not expected to be approved, stipulates that the residence permits of foreigners with low or medium qualifications should be granted for a maximum of five years only Abdullah Al-Tameemi and cannot be renewed under any circumstances. It also states that the number of any foreign community must not exceed 10 percent of the population of native Kuwaitis which currently stands at 1.24 million, meaning that the maximum number of any foreign community cannot exceed 124,000 according to the proposed draft law.

If implemented, the draft legislation would immediately affect Indians, who number around 700,000, Egyptians (500,000), Bangladeshis (200,000), Filipinos (160,000) and Syrians (140,000). It could also affect Pakistanis who are around 120,000 and Sri Lankans with almost the same Continued on Page13

This undated image shows a mouse embryo formed with specially-treated cells from a newborn mouse that had been transformed into stem cells. — AP

‘Sex-on-demand’ gays arrested

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two European homosexuals were arrested yesterday for allegedly offering sexual services for money. A security source said that an undercover officer made an arrangement with them and they were caught red handed. The duo said they work through a website that sells sex and they come on request, adding that their job in Kuwait was made easier because they get visas on arrival.

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that America must move away from a permanent war footing to give diplomacy a chance to resolve some of the world’s toughest problems, such as the nuclear standoff with Iran. “ The fact is, that danger remains,” Obama warned in the annual State of the Union address, adding the United States had “to remain vigilant” in face of changing global threats. “While we have put Al-Qaeda’s core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved, as Al-Qaeda affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world,” Obama told US lawmakers, highlighting hotspots like Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Mali.

“But I strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our military alone,” he said, adding in “a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy.” He warned that as commander-in-chief he would never hesitate to use force when necessary to protect the American people. “But I will not send our troops into harm’s way unless it’s truly necessary,” he argued, highlighting the drawdown of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan after more than a decade of

war. So even as we actively and aggressively pursue terrorist networks, through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners, America must move off a permanent war footing.”

Obama pointed to recent diplomatic successes under Secretary of State John Kerry such as moves to rid Syria of its Continued on Page 13

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama delivers the State of Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber on Tuesday. — AP (See Page 7)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

LOCAL

New vaccination system successful in Kuwait 6-in-1 shot for children

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health launched a new vaccination system for babies born on Jan 1, 2014 and thereafter. They replaced the 5-in-1 vaccine with a 6-in-1 vaccine to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, enhanced inactivated polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Some people have doubts about the safety of this new 6-in-1 vaccine, as some medical websites have warned against it. A twomonth-old baby died after getting a six-in-one vaccine in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier this month, but local health authorities denied links between the death and the vaccine, online newspaper Dan Tri reported on Saturday. The baby boy got the shot of the vaccine on Jan 8 after a check-up confirmed that he was in good health.

Also in 2000, the German press carried reports about the unexplained deaths of four children in Germany and one in Austria who died within 24 hours of being vac-

cinated with the same vaccine. A report published on Vaccination Information Network reported 36 deaths of children within a period of two years between Oct 23, 2009 and Oct 22, 2011, including 503

serious adverse reactions and 36 deaths out of a total of 1,742 reports of adverse reactions. This brings the total to at least 73

deaths since the launch of the vaccine in 2000.

According to Dr Fahd Al-Anezi, Head of Pediatric Department at Jahra Hospital, no death or adverse reaction cases were registered

since the beginning of the vaccination on Jan 1. “This vaccination strengthens the immunity of children. And the Ministry of Health

decided to use it after studies and research were done on it internationally. It’s not a local invention, but it’s being used internationally for years. We always complain that we receive new medicines late,” he told Kuwait Times yesterday.

The 6-1 vaccine is given to children under 5 years of age and is not limited to citizens. “All children who came to our hospital have a file here and they get this vaccine.

We have an employee just to remind the parents of the date of the vaccine. She calls them a day in advance and on the day of the shot. None of the parents complained of having their children vaccinated or refused it,” he added.

“The idea of having one complex vaccination is also more economic, as one injection is cheaper than two, which is the Western idea. Regarding the death cases years ago, this may be due to the reagents added to it in the past, which are not included in the new vaccine. The vaccines now are purer. People shouldn’t be worried,” concluded Anezi.

Former footballer involved in visa scam KUWAIT: A former Kuwaiti footballer managed to release 650 visas illegally in cooperation with state employees, in a new case that highlights the Gulf state’s struggle with fighting visa trafficking.

The news come while investigations are still ongoing in a visa scandal involving high ranking Interior Ministry officials accused of releasing over 12,000 permits illegally, with arrest warrants received for thousands of foreigners who used those visas to enter Kuwait.

In a bid to organize the labor market and as part of efforts to curb the state’s increasing demographic imbalance, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has closed foreign labor recruitment multiple times in the past few years, with exception given to companies that have contracts signed with the government to carry out developmental projects.

According to sources quoted by Annahar daily yesterday, the new case started with a contract signed by a local company to execute a government project. The company received approval to recruit 1,900 labor forces, and was issued neces-

sar y papers from the Immigration General Depar tment. After that, the prime suspec t signed a subcontractor deal with the private firm, then obtained the approval letter that was sent by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to the Immigration General Depar tment, to approve labor recruitment. The suspect then forged the letter to release 450 work permits, and a second time to release an extra 200 before the case was discovered recently, according to the source.

The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity further revealed that the man, identified in the report as member of Kuwait’s national team during its ‘Golden Era’ during the 1980s, was able to evade paying a total of KD 162,000 required as insurance to recruit labor forces. The source hinted that he had received help from state employees to achieve that goal.

After the case was discovered, MSAL investigations revealed the identity of an Egyptian national who served as a representative that handled the paperwork to release the visas illegally. While it indicates that a warrant to arrest

the representative was released last Tuesday. The report does not specify whether the man was arrested or not.

Visa trafficking is a form of human trafficking in which workers are brought in by work permits issued illegally through loopholes in the sponsorship or ‘kafala’ system that organizes the affairs of the country’s expatriate labor force.

Victims of visa traffickers are mostly low-wage workers who come from Southeast Asia, North Africa and other countries seeking work in the oil-rich Gulf region. Once they reach Kuwait, a worker is often left with no job and becomes prone to hard labor, mistreatment and extortion by paying large amounts of money to renew their expired visas. Kuwait is home to 2.7 million expatriates who make up 68 percent of the country’s 3.9 million population. Official statistics indicate that there between 90,000 and 100,000 people living illegally in Kuwait, while thousands have been arrested and deported during police crackdowns ongoing since April last year. In the meantime, little efforts were taken to identify and arrest visa traffickers.

PARIS: KUNA’s Deputy Director General for Editorial Affairs Saad Al-Ali visiting the Agence France-Presse headquarters in Paris yesterday.

KUNA to boost cooperation with AFP PARIS: Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is keen on benefiting the remarkable partnership with Agence France-Presse (AFP), the French news agency, to develop its news services and stay abreast of modern technology in the field of media, KUNA’s Deputy Director General for Editorial Affairs Saad Al-Ali said yesterday.

Al-Ali discussed with AFP senior officials during his visit to the agency’s headquarters in Paris, means of developing media cooperation between both media institutions. KUNA is cooperating with AFP in various fields, including the training of cadres, technical coordination, and mutual visits between both agencies’ officials.

The Kuwaiti delegation was briefed about the developed editorial system (Iris) at AFP, which the agency installed a year ago at all of

its departments and offices affiliated to it.

Al-Ali discussed with AFP officials means of boosting bilateral cooperation, and means to establish a comprehensive system including new services to KUNA, for sake of making a major leap in the work of the agency.

The delegation was also briefed about the work process in various departments of AFP during their visit to the agency’s headquarters.

KUNA signed a number of cooperation agreements with AFP, and the latest was in April of the year 2009 to implement a reserve system supportive of KUNA to ensure the continuity of its work without interruption.

Al-Ali also visited KUNA office in Paris and was briefed on the workflow and needs of its employees, calling on them to exert all possible efforts to develop the services. —KUNA

Hospital night shift employees exempted from fingerprinting KUWAIT: Employees at various Health Ministry hospitals and specialized centers who work evening shifts have been exempted from fingerprinting, as the ministry said the decision was taken following an extensive study.

Health sources said exempting workers of the evening shift from fingerprinting came to make it easy on them to be available and serve patients in the evening period, especially that there is a difficulty to adjust the system to work in the evening period, which sees large numbers of patients. They said the exemption includes administrators, nurses, pharmacists, technicians and others, adding that the ministry is keen on providing a suit-

able environment for its employees to render the best service.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Ali AlObaidi met with the council of internal medicine councils to find out the problems and obstacles that they are facing in order to find suitable solutions for them.

The sources said minister Obaidi heard from the council some proposals including increasing the number of beds and expanding departments.

They also asked for increased authorities to heads of departments to purchase systems and medicine needed without delay. The sources said the minister promised to solve all problems that stand in the way of work.

Hala February festival to boost local business KUWAIT: As customar y ever y February, the festival known as Hala February is launched with much fanfare and media attention with many businesses looking forward to marketing their wares through steep discounts and special offers.

Lasting almost through the entire month of February, the festival seemingly attracts not only the local crowds but also visitors from GCC states who come to Kuwait at this time specifically to enjoy shopping and dining and basically having a good time.

Besides looking for bargains at shops and malls, festival goers can enjoy attending socio-cultural, athletic, and entertainment events that are prepared ahead of time by festival organizers.

Lots of businesses, malls, and shopping centers try through advertising campaigns to lure the public to their merchandize. Muhammad Ziyad, who works as a manager at a store in Salmiya, said that sales at his store usually increase by 20-30 percent during the Hala February Festival.

Another store manager in Salmiya, Muhannad Halim, indicated that the store he works in often slashes prices by 75 percent to boost sales.

Ahmad Murad, a salesman at a jewelry shop, said sales in the shop where he works rise noticeably during the festival, with many shoppers being those from GCC states.

Muhammad Shawqi, who works at a store in Hawalli, attributed the frenzy of shopping during the festival to the fact that it takes place at the best

time of the year for Kuwait when the weather is mild and pleasant enough for shoppers to step outside and enjoy the outdoors.

A saleslady at a well-known mall in the Rayy area, Jackline Mamaluba, applauded the festival organizers for boosting sales at many stores through the marketing of coupons and giving out daily prizes to shoppers. She thought that the cooperation between festival organizers and local businesses was successful in attracting shoppers to come out and enjoy shopping and attending festival events. The first Hala February was launched in 1999 and has been taking place every year at the same time, with full support of the private sector and some public sector agencies. —KUNA

Palestinian ambassador congratulates the Amir KUWAIT: Ambassador of the State of Palestine Rami Tahboub commended His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for his continuous support to the Palestinian cause, in a statement released yesterday on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of assumption of rulership.

Ambassador Tahboub congratulated the Amir and the Kuwaiti people on the occasion. “On this occasion, the State of Palestine recalls the great and historic positions of HH the Amir towards the Palestinian people and their cause”, he said. “Since his time as Kuwait’s foreign minister, HH the Amir

has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause in general and the Jerusalem issue in specific”.

The Palestinian ambassador also expressed gratitude for “HH’s gracious contributions to the Palestinian people since 1948 in all fields, especially the political and economic fields”. “We cannot forget as we celebrate this occasion HH the Amir’s commitment on the importance of the unity of the Palestinian people in their struggle to achieve freedom, independence and the creation of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital”, ambassador Tahboub concluded.

Palestinian ambassador Rami Tahboub

Kuwaiti poets enthrall audience CAIRO: Three prominent Kuwaiti poets, at a poetic soire held late on Tuesday as part of Cairo International Book Fair, enthralled the audience with a variety of poetic verses of patriotic and romantic themes.

Ali Al-Failakawi, Salem Al-Rumaidhi and Ali Musaed were masterminds of the distinguished night-time poetic gathering, organized by the chairman of Cairo’s branch of Kuwaiti Students Union, Nasser Al-Ugab.

Musaed expressed deep pleasure for taking part in the Cairo International Book Fair activities, in which Kuwait is participating as a guest of honor. He also noted significance of interacting

with the Egyptian literati and promoting the Kuwaiti poetry.

Bridges of cultural and artistic cooperation should be set up among Arab nations, particularly between Kuwait and Egypt, Musaed said.

Musaed denounced a recent bombing that left extensive damage at the 100-year-old Cairo Islamic Art Museum and the National Library and Archives (NLA). A car bomb blew up on Jan 24, inflicting heavy damage to the museum, home to some 100,000 priceless artifacts, and the library building.

The poetic soire, atmosphere of which was blended with the captivating Kuwaiti poetry, was attended by a large

number of Egyptian, Kuwaiti and Arab literati. Kuwait is also involved in the international fair with a pavilion, displaying the Gulf country major publications. Two days ago, the renowned Kuwaiti novelist, Ismail Fahad Ismail, addressed a seminar held on sidelines of the cultural event. The short-story writer and literary critic affirmed necessity of interaction among the Arab novelists, particularly the young writers, expressing his belief that the junior authors are much more bolder than the senior novelists in addressing taboo issues.

Among the other eminent Kuwaiti figures present in the activities is the writer, Laila Al-Othman. — KUNA

LOCAL

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, sheikhs, ministers, governors and senior military, police and National Guard officers attend the Fourth Popular Heritage Festival at the Sheikh Sabah Cultural Village yesterday. — Photos from the Amiri Diwan

Amir, CP attend Popular Heritage Festival KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah both attended the Fourth Popular Heritage Festival at the Sheikh Sabah Cultural Village yesterday.

Upon their arrival, they were received

by Amiri Diwan Minister Sheikh Naser Sabah Al-Ahmad and Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammed Sharar.

An opening ceremony of the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Cultural Village followed the welcoming.

Afterwards, the dignitaries took a tour of one of the venue’s chambers, AlBarthan Hall, which houses objects linked to a number of professions assumed in the pre-oil discovery era of Kuwait.

Also attending the event was National

Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Sheikh Naser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, sheikhs, ministers, governors and senior military, police and National Guard officers.

In a speech at the event, His Highness the Amir welcomed the attendees, whom he said illustrated the unity between the nations of the Gulf.

Later, President of the Fourth Popular Heritage Festival, Anwar Al-Rifai, commended the Amir’s decision to open the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Cultural Village.

The event included a parade of camel and horse riders, a display of falconry, a traditional dance and recitals of traditional Bedouin poetry. —KUNA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

LOCAL

KUWAIT: (From left) Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Adullah Al-Sabah and US Ambassador Mathew Tueller are seen touring the opening of P2BK at the Mishref International Fairgrounds yesterday evening. Pictures from the opening of the event show a traditional Kuwait folklore band, participants and visitors. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Gulfnet unveils exciting range of offers at Infoconnect 2014 KUWAIT: Gulfnet Communications, the first internet service provider in the Gulf region is set to welcome its existing and potential customers during Infoconnect 2014, one of the region’s most successful communications and information technology exhibitions. Infoconnect 2014 is until the 1st of February, 2014 at the Kuwait International Fair Ground in Meshref. The exhibition is an ideal platform for Gulfnet Communications to showcase its latest products and services, as along with a wide range of excit-

ing offers and surprises on exclusive services.

Mustafa Murad, Chief Operating Officer at Gulfnet Communications said, “Our presence at Infoconnec t gives us a strong chance to reach out and connec t with our existing and potential customers to share with them special internet products and services while also revealing our latest offers and packages that are guaranteed to their satisfaction.”

No immediate extinction of print media: Journalist Jacob to deliver speech on ‘challenges of media’

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: A well-known Indian journalist said yesterday that the print media across the globe is functioning in challenging environments today though it does not face an immediate threat to survival. “The print media industry is weathering a storm with the help of modern technology in the face of mounting challenges from the electronic and social media. So, I don’t see an immediate extinction of print media,” said Thomas Jacob, Editorial Director, Malayala Manorama.

Jacob, who is a veteran journalist with more than 50 years of experience in Indian media, recalled a prediction made by Microsoft founder Bill Gates in Davos in 1998. Gates had stated that newspapers won’t survive beyond 2000. “Gates’ prediction proved wrong and the print media is surviving with resilience,” he said. However, he admitted the fact that there is a real threat.

Jacob arrived in Kuwait yesterday to deliver a keynote speech on ‘Challenges of Indian Media’ at a media conference organized by the Malayali Media Conference (MMF), Kuwait at the Indian Community School, Khaitan, at 6:30 pm today.

“Following the advent of electronic media, many popular newspapers have folded up including many in the US. Those newspapers which adapted to the emerging scenario have survived the threat,” he pointed out. Many of the newspapers, taking advantage of new technology, have launched television channels and online editions in tandem with emerging trends. It also has begun to look beyond the usual news content to find out what is behind each news report and to focus more on local and regional stories. In the Indian

scenario, about 40 percent of the advertisements still go to the print media, he pointed out.

Reading on the wane Jacob said it is saddening to note that people’s reading habit is gradually dying. “But still there is a ray of hope. In the US, people after 40

Thomas Jacob, Editorial Director, Malayala Manorama years have shown interest in reading newspapers,” he said quoting a recent survey. The circulation figures of many of the Indian newspapers show that they are still going up. Interestingly, many Indian newspapers have launched new editions including overseas editions over the last

few years. Jacob said that there has been a value erosion in the Indian media following the explosive emergence of electronic and social media.

“Today, the media world has become very competitive. In the race for rating and market supremacy, values and ethics are often compromised and the credibility of news is undermined,” he said.

Value erosion Talking specifically about the media activism in Kerala, he said, “The Malayalam newspaper industry has a history of 175 years. It has always maintained certain values, discipline and credibility - which are the qualities it has acquired over the years. But, over the last 10 years, things have changed drastically with the mushrooming of television channels and social media networks,” he pointed out.

Answering another question, he said, “The media in Kerala has begun to snoop into the private sphere of individuals, an unsavory trend that has put media’s credibilit y in doubt. It has become almost impossible for people to keep out of the media glare today.

Similarly, sensationalization of news has assumed a new dimension. It has started its p re s e n t fo r m w i t h t h e s o - c a l l e d ‘ R e gi n a episode’ and has progressed until the ‘Saritha episode,’ he pointed out.

Today, youngsters without proper qualifications, experience and training are inducted afresh into the industry, he pointed out. With more internal training, experience and quality control, he hoped that things will improve and better sense will prevail in the future. “People may also lose their fascination for trivial sensational stories overtime,” he added.

Zain sponsors Kuwait Telecom Forum KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced yesterday its main sponsorship of the second Kuwait Telecom Forum.

The event will be held on Feb 2 under the patronage of the Minister of Communications Essa Al-Kandari, at the JW Marriott hotel.

As a leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, Zain’s participation in the second edition of the conference comes in in line with the rapid changes in the telecommunications sector in the region, coupled with massive enhancements in the information technology arena. These changes are the result of evolving needs and behavioral patterns of society in areas such as education, social networking, and the labor market, all driving and stimulating the economic and social development in nations across the globe.

Commenting on the company’s participation in the forum, Omar Al-Omar, Zain Kuwait’s Chief Executive Officer said, “The telecommunications industry is the backbone of the economy with technology becoming a critical tool to acquire information, propelling economic and social development.

Statistics show that the greater the usage of online networks with Broadband connectivity, the greater the economic, social and cultural growth. For every 10% increase in broadband internet usage in a country, results in a1.3% increase in its GDP (eco-

Omar Al-Omar

nomic growth)”. “This forum is a fantastic opportunity to highlight this vital and strategic sector growing significantly, and its prominence in advancing economic development, as well as providing solutions to the relevant issues affecting the sector’s future requirements,” added Al-Omar.

Zain Kuwait has invested and continues to invest in the development and expansion of its network, sprung from its core belief that the development projects conducted aimed to improve the efficiency and quality of services it is providing. With such efforts, the company has succeeded in launching itsnationwide 4G LTE network in 2012, making it the first telecom operator to launch such high speed services in Kuwait, providing an entirely new era of mobile communications in Kuwait.

Notably during the 12 months of 2013, Zain Kuwait saw enormous uptake in data usage by its customers whereby data (excluding SMS & VAS) usage grew21% over the twelve month period, mainly attributable to the appeal of the company’s nationwide 4G LTE network supported by 1,740 state-of-the-art network sites.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

LOCAL

Drug addict arrested after stabbing officer KUWAIT: A drug addict was arrested following a hot pursuit which started after he stabbed a traffic police officer and escaped. The incident took place at the King Fahd Highway where a patrol officer pulled over a driver for swerving, and discovered that he was driving under the influence. The suspect refused to cooperate when the officer asked for his papers, before suddenly taking out a knife and stabbing the policeman. The officer called for backup which arrived within minutes and went in pursuit of the suspect while some of them stayed to help their injured comrade. The man was eventually stopped and arrested with possession of drugs. He was taken to the Ahmadi Security Department and charged with attempted murder, driving under the influence, drug possession and other charges.

Auto thief held Farwaniya detectives arrested a military man who admitted to stealing at least 50 luxury vehicles around Kuwait.

Investigations had started after several people reported buying luxury cars but later discovered that the vehicles were reported stolen. Detectives identified a prime suspect as a young man employed at the Ministry of Defense and living in Firdous. The man was arrested outside his house, but denied the allegations.

Eventually he admitted to stealing more than 50 luxury cars and fraud. According to the interrogation with the suspect, the man used a trick of buying a car and then stealing an identical one. He then would obtain new registration and license plates for the car bought legally, then fix the plates on the stolen car and sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. Police found registrations and license plates of 45 cars in the suspect’s house. The man remains in custody pending further investigations.

Hunters saved Police used helicopters to locate and save two men who became lost in the middle of the desert during a bird hunting trip. A search began for the two men Tuesday morning when they said in an emergency call that their car broke down while hunting for doves in the northern areas. A helicopter was sent on a lookout mission after the two failed to identify their location, and said that their phone batteries were about to die. The helicop-

ter crew were able to locate the men after half an hour, and gave directions to police who sent patrol vehicles for their rescue.

Maid commits suicide A domestic worker committed suicide in her employer’s house in Rehab according to preliminary investigations.

Paramedics and police headed to the scene after the homeowner reported in an emergency call that his housemaid killed herself. The 39-year-old Indian woman was found hanging dead inside her room, and criminal investigators were called to examine the scene and transport the body to the forensic department. A case was filed for investigations.

Work mishap A worker was critically wounded in an accident at a construction site in Fahaheel. The 31-year-old Egyptian man was taken in an ambulance to Adan Hospital and admitted in the intensive care unit in a critical condition.

Construction workers told officers who accompanied paramedics to the scene that their coworker lost balance and fell while working on the first floor. A case was filed for investigations.

Two dead in accidents A man died and two others were injured in a two-car collision reported early Tuesday at the bridge separating Dhahar and Jaber Al-Ali. The 20-year-old Kuwaiti man was pronounced dead on the scene after suffering a fatal chest injury, while his companion, a 46-year-old Kuwaiti, and the driver of the second car, a 46-year-old Indian national, were taken to Adan Hospital. Police who accompanied paramedics to the scene summoned criminal investigators to examine the crash site and transport the body to the forensic department. An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances behind the accident.

In another accident, a 34-year-old Kuwaiti man was killed after his car lost balance and turned over on Artal Road late Monday. Paramedics headed to the scene with police as soon as the incident was reported, but discovered that the driver had already succumbed to his injuries by the time they arrived. Criminal investigators took the body to the forensic department after examining the scene.

A case was filed for investigations.

KUWAIT: Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Nationality and Passports Affairs Maj Gen Sheikh Faisal Nawaf Al-Ahmad visited the immigration detectives department, where he was received by Director General Brig Ghazi Al-Maie.

Kuwait gives top priority to human rights issue ‘Major topic in world relations’ KUWAIT: Human rights have become a major topic in international relations, Foreign Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said Tuesday, adding that the constitution of Kuwait is a “beacon of human rights.”

Speaking to reporters after a ceremony organized by the Foreign Ministry marking the launch of a book, “Human Rights in the State of Kuwait .. Fundamentals and Principles,” AlJarallah said the book was an addition to documents and books about human rights, all reflecting Kuwait’s keenness to further promote human rights.

He said the ministry planned to publish booklets about rights of the child and woman, as well as human rights of expatriates. “We will document all these issues and highlight Kuwait’s role in them.” “Since its establishment, Kuwait has attached great attention to human being and his rights, and these values have been deepened in

the Kuwaiti society and have become fundamentals ... that human rights are major principles of the way the international community deals with out contemporary issues,” he said.

The constitution, laws and legislations of Kuwait respect human rights principles, affirmed Al-Jarallah. Kuwait’s human rights reports comply with the UN Human Rights Council’s criteria, he added.

The foreign ministry, he said, was holding training courses in cooperation with the Human Rights Council in order to educate them about “the latest developments of this file which is important and vital for Kuwait.” Al-Jarallah said the book was documenting Kuwait’s commitment to human rights.

Dr. Saud Al-Harbi, Education Ministry ’s Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Research and Curricula, said human rights have become global interest “and reflect the cultural

Arab water officials hold meeting CAIRO: The Arab Ministerial Water Council held its executive board meeting at the Arab League here yesterday.

Speaking to reporters during his attendance on behalf of Kuwait, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity and Water Abdulaziz AlIbrahim, stressed the importance of gaining know-how from experienced nations on the subject. “Water is the base of all living things, and can result in future wars if solutions are not

found to the issue (of its shortage),” he said.

In this regard, he urged a “common and resilient vision” of Arab nations at international podiums - like the World Water Forum in South Korea at the end of February - and steadfast preparation for the Gulf Water Conference in Doha two months later.

The executive board’s meeting welcomed Saudi Arabia’s proposal to hold a joint meeting between Arab and South American nations in

Kuwaiti ‘best young surgeon’ in Mideast DUBAI: Dr Hassan Al-Shimmeri, a Kuwaiti physician, is granted the award for the best young surgeon in the Middle East for 2014 at the Arab Health Conference, ending its functions here yesterday.

Dr Al-Shimmeri is given the award along with two other surgeons from the UAE. The Kuwaiti physician said he was selected from among 150 candidates by the conference

organizer: Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions.

Dr Al-Shimmeri, an ear, nose and throat physician, holds fellowships from Harvard University in the United States and McGill University in Canada. The Arab Health Conference began convening last Sunday, attracting a large number of health professionals from the Middle East and around the world. — KUNA

Al-Zour North project wins award

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Dive Team removed seven sunken boats from the Shamlan Dock in Kuwait City recently. The successful operation was carried out in cooperation with the Kuwait Ports Association, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources, the Kuwait Municipality and other volunteers.

and legal development of the country.”

Al-Harbi, speaking on behalf of the government department that contributed to the book, said “human rights are natural rights which cannot be separated from the human being.”

He said the constitution of Kuwait was “full of human rights values even before (Kuwait’s) joining of many relevant agreements.”

Al-Jarallah said Kuwait was member in international human rights agreements as well as being a member in the UN Human Rights Council. Asked about Geneva II, Al-Jarallah described negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition a “very tough.”

It is a long way before reaching an agreement, he said, and hoped the negotiations would have positive results. Asked about the date of the Arab Summit that would be held in Kuwait, Al-Jarallah said the meeting would be held on March 25 and 26. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Al-Zour North power and desalination plant project has won Thomson Reuters’ 2013 Project Finance International Power Deal of the Year in the Middle East.

The deal, which has so far reached phase one, is being conducted by a combined workforce of local public and international firms for the first time, read a statement by Kuwait’s state technical body tasked with research on development projects and initiatives.

The project aims to provide 1,500 megawatts of electricity and 102 million

Imperial gallons of water.

The project is considered “vital and dynamic” to the country, added the statement, which said that this requires the project to be carried out “according to the highest international standards and professionalism.”

The award panel took into consideration the “transparency, fairness and bidding process” taken in securing the deal, and this “will do much to augment the reputation of Kuwait,” the statement emphasised. The award will be handed out on Feb 5 in London. — KUNA

December to discuss joint coordination on water desalination and modern water technologies.

They meeting also discussed several studies on saving water, and Israeli breaches on Arab water sovereignty.

Qatar was elected chair and Tunisia deputy chair for the 2014/15 period, he added. The meeting was attended by senior water officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. — KUNA

Oil ministry sponsors independence fair KUWAIT: The Ministry of Oil is keen on promoting awareness on the oil sector and its issues and the country’s oil industries and activities, a ministry official said yesterday.

Head of the Press Department Hafsa Khalifouh made the remark while also announcing that the ministry is the gold sponsor of the upcoming independence fair, to be held in Mishref fair grounds from Feb 9 to 13. This is an initiative reflecting the ministry’s keenness to fulfill its national duty and cooperate with other state bodies in both state and private sectors, she said.

The official noted preparations for participation at the fair had included composition of a number of brochures.

The compositions touch upon the major developments in the Kuwaiti oil industry under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah.

They also shed light on some historical moments since start of oil exploration in the State of Kuwait in 1936 and discovery of Burqan oil well in 1938, along with the export of the first oil shipment in 1946.

The official urged all members of the public to visit the fair and the ministry’s pavilion in particular to increase their knowledge and awareness of the country’s key industry. — KUNA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

It’s all about business

Inferiority complex

By Yousif Al-Ghanim

By Abdulateef Al-Mulhim

I

nferiority complex is an unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy caused by actual or supposed inferiority in one sphere. It is a psychiatric disorder that affects individuals. However, this disorder could extend to sweep an entire community and become ingrained in its culture, thus becoming a systematic behavior. A prime example of this would be the utilization of the national workforce in Kuwait.

Inferiority complex in patients is partially caused by genetics. On a national scale, this could be loosely translated into the ancestry and heritage of the whole nation. Kuwait, similar to its counterparts, had been plagued with British colonialism from 1899 to 1961. Politics aside, this era had been a prosperous era for the country, and physical and economic infrastructures were established during this period.

Nonetheless, the indigenous people of Kuwait at that time did not possess the knowledge nor the hands-on experience needed to establish such infrastructures. The foreigners helped the locals build and run the country, thus creating some sort of dependency on foreigners.

The second cause for inferiority complex in patients is personal experiences. Rendered on a nationwide scale, repeated experiences of reliance on expatriates in doing even the most mundane of tasks created another dilemma.

Older generations of the population grew up to the sight of having expatriates in senior positions in the most vital of sectors in the country.

Gradually, the locals started to regain their positions and have more authority in running the country. Yet still, when encountered with any problem, the locals would run to the foreigners for help without attempting to solve it, thinking that they lack the knowhow and the expat would, most definitely, have the solution. This happened, time and time again, triggering the false belief that locals themselves would never be able to become autonomous.

This cycle of dependency has been going for enough time to become deeply rooted in the local culture. Even with the presence of the government’s Kuwaitization decree, private companies still do not employ a full-fledged Kuwaiti workforce, and even if they did, they either keep the integral roles of business development for expats and/or operate under expat consultations. No matter how much expertise or knowledge the local attains, society cannot bring itself to become fully contingent on local talent.

Yes, in recent years, we have seen some companies taking the initiative of employing more local talent than the governmental mandates and actually employing them in crucial roles and positions. However, to fully break this vicious cycle of inferiority, we should use the same cure employed by psychiatrists encountered with cases of inferiority complex - building confidence through positive reinforcement.

Practically, the locals have the knowledge needed, so what we need is to keep the local workforce fully engaged in all levels of the enterprise to increase their confidence. Continuous exposure to the bits and pieces of labor will positively reinforce their self-reliance and the national workforce would live happily ever after.

A

kuwait digest

A destiny they never chose

By Dr Ebtehal Al-Khateeb

W

hile listening to Ibrahim Naji’s Al-Atlal (The Ruins) poem as sung by Umm Kulthum, I couldn’t picture a conversation between two lovers, but I pictured Syrian children wondering why they were made for this destiny? How did they come to this world to find all this misery waiting for them? Their childhood has been crushed. A lost childhood in the streets of nearby countries where barefoot Syrian children roam, lacking the most basic of rights - a warm meal, a roof on top of their heads and a school chair.

All of us share the guilt for the continuous suffering of every Syrian refugee child. Every child living in Tripoli, Lebanon with torn clothes. Every child roaming Beirut’s corniche barefoot. Every child who cries himself to sleep as he craves a sandwich. Every child writhing in pain without the chance to receive medical attention. Every child who jumps in panic at the sound of every loud bang. Every child who yearns for a cuddle, love, a warm bed, colorful blanket and a beautiful story. Every child who ditches childhood words for the harsh words of the street. Every child who cannot go to the classroom and instead is learning street language. Every child who sells contrabands, swears, turns angry or racist.

The suffering of each and every one of them buys our comfort, and their agony pays the price for our happiness. Every one of them is becoming lost because we do not notice and refuse to admit it.

Because they are there and we are here, with a TV set separating us. They all disappear the moment we switch off the TV, along with their pain and suffering.

Then we can pretend they do not exist as we fall peacefully to sleep.

We can either be like that, or bear our responsibilities. We can shed off the stinky cloaks of sectarianism and think for one moments that those children were

not born Sunnis, Shiites, Muslims or Christians. They were born stripped from all classifications. They were born with small hands, miniature feet and little hair on their heads, just like our own children. They had no hand in a calamity that we created when we remained silent for a long time, became very racist, collected money and funded our extremism. We created a hell on earth and left those children to walk there with their bare little feet.

I know that what I wrote is harsh, that I held everyone responsible and said what should not have been said. But I cannot take the picture of those children out of my head. You and I remember their misery from time to time, but they live through suffering and despair all the time.

I call upon you and myself to save not only them, but the future of the entire region. If we leave the Syrian refugee children to the street, then we are creating a generation filled with anger and the culture of the street. We are creating a generation without a future. What does the lack of future and hope create?

You and I know the answer very well.

Layan group created a campaign titled ‘Setmiyya’ (six hundred), and the details can be found on its website or accounts on Twitter and Instagram. The goal is to help register 600 children in schools. It is a purely educational campaign with no place for sectarianism or politics in it. With a KD100 donation, Layan group registers one child for an entire school year, thus saving him from becoming lost and help rebuild his future that seems to be falling apart.

Everyone is urged to participate in the campaign, with hope it can surpass its goal and help more than 600 children enter schools. With one hundred Kuwaiti dinars, you can save not only a child, but a society, a future and possibly the entire world. — Al-Jarida

lmost every individual around the globe uses a cell phone but few know about coltan, a metallic ore, which is made into a component for many electronic devices like cell phones. Due to advancement in the digital technology, the demand of coltan has skyrocketed.

Like many other minerals, it is found in abundance in Africa due to which, many countries in the Dark Continent have become cauldrons of chaos. A tug-of-war between various tribes over the control of these resources has resulted into deaths of hundreds. This is an ongoing phenomenon and hardly attracts media attention. Of course, this will affect the soaring business of global IT giants. I would like to share with my readers another interesting fact, in war-torn Sudan a special kind of gum is produced that is used in colas (I do not wish to name the brand for obvious reasons).

You must be wondering why this writer is focusing on these mineral resources. The reason is most, if not all; conflicts in the world are a result of a race to gain control of the natural resources. There is an economic aspect of most, if not all, political conflicts. In this context, it would be easier to understand the changing position of Iran in the world. From an outlaw state that was about to be attacked last year to the most welcomed country at Davos, Iran has obviously something to offer to the world. Isn’t it interesting that all of a sudden American companies are all set to land in Tehran? Pure economics is at work.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani commandeered the spotlight at Davos. He delivered a message of peaceful intentions and a desire to do business with all companies around the world. And business it is. And all of a sudden, being a nuclear power meant nothing to the Iranian leadership and Iran agreed to halt any further uranium enrichments. It is ironic that for the past 10 years, the whole word was on a collision course with Iran but in Davos the new Iranian path crisscrossed with not only America or the West but also with Israel. The Americans and Israelis are no longer the Great Satan. The entire world appears to have forgotten Ahmadinejad’s threats to annihilate Israel. The reason behind this change of heart is Iran’s vast natural resources that to this day remain largely untapped.

Iran has oil, gas, caviar, saffron, rugs and most important Iranian youths who are craving for anything “Made in USA”. They want American music and other products.

There are hundreds of thousands of Iranians in the United States who are happy and love the American way of life and they can work as a bridge between the two countries.

And there are millions in Iran who still remember the good old days when Iran and America enjoyed strategic ties. At this stage, Iran’s most important energy infrastructure is old and outdated or damaged during the Iran-Iraq war.

The need for a massive moderation of the Iranian oilfields can bring not millions or billions to the American companies but it will bring trillions of dollars in the next few years. And to add to these trillions, the majority of Iranians want American cars and other commodities and gadgets. And with business transactions and economic deals, politics will change and center of political strategies will shift. And yes, Iran will see the positive changes of attitudes toward Iranian leadership and more political channels will open but at the same time Iran will have to adapt to those changes and must show a more positive attitude to the outside world, especially its neighbors.

Sooner or later, Iran will have to slam its doors open to the West. It must learn to mix business with the protocols of politics. One thing Iran is yet to realize is that it is the economic interest between nations that shapes ties. And it is about time that the Iranians start thinking about their own country and must forget past dreams about spreading their “revolutionary” ideology. A final note to Iran - the Americans want to do business fast. In business they don’t like to wait. In other words, don’t take 444 days in signing a deal. It might remind the Americans of the 1979 hostage crisis. But with so much natural resources waiting to be explored, who would care about the plight of the 52 American hostages over three decades ago. After all it’s all about profits and business.

In my view

Jordanians suspicious

By Osama Al-Sharif

P

ublic hostility is building up in Jordan toward US Secretary of State John Kerry’s much-publicized proposals to reach a framework agreement on final status issues between the Palestinians and Israel. Last week small demonstrations broke out, after Friday prayers, in a number of towns to protest against “Kerry’s project to impose a Jordanian role in the West Bank.”

Similarly, figures representing professional unions and political parties are planning to hold a national conference to “protect Jordan and Palestine and repulse Kerry’s peace plan.” And a number of lawmakers have signed a memorandum to convene a special Lower House session to discuss Kerry’s controversial proposals.

Jordan’s main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a communique last week warning of an impending plan to liquidate the Palestinian cause, which it said threatens both Jordanians and Palestinians. It said that the current regional situation would encourage the United States and Israel to impose their conditions on the Palestinians and put pressure on Jordan. One leader, Salem Al-Falahat, told a local news website that while detailed information on Kerry’s proposals is scarce, it is clear that current negotiations will not serve the interests of the Palestinians or the Jordanians.

Palestinian sources have said that Kerry has not submitted written proposals to either side, but had outlined his thoughts on a number of crucial issues such as borders, settlements, land swaps, refugees and East Jerusalem. Leading Fatah movement official, Azzam Al-Ahmad, said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas couldn’t accept what Kerry is offering. Similarly, another Palestinian official, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told Al-Hayat newspaper that both Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected Kerry’s proposals.

Rabbo gave the most detailed account of Kerry’s proposals. He said that Kerry suggested that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state in return for allowing them to have their capital in parts of East Jerusalem.

Israel would also keep major settlements in the West Bank and lease others. It would also be in control of airspace and border points while the Jordan Valley would be monitored by joint US, Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian forces. The refugee issue would be solved in accordance with the Bill Clinton proposal: Allowing a symbolic return of Palestinian refugees.

Rabbo also said that Israel would maintain the right of hot pursuit into Palestinian territories. He said Kerry suggested that Israel’s security concerns would be reviewed in light of Palestinian adherence and preparedness. But the Palestinian official added that Netanyahu had rejected these suggestions. Kerry had met King Abdullah recently and briefed him on his plan. The Hashemite Palace issued a statement reiterating Jordan’s position of backing the two-state solution but adding that the kingdom will support a deal that meets with its “higher interests”. The same wordings were used after the king met with Abbas and Netanyahu, separately, in the past two weeks.

Such development in the official Jordanian stance has raised questions about where the government stands on Kerry’s proposals.

Recently Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said that Jordan would not have a military role west of the River Jordan. Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh was quoted as saying that Jordan will not accept Israeli military presence on its borders with the Palestinian state. Other officials spoke of Jordan’s obligation to defend the rights of over two million Palestinian refugees on its territory, more than half of them Jordanian citizens.

These statements have helped turn public opinion in the country against Kerry’s proposals. Some pundits have suggested that Jordan will come under pressure to play a political and military role in the West Bank. The communique issued by the Islamist movement warned that Jordan will make concessions to Israel while political analyst Labib Kamahawi wrote that Jordan could come under pressure to play a security role in the West Bank on behalf of Israel. Another political analyst, Hassan Barari, wrote that Jordan is unable to define its high political interests in relation to Israel and the Palestinian issue. He had warned that Kerry’s proposals will pave the way for the implementation of the “Jordan Option” which he said remains a viable Israeli choice.

Fears of the settlement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Jordan, under Kerry’s plan, have given conservative opponents of political reforms a platform to warn against deals that may come at the expense of East Bank Jordanians. A recent initiative in the Lower House to grant the offspring of Jordanian women married to foreigners their civil rights is being resisted on account that it coincides with Kerry’s peace moves. Former chief of the Royal Court Riad Abu Karaki made controversial comments on Facebook against such initiative. If approved by the government the decision will affect the civil rights of over 300,000 individuals. Critics believe it is a ploy to give citizenship to Palestinian refugees.

Palestinian and Israeli officials have been critical of Kerry’s proposals. But there is growing concern in Jordan that President Abbas will succumb to US pressure on the issue.

How this affects Jordan remains an open question, but there is now pressure on the government to state its position on these proposals as public anxiety and suspicion reach critical levels.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Thailand to deploy 10,000 police in capital to secure voting Page 10

Erdogan visits Iran to improve ties Page 8

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama delivers the State of Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber Tuesday, in Washington, as Vice President Joe Biden (left) and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, applaud. — AP

Obama vows executive action WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama sets off yesterday on a four-city tour to pound home his annual State of the Union message, a major pep talk to a pessimistic nation, a call to action by a divided Congress and a promise to sidestep legislative gridlock by using his executive powers where he can.

Obama maintained his recent focus on America’s vast income inequality that has only grown worse in the aftermath of the Great Recession and near collapse of the economy in 2008.

Obama, speaking in what is traditional-

ly a president’s biggest speech of the year, was trying as well to set the stage for Democrat victories in the November midterm congressional elections at a time when his popularity has fallen dramatically despite a steadily improving economy. He is particularly dogged by stubbornly high unemployment.

“America does not stand still, and neither will I,” the president said in his nationally televised State of the Union address to a packed chamber. “So whatever and wherever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportu-

nity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Republicans, especially in the House of Representatives, have managed to stymie most of the president’s legislative agenda since they re-took the House of Representatives in 2010. Their leader, Speaker John Boehner, was quick to throw cold water on Obama’s plans for executive action.

“The president must understand his power is limited by our Constitution, and the authority he has doesn’t add up to much for those without opportunity in this economy,” he said.

Obama has acknowledged he faces constitutional limits in acting without Congress, but realizes he still faces a wall of Republican opposition. He nevertheless renewed his calls for forward motion on his legislative agenda of creating jobs, overhauling immigration laws, combating climate change and more.

Absent Republican compromises, Obama declared he would rely on executive orders where and when he could.

From Boehner down, there was little evidence they intended to move Obama’s way. “Too many people are falling further and further behind because, right now, the president’s policies are making people’s lives harder,” Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in the Republicans’ official response.

The State of the Union address to Congress, a tradition begun by President George Washington, was replete with all the political pageantry that Washington can muster. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg opened her arms wide to give a grinning Obama a huge hug as he walked past her on the way to the speaker’s rostrum, where he kicked the sixth year of his presidency into high gear. — AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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

Israeli ruling coalition wobbles as US peace proposal looms JERUSALEM: A pending US framework proposal to propel stumbling IsraeliPalestinian peace talks forward chipped away yesterday at a troubled alliance between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an ultranationalist ally in his governing coalition.

No date has been announced for US Secretary of State John Kerry to unveil his blueprint, but new skirmishing between the prime minister and farright partner Naftali Bennett suggested crunch time was near.

Bennett’s Jewish Home party advocates annexation of some of the West Bank - occupied territor y that Palestinians seek for a state - and it has threatened to end its partnership with Netanyahu if, he says, any handover of land of biblical significance to Jews were in the offing.

In a hard-hitting speech to an international security conference on Tuesday,

Bennett aired veiled criticism of Netanyahu - sending a signal that he believed the Israeli leader was primed to accept Kerry’s peace guidelines.

“Neither our forefathers nor our descendants will forgive the Israeli leader who gives away our land and divides our capital,” said Bennett, an Orthodox Jew who often emphasises a biblical connection to the West Bank and Jerusalem.

In a speech at the same Tel Aviv security forum, Netanyahu said Kerry would offer “American positions” and that “Israel does not have to agree to anything the Americans present”.

Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, were livid over Bennett’s accusations.

A senior member of Jewish Home, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, told Israel Radio on Wednesday he was mediating a “crisis” between Bennett and Netanyahu.

Amid the bickering, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman laid out the broad outlines of what he said was the “expected” Kerry framework proposal.

An Israeli political source gave a similar account.

Phased withdrawal envisaged According to the report, the plan entails an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and all claims, following a phased Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, with unprecedented security arrangements in the strategic Jordan Valley.

The pullout, the newspaper said, will not include certain settlement blocs but Israel will offer Israeli territory to the Palestinians in compensation. The proposal further envisages the Palestinians having their capital in East Jerusalem and recognising Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. It will not include

any right of return for Palestinian refugees to Israel.

Palestinians under President Mahmoud Abbas in limited self-ruled areas of the West Bank seek a state covering the entire territory and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as their capital.

Israel pulled settlers out of Gaza in 2005 but Hamas Islamists sworn to Israel’s destruction now rule the enclave.

Israel has insisted on a long-term security presence in the Jordan Valley forming the West Bank’s eastern border under any peace deal, a position rejected by Palestinian leaders.

The future of settlers on land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war was the core of the Netanyahu-Bennett flareup.

On Saturday, an unidentified Netanyahu aide said the Israeli leader would insist Jewish settlers have a right to remain under Palestinian rule in any

future peace deal.

It was, political sources later conceded, a calculated attempt to portray Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a naysayer unwilling to accept the notion of a Jewish minority in his country - while Netanyahu had an Arab minority in his own.

The exercise backfired, however, when attention shifted to Bennett’s angry reaction on Facebook, where he demanded Netanyahu “immediately refute this dangerous proposal”.

Bad blood between Bennett, who once served as a senior Netanyahu aide, is nothing new. The main opposition Labour Party has said it would be prepared to replace Jewish Home in the coalition to prevent its collapse over peace issues. The coalition controls 68 of parliament’s 120 seats, of which Jewish Home holds 12 and Labour 15. — Reuters

Erdogan visits Iran to improve ties ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visited Iran yesterday to bolster trade and energy ties, state TV said, in what also looked like a bid to defuse tensions over Syria by capitalising on Tehran’s diplomatic opening to regional rivals and the West.

Iran has been a strong strategic ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the start of the uprising against him, while Turkey has been one of his fiercest critics, supporting his opponents and giving refuge to rebel fighters. But Iran’s election last June of President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who says he wants to thaw its ties with the West, and shared concern over the rise of al Qaeda in Syria, have spurred hopes of a Turkish-

Iranian rapprochement. While deep divisions remain between Ankara and Tehran over the conflict in Syria, diplomats and government officials say both sides want to mend a relationship that could be pivotal to the fast-changing political map of the Middle East.

The United States believes detente between Turkey and Iran is important to wider stability in the Middle East, a strategic breakthrough Washington hopes to achieve from talks that world powers are pursuing with Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.

Erdogan met Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as Rouhani, whose foreign policy of “prudence and moderation” has eased Tehran’s international isolation and

TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, second right, talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second left, in their meeting in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. Erdogan arrived in Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders on bilateral ties and regional issues including Syria. — AP

revived contact with longtime archenemy Washington.

“Our relations with Turkey have entered a new phase and we hope this trend continues. Besides serving the interests of the two countries, we hope our dialogue (with Turkey) serve regional interests as well,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told reporters in Tehran. “As two neighbours and Muslim countries, Iran and Turkey enjoy many commonalities and many cooperation opportunities.” Analysts said the main focus of Erdogan’s visit was expanding economic cooperation, finessing any political disputes for now.

“Considering that the economy and energy ministers are accompanying Erdogan, we can say this trip is business-targeted,” said Tehran-based analyst Hossein Foroughi.

Erdogan signed three trade deals yesterday before leaving Tehran to fly home, Iranian state television said. “ Today we had a good chance to review bilateral ties,” Erdogan said in remarks translated into Farsi by Iranian television as it showed him meeting Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri.

“I would like to mention specifically, and to express my satisfaction with, the agreement we signed in the preferential trade field,” he said. “It is obvious that we import from Iran crude oil and gas, which are strategic energy sources, and we (will be) able to increase the volume of these imports.” —Reuters

ALEPPO: A Syrian man carries the body of a victim out of the rubble of a destroyed building following alleged air raids by government forces on the rebel-controlled part of Aleppo’s Maadi residential district yesterday. — AFP

Syria warring foes say Geneva talks ‘positive’ Oppn maintains creating transitional govt GENEVA: Syria’s warring sides said yesterday peace talks in Geneva had taken a positive turn, but there were still deep divisions on what the focus of the negotiations should be.

Delegations from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition National Coalition both said a fifth day of talks had gotten off to a “positive” start. They said the discussion finally focused on the Geneva I communique -the never-implemented roadmap to peace put out by global powers during talks here in 2012 — but appeared to disagree about what aspects of the text they had discussed.

“Today we had a positive step forward because for the first time now we are talking about the transitional governing body, to end dictatorship and end the fighting and the misery in Syria,” opposition delegation spokesman Louay Safi told reporters.

The opposition maintains that creating the transitional government called for in the Geneva I communique must be the first step towards a political solution, and insists implementing the document requires Assad to leave power.

The regime denies the text requires Assad to step down and says his role is not up for debate at this conference. Regime delegation member Buthaina Shaaban confirmed that talks on the Geneva communique had begun Wednesday and had been “positive”, but said this was “because they spoke about terrorism.”

She stressed that the first item in the Geneva text is related to ending the violence in Syria, something the regime largely equates to rooting out the “terrorism” it claims the opposition

and its foreign backers are supporting.

“We want to discuss Geneva I item by item, starting from the first item...

They want to jump to the item that speaks about the transitional government,” Shaaban said, accusing the opposition of only being interested in grabbing power. Despite their disagreement about the topic of discussion, the positive tone marked a shift after two days of total deadlock.

The two sides, which were set for separate meetings Wednesday afternoon, have been brought together in Geneva in the biggest diplomatic push yet to end a civil war that has left more than 130,000 dead and forced millions from their homes.

‘Nobody is walking out’ Expectations are low for a breakthrough, especially after the talks hit an impasse Monday when UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi failed to get the two sides to agree on even the basic principles of political talks.

Then talks fell apart Tuesday after the regime delegation urged participants to adopt a statement condemning Washington for supporting “terrorists” in Syria by backing rebel groups.

Brahimi, who amid the stalemate cancelled an afternoon meeting, stressed though to reporters Tuesday evening that neither side was ready to quit the talks, which are expected to last until Friday.

“Nobody is walking out, nobody is running away,” Brahimi told reporters on Tuesday. “We have not achieved any breakthrough, but we are still at it, and this is good enough as far as I’m concerned.”

No progress was meanwhile appar-

ent Wednesday towards fulfilling the only tangible promise of the talks so far: Brahimi’s announcement Sunday the regime had agreed to allow women and children safe passage from besieged rebel-held areas of Homs.

The Old City of Homs has been under siege since June 2012 after rebels there rose against the regime, with an estimated 500 families living with near-daily shelling and the barest of supplies.

UN bodies and the International Committee of the Red Cross have said they are on standby with aid but are waiting for approval to move in.

“The convoy is ready and still waiting to enter. The authorisation has not been given yet,” Brahimi said Tuesday. “ We haven’t given up on that.”

Shaaban said the regime had not denied access to the areas, reiterating the government’s line that “it is those (opposition) armed gangs who refuse to allow civilians to go out because they take them as human shields.”

It took months of pressure from Washington, which backs the opposition, and Moscow, Assad’s key international ally and arms supplier, to bring the two sides together.

Their efforts also secured a landmark deal last year to remove and destroy Syria’s chemical aresenal.

But in yet another reminder of the urgency of bringing Syria’s bloody civil war to an end, US intelligence chief James Clapper said Wednesday that Damascus may now be capable of producing biological weapons.

Syria’s opposition said meanwhile it planned to hold talks with Russian officials in Moscow, but had still to confirm dates. — AFP

South Sudan to try rebel leaders, risking ceasefire JUBA: South Sudan says it will put key leaders of an alleged coup it claims triggered weeks of fighting on trial, in a move likely to threaten a fragile ceasefire with rebels. Both sides implemented a ceasefire last Friday, but combat has only eased, not ended, with reports of continuing clashes and a worsening humanitarian crisis that has left thousands dead and forced almost 800,000 to flee their homes.

United Nations aid chief Valerie Amos wraps up a three-day visit yesterday to the war-torn country, where she has seen first hand the results of over six weeks of bloodshed, with horrific atrocities reported to have been committed by both sides.

In an announcement made late Tuesday, Justice Minister Paulino Wanawila underscored the animosity that still reigns between government forces under President Salva Kiir and a loose coalition of rebel fighters seen as

loyal to Kiir’s sacked deputy, Riek Machar.

Four men in detention will face trial while three others, including Machar as well as rebel peace delegate leader Taban Deng-who signed the ceasefirewill face justice if caught, Wanawila said.

Kiir accused Machar and other former officials of a failed coup against his government after fighting broke out in the capital Juba on December 15.

Eleven ex-officials were arrested, while Machar-who denied any coup plot fled. Fighting quickly spread across the country. Aid groups say up to 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, although many fear more may have died.

The fighting has seen waves of brutal revenge attacks, as fighters and ethnic militia use the violence to loot and settle old scores. Many fear the conflict has slid out of the control of political leaders, with ethnic violence and revenge

attacks between the Dinka people of Kiir and the Nuer of Machar, the country’s two largest groups. Over 76,000 civilians are still sheltering inside UN peacekeeping bases.

Fresh clashes in Unity state Government and opposition rebels are still fighting for control in key areas, with the United Nations calling the situation “fragile”.

Clashes were reported yesterday in the oil-producing Unity state, close to the settlement of Leer, Machar’s home region. Aid workers have said they were struggling to cope with those needing support. “ The crisis today is already very severe, you have hundreds of thousands of people displaced, and many, many wounded, who have come to our facilities,” said Arjan Hehenkamp, from Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, MSF).—AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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

German foreign policy perks up under new govt BERLIN: Germany has been called a reluctant giant - Europe’s biggest power, but one that balks at a front-line leadership role beyond finance. There are signs that’s changing since a new coalition government of conservative and center-left parties took power last month. That doesn’t mean Germany mindful of its Nazi past and harboring painful memories of defeat and devastation in two world wars will soon be dispatching combat troops to global hotspots like France and Britain, the European Union’s main military leaders.

But a more robust Germany willing to commit resources in support of joint operations or play a bigger role diplomatically could bolster Europe’s position on the global stage and enhance its so-far limited capability to respond to crises.

The new tone is being set by ambitious foreign and defense ministers who assumed office with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new government last month. Both are keen to make their mark.

Since taking office, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter

Steinmeier has declared that Europe “cannot leave France alone” in its peacekeeping missions in Africa.

Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s first female defense minister, says the country “cannot look away when murder and rape are going on” beyond its borders. Both are preparing to reinforce Germany’s military role in Mali and setting the scene to help France - at least logistically - in Central African Republic.

In the past month, Germany has reversed its previous refusal to help destroy Syrian chemical weapons and has been outspoken in criticizing the Ukrainian leadership’s response to massive protests.

With no one offering clear political leadership, Europe is often seen as rudderless. Poland’s foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, famously said in 2011 that he fears German power “less than I am beginning to fear German inactivity.” The center-left Steinmeier has started out by dusting off foreign-policy ties with France, agreeing with French counterpart Laurent Fabius to make joint trips to countries

where they have “common interests” and coordinate policy more closely. Officials in both countries say it’s hard for the EU to agree on issues if France and Germany don’t agree, but there’s been little sign of such coordination in recent years.

Von der Leyen - widely viewed as a potential successor to Merkel at the head of her conservative party - also champions greater European cooperation. “Europe won’t get ahead in the game of global powers if some discreetly hold back when military deployments come up and others rush ahead without consulting,” she told the weekly Der Spiegel last weekend. She followed that up by declaring that “it’s important that Germany takes more responsibility within our alliances - within the European alliance and within NATO.” “For the Germans, it’s important not to stand alone in these things,” said Olaf Boehnke, who heads the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a multinational think-tank, arguing that a deeper French-German partnership could

help “move Europe forward.” Germany gradually emerged from its post-World War II diplomatic and military shell after reunification in 1990, sending troops to Kosovo and Afghanistan, while also refusing to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In recent years, it has shown a marked reluctance to join in military interventions; in 2011, it abstained in the UN vote authorizing a no-fly zone in Libya, setting it apart from traditional Western allies. That was the most prominent example of the “culture of military restraint” frequently preached by the foreign minister until December, Guido Westerwelle - a conspicuous contrast with the undisputed financial power Germany exerted in Europe over recent years.

The new German government “is reacting to increasing demands from its international surroundings to do more on one thing or another, not to stand aside,” said Eberhard Sandschneider, director of research at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin.—AP

Ukraine on brink of civil war Parliament debates amnesty for protesters

VATICAN: A tourist poses for a souvenir picture in front of a graffiti by Italian artist Mauro Pallotta depicting Pope Francis as Superman and holding a bag with a writing which reads: “Values” is seen on a wall of the Borgo Pio district near St Peter’s Square in Rome, yesterday. — AP

Move over Superman, it’s time for ... ‘Superpope’ ROME: Pope Francis may already be a hero to the world’s downtrodden but at least one pop artist thinks he’s more than that. Move over Superman, it’s time for Superpope.

A large painting has appeared on a building near the Vatican showing the Argentine pope taking off into the air, his right fist clenched ahead of him in classic Superman style. His white cape and cross flutter in the breeze and in his left hand he carries a black briefcase bearing the word “valores,” Spanish for values.

A scarf bearing the blue and red colours of

his favourite Argentine soccer club, San Lorenzo, emerges from the bag. But unlike Superman, who disguises himself as reporter Clark Kent, Francis is clearly identifiable and flies with his glasses on.

In the lore of the comic book hero, later a star of radio, television and film, Superman fought a “never-ending battle” for truth and justice. Francis has vowed to eliminate corruption in the Vatican and bring the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church closer to the poor. The artwork, which has been pasted to the wall, is signed “Maupal 2014”. — Reuters

Snowden nominated for Nobel Peace Prize OSLO: A former Norwegian minister nominated fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize today in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. “He has contributed to revealing the extreme level of surveillance by nations against other nations and of citizens,” former Socialist Left Party minister Baard Vegar Solhjell told AFP, explaining his move.

“Snowden contributed to people knowing about what has happened and spurring public debate” on trust in government, which he said was “a fundamental requirement for peace”.

In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee obtained by AFP, Solhjell and his party colleague Snorre Valen said that they do not necessarily condone or support all of Snowden’s disclosures, but praised him for revealing the “nature and technological prowess of modern surveillance”. “The level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to have stunned us, and stirred debate,” they wrote in the nomination letter.

They added that Snowden’s actions have “led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies”.—AP

Verdict looms in Amanda Knox sex-murder retrial ROME: American Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend face their fourth verdict in six years for the murder and sexual assault of a British student brutally killed in the Italian city of Perugia in 2007. Knox has been in the United States ever since an appeal court acquitted her and lover Raffaele Sollecito in 2011 of the murder Meredith Kercher, who was found partially naked in a pool of blood in the house she shared with Knox. She has not returned to Italy because says she fears being “wrongly convicted”. The pair’s acquittals were overturned by the supreme court in 2013, which accused the appeal judge who freed them of “a rare mix of violation of the law and illogicality” and criticised the approach taken to DNA evidence and witnesses.

The case was sent to a retrial in Florence, where a verdict is expected today. With little change in the case details over the years, it is not clear how presiding judge Alessandro Nencini will rule. Knox told the Florence court in an email that she was “not a monster” but would not be coming to Italy for the trial or verdict because she was “afraid that the vehemence of my accusers will leave an impression on you”.

Whatever the outcome, an appeal by either side will send the case back before the supreme court again before the verdict is considered final. Experts say it is unlikely that Knox could ever be extradited even if she is definitively convicted, but she has said she fears “becoming a fugitive” from Italian justice.

A guilty verdict now could see Sollecito back behind bars or stripped of his passport to prevent him fleeing the country while the appeal process is exhausted. Last week, an American woman claimed the 29-year-old had asked her to marry him in order to secure a Green Card, having first proposed unsuccessfully to Knox. Sollecito’s lawyers said Tuesday that they were considering suing the woman. Local drug dealer Rudy Guede, whose DNA was found at the scene, is the only person currently serving time for the murder, but investigators say the knife wounds found on the Leeds student’s body suggest there was more than one killer-a thesis supported by the supreme court.

Kercher was found with her throat slit and had suffered a “slow, agonising death,” according to a coroner’s report.

Forensic tests determined that she had been sexually assaulted, possibly even while she was being stabbed.—ÅFP

KIEV: Ukraine’s first post-independence president yesterday warned that the country was on the brink of civil war as parliament struggled to find an agreement on granting an amnesty to protesters arrested in the crisis.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his entire government resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests that began when President Viktor Yanukovych pulled out of a key EU deal in favour of closer ties with Moscow in November.

The resignation of Azarov, a close ally of Yanukovych, was the biggest scalp claimed by the opposition after two months of protests. But none of the president’s concessions have appeased protest leaders who vow to press on for his resignation. Tensions in Kiev, which last week saw three activists shot dead in clashes between police and protesters, have calmed somewhat since negotiations between the government and the opposition gained traction.

But there still appears to be no easy way out of a crisis which will influence the future strategic orientation of the nation of 46 million people sandwiched between Russia and the EU. With concern mounting that Ukraine could become mired in a long-lasting civil conflict, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and UN special envoy Robert Serry both held talks with Yanukovych yesterday.

“The negotiations between the authorities and the opposition should calm the situation,” said Ukrainian political analyst Taras Berezovets, adding that the authorities had nonetheless still failed to rule out the use of force against protesters.

Urging deputies to come to an agreement on the amnesty issue, former president Leonid Kravchuk warned parliament that the country was “on the brink of civil war”. “It is a revolution. It is a dramatic situation in which we must act with the greatest responsibility,” Kravchuk, president from 1991 to 1994, said to applause and a standing ovation. “We need to ease the confrontation between the sides and agree a plan to solve the conflict,” he added. Dozens of activists have been arrested since clashes broke out January 19, both in Kiev and in the provinces where activists have stormed regional administration buildings.

Parliament negotiations between the ruling Regions Party and the opposition on the amnesty were proving tough, with the opposition objecting to a condition it would only be granted if protesters left all seized buildings and streets.

Verkhovna Rada speaker Volodymyr Rybak announced that a text had been agreed but there was still no sign of a vote taking place with opposition MPs saying they were still unhappy with it.

‘It’s not enough! Do not stop!’

Tuesday’s concessions were the biggest yet by

the authorities trying to placate protesters who have occupied streets and official buildings in the centre of Kiev for over two months, but the opposition made it clear it wanted more. The UDAR (Punch) party leader and world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko said: “Azarov should have resigned two months ago... Now the logical step would be the resignation of Viktor Yanukovych.”

Jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who the opposition says is the victim of a political vendetta by Yanukovych, welcomed the concessions but added: “It is not enough. Do not stop!”

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Arbuzov, who is also close to Yanukovych, has taken over as premier in a caretaker role until a replacement is

their barricades.

Merkel says Ukraine must listen to protesters US President Barack Obama on Tuesday gave high-level support to the protestors in Ukraine in his State of the Union address declaring people must “have a say” in the country’s future.

The White House said that Vice President Joe Biden spoke to Yanukovych by telephone and “strongly encouraged President Yanukovych to continue to work with the opposition to find compromises critical to a peaceful solution”.

Attending an EU-Russia summit in Brussels overshadowed by tensions over Ukraine, Putin on Tuesday warned his hosts against meddling. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday did

KIEV: A pro-European Union activist wearing a saucepan on her head as a protection helmet, attends a rally in Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. The text reads: ‘Freedom to Ukraine’. Ukraine’s parliament is considering measures to grant amnesty to those arrested during weeks of protests in the crisis-torn country, but possibly with conditions attached that would be unacceptable to the opposition. — AP named. Some analysts floated the idea that a proopposition tycoon, Petro Poroshenko, might step into the post full time. But opposition leaders have signalled they do not want to be in the government.

Protesters, some from right-wing radical groups, remain camped out in the sprawling military-style enclosure that has taken over much of the city centre and have now erected wooden watchtowers at

not hide her support for the protesters, saying “they are fighting for the same values that guide the European Union and that is why they must be listened to.”

As concern mounted over the effect on Ukraine’s already fragile economy, Standard & Poor’s on Tuesday downgraded the country’s credit risk rating by one notch to CCC+ from B-, citing political instability. — AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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

News

in brief

Road accident kills 8 NEW DELHI: Indian police say at least eight people were burned to death and another 11 seriously injured when a bus collided with a diesel tanker and a car, and all three vehicles caught fire. Police official Anand Wadkar said the injured were pulled out of the burning bus and the car by local villagers in western India early yesterday. The people who died were trapped inside the two vehicles.

BANGKOK: Thai uniformed and plainclothes policemen place barbed wire next to a line of concrete barriers to protect the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) from anti-government protesters on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. Thailand’s government announced Tuesday it will go ahead with an election this weekend despite an opposition boycott, months of street protests and the likelihood of more violence in the country’s political crisis. — AP

Thailand to deploy 10,000 police in capital to secure voting Troops police to be used to reopen govt offices BANGKOK: Thailand’s government will deploy 10,000 police in the capital for Sunday’s election, which protesters have promised to disrupt as part of their drawn-out attempt to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The government decided on Tuesday to press ahead with the Feb. 2 election, which the main opposition party plans to boycott and despite warnings that it could lead to more violence without resolving an increasingly bitter political divide. “Even though protests are going on, I believe you can go out and vote. I ask everyone involved in the election, particularly security forces, to ensure that people can out and vote,” Yingluck told reporters yesterday.

Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of a state of emergency imposed last week, told reporters 10,000 police would be mobilised in the capital on polling day. “Those who are thinking of going and shutting polling stations in the morning should think twice because the police will not allow them to,” he told reporters.

Protesters prevented early voting at many polling stations in Bangkok last Sunday and they have vowed to do so again. The protesters took to the streets in November in the latest eruption of a political conflict that has gripped Thailand for eight years. It broadly pits Bangkok’s middle class and royalist establishment against the mainly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives in self-imposed exile.

The protesters accuse Yingluck of being a puppet of Thaksin, a man they say is a corrupt crony capitalist who used taxpayers’ money to buy votes with costly populist giveaways. Groups of protesters have blocked off access to several government buildings in their bid to cripple Yingluck’s administration and Chalerm told them to clear the areas they occupy.

Tarit Pengdith, head of the Department of Special Investigation, Thailand’s equivalent of the FBI, said that

from Monday, the government would use soldiers and police to re-open government offices.

Even though Yingluck’s ruling party is certain to win, not enough candidates have been able to register to provide a quorum in the new parliament after the election.

By-elections will have to be held later to fill the vacant seats, which means the prospect of a caretaker, and fairly powerless, government under Yingluck for several more months.

Establishment lined up The protests are taking their toll on the economy and even major foreign investors are beginning to question the merits of ploughing any more money into their Thai operations.

Protesters took to the streets of Bangkok again yesterday but in a relatively small rally of about 500 people. They were without their firebrand leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who was apparently deterred by the previous day’s violence in which a protester was shot and wounded.

In a sign of how the legal establishment has largely lined up against Yingluck’s government, a criminal court on Tuesday rejected a government application for an arrest warrant against Suthep, saying there was not enough evidence to grant it.

Suthep is already wanted for insurrection and on charges of murder related to violence in 2010 when, as deputy prime minister, he sent in troops to crush protests by “red shirt” supporters of Thaksin. The death toll then was more than 90.

Thaksin, with his huge wealth and support, is deemed a threat to the Bangkok-based establishment, dominated by the military and the bureaucracy, and Suthep and his followers want to eradicate the influence of the former telecoms tycoon and his family by altering electoral arrangements.—Reuters

New Zealand PM mulls flag change WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said yesterday he supported changing the national flag but would hold a referendum before any decision was made to ditch the existing banner. The current flag has attracted criticism because one corner features the Union Jack, the symbol of former colonial power Britain, with the remainder consisting of four stars representing the Southern Cross constellation.

Blasts in Karachi KARACHI: Three bomb blasts including a suicide attack targeting Pakistani security forces in the commercial hub of Karachi killed at least four people yesterday, officials said. The dead included three paramilitary Rangers and one civilian, while four others were wounded.

Female politician suggests Indian women invited rape NEW DELHI: An Indian female politician and activist has said rape victims may have invited attacks by their clothes and behaviour, fuelling a national debate over a series of incidents of sexual violence against women.

Asha Mirje, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader in western Maharashtra state, questioned at a meeting on Tuesday why a 23-year-old physiotherapy student who was gang-raped on a bus in Delhi in 2012 was out late at night.

The student died of her injuries and thousands of people took to the streets in nationwide protests against the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in the world’s largest democracy. A number of shocking incidents have since been highlighted in Indian media, most recently the case of 20-year-old woman who said she was gang-raped in a rural area of West Bengal in eastern India on the orders of a village court last week.

Mirje, who is a member of the state women’s commission, said in reference to the Delhi assault: “Did Nirbhaya really have go to watch a movie at 11 in the night with her friend?”

“Nirbhaya”, a Hindi word meaning “fearless”, has been widely adopted by the Indian media as a name for the victim. She also commented on the gang rape of a photojournalist who was on assignment at a disused mill in Mumbai last year, asking why the victim had gone to such an isolated place. “Rapes take place also because of a woman’s clothes, her behaviour and her presence at inappropriate places,” she said. Women must be “careful”, she said, and think if they are inviting assault.

Sexual violence has become a huge social and political issue since the Delhi rape and India toughened laws on sex crimes in March last year. Public anger over the poor state of women’s safety in Delhi was one reason that the ruling Congress Party was wiped out in local elections in the city last month.

Swift reaction Mirje’s party belongs to the Congress-led national coalition government and her comments caused an immediate stir, with several television reports pouring scorn on her.

“Every time such a statement is made by a public figure it justifies rape,” Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association, a lobby group, told Reuters.

“It’s unconscionable that people in public posts make such remarks.” Even members of her own party distanced themsleves from her remarks. NCP member of parliament Supriya Sule told reporters she was sorry Mirje had made them and that they reflected her personal views, not those of the party.

“She did make a mistake yesterday. She should not have saidit,” she said While Mirje is thought to be the first senior female public figure to make such comments about the Delhi rape, other members of commissions looking after women’s affairs have made similar remarks about less high-profile attacks.

“Mirje is reflecting what is a much larger problem. There are many others who hold such views,” Krishnan said. Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, initially dismissed a gang rape in her state in 2012 as a fabricated incident aimed at tarnishing her government. Assaults have tarnished the reputation of a country that has enjoyed growing prosperity in the past decade and is modernising fast. Still, Mirje’s comments were a reminder that conservative and traditional mores are still deeply held by many of its 1.2 billion people, women as well as men. In the most recent case involving a foreigner, a 51-year-old Danish tourist was gang-raped in the back-packers’ district of Delhi last month by men she asked for directions to her hotel. — Reuters

Blasphemy law used against minorities in Pakistan LAHORE: The elderly man’s troubles started when two young men milling inside his homeopathic clinic casually asked him about his religion. He thought they were merely curious. In fact, they belonged to an outlawed militant group and were carrying hidden tape recorders. Within hours, police officers showed up at Masood Ahmad’s clinic and played back the tape in which he explained the tenets of the minority Ahmadiyya sect, rejected by mainstream Muslims because it disputes the basic tenet of their faith that Muhammad is Islam’s last prophet.

Ahmad, who returned from Britain to his Pakistani homeland decades ago to open the clinic, was charged with blasphemy which can carry the death penalty. The 72 year old has been jailed since his arrest this month, awaiting a trial that could take months or even years to begin.

He is not alone. Just last week, a Pakistani court sentenced a mentally ill British man, Mohammad Asghar, to death on blasphemy charges after he allegedly claimed to be Islam’s prophet.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law is increasingly becoming a potent weapon in the arsenal of Muslim extremists. Although Pakistan has never executed anybody under the law, vigilantes frequently entrap and sometimes kill adherents of minority religions accused of blasphemy. They have created a climate of fear, forcing frightened judges into holding court sessions inside jails and keeping witnesses from coming to the defense of those on trial.

“At the moment, there are more and more pending blasphemy cases,” said I.A. Rahman, one of Pakistan’s leading human rights activists. “Extremist organizations demonstrate and raise slogans, and judges are afraid. They agitate all the time, creating hatred, and the government is not doing anything. Successive governments have failed.” The US-based Human Rights Watch chastised Pakistan’s record of protecting its religious minorities, saying in its 2014 world report that “abuses are rife under the country’s abusive blasphemy law, which is used against religious minorities, often to settle personal disputes.”

The federal religious affairs ministry refused to comment.

Government officials did not return calls for comment. Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi, secretary-general of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, an organization with close ties to many members of the Afghan Taleban’s leadership, rejected allegations that the law is widely misused to settle personal disputes, though he said he supports a rigorous police investigation before charges are filed. He said those who were physically attacked had brought the violence upon themselves by enraging Muslims’ sentiments.

Death row According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 34 people were charged with blasphemy last year. A government statistic says 27 were charged in 2012. At least 16 people are currently on death row for blasphemy, while another 20 are serving life sentences, according to Human Rights Watch.

“In the last three years we have seen a large increase in the number of cases of blasphemy,” said Keith Davies, head of RescueChristians, a US-based charity that started operations in Pakistan four years ago. Pakistan’s blasphemy law predates the founding of the country in 1947, but during the 1980s the USbacked military dictator, Gen. Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq, amended it to add the death penalty and single out Islam as the religion that may not be insulted, among other changes.

Pakistan is not the only nation with such laws on the books.

Blasphemy offenses are punishable in more than 30 countries, including some with predominantly Christian populations, such as Poland and Greece, as well as Muslim countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, according to a 2012 report by Rev. Chloe Breyer, executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York.—AP

LAHORE: In this Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 photo, Pakistani Christian girl, Zaira, 6, whose mother and father were arrested on charges of sending text messages that insulted Islam’s Prophet, cries during an interview with The Associated Press, in Lahore. — AP

Biden asked Abe not to visit war shrine TOKYO: US Vice President Joe Biden spent an hour trying to persuade Japan’s prime minister not to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, two weeks before a pilgrimage that sparked fury in Asia, a report said yesterday. In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on December 12, Biden repeatedly urged the Japanese premier to stay away from the shrine, Kyodo News said, quoting unnamed diplomatic sources.

Yasukuni is a memorial to around 2.5 million war dead, but is controversial because those commemorated include a number of senior figures condemned to death at the end of World War II for their role in directing the conflict. “I will decide by myself whether I will go,” Abe reportedly responded, during what Kyodo said was a “tense” conversation with the US vice president. Biden finally gave up, saying he would leave the decision to the prime minister, the agency added.

Immediate confirmation of the report was not available. Abe’s December 26 trip to the shrine drew condemnation from China and South Korea, who view visits there as a symbol of what they say is Japan’s unwillingness to come to terms with its wartime aggression. The shrine is also controversial because of an attached museum that offers a narrative of the war most historians find unacceptable, and which presents Japan as a frustrated liberator and a victim, rather than an aggressor.

Washington also issued a rebuke after Abe’s visit, saying it was “disappointed” by Abe’s action. US diplomats privately acknowledge they were surprised by the move and say they had made

their opinions known to the prime minister’s office in advance.

Disputes But the news that personal overtures from Joe Biden, who has enjoyed a good working relationship with senior Japanese figures, were rejected will be an embarrassment to the White House.

Abe has defended his visit to Yasukuni as “natural” and said he had no intention of hurting the feelings of Chinese or Koreans. The Japanese prime minister has not held a summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping or South Korean President Park Geun-Hye since taking office in December 2012, with Tokyo locked in separate sovereignty disputes with its neighbours.

Asked about the reports yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Abe’s visit to Yasukuni was the root of problems in Tokyo’s relations with its neighbours.

“It is a blatant trample on historical justice and human conscience,” she told reporters, adding that Beijing believed the visit had met opposition from the wider international community.

“We hope that countries around the world will express their voice of justice and urge the Japanese government to take concrete actions to correct its mistakes and improve its relations with neighbouring countries,” she said.

The parlous state of relations in northeast Asia is a headache for the US, which would like allies Japan and South Korea to get along, in part to help provide a counterweight to China’s growing military and economic might.—AFP

NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

As the sun sets, a Pakistani youth pushes two young children in a wheelbarrow while others play in a field on the outskirts of Islamabad yesterday. — AP

Oil workers plan to strike over pay cut

Patriotism rules at P2BK expo

Continued from Page 1

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Oil officials could not be reached for comment.

Sharthan said the average wages of Kuwaiti oil workers was only half that of counterparts in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. But the head of

parliament’s budgets committee, Adnan Abdulsamad, said in a statement yesteray that the wages of oil workers were highly inflated. Based on budget figures for the last fiscal year, the average monthly salary for Kuwaitis employed in the government excluding the oil sector was $4,500, while in the oil sector it was more than $19,400, he said.— AFP

MP proposes 5-year cap on expat residence...

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number. The draft law states that foreign husbands of Kuwaiti women and their children are excluded from the rules. Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the United States and the European Union are also exempt from the draft bill. The draft law also does not apply to advisors in the Amiri Diwan and the judiciary, doctors with rare specializations and university professors who have degrees from well-known universities.

Male and female expatriates who obtain a five-year residency under the new draft law are banned from sponsoring their family members and are also banned from bringing them on visit visas. The residence permits of expatriates who have exceeded the five-year duration must be cancelled three months after this draft law becomes effective, according to one of the 15 articles that make-up the proposed legislation. Government and private establishments are forbidden from employing such expatriates after their residencies are cancelled.

Individuals or establishments that violate the law will be penalized with a two-year jail term or a fine of KD 10,000 or both and will have to pay the cost for deporting such expatriates.

Tameemi explained that he has proposed the draft legislation for a number of goals, mainly to prevent expatriates from making Kuwait their permanent home, which may require the country to apply international immigration laws. Additionally, Tameemi said the proposal will create many jobs for young Kuwaiti graduates who are currently facing difficulties in finding suitable

jobs. It will also help reduce pressure on the country’s basic services and also reduce traffic jams.

In comments he wrote on his Twitter account after submitting the draft law, Tameemi said it is no longer acceptable that the number of Indians in the country reaches 730,000 and Egyptians 501,000, saying the two communities alone have surpassed the number of Kuwaitis. He said the proposed law will also help authorities resolve the problem of tens of thousands of expatriates living illegally in Kuwait and rectify the major distortion in the demographic structure of the country.

According to the latest figures, the number of expatriates has reached more than 2.7 million, or 69 percent of the total population, and Kuwaitis make up just 31 percent.

Lawmakers have in the past submitted proposals to cut the numbers of expats in Kuwait, but this one is the toughest so far and its implementation looks highly difficult if not impossible. It calls to cancel the residences of all expatriates who have completed five years of stay in the country which means deporting over two million foreigners. It also calls for limiting the numbers of Indians, Filipinos and Bangladeshis, for example, to less than 124,000 of each community, which means deporting over 710,000 only from these three communities, which is impossible to carry out because more than half of the 650,000 domestic helpers and the like come from these three countries. The draft law is expected to be strongly opposed by the Kuwaiti business community even more than expatriates because of the certain dangers on their businesses it can cause.

University of Middle East, is excited to see the event change every year. Asyah, another volunteer, said that P2BK inspires her to create something new. The forum serves as a platform for Kuwait’s youth to interact in a business-oriented environment. Also, the stage at P2BK is seen as a starting point for many Kuwaiti talents. Last year, the event hosted the first performance by Sheyaab, a band made up of three Kuwaiti musicians who went on to achieve widespread fame.

The world’s largest sand sculpture park of the Remal International Sand and Light Sculpture Festival is one of the major attractions. Some 73 sand artists came to Kuwait and jointly illustrated in sand the stories of “1001 Nights”. The heritage village is divided into 11 sections, with names such as

Darwaza (gate), Souq (market), Hosh (courtyard), Dasma, Shamiya, etc. The main food area is called ‘Gahwat Bu Nashi’ after the first coffeehouse in Kuwait that dates back to 1780.

A folklore band in traditional garb performed during the opening ceremony.

Dhari Al-Wazzan initiated the idea of P2BK, which is a nonprofit national organization established by a group of independent Kuwaiti youth inspired by patriotism for Kuwait.

According to Bibi Al-Khudari, PR official of P2BK, the initial idea of the forum has remained unchanged, namely to support small and medium-sized sized projects in Kuwait. At the event, visitors can find all kinds of stalls ranging from food and beverage, outfits, photography, perfumes, accessories, books, toys, home accessories, etc to places that showcase local talent.

Give diplomacy a chance: Obama Continued from Page 1 chemical weapons and the resumption of Middle East peace talks. And he called on US lawmakers to hold off any new sanctions on Iran for now, to allow time for fledgling negotiations between the Islamic republic and six global powers to work. In November, Tehran struck an interim deal with the group known as the P5+1 under which Iranian leaders agreed to scale back their uranium enrichment in return for limited sanctions relief. “It is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear program - and rolled parts of that program back - for the very first time in a decade,” Obama said.

Thanks to the six-month accord, the Islamic republic has begun eliminating its stockpiles of enriched uranium, has agreed to daily inspections and is not installing advanced centrifuges, he said. Answering criticism from some lawmakers about negotiating with Iran, Obama said the US was “cleareyed” and any deal would not be based merely on trust but on verifiable actions that the Islamic republic is not seeking a nuclear weapon. “The sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible. But let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it. For the sake of our national

security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed,” Obama said.

But although he was poised to order military strikes on Syria late last year, the bloody three-year conflict in which some 130,000 people have been killed drew barely a mention in the high-profile national address. Obama said only that his administration would continue to work for a future “the Syrian people deserve - a future free of dictatorship, terror and fear.”

And he sought to draw a veil on past policies saying he has imposed “prudent limits on the use of drones” which have become a hated symbol of US power in some countries.

He also called on Congress to end restrictions on moving prisoners from the US military jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“With the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay,” Obama urged. In a nod to the spying scandal which has rocked his second term in recent months and angered leaders around the world, Obama said America’s “alliance with Europe remains the strongest the world has ever known”. He vowed to continue working with Congress to “reform our surveillance programs, because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence, here and abroad, that the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated”. — AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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Focus

Discord clouds ‘Malaysia: Truly Asia’ future

By Dan Martin alaysian conservatives are flexing their muscles in what analysts call a high-stakes fight for control of the powerful ruling party that is endangering reform and delicate race relations. Since elections last May that stung the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the government has moved rightward, mothballing a reform drive launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak. Meanwhile, religious tensions in the multicultural, Muslim-majority country are soaring, mainly in a dispute between Muslims and Christians over use of the word “Allah”. On Monday, two Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Catholic church, raising fears of further strife.

“It’s getting to be very divisive for the country,” Wan Saiful Wan Jan, head of the think-tank IDEAS, said of the conservative pressure. “It presents a bleak outlook, especially for multiculturalism and multi-racialism.”

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said last weekend that racial discord over “Allah” and other disputes was the worst since deadly racial riots in 1969, threatening the “very fabric of our unity”.

Political analysts blame desperation within UMNO, one of the world’s longest-ruling parties, following its election setbacks. UMNO’s governing coalition long presented a front of multi-cultural harmony, as depicted abroad in its years-old tourism campaign “Malaysia: Truly Asia” that portrays a relaxed Asian melting-pot.

Authoritarian UMNO reserved political power and other perks for the Muslim Malay majority, however, and stands accused of routinely trampling rights in silencing critics.

But voters, particularly from the economically powerful Chinese minority, have increasingly rebelled.

M

‘Abrupt end’ to reforms Last May’s polls left UMNO clinging to power and conservatives resentful of Najib’s reforms. Right-wingers now appear intent on discarding multi-culturalism to focus on the critical Malay Muslim vote, political experts believe, raising the spectre of further polarisation. “This is significant as it could mean that (Najib’s) vision of a unified, cohesive and inclusive plural society that was much touted in the 2013 elections is as good as thrown onto the back burner,” Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said in an analysis last week.

Seeking to shore up broad-based support, Najib came to power in 2009 promising to soften Malay chauvinism and protect democratic rights. But after the polls he abandoned pledges - opposed by conservatives - to reform controversial policies granting Malays economic advantages. The policies favouring Malays and other indigenous groups, who are collectively known as Bumiputra or “Sons of the soil”, are blamed for shackling the economy and fuelling a “brain drain” overseas.

Human Rights Watch chastised the government this month over new legislation seen as oppressive, arrests of government critics, and moves to curb civil society groups. “The (2013) election was followed by a significant deterioration in human rights and the apparent abrupt end to Prime Minister Najib’s oft-touted reform agenda,” it said. Meanwhile, influential Muslim groups allied to UMNO that were long leashed by the party have become more assertive, unsettling non-Muslims with calls for a more “Islamic” Malaysia. “There are people who want to change the identity of Malaysia, which is based on Islam, Muslim and Malay supremacy. They want to change it to civil and secular society,” fretted Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, head of NGO Malaysia Muslim Solidarity. “These are the real threats to Muslims in Malaysia.”

Time running out?

Professed “moderate” Najib, 60, has drawn flak for not stepping in forcefully to calm things, particularly in the “Allah” row. Conservative Muslims are demanding Malayspeaking Christians stop using “Allah” to refer to the Christian creator. The row has seen Bibles seized by Islamic authorities, a leading Catholic priest probed for sedition, and Muslim protests. “Najib seems unable to do anything. It’s almost like Ibrahim Ali is running the country,” said Wan Saiful of IDEAS, referring to the firebrand leader of a Malay-supremacy group who has previously threatened to burn Bibles.

With fresh elections due by 2018, UMNO conservatives are calling for a return to the days of premier Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled with an iron fist from 1981 to 2003. Mahathir, 88, who led a campaign to drive out Najib’s predecessor, has criticised the premier’s reforms, sparking speculation Najib could be replaced.

Mahathir this week blamed today’s racial tensions on “liberalisation”. —AFP

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

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

A thin path narrows Obama’s ambitions

By Jim Kuhnhenn President Barack Obama’s year of action could amount to a lot of running in place. The constitutional constraints on his authority and lack of cooperation in Congress are a recipe for low-yield initiatives with limited reach. But modest executive actions, such as the ones he announced Tuesday night, might be all government can bear to do in an election year when Congress’ balance of power is on the line.

The president renewed his call for Congress to increase the national minimum wage, to overhaul immigration laws, to broaden access to preschool education, to expand international trade. These were all features of his 2013 State of the Union address and remain unmet goals of his second term. This time Obama presented them as pieces of a larger whole, parts of an overarching opportunity agenda that acknowledges that even in a recovering economy, not all Americans are reaping the benefits.

“Let’s make this a year of action,” Obama declared, in what has become the rallying cry of his sixth year in office. “What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class and build new ladders of opportu-

US

nity into the middle class.”

But the new packaging can’t mask the hard slog Obama still faces in Congress. And his path might be obstructed not just by adversaries, but by allies as well. Certainly Republicans, who control the House, can do much to thwart him on efforts such as immigration. House GOP leaders say they want to act on legislation this year, but conservative lawmakers have been mounting stiff opposition. Republicans will continue to make an issue of Obama’s health care law, seeking to undo it or roll it back, and it remains to be seen whether they will initiate a showdown over increasing the nation’s borrowing authority later this month.

Obama’s call for Congress to raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour could be the type of initiative that serves Democrats more as an election-year issue than an accomplishment.

Polls show that a majority of Americans support the increase, a finding Senate Democrats might seek to exploit by scheduling votes that are bound to fail as a way to illustrate Republican opposition.

Obama also is calling for an expansion of the earned-income tax credit, which helps boost the wages of low-income families through tax refunds. Some Republicans and conservative economists have also called for

broadening the tax credit so it provides additional help to workers without children.

Republican Sen Marco Rubio of Florida has even proposed replacing the tax credit with a federal wage supplement for certain lowpaid workers. Unlike Obama, however, Republicans have suggested expanding the tax credit as an alternative to increasing the minimum wage. So which one will it be?

Obama has also been pressing for trade legislation, asking Congress for “fast track” authority that would allow him to more easily complete negotiations with Asia-Pacific nations and with the European Union.

Republicans favor the trade agreements, but Obama has faced opposition from Democrats. On Monday, a broad coalition of groups typically associated with Democrats, including labor unions and environmental organizations, released a letter demanding Congress vote against Obama’s request.

Indeed, with Democratic control of the Senate at stake in the November election, Democrats will be eager to show voters contrasts between the two parties and won’t be in a mood to challenge some of their main constituent groups. As the year unfolds, Obama and Senate Democrats could face competing interests. “The tricky piece in this is Senate (Democrats) and whether or not there will be a full alignment of what they

think works for them going into 2014 and what works for him,” said Patrick Griffin, a Democratic lobbyist who handled legislative affairs in President Bill Clinton’s White House.

“I’m not sure the Senate Democrats could care less whether they make a deal on anything.”

That gloomy prospect places the burden on Obama to act on his own. “America does not stand still, and neither will I,” he declared. But executive actions have their limits. They can’t assign new spending, their impact tends to be narrowly targeted, and they can be reversed by subsequent presidents. In his showcase go-it-alone initiative of the night, Obama said he will increase the minimum wage for new federal contracts.

But the increase won’t affect existing contract workers who may be working now below the minimum wage, and renewed contracts will only require the higher wage if other terms of the contract change. The order will cover those new contracts that take effect in the beginning of 2015.

Republicans fret that Obama might overstep his bounds. But on this one, House Speaker John Boehner was dismissively unimpressed: “The question is, how many people, Mr. President, will this executive action actually help? I suspect the answer is somewhere close to zero.” — AP

Ukraine chaos unwelcome jolt for Putin

By Dmitry Zaks ussian President Vladimir Putin has been waging one of the most furious diplomatic battles of his career to keep Ukraine from signing an historic deal with the European Union. But Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s sacking of his trusted prime minister in the face of two months of protests over his decision to keep closer ties with Russia now raises the prospect of the proEU opposition coming to head the government. The sudden reversal of fortunes in Kiev puts the Russian leader’s seeming victory in doubt. Here is a closer look at what rests behind Putin’s fierce determination to keep Ukraine in the Kremlin’s orbit.

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Why does Putin need Ukraine?

The Russian leader has made the formation of an economic alliance of ex-Soviet nations that could rival the European Union one of the defining goals of his 14-year rule. Most analysts believe that Putin’s dream will shatter unless his bloc also includes Ukraine - a nation of 46 million with a strong industrial and agricultural base. Such membership would be impossible should Kiev and Brussels strike their own free trade deal. “Putin’s economic union idea is much less serious without Ukraine,” noted Maria Lipman of the Carnegie Moscow Centre.

further yesterday by saying that Russia will consider resuming the loan payments after the new Ukrainian government is formed - a statement some analysts read as a sign of confusion in Moscow’s ruling circles about their next move.

Why hasn’t Putin intervened in the crisis?

The two-month rallies in Kiev turned deadly after Yanukovych on Jan 17 signed into law hugely unpopular measures effectively making the street protests against him illegal. Yet Putin - well-known for his tough talk and seeming disregard for diplomatic etiquette - was uncharacteristically reticent during the most heated days of the crisis and remained silent when the Ukrainian government stood down. He argued on Tuesday that he “will never interfere” in Ukraine. Analysts believe that Putin decided to take a less blunt approach with Ukraine out of fear that the

violence could get out of hand and possibly be blamed on Russia.

Have Sochi Games softened Putin’s tone?

Putin has staked both his reputation and prestige on the success of Winter Olympic Games in Sochi that kick off on February 7, but he has faced a chorus of international criticism over the Kremlin’s draconian new law against “homosexual propaganda”. As he tries to boost Russia’s image ahead of the Games, the Kremlin chief who accused the West of charging into Ukraine wearing “colonial helmets” during the 2004 Orange Revolution has been much more muted in his criticism of both Brussels on Washington on this occasion. “Putin understands that he cannot interfere in Ukraine too openly because this would ruin his Sochi project,” said independent political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin. — AFP

Does Putin depend on Yanukovych?

Putin viewed Yanukovych as a pro-Russian ally when he recognised his victory in disputed 2004 elections that were annulled after weeks of protests that became known as the pro-democracy Orange Revolution. Yanukovych has since shown a more independent streak that appears to take the views of Ukraine’s powerful billionaire tycoons into account as much as those of Moscow. But Yanukovych has ultimately tied himself to the Kremlin by ditching the EU agreement and striking a $15-billion bailout deal with Putin that also slashes by a third the price Ukraine pays for the Russian natural gas imports on which its economy depends.

Will Russia still release Ukraine loan?

Putin said firmly in Brussels on Tuesday that Russia would honour the terms of the Ukrainian bailout no matter who came to head the Kiev government next. But Russia’s powerful First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on the sidelines of the Brussels meet that payment of the remaining $12 billion may be reconsidered if the new Ukrainian cabinet follows “a different agenda and different priorities”. Putin seemed to muddy the waters

A demonstrator raises his fist as anti-government protesters gather at a roadblock in Kiev on Tuesday. — AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

S P ORTS

Recuperating Nadal on course for Buenos Aires

Australia’s Williams facing more World Cup heartbreak

Former All Black Mehrtens new Waratahs kicking coach

MADRID: Rafa Nadal had taken anti-inflammatories and undergone intensive physiotherapy to alleviate a lower back problem and still planned to compete in Buenos Aires next month, his spokesman said yesterday.

The world number one had tests on the injury, which wrecked his chances in Sunday’s Australian Open final, in Barcelona on Tuesday followed by the treatment before returning to his native Mallorca to rest, the spokesman said in an emailed statement.

“Next Monday he will have further tests to evaluate the progress of his recovery and to see if he can gradually start training again,” he added.

Nadal still intends to play in the clay event in Buenos Aires starting on Feb. 10, followed by the tournament in Rio de Janeiro, also on clay, and the hard court Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami. Nadal lost to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final, which prevented him drawing level on 14 grand slam singles titles with American Pete Sampras, three short of record holder and great rival Roger Federer. He needed lengthy treatment at the start of the second set, hit back to win the third but Wawrinka eventually captured his debut slam with a 6-3 62 3-6 6-3 triumph.—Reuters

LONDON: Australia defender Rhys Williams could miss his second successive World Cup finals after suffering a freak Achilles tendon injury in Middlesbrough’s 0-0 draw with Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

The full extent of the injury was not immediately known but his English Championship (second tier) club coach Aitor Karanka expressed “deep sympathy” for the player who missed the 2010 World Cup finals after damaging his pelvic area.

Williams, expected to be part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad for the finals in Brazil, was carried off on a stretcher just before halftime after twisting his body sharply in the league match at the Riverside Stadium. “They will check him and we will know more soon but it looks like a very serious injury for Rhys,” the Spanish head coach told reporters after the game.

“His face and the doctor’s face were not good. He was crying and I feel sympathy for him. “It is very bad injury for him. I hope he will recover as soon as possible because he had a big chance to play in the World Cup so that will be a big incentive for him.

“All our feelings are with him, mine, the team’s, the staff’s. He will get all the support we can give him.” Williams, 25, has played 14 times for Australia after representing Wales at Under-21 level through having mixed parentage.—Reuters

SYDNEY: Former New Zealand international flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens has joined the New South Wales Waratahs coaching staff as a specialist kicking coach, the team said yesterday.

The 40-year-old Mehrtens will work on a part-time basis with the team’s kickers Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley and Brendan McKibbin.

An exciting running flyhalf, Mehrtens played 70 tests for the All Blacks and ended his career with 967 points, the most by a New Zealand player until Daniel Carter surpassed it on his way to becoming the highest points scorer in international rugby.

“Everyone’s different in goal-kicking, its about finding out what works best for the individual, whether it’s to do with how you train, or when you train, or what you’re doing technically in that or just your attitude, your mentality and your attitude towards kicking,” Mehrtens said in a team statement. “At the end of the day, there are some pressure moments but goal-kicking, like anything in sport, should be about going hard and enjoying it.—Reuters

Dubai Desert Classic offers $2.5m for ace DUBAI: Rory McIlroy said yesterday he could be tempted to have a crack at winning the glittering prize on offer for a holein-one at the Dubai Desert Classic’s short par-four 17th-a whopping $2.5 million (1.83mn euros).

The mind-boggling windfall for one shot of golf equals the entire prize fund for the European Tour event, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and matches the reported appearance money that will go to top draw Tiger Woods.

Prizes for aces in tournament play are common, but they usually come on parthrees and they usually involve a luxury car or a bejewelled watch. Two and a half million dollars for the perfect golf shot is believed to be unprecedented.

Measuring 359 yards, the 17th hole is the second shortest par four hole on the Majlis course, but it is a classic risk-reward challenge with sand, trees and desert grass waiting to gobble up any attempts to cut the dogleg short of the green.

One hitch is that the prodigious prize will only be on offer at the weekend for those that make the cut, but the hole will be reduced to about 325 yards to add to the excitement.

Asked if he could be tempted into having a go, former world number one McIlroy, a past winner here in 2009, said he certainly could. “I mean if I’ve got the right wind on the 17th, I’d go for it,” he said.

“No matter what way the wind is it shouldn’t be a problem to get there. Yeah,

there’s not many chances you have to win $2.5 million in one shot, so I will give it a go.” Meanwhile, fractions count in golf according to Tiger Woods, and it was fractions that led to his downfall at Torrey Pines last week when he shot a 79 to match his second worst score as a professional. That Saturday slump in his season opener meant that he missed the secondary cut for Sunday play on one of his favorite courses where he has multiple wins and raised question marks over his form going into what is looming as a key year in his career.

Marooned on 14 major titles since winning the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008, time is running out on the 38-year-old American in his lifelong quest to match and then better the all-time record of 18 major victories set down in 1986 by Jack Nicklaus.

“There’s no doubt about it — my game certainly was not as sharp as I would have liked it last week,” he said ahead of today’s start to the European Tour’s Dubai desert Classic.

“I was just a fraction off though and a fraction off on a golf course set up that hard. It bit a lot of us and unfortunately it bit me pretty hard. I think the average score was just over 73 on Saturday and I shot 79.” Since, then Woods said that he had used the unscheduled day off on Sunday to work on “a few slight adjustments”. “I then came out here (Dubai) and just wanted to improve every day.—AFP

Rosberg: New F1 engines a blast from the past

JEREZ: Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg of Germany attends the launch of his new Mercedes W05 Formula One car. —AP

JEREZ: The sound of Formula One’s new power units was a blast from the past for Nico Rosberg, son of 1982 champion Keke, but others were less sure after the 2014 cars made a quiet test debut on Tuesday. “It reminds me a bit of when I used to look at the videos from the ‘80s, the old turbos, and it’s that same sound now - deep, with lots of power on the straight,” the Mercedes driver told reporters.

“So it really gave me a flashback to those videos I was watching.” The sport is undergoing a transformation this year, with the screaming normallyaspirated V8 engines replaced by a complicated V6 turbo and energy recovery systems incorporated into the unit.

The sound has been a vexed question for many, with some fearing the 1.6 litre units could prove a turnoff for spectators accustomed to having their eardrums assaulted by a barrage of noise.

The sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone is no fan of the V6s, which have been introduced to help lend the sport a greener image and pioneer fuel-saving technology of relevance to ordinary road users.

With plenty of teething problems on Tuesday, it was a case of all quiet on the testing front with some teams failing to even get out of the garage and long periods of eerie silence - normally

a sign of something amiss at a racetrack.

Those few cars that did put in laps did so mostly in isolation and it was hard to form a serious judgement of the sound from the evidence available.

Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff assured reporters they would come to like what they heard, however. “You must not forget that what we are doing here is basically a system check and shakedown and once you hear a car on full revs and flat out and more cars, I think in a couple of months nobody is going to really speak about the old engines and old engine sound,” he added.

Others were yet to be convinced. “A bit disappointing, to be honest,” was German Nico Hulkenberg’s verdict. “It sounds a bit like a DTM (German Touring Car championship) car. It’s not the same sound as a V8, it’s a lot quieter from what I’ve heard today.

“Let’s see, maybe there’s more to come...but it’s not the old screaming V8 and high rev engine sound.” Red Bull’s quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, a driver fascinated by the spor t ’s histor y, was clearly in Hulkenberg’s camp.

Asked for his opinion, Vettel smiled.

“On the sound? I love V8s,” the 26-yearold German replied. “I would have loved to go the other way, back to V10.” —Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

S P ORTS

Jayawardene’s double ton piles on Bangladesh misery

HOBART: England’s batsman Ravi Bopara plays a shot against Australia during the first cricket T20 international series match. —AFP

Australia down England HOBART: England lost the opening Twenty20 international in Hobart yesterday after narrowly failing to chase down Australia’s massive 214-run target. The Australians were always in the box seats, with the tourists on 176 for nine with an over left. But some prodigious late hitting

by Ravi Bopara got England to within 13 runs of the target at the finish.

Bopara smashed seven sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 65 off 27 balls but paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled the Australians to victory with four for 30 off his four overs.

Joe Root scored 32 off 24 balls and opener Alex Hales hit 22 off 12 balls for the beaten tourists, who have only won one limited-over international on their hapless tour of Australia. Australia won the Ashes Test series 5-0 and the ODI series 4-1 before the three-game T20 series began.

“Ravi’s performance was a positive, but if you lose three wickets in the first six overs you rarely win,” said England skipper Stuart Broad.

“We’ll reflect and consider changes, but I err on the side of consistency and back these players to come back strong in Melbourne.”

Cameron White was named man-of-thematch for his 75 off 43 balls as Australia set England 214 to win. England’s previous highest T20 run chase was 181 against India in 2012 so their 200 for nine was their highest score in the format.

White, recalled by Australia for the first time since 2012, smashed six boundaries and four sixes to set the platform for the home side’s 213 for

four after they won the toss.

White put on 106 with opening partner Aaron Finch (52 from 31) as the Australians came out with all guns blazing. “It’s a nice feeling to be back and it’s something I’ve worked hard for, to get the opportunity playing for Australia since I last played,” White said.

“England are a dangerous side and they bat really deep in the order, and with the short boundaries here at Bellerive the game was never really won. Ravi batted really well.”

Finch hit three sixes and five fours as the pair reached a century partnership off 59 balls. He was caught in the deep in the 11th over, while it took the most eventful over of the innings to claim White.

The over brought 18 runs off the bowling of Luke Wright and looked also to have claimed White’s wicket when he skied to Danny Briggs at fine leg.

However a no-ball was called. The third umpire took several looks at the replays at Wright’s full toss to confirm it was above waist height and White survived.

But White was dismissed leg before wicket before the over was completed and Australia were 134 for two. Glenn Maxwell (20 from 13) produced an astonishing reverse sweep for six off Briggs, but the shot proved to be his downfall when he was caught at 157 for three.

Australia could not sustain their early pace until, on debut, Chris Lynn cracked three sixes in his late cameo of 37 from 19.

Dan Christian was six not out. The second game in the three -match series is in Melbourne tomorrow. —AFP

SCOREBOARD HOBART: Scoreboard in the opening Twenty20 international between Australia and England in Hobart yesterday: Australia: C. White lbw b Wright 75 A. Finch c Hales b Broad 52 G. Maxwell c Bresnan b Bopara 20 G. Bailey c Bresnan b Dernbach 14 C. Lynn not out 37 D. Christian not out 6 Extras (b1, w6, nb2) 9 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 213 Fall of wickets: 1-106 (Finch), 2-134 (White), 3-157 (Maxwell), 4-200 (Bailey) Did not bat: M. Henriques, M. Wade, N. CoulterNile, J. Hazlewood, J. Muirhead Bowling: Broad 4-0-25-1, Dernbach 4-0-50-1 (1nb), Bresnan 4-0-40-0 (2w), Bopara 3-0-26-1 (1w), Briggs 4-0-53-0 (3w), Wright 1-0-18-1 (1nb) England: A. Hales lbw b Henriques M. Lumb c Lynn b Coulter-Nile

22 9

L. Wright b Henriques 9 J. Root c Finch b Coulter-Nile 32 E. Morgan b Maxwell 4 J. Buttler c Muirhead b Coulter-Nile 20 R. Bopara not out 65 T. Bresnan b Muirhead 11 S. Broad b Coulter-Nile 13 J. Dernbach run out (Finch/Wade) 5 D. Briggs not out 0 Extras (lb3, w7) 10 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Lumb), 2-44 (Wright), 3-45 (Hales), 4-51 (Morgan), 5-98 (Buttler), 6-100 (Root), 7-147 (Bresnan), 8-162 (Broad), 9-176 (Dernbach) Bowling: Maxwell 3-0-30-1, Coulter-Nile 4-0-30-4, Hazlewood 4-0-46-0 (2w), Henriques 3-0-36-2, Muirhead 4-0-34-1 (1w), Christian 2-0-21-0.

Australia won by 13 runs.

ICC unveils new women’s cricket championship LONDON: A new international championship, which will determine qualification for the next Women’s World Cup, was announced by the International Cricket Council yesterday.

The bilateral competition will involve the top eight ranked women’s teams in the world-including England, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and Pakistan. They will all play the others in a series of matches between mid-2014 to the end of 2016, with the top six qualifying automatically for the 2017 Women’s World Cup in England.

Unlike changes to the men’s international programme announced on Tuesday, there will be promotion and relegation at the end of the first cycle.

“This is a very positive step for the pro-

file and competitiveness of women’s cricket,” said ICC chief executive David Richardson, in a statement issued from the governing body’s Dubai headquarters on the second and final day of its board meeting yesterday.

“The ICC Women’s World Cup last year set a new benchmark in terms of quality and public interest and with this added context the pathway to the 2017 event in England looks really exciting,” former South Africa wicket-keeper Richardson added.

The bottom countries at the end of the International Women’s Championship will be joined by a number of teams from the ICC’s regional qualification structures to play in a Women’s World Cup qualifier which will determine the final participants.—AFP

DHAKA: Mahela Jayawardene become Test cricket’s sixth-highest run-getter with a glorious unbeaten double-century as Sri Lanka compounded Bangladesh’s misery in the first Test in Dhaka yesterday. The veteran right-hander made 203 not out, his seventh double-century in 33 three-figure knocks, as the tourists piled up 7306 declared on the third day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Having gained a mammoth lead of 498 runs, Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to 35-1 in nine overs before stumps to step closer to an overwhelming victory in the first match of the two-Test series. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, brought on after three overs, struck with his third delivery when he forced Tamim Iqbal to mistime a catch to point.

Shamsur Rahman was unbeaten on nine and Marshall Ayub was on 11 at close, with Bangladesh still trailing by 463 runs.

Jayawardene leapfrogged Allan Border (11,174 runs) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,219) to move behind record-holder Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara in the all-time list.

The 36-year-old former captain, who now has 11,236 runs in 142 matches, equalled team-mate and close friend Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan record of 33 Test centuries.

Jayawardene said he was not aware of the personal milestones, insisting the team’s needs always took precedence. “It probably feels good, but at the end of the day what matters is that we put up a decent score on the board,” he said.

“Along the way if you achieve those things it gives a tremendous feeling.”

Jayawardene refused to take victory for granted despite his team being in such a commanding position. “Cricket is a funny game and I have played enough to realise that nothing happens easily,” he said. “We just need to be patient, create pressure and grab those opportunities that come our way.

“We have two days to go, so I hope that is enough time. We will wait and see.” Jayawardene smashed 16 boundaries and four sixes in a typically elegant innings, reaching 203 with a six over mid-wicket off Nasir Hossain.

Kithuruwan Vithanage joined the run-spree with an unbeaten 103 as Bangladesh conceded their highest ever total, surpassing the 648-9 by the West Indies in Khulna in November 2012.

Vithanage, a 22-year-old left-hander playing his third Test, hit 12 fours and two sixes in his maiden century. Bangladesh struggled to contain the runs on the even-paced wicket after Sri Lanka resumed the day on 375-5.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews partnered Jayawardene in a sixth-wicket stand of 179, himself making 86 before being dismissed before tea.

Mathews missed his third century when he

DHAKA: Sri Lankan cricket player Mahela Jayawardene bats on the second day of the first Test cricket match against Bangladesh. —AP mistimed a drive against spinner Sohag Gazi and was caught at short mid-on by Marshall Ayub.

That turned out to be Bangladesh’s lone success in the day as Vithanage helped Jayawardene add 176 for the seventh wicket, before Mathews closed the innings.

The only time Jayawardene appeared in trouble was when he survived a loud appeal for legbefore on 119 as he attempted to reverse-sweep Sohag Gazi. Television replays favored the bowler, but the Decision Review System is not being used in the series.

Jayawardene and Vithanage joined opener Kaushal Silva as the three century-makers in the innings, while Sangakkara, Dimuth Karunaratne and Mathews chipped in with half-centuries.

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with three wickets. But his 43 overs cost 159 runs. Al-Amin Hossain had one for 118 in 32 overs, while fellow seamer Robiul conceded 109 runs in 29 wicketless overs. The two-Test series will be followed by two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals. —AFP

SCOREBOARD Scoreboard at the close of play on the third day of the first test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka yesterday.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field Bangladesh first innings 232 Sri Lanka first innings (overnight 375-5) D. Karunaratne c Robiul b Shakib 53 K. Silva lbw b Shakib 139 K. Sangakkara c Nasir b Al-Amin 75 M. Jayawardene not out 203 D. Chandimal b Shakib 40 S. Lakmal c Nasir b Gazi 0 A. Mathews c Ayub b Gazi 86 K. Vithanage not out 103 Extras (b-12, w-12, nb-7) 31 Total (six wickets dec; 187.5 overs) 730 Did not bat: D. Perera, S. Eranga, R. Herath Fall of wickets: 1-118 2-273 3-302 4-374 5-375 6-554 Bowling: Robiul 29-2-109-0 (3nb, 2w), Al-Amin 32-3-

118-1 (1nb, 1w), Rubel 20-0-84-0 (3nb, 1w), Gazi 39-5130-2, Shakib 43-6-159-3, Mominul 6-0-20-0, Nasir 10.50-60-0, Ayub 8-0-38-0.

Bangladesh second innings Tamim Iqbal c Perera b Herath 11 Shamsur Rahman not out 9 Marshall Ayub not out 11 Extras (b-4) 4 Total (one wicket; nine overs) 35 Still to bat: Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Robiul Islam, AlAmin Hossain, Rubel Hossain Fall of wicket: 1-15 Bowling (to date): Lakmal 3-0-8-0, Eranga 1-0-5-0, Herath 3-2-8-1, Perera 2-0-10-0.

Ahli United Bank, NBK and Ahli Bank of Kuwait triumph KUWAIT: Devastating fast bowling by left arm seamer Sajid Kalam enabled Ahli United Bank to score a convincing 7 wickets victory over Gulf Bank in the ongoing Kuwait Banks Club tournament organized by Kuwait Cricket.

Winning the toss, Mahmoud Bastaki, the AUB skipper decided to bowl first as the green topped wicket with lots of dew on it assisted the AUB seamers and as the sun came out the ball began to swing more. Sajid the left arm fast bowler bowled with lively pace to take the first three wickets and took advantage of the bounce to run through the top order batting line up. He was well supported by Rashid and later Mahmoud Bastaki, whose flighted deliveries accounted for 3 wickets as Gulf Bank were shot out for 48 runs.

Gulf Bank gave their opponents a tough fight as they accounted for the first three batsmen with not much on the scoreboard but Jagath batting beautifully scored 222 runs to clinch the match in AUB’s favor. Rifat & Waleed took a wicket each. Sajid Kalam for his excellent bowling performance was declared Player of the match.

In an exciting and well balanced match Ahli Bank of Kuwait scored a nail-biting 3 runs victory over Burgan Bank to keep their hopes alive for a semifinal berth.

Batting first, Ahli Bank openers Anthony & Sajiv scored 27 runs for the first wicket in which Anthony played a major part to score a solid 32 runs to his credit. Sajiv (11 runs) & later on Shehzad (13 runs) contributed well enough for Ahli Bank to score 97 runs in their 20 overs.

Burgan bowlers Sharma ( 4-13) & Manohar (4-26) bowled extremely well to restrict the free scoring Ahli batsmen.

The winning Ahli United Bank team.

Chasing a modest total, Burgan were in trouble by losing their prolific scorer Arther & Sufiyan quickly and never recovered to gain control of the match. Dilip & Kunal tried to restore the innings with some fine batting but Ahli bowlers Shanker & Fahad bowled a hostile spell to wreck the middle order batting to restrict Burgan total to 94 runs. Irfan, Israr & Shehzad took a wicket each for Ahli Bank. Fahad of ABK was presented with the Player of the match.

National Bank of Kuwait scored a 5 wicket victory over Kuwait International Bank in the third match of the day in the ongoing KBC trophy. KIB winning the toss batted first and posted a reasonable total 84 runs loosing 9 wickets in their quota of 20 overs. Opener Nadeem played a fluent knock of 25 runs with a huge six over long on & 4 hits to the fence. Imran (3-14) & Ronald

(2-5) bowled well for NBK while Binu Mathew, Jalal & Anil chipped in with one wicket each.

On a wicket which started taking turn, Kuwait International Bank fought back valiantly to give a tough fight for their strong opponents. NBK openers Kiran (28 runs) & Sarfaraz (19 runs) struck the ball fluently to post 37 runs but the introduction of Manoj Mishra who bowled a nagging line resulted in the loss of three quick wickets. Nadeem from the other end supported Manoj very well and in 6 overs half of the NBK batsmen were back in the pavilion. Khurram, batting at three down, took control of the situation and blasted a quick fire 20 runs to seal a 5 wicket win for NBK. Manoj Mishra took 3-26 & Nadeem captured 2-21 for KIB. Imran of NBK who bowled well to capture 4 wickets was declared Player of the match.

DKS and Wilhemson shine KUWAIT: The third match of the tournament played between Dana Kuwait Shipping (DKS) and Kuwait Transcontinental Shipping (KTS) started at 06.30 pm at Kuwait Cricket Floodlight stadium in Sulaibiya. DKS won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite low scoring games of the season, DKS were able set a massive target of 187 for the loss of 6 wickets with an outstanding performance by Stanley who scored a quick 74. Dean was placed second on the scoreboard with 31 runs. Chasing down the target KTS lost their wickets in quick succession and ended up on 133 (Nadeem 46, Jeffy 3-18, Romieo 228) which resulted in a 54 runs win for DKS. Stanley of DKS was declared as Man of the Match and the awards were presented by NMM Anas, head of chancellery & second secretary of Sri Lanka, and a cash award of $25.00 from Transcontinental Shipping Services Co. was presented by Bader Al-Bader,

Group Business Development Manager and guess & win gift by Tik Tok watch was presented by Halim The fourth match between Wilhemson and Inchcape started at 9.30 pm. Inchcape won the toss and elected to bat first. Inchcape scored 120 runs in their 20 overs with the loss of 8 wickets (Amitash 17, A Gafoor 15, Sanu 3-17 & Shinu 3-26). Wilhemson bagged a 10 wicket win as they scored 121 runs without any loss of wickets in 12.2 overs and grabbed a bonus point.

Asad of Wilhemson was in amazing form and hit a quick fire 82* together with Kiran 31*. Asad of WILHEMSON was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant 82* and the awards were presented by Abdul Kader chairman of Win Cargo. A cash award of $ 25.00 was presented by DG Karu which is sponsored by Transcontinental Shipping Services Co. Also guess and win gift by Tik Tok watches were presented by Abdul Kader.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

S P ORTS

Bruins tame Panthers

SLOVENIA: Austria’s Daniela Iraschko celebrates her first place on the podium in this file photo. —AP

Iraschko dreams of Olympic flight VIENNA: Growing up in Eisenerz in Austria’s deep Erzberg valley, Daniela Iraschko never had any doubt that ski jumping was a sport for girls.

Now she is set to join a select group of women competing for the first time for Olympic medals in the event - until now a men — only affair — at the Sochi Games next month. “We were a clique. Although I was the only girl when we started together in Eisenerz, it was always a good fit. It is easier to start ski jumping when a jump is right next door. You get to thinking about it no matter if you are a girl or a boy,” she told Reuters in an interview. That was in 1995 in the old Styrian Alpine mining town - Eisenerz is German for iron ore - that has produced many top jumpers.

Now 30, the former world champion has adopted the surname Iraschko-Stolz after marrying her lesbian partner last year, becoming a rare Austrian athlete to come out openly as gay.

“I don’t want to hide myself,” she once told the Kurier newspaper. “I never cared at all what other people think about me.” Strict Russian laws cracking down on homosexuals have become a political talking point ahead of Sochi, but the first woman to clear the 200metre jump mark in 2003 prefers to speak these days about her athletic prowess and medal dreams.

“The goal is always to win a medal or else you don’t go to the Olympics. The goal is to give your all and what happens happens. It is a dream just to be able to compete.”

Iraschko, who finished ninth in a tune-up meet in Japan this month, is keen to get back to the jump in Sochi that she tried out during

a rehearsal event at the venue.

“Sochi is one of my favourite jumps. I have absolutely nothing against holding the Olympic Games on this ramp.” As she rockets off the end of the ramp and gets airborne, Iraschko focuses on just one thing: “My goal is always to stay up as long as possible, but so far I have always landed.

“It is a bit of an urge for risk. You have no red button, no parachute and no engine to kick in for emergencies. You are entirely on your own for everything, for flying. That is why a good jump feels like freedom. It is indescribable when you jump far, and indescribably awful when you don’t.”

She feels for Austrian jump team mate Thomas Morgenstern, who still plans to compete in Sochi just a month after a horrible spill that put him in hospital, but said jumpers need to put the thought of falling out of mind. “It is not news that ski jumping is more dangerous than playing chess,” she said, admiring Morgenstern’s ability to return from being “half dead” two weeks ago.

“Of course it is never nice to see (a bad fall), and it is even tougher when it is someone you like and know well. But accidents happen. If you want to live completely safely, then lock yourself up.” Iraschko, who sometimes dyes her blond hair neon colors, played down speculation that her bold defence of gay people and athletes could have won her the honor of carrying Austria’s flag for the delegation in Sochi. “I don’t know anything about it, but I find it rather hard to imagine,” she said. “I am an athlete like all the others.” Austria’s flag-carrying duties have actually been given to Alpine skier Benni Raich. —Reuters

SOCHI: The main fountain gushes out during a rehearsal next to the Olympic flame before the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics. —AP

Danger in Sochi, and an Olympics on edge SOCHI: The countdown to Sochi was supposed be joyous, a celebration of all things Russian and the Olympics, too. Instead it’s been nothing but a grim reminder that Olympic officials had no idea what they were getting when they bought into Vladimir Putin’s visions of surf and snow and handed him a Winter Olympics to call his own.

Every day seems to bring a new threat or another warning. Every day strains the nerves more, to the point where some athletes are telling family and friends it’s not worth the risk to go, even for the most important moment of their lives.

Suicide bombings a few hundred miles away. Threats of more to come in Sochi itself.

A hardened militant group nearby with an immense hatred of Putin and Russia and little regard for human life.

And a general uneasiness that no matter how many billions they’ve spent, the Russians really aren’t ready for this at all.

If the latest news that three so-called “black widows” intent on carrying out suicide bombings are believed to already be in Sochi isn’t enough to put a damper on the fun and games, consider this: The same Islamic militants who assassinated the Russian-backed leader of Chechnya the father of the current president - in 2004 have not only have declared their intention to attack the games but demonstrated with his death that they have the creativity and means to do just that.

“There is precedence to this,” warned Lt. Col. Robert Schaefer, a Green Beret who literally wrote the book about the brutal conflict in the North Caucasus region. “It’s important to think about how (Chechen president Ramzan) Kadyrov’s father was killed at a stadium rally. During construction at the stadium

they buried two 155 mm artillery shells in the concrete below the VIP bleachers. Then they waited until the elder Kadyrov attended and they detonated it.”

Think about that as you watch the opening ceremonies unfold in all their grandeur on television. Or when Shaun White attempts some flips, and the worst thing that seems possible is that he wipes out at the top of the half pipe.

Yes, Olympics have been a target of terrorists ever since the 1972 massacre of Israeli athletes and team members in Munich. A lone wolf bombing in Atlanta killed one person in 1996, and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City were clouded by fears of the 9/11 attacks that had taken place just months earlier. But never have the threats seemed so real as they do in Putin’s playground by the Black Sea, just on the other side of the mountains from an area steeped in blood and years of conflict that include two recent wars between Russia and Chechnya unmatched for the brutality on both sides.

Already, militants have claimed responsibility for two bombings that killed 34 people in a train station and on a bus in Volgograd, about 400 miles from Sochi.

One of their top leaders has called for his followers to “do their utmost to derail” the games, describing them as “satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors.”

These aren’t people used to making idle boasts. They’ve been fighting Russians for generations and are blamed for some of the most savage terrorism attacks in recent years, including a Moscow theater takeover in 2002 that ended in 170 deaths and a school siege two years later in North Caucasus where more than 300 died, many of them children, when Russian troops stormed the building.—AP

BOSTON: Milan Lucic scored twice and the Bruins spoiled goalie Tim Thomas’ first game in Boston as a visitor with a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

It was the third straight six-goal game for the Bruins, known more for their defense, following road wins of 6-1 and 6-3. The Atlantic Division leaders improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games.

Thomas won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2011 when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. He spent one more season with them, took last season off and then joined the Panthers.

Zdeno Chara, Reilly Smith, Shawn Thornton and David Krejci also scored for Boston, which led 4-0 until Brad Boyes connected for Florida with 2:33 left in the second period. Dmitry Kulikov added a power-play goal for the Panthers 4 minutes into the third.

CAPITALS 5, SABRES 4 Alex Ovechkin capped a four-point night by setting up Mike Green’s goal a minute into overtime to give Washington a win over Buffalo.

Ovechkin had two goals and two assists for his 14th multipoint game of the season. Green had two goals and an assist, and Troy Bouwer also scored in a game the Capitals never trailed.

Cody Hodgson had two goals and Christian Ehrhoff and rookie Phil Varone, with the first of his career, scored for Buffalo. The Sabres dropped to 1-4-3 in their past seven.

FLAMES 5, BLACKHAWKS 4 TJ Brodie scored at 2:26 of overtime to give Calgary a victory over slumping Chicago. Mikael Backlund scored twice for the Flames, who have won three straight games for the first time this season.

Matt Stajan had a goal and an assist, Lance Bouma also scored and Lee Stempniak set up three goals. Marian Hossa scored twice for the Blackhawks (32-10-13), who are 0-23 in their last five games. Patrick Kane and Ben Smith also scored for the defending Stanely Cup champions. Both starting goalies were replaced.

BLUES 3, DEVILS 0 Alexander Steen gave St. Louis the early lead and Jaroslav Halak earned his fourth shutout of the season in a victory over New Jersey.

Brenden Morrow added a power-play goal midway through the third period and Maxim Lapierre scored into an empty net with 2:08 left.

The Blues have won three straight and tied the Blackhawks atop the Central Division.

The Blues cleaned up on defense a week after getting whipped 7-1 in New Jersey when Halak gave up four goals on 14 shots after relieving Brian Elliott. Halak has started all three games since, allowing a total of four goals. The Blues are an NHL-best 17-3-1 against the Eastern Conference, and 9-0 at home.

WILD 4, DUCKS 2 Zach Parise had a goal and two assists, Mikael Granlund scored the go-ahead goal on a power play early in the second period and Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves for Minnesota in a victory over Anaheim.

Jason Pominville and Erik Haula also scored for the Wild, who are 9-3-1 in their last 13 games after ending December with six straight losses.

Kuemper is 6-2-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average in nine starts since getting recalled from the minors on Jan. 2.

Back indoors following their 3-0 victory at Dodger Stadium over the Kings on Saturday, the Ducks lost for only the fourth time in their last 25 games after coming in an NHL-best 39-10-5.

Dustin Penner and Mathieu Perreault scored for Anaheim, and Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots.

COYOTES 3, KINGS 0 Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored two goals, Thomas Greiss stopped 30 shots and Phoenix began an important five-game homestand with a win over Los Angeles.

Antoine Vermette had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to five games, and Shane Doan had his 500th career assist on Ekman-Larsson’s second goal. That was more than enough for Greiss, who earned his second shutout this season and the third of his career.

The Kings labored after playing the night before, shut out for the second time in three games for their sixth loss in seven.

FLYERS 5, RED WINGS 0 Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux each had

CALGARY: Reto Berra No. 29 of the Calgary Flames stops the wrap-around attempt by Brandon Saad No. 20 of the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game. —AFP three points, Steve Mason made 33 saves and Philadelphia beat banged-up Detroit.

Adam Hall and Sean Couturier also scored for the Flyers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. The Flyers (26-22-6) won their eighth straight home game against the Red Wings (2319-11), a franchise best against Detroit, which has not won in Philadelphia since the 1997 Stanley Cup final.

Mason recorded his second shutout of the season and the 21st of his career. The Red Wings were without three of their top forwards in Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

SENATORS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 Jason Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had two goals to lead Ottawa over Columbus.

Craig Anderson had 34 saves for the Senators, who had lost two in a row and four of five. Cam Atkinson and James Wisniewski had power-play goals for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three in a row after setting a franchise record with eight consecutive victories. Curtis McElhinney stopped 25 shots.

BLUES 3, DEVILS 0 Alexander Steen gave St. Louis the early lead and Jaroslav Halak earned his fourth shutout of the season in a victory over New Jersey.

Brenden Morrow added a power-play goal midway through the third period and Maxim Lapierre scored into an empty net with 2:08 left.

The Blues have won three straight and moved a point ahead of the Blackhawks, who played later at Calgary, for the Central Division lead.

The Blues cleaned up on defense a week after getting whipped 7-1 in New Jersey when Halak gave up four goals on 14 shots after relieving Brian Elliott. Halak has started all three games since, allowing a total of four goals. The Blues are an NHL-best 17-3-1 against the Eastern Conference, and 9-0 at home.

MAPLE LEAFS 3, LIGHTNING 2 Nazem Kadri scored twice and James van Riemsdyk got the go-ahead goal late in the third period to lift Toronto over Tampa Bay.Jonathan Bernier made 40 saves in his first career start against the Lightning. Van Riemsdyk one-timed Phil Kessel’s feed past goalie Ben Bishop at 15:57 of the third for his team-leading 21st goal.

Kadri scored twice in less than 8 minutes to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead before the midway point of the second period, but Matthew Carle and Mark Barberio responded for Tampa Bay to tie it after 40 minutes. Toronto avoided a three-game skid and halted the Lightning’s three-game winning streak.

CANADIENS 3, HURRICANES 0 Carey Price stopped 36 shots for his third shutout of the season to lead Montreal past Carolina. Brandon Prust, Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty scored as Montreal ended its season-high four-game losing streak.

Anton Khudobin had 27 saves for Carolina, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Prust and Gallagher put the Canadiens on the scoreboard in the first period, and Pacioretty got his team-leading 22nd goal in the second.

PREDATORS 4, JETS 3 Mike Fisher scored the tiebreaking goal for Nashville on a power play 42 seconds into the third period against Winnipeg. Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Nick Spaling also scored for the Predators, who climbed out of last place in the Central Division by moving a point ahead of Winnipeg.

Chris Thorburn, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler had goals for the Jets, who lost for only the second time in eight games. That stretch included wins over Anaheim, which tops the NHL standings, and Stanley Cup champion Chicago. —AP

NHL results/standings Boston 6, Florida 2; Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 2; Philadelphia 5, Detroit 0; Ottawa 3, Columbus 2; Washington 5, Buffalo 4 (OT); Montreal 3, Carolina 0; St. Louis 3, New Jersey 0; Nashville 4, Winnipeg 3; Phoenix 3, Los Angeles 0; Calgary 5, Chicago 4 (OT); Minnesota 4, Anaheim 2.

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

Boston

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF 39 11 5 184 34 13 6 165 30 19 6 133 27 18 9 137 25 18 10 154 19 27 7 124 17 32 6 144 Central Division 36 11 5 180 32 10 13 194 33 14 5 153 29 20 6 133 24 21 8 154 24 23 8 136 25 25 5 155 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 34 15 3 159

GA PTS 134 83 126 74 116 66 138 63 160 60 169 45 190 40 119 154 137 135 157 166 162

77 77 71 64 56 56 55

115

71

Tampa Bay Toronto Montreal Detroit Ottawa Florida Buffalo

31 17 5 157 131 67 28 21 6 158 170 62 28 20 5 131 134 61 23 19 11 135 149 57 23 20 10 150 167 56 21 25 7 129 164 49 14 30 8 101 152 36 Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 37 14 2 171 128 76 NY Rangers 28 23 3 139 138 59 Philadelphia 26 22 6 147 158 58 Carolina 24 20 9 134 150 57 Columbus 26 23 4 154 151 56 Washington 24 21 8 153 158 56 New Jersey 22 21 11 127 135 55 NY Islanders 21 26 8 157 185 50 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

For Putin, Sochi Olympics carry big risks and rewards MOSCOW: For Vladimir Putin, the Winter Olympics he brought to Sochi have always been about far more than sports. The benefits the Russian president expects from holding the games range from improving Russia’s international standing and instilling a sense of national pride to turning around the country’s demographic decline.

And of course Putin wants to be seen, at home and abroad, as the man who

made this all possible. That’s a tall order for an international sports event.

And what if terrorists strike the Olympics, which are taking place Feb. 7-23 just a few hundred miles (kilometers) west of a region where Islamic insurgents carry out bombings and other attacks almost daily? Or if a winter storm rips through the Black Sea resort, knocking out its hastily finished electric grid? Or even if Russian ath-

SOCHI: The Olympic rings hang above travelers leaving the central train station in Sochi, home of the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics. —AP

letes in Sochi repeat their dismal performance of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games?

If - for one reason or another Sochi is deemed to be a disaster, the $51 billion spent on Putin’s games may suddenly seem like a colossal waste of money. That amount dwarfs the spending of any other Olympics, winter or summer.

“Has Putin over-invested in these games?” Stephen Sestanovich, a Columbia University professor and Russia scholar, asked rhetorically.

“Almost surely. And I think the disproportion of the investment will be clearer if the Russians don’t bring home a trove of gold medals and if the security situation goes badly.”

Putin has made the 2014 Winter Games his personal project from the very beginning, directing an ambitious undertaking to transform Sochi, a once-tacky Soviet-era summer resort, into a world-class winter sports center.

Along the way, the games took on a state propaganda aspect that one of Putin’s former advisers says has not been seen since the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, which the Nazis used to promote their concept of

racial supremacy.

Andrei Illarionov, Putin’s economic adviser from 2000 to 2005, says the Sochi Games have become a celebration of the “cult of strength” for Russia’s muscle-flexing leader, a demonstration of his and Russia’s physical, intellectual and economic might.

In a recent interview with Russian and foreign TV stations, Putin said the Sochi Olympics should be seen as proof of Russia’s economic resurgence during his 14 years in power. He also hoped the games would lead people “to take an unbiased and fresh look” at what he called the new Russia.

“I am sure that this will happen, that it will ... help to build Russia’s relations with its partners around the world,” he said in the Jan. 19 broadcast. This may be wishful thinking.

“Foreign governments that deal with Russia are more inclined to take seriously specific policy items on their agenda that they want to be able to advance, and most governments over the past few years have found Russia to be harder to deal with,” said Sestanovich, who has held several US government posts and has a book coming out on U.S. foreign policy. —AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

S P ORTS

Rockets pound Spurs HOUSTON: Dwight Howard scored 23 points and Terrence Jones had 21 as the Houston Rockets held on for a 97-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

The Rockets trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before scoring 33 in the third quarter to go on top. San Antonio closed to 90-88 in the final minutes, but Howard and Jeremy Lin helped Houston hold on for the win.

Boris Diaw scored a season-high 22 points for the Spurs, and also had 11 rebounds. Tony Parker added 17 points and Tim Duncan had 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.

The Rockets were without leading scorer James Harden (bruised left thumb), who is averaging almost 24 points a game this season.

PARIS: Russia’s Maria Sharapova plays against Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova during the WTA Paris Open tennis tournament. —AFP

Sharapova cruises into Paris Open quarter-finals PARIS: Russian top seed Maria Sharapova dished out a 6-0, 6-1 defeat to Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova in the second round to cruise into the WTA Paris Open quarter-finals yesterday.

A shock fourth-round loser at the seasonopening Grand Slam the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this month Sharapova regained the winning thread at the Stade Coubertin, serving 10 aces with just two double faults.

Sharapova’s Melbourne campaign was just her second event since a shoulder injury ended the 26-year-old world number five’s 2013 season in August, a setback which also ruled her out of the US Open. However, Sharapova, the 2012 French Open champion, said that her early exit from the Australian Open-beaten by Hantuchova’s compatriot Dominika Cibulkova who went on to lose in the final to China’s Li Nahad had its positive side to it with regard to the indoor tournament.

“It’s quite an adjustment coming here,” she said.”I lost quite early in Australia, so it gave me a little bit more time to get ready for this event, to catch up on jet lag and get through that.

“I’ve had some good practices on centre court here. It’s a pretty small venue so you want to get as much centre court time as you can, and just take it a step at a time and focus on

each match. “I like playing on all types of different surfaces though, and a smaller venue is a bit more intimate too. I have enjoyed playing on these types of courts in the past.”

Hantuchova had a disastrous start, picking up just one point in the first two games, then none in the fourth and fifth games to trail 5-0 after a mere 15 minutes.

She failed to convert her first three set points, clinching it on the fourth attempt to claim the opening set after 25 minutes.

It was more of the same in the second set with Sharapova racing to a 2-0 lead before, after 39 minutes play and to the delight of the crowd Hantuchova claimed her one and only game.

“I had a tough first opponent who can play extremely good tennis,” said Sharapova, who was taken to three sets by Hantuchova in the 2011 Stanford WTA tournament the last time they played each other. “I wanted to start the match off well. It was extremely important to put that pressure on her from the beginning. “I think I did that really well today.”

Sharapova next faces the winner of the second round clash between Austria’s Yvonne Meusburger and Kirsten Flipkens, the eighthseeded Belgian who knocked out defending champion Mona Barthel in three sets in the first round. —AFP

Lisicki struggles into second round in Pattaya PATTAYA: Top seed Sabine Lisicki struggled to reach the second round of the Pattaya Open, taking two hours to overcome Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Second seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova eased through by defeating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-0, 7-6 (3) and Chinese eighth seed Peng Shuai beat Austrian Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 6-1, 7-6 (1). But seventh seed Bethanie MattekSands of the United States was upset 6-2, 64 by Czech Karolina Pliskova. Lisicki, who lost the 2013 final to Maria Kirilenko, struggled right from the start, dropping her serve in the opening game.

And although the German levelled at 22, Vekic broke again, led 5-3 and served for the set at 5-4 before Lisicki won the next three games.

Early in the second set Lisicki received attention to her right shoulder and Vekic

went on to take the set with ease as her opponent struggled with her serve.

After an early exchange of breaks early in the final set Lisicki broke again to lead 53, failed to serve out the match but then broke serve again to claim victory.

“It happened during the match and as it went on it got worse and worse,” said Lisicki of her shoulder. “It was really, really tough to serve at all. I couldn’t serve the way I wanted and the way I usually serve.

“But the most important thing is that I fought it out. I ran down every ball. I played the finals here last year and have good memories so I really wanted to keep on playing and finish the match and not lose in the first round.”

Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues suffered the first 6-0, 6-0 defeat of her 16-year career as she lost to American Alison Riske in just 58 minutes.—AFP

For WCup, the beautiful game plays out on museum walls LOS ANGELES: Petra Cortright played soccer for 14 years so she was very adept at making a video of herself wearing a pink glowing bathing suit and juggling a ball, or rather an IKEA soccer pillow, which was what she had on hand when inspiration struck.

Now the 27-year-old Los Angeles artist finds herself and that webcam video in the company of Andy Warhol and his 1978 portrait of Pele and 50 other works of art by 30 artists celebrating the so-called “beautiful game” in this year of the World Cup in Brazil.

“Futbol: The Beautiful Game”, takes place a mere 10,000 kilometers (6,300 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art or LACMA, where a curator bitten by soccer has assembled a show about the mythic, the heroic, the poetic and the violent manifestations of the game.

“Timed with the World Cup, it seems like an opportunity to think about some of the things I love about the game, perhaps in a more artistic and intellectual way,” said Franklin Sirmans, the 44-year-old curator and head of contemporary art at LACMA, who was inspired early on by Pele and the Cosmos in his native New York. The exhibition reflects the global nature of the game, from paintings by an artist obsessed by English club Manchester United to a Colombian artist who shoots a video of a pick-up game in a small courtyard to a photograph of North African slippers bearing a Nikelike swoosh.

Although the United States might not match the passion of other countries for the sport, Los Angeles is arguably its most soccermad city with two Major League Soccer teams and a large Hispanic population. “Futbol,” the Spanish word for soccer, was chosen for the show’s title to denote the international character of the city.

MINI MARACANA When Sirmans went looking for soccer art, one of the first pieces in mind was the object he chose to greet visitors to the exhibition - a mini rendering of Rio’s Maracana Stadium, where the World Cup final will be played in July, by Brazilian artist Nelson Leirner. It is full

of different figurines like Buddhas and Japanese beckoning cats, all surrounded by Jesus figures. Many of the pieces are simple like a South African video of an artist drawing a soccer ball on the wall - a reflection Sirmans says of the beautiful game’s simplicity.

The art is often made from everyday materials, like the display of little soccer jerseys made from cigarette packages or a bag full of balls made from a collage of scrap paper.

Before the show moves on to the icons and heroes, it lingers on the not so beautiful, like photos of fervent Italian fans crammed behind police lines or a soccer boot painted along with a gun.

“We are standing in the room that addresses the more contentious things around the game, hooliganism, racism, colonialism, things that often aren’t part of the discussion,” said Sirmans.

Two room-size video displays anchor the exhibition. One is a 90-minute video of French star Zinedine Zidane playing, shot from 17 angles. In the other video “Volta,” the viewer only sees Brazilian spectators captured in various stadiums with a handheld camera, while players and pitch remain out of sight. “You are seeing literally thousands of people, holding on to the same jersey and waving it up and down at exactly the same moment,” said Sirmans. “How many times do we see people functioning today in our world today in such a fashion?”

WITH WARHOL, ‘REALLY CRAZY’ Towards the end of the exhibition, the Andy Warhol portrait of Pele with a ball on his head comes in to view. It is the oldest piece in the show, painted in 1978, shortly after the great Brazilian striker wrapped up his career in a U.S. exhibition match between his two clubs, Santos and the New York Cosmos, in which he played for both sides.

Cortright was not even born then, but she is a beneficiary of those pioneering days of U.S. soccer. She did pre-Olympic training before giving the sport up for art school and now can’t quite believe where soccer and art have taken her. —Reuters

GRIZZLIES 98, TRAIL BLAZERS 91 Zach Randolph scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds, and Mike Conley added 19 points and seven assists to lead Memphis.

Marc Gasol had 15 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Lee scored 12 points for the Grizzlies (23-20), who have won three straight and seven of eight.

Lamarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 16 rebounds as the Blazers (33-13) slipped three games behind Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City and had their home winning streak snapped at five.

Randolph, the former Blazers forward, registered his 27th double-double of the season as well as his franchise-leading 190th for the Grizzlies, who shot 51.8 percent and led from start to finish.

PACERS 104, LAKERS 92 David West scored 19 points, Lance Stephenson had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Indiana wrapped up a five-game road trip by beating the spiraling Lakers.

George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight.

All-Star selection Paul George had his second straight rough game for Indiana, scoring 14 points on 4-for-21 shooting. Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who returned from a two-week road trip for their 17th loss in 20 games.

WIZARDS 88, WARRIORS 85 Bradley Beal scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, and John Wall had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Washington.

Washington’s terrific tandem outplayed and outhustled Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson when it mattered most in a matchup of two of the NBA’s best young backcourts.

Beal, who was 1-of-7 shooting in the first half, finished 8 of 19 from the floor to go with seven rebounds and four assists. Wall hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining, and the Wizards forced the Warriors into several difficult shots in the closing moments.

Stephen Curry scored 23 points before missing a contested left-handed 3-pointer as time expired, and Thompson had 13 points and six rebounds for the streaky Warriors PELICANS 100, CAVALIERS 89 Anthony Davis scored 30 points with eight blocks and seven rebounds and Eric Gordon scored 20 to lead New Orleans.

Davis, one of three No. 1 overall picks in the game, was dominant at both ends of the floor as the Pelicans won their third straight. He injured

LOS ANGELES: Lakers center Pau Gasol (left) of Spain, puts up a shot as Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP fingers on his left hand in the final minutes, but got taped up during a timeout and stayed in.

New Orleans scored 16 straight points to close the first half and opened a 22-point lead in the third, causing some fans to boo the listless Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving scored 23 and Dion Waiters 21 for the Cavs, who had a 1-4 homestand after a 3-2 trip out West. Cavs rookie Anthony Bennett, the first pick in last year’s draft, scored a season-high 15.

KNICKS 114, CELTICS 88 Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes as New York avenged an embarrassing home loss.

Jeremy Tyler added a career-high 17 points and fellow reserve J.R. Smith also scored 17 for the Knicks, who lost by 41 last time the Celtics came to Madison Square Garden but led this one by 35. New York won its third straight to even its record at 3-3 on its eight-game homestand, with games remaining against Cleveland today and Miami on Saturday.

New York is only a half-game out of the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot despite its 18-27 record Jeff Green scored 14 points for the Celtics, who have lost three straight and six of seven. Rajon Rondo had seven points and five assists, shooting 3 of 13 in his sixth game of the season after returning from a torn ACL. PISTONS 103, MAGIC 87 Andre Drummond had 13 points and 17 rebounds as Detroit snapped a four-game losing streak. Drummond bounced back from a poor outing at Dallas over the weekend, and the Pistons led comfortably throughout the second half. Detroit has struggled to close out games at home this season, but this time the Pistons turned a double-digit lead into a rout.

Brandon Jennings had 20 points and eight assists for Detroit, and Josh Smith added 16 points. Victor Oladipo scored 19 points for the Magic. Detroit finished with 17 offensive rebounds — 12 in the first half — and outscored Orlando in the paint 44-22. —AP

NBA results/standings New Orleans 100, Cleveland 89; Detroit 103, Orlando 87; NY Knicks 114, Boston 88; Houston 97, San Antonio 90; Memphis 98, Portland 81; Washington 88, Golden State 85; Indiana 104 LA Lakers 92.

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

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 23 21 20 23 18 27 15 32 14 31 Central Division 35 9 22 22 18 27 16 29 8 36 Southeast Division 32 12 23 21 22 22 19 27 12 34

PCT .523 .465 .400 .319 .311

GB 2.5 5.5 9.5 9.5

Oklahoma City Portland Denver Minnesota Utah

.795 .500 13 .400 17.5 .356 19.5 .182 27

LA Clippers Phoenix Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento

.727 .523 .500 .413 .261

San Antonio Houston Dallas Memphis New Orleans

9 10 14 21

Western Conference Northwest Division 36 10 33 13 22 21 22 22 16 29 Pacific Division 32 15 26 18 27 19 16 30 15 29 Southwest Division 33 12 30 17 26 20 23 20 19 25

.783 .717 3 .512 12.5 .500 13 .356 19.5 .681 .591 4.5 .587 4.5 .348 15.5 .341 15.5 .733 .638 4 .565 7.5 .535 9 .432 13.5

Why this Super Bowl will sound different NEWARK: There was never any shortage of people willing to tell Derrick Coleman what he couldn’t do. If there’s any consolation to being the latest of three deaf players to ever make it to the NFL, it was that: He didn’t have to listen.

“Just turn your hearing aid off, Dad used to say,” Coleman recalled, chuckling softly at the memory.

Inspirational tales are rarely in short supply in the NFL. With some 1,800 roster slots available each

season and an ever-present risk of serious injury, every player is a long shot just to get one and then keep it. But some face much longer odds than others.

You wouldn’t know that watching Coleman carry the ball for the Seahawks, or fly down the field on special teams. You might not even guess it watching him entertain a scrum of reporters during Tuesday’s lengthy give-and-take session - at least not until you were close

NEW YORK: Risa Sang poses with a New York Giants jersey on NFL’s Super Bowl Boulevard, a stretch of Broadway converted for the Super Bowl in New York during an event in preparation for Super Bowl XLVIII with the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.—AFP

enough to see the thin wire brace behind each ear holding his hearing aids in place.

He began wearing them at age 3, after being diagnosed with severe hearing loss. He still doesn’t know what caused the impairment - “It just up and left,” is the way Coleman described it - but either way, the taunts began soon after.

From that day forward, the lessons his parents drilled into him about being “different” had only so much to do with trying to fit in; mostly, they were about how much more effort he’d have to put in to stand out.

“The fact that the guy is even here is a testament to that work,” marveled Broncos safety David Bruton, who might be called upon to stop Coleman. “I can’t even imagine what it would be like.”

Yet some of the workarounds Coleman devised actually turned out to be advantages, especially after he learned to read lips. “That’s why you see coaches talk like this,” he laughed, covering his mouth with his hand. “Because of guys like me.”

On a good day, with both hearing aids in underneath his helmet, Coleman figures he’s on the lower end of average, maybe eight on a scale of zero to 10. On a bad day, with the sweat running into the earpieces and the static crackling, he’s a six. Without the aids in, he’s a two or less.

In the Seattle huddle, quarterback Russell Wilson doesn’t wear his mouthpiece, so Coleman gets a clear look at his lips. If he’s unsure about any of the calls, Coleman repeats them to teammates before they break for the line of scrimmage.

“He never makes it into a big deal,” Seattle tackle Russell Okung said. “Everybody understands that for something to work, it takes all 11 guys working together. When Derrick first came in, some guys maybe looked at it as a shortcom-

ing. Once they saw how hard he worked, they realized he viewed it as an opportunity. It’s easy to get invested in a guy like that.”

It’s easier still once you find out how Coleman has embraced his role as both a valuable spare part for the Seahawks - he started a handful of games at fullback, filled in at tailback and has proven to be a monster on special teams - and an informal spokesman for what he calls the “deaf community.”

Two other deaf players - Kenny Walker and Bonnie Sloan - played on the defensive side in the league briefly in the 1970s. Though Walker eventually wrote an autobiography titled, “Roar of Silence,” neither man lasted long enough to become an advocate for the hearing-impaired.

A commercial that Coleman appeared in recently for Duracell batteries, as well as an exchange of letters he had with a 9-year-old New Jersey girl on Twitter, both went viral. Coleman has never been shy about speaking out, especially to children’s organizations. But he realizes the Super Bowl platform is another one of those opportunities he can’t afford to pass up.

“The hardest thing about being in the deaf community is getting over wall one,” he said. “Everything I do is going to affect them in terms of perception. ... What I’m doing now, getting the opportunity to play for the Seattle Seahawks and getting the chance to play in the Super Bowl, that’s basically saying that when people are hard of hearing now, you can do it, too.

“They’re not going to be saying you can’t do it because you’re hard of hearing. I’m making that step,” he added. “That’s why I go and talk to a lot of kids, because when they start making excuses and being lazy and people start getting that perception, they’re going to come to me thinking I’m the same way.

“Ever ything I do affects them,” Coleman said finally, “and everything they do affects us.” —AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

S P ORTS

Arsenal held by Saints Southampton 2

Arsenal 2

MADRID: Espanyol’s goalkeeper Francisco ‘Kiko’ Casilla makes a save during a Copa del Rey soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. —AP

Real ease past Espanyol MADRID: Real Madrid set up a King’s Cup semi-final against holders Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao when they beat Espanyol 1-0 in their quarter-final, second leg on Tuesday for a 2-0 aggregate success. Real lost 2-1 to Atletico at their own Bernabeu stadium in last year’s final and will be keen to avenge that bitter defeat, which meant they ended the season without any silverware, if they face their city rivals in the last four.

Atletico have a 1-0 advantage over Bilbao from last week’s first leg at the Calderon and play at the Basque club’s new San Mames arena late yesterday.

Real were quickly into their stride on a chilly night in the Spanish capital and their Spain playmaker Xabi Alonso unlocked the Espanyol defence with a magisterial seventh-minute pass.

Forward Jese sped clear before clipping a clinical effort into the net past goalkeeper K iko Casilla from a tight angle. Casilla made several fine saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo but any faint hope Espanyol had of getting back into the tie disappeared when midfielder Victor Sanchez earned a second yellow card and was sent off 13 minutes from time. Real keeper and captain I ker Casillas barely touched the ball and Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now gone eight matches without conceding a goal, a club record.

CLUB BEST Casillas also set a new club best of 682

minutes without conceding a goal, overtaking the record set by Paco Buyo, who played for Real in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Real have come into form in recent weeks but have some difficult games coming up, including Sunday’s La Liga visit to fourth-placed Bilbao and the twolegged Cup semi-final which takes place next week and the week after.

“It’s a very tough calendar for us but I think we are on the right path,” centre back Nacho Fernandez told reporters.

“It’s key that we are keeping so many clean sheets,” added the 24-year-old, whose younger brother Alex featured in midfield for Espanyol. “ We k new that we were playing against the best club in the world and it would be very tough,” Alex, who played with Nacho in Real’s B team before joining Espanyol, told Canal Plus.

“We gave a good account of ourselves and now we have to focus on the league,” he added with Espanyol in mid-table.

On the other side of the draw, record King’s Cup winners Barcelona have a 4-1 advantage when they host Levante at the Nou Camp on Wednesday and would play Real S ociedad or third-tier R acing Santander in the semi-finals.

Sociedad are 3-1 up thanks to their victory in San Sebastian last week and the Santander players have threatened to boycott today’s return in protest over unpaid wages. —Reuters

English clubs boost 2013 global transfer spending LONDON: English clubs led the way as worldwide spending on international transfers shot up by 41 percent last year to reach $3.7 billion, FIFA said in a report published yesterday.

English clubs spent $913 million on international transfers in 2013, an increase of 51 percent over the previous year. Surprisingly, they were followed by Italian clubs who, despite widespread reports of financial difficulties, splashed out a total of $475 million between them, a staggering jump of 120 percent yearon-year.

Spanish clubs were the biggest sellers, which the report said was prompted by a push to cut their debts, as they received $565 million between them. They were followed by Italy, Brazil, Portugal and England. There was a significant increase in so-called conditional transfers, where part of the fee is fixed and the rest is performance-based. Fees from such transfers leapt 73 percent to a total of $525 million. Mark Goddard, general manager of FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS), said the jump in conditional transfers could be significant.

“It is a very interesting trend because the market is becoming more astute, a lot of the transfers are based on either potential performance or past performance, if the players are older,” he told reporters. “Conditions can be represented by a number of performance factors such as qualification for competitions, relegation, or the players’ performance on an individual level. “Clubs are hedging their bets, trying to be more sensible in how much money they put into the guaranteed section and into the potential section (of the fee).”

TELEVISION RIGHTS World soccer’s governing body said English spending increased after the Premier League signed a new television rights deal for three seasons starting with 2013/14.

BSkyB and former state telecoms company

BT agreed to a three-year deal worth 3.018 billion pounds ($4.70 billion), a 70 percent increase on the previous agreement, to show Premier League matches. FIFA said that 82 percent of the spending came from nine countries, England, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Portugal. Fifteen percent was spent by 14 countries comprising the market’s middle segment, while the remaining 3 percent was spent by the bottom segment of 116 countries. The lion’s share of the money was exchanged within Europe which accounted for 77 percent of the total market value.

The oldest player to be transferred internationally was aged 43 while, at the other end of the scale, there were 48 transfers of players aged 16 and 88 transfers of players aged 17.

Argentina and Brazil spent less on transfer fees last year, with the former down from $25 million to $22 million and their neighbors more significantly from $94 million to $73million.

“A currency crisis afflicting emerging economies has reduced Brazilian and Argentine buying power in the international market,” said the report.

Brazil remained hugely influential, however, and 13 percent of all transfers, totalling 1,588, involved players from the 2014 World Cup host nation. Although agents are widely criticised for pushing up transfer fees, FIFA said that only seven per cent of all transfers involved a club intermediary and 14 percent involved a players’ intermediary.

United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China all appeared in the top 20 spenders, often buying up well-known older players.

“Well-funded leagues with a limited talent pool are increasingly looking for ways to raise their competitiveness as well as their global appeal,” said the report. “One means to do this is by the addition of slightly older, well-known players who are leaving more high-profile leagues.”—Reuters

‘Happy’ Eto’o may stay at Chelsea — Mourinho LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday that Samuel Eto’o may remain at the club next season, despite reports he could return to Spain when his contract expires in June.

Mourinho would like to keep the 32-yearold former Mallorca and Barcelona striker, but he says that no final decision will be taken by player or club until nearer the end of the current campaign. With Fernando Torres out for two more weeks with a knee injury, Eto’o has become the London club’s principal striker at a decisive phase in the season.

And the Chelsea manager said: “We have a very trustful relationship with him. “He’s the kind of guy that, with his career, he feels very free and very comfortable making decisions just for himself. He feels good, feels happy.

“He wants to play for titles. He decided to come here to the Premier League to Chelsea,

so Samuel is enjoying his career until the end.

“We’ll see what he wants to do at the end of the season. Maybe he wants to go to Mallorca, as he promised his son. Maybe he wants to stay with us, or go and finish his career at Inter (Milan).

“He doesn’t need titles, he doesn’t need money.” Asked if he had ruled out Eto’o staying put, Mourinho said: “Of course not. He’s a big player, even if he doesn’t score 25 goals, because his contribution to the team is very high. We are happy.”

Cameroon star Eto’o has struck eight goals since joining Chelsea following a spell at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, including a hat-trick in the recent 3-1 victory over Manchester United.

Chelsea will continue their Premier League title challenge when West Ham United visit Stamford Bridge late yesterday. —AFP

SOUTHAMPTON: Arsenal missed a chance to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday.

Arsene Wenger’s side were on course to cement first place in the English top-flight after recovering from the shock of conceding Jose Fonte’s first half goal.

Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had put Arsenal 2-1 ahead at St Mary’s, only for Adam Lallana to equalise after the break and deny Arsenal a vital three points.

The Gunners are two points clear of second placed Manchester City, who can claim top spot with a victory at Tottenham late yesterday.

Arsenal’s frustration was summed up when French midfielder Mathieu Flamini was dismissed for an 80th minute challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin.

Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, had confirmed before this game that Wenger would soon sign a new, three-year contract to remain at the club.

An away victory would have been the ideal way to mark the announcement, but it quickly became clear this would be a major test for the leaders.

Southampton’s defeat at the Emirates Stadium had triggered an alarming run that had brought just two wins from their previous 11 league games.

Injuries have taken their toll and with Rickie Lambert out and Dani Osvaldo suspended following a training ground fight with Fonte, Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino handed a first league start to teenager Sam Gallagher.

But that did little to unsettle the home side who started the game positively and continued to dominate throughout the first half, with Gallagher coming close to breaking the deadlock with a powerful shot after just seven minutes.

Fonte’s 21st minute goal came when Luke Shaw, the Saints left-back who has been linked

SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton’s Luke Shaw (right) competes for the ball with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil during the English Premier League soccer match. —AP with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea, delivered a deep cross towards the centre-back, who headed in at the far post.

Lallana came close to adding a second when he forced Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into a full length save and Gallagher stabbed an even better chance wide after Monreal’s attempted clearance had been charged down.

The opening 45 minutes had been one-sided but Arsenal finally showed signs of their threat immediately before the break when Laurent Koscielny forced a superb reaction save from Artur Boruc.

But if that was a warning, Southampton failed to heed the signs and the visitors exploded into life after the restart with two goals in seven minutes.

Giroud brought the Gunners back on level terms in the 47th minute with a clever flick after Bacar y Sagna had forced his way into the Southampton box before squaring for the France striker to redirect the ball into the net.

Then, with the home side reeling, Spanish playmaker Cazorla added the 52nd minute second with a low, left foot drive from the edge of

the area after Mesut Ozil had led a breakaway.

Pochettino’s side appeared deflated but they conjured the perfect response just 60 seconds later when Jay Rodriguez worked his way towards the byline before pulling back for Lallana who struck from 10 yards out. Both sides appeared capable of going on to win the game but it was Arsenal who had the better chances to reclaim the lead.

Ozil capped a surging run with a powerful shot that was deflected over Boruc and rebounded to safety off the crossbar.

And Monreal should have done much better when he found himself with a clear shooting opportunity on the left hand side of the Saints box, only to blast his effort high into the crowd.

But the advantage swung back in Southampton’s favour following Flamini’s reckless, two-footed challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin in the 80th minute.

Referee Lee Mason had no hesitation in showing the Frenchman a straight red card and while Flamini protested his innocence, television replays supported the match official’s decision. —AFP

Newcastle in drab draw Norwich 0

Newcastle 0

NORWICH: Newcastle United began what looks like life without star Frenchman Yohan Cabaye with a disappointing 0-0 draw away at relegation-threatened Norwich City in their Premier League clash on Tuesday. The Magpies, who have not beaten Nor wich at Carrow Road since January 1994, will wonder how they came away with just a point as they peppered the hosts’ goal only for either the woodwork or goalkeeper John Ruddy to deny them.

Both sides also ended the game with 10 men as Newcastle striker Loic Remy and Norwich defender Bradley Johnson were sent off following an ugly confrontation eight minutes from time.

Newcastle, who were without Cabaye as he finalises a transfer to French champions Paris SaintGermain, were magnificent in the first half and should have had all three points wrapped up by the interval. Norwich had Ruddy to thank for keeping them in the game, though, as the visitors had 14 shots on target to the hosts’ two in the first 45 minutes.

Ruddy, who is on the fringes of the England squad, did brilliantly on two occasions, first to deny Remy and then to beat away a

stinging drive from Hatem Ben Arfa.

The Magpies also hit the bar twice, first from a superb longrange effort by Remy and then when the same player’s shot was saved by Ruddy and hit Johnson on the back before striking the frame of the goal. Ben Arfa then missed a relatively easy opportunity before Nor wich nearly went ahead against the run of play when former Celtic star Gar y Hooper saw his shot from outside the box saved well by Dutchman Tim Krul.

Newcastle started the second half in the same lively fashion and thought they had a good shout for a penalty when Ben Ar fa went down heavily under a challenge by Ryan Bennett-referee Chris Foy gave it some thought before ruling in the hosts’ favour.

Newcastle were all over Norwich but once again found the most resilient defender against them was the woodwork as Remy’s excellent free -kick in the 63rd minute came back off the bar.

The pace slowed markedly after that and it was Hooper who went closest to breaking the deadlock as his shot hit the crossbar, but an exciting game turned ugly with eight minutes remaining.

Remy and Johnson had an alercation which resulted in the latter collapsing theatrically to the gound after the Frenchman stupidly led with his head-Foy though did not spare the Norwich defender and sent him for an early shower as well. —AFP

LONDON: Norwich City’s Anthony Pilkington (front) and Newcastle United’s Mathieu Debuchy battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at Carrow Road. —AP

Fortune favors Swansea in victory over Fulham Swansea 2

Fulham 0

SWANSEA: Two deflected secondhalf goals by Jonjo Shelvey and Chico Flores gave Swansea City a 20 win against Fulham on Tuesday as Michael Laudrup’s side gave themselves breathing space in the Premier League relegation battle.

Shelvey set Swansea on their way in the 61st minute with an

LONDON: Fulham’s Dimitar Berbatov (right) and Swansea City’s Ashley Williams battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Liberty Stadium. —AP

effort that took two deflections on its way into the net, and Chico’s near-post header came off Dimitar Berbatov to double the hosts’ lead with quarter of an hour remaining.

The victory was a timely one for the hosts, ending a sequence of three straight Premier League defeats and eight top-flight matches without a win.

The Welsh outfit move provisionally six points clear of the relegation zone, while Fulham remain just one point above the danger zone after this, their third successive league loss. Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen made 11 changes to his side following the weekend draw at third-tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and there were numerous changes to the Swansea side too. After coming off the bench to score twice against Birmingham City in the Cup, Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony was rewarded with a starting slot and he almost got an early opener for the hosts, heading narrowly over from Wayne Routledge’s cross.

Fulham came into the game and an unmarked Brede Hangeland headed over the bar from a wicked

Kieran Richardson free-kick delivery before an Alexander Kacaniklic cross was headed goalwards by Ashkan Dejagah, only for Gerhard Tremmel to save.

Shelvey then saw a superb firsttime curling effort from 25 yards come crashing back off the bar just before the interval, but it was the former Liverpool man who got the breakthrough shortly after the hour mark. There was more than a touch of fortune about the goal, as Nathan Dyer teed up Shelvey, whose shot came off Steve Sidwell and then took a huge deflection off Hangeland before nestling in the back of the net.

Shelvey got the winner when the Swans won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in the reverse fixture in November and they made sure of the points against a flat Fulham side when Chico scored on 75 minutes. The Spanish defender, who made headlines last week following a training ground bust-up with teammate Garr y Monk, got his head to a Jonathan De Guzman free-kick, and this time the ball came off Berbatov to trump Maarten Stekelenburg. —AFP

Australia down England

Sharapova cruises into Paris Open quarter-finals

18

16

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Dubai Desert Classic offers $2.5m for ace

Page 15

OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (left) vies with Cardiff City’s Chilean midfielder Gary Medel during the English Premier League football match. — AFP

Mata eclipses Solskjaer on debut Man United 2

Cardiff 0

MANCHESTER: Robin van Persie and Ashley Young scored as Manchester United recorded only their second Premier League victory of 2014 by beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday. Juan Mata made his debut after a £37.1 million ($61.2 million, 44.8 million euros) move from Chelsea and the Spaniard had a hand in

both goals as David Moyes’s side breathed life into their hopes of a Champions League place.

Making his return from a thigh injury that had kept him out since December 10, Van Persie took only six minutes to open the scoring and Young added United’s second in the 59th minute.

Mata played just behind Van Persie, but those hoping to see how the duo would combine with Wayne Rooney were to be disappointed when the England striker replaced Van Persie to make his first appearance since January 1.

The defending champions now have matches against Stoke City, Fulham, Arsenal and Crystal Palace that

will give them a clearer indication of their chances of a place in the top four.

But this was undoubtedly an improved performance from a team that had already lost four times in 2014.

The hosts needed only a few minutes to make the breakthrough, with Mata’s cross-field pass helping to open Cardiff up.

The Spaniard played a long ball to the left flank, resulting in Young clipping over a cross that was headed onto the bar by Antonio Valencia.

Van Persie’s follow-up was blocked

by Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall, but the Netherlands striker headed in from six yards to put United in front.

Rafael da Silva thumped well over as United looked to add a second before

Craig Noone cut in from the right and drove over at the other end.

Mata almost created a second when he spotted Young unmarked at the far post, but the winger could not squeeze a shot past Marshall.

The Spaniard then picked out Jonny Evans with a free-kick, but the centreback’s glancing header flew wide of goal. United goalkeeper David de Gea was forced into a save with his legs when Mark Hudson got his head to Peter Whittingham’s corner.

From a Young corner, meanwhile, United kept the ball well on the edge of the box before Van Persie’s shot on the turn rolled just wide of the post.

The hosts still looked far from convincing at the back and Cardiff, man-

Liverpool rout Everton Liverpool 4

Everton 0

LIVERPOOL: Daniel Sturridge’s brace handed Liverpool the Merseyside bragging rights with a 4-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday that maintained their Anfield derby dominance.

Everton have not won at Liverpool since 1999 and the 222nd meeting between the two sides-both previously unbeaten in the league in 2014 — was effectively over by halftime, with Liverpool three goals up.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in his programme notes that this derby had “double significance”, with vital points in the race to qualify for the Champions League at stake in addition to local pride. But the Northern Irishman could probably not have envisaged the clinical manner in which his team would blow Roberto Martinez’s men away, with a double from Sturridge and one each for captain Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

England striker Sturridge could even afford to miss a penalty as fourth-place Liverpool put four points between themselves and

Everton in the Premier League table.

Liverpool made three changes as Simon Mignolet replaced Brad Jones in goal, Jon Flanagan returned for Martin Kelly at right-back, and Raheem Sterling was preferred to Victor Moses on the right flank.

Everton, meanwhile, were bolstered by the return of midfielder Ross Barkley from a broken toe.

Toffees captain Phil Jagielka had also recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up in the FA Cup victory over Stevenage and made his 200th league appearance alongside Antolin Alcaraz at the heart of the visitors’ defence.

Barkley looked sharp in the opening stages and struck a swerving shot from distance that flew just over the crossbar, while Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was called into action moments later as he pushed a Suarez shot past the post.

Sturridge opened up the Everton defence in the 18th minute as he sent Sterling clear with a searching pass, but Howard came off his line quickly and blocked the winger’s effort.

The hosts’ spell of pressure earned them a goal three minutes later when Suarez’s corner picked out Gerrard, who escaped his marker at the near post and headed home his eighth goal in Merseyside derbies.

Everton were subsequently forced to withdraw Romelu Lukaku due to injury, although without the Belgium

aged by former United favourite Solskjaer, could have levelled when Fraizer Campbell failed to make telling contact with Kevin McNaughton’s cross.

After the interval, United worked a neat passing move to the right for Valencia to cross, but the ball from the winger was just behind Van Persie.

The former Arsenal striker had a better chance when he was found by a Ryan Giggs free-kick, only to turn his header well over the bar.

Solskjaer’s side opened United up once again when Declan John was played in behind the home side’s defence and slid a low ball across the area that was only cleared by Patrice Evra at the far post.

But just as United were starting to

look fragile, they moved further ahead.Mata helped the ball to the left flank for Young and the winger drifted inside before striking a fierce shot into the bottom-right corner. The record signing himself went close to adding a third when he was allowed the space to move forward and have a low rightfoot shot that was saved at the near post by Marshall.

Evans also saw his shot bend just wide after surging forwards from the back, before Valencia’s powerful crossshot was turned onto the post by Marshall.

Substitute Adnan Januzaj also just missed with a low stab at goal from Evra’s cross, while Rooney curled narrowly wide in added time. —AFP

Crystal Palace sink Hull Crystal Palace 1

Hull 0

ANFIELD: Liverpool’s Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring the fourth goal of the game for his side during their English Premier League soccer match against Everton. — AP international they still pressed for an for goals and added a fourth five equaliser, as Jagielka brought a save minutes into the second half. out of Mignolet. However, Liverpool Suarez dispossessed Jagielka just effectively made the result certain 10 inside the Everton half and powered minutes before half-time as Sturridge towards goal before coolly slotting scored twice in the space of two min- past the exposed Howard. utes.

Howard’s misery continued when The 24-year-old striker was put a penalty was given against him by through on goal by playmaker referee Martin Atkinson for a foul on Philippe Coutinho in the 33rd minute Sterling, but Sturridge, on a hat-trick, and kept his composure to lift the struck the spot-kick over the bar and ball over the advancing Howard. into the Kop. Moments later the hosts added a Suarez was angry with Sturridge third when Kolo Toure’s long ball just after the hour-mark when his found Sturridge and with Howard off strike partner selfishly went for goal his line, the England man cleverly from a difficult angle rather than lobbed the ball over the American square the ball across goal. international and into the unguarded Everton briefly flickered into net. Everton initially responded posi- life with 15 minutes left when tively after half-time, with Mignolet Steven Naismith crossed for forced to palm away a Leon Osman Osman, but Mignolet snuffed out shot, but Liverpool remained hungry the danger. — AFP

LONDON: Crystal Palace boosted their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League as Jason Puncheon’s goal clinched a 1-0 win over Hull on Tuesday.

Palace have steadily improved since Tony Pulis replaced Ian Holloway as manager in November and Puncheon’s first half winner at Selhurst Park moved the hosts five points clear of the bottom three.

The Eagles’ second successive victory also atoned for a disappointing FA Cup fourth round exit at Championship side Wigan on Saturday.

It was a frustrating evening for Hull, who finished with 10 men after goalkeeper Allan McGregor was sent off in the final moments.

Irish striker Shane Long, who joined Hull from West Bromwich Albion earlier this month, formed a new-look £14 million strike-force with fellow January signing Nikica Jelavic, who recently arrived from Everton. In contrast to Hull’s spending spree, Pulis was this week forced to deny reports that he was considering quitting over the club’s lack of success in the transfer market since he took over from Holloway. The former Stoke boss has often

spoken of the need to improve Palace’s squad, but the Eagles have yet to add to their squad so far during the transfer window.

Hull boss Steve Bruce might have felt his heavy investment would pay immediate dividends as the visitors made a lively start.

Jelavic almost got on the end of a low cross but the Croatian couldn’t quite stretch to steer the ball home. Long was next to trouble the Palace defence, causing a long ball into the penalty area before tumbling under a challenge from Danny Gabbidon.

Bruce was furious when referee Roger East waved away Hull’s appeals for a penalty. And Hull’s anger increased as Palace took the lead in the 16th minute when midfielder Puncheon fired hom form eight yards after his initial header hit team-mate Marouane Chamakh on the back.

Bruce’s team pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half, with Long and Jelavic both wasting chances before Liam Rosenior stabbed wide from a golden opportunity.

But Hull were reduced to 10 men when Stuart O’Keefe caught McGregor with a late tackle, prompting an angry reaction from the keeper.

After a bout of shoving between the pair, referee East showed McGregor the red card and with Hull having used all their substitutes, midfielder Tom Huddlestone had to go in goal. Even so, Steve Quinn came agonisingly close to equalising for Hull with virtually the last kick of the game, but his shot flashed wide. —AFP

Saudi Arabia to reduce March Arab Light OSP

Business

Page 22

Saudi non-oil economic growth remains strong

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Page 23 Mideast to remain key region for oil & gas production Page 25 Page 26

Indonesians still world’s most bullish consumers

PARIS: The Alfa Romeo 4C concept car is displayed during the concept cars exhibition at the 29th International Automobile Festival yesterday in Paris. The exhibition is open to the public until Sunday. — AP (See also Page 23)

EU unveils reform of ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks Barnier insists plan ‘balanced, realistic’ BRUSSELS: The European Union unveiled longawaited plans to rein in the “too-big-to-fail” banks yesterday, rejecting claims they have been too watered down to prevent a repeat of the 2008 banking crisis. The reforms affect about 30 of the biggest lenders and would stop them trading on their own account as well as forcing them to hive off some of their riskiest activities. But they stop short of the recommendations in a 2012 EU report that all banks should ring-fence their retail operations from the highrisk trading widely blamed for the global crash.

France and Germany, both seeking to protect their own flagship banks, are meanwhile irritated by the EU’s plans and say their own national laws go far enough. EU Financial Services commissioner Michel Barnier, announcing the plans in Brussels, said they were the “the final cogs in the wheel to complete the regulatory overhaul of the European banking system.”

“This legislation deals with the small number of very large banks which otherwise might still be too-big-to-fail, too-costly-to save, too-complex-to-resolve,” he said.

The banking crisis that started with the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing euro-zone debt crisis has prompted the EU to adopt a raft of banking sector reforms to tighten overall regulation and minimize excessive risk taking. The EU did not specify which banks would be covered by the latest reforms yesterday, saying only that it would cover around 30 lenders representing over 65 percent of the total banking assets in the bloc. But Barnier cited Germany’s Deutsche Bank as a relevant case, saying its assets where equivalent to more than 80 percent of the country’s annual economic output, making regulation much more than just a national issue. Other banking giants likely to come under the new rules would include

HSBC and France’s Societe Generale.

Criticism Barnier, a Frenchman who is talked off as the possible new European Commission head to be named later this year, rejected criticisms coming from all sides. “The European parliament says it’s not enough, bankers that it’s too much, Britain wants an exception,” he said.

“When you take all that together, I think we have found the middle way. This text is balanced and realistic.” Governments in several European countries were forced to bail out failed banks during the crisis, costing taxpayers billions of euros and leaving several lenders state-owned.

The proposals set out yesterday would stop the biggest banks from engaging in “proprietary trading”-trading with their own money for their own gain at a risk to depositors. They

would also give EU banking supervisors the power to make big banks hive off high-risk activities-such as complex derivatives of the kind that led the banking sector into crisis in the first place-if they were seen as compromising financial stability. But they do not go as far as the 2012 Liikanen Report, which Barnier commissioned. It said all banks should separate their riskier activities from their traditional role in ordinary, low-margin but largely safe retail banking.

The plans announced yesterday echo the United States’ “Volcker Rule” on banks trading on their own accounts, which US regulators approved in December.

The EU’s proposals are unlikely to come into effect any time soon. They must first go to the European parliament for discussion, but with elections in May and then a change-around of all the top positions in the EU later this year, it is

Former Ahli United chief looks to lead KFH: Report KUWAIT: Veteran banker Hamad Al-Marzouq is looking to lead Kuwait’s oldest Islamic bank after guiding another into making a successful transformation from the traditional to the Islamic banking systems. Recent reports revealed that Al-Marzouq submitted his nomination papers yesterday to run for Kuwait Finance House (KFH) board membership, hours after he resigned as Chairman of the Board of Ahli United Bank.

The Kuwait Stock Exchange announced Tuesday that the Ahli United Bank’s board has accepted the resignation of CEO Hamad Al-Marzouq, effective immediately. Meanwhile, Al-Anba reported yesterday that Al-Marzouq submitted his papers to run for a spot at the KFH board one day before nomination ended yesterday.

Sources quoted in the report said that AlMarzouq is considered a heavy favorite to become the new KFH Chairman of the Board. “There is agreement among a large number of business owners and state departments for his appointment as board chairman given his proven efficiency in the field”, said the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The KFH had announced an 18-day period which expired yesterday to receive applications for board membership. A list of the nominees is expected to be sent to the Central Bank of Kuwait on Thursday morning in accordance with the Central Bank regulations. According to the sources, 15 nominations were submitted as of the end of Tuesday “including some new faces”. However, the list does not include current Chairman Mohammed Al-Khudairi or Vice Chairman Dr Nabeel Al-Mannae.

Al-Marzouq helped Ahli United Bank achieve steady growth in profits during the past few years, including the global financial crisis when the bank maintained the lowest non-performing loan (NPL) rate in Kuwait’s banking sector. He is also credited for allowing Ahli United Bank to become a competitor in the Islamic banking market in a relatively short time after being converted into an Islamic bank in April 2010. “The news about Al-Marzouq’s potential move to KFH was generally met with optimism in the market with the belief that he will continue at his new post from where he left off,” AlAnba wrote.

Meanwhile, the daily reported that they

Hamad Al-Marzouq obtained information about the likely shape of the new KFH board. They indicate that the Kuwait Investment Authority is likely to take two seats in the 10-member board with 24.08 percent of direct shares in the bank. Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Minors Affairs is expected to take one seat with a 10.48 percentage of direct shares, whereas the Public Institution for Social Security is poised to take one seat with 6.02 percent of indirect shares. — Al Anba

unlikely they will be taken up until late 2014 or early 2015. Barnier said he hoped the proprietary trading rule would come into effect by 2017, with the high-risk split in force in 2018.

The proposals go further than German and French laws adopted in 2013 that do not ban proprietary trading. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Tuesday that he and his French counterpart Pierre Moscovici believed the EU should be “very careful-this is an extremely difficult subject.” “France and Germany have said that we are adopting legislation more quickly at a national level so that European legislation can draw on this experience,” Schaeuble said.

Britain, with its huge financial centre in the City of London, also has no proprietary trading ban but it strictly separates retail and investment banking. — AFP

Gulf markets up MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s shares rose yesterday, buoyed by a recovery in global markets as investor focus returned to local fundamentals, while most other regional markets also gained.

Asian and European shares rebound and Turkey’s lira saw its biggest jump in five years yesterday after the central bank stunned investors with a huge rate hike designed to staunch and reverse a major flight from risk.

Gulf sentiment was supported, despite there being little local vulnerability to emerging market jitters since its external and fiscal surpluses are independently strong. Saudi Arabia’s index climbed 0.6 percent, recovering some of the losses from earlier this week when the market came off a five-year high. Shares in Samba Financial Group jumped 3.4 percent to a four-week closing high after the board proposed to issue one bonus share for every three held, according to a bourse statement.

Samba lifted sentiment across the banking sector - its index rose 1.1 percent, the main support for the market. The petrochemical sector measure added 0.2 percent. “The market rebound is a spillover effect from international

markets,” said Muhammad Faisal Potrik, research analyst at Riyad Capital. “Valuations for many major companies are nearing target price and it’s getting harder for analysts to give stock recommendations. Upside seems capped at current levels, but having said that, investors remain bullish for 2014.” In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi’s measure rose 1.6 percent to a 65-month high. First Gulf Bank was the main driver, gaining 3.5 percent in buying ahead of earnings and dividend announcements expected later yesterday.

The lender reported a 19 percent rise in fourth-quarter next profit after the markets closed and its board recommended a cash dividend of one dirham per share and 30 percent in bonus shares for 2013.

“What’s playing a major role is sentiment across global markets - nevertheless, Q4 numbers and distribution are playing a supporting role,” said Marwan Shurrab, fund manager and head of trading at Vision Investments. “Up until the company announcements, you’ll see the market attracting investors to build positions on weakness.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

BUSINESS

Dubai, Abu Dhabi airport traffic surges in 2013 DUBAI: Passenger flows through Dubai’s main airport, the world’s second busiest for international traffic, jumped 15.2 percent in 2013 thanks to expansion of its route network and the use of wide-body planes, airport authorities said yesterday.

Passenger traffic last year totalled a record 66.4 million people. In December, more than 6 million passengers passed though the airport for the first time, an increase of 13.6 percent from a year earlier.

At current rates of growth, Dubai will this year surpass

India’s Bharti Airtel profit doubles, first rise in 4 years NEW DELHI: India’s top mobile phone firm Bharti Airtel said yesterday its quarterly profit leapt by 115 percent, the first rise in four years, boosted by surging data use and an easing of price wars. Bharti, the fourth-largest telecom firm globally, said net profit for the third financial quarter to December climbed to 6.1 billion rupees ($98 million) from 2.84 billion rupees in the same period a year earlier. The company’s focus on Internet operations “has increased adoption and usage” of Bharti, said Indian chief executive Gopal Vittal.

“Data is now a huge source of revenue,” Vittal added.

Data services have become the new battleground for Indian telecom companies as they try to boost revenues in an increasingly saturated domestic mobile market.

Bharti, controlled by billionaire founder-chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, had clocked 15 straight quarters of profit decline before yesterday’s rise.

The figures still undershot market expectations of a 10-billion rupee profit for the three-month period but analysts said the quarter was positive overall.

“Competitive intensity is declining in India thanks to (the) fruits of consolidation and the data numbers give quite a bit to be excited about,” telecom analyst Harit Shah at Mumbai’s Nirmal Securities told AFP. The Indian firm, with 287 million customers and operations in both Africa and Asia, said Internet revenue soared 105 percent year-on-year to 17.36 billion rupees. Total revenue climbed 13.3 percent in the third quarter to 219.4 billion rupees from 193.6 billion rupees a year earlier.

Average revenue per user, a key industry profitability benchmark, jumped five percent in India. Bharti operates in 20 countries and is nearly one-third held by Singapore’s SingTel. India’s telecom sector was a market star before fierce tariff competition pushed call rates down to among the world’s lowest. But the number of major telecoms players has fallen, with just three firms Bharti, Vodafone and Reliance-accounting for nearly three-quarters of revenues. A 2012 Supreme Court ruling scrapped the licences of various smaller firms over a scandal-tainted spectrum sale.

The easing of market congestion has allowed companies to start raising calling rates. While there is still a price battle for data customers, that has been more than offset by the volume of new customers, analysts say. But the industry faces a new deep-pocketed rival, Reliance Jio Infocomm belonging to Reliance Industries which is controlled by India’s richest tycoon Mukesh Ambani. Bharti must bid to purchase new spectrum in an auction of mobile airwaves starting February 3 to keep providing services in several areas where it already operates.

Aggressive bidding by Reliance Industries could boost prices at the auction, at which the cash-strapped government is hoping to raise at least $1.8 billion, analysts say. Reliance’s planned entry could force Bharti and other telecom players to raise capital expenditure to improve services and may even trigger a new tariff price war, analysts say. After gaining, Bharti shares reversed gear to close down 1.52 percent at 301.65 rupees as sentiment was knocked by an Economic Times report that the company could face a 10-billion-rupee tax bill over transfer of telecom tower assets in an infrastructure-sharing joint venture. A Bharti spokesman called the report “frivolous” and told AFP the telecom giant has always followed the “highest tax compliance standards”.

Bharti’s Africa operations, which it purchased for $10.6 billion in 2010 to expand its global footprint, meanwhile, continue to face headwinds. The Africa division has yet to declare a profit and it added 36 percent fewer customers during the third quarter compared to a year earlier. — AFP

London’s Heathrow to become the world’s busiest airport for international traffic. Last year Heathrow’s traffic rose 3.4 percent to 72.3 million people, according to data released by the airport. Dubai’s double-digit traffic growth rates in recent years have been based on the emirate’s tourism and trade booms. Flagship airline Emirates and budget carrier flydubai are expanding their route networks in Africa, eastern Europe and elsewhere, while the airport last year opened a dedicated terminal for Airbus A380 superjumbo jets.

Rebound in fuel oil to support Arab Medium, Heavy SINGAPORE: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to cut the official selling price (OSP) for its flagship Arab Light crude in March for a second straight month to reflect a weaker Dubai market, traders said yesterday. The March OSP for Arab Light could fall by 30-60 cents from February to hit the lowest in seven months, a survey of four refiners showed.

The front-month price spread for Dubai has narrowed in backwardation as Japan and South Korea have cut output on lower demand for heating fuel in a mild winter. In a backwardated market, front-month prices are higher than those in future months. A fall in Saudi crude OSPs will ease the pres-

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 75.537 77.931 735.840 752.360 77.142

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lira Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 39.600 40.250 1.321 176.200 400.010 1.900 2.018 35.394

US Dollar Transfer Euro Sterling Pound Canadian dollar Turkish lira Swiss Franc Australian Dollar US Dollar Buying 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES 283.150 387.920 470.600 254.750 130.960 315.660 250.160 281.950 GOLD 240.000 121.000 62.500

sure on Asian refiners, allowing margins to rise.

Crude demand in the second quarter will be curbed by a peak refinery maintenance season. Middle East crude also faced rising competition from large inflows of North Sea Forties to South Korea as well as higher Russian ESPO exports. For Arab Extra Light, its March OSP could fall as much as 90 cents a barrel, weighed down by Dubai and a slightly weaker naphtha crack, traders said.

Yet, supply of this grade could tighten for a second straight month due to field maintenance which could lead to a smaller price cut. For Arab Heavy, a rebound in fuel oil mar-

gins in the past month was likely to offset the impact of weak Dubai prices, traders said.

Fuel oil’s discount to Dubai narrowed to an average of about $10 a barrel so far this month, compared with an average of $12.44 in December, Reuters data showed.

Saudi crude OSPs are usually released around the fifth of each month, and set the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices. State oil giant Saudi Aramco sets its crude prices based on recommendations from customers and after calculating the change in the value of its oil over the past month, based on yields and product prices. — Reuters

Waha Capital seeks $700 million loan

INDIANAPOLIS: The corporate headquarters of WellPoint in Indianapolis. WellPoint Inc reported quarterly financial results yesterday. — AP

Insurer WellPoint’s Q4 profit drops 68% INDIANAPOLIS: WellPoint’s fourth-quarter earnings tumbled 68 percent, as customers of the nation’s second largest health insurer raced to use their coverage last fall before it became cancelled under the health care overhaul.

The Indianapolis company said yesterday that its medical expenses spiked 18 percent to $14.58 billion due in part to higher use of individual policies in advance of the overhaul’s coverage expansions, which unfolded this year. Insurers typically see a rise in use at the end of each year as patients pay up their deductible, or the out of pocket cost before most coverage starts, and then use their coverage before that deductible renews in the new year. But WellPoint said it also saw a jump in use from patients who wanted to take advantage of their policies while they still had them.

Millions of consumers nationwide received notices from their insurers last fall that their plans were being canceled because they didn’t meet coverage requirements established under the overhaul, the federal law that aims to cover millions of uninsured people.

Complaints over these notices eventually led President Obama to announce that people could keep their individual policies if state regulators approved. But WellPoint spokes-

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.743 4.555 2.686 2.162 2.853 222.950 36.474 3.636 6.270 8.626 0.271 0.273

2020, a senior executive said on Tuesday. Neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi’s international airport reported a 12.4 percent rise in passenger traffic for 2013 to 16.5 million passengers.

The airport, which is expanding its facilities to handle up to 30 million passengers a year by 2017, said it received 1.5 million air travellers in December, up 14.4 percent from a year earlier. Abu Dhabi handled 706,000 tons of air freight last year, up 24.4 percent; in December alone, cargo jumped 27.0 percent to 66,000 tons. — Reuters

Saudi Arabia to reduce March Arab Light OSP

EXCHANGE RATES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal transfer Irani Riyal cash

India remained Dubai’s single largest destination country last year with 8.4 million passengers, up 14.3 percent.

Britain was second with 5.1 million passengers, up 19.0 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia, up 34.2 percent to 4.8 million. Cargo volumes also hit a record in 2013, rising 6.8 percent to 2.44 million tons. In December, cargo rose 8.0 percent to 218,138 tons.

Dubai launched passenger services at its new AlMaktoum International airport last year and Emirates is expected to move operations to the new facility after

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 250.84 259.80 321.17 391.03 282.40 470.62 2.82 3.629 4.516 2.162 2.840 2.682 76.96 751.63 40.55 401.92 734.42 77.98 75.44

SELL CASH 247.84 260.80 319.17 392.03 285.40 473.62 2.84 3.898 4.816 2.597 3.375 2.790 77.42 753.70 41.15 407.57 741.72 78.53 75.84

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen

Selling Rate 283.600 261.685 466.275 386.095 311.250 748.845 77.190 78.745 76.495 399.680 40.678 2.168 4.607 2.687 3.643 6.276 696.580 3.715

woman Kristin Binns said health care use started climbing after customers received their notices and before Obama made that announcement in November. The insurer runs Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, and its biggest market, California, did not allow for plans to be continued. The insurer did not say how many of its customers received cancellation notices.

Nationwide, The Associated Press has estimated that a total of at least 4.2 million people received the notices. The overhaul helped many of them find new coverage by providing income-based tax credits that customers can use to buy a plan on state-based insurance exchanges that also started last fall.

Overall, WellPoint earned $148.2 million, or 49 cents per share, in the quarter that ended Dec 31. That’s down from $464.2 million, or $1.51 per share, in the final quarter of 2012. Earnings excluding one-time items totaled 87 cents per share. Analysts expected 86 cents per share, according to FactSet. Operating revenue jumped 16 percent to $17.65 billion. That excludes investment gains or losses. Analysts expected $17.8 billion. WellPoint said results also were affected by a charge it booked for unloading its 1-800Contacts business and by a higher income tax expense. The insurer’s stock dropped $1.05 to $83.25 in early premarket trading. — AP

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi Thai Bhat Turkish Lira

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital , the largest shareholder in New York-listed aircraft leasing firm AerCap Holdings, plans to raise a $700 million loan mainly to refinance existing debt, three banking sources aware of the matter said. Waha, in which Abu Dhabi government investment fund Mubadala owns 16 percent, has picked HSBC Holdings and First Gulf Bank to help arrange the five-year loan, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information is not yet public. Most of the cash will be used to refinance a $505 million debt facility maturing in June, with the remainder to be used by the company for corporate purposes, two of the sources said.

Waha plans to complete the loan by the end of February, they said. A Waha spokeswoman in Abu Dhabi was not available for comment. The Gulf loan market has begun 2014 with a flurry of activity compared with the more piecemeal starts to recent years, with corporates and state-linked entities taking advantage of the current low interest rate environment to replace more expensive financing taken out during and immediately after the global financial crisis.Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Steel is talking with banks for a $1.3 billion loan to help refinance an existing facility and raise cash to purchase assets from its parent firm. Investment banking fees from syndicated lending increased 38 percent to $303 million in 2013, accounting for 42 percent of total Middle Eastern fees, the highest share since 2004, according to Thomson Reuters data. Waha is eyeing acquisitions worth up to 500 million dirhams ($136.2 million) in the United Arab Emirates’ healthcare and education sectors as part of its diversification strategy, its chief executive said in an interview in November.

The firm has also said it will vote in favour of AerCap Holdings’ $5.4 billion acquisition of American International Group Inc’s aircraft leasing unit. Waha Capital is AerCap’s largest shareholder with a 26.3 percent stake. Should the deal complete, Waha’s holding will be reduced to about 14 percent. — Reuters

Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

2.985 3.880 86.870 47.290 9.625 127.300

0.006522 0.000069 0.218808 0.019872 0.001894 0.009223 0.008314

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar

Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint

Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee

BUY Europe 0.007360 0.462133 0.006027 0.047689 0.380685 0.042077 0.085006 0.008113 0.039947 0.307729 0.124159

SELL 0.008360 0.471133 0.018027 0.052689 0.388185 0.047277 0.85006 0.018113 0.044947 0.317929 0.131159

Australasia 0.240697 0.227727

0.252197 0.237227

America 0.248318 0.279050 0.279550

0.256818 0.283400 0.283400

Asia 0.003511 0.045458 0.034383 0.004163 0.000018 0.002655 0.003282 0.000254 0.082376 0.003075 0.002425

0.004111 0.048958 0.037133 0.004564 0.000024 0.002835 0.003282 0.000269 0.088376 0.003245 0.002705

Arab 0.744605 0.037193 0.000078 0.000184 0.395147 1.0000000 0.000138 0.024445 0.001198 0.729422 0.077064 0.074870 0.002170 0.171256 0.124159 0.076109 0.001286

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.006802 0.000075 0.224808 0.028372 0.002474 0.009403 0.008864

0.752605 0.040293 0.000080 0.000244 0.402647 1.0000000 0.000238 0.048445 0.001833 0.735102 0.078277 0.075570 0.002390 0.179256 0.131159 0.077258 0.001366

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 282.600 388.650 470.250 255.000 4.528 40.246 2.159 3.635 6.260 2.685 752.450 77.000 75.500

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

BUSINESS

Saudi non-oil economic growth remains strong NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Economic growth in Saudi Arabia slowed in 2013 on the back of a small contraction in oil GDP and a moderation in non-oil sector growth.

Recent labor market disruptions are believed to have impacted activity in the latter. Over the medium-term, growth should remain relatively solid, supported by high oil prices and implementation of large government projects. Nevertheless, an easing in private sector activity and a moderation in the pace of overall government spending - as well as heavy downward revisions to official data have seen us lower our growth forecasts; we now expect non-oil growth of 4-5 replace in both 2014 and 2015, compared to up to 6 replace before.

Recent data point to softening in the pace of non-oil private sector activity. The Purchasing Managers’ Index trended lower through 2013, credit growth has eased slightly (though remains strong), and ATM and point-of-sale figures are off their highs. This may be partly linked to recent labor market initiatives and Saudization efforts which have led to a crackdown on illegal foreign workers. The full impact of these policies on private sector activity has yet to manifest, but there are downside risks in the near-term: increased labor costs, disruptions to labor-intensive sectors (especially construction and retail), and weaker domestic consumption levels. Government infrastructure projects and rapid population growth should nevertheless continue to provide underlying support for steady growth in non-oil GDP. Saudi Arabian oil production rebounded by more than 1 mbpd in the 9 months to September 2013 to a peak of 10.2 mbpd, partly to compensate for output disruptions in Libya and Iraq. Since then, output has once again fallen back. As demand weakens and non-OPEC supply continues to rise, Saudi Arabia - given its unofficial role as OPEC’s swing producer - is seen making more significant cuts in 1H 2014 in order to keep prices close to $100 pb. We expect real oil GDP to fall in 2014 by some 2 replace, before stabilizing in 2015.

Inflation edged higher in 2013, averaging 3.6

replace in the first 10 months. This was driven by higher inflation in the food and housing segments, both of which have eased of late. While food price inflation is expected to remain contained, pressures from residential rents could rise amid a shortage in affordable housing - a challenge that the government is trying to address through a house building program and new mortgage law.

However, steady economic growth and softer food prices should keep inflation at a moderate rate of around 3-4 replace over the forecast period.

The budget registered a lower, but still large, surplus of 7 replace of GDP in 2013. As oil prices slip further and revenues decline, the surplus is projected to continue to shrink to around 6-7 replace of GDP in 2014 and 2015 - despite moderating expenditure growth. Further fiscal consolidation could conceivably affect capital spending allocations. Nevertheless, a large number of infrastructure projects - including major transportation and power projects - will be financed off-budget, thereby mitigating the impact of any curb in spending.

Money and finance Some financial indicators have shown a slight softening in market conditions: both credit and monetary growth have slowed from their peaks.

But overall, the Saudi financial sector still looks in robust shape: banks are profitable and well-capitalized, lending growth is still strong and the stock market staged a significant rally in 2013.

Solid economic growth and implementation of large government projects should provide continued support for the financial sector in 2014.

Downside risks stem from a prolonging of the recent softening in private sector activity and possible instability in global markets.

Growth in liquidity has eased somewhat in recent months. Annual growth in the broad money supply (M3) decelerated from a 2-year high of 16 replace in May 2013 to 10 replace in October.

Growth in the shor t-term measure M1 also

slowed from 19 replace in mid-2013 to an 11month low of 15 replace, as a result of weaker growth in demand deposits - which make up more than 60 replace of total banking system deposits.

Growth in private credit eased back slightly in 2H 2013, though is still very firm. Lending growth edged down from its 4-year high of 17 replace in May 2013 to 13 replace in October. The latest softening could be partly explained by the recent slowdown in private sector activity. But the slow-

down may also be reducing credit growth to healthier, more sustainable levels.

While corporate loans have traditionally accounted for the bulk of lending, banks have increasingly focused their attention on the smaller retail lending segment. The latter has offered higher margins in a low interest-rate environment. In 2Q13, consumer loans grew by some 22 replace y/y compared with 13 replace for corporate loans. The new mortgage law should also help lift demand for home loans, although its impact will likely be gradual.

The continuing flow of major infrastructure projects is expected to provide Saudi banks with new lending opportunities going forward. Given the low interest rate environment and reliance on short-term deposit-based funding, Saudi banks have increasingly tapped the Islamic bond market as an alternative source of funds. This should support loan growth, and provide longer-term funding for large-scale projects and mortgages.

Saudi banks’ balance sheets have continued to make significant gains. Commercial bank assets increased by 11 replace y/y in the first ten months of 2013, driven by the continued rise in private sector claims. However, purchases of government securities have recently been growing at a much faster pace, and now account for 12 replace of all bank assets, up from 10 replace at the end of 2012.

SAMA has maintained its key policy rates - the repo and reverse repo rates - at 2 replace and 0.25 replace respectively. The three-month interbank rate (SAIBOR) was more or less unchanged through 2013, at 1 replace. This could suggest that - despite slower monetary growth - liquidity levels in the system remain comfortable.

The Saudi stock market made significant gains in 2013, with the index reaching its highest level since the financial crisis. The market was up 22 replace in the eleven months to November, led by strong growth in the tourism, retail, real estate and transportation sectors.

BoE’s Carney flags euro-style risks for independent Scotland ‘Euro area demonstrated clear risks’

PARIS: Kia Provo ecrin concept car is displayed at the concept cars exhibition at the 29th International Automobile Festival in Paris yesterday. (Below) The Icona Vulcano concept car is displayed. The exhibition is open to the public until Sunday. — AP

EDINBURGH: An independent Scotland that keeps the pound would have to give up some national sovereignty to avoid the kind of risks exposed by the euro-zone crisis, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said yesterday.

Carney, speaking in detail for the first time on issues related to September’s independence referendum, said he would not be drawn on whether Scots would be better off if they voted to break away from the rest of the United Kingdom. In a speech to Scottish business leaders, he stressed that any talks between a breakaway Scotland and London would have to find a range of agreements to avoid “clear risks” that could threaten a currency union. These would include “tight fiscal rules” and a banking union. “Those risks have been demonstrated clearly in the euro area over recent years, with sovereign debt crises, financial fragmentation and large divergences in economic performance,” Carney said.

He said the euro-zone was starting to fix its institutional shortcomings but “further, very significant steps” still had to be taken to pool resources and share risks. “In short, a durable, successful currency union requires some ceding of national sovereignty,” Carney said. He listed the benefits and potential pitfalls for countries which share the same currency, including the “potentially large costs” of giving up an independent monetary policy and a flexible exchange rate.

The Canadian noted the deep economic inte-

gration between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, which buys 70 percent of Scottish exports.

A word of caution applies here,” he said. “The high degree of integration between Scotland and the rest of the UK may in part depend on their being part of the same sovereign nation.”

Carney, making his first visit to Scotland since taking over as BoE governor last year, had earlier met Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, a champion of Scottish independence.

Salmond’s Scottish National Party, which runs Scotland’s devolved government, and defenders of the three-centuries-old union with England are locked in an increasingly bitter debate over the rewards and risks of independence. On Tuesday, Salmond said that Carney’s predecessor, Mervyn King, had advised him privately that Britain’s finance ministry would soften its negotiating stance if he won an independence vote. The BoE declined to comment on Salmond’s remarks.

Central to the SNP’s vision of an independent Scotland, if it wins the Sept. 18 referendum, is the creation of a currency union with the rest of the United Kingdom.

The SNP proposes that as part of that plan, the Bank of England should act as lender of last resort for Scottish banks and an independent Scotland should have a voice within the BoE. British finance minister George Osborne has said the rest of Britain might be unwilling to let an

Fiat changes name; profits disappoint

Russian ruble extends losses despite Turkey rate rise MOSCOW: The slumping ruble fell further yesterday as traders largely overlooked Turkey’s aggressive interest rate rise to focus on the possibility of further moves by Russia’s Central Bank to devalue the currency. The dollar was up 0.1 percent to 34.88 rubles at 1:00 pm (0900 GMT) and seemed poise to add further to a five-year high it established against the Russian currency this week.

The euro was also up 0.2 percent to 47.68 rubles on the Moscow Exchangethe range of an historic high it first set on Monday. Russia’s Central Bank meanwhile announced that it had spent more than $1.1 billion (800 million euros) propping up the ruble on Monday as emerging market currencies plunged in value across the world.

The figure represented the highest rate of Central Bank intervention for more than two years and was four times the amount it had spent on the Moscow Exchange the previous trading day.

The Central Bank yesterday also moved higher for the 11th time this

month the currency ’s trading band against a mixed basket of dollars and euros.

Bank governors automatically raise the band they use to determine monetary policy by five kopeks when the ruble comes under significant selling pressure.

They moved that corridor up by 15 kopeks on Monday. Traders said the ruble was relieved of some pressure by the Turkish central bank’s overnight decision to hike interests rates well above expectations in a move meant to prop up the lira and stem the flow of investors from emerging markets. But sentiment once against turned against the Russian currency when the Central Bank’s First Deputy Chairwoman Ksenya Yudayeva told The Wall Street Journal that stress tests showed Russian banks being able could handle a 30-percent ruble depreciation. Russia’s Central Bank has diminished the amount of its direct interventions on the market as it moves to a fully floating exchange rate by the start of next year. — AFP

MILAN: Italian car giant Fiat announced yesterday it was changing its name after completing the purchase of US automaker Chrysler to “Fiat Chrysler Automobiles” and would list its shares in New York and Milan. “In order to establish a true peer to the major global automotive groups, in both scale and capital market appeal, the Board has decided to establish Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., organized in the Netherlands, as the parent company of the Group,” the group said in a statement.

Fiat chairman John Elkann said the name change heralded “a new chapter”.

“A journey that started over a decade ago, as Fiat sought to ensure its place in an increasingly complex marketplace, has brought together two organizations each with a great history in the automotive industry and different but complementary geographic strengths,” he said.

“FCA allows us to face the future with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor,” he added. The company said Fiat shareholders would receive one FCA common share for each Fiat share they hold. FCA will be resident in the UK for tax purposes. Earlier yesterday, Fiat reported 2013 results which were below analysts’ expectations and said it would be waiving dividends, causing shares in the group to plummet.

The carmaker reported a trading profit of 931 million euros ($1.27 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2013, less than the 1.5 billion euros forecast by analysts.—AFP

independent Scotland keep the pound. The SNP has responded by suggesting that Scotland might in return refuse to take on its share of Britain’s 1.2 trillion pounds ($2.0 trillion) of government debt.

In his speech yesterday, Carney said Britain’s existing banking system had proved “durable and efficient” and allowed Scotland to have banks that were much bigger than its economy.

“The euro area has shown the dangers of not having such arrangements, as well as the difficulties of the necessary pooling of sovereignty to build them,” he said. “An independent Scotland would need to consider carefully how to develop arrangements with the continuing United Kingdom that are both consistent with its sovereignty and sufficient to maintain financial stability.”

With the independence campaign lagging in opinion polls, financial markets have so far shown little concern about the chance of Scotland leaving the UK, and taking a chunk of North Sea oil and gas with it. But a poll published on Sunday showed the pro-independence campaign starting to gain ground, with 37 percent in favor of independence, 44 percent against and 19 percent unsure, according to a survey by polling company ICM. Last month the British Treasury said it would honor all existing government debt regardless of whether Scots vote for independence, a move aimed at preventing volatility in borrowing costs before the referendum. — Reuters

Obama presses case for higher US minimum wage WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama urged Congress to raise the federal minimum wage, challenging legislators to help reverse income disparity across the country. Frustrated by legislator inaction on the issue over the past year, Obama announced his own limited move, an executive order to raise by nearly 40 percent the $7.25-an-hour base wage for a few million federal contract workers.

But Obama said Congress also needed to move to increase the national minimum to help working American families pull out of grinding poverty. “Say yes. Give America a raise. Give them a raise!” Obama told Congress in his State of the Union speech.

Obama pointed out that the $7.25 national minimum is effectively 20 percent lower than the minimum of a quarter-century ago, when Republican president Ronald Reagan was in office. He urged the legislature to support a bill already submitted that would hike the national rate to $10.10. “This will help families. It will give businesses customers with more money to spend,” he said. Obama lauded five states which in the past year have increased their own floor wage rates, and praised companies that pay more than they have to.

“Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too.”

The push for higher wages comes as the slow recovery from the 2008 to 2009 economic crisis sees wealthy Americans earning more than ever but real wages for others still below where they were.

With their eye toward Congressional elections in November this year, Democrats are pressing the issue of income inequality in hopes of gaining the upper hand over rival Republicans. Obama stressed that most people accept that some will earn more than others. But he added: “Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.” He announced he would soon issue an executive order requiring government contractors to pay their workers at least $10.10 an hour, skirting the need for Congressional approval.

That would potentially boost the incomes of hundreds of thousands of workers cleaning government buildings or working low-skilled jobs on military bases.

“Because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty,” he said. He also proposed other new measures to help poorer citizens, including a new “starter” retirement savings plan that will have government backing and broader tax credits for lowincome families. In addition, he called on Congress to reinstate unemployment support payments for some 1.6 million jobless Americans that were cut off at the beginning of the year as part of a budget deal.

The move to bring higher wages to workers on government contract jobs garnered measured support from liberal groups hoping it is a first step to a broader increase in the minimum. The Economic Policy Institute has estimated that one in five contract workers are “working for poverty wages”. —AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

BUSINESS

Turkish rate hike boost fades, focus on Fed LONDON: The boost to Turkey’s lira from a round of huge interest rate hikes quickly faded yesterday, while the rand fell as the market focus switched to monetary policy decisions due later in the day in South Africa and from the US Federal Reserve. Turkish debt insurance costs fell and the country’s recent dollar bond rallied after the central bank jacked up all of its interest rates late on Tuesday, in a move investors saw as long overdue.

The biggest immediate impact of the move was on the lira, which initially rose more than 3 percent but later eased off session highs to stand at 2.22 as of 1050 GMT, still up nearly 1 percent on the day.

“The Turkish rate move was more aggressive than many people had expected. That was the good part of the story,” said Ulrich Leuchtmann,

head of currency research at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “But the market had to force this activity. There is still a fear in the market that the central bank does not have a reaction function.”

Turkey’s central bank move follows a massive lira sell-off caused by the prospect of a reduction in US stimulus that has sucked investor cash out of the most vulnerable emerging economies. Investors deem real interest rates in these markets too low to compensate for growing economic and political risks.

Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek addressed one of those concerns yesterday, saying that economic growth will not be severely damaged by the rate hikes and that it is too early to adjust the government’s forecast of 4 percent growth this year. The rate rise fol-

lows similar moves across the developing world, with India unexpectedly raising rates this week and Brazil and Indonesia already in policy-tightening mode.

But Malaysia’s central bank left rates unchanged yesterday, taking the ringgit to the day’s lows. And with the US Federal Reserve expected to announce plans later to shave another $10 billion off its monthly bond buying, emerging markets remained fragile.

South Africa South Africa’s rand gave up early gains to drop 1.7 percent towards recent five-year lows, while currencies such as Hungary’s forint also suffered, dropping 1 percent. Analysts expect South Africa’s central bank to keep its interest rates unchanged at 1300 GMT. Swap markets,

however, are pricing in a roughly quarter point rate hike, and banks say 100 basis points in policy tightening is factored in for the next six months.

South African bond markets have seen heavy outflows in recent sessions, with the benchmark yield having risen 30 bps since the start of this week. “Although the (central bank) will be very reluctant to hike rates in such a weak growth environment, failure to do so risks South Africa getting left in the wake of other emerging markets that have been hiking aggressively,” analysts at Tradition said in a note.

Others, however, point to South Africa’s weak domestic demand and lower inflation compared to Turkey or India and reckon an interest rate rise is unlikely. “The slowdown in Chinese demand and the fall in mining output

because of strikes have been at the root of export weakness and the current account deficit. I am not sure (a rate hike) will solve South Africa’s external problems,” said Claire Dissaux, head of economics and strategy at Millennium Global.

On equities, the main emerging index rose nearly 1 percent off 4-1/2 month lows, but Turkish stocks reversed early gains to drop 1 percent. Ukraine’s debt insurance costs fell, according to Markit, after the country’s prime minister resigned on Tuesday, although Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country to CCC+ with a negative outlook, citing rising political instability. The move comes a month after the agenc y raised Ukraine’s outlook, following Kiev’s $15 billion bail-out by Russia. — Reuters

TOKYO: Women chat in front of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. Global stock markets rose as jitters about emerging economies were soothed by the Turkish central bank’s aggressive interest rate hike to stabilize its currency and China’s infusion of funds into its banking system. — AP

Gold drops ahead of Fed LONDON: Gold eased yesterday as a stock market rally curbed interest in the metal as an alternative investment, but moves were muted as traders awaited news later on whether the US Federal Reserve will further taper its bond-buying program.

The precious metal has retreated from the 10-week high it hit in Asian trading hours on Monday as stock markets recovered from losses linked to a sell-off in emerging markets. Equities rallied further on Wednesday after Turkey stunned investors with a huge hike in interest rates, stirring hopes that drastic action would short-circuit a vicious cycle of selling in emerging markets and revive risk appetite.

Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at $1,255.00 an ounce at 1033 GMT, while US gold futures for February delivery edged up by $4.30 an ounce to $1,255.10. Earlier this week it hit a peak of $1,278.01 as world stocks tumbled.

“You tend to have a knee-jerk reaction when equities go down, the VIX (volatility index) goes up, and people move into gold. Gold has benefited from that side of the equation,” Natixis analyst Nic Brown said.

“With the action from a variety of central banks this week, equity markets have at least calmed down, and once we get through whatever (the Federal Reserve) is going to do later this evening, things should settle down.” In an statement at the end of their twoday policy meeting at 1900 GMT, Fed policymakers are expected to announce they will cut monthly purchases of Treasuries and mortgagebacked securities by $5 billion each, bringing the total of their monthly asset purchases to $65 billion.

Expectations that the Fed would rein in the extraordinary measures it put in place to boost the U.S. economy after the financial crisis were a major factor

driving the 28 percent fall in gold prices last year.

Although a steady scaling back of the program is now largely priced into the market, any sign that it is moving more quickly or slowly than expected could still affect gold prices.

Chinese buying slows Chinese buying has slowed this week as traders and consumers wrap up for the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on Jan 31. Chinese markets will be closed until Feb 6.

Premiums for 99.99 percent purity gold on the Shanghai Gold Exchange fell to about $5.50 an ounce yesterday from $7 in the previous session. They were as high as $20 in early January.

Trading volumes on the exchange yesterday were a little over 8 tons, the lowest since Dec 31.

Demand for ‘new’ jewellery in India until recently the world’s largest bullion buyer - was fairly light as most consumers make use of old gold jewellery recycled into new pieces for the wedding season, dealers said. Premiums stayed steady at $80 an ounce over London prices.

Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.3 percent at $19.61 an ounce.

Spot platinum was down 0.1 percent at $1,403.75 an ounce, while spot palladium was up 0.2 percent at $715.60 an ounce. Government-brokered talks between the world’s top three platinum producers and South Africa’s striking AMCU union continued on Wednesday as miners gathered for a rally near Lonmin’s Marikana operation. The impact of the strike on platinum prices has been subdued.

“Producers stockpiled platinum ahead of the wage negotiations in order to absorb potential shortfall from mine output losses,” HSBC said in a note. — Reuters

Brent rises towards $108 ahead of Fed LONDON: Brent crude oil edged up towards $108 a barrel yesterday as investors waited to hear the latest development in US monetary stimulus program with prices supported as concerns of turmoil in emerging economies eased.

Asian markets rallied and most other risk assets improved, supporting oil, after Turkey stunned investors with a huge hike in interest rates, stirring hopes the drastic action would short-circuit a vicious cycle of selling in emerging markets and revive risk appetite.

Brent rose 15 cents to $107.56 a barrel by 1202 GMT. US oil fell 23 cents to $97.18, after settling at its highest since Dec 31.

“We still do not anticipate a sustained price rebound for either benchmark, and especially Brent, from here,” said VTB Capital PLC oil strategist Andrey Kryuchenkov.

“Attention is to turn to the broader market later tonight, as the US Federal Reserve releases its January policy statement.”

Brent has declined 3 percent this month following three straight months of gains.

US oil has lost 1.3 percent this month, but that follows a steep gain of 6 percent in December, the largest since July.

The price difference between the two contracts held above $10 a barrel.

Financial markets are waiting for the result of a meeting of the US Federal Reserve, due to finish on Wednesday, where the central bank is widely expected to trim its monetary stimulus by another $10 billion per month. “Oil markets continue to oscillate between quantitative easing tapering, emerging market concerns, and physical supply/demand,” analysts at ANZ Bank said in a note.

Investors are also awaiting inventory data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), due later in the day, to gauge the country’s demand outlook.

Crude inventories rose by 4.7 million barrels in the week to Jan. 24 to 360.4 million, the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday, topping analysts’ expectations for an increase of 2.3 million.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 1.8 million barrels, compared with expectations for a 2.2 million barrel drop, the data showed.

Further support for oil is coming from supply concerns from the Middle East.

Spillover attacks from the civil war in Syria have hindered development of Iraq’s gas and oil reserves and a major pipeline to the Mediterranean has been blown up dozens of times, Iraq’s top energy official said on Tuesday. — Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

BUSINESS

Indonesians still world’s most bullish consumers US consumer sentiment dips in Q4: Survey LONDON: Indonesians remained the world’s most bullish consumers in the final quarter of 2013 while Americans were slightly less willing to spend than in the previous quarter, a global survey showed. In the euro-zone, confidence rose sharply in Ireland, which successfully completed its EU/IMF bailout program late last year, and improved in Germany and Spain.

But sentiment plunged in France and Portugal and slipped in Greece and Italy, according to the quarterly survey by global information and insights company Nielsen.

Countries in Asia, including India and China, and the Gulf continued to dominate the list of most upbeat consumer markets although Brazil, Denmark and Canada also featured in the top 10 markets, the survey, released yesterday, showed. The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index stayed at 94 in the fourth quarter for a third straight quarter, but was up 3 points from the same period a year earlier.

A reading below 100, however, signals still relatively low consumer morale.

Consumer sentiment in the United States slipped four points from a six-year high in the third

quarter although it was five points higher than in the fourth quarter of 2012. “The lack of additional recent improvement in US consumer sentiment is, in some measure, surprising given the improvements in employment, stock market values and housing that occurred over 2013,” said Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen.

“It is likely that this is a reflection of the uneven manner in which such gains have been made, and also that levels of underemployment and long-term unemployment remain high, with many workers remaining discouraged and not participating in the workforce.” In Japan, stock market gains did seem to have an impact, Nielsen said, helping consumer confidence jump by 6 points from the third quarter to its highest level since 2005. Nielsen was cautious about the outlook for Japanese consumer confidence in the second half of this year however, given a planned increase in sales tax in April.

Nielsen was confident that despite a slip back at the end of last year confidence in the United States, the world’s biggest consumer market, would pick up

again in 2014 as economic growth gains momentum, supporting the global economy. “The positive growth trajectory for the US is likely to continue in 2014, and with continued improvement in job quantity and quality, along with a housing recovery, US consumer sentiment is likely to grow as well,” Bala said.

The Nielsen survey was conducted between Nov 11 and 29 and covered more than 30,000 online consumers across 60 markets. — Reuters Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index in the fourth quarter, 2013 (change from Q3 survey in brackets): Top 10 index readings Indonesia 124 (+4) India 115 (+3) Philippines 114 (-4) China 111 (+1) Brazil, UAE 110 (+1.-1) Thailand 109 (-3) Denmark, Hong Kong 105 (+2,-1)

Peru Saudi Arabia New Zealand, Canada

102 (+8) 101 (+4) 100 (+3,+3)

Bottom 10 index readings Finland 67 (-1) Slovakia 65 (+5) Ukraine 63 (+4) Romania, Bulgaria 62 (-4,-1) Spain 58 (+2) Serbia 54 (-2) France, Hungary 51(-10,+6) South Korea 49 (-5) Greece 45 (-3) Portugal, Croatia 44(-11,-4 Slovenia, Italy -3,-3) Global consumer confidence average94 (0) United States 94 (-4) Germany 95 (+3) UK 84 (-3) Japan 80 (+6)

ECB confronts further signs of weak growth Bank mulls on adding more stimulus

ISTANBUL: People walk by an electric board showing currency rates at a money exchange brokerage in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey’s central bank has sharply raised its key interest rate to 12 percent from 7.75 percent to try to stave off inflation and support the national currency, which has fallen sharply in recent weeks. — AP

Rate hike spared Turkey’s credibility: Simsek ISTANBUL: Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek played down the impact on growth of a sharp hike in interest rates yesterday, saying the economy would have suffered greater damage from a loss of faith in the central bank. The bank raised all its key interest rates in dramatic fashion at an emergency policy meeting late on Tuesday, ignoring opposition from Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as it battles to defend the crumbling lira currency.

The boldness of the actions stunned investors, sending the lira higher and driving a broad revival in global risk appetite, but it raised the prospect of Turkey missing its four percent growth target this year, something Erdogan has been keen to avoid with an election cycle starting in two months.

“If we don’t preserve credibility, growth would lose ground on a much bigger scale, it would weaken much more rapidly,” Simsek told Turkish broadcaster NTV when asked about the midnight rate hike announcement. “There has been a rapid comeback in the exchange rate, which is an indicator of regaining credibility,” he said.

The lira strengthened to 2.18 to the dollar in the immediate aftermath of the rate hike, a sharp rise from the record low of 2.39 it hit on Monday. It pared some of its gains by 1030 GMT however, trading at 2.21. The cost of insuring Turkish debt fell to a three-week low, according to data from Markit.

Erdogan has been a vociferous opponent of higher borrowing costs, railing against what he describes as an “interest rate lobby” of speculators seeking to stifle growth and undermine the economy.

Hours before Tuesday night’s decision he reiterated that he was opposed to interest rate hikes. His stance had left the central bank struggling to contain the lira’s precipitous slide, with investor confidence damaged by a corruption scandal shaking the government and the global impact of a cut in US monetary stimulus.

“The impact of the rate hike on growth would certainly be negative. However, without a hike the lira was in free fall. That would hurt economic activity much more,” said Mehmet Besimoglu, chief economist at Oyak Securities. — Reuters

FRANKFURT MAIN: Juergen Fitschen (left) and Anshu Jain, co-CEOs of Deustche Bank, Germany’s biggest lender, chat in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany yesterday at their annual results press conference. — AFP

FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank is facing more signs of weakness in the economy of the 18 countries that use the euro as it weighs whether to add more stimulus.

Official data yesterday showed that bank lending to companies fell again in December, by 3 percent. That was an improvement over the previous month’s 3.8 percent fall but indicates economic activity remains subdued. The figures suggest the ECB’s stimulus measures, such as low interest rates and generous credit to banks, are still not fully reaching the wider economy. Another key indicator, the growth of the supply of money in the economy, slowed to 1 percent, far below the 4.5 percent guideline. The ECB says it stands ready to take more action if it sees signs that the recovery could stall.

That could mean another rate cut or more loans to banks. Yesterday’s data add to worries about low inflation. Inflation was only 0.8 percent in December, well below the bank’s goal of just under 2 percent. That has raised concerns about deflation, a crippling downward

spiral of prices and wages that chokes off growth. Despite warnings from some economists, Draghi has said the euro-zone is not falling into deflation. The ECB is also keeping an eye on short-term interest rates in money markets after a brief rise in the rate at which banks lend to each other overnight. That could be a problem if it persists because the ECB wants to keep interest rates as low as possible so that higher borrowing costs are not passed along to the economy.

Analysts say the reasons for the rise Jan. 16-21 were not entirely clear but have noted that the amount of cash in the banking system has fallen as they repay loans they had received from the ECB. The rates have since dropped back, but the ECB has said that a clear rise in short-term rates would be one thing that could push it to take more action. The bank holds its next interest rate meeting February 6. Economists at Commerzbank say that low inflation means the ECB could cut its benchmark rate to 0.1 percent at its monthly meeting in March. — AP

Mulberry shares plunge as UK discounts hit profits LONDON: Shares in Mulberry plunged by over a quarter yesterday as the British luxury fashion company warned annual profit would be well below forecasts due to heavy Christmas discounting in the UK and weak demand in South Korea. The warning is a blow to Mulberry boss Bruno Guillon, who has hiked prices to take its brand more upmarket from a traditional position of “affordable luxury”, and embarked on a drive to increase the company’s profile overseas, targeting affluent Asian shoppers with new stores in key tourist spots.

Those efforts were undone by fierce and early discounting by UK retailers ahead of Christmas, which meant Mulberry - whose sale began on Dec 26 - lost out as shoppers chose much cheaper rivals such as Michael Kors and Coach. Retail analyst Nick Bubb said the transition from a UK success story into a global brand did not appear to be going well: “It’s all gone a bit wrong for poor old Mulberry since the spring of 2012, just after Bruno Guillon joined as CEO from Hermes, when its share price was nearly 2500p and the market cap was getting on for 1.5 billion pounds ($2.49 billion).”

Guillon told Reuters profit for the year to March 31 was expected to be around 19 million pounds, almost 8 million below analyst forecasts. The warning sent Mulberry shares down some 26 percent, hitting their lowest since November 2010 and reducing its market cap by around 140 million pounds to 400 million. Despite an unhappy Christmas, which was compounded by a significant cancellation of wholesale orders from over-stocked Korean retailers, the group is sticking to its growth strategy, Guillon said. “The plan stays the same.

The strategy’s exactly the same,” he said. “I think that all this is showing is that we still depend very much on the UK and it has a strong impact on us. We need to reduce the dependence and the only way to do that is to go and be more present outside the UK.” Goldman Sachs analysts, who downgraded Mulberry shares to “neutral” from “buy” on Dec. 20, said yesterday it would now take longer to realize the potential in the Mulberry brand.

This “is reflected in this statement by the continued revenue growth slowdown compounded by cost growth as the store opening

program continues,” they said in a note. Total retail sales for the 17 weeks to Jan. 25 were down 3 percent on a year ago, the firm said, which included a 7 percent decline for the crucial eight weeks to Jan. 25. International sales rose 40 percent year on year. Adding to a tough home market, Mulberry said cancellations in Korea meant full-year wholesale sales, worth 35 percent of group turnover, would be 10 percent down on a year ago.

That fall would wipe out retail sales growth over the year, the firm said, and when combined with the costs associated with its recent store opening program, would mean full-year profits substantially below forecasts.

NO COMPROMISE Under Guillon, Mulberry, which made around 65 percent of its sales in the UK in 2013, has focused on improving the quality of its products and committed to making half of its handbags in England as it seeks a higherend position for the brand.

The company, which hired British celebrity model Cara Delevigne for its spring ad campaign, hopes more expensive ranges will help retain customers who previously upgraded to pricier brands, while a greater presence overseas will boost sales in regions like Asia and the United States, and in Europe as affluent tourists visit to buy luxury goods. “I cannot tell you when the strategy will really pick up. I think it will, because I think that what we do is really consistent all over the business. What is very important is not to compromise in our strategy,” Guillon said. The group said in December that while 60 percent of its bags were still on sale for under 1,000 pounds, new offers priced at up to 1,500 pounds were increasingly popular. Its latest Bayswater and Alexa bags sell for up to 4,500 pounds. The firm will open 15 stores in the year to March and expects to open another 10-17 in its new fiscal year, including a flagship store on Paris’s Rue Saint-Honore, a tourist hub that attracts around 1.4 million Chinese shoppers annually.

It added that it was in the final phase for appointing a new creative director after Emma Hill quit in September, but declined to give a time frame for an announcement. — Reuters

Deutsche Bank CEO: Q4 earnings ‘inadequate’ FRANKFURT: Deutsche Bank’s co-CEO said yesterday the bank’s fourth quarter earnings were “inadequate,” but vowed the bank was on track to strengthen its finances for the long term.

Germany’s biggest bank had a surprise loss of 965 million euros ($1.32 billion) in the fourth quarter, as earnings were burdened by 528 million in costs for court settlements and investigations into alleged past misconduct in the fourth quarter. Co-CEO Anshu Jain said at the bank’s annual news conference that “this management team is not happy with these results.” He

said they represented “an inadequate return to our shareholders.” Jain said the bank had put some of its biggest legal issues behind it and has continued to strengthen its capital buffer against losses by shedding risky investments. The company lost 3.2 billion euros last year as it sold off assets that it has set aside for disposal. However, Jain said that boosted the bank’s effective capital reserve by removing possible losses.

He said the bank was still dealing with litigation from past issues, but that some of its biggest legal woes are behind it. In December, it was fined 725 million euros by

the European Union over fixing interest-rate benchmarks. It also agreed to pay $1.9 billion to settle a lawsuit by US housing finance authorities over mortgagebacked securities. Jain said the bank making progress in instilling a more ethical culture through training and outreach to employees. “Cultural change in sweeping through our bank in all of our 70-plus locations,” Jain said. He underlined the bank’s new compensation practices, in which bonus pay is deferred for five years “and all of that can be clawed back if they are found to have engaged in wrongdoing.” — AP

FRANKFURT: EU commissioner for Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier gestures during his press conference yesterday on structural reform measures for the EU banking sector. — AFP

India quietly begins tryst with inflation targeting MUMBAI: Without explicitly saying so, the Reserve Bank of India has effectively begun to target inflation based on consumer prices, a dramatic shift in approach for a central bank that has struggled to manage the balance between growth and inflation. The RBI unexpectedly raised policy interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 8.00 percent on Tuesday.

In doing so, it cited a “glide path” towards lowering the consumer price index (CPI) below 8 percent by next January and 6 percent a year later-targets that were laid out in sweeping proposals released last week to revamp the way monetary policy is conducted in India. The core recommendation of the central bank panel headed by Deputy RBI Governor Urjit Patel was ultimately to bring down CPI inflation to 4 percent, plus or minus 2 percent.

While that would make policymaking more predictable and less prone to government pressure, it also means rates would stay high for longer as CPI inflation now stands at nearly 10 percent — the highest among major economies. Annual wholesale price inflation, long the favored benchmark in India, stood at 6.16 percent in December. “It appears that RBI is taking the responsibility head-on, saying that this is going to be their primary objective,” said Sonal Varma, economist at Nomura in Mumbai. “It’s a game-changer,” she said. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who took office in September with an ambitious agenda, has long expressed an inclination towards adopting retail inflation as the main price gauge, although many bank-watchers did not expect him to take up the panel’s recommendations so quickly.

PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT Inflation-targeting puts pressure on the government to meet its deficit-cutting targets, a challenge in a country prone to costly and inflationary spending programs. “The fact that RBI actually came out with an inflation number of 8 percent over the next one year consistent with Urjit Patel’s report in the policy review was a surprise,” said Saugata Bhattacharya, chief economist at Axis Bank.

Rajan stopped short of saying the RBI had adopted the panel’s inflation recommendation. The RBI did, however, formally adopt the proposal to review monetary policy every two months, from eight times a year previously. “We want to bring inflation down and the Urjit Patel committee gives us a glide path to bring inflation down,” Rajan said in a conference call with analysts yesterday.

“And, as we examine the details of the Urjit Patel committee report, we will take up more issues. And, as I said, some issues will have to be taken up with the government. Some we can do on our own.” Although the government has not taken an official stance on the reform proposals, Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram last week said it was premature to make CPI the nominal anchor for monetary policy.

While CPI is the benchmark in most countries, in India it has been plagued by the difficulty of gathering accurate data in a fast-growing economy with wide gaps between urban and rural spending patterns, a shortcoming statistics officials are working to address.

By using CPI to set its policy interest rate, the RBI wants to ensure that real interest rates are positive in a consumption-led economy with low levels of savings.

Retail inflation has been near or above 10 percent for three years.—Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

BUSINESS

Nissan Patrol Sales record 58% rise DUBAI: Nissan yesterday announced sales for December 2013 of 2249 Nissan Patrols across the GCC, an increase of 58% compared to 2012, representing an SUV market segment share of 28%.

The result represents a monthly sales record for the sixth generation of Patrol since it was introduced in 2010 and strengthens Nissan’s ambition to achieve a sales target of 20,000 Nissan Patrols across the GCC for the 2013 financial year, rising to 30,000 by the end of FY2016.

Its fusion of off-road capabilities, premium features and world-leading technology is being appreciated by an increasing number of the region’s car buying public. With the enhancements provided by the new model year, we are confident its sales momen-

tum will continue.” Nissan Patrol was developed specifically with the Middle East in mind and over 13,000 hours were invested by Nissan engineers in testing prototypes in the region before its 2010 launch. That tradition has been continued for the

Highlights: * Model Year 2014 Nissan Patrol introduced across the Middle East * Refreshed looks include front and rear styling upgrades * Features enhanced technologies such as latest generation Around View Monitor with Park Assist, and Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI) Samir Cher fan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East, said: “Nissan Patrol has been in high demand since it was introduced to the Middle East in the 1950s. Now in its sixth generation, it has become a part of the region’s fabric, a vital pillar of our business and a focus of our activities. Last year it achieved a Guinness World Record for ‘Heaviest aircraft pulled by any production vehicle’, helping to spread awareness of this exceptional vehicle.

Katib Belkhodja, Brand Manager for SUV & Crossover at Nissan Middle East, added: “Nissan Patrol’s recent sales success is due to demand spreading beyond its traditional customer base and out into the broader population of the Middle East.

2014 model with customer feedback being taken into consideration when deciding on enhancements. Those customers can also configure their own Nissan Patrol, choosing options, grades and powertrains while being informed of the changes to price, thanks to the Nissan Patrol ‘Car Builder’ website. Having browsed through and selected their ideal specification, the customer can choose to send the information on to the dealer, have it emailed to themselves for their own reference or just print it out.

MY2014 Nissan Patrol highlights The MY2014 Nissan Patrol features the third generation Around View Monitor (AVM) with parking assist. Using four cameras, the monitor displays a bird’s eye view of the vehicle to help you park the Patrol even in tight spots. This is complemented by the availability of Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI) which alerts the driver when a moving object is detected behind the vehicle when in reverse mode. The all-new Nissan Patrol comes with a refreshed styling both inside and out. A vigorous new bumper design is matched with a muscular grille pattern with surrounding chrome at the front.

LED headlamps with day time running light and pop-up headlamp washer are also added to the MY2014 Nissan Patrol while a new design of 20-inch machine-cut alloy wheels, and LED rear combination lamp and roof rails are introduced. The MY2014 Nissan Patrol is now available with new exterior colours - Grey Metallic and Pure White Pearl - as well as a new Tan interior colour.

Mideast to remain important region for oil & gas production US shale oil & gas revolution positive development: Jafar

CFC records remarkable growth in e-payments KUWAIT: Commercial Facilities Company “CFC” recorded an impressive growth in electronic payments during 2013 with an increase of 52% compared to the 165 thousand transactions made during 2012. The total number of payment transactions via the Internet during 2013 reached approximately 250 thousand transactions, with more than 20% through the “Android” and “IOS” applications; which were launched mid 2013.

Nasser A Al-Mannai, Assistant Managing Director of Marketing, CFC, stressed on the impor tance of Internet and smart phones as major networking channels, which are widely used by a large segment of customers , he said: “We are delighted to see the interest shown by our customers in using the electronic ser vices offered by our company, par ticularly the smar t phone applications available in both Arabic and English which have been highly popular, even though its launch period has not exceeded six months.”

Al-Mannai added: “ The ease of browsing the company’s website Nasser A Al-Mannai in its new look and distinct contents about the company, played a key role in briefing customers with information about the smart phone applications. Inquiries were also directly shared with the call center, in addition to the benefits of other services provided by CFC, including loan application, using the loan calculator, paying premiums through KNet service and quick payment”.

Al-Mannai further stated: “We have noticed that a large segment of our customers rely on the company’s electronic network with all its applications and search engines for the implementation of their transactions when they are not in the country. This interface gives them the opportunity to communicate directly and effectively with CFC, allowing them to take advantage of all the electronic services through the company website”.

Al-Mannai concluded: “We are committed to continue making progress in the technological field and be up to date with the latest innovative technological solutions providing the best quality of services to maintain a smooth transaction for the benefit of our valued customer.”

It is worth mentioning that the CFC is known in Kuwait for offering the best and latest personal finance secured products and services, with t speed and flexibility in conducting transactions, where loan requests take less than 24 hours.

Customers can pay monthly installments; inquire about their account balance and next installment due date through the “CFC” renewed website www.cfckw.com or the CFC Smartphone application that can be downloaded from the “App Store” or “Google Play Store”.”

Also Customers can submit applications at CFC’s main office in Sharq, or at any of the company ’s branches located in Hawalli, Al Riggae, Fahaheel and Al-Jahra, in addition to 21 company representatives spread between the main new and used car dealerships. And visiting the company page on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well.

DAVOS: Despite the rapid rise in shale oil & gas production in North America in recent years, the Middle East region will remain the most important region for the worldwide energy sector, according to a leading energy executive.

Speaking at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in a session entitled “The Future of Oil & Gas”, Majid Jafar, Chief Executive of Crescent Petroleum and Managing Director of the Board of Dana Gas PJSC described how the shale oil & gas revolution in the United States was a boost to the whole industry worldwide, increasing oil & gas consumption and stabilizing prices, while introducing new technologies and management techniques. In addition, he highlighted how the old theory of “peak oil” which expected oil production to reach a worldwide maximum and start declining is no longer considered the reality, with new discoveries and additional production worldwide expanding the future supply.

Majid Jafar currently serves as Chairman of the Oil & Gas Independent Companies Community as well as the Chairman of the Regional Business Community for the Middle East - North Africa region at the World Economic Forum. The Forum brings together business leaders and officials from across the world to discuss the economic priorities and developments facing the world.

During his comments in Davos, Jafar also stressed that despite the rapid rise of US production which would potentially make it the largest producer in the world by the end of this decade, the Middle East would continue to be the most important region for world oil markets, containing approximately half of the world’s oil & gas resources, and also the lowest in terms of production cost. Because of this the highest export potential would remain in the Middle East. In addition it was not correct to say that the United States could be “independent” in terms of energy since it was still affected by world oil prices and the Middle East was the most important region in determining the oil price due to its having the lowest cost oil & gas in the world.

But in order to further develop the maximum potential of the oil & gas resources in the Middle East North Africa region, increased investment in exploration and production would be required, including a greater role for the private sector, from both the region and internationally.

In addition better contract mechanisms and regulatory regimes would be needed to encourage such investment,

and a gradual reform of the energy subsidies in the Middle East would also be required in order to reduce the rapid growth of in domestic demand and waste of energy. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) energy subsidies currently cost the region over $220 billion annually - almost half the world total. Jafar also described how the independent energy companies, rather than the oil majors, have led the unconventional revolution, particularly in developments of both shale gas and tight oil in the USA. It is only subsequently that the large international oil companies and foreign national oil companies have bought into the US unconventional industry. He also highlighted how the political instability had reduced production potential in several Middle East countries such as Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Iraq, and that this further raised the importance of the GCC members if OPEC in oil production.

“The shale revolution, particularly but not only in North America, has transformed the international energy sector.

In addition to boosting supplies and lowering energy costs, which has created 2 million jobs in the United States and restored industrial production, the shift from burning coal to using more gas for power generation has also enabled the United States to lower carbon emissions to the lowest level in twenty years. This shows that sustainable energy policy can achieve both economic and environmental benefits at the same time, without having to sacrifice one objective for the other,” he said.

Shale gas exists worldwide, also, with non-US shale resources actually much larger than those in the US itself.

In fact, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the United States estimates that non-US shale gas resources are 32% of global technically recoverable gas resources. And China, Argentina and Algeria are all estimated to hold greater shale gas resources individually than the US. Tight oil resources are significant too, with much of this concentrated in Russia, which may help it to become the world’s largest oil producer again after its conventional oil production growth has stalled. Indeed countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia have already commenced shale exploration programs. Also the departure of many western oil & gas companies from some countries in the Middle East has further increased the opportunities for private companies from the region.

This has important policy implications, Jafar believes: “A

Majid Jafar addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos. world with a rising population level and a need for wider and greater prosperity will require substantially more energy in future than it uses today. In this context, the unconventional oil and gas revolutions should be seen as a positive development, helping to save the world from the supply shortages that looked possible even a few years ago. In addition to security of supply and tackling climate change, the world also needs to tackle the issue of energy poverty, since today over 1.3 billion people around the world live without basic electricity supply,” Jafar told the audience.

Burgan Bank offers its X-Change multi-currency card at its Airport branch KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that its multi-currency X-Change card can now be obtained instantly at the bank’s branch at Kuwait International Airport. The new initiative is in line with the bank’s strategic approach of providing added value services to its customers to accommodate their varied lifestyles. Customers, along with travelers, can now receive their cards at the bank’s branch instantaneously without going through normal online registration procedures.

The multi-currency X-Change card has been developed specifically for frequent travelers and students studying abroad.

The card allows its holder to benefit from a wide selection of top currencies - including the US dollar, Euro, British Pound and UAE Dirham - while providing easy access to online shopping, ticket booking and hotel reservations, in addition to retaining the exchange rate value.

To find out more about Burgan Bank’s new offer for the X-Change cards or any of its products and services, customers can visit any of the bank’s branches or contact the call center on 1804080. For more information, customers can also log onto the bank’s website on www.burgan.com.

Malabar Gold and Diamonds opens 3 outlets in Mideast DUBAI: Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the world’s largest gold and diamond retailers, opens three more showrooms in the Middle East this week that will strengthen its presence in the region.

The company, which is on a massive expansion drive, opened its 106th outlet in Ruwais Mall, Abu Dhabi yesterday at 12 pm.

They will also be opening their 107th and 108th outlets in Qatar by the end of this week.

The outlets in Qatar are in Grand Mall, Near Karwa Head Quarters and Barwa Village, Al Wakrahon and will be inaugurated on 31st January 2014 at 4 pm and 6 pm respectively.

The moves are part of the $700 million (Dh2.5 billion) expansion drive announced by Malabar Gold and Diamonds - that will more than double the number of its 105 outlets to 220 by the end of 2015.

The opening of the three outlets solidifies it’s position among the world’s top three gold

and diamond jewellery retailers. “Last year, we had made an announcement to become the world’s number one jewellery retailer by expanding our network of retail outlets to 220 by the end of 2015,” MP Ahamed, Chairman of Malabar Group, said. “The move requires courage, conviction and strong commitment as well as massive utilisation of resources including $700 million investment. “These new openings are part of that process and reflects our determination to implement the growth plan and we will execute this as per our plan.”

The retailer operates 32 outlets in the GCC countries and 1 in Singapore. In UAE, Malabar Gold and Diamonds operates 14 showrooms in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Al Ain. They are planning to open 6 new showrooms in the UAE within the next two months.

In Qatar, they have outlets in Gharafa, Doha and Al Khor.

Mohammed Ali Al-Enezi wins KD 125,000 in NBK’s draw KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announces the winner for January’s KD 125,000 Al-Jawhara monthly prize, Mohammed Ali Al-Enezi. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

NBK re-launched Al-Jawhara account offering customers more chances to win bigger prizes; KD 5,000 weekly, KD125,000 monthly and a grand prize of KD 250,000 quarterly draw. Al-Jawhara account offers numerous benefits to NBK customers. Not only is it an interest-free account with regular deposit and withdrawal privileges, but also entitles account holders to enter the weekly, monthly and quarterly Al-Jawhara draws. Each KD 50 in an Al-Jawhara account entitles the customer to one chance in any of the draws. Mohammed Ali Al-Enezi, the winner of January’s KD 125,000 draw expressed his happiness in winning Al-

Jawhara monthly prize. “Winning KD 125,000 came as a complete surprise. I truly thank NBK for its great services and offers and for always being number one in the market,” he said.

All prizes are automatically credited to the winners’ accounts the day after the draw. The more money held in your AlJawhara account, the greater your chances of winning. Al-Jawhara accounts are available to both Kuwaitis and Expats and can be opened at any one of NBK’s branches around Kuwait.

NBK pioneered many firsts in both the local and regional markets by offering innovative products and value added services.

For more information please contact Hala Watani 1 801 801 or log onto www.nbk.com For further information kindly visit www.nbk.com, or call Hala Watani at 1801801.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

technology

An unpaid bill leads to costly video game battle LOS ANGELES: James Carl was asleep when the first shot was fired. As he slumbered away in Costa Mesa, California, the 29-yearold banker’s virtual space fleet was under siege early Monday morning in what’s become the most destructive and expensive battle in the 10-year history of “EVE Online”, the gargantuan online sci-fi video game.

“EVE Online” - with more than 500,000 players from around the world piloting starships, trading goods and engaging in galactic espionage - utilizes its own in-game currency, and Carl expects the damage from Monday’s conflict to be the game equivalent of about $500,000 in real-world cash, based on data compiled from within the game.

The skirmish first erupted after a member of Carl’s coalition missed a payment to protect an area that’s been used as a staging ground for a war raging between Carl’s Pandemic and N3 coalition versus CFC and Russian forces. “Supposedly, it was set up for auto-pay, just like any other bill in real life, but either that didn’t happen or the money wasn’t in the wallet, and then everything just escalated out of control from there,” said Carl. “The dust is still settling on that issue.

Everyone is just focused right now on fighting to try to regain control of the system.”

During Monday’s encounter, more than

100 Titan vessels were destroyed. The megaships, which are akin to the Death Star from “Star Wars”, are the largest ships in the game and are worth about $3,000 each in real-world money. The Titans also take months for gamers to build. That’s months in real time: a lot of nights, weekends and days-off actually spent constructing the virtual warships.

Carl was awakened by a messaging app on his phone used by alliance members alerting him that their system B-R5RB was under attack by rivals. He wasn’t scheduled to work in real life Monday, so he spent the entire day sending virtual ships into the fray.

He said dozens of his alliance members took off work to join the fight, which is being waged by more than 4,000 players - and spectated by thousands more on the game streaming service Twitch.

Unprecedented battle It’s an unprecedented battle unique to “EVE,” which simulates a universe of more than 7,000 stars and whose virtual economy is linked to real-world money, unlike many other online role-playing games, such as “World of Warcraft” and “Lord of the Rings Online”. “I’d be lying if I said our servers weren’t sweating a bit,” said “EVE Online”

spokesman Ned Coker of CCP Games, the Reykjavik, Iceland-based video game developer who created the online universe.

“Allowing players free movement wherever they want in a game with over half a million players means for some pretty tricky technological requirements.”

To compensate for thousands of starship captains battling each other online, Coker said CCP Games instituted what it calls “time dilation,” which slows down the game’s servers to about 10 percent of normal time, so players aren’t dropped and their commands are issued in the order in which they were received. Carl said it has made for a massive but slow battle. “In many ways it’s a quintessential sci-fi experience, where thousands of people from all around the globe are waging a huge conflict that will have real repercussions on the politics, economy and social structures of a virtual universe,” said Coker.

The real-world value of “EVE” currency is based on an actual exchange rate set within the game, but the primary basis for value in the game’s virtual economy is the time and skill that gamers put into such concepts as the mining of minerals, the selling of goods and services, or the stealing of goods and money - just don’t get caught. However, if

This image provided by CCP Games shows a scene from the videogame “EVE Online”. — AP players want a shortcut, they can put real- looks like CFC is winning, but we’re hoping world money into the game to buy “EVE” cur- now that all of our U.S. players are online, rency and equipment, as determined by the we’ll turn the tide,” said Carl. “Whatever hapexchange rate, but the money can only be pens, we’ll keep going. ‘EVE’ is a universe full of grudges and constantly changing politics. exchanged from real to virtual.

Meanwhile, Carl is optimistic his coalition If we were to lose, we’ll rebuild. Then, we’ll go will recover from the latest “EVE” upheaval. “It back and start another war.” — AP

Pressure on Apple to expand its horizons Trend-setting company losing ground to rivals

TOKYO: A customer stands next to Nintendo Wii U games consoles on display at an electronics shop yesterday. — AFP

Nintendo boss to cut pay in half after profit dive TOKYO: The head of Nintendo said yesterday he would slash his salary in half after announcing a 30 percent dive in nine-month profit on weak demand for its new Wii U console as gamers are enticed by cheap, downloadable games for mobiles. President Satoru Iwata told reporters he would draw a reduced salary for five months to atone for the downturn, while other members of the board will take a pay cut of between 20 and 30 percent. When asked if his pay cut could extend beyond June, Iwata said: “I will make a decision after looking at the management situation at that time.” Nintendo is due to hold an analyst conference ttoday to outline plans for a new business strategy.

The news comes just over a week after the Kyoto-based company shocked investors by warning it expects to slip back into the red in the year to March and slashed its Wii U sales forecast owing to weaker-than-expected holiday season demand. Analysts have criticised the system’s limited game selection, as rivals Sony and Microsoft enjoy robust demand for their new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

“Nintendo’s worse-than-expected performance is mainly due to a slump in the Wii U,” said Hideki Yasuda, a games analyst at Ace Securities in Tokyo. “They haven’t released attractive games titles which slammed the brakes on console sales. Also, its rivals have seen strong demand for their consoles which is taking market share away from Nintendo.”

The three giants of the $44 billion global videogames market are locked in a tough battle against cheap - or sometimes free - games that can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets.

Nintendo has also faced criticism for refusing to license some of its iconic brands, such as Donkey Kong and Super Mario, for use on mobile applications. But Iwata hinted at a move into the mobile games business, saying that “how to utilise smart devices is the theme of our manage-

ment policy conference (Thursday)”.

Grim forecast Yesterday, Nintendo said it earned 10.20 billion yen ($98.8 million) in the nine months to December as revenue fell 8.1 percent to 499.12 billion yen. It also reported a 1.58 billion yen operating loss. The company’s shares have fallen about 12 percent since it warned it would make a loss this fiscal year and sell just 2.8 million units of the Wii U worldwide. That is less than a third of its earlier forecast for 9.0 million consoles, and deals a blow to its hopes of matching the blockbuster success of the original Wii. Nintendo launched the Wii U in late 2012.

By contrast, Sony had sold more than 4.2 million PlayStation 4 consoles by the start of this year, less than two months after its release. December videogame hardware sales reached $1.31 billion as gamers flocked to hits including “Grand Theft Auto V” and military shooter title “Battlefield 4”, according to market research firm NPD Group. To help shore up its embattled stock, Nintendo yesterday announced it would buy back nearly 8.0 percent of its outstanding shares.

The grim forecast is especially disappointing for a company that scratched its way back to profitability last year thanks to a sharply weaker yen, which inflates Japanese firms’ repatriated profits.

Nintendo has previously blamed weak earnings partly on high development and marketing costs for the Wii U, launched in late 2012, although sales of its 3DS handheld console and related game titles fared better. It cut prices on both consoles to boost sales. This month, Iwata apologised to shareholders for the downturn, saying that “my duty, more than anything else, is to revive our business momentum”. It is not uncommon for Japanese executives - who tend to make far less than their US and European counterparts - to take pay cuts when results come in below expectations or in the case of unethical behaviour. — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple reshaped technology and society when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone seven years ago. Now, the trend-setting company is losing ground to rivals that offer what Apple has stubbornly refused to make: smartphones with lower prices and larger screens than the iPhone.

The void in Apple’s lineup is a major reason why the company’s quarterly revenue may be about to fall for the first time in more than a decade, much to the dismay of investors who are worried that Apple Inc is losing its verve and vision.

Wall Street vented its frustration after Apple reported late Monday that it sold fewer iPhones than analysts anticipated during the holiday season. Apple compounded that disappointment with a forecast raising the possibility of a slight revenue decline in the current quarter. It would be the first time that Apple’s quarterly revenue has dropped from the previous year since 2003.

Apple’s stock shed $44, or 8 percent, to close Tuesday at $506.50, marking the company’s largest one-day drop in a year. The sell-off leaves the stock about 28 percent below its peak of $705.07, reached in September 2012 when Apple’s leadership in smartphones and tablet computers was still generating robust revenue growth. Since then, Apple has been relinquishing market share to Samsung Electronics Inc. and other companies that primarily make devices running Google Inc.’s Android operating system. Those competitors offer a broader selection of designs and prices than the iPhone and the iPad. That trend is one of the reasons that Apple’s revenue growth hasn’t exceeded 6 percent in any of the past three quarters. By contrast, Apple’s quarterly revenue was consistently increasing by at least 20 percent two years ago and even exceeded 70 percent during the 2011 holiday quarter. Apple remains in stellar shape financially, coming off a $13 billion profit in its most recent quarter - more than all but a handful of companies make in an entire year. The Cupertino, California, company also is sitting on nearly $159 billion in cash.

Glaring challenges But Apple’s stock is unlikely to bounce back to its previous high unless the company’s growth accelerates. The challenges facing Apple have been most glaring in the smartphone market.

Phones in less affluent parts of the world are selling for less than $200. By comparison, iPhones sold for an average of $637 in Apple’s most recent quarter. Even Apple’s cheaper iPhone 5C is just $100 less than the high-end 5S.

Tablet sales jumped 50% in 2013 WASHINGTON: Global sales of tablet computers surged 50.6 percent last year, with Apple clinging to the top vendor spot amid strong gains by rivals, a survey showed yesterday. International Data Corp (IDC) said worldwide tablet shipments totaled 217.1 million, up from 144.2 million in 2012. IDC said Apple’s iPad is increasing sales but slower than the overall market, and that growth rates are tapering off in the big markets like the United States. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that markets such as the US are reaching high levels of consumer saturation and while emerging markets continue to show strong growth this has not been enough to sustain the dramatic worldwide growth rates of years past,” said IDC analyst Tom Mainelli.

“We expect commercial purchases of tablets to continue to accelerate in mature markets, but softness in the consumer segment - brought about by high penetration rates and increased competition for the consumer dollar point to a more challenging environment for tablets in 2014 and beyond.”

IDC said sales in the fourth quarter grew 62.4 percent from the third quarter to 76.9 million, amid a holiday season featuring several new product launches.

That was up 28.4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

In the quarter, Apple sold 26 million iPads, for a 33.8 percent market share,

SAN FRANCISCO: This Oct 22, 2013 file photo shows Appleís new iPad Air (left) and iPad Mini tablets. — AFP Samsung was the number two venIDC said. That was down from 38.2 percent a year earlier. “While the quarter dor, selling 14.5 million tablets for an represented (Apple’s) most successful 18.8 percent market share, according on record, its year-over-year growth of to the survey. IDC said Amazon - which 13.5 percent was well below the indus- does not publicly reveal sales of its try average,” IDC said. “The numbers Kindle devices - sold 5.8 million tablets bring into focus the challenges the in the fourth quarter, securing the company faces as it attempts to grow its number three spot globally with a 7.6 tablet business in markets outside of its percent market share. Taiwan’s Asus traditional mature-market strongholds was fourth with 5.1 percent and and in the face of continued success China’s Lenovo fifth with 4.4 percent, the survey showed. — AFP from competitors both large and small.”

NEW YORK: In this Nov 20, 2013 file photo, the Apple logo is illuminated at the entrance to the Fifth Avenue Apple store. — AP Meanwhile, a variety of Android phones boast jected 55 million. screens measuring 5 to 6.5 inches diagonally, Analysts suspect that many of those iPhones while the latest iPhones are all 4 inches. Apple’s are being bought by repeat customers who love insistence on catering to the upper end of the the mobile operating software and other services, smartphone market with only one choice of as well as the cachet that comes with the Apple screen size is undercutting the company’s growth, brand. Cook said Apple still attracts a “significant” International Data Research analyst Ramon number of first-time iPhone buyers. Jobs carefully Llamas said. “There is a gap where Apple is not cultivated Apple’s luxury image before he died in playing, and it’s clear that many users want some October 2011, and Cook has given no indication of these other things in a phone,” Llamas said. he will risk tainting it with an inexpensive smartAs a result, Apple’s share of the smartphone phone sporting lower-quality parts. “Our objective market fell from nearly 19 percent at the end of has always been to make the best, not the most,” 2012 to about 15 percent last year, according to Cook said Monday.

IDC. Samsung remains the market leader with a He also said Apple will expand its horizons this 31 percent share at the end of last year, up a year with new products that will push the companotch from 30 percent in 2012. Apple tried to ny beyond smartphones and tablets. Most anawiden the iPhone’s appeal with the cheaper 5C, lysts expect an Internet-connected smartwatch which was essentially a recycled version of the and possibly a long-rumored television set that iPhone’s previous generation. To make the 5C look would run on the same software as the iPhone like something new, Apple dressed it up in a and the iPad. Apple also is preparing to sell an brightly colored array of plastic casings. iPhone with a 5-inch (12.5-cm) display screen, according to unidentified people cited in a report Luxury image this month in The Wall Street Journal. Apple In Monday’s conference call with analysts, declined comment Tuesday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook made it clear that the 5C didIf an iPhone with a bigger screen is in the n’t sell as well as the company anticipated, though works, it would pose another test for the company he didn’t provide specifics. Cook hailed the 5S as it tries to ensure the device retains the same model as the star performer in the company’s hol- high resolution and other features in earlier geniday quarter. With the 5S leading the way, Apple erations. “There is clearly a standard that Apples sold 51 million iPhones in the fiscal first quarter. has set for itself: Anything less than fantastic Even though that set a record for the company, it won’t do, and no one is going to give them a pass represented a letdown because analysts had pro- if they don’t live up to that,” Llamas said. — AP

Users value data much more than device itself KUWAIT: Most computer users regard the data they have on their machines as more important than the computer itself. In a summer 2013 survey carried out by B2B International and Kaspersky Lab, 56 percent regarded their photos and documents are more precious than even expensive hardware. However, in the event of a malware attack, more than 50 percent of users found they were unable to recover all of their data.

What is more valuable: an expensive computer or a treasured, if blurry, first photo of a child on its hard drive? A laptop, or the emails shared with your nearest and dearest stored in its memory? A shiny state-of-theart tablet or the video clips of a reunion with old friends filmed using its camera? Most respondents were consistent in their preferences - personal information means more than any device, no matter how expensive.

Unfortunately, people often lose valuable information: according to our survey, one in five of malicious attacks ended with the loss of personal data.61 percent of those users who were attacked were unable to recover all their data. For cyber criminals, personal data is a tradable commodity: they may steal valuable data and use it in further fraudulent schemes, for example, to manipulate the user’s online finances or to block his access to critical information and demand a ransom to get back online. The widespread use of mobile devices has aggravated the situation: each new personal smartphone or tablet gives the fraudsters an additional angle for attack.

Although the scope and number of cyberthreats are growing, the personal information can remain safe with the help of a reliable security solution. For 16 years

Kaspersky Lab has developed technologies which effectively combat cyber-threats. Throughout that time, our expert efforts have reinforced the company’s products proven ability to not only detect all types of malware but also protect users’ personal data and safe access to online services. Kaspersky Internet Security - MultiDevice, the solution that protects the devices working on different OS, was developed specially to fulfill these tasks.

This solution combines the best time-tested technologies developed by Kaspersky Lab to combat cyberthreats. Regardless of the type of device and the operations performed on it - transferring money to family or friends via an e-payment system from a PC, downloading a package of new virtual musical instruments on a Mac, running a popular new game on an Android-based smartphone or tablet - Kaspersky Internet Security Multi-Device provides equally high-quality protection to digital assets on all devices. The product integrates a number of advanced technologies which combat malware, phishing, spam, financial attacks, attacks targeting children, and the theft of personal data or devices.

As well as its highly effective protection against cyber-threats the solution has yet another valuable feature - it can save time when updating licenses for each device. All the solutions incorporated in Kaspersky Internet Security - Multi-Device are activated and updated under just one license and users can choose the precise combination and number of devices which are protected. When users upgrade to newer devices, the existing license can be transferred to the new gadget.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Innovation key to solving global water challenges KUWAIT: “Water services represent one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century,” said John Tattersall, Black & Veatch’s new Global Director of Water Technology. He cites “growing scarcity, rapid urbanization, climate change, tightening regulatory controls and environmental protection,” as key issues common to all water utilities and agencies around the world.

As the newly promoted leader of Black & Veatch’s water technology group Tattersall will head a 60+ cross-discipline global team of the most respected experts in the company’s water business. This brings together some of the best minds from around the world to share information and develop new, tailored approaches to suit client needs. Providing a perspec-

tive on global water trends, he said, “We see a continuing tightening of water quality standards and a drive to meet tougher discharge limits.” Looking at wastewater he spoke of a paradigm shift away from sewage being viewed as a problem, to its recognition as an increasingly valuable resource.

“There is a huge desire within the industry to do more with less,” said Tattersall. “By reappraising wastewater treatment infrastructure we have the potential to engineer new sources of water, power and nutrients. This is an area where Black & Veatch excels with innovative, global treatment solutions.” In the Middle East, Black & Veatch has been providing sustainable water solutions since 1922, and has capability and

experience over the full water cycle.

John Abi-Hanna, Black & Veatch’s Business Development Director for Middle East Water said, “Black & Veatch is a world-leader in water industry engineering & construction, and has contributed to the implementation of over 20 percent of the world’s engineered water systems. Black & Veatch is not only a global leader in desalination and water reuse, but leads the wastewater industry in research, technologies and process enhancements.” Project examples in the Middle East include a wastewater treatment plant in Cairo - Egypt, serving as the main treatment plant for the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project with an ultimate capacity of 3,000 mega liters per day.

John Tattersall

New stem cell method may help medical treatments Embryonic-type stem cells minus embryos

MEXICO CITY: A salamander-like axolotl, also known as the “water monster” and the “Mexican walking fish,” swims in a tank at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City. — AP

Mexico’s ‘water monster’ may have disappeared MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s salamander-like axolotl may have disappeared from its only known natural habitat in Mexico City’s few remaining lakes. It’s disturbing news for an admittedly ugly creature, which has a slimy tail, plumage-like gills and mouth that curls into an odd smile. The axolotl is known as the “water monster” and the “Mexican walking fish.” It’s only natural habitat is the Xochimilco network of lakes and canals - the “floating gardens” of earth piled on reed mats that the Aztecs built to grow crops but are now suffering from pollution and urban sprawl.

Biologist Armando Tovar Garza of Mexico’s National Autonomous University said Tuesday that the creature “is in serious risk of disappearing” from the wild.

Describing an effort last year by researchers in skiffs to try to net axolotls in the shallow, muddy waters of Xochimilco, Tovar Garza summed up the results as “four months of sampling - zero axolotls.” Some axolotls still survive in aquariums, water tanks and research labs, but experts said those conditions aren’t the best, because of interbreeding and other risks.

Growing up to a foot long (30 centimeters), axolotls use four stubby legs to drag themselves along the bottom or thick tails to swim in Xoxhimilco’s murky channels

while feeding on aquatic insects, small fish and crustaceans. But the surrounding garden-islands have increasingly been converted to illicit shantytowns, with untreated sewage often running off into the water.

The Mexican Academy of Sciences said in a statement that a 1998 survey found an average of 6,000 axolotls per square kilometer, a figure that dropped to 1,000 in a 2003 study, and 100 in a 2008 survey. Tovar Garza said it is too early to declare the axolotl extinct in its natural habitat. He said that in early February, researchers will begin a three-month search in hopes of finding what may be the last free-roaming axolotl.

The searches “on almost all the canals have to be repeated, because now we are in the cold season, with lower temperatures, and that is when we ought to have more success with the axolotls, because it is when they breed,” Tovar Garza said. Alarmed by the creature’s falling numbers in recent years, researchers built axolotl “shelters” in Xochimilco. Sacks of rocks and reedy plants act as filters around a selected area, and cleaner water is pumped in, to create better conditions. The shelters also were intended to help protect the axolotls from non-native carp and tilapia that were introduced to the lake system years ago and compete with axolotls for food. — AP

NEW YORK: In this file photo, Cecil Williams pets his guide dog Orlando in his hospital bed following a fall onto subway tracks from the platform in New York. — AP

Blind NYC man in subway fall gets new guide dog YORKTOWN HEIGHTS: There’s a new best friend for a blind man who fell onto subway tracks in New York City. Cecil Williams has a new guide dog named Godiva to succeed his previous dog, Orlando. Williams and the 2-year-old yellow Labrador graduated from the Guiding Eyes for the Blind school on

Saturday. The 61-year-old Williams lost consciousness and fell off a platform in December. Orlando followed him onto the tracks and tried to revive him. A slowmoving train passed over them, but they were unharmed. Donations came pouring in, allowing Williams to keep the aging 11-year-old Orlando as a pet. — AP

BUDAPEST: A Siberian tiger, enjoys the snow in its enclosure in the Nyiregyhaza animal park in Nyiregyhaza, 245 kilometers east of Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. — AP

PARIS: Scientists yesterday reported a simple way to turn animal cells back to a youthful, neutral state, a feat hailed as a “game-changer” in the quest to grow transplant tissue in the lab. The research, reported in the journal Nature, could be the third great advance in stem cells-a futuristic field that aims to reverse Alzheimer’s, cancer and other crippling or lethal diseases. The latest breakthrough comes from Japan, as did its predecessor which earned its inventor a Nobel Prize. The new approach-provided it overcomes safety hurdlescould smash cost and technical barriers in stemcell research, said independent commentators.

“If it works in man, this could be the gamechanger that ultimately makes a wide range of cell therapies available using the patient’s own cells as starting material,” said Chris Mason, a professor of regenerative medicine at University College London. “The age of personalised medicine will have arrived.” Stem cells are primitive cells that, as they grow, differentiate into the various specialised cells that make up the different organs-the brain, the heart, kidney and so on.

Dolly the sheep The goal is to create stem cells in the lab and nudge them to grow into these differentiated cells, thus replenishing organs damaged by disease or

accident. One of the obstacles, though, is ensuring that these transplanted cells are not attacked as alien by the body’s immune system. To achieve that, the stem cells would have to carry the patient’s own genetic code, to identify them as friendly. In 1998 came the first gain: the use of cloning technology-pioneered with Dolly the sheep-to harvest stem cells from early-stage embryos grown from the donor’s own DNA. Hugely versatile, these “pluripotent” stem cells are controversial as the method entails destroying the embryo, something opposed by religious conservatives and others. In 2006, a team led by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who was a co-recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Medicine, created so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

With this, the team took mature cells and coded them with four genes, “rewinding” the cells’ genetic programs to return them to a juvenile state. The technique had to overcome an early hurdle of causing tumors in cells and still faces problems with efficiency-less than one percent of adult cells typically are reprogrammed successfully. The latest breakthrough, pioneered by Haruko Obokata at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, takes an entirely different and surprisingly low-tech approach.

‘Hallmarks of pluripotency’ White blood cells in newborn mice were returned to a versatile state by incubating them in a solution with high acidity for 25 minutes, followed by a five minute spin in a centrifuge and a seven-day spell of immersion in a growth culture.

Called stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells, the innovation breaks new ground. Until now, only plant cells, and not mammal cells, have been found to reprogram back to a youthful state through simple environmental factors.

“These STAP cells show all the hallmarks of pluripotency,” Obokata said Tuesday in an Internet briefing with journalists. STAP cells appear to have a limited ability to self-renew, and it has yet to be seen if they can be acquired from humans. Only much later may trials in humans follow. It took 13 years before the first trials with embryonic stem cells, and six years before the first iPS trials. Dusko Ilic, a stem-cell scientist at Kings College London, said the approach “is indeed revolutionary.” But he cautioned: “It does not bring stem cell-based therapy closer.” “We will need to use the same precautions for the cells generated in this way as for the cells isolated from embryos or reprogrammed with a standard method,” he said in comments reported

by London’s Science Media Centre. — AFP

Mannequins get makeover to appear more realistic NEW YORK: The one-size-fits-all mannequin is getting a much-needed makeover. Wings Beachwear’s mannequins in Miami sport flower tattoos like some of the women who shop there. At David’s Bridal, mannequins soon will get thicker waists, and back fat to mimic a more realistic shape. “This will give (a shopper) a better idea of what the dress will look like on her,” says Michele Von Plato, a vice president at the nation’s largest bridal chain. Stores are using more realistic versions of the usually tall, svelte, faceless mannequins in windows and aisles. It’s part of retailers’ efforts to make them look more like the women who wear their clothes. That means not only adding fat and hair, but also experimenting with makeup, wigs and even poses. This comes after two decades of stores cutting back on mannequins to save money. Many have been using basic, white, headless, no-arms-or-legs torsos that can cost $300 compared with the more realistic-looking ones that can fetch up to $1,500. Now, as shoppers are increasingly buying online, stores are see mannequins as a tool to entice shoppers to buy.

Indeed, studies show mannequins matter when shoppers make buying decisions. Forty-two percent of customers recently polled by market research firm NPD Group Inc say something on a mannequin influences whether they buy it. In fact, mannequins ranked just behind friends and family in terms of influence.

“Mannequins are the quintessential silent sales people,” says Eric Feigenbaum, chair of the visual merchandising department at LIM College, a fashion college in New York City. Stores for over a century have played with the look of their “silent sales people.” Until the early 1900s, the most common ones were just torsos. But with the rise of mass production clothing, by full-length mannequins became popular. The first ones were made of wax and melted in the heat and had details like human hair, and porcelain teeth. By the 1960s, stores were investing in hair and makeup teams specifically devoted to taking care of the mannequins. That decade also started the trend of mannequins being made in the image of celebrities.

The late Adel Rootstein, founder of mannequin maker Rootstein, created a mannequin based on elfin model Twiggy in 1966. A year later, it made the first black mannequin based on Donyale Luna, the first black cover girl.

The next decade or so ushered in an era of hyper realism, with mannequins showing belly buttons and even back spine indentations, says ChadMichael Morrisette, an expert in mannequin history. But by the late 1980s, the trend moved away from realistic mannequins and toward torsos or mannequins without faces. Now, retailers are doing another about-face.

Saks Fifth Avenue, for instance, spent about a decade using mostly mannequins who were headless or faceless. But in the past two years, the luxury retailer has been showcasing more mannequins with hair, makeup and chiseled features. “There’s this whole generation of shoppers that hadn’t seen realistic mannequins,” says Harry E Cunningham, a senior vice president at Saks.

“We saw it as an opportunity.”

Others also see opportunities. Ralph Pucci International, a big mannequin maker that creates figures for Macy’s, Nordstrom and others, plans to offer versions with fuller hips and wider waists next year.

David’s Bridal also is going for a more realistic look. In 2007, the company scanned thousands of women’s bodies to figure out what the average woman looks like and applied those measurements to its first mannequins.—AP

ESSEX JUNCTION: A hive of honey bees is on display at the Vermont Beekeeping Supply booth at the 82nd annual Vermont Farm Show at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Jct. — AP

‘Zombie’ bees identified ESSEX JUNCTION: Vermont beekeepers face mite infestations, extreme temperature swings and the possibility of colony collapse. Last fall, a new threat emerged: zombie bees. Beekeeper Anthony Cantrell of Burlington discovered zombie bees in his hive in October, the first time they’d been found in the eastern United States. John Hafernik, a professor from San Francisco State University, discovered the first zombie bees in 2008. A fly called Apocephalus borealis attaches itself to the bee and injects its eggs, which grow inside the bee, Hafernik said.

Scientists believe it causes neurological damage resulting in erratic, jerky movement and night activity, “like a zombie,” Hafernik said by phone Tuesday.

These aren’t undead bees doomed to roam for eternity. They often die only a few hours after showing symptoms, Hafernik said. Hafernik and his team of colleagues and students have been tracking the zombie bee spread across the United States. California, Washington, Oregon and South Dakota all have confirmed zombie bees while this is the first time the bee has been found this far east, said Hafernik. The fly previously attached to bumblebees as hosts, not honeybees, according to Hafernik.

“Right now, we don’t know if it’s an isolated thing,” Stephen Parise, Vermont agricultural production specialist, said Tuesday at the state’s annual farm show.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture hopes to use trapping to investigate the threat. Parise also told the Vermont Beekeeper Association that he expected more bee deaths this year due to wild temperature swings. Chas Mraz, of Champlain Valley Apiaries, said mites, viruses and pesticides are bigger health issues for honeybees. A lack of nectar

and pollen in a changing agricultural ecosystem focused more on corn and soybeans could affect bee immune systems, he said. “ There’s tremendous pressure on bees,” Mraz said. Champlain Valley Apiary has been operating since 1931 and houses about 1,200 bee colonies. At peak population in good weather, that means over 60 million bees. University of Illinois entomologist May Berenbaum, a top bee expert, agreed. “It is seemingly kind of Biblical here,” she said. “We’re getting every conceivable kind of plague.”

Given the way bee populations have become so homogenized and how they are shipped cross country to aid in pollenating, the first Eastern infection of the zombie fly makes sense, Berenbaum said.

“It’s not surprising; it’s certainly not good news,” Berenbaum said. “There are so many pathogens and parasites that we’re aware of that are afflicting bees.”

New research by the US Department of Agriculture released this month showed that a plant virus - tobacco ringspot virus - is now infecting commercial honeybees, Berenbaum said. Leif Richardson, a doctoral student at Dartmouth College studies the interactions between plants, pollinators and parasites. Richardson said the fly involved in zombie bees could, besides using honeybees as hosts, potentially transmit viruses and pathogens.

Beekeepers “should definitely be concerned about it,” Richardson said.

Hafernik said it would be a “game changer” if these flies could hatch from dead bees and complete their life cycle inside the hive, something that most worries Cantrell. “I think it would be another nail in the coffin for honeybees in the northern hemisphere,” Cantrell said. — AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

‘I’m walkin’ here!’: NYC takes aim at jaywalking NEW YORK: For many New Yorkers, crossing the street in the middle of the block or against the light is a way of life, part of an attitude that tells everybody, “I’m walkin’ here!” “Of course I jaywalk!” says 70-year-old Peter Standish, a retired corporate attorney and lifelong New Yorker, adding that he occasionally texts, reads and even does crossword puzzles while crossing. “I do look up often,” he noted.

But with 12 pedestrians deaths so far this year, new Mayor Bill de Blasio is taking aim at that defiant attitude with steps that include increased awareness of the dangers and, in some places, a crackdown on an offense that has been long ignored. Police are actually handing out tickets to jaywalkers. “We need to be sensitive to the fact that we do have a way of life, and many of us who’ve been here know that,” de Blasio said. “But we have to educate people to the dangers.

There’s a lot more vehicles in this town than there used to be.”

A total of 172 pedestrians were killed in traffic last year in New York City, according to preliminary figures. While such deaths have declined by more than a quarter since 2001, de Blasio says there are persistently too many, and he wants to attack them in the same way the city reduced murders to a record low of 333 last year. The recent dozen deaths (police say it is too early to say how many involved jaywalking) have included a 9-year-old boy hit by a taxi as he walked across a street with his father, a young doctor

clipped by an ambulance when she crossed in front of her apartment building, and a 73-yearold man hit by a tour bus.

At the Upper West Side intersection of Broadway and 96th Street, near where three of the deaths occurred, a newly installed electronic sign warns pedestrians to “USE CROSSWALK” while police with a bullhorn make the same announcement. On a recent weekday morning, one officer directed traffic while others wrote tickets to both drivers and pedestrians - from $40 to $100 - depending on the violation.

The effort took a public relations hit last week when an 84-year-old man ended up bloodied after police tried to ticket him for jaywalking along Broadway. Kang Wong has filed notice he intends to sue the police and the city for $5 million, alleging officers pushed him against a wall, beat him and threw him to the ground, knocking him out and causing injuries to his head, his face, an elbow and his ribs. Wong, who speaks only limited English, contends officers roughed him up after he asked for his ID back in Chinese and made a hand gesture.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said witnesses gave the impression Wong was hurt in a fall, not as a result of excessive police force. Some neighborhood activists have complained that the focus on jaywalking is too abrupt, especially since police issued only 630 jaywalking tickets last year - not even two a day in a city of 8 million people and more than 6,000 miles of streets.

“To go from no enforcement to this aggressive action is overkill,” said Mark Levine, an Upper West Side member of the City Council. Mayoral spokesman Wiley Norvell said it was the neighborhood police precinct’s decision to respond to the recent deaths with tickets. In the rest of the city, police, transportation and health officials are working to prevent deaths through educational efforts, including distributing fliers warning peo-

ple to look when they cross. In addition, the mayor wants police to take a harder line against speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians. He also wants speed cameras installed at the most dangerous spots - an action that requires state approval. And traffic lights could change more quickly in places where pedestrians get impatient and just walk.

Kenneth T. Jackson, a Columbia University his-

NEW YORK: A Pedestrian moves quickly outside of a crosswalk at the busy intersection of W. 96th Street and Broadway in the Upper West Side of New York. — AP

tory professor who is an authority on New York and often gives walking tours of the metropolis, said that because of its vast public transportation system, scarcity of parking and overall density, the city lends itself to walking - and jaywalking.

“It’s harder to not jaywalk in New York because there are so many streets,” he said, noting that with 20 blocks to every mile, waiting to cross at every light would be impractical, especially for long schleps. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t jaywalk in New York.”

At the Crossroads of the World, as Times Square is known, the jaywalking is brazen.

Several mothers pushing strollers zigzagged through slow-moving traffic Tuesday, ignoring a “Don’t Walk” light. A police cruiser slowed down to allow a horde of jaywalkers to pass. “I don’t care! As long as no car is coming, I go,” said Made Nury, a cruise ship steward from Indonesia.

Farther uptown, Tizli Abdelazez, a vendor who sells hats and scarves at 96th and Broadway, needs no lessons after watching vehicles careen around that corner. “I wait because I’m scared,” the Moroccan immigrant said in his native French. “The cars go so fast here, especially taxis.

And so many people rush on.” Good luck changing New York’s urban habits. “What New Yorker hasn’t jaywalked?” Levine asked. “But I’ve caught myself this past week - and I’m waiting for the walk sign.” Standish agreed it’s a good idea to curb jaywalking. He added with a sly smile: “At 70, I really should stop playing in traffic.” — AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N Announcements Hala February Festival riday kicks off the Hala February Festival in Kuwait.

The opening carnival parade will be held on Salem al Mubarak Street in Salmiya this Friday, 31 January. Starting from 1pm, there will be a parade, bike show, carnival and other fun activities. There will also be shopping discounts throughout the month for the festival. Additionally, there will be activities and shows will be held at Ice Skating Rink and the Green Island (on Gulf Road) throughout the month, with nightly shows, concerts, poetry readings, jump roping, magic shows, and more. Tickets for the Green Island activities can be bought at the Green Island or at the booth in the Avenues.

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Maha Quizzer Middle East ITCAA-Kuwait announces the second edition of Maha Quizzer ME - Kuwait, extension of Maha Quizzer, the annual solo quiz conducted by Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA) simultaneously across several Indian cities. This is a solo open general written quiz contest for participants, irrespective of age, nationality or affiliation.

The quiz is on 31st January 2014, from 2 to 3.30 pm with centers in Salmiya, Ahmadi & J’leeb Shyoukh.

Special prizes for ladies and students. For further details & free online registration log on to http://www.nitcaakuwait.org/mahaquizzer Hurry!!!

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TIES Center - Where cultures meet IES Center cordially invites all those interested to the following events: Qur’an Quotes and Tafseer class: On Monday Februay 3, 2014 we we will focus on Surat Al-Qadr (The Night of Honor and Decree) at 7 pm. After listening to the recitation of that Surah, I (Hassan) will explain the various connotations of some words and phrases to show the literary beauty and miracle of the Qur’an. The class will involve an open discussion in a casual setting with the aim of reflecting and pondering over the verses of that Surah. After that, we will focus on the lessons that we learn from that Surah. If you are intereted, TIES Center is the best place to visit today Monday February 3, 2014 at 7 pm.

Lecture on stress: Lecture entitled, “Can I Love an Alien?” by Suzanne Rechlin. Learn to get the love and support you want by learning to understand the innate difference between men and women in how we communicate, think, and handle stress. Bridge the gap between you and your significant other and discover a variety of new and practical ways to create a lifetime of love and harmony. If you are interested in the topic, TIES Center is the best place to visit on Tuesday February 4 at 7:00pm. Susanne Rechlin is a preschool principal by profession who likes to see individuals and couples be the happiest and most content they can be through understanding each other’s differences and makes those work for them instead of against them. She believes that many challenges in a relationship may be overcome by not expecting the other person to behave according one’s own pattern.

Albanian Cultural Day: In cooperation with the Albanian embassy, the TIES Center will be hosting an Albanian cultural day. The activities will include a presentation about tourism and life in Albania, recitation of poetry related to the country’s rich traditions, a gallery of photos, and some delicious traditional food. This event promises to be exciting, educational, and entertaining. When? Thursday, February 13 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Delegates listening to the presenters during one of the workshops.

FAWSEC Educational hosts third KIEC at Al Bayan Bilingual School

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Malayali Media Forum (MMF) Kuwait office-bearers receive well-known Indian journalist Thomas Jacob on his arrival at the Kuwait International Airport yesterday. Jacob will address the MMF media conference as keynote speaker today at 6.30 pm at Indian Community School auditorium, Khaitan. Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain will be the chief guest of the conference.

Representatives of Alghanim Industries, Jean Clary, Andrew Finch

Tariq Alsamerraie, Chairman and Managing Director at FAWSEC

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Kuwait first-hand information and learning opportunities, to enable them to upgrade their skills and continue their quest for learning and consequently, provide our children with the best learning experience.”

The conference featured a variety of topics pertaining to 21st Century Teaching and Learning that included the 21st Century Curriculum, Reach Each you Teach, Social and Emotional Learning, Leadership, Bullying, Technology, Active Parenting and Raising Children with Learning Difficulties. All workshops were delivered by 50 top local, regional and international speakers.

Professional Development Coordinator at FAWSEC Educational Company, Mrs Lynda Abdulraheem, said: “Education has really changed. “Talk and chalk” is out, and student engagement is in. Our children are living in a much more complicated global world than we grew up in, so if parents and teachers can work together, the child reaps the benefits. We need to help our children love learning, and know how to collaborate and solve problems. They also need to be creative and critical thinkers to be able to face the challenges of the future.”

The conference registered more than 600 delegates from across local English, Arabic and bilingual schools. It also featured two keynote presentations simultaneously each day, one in Arabic and the other in English.

KIEC 2014 was generously sponsored by Alghanim

he FAWSEC Educational Company, in collaboration with Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) and Buffalo State SUNY, held yesterday this year the third Kuwait International Educators’ Conference (KIEC) at the BBS Hawally campus.

Organized every two years, educators in Kuwait are provided with ongoing learning experiences and professional development opportunities that equip them with better skills to keep up with the ever-changing developments in education, and maintain their quest for life-long learning.

The conference, which took place over a period of three days between January 24 and 26, hosted a total of 88 workshops in Arabic and English, among these were 30 workshops for parents and 58 for educators who participated from various private and government schools in Kuwait. This is the first year that the conference offers specialized workshops for parents as they play a pivotal role and should be involved in the teaching and learning process of their children alongside teachers and the school. Chairman and Managing Director at FAWSEC Educational Company, Tariq Alsamerraie, said: “The company’s main responsibilities towards students in Kuwait is to always adopt the latest advancements in educational methods and learning strategies. As a not for profit organization, we are committed here at FAWSEC to planning and implementing an ongoing professional development program that offers teachers in

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

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

Professional Development Coordinator at FAWSEC, Lynda Abdulraheem welcoming delegates

Industries as platinum sponsors, DOW Chemical Kuwait as silver sponsors, and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) as bronze sponsors. Omar Alghanim, CEO, Alghanim Industries, said: “We are extremely proud to be the platinum sponsor of this year FAWSEC’s Kuwait International Educators’ Conference, which provides critical professional development support for our educators and parents. This conference will enrich our teachers and support our parents, and therefore, directly impact the development and future success of youth in Kuwait.”

This is the second year that DOW sponsors KIEC as it has previously sponsored the conference in 2012, in addition its recent sponsorship of the “Welcome to Kuwait” 2013 Teacher’s orientation day. “Over the past 19 years, Dow has been very active in supporting local youth development,” said Jamal Attal, Managing Director, Dow, Kuwait.

“At Dow, we believe that education is the fundamental enabler of innovation in today’s knowledge economy, and we are committed to improving it which is why we are happy to join hands with FAWSEC, once again, to further build on the successes of local educators and to train and empower them in taking on 21st century teaching and learning skills.”

The Kuwait International Educators’ Conference was first introduced in 2010, and is held every two years since. The conference adopts a different theme that focuses on offering the best practices in education and learning.

Former Lebanese PM visits 2014 HORECA Kuwait

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Jamal Attal, Managing Director and CEO at Dow Kuwait

ormer Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora visited the 2014 HORECA Kuwait; an exhibition for hospitality and catering organized recently by Kuwait’s Leaders Group for Consulting and Development in cooperation with

Lebanon’s Hospitality Services Company.

The event takes place at the Badriya Ballroom in the Jumeirah Hotel featuring more than 50 participating companies in the hospitality, food industry and catering fields.

Top Canadian universities to visit Kuwait

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welve of Canada’s elite universities are coming to Kuwait, on Wednesday 4 February 2014, to hold an information session on Canada as a destination for higher education. The delegation is led by Ms. Daralyn Auldof Trent University, and assisted by Robert Finlayson of Carleton University. The group’s visit to Kuwait is part of a larger initiative which will take them to Jordan Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The tour is being organized by the Canadian Higher Education Committee under the aegis of Council of International Schools (CIS). It is Council’s eleventh consecutive Canadian tour to visit Kuwait.

The tour is of special interest to senior secondary students who exhibit strong academic standing, as well as to their parents. The schedule includes school visits, information sessions, and opportunities to interact with school guidance counsellors.

“The Middle East is a key undergraduate student market for Canadian universities,” said Daralyn Auld of Trent University and Tour Director. “Students from Kuwait and the broader region are sought for their strengths and their rich contributions to student life on Canadian university campuses. In turn,

increasing numbers of students from the region are making Canada their first choice for study - as evidenced on this tour.

Kuwaiti students are drawn to our universities’ common attributes of international reputations for academic excellence, state of the art resources, and safe campuses in welcoming locations,” Auld said.

Each year, tour organizers work to strengthen existing relationships with secondary schools in the city they visit, and also expand outreach to new regions. The 2014 tour includes visits to 35 schools in six cities, and public outreach events in Kuwait, Dubai, and Amman. The tour is particularly proud to acknowledge the strong support of the Canadian Embassy colleagues in the region. His Excellency, Douglas George, Ambassador of Canada to the State of Kuwait will be joining the event to welcome students.

Why Canada?

Canadian universities are engaged internationally as leaders in education through teaching, research and partnerships.

Undergraduate education in Canada is a hybrid of US and UK styles offering breadth of program options, flexibility in choice

and a degree that is recognized world-wide.

Students choose Canada because a strong education and a positive international experience is the foundation for their exciting and successful futures. The quality, affordability, and research opportunities are key factors in this decision.

University campuses across Canada offer multicultural environments, beautiful spaces and friendly people. As a leader in business, political diplomacy, arts and culture and technology - Canada’s education system is at the core of its success and its graduates are players on the world stage.

Universities represented by the 2014 CIS Canadian University Tour to the Middle East will be at: STUDY in CANADA information session. Tuesday 4 February 2014 Kuwait City, Kuwait at Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

Information session for students and parents 19.00 to 19.30.

Presentations. 19.30 to 21.30. University Fair.

Bishop’s University, Carleton University, Concordia University, Dalhousie niversity, Lakehead University, McGill University, Memorial University, University of New Brunswick, Ryerson University, Saint Mary’s University, Trent University and York University.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Embassy of Australia has announced that Kuwait citizens can apply for and receive visit visas in 10 working days through www.immi.gov.au. All other processing of visas and Immigration matters are handled by the Australian Visa Application Centre located in Al Banwan Building, 4B, 1st Floor, Al Qibla Area, Ali Al Salem Street, Kuwait City. Visit. www.vfs-au-gcc.com for more info. The Embassy of Australia does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters is conducted by the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: Info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VIS), immigration.dubai@ dfat.gov.au (Visa Office), Tel: +971 4 205 5900 (VFS), Fax: + 971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). Notary and passport services are available by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling the Embassy on 22322422.

Health symposium at GUST I

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Cultural Committee welcomed “the Lebanese Association of Social Networking in Kuwait” for a medical symposium, where Cardiology Consultant Dr. Jameel Beidoun, Diabetes Consultant Dr. Habeeb Seteiteyah, hosted by Dr. Tareq Sabagh with the attendance of the Lebanese Ambassador Dr. Khodur Helwi and the President of the Lebanese Association and its members, families and friends.

The seminar started with a welcome speech by Dr. Tareq Sabagh welcoming the Ambassador, lecturers and attendees. A speech was also given by the President of the Association’s Executive Committee Haji Abdulqadir Adlouni where he thanked Kuwait, His Highness the Emir, government and people for their generosity towards the Lebanese community. He also thanked GUST for their cooperation in hosting this event. He then highlighted the objectives of the Association.

Cardiology Consultant Dr. Jameel Beidoun spoke next mainly concentrating on heart disease, its causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment. He also showed the audience how to deal with a heart attack patient until the doctor or ambulance arrives using detailed illustrations.

Diabetes Consultant Dr. Habeeb Seteiteyah then spoke about diabetes showcasing relevant statistics locally, regionally and globally. He then talked about the known causes of the diseases, which has become an epidemic in today’s world. He also discussed the symptoms, prevention and concluded by saying that it’s imperative to be very cautious and aware when it comes to this disease.

It became clear to the audience after the presentations that there were some preventative measures identical for both diseases including: quitting smoking, losing weight, ensuring the intake of healthy food, avoiding fats and excess sugars and exercise even if it’s for half an hour per day.

The seminar ended with a Q&A session as well as a closing speech by the Ambassador, praising the lectures and the work of the Lebanese Association and thanking GUST for giv-

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EMBASSY OF INDIA n accordance with the existing guidelines of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), a nominal fee of KD 0.500 would be charged separately w.e.f. 27 January 2014 on each item of Attestation Service (except death registration) towards Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).

All attestation seekers are also advised to prepare & submit each item separately at the counters alongwith the respective usual documents i.e. copy of passport pages containing particulars and a copy of Civil ID to facilitate timely services.

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ing them the platform to share this knowledge. Copies of the youth novel about addiction, “The Moon has many Faces” by Dr. Tareq Bakri, renowned children’s literature novelist, were distributed to the audience. The novel was produced by GRASS - an awareness project of the National Drug Prevention.

GUST is always keen on promoting health awareness and prevention for the benefit and safety of its students, staff, faculty and community.

Holiday Notice he Embassy of India will remain closed on the following dates during the month of February 2014. National Day Of Kuwait - February 25, 2014 - Tuesday and Liberation Day Of Kuwait - February 26, 2014 Wednesday.

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EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Landmark Group announces winners of ‘Art Olympiad VII’

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midst all the buzz and excitement that took place during the seventh Art Olympiad competition, Landmark Group awarded the artistic talents of eight students. With each passing year the competition which took place for students between the age group 9-11 years and 1214 years got an overwhelming response from the fifteen participating schools.

Landmark Group organized the event for the seventh consecutive year, as it falls in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility strategy to uplift the capabilities and skills of youth in Kuwait. The event is seen as a grooming platform for these students by helping them improvise their flair and encourage their innovative ability through art.

The paintings were judged by famous Kuwaiti artists Asad Bunashi and Mrs. Maha Al Mansoor. A total of eight winners were selected at the end of the Olympiad on the basis of creativity, workmanship, overall impression and relevance to the Theme. The paintings of the young talented artists offered the judges to choose the best of the best.

This year’s competition themes which the students could select from were; my family, nature and dream for the 9-11 years category. For the 12-14 years category it was design your room, festival of Kuwait and Kuwait in 2050.

There were also two special prizes for the most colorful painting and the most creative painting. All themes brought out the unique talents and skills of the participants.

Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer of Landmark Group Kuwait said, “The artworks of these talented children impress us with their outlook towards things around them. Once again we are proud with the number of participating students, every year the Olympiad proves to be a great accomplishment; it only gets bigger and better. Our heartfelt congratulations to the winners as well as all the other participants who made this year’s judging challenging as well as exciting.”

“We are really pleased with the winning artworks and we think that they look absolutely brilliant. I would like to thank our esteemed panel of judges Mr. Asad Bunashi and Mrs. Maha Al Mansoor who have helped make this event bigger

and better year after year. I would also like to thank the teachers for their efforts and for encouraging such talents.

With such an overwhelming response we are definitely looking forward to preparing for the eight Art Olympiad next year.”

As always, Landmark Group is keen on maintaining an excellent rapport and creating awareness about relevant issues among the youth with constant activities and events, while setting a platform for approx 120 students from schools of repute across Kuwait. Children were provided with a craft pack that included a drawing sheet and a variety of art materials such as paints, pencils and crayons.

The participating schools for this year’s Olympiad are: Ajial Bilingual School, Carmel School, Canadian Bilingual School, Fahaheel Al Watanieh Indian Private School Ahmadi, Indian Educational School Jleeb, Indian English Academy School- Don Bosco, Kuwait American School Salmiya, Salmiya Indian Model School, The English School Fahaheel, Indian Central School, The English School Salmiya, and Dasman Model School.

The winners received a prize, certificates and trophies.

The schools were given a plaque of appreciation. All students who participated in the Olympiad were provided with gifts and participating Certificates.

Winners of Art Olympiad 2014 The winners for Art Olympiad 2014 from the senior’s age group are: 1st place: Devika - Indian Central School 2nd place: Catherine - Indian Educational School 3rd place: Joe Alex - Indian English Academy School The most creative award was won by Jessica Wilsch -The English School The winners of the Juniors age group 1st place: Emily- The English School Salmiya 2nd place: Noor Al-Hadad - The English School Fahaheel 3rd place: Phalaneshwar FAIPS The most colorful award was won by Megna - Indian Educational School.

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outh African Citizens, who are out of the country who are not already registered and wish to apply for registration to vote in the upcoming General Elections, are hereby invited to apply for registration.

Registration is open daily during working hours from 08h30 to 15h30 at the SA Embassy at Villa No 3, House No 91, Street 1, Block 10, Salwa.

The last day for registration will be 7 February 2014, and the Embassy will be open on 7 February 2014 from 09h00 to 13h00, for those SA Citizens who are not yet registered and cannot come to register during normal working hours.

To be eligible to register at the SA Embassy, a person must: • Be a SA Citizen and be 16 years of age and older; • Submit a valid green bar-coded Identity Document, a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (valid for 2 months) or a Smart Card; • Submit a valid SA Passport; and • Submit in person the application form, (available from the IEC website or at the Embassy), the identity document and a valid passport.

NOTE : If you are already registered to vote in SA but are now living abroad, you are NOT required to re-register - please check your registration status on www.elections.org.za.

For any further enquiries, please phone Tel : 25617988 during working hours or visit the IEC Website at www.elections.org.za. Special Registration Officers at the Embassy are: First Secretary, Ms L van der Walt and Third Secretary, MC Kekae. nnnnnnn

The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) honored Adnan Zinedine during a ceremony to commemorate the end of his nearly 3-decade career as General Manager of the Khairan Resort. Top TEC officials led by CEO Khalid Al-Ghanim attended the ceremony.

Celebrate the Year of the Horse at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa

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or a truly festive Chinese New Year celebration, family and friends can mark the auspicious occasion of the beginning of the Year of the Horse with a special ‘Chinese Brunch’ on 31 January at the hotel’s Garden Cafe.

Sample the magnificence of traditional Chinese cuisine with a wide selection of specially prepared Chinese dishes along with live cooking stations. Watch as our chefs make Dim Sum using time honored skills.

Usher in the Chinese New Year as you choose from the most succulent Beijing Duck, freshly prepared Szechuan Seafood and the best Chinese Barbecue in town. Enjoy the soothing and mesmerizing traditional Chinese tea set against a backdrop of authentic Chinese decorations which will transport you all the way to China.

From 1 to 4 pm, join us for this special occasion. Children are welcome and will have a dedicated corner filled with lots of entertaining activities that will surely make this a memorable Chinese New Year celebration for them too.

EMBASSY OF US The US Embassy in Kuwait has new procedures for obtaining appointments and picking up passports after visa issuance. We now provide an online visa appointment system, live call center, and in-person pick-up facilities in Kuwait. Please monitor our website and social media for additional information. This new system offers more flexibility for travelers to the US and to meet the increase in demand for visa appointments.

The general application steps on the new visa appointment system are: 1. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/kw (if this is the first time on ustraveldocs.com, you will need to create a profile to login).

2. Please complete your DS-160 Online Visa Application which is available at ceac.state.gov/genNIV. 3. Please print and take your deposit slip to any Burgan Bank location to pay your visa application fee.

4. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview online at www.ustraveldocs.com/kw or by phone through the Call Center (at +965-2227-1673).

5. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so 24 hours beforehand, as a courtesy to other applicants. For more information, please visit the US Embassy website - kuwait.usembassy.gov - as it is the best source of information regarding these changes. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF VATICAN The Apostolic Nunciature Embassy of the Holy See, Vatican in Kuwait has moved to a new location in Kuwait City. Please find below the new address: Yarmouk, Block 1, Street 2, Villa No: 1. P.O.Box 29724, Safat 13158, Kuwait. Tel: 965 25337767, Fax: 965 25342066.

Email: nuntiuskuwait@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 05:05 05:55 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 10:10 10:35 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:20 13:50 14:15 14:45 15:40 16:30 17:30 18:25 18:50 19:20 20:15 21:10 22:05 23:00 23:55

Animal Cops Houston I’m Alive Untamed & Uncut Wildest Africa Wildest India Wild Alaska Animal Cops Houston Outback Rangers Outback Rangers Swamp Brothers Monkey Life Meet The Sloths Meet The Sloths Wildest Islands Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors Wildest Africa Animal Cops South Africa Monkey Life Swamp Brothers Bizarre Animal ER Bizarre Animal ER Into The Pride Wildest Africa My Cat From Hell Wildest Islands Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Ray Mears’ Wild Britain Wildest India Wild Alaska Man, Cheetah, Wild Animal Heroes The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkne

00:15 Doctors 00:45 Stella 01:30 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 02:15 One Foot In The Grave 02:45 The Office 03:15 The Shadow Line 04:15 The Weakest Link 05:00 Me Too! 05:20 Nina And The Neurons: In The Lab 05:35 Bobinogs 05:45 Boogie Beebies 05:55 Garth And Bev 06:05 Poetry Pie 06:10 Me Too! 06:30 Nina And The Neurons: In The Lab 06:45 Bobinogs 06:55 Boogie Beebies 07:10 Garth And Bev 07:20 Poetry Pie 07:25 Doctor Who Confidential 07:40 The Weakest Link 08:25 One Foot In The Grave 08:55 Absolutely Fabulous 09:25 Eastenders 09:55 Doctors 10:25 The Fat Fighters 11:15 Stella 12:00 The Weakest Link 12:45 One Foot In The Grave 13:15 Absolutely Fabulous 13:45 Eastenders 14:15 Doctors 14:45 The Fat Fighters 15:35 Stella 16:25 The Weakest Link 17:10 Eastenders 17:40 Doctors 18:10 The Fat Fighters 19:00 As Time Goes By 19:30 The Office 20:00 The Shadow Line 21:00 Silent Witness 22:40 Blackadder The Third 23:10 Last Man Standing

00:00 00:55 01:40 02:30 03:20 04:05 04:50

Homes Under The Hammer Cash In The Attic Come Dine With Me MasterChef Australia MasterChef Australia Fantasy Homes By The Sea Cash In The Attic

05:35 06:20 07:15 08:00 08:45 09:40 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:30 13:20 14:05 15:00 15:55 16:45 17:30 18:20 19:15 20:10 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:20 23:15

Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Homes Under The Hammer Fantasy Homes By The Sea Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Homes Under The Hammer Masterchef: The Professionals Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard Rick Stein’s French Odyssey Come Dine With Me Gok’s Fashion Fix Fantasy Homes Down Under Antiques Roadshow Britain’s Dream Homes Britain’s Dream Homes Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Cash In The Attic Antiques Roadshow Phil Spencer - Secret Agent Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill Rick Stein’s French Odyssey Come Dine With Me Antiques Roadshow Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds

00:30 What Happened Next?

00:55 What Happened Next?

01:20 Head Games 02:10 Mythbusters 03:00 Glory Hounds 03:50 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 04:15 Auction Kings 04:40 Baggage Battles 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Glory Hounds 07:50 Finding Bigfoot 08:40 Fast N’ Loud 09:30 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 09:55 Auction Kings 10:20 Baggage Battles 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 What Happened Next?

12:00 What Happened Next?

12:25 Head Games 13:15 Mythbusters 14:05 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 14:30 Auction Kings 14:55 Baggage Battles 15:20 Countdown To Collision 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 17:00 Ultimate Survival 17:50 Dirty Jobs 18:40 Glory Hounds 19:30 Sons Of Guns 20:20 How Do They Do It? 20:45 How It’s Made 21:10 Auction Kings 21:35 Baggage Battles 22:00 Sons Of Guns 22:50 Street Outlaws 23:40 Hellriders

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

The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin And Ally Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Gravity Falls My Babysitter’s A Vampire Jessie Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog

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

Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Dog With A Blog Jessie Wolfblood Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Shake It Up That’s So Raven Jessie Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Wolfblood Gravity Falls Jessie Violetta A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Gravity Falls Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Violetta Jessie My Babysitter’s A Vampire Wolfblood Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

01:05 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 01:30 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 01:55 Charly’s Cake Angels 02:20 Unwrapped 02:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:10 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:35 The Next Iron Chef 04:50 The Next Iron Chef 05:40 Chopped 06:30 Unwrapped 06:50 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 07:10 Food Network Challenge 08:00 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 08:25 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 08:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 09:15 The Next Iron Chef 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:30 Amazing Wedding Cakes 11:20 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 11:45 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 12:10 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 12:35 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 13:00 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 13:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 13:50 Siba’s Table 14:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:40 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:05 Food Network Challenge 15:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 16:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Symon’s Suppers 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:40 Siba’s Table 20:05 Reza’s African Kitchen 20:30 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 20:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 21:20 Chopped 22:10 Food Network Challenge 23:00 Mexican Made Easy 23:25 Mexican Made Easy 23:50 Siba’s Table

00:00 Mega Breakdown 01:00 Is It Real?

02:00 Ancient Secrets: Witch Hunter’s Bible 03:00 Wild Russia

In Pete Seeger’s wake, protest music lives on

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ete Seeger. Folk music legend. Born in New York on May 3, 1919. Died Monday in the same city at the age of 94. Survived by protest songs of all kinds, in all genres. From mainstream pop and rock to hip hop, electro and even country music, songwriters and performers are as engaged as they were in Seeger’s heyday, even if the hot-button issues have evolved. “It’s a myth that protest music has disappeared,” said Alexander Shashko, who teaches the relationship between race, politics and popular culture at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

“Run through the list of the biggest stars in the world, from Beyonce to Bruce Springsteen to Lorde, and articulating social change is a significant part of their music,” he told AFP. Dubbed “America’s tuning fork” by poet Carl Sandburg, the banjo-player left behind folk classics like “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “If I Had a Hammer,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “We Shall Overcome.” Many will associate him with the 1960s, a decade of profound social and political change, when young Americans took to the streets to condemn the Vietnam war and demand civil rights for all races.

Today’s songwriters and performers have other issues on their minds, as demonstrated at the Grammy awards Sunday where 33 couples-both gay and straight-exchanged wedding vows. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, winners of four Grammys, performed their anthem “Same Love,” which served as the theme song of the gay marriage campaign in the rap duo’s home state of Washington.

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Ballads focus on issues Sara Bareilles, 34, and Hunter Hayes, 22, separately addressed bullying with piano renditions of “Brave” and “Invisible” respectively. New Zealand’s Lorde, 17, mocked gratuitous celebrity bling with “Royals,” the Grammy-winner for best song. And there was Kacey Musgraves, who bested the likes of Taylor Swift to win the best country album Grammy for “Same Trailer Different Park,” which depicts gritty rural America in a way Seeger would have instantly recognized.

“A protest song asks the questions that some might think shouldn’t be asked,” said Val Haller, whose ValsList.com blog “helps busy adults keep up with new music.” “It does not have to be harsh, angry or pushy. Rather, it can be an instrument to create a sense of community around a thought.”

Case in point: Ed Sheeran, 22, a ginger-haired British singer-songwriter with a sweet demeanor who toured North America with Swift last year. Teenage girls make up his global fan base, but his ballads cast a uncomfortable harsh light on homelessness, drugs and prostitution. At National Public Radio (NPR), music critic Ann Powers cited Bruce Springsteen as a prime example of a big-name rock star who can sell out stadiums gigs while tackling political themes.

The 64-year-old paid tribute to Seeger in a 2006 album “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions,” but he embraced protest years before, not least with his 1984 hit “Born in the USA,” an ode to the working man in dark spiritual crisis. His latest studio album “High Hopes,” released earlier this month, includes “American Skin (41 Shots),” about the police killing of a young African immigrant in 1999 that won Springsteen no friends among New York’s Finest.

‘The Message’ Among younger performers, Powers is excited by Hurray for the Riff Raff, a country-folk band out of New Orleans, Louisiana fronted by Alynda Lee Segarra, 27, a one-time street busker and train-hopping hobo whose song topics include sexual assault.

“I definitely think that political music is not as visible or as centralized as it used to be-and I think that has to do with how music in general is no longer visible or centralized as it used to be-and that’s because of the Internet,” she said.

Hip hop has been politically engaged since its inception and the days of “ The Message,” Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s 1982 rap tour of run-down New York public housing projects?

At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West, 36, invoked the legacy of slavery with “Blood on the Leaves” against a backdrop of dark images provided

by Steve McQueen, director of the Oscar-nominated “12 Years a Slave.”

As for the old-school folk scene, the spirit of protest thrives with such artists as Andy Cohen and Joe Jencks, said Stephen Winick of the American Folklife Center at the Librar y of Congress in Washington. The center is an important repository of America’s folk music heritage-and Seeger was active in its work since the 1930s. “Protest music really does continue to be strong, and you can say there hasn’t been any lull at all,” Winick told AFP. “Just because it’s not a single person with a guitar or banjo doesn’t mean it’s not protest music.” — AFP

Tokyo thief caught with 450 pairs of high heels

Japanese police display a total of 450 pairs of high-heeled shoes at a police office in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP man arrested for stealing high-heel shoes from a Tokyo hostess club was found to have a total of 450 purloined pairs when his room was searched, Japanese police said yesterday. “I’ve felt pleasure in stealing high heels. I was not interested in brand-new products,” Sho Sato, 28, told investigators after he was arrested Tuesday, according to Tokyo police.

Sato, who is jobless and has no fixed residence, broke into the changing room of the hostess club in Tokyo’s glitzy Ginza district last November and stole 14 pairs of high heels and cosmetics, police said. They later confiscated some 450 pairs of high heels from a room he rented but the owners have yet to be identified. “The lockers at the club’s changing room were a treasure chest,” Sato was quoted as telling police. — AFP

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Classifieds THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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Nissan Pathfinder, 2003 model, white, in good condition. Please call 97277135.

Mitsubishi Lancer 2011, GLX, dark grey color, excellent condition, km 53,000.

KD 1,800. Tel: 66729295.

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ACCOMMODATION

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FOR SALE

One spacious furnished bedroom neat and clean available with all facilities, phone, coolplex and Internet upon request.

Central AC building, 1 no common toilet looking for couples without kids or decent executive bachelor non-smoking and nondrinking. Preference for south Indians. Contact George 99072651. (C 4627) 27-1-2014

CHANGE OF NAME I, Asger Ali Vadliwala, holder of Indian Passport No: J4442606, hereby change my name to Ali Asger Vadliwala. Address: Mohammediya Golony

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27-1-2014 MATRIMONIAL Marriage proposal invited for Kuwait resident,

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Arrival Flights on Thursday 30/1/2014 Flt Route 043 DHAKA 574 MUMBAI 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 411 AMSTERDAM 772 ISTANBUL 555 ALEXANDRIA 1084 DOHA 441 LAHORE 211 BAHRAIN 764 SABIHA 853 DUBAI 305 ABUDHABI-INTL 576 COCHIN 503 LUXOR 529 ASYUT 612 CAIRO 1076 DOHA 401 ALEXANDRIA 067 DUBAI 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 8650 DOHA 069 DUBAI 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 241 AMMAN-QUEENALIA 165 DUBAI 617 AHWAZ 1086 DOHA 053 DUBAI 512 RIYADH 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 301 ABUDHABI-INTL 605 ISFAHAN 055 DUBAI 1070 DOHA 4161 MASHAD 213 BAHRAIN 403 ASYUT 405 SOHAG 404 BEIRUT 341 DAMASCUS 5483 MASHAD 5016 AMMAN-QUEENALIA 8051 DUBAI 362 COLOMBO 352 COCHIN 206 ISLAMABAD 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 614 BAHRAIN 774 RIYADH 546 ALEXANDRIA 177 DUBAI 779 JEDDAH 561 SOHAG 777 JEDDAH 787 RIYADH 135 BAHRAIN 257 BEIRUT

Time 00:05 00:10 00:40 00:40 00:30 00:45 02:25 00:55 01:30 02:10 02:15 02:35 02:45 02:50 05:50 06:20 03:10 03:45 03:45 04:20 05:35 05:40 05:45 05:50 06:40 06:45 12:45 11:30 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:30 09:40 09:55 10:35 10:40 11:15 11:20 11:55 12:30 12:35 09:40 11:20 08:45 08:10 07:40 07:55 08:15 19:35 19:30 15:30 18:20 16:05 12:55 17:55 17:00 18:00 14:45

JZR JZR UAE MSR MSR FDB QTR SVA KNE GFA KNE KNE NIA OMA QTR UAE ETD RJA SVA ABY GFA UAL QTR FDB GFA OMA TAR FDB MSR JAI AXB UAE FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR ABY KNE DLH ALK FDB MEA ETD UAE GFA QTR KLM AIC FDB UAL PIA NIA

535 189 871 610 579 057 1078 500 472 221 460 470 251 645 1072 857 303 640 510 127 215 982 1080 063 217 647 328 061 618 572 393 3871 8055 672 104 382 674 176 542 118 562 788 284 786 618 239 185 181 129 480 634 229 071 402 307 859 219 1074 417 981 059 981 205 255

CAIRO DUBAI DUBAI CAIRO SOHAG DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA MUSCAT DOHA DUBAI ABUDHABI-INTL AMMAN-QUEENALIA RIYADH SHARJAH BAHRAIN WASHINGTONDCDULLES DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN MUSCAT DUBAI DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI KOZHIKODE DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI LONDON DELHI DUBAI GENEVA CAIRO NEWYORK AMMAN-QUEENALIA JEDDAH DHAKA JEDDAH DOHA AMMAN-QUEENALIA DUBAI ALMAKTOUMINTERNATI SHARJAH TAIF FRANKFURT COLOMBO DUBAI BEIRUT ABUDHABI-INTL DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA AMSTERDAM CHENNAI DUBAI BAHRAIN LAHORE ALEXANDRIA

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Airlines AIC AXB JAI KLM BBC DLH SAI THY UAE KAC ETD MSR QTR MSC FDB QTR KAC JZR FDB JAI JZR THY QTR GFA JZR THY FDB KAC BAW IRA QTR JZR JZR SVA KAC KAC KAC ABY KAC UAE ETD IRA FDB RJA JZR QTR GFA KAC IZG KAC FDB MSC MSC JZR MEA KAC SYR JZR JZR TBZ MSR

Departure Flights on Thursday 30/1/2014 Flt Route 976 GOA 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 411 AMSTERDAM 44 DHAKA 635 FRANKFURT 442 LAHORE 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 854 DUBAI 381 DELHI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 1085 DOHA 406 SOHAG 68 DUBAI 1077 DOHA 283 DHAKA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 575 ABU DHABI 164 DUBAI 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 8650 DHAKA 212 BAHRAIN 240 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 616 AHWAZ 1087 DOHA 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 513 RIYADH 787 JEDDAH 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 101 LONDON 856 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 606 MASHHAD 56 DUBAI 5017 AMMAN 778 JEDDAH 1071 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 4162 MASHHAD 165 ROME 8052 DUBAI 404 ASYUT 402 ALEXANDRIA 776 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 342 DAMASCUS 786 RIYADH 176 DUBAI 5484 MASHHAD 580 SOHAG

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MSR UAE FDB QTR JZR KAC KAC KNE FDB JZR GFA KNE SVA KAC KNE KAC NIA OMA JZR JZR ETD QTR UAE JZR RJA ABY SVA GFA JZR JZR UAL JZR FDB KAC QTR GFA FDB TAR UAE OMA KAC ABY MSR JAI KAC AXB KAC KNE KAC DHX FDB ALK MEA ETD GFA KAC UAE KAC KLM FDB QTR JZR

611 872 58 1079 134 673 617 473 8056 188 222 481 505 773 471 613 252 646 238 180 304 1073 858 538 641 128 511 216 184 266 982 554 64 501 1081 218 62 328 3872 648 331 120 619 571 351 394 343 461 543 171 72 230 403 308 220 301 860 205 417 60 1075 528

CAIRO DUBAI DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN TAIF JEDDAH RIYADH JEDDAH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA MUSCAT AMMAN AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI TUNIS DUBAI MUSCAT TRIVANDRUM SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI KOCHI KOZHIKODE CHENNAI RIYADH CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI ISLAMABAD DAMMAM DUBAI DOHA ASYUT

14:00 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:35 15:40 15:45 15:50 16:00 16:05 16:30 16:35 16:50 16:55 16:55 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:50 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 20:15 20:45 20:50 20:50 20:55 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:50 21:55 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:50 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:25

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 444

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES You may be extremely eloquent or forceful in talking or communicating.

People will have no problem in knowing exactly what you mean when you speak. You have a deep appreciation for feelings and movement just now. You may just want to get out and about and walk or exercise. You should be clearing away old debts, resentments and paperwork at this time. Anything that slows you from your goals may need adjusting.

Clear thoughts about the past may take up your time today. This afternoon you will be clear in thought and communication. You will have support from your family or loved one for some project this afternoon. Show others your lighter side. Laugh and make it a point to get others to laugh. Your energies are very good today.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You have the ability to create a positive from a negative and can have a constructive influence within group meetings or with authority figures. Your emotional strength today may come from your constant positive outlook as well as the positive people you enjoy having around you. Compose your thoughts and then keep moving forward. When loved ones comes to you with a problem later today, ask them first what they consider is the smart thing to do. You will be preventing an emotional overload and they will talk and find their own answer. You may find that your creative side is at a high this evening. This, along with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to bewitch and transport. Good news is nearby.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A depression in an otherwise level surface.

4. A fore-and-aft sail set on a stay (as between two masts).

12. The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands.

15. A religious belief of African origin involving witchcraft and sorcery.

16. Sometimes classified as member of order Taxales.

17. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

18. An advertisement consisting of short scenes from a motion picture that will appear in the near future.

20. An official who carries a mace of office.

21. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.

22. Capable of being added or added to.

24. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (trade name Ansaid) that is administered only orally.

26. A soft gray ductile metallic element used in alloys.

27. A monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles.

29. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

30. Run away.

34. A hypothetical continent that (according to plate tectonic theory) broke up later into North America and Europe and Asia.

39. A winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple.

41. Informal terms for clothing.

42. Being one more than one.

43. Being on the left side.

45. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

47. A transuranic element.

48. Very dark black.

50. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

51. A type of soil consisting of unconsolidated material from freshly deposited alluvium or sand.

53. Converting from one code to another.

55. A member of the Caddo people who formerly lived in the Dakotas west of the Missouri river.

56. Indian statesman and leader with Gandhi in the struggle for home rule.

57. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

59. A white trivalent metallic element.

60. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

61. Electronic warfare undertaken to prevent or reduce an enemy's effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

63. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

66. A public promotion of some product or service.

68. Pile of waste matter from coal mining etc.

73. A mask with a filter protects the face an lungs against poisonous gases.

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

78. The quality of being alien.

80. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

81. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

82. An iron-clad vessel built by the Confederate forces in the hope of breaking the blockade imposed by the North.

83. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or

water or to keep out the sea.

84. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

85. Easily irritated or annoyed.

86. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. Amino acid that is formed in the liver and converted into dopamine in the brain.

2. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaranteed by member governments.

3. Having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly.

4. Tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield.

5. A unit of weight used in east Asia approximately equal to 1.3 ounces.

6. An edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle.

7. Edible tuber of any of several yams.

8. Either of two flat triangular bones one on each side of the shoulder in human beings.

9. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

10. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

11. United States lyricist who collaborated on musicals with Frederick Loewe (1918-1986).

12. Type genus of the Amiidae.

13. Medium-sized tree having glossy lanceolate leaves.

14. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

23. A doctor's degree in education.

25. Singing jazz.

28. A historical region of southwestern India on the west coast.

31. An old Scottish coin of little value.

32. An enthusiastic kiss.

33. A Dravidian language spoken in south central India.

35. Mammary gland of bovids (cows and sheep and goats).

36. A United States bandmaster and composer of military marches (1854-1932).

37. Refuse to acknowledge.

38. A rectangular block of hewn stone used for building purposes.

40. God of wealth and love.

44. (British) Informal term for information.

46. Armor plate that protects the chest.

49. A constitutional monarchy in northern Europe on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

52. English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349).

54. French artist who immigrated to the United States.

58. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

62. A noisy riotous fight.

64. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

65. (Mesopotamia) God of agriculture and earth.

67. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann.

69. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

70. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

71. Channel into a new direction.

72. A republic in western South America.

74. A subdivision of a larger religious group.

75. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

76. God of love and erotic desire.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Today you keep your positive frame of mind—consistent. You proceed through the workday with great vigor and enthusiasm. You look forward to the upcoming time when you will be able to enjoy a retreat or a weekend fling. This may be a real break away from one type of surrounding to another. You are witty, logical and reasonable and people love to gather around you. Perhaps a camping or a fishing trip can be planned soon. You look forward to listening to the birds, building a campfire and just generally hanging out. If you are married, your mate will enjoy some quiet time as well and may even come with you. Identify some common goals that you and your mate would enjoy this year and start making your plans for future trips.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You look forward to a lecture today; however, you may not stay too long.

The program teaches how to learn a new organizing system along with some time management discussions. You get some good ideas—later, you are off to meet a friend, perhaps have a late night dinner. New foods, new stores, you never saw the town this way before. All it takes is someone very charming to open those beautiful eyes of yours. There is talk of how one would survive if lost and away from civilization. Each of you has special ideas of how you would manage and much laughter, as well as thought, will go into your conversation. This is kind of like the conversation of what you would like to have with you if you were stranded on an island.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You have a great deal of understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others. Your communication abilities are understood and accurate. You are on the mark when it comes to solving problems. The only negative part about today is that sometime in the afternoon you may feel blocked or frustrated by someone. Give the situation some thought and then let it go. Where you have been and what you have acquired comes into play today as you think about your future and where it may lead. Your thoughts are clear and you may even have some psychic insights for yourself and your loved ones. Stay in the moment and avoid the traps of worry, especially about things you cannot control. Make plans with your sweetheart to spend some fun time together.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is concerned this morning. You crave organization and expediency and you want to get things accomplished. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day to do everything you set out to accomplish. You feel a love of order and law and you have an appreciation for responsibilities and duty. When there is an imbalance in the daily work, you tend to become a bit frustrated. Not to worry, the powers that be seem to have created just enough time for you to do your fair share of the work. Any extra work and you will need to put in for overtime. When you are not busy with your nose to the grindstone you are most pleasant, grateful and you love to praise others.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) If you know that your job will lead to the success you had planned for yourself, you will work long and hard. You are a smart businessperson and others look to you for answers. Today, however, you may find some sort of delay in production. An interruption could be a communication concern. With your help, work will be productive once again. This afternoon you may want to set aside some time to find a weak link so that you can adjust, change or perform whatever duties are needed to eradicate any problems.

Later you will find time to relax a bit. You could be running a newspaper or a paint shop or any other type of business where lots of people depend on your evaluation results.

Energies are building for some positive changes soon.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Secondary jobs are as much a part of your life as a regular job routine. You will find some extra monetary reward or a loosening of the budget where this second job is concerned. Taking chances with your creativeness can bring big rewards for you now. You could be lecturing or writing today and you will find it easy to be creative with your words. Young people play a big part in today’s agenda. You are appreciated and admired for your thoughtful ways. You will be rewarded for your volunteer work and you may want to volunteer to help run errands or do chores for the handicapped or nursing homes. This work is satisfying and a real boost to the self-esteem. New ways to communicate will bring a lift to your physical energies. Listen to suggestions.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) If you work for a large company, you may want to influence the executives to put in an exercise room for employees. Perhaps the employees could make part of the contribution. You will be thinking along improvements in your health as much as you would be thinking about how exercise can be invigorating and a good stress relief. This is a good workday with lots of problem-solving successes. Insights and ideas come easily but may not find expression just yet. Writing out your ideas is a good way to gain a focus. There is a need to complete a task that has been long overdue for completion. After some research, you will find the answers you need. A science fiction movie could prove enjoyable tonight.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) A day of feeling blocked may spur an inventive mood—others could learn a great deal from watching your progress. For example, what if you were given a project that was beyond your expertise and you and your co-workers felt lost perhaps you and your co-workers could ask for some time with the appropriate instructor and achieve what is needed. After some research, perhaps in the library or by consulting with a parent company, you will find the needed information to accomplish a project. Authority figures are watching and are sure they gave the project to the right person. Do not forget your sense of humor—you can put a smile on other people’s faces. Avoid a late night party or work; young people may need your presence.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Business partnerships need work; conferences, reviews, encouraging news and plans are on the agenda now. You may wonder about the motives of someone today—you, however, could be on the right track with your thinking. Longrange and long-distance matters will be in focus. Any plans can be calibrated now. This afternoon you have time to update some personal business. You may have been thinking about the purchase of a new painting, perhaps for an investment. The cost of an appraisal is a wise choice before making a valuable and important purchase. You will have an occasion to show off your living quarters later this evening and you set aside a little time to straighten up a little and perhaps add a few candles into the mix for good smells.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Think through decisions today and you will do very well. Work, achievement and ambition mean a lot to you. You know, however, that if you stay serious for too long you could miss the funny side of life. Consider a shopping trip this afternoon. Perhaps a friend would like to accompany you. Compare prices and you will be pleased with the outcome. Progressive people and idealistic groups or concepts play a more important role in your life, as a new phase of your life begins. There is a concern for something bigger than any one person—the good of the many outweighs the needs of the few. You are coming into a time of experimenting with new concepts. Perhaps, in the process of shedding the old we find the original. Consider trying out for a play.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

lifestyle G O S S I P

Justin

Jimmy Fallon

Bieber ’s

feels ‘lucky’ to have become a father

manager gives him an ultimatum

T

he 39-year-old talk show host and wife Nancy Juvonen became parents to daughter Winnie who was born via a surrogate - last July and he admits becoming a parent was such a “struggle”, he wasn’t sure he ever would. Interviewing himself for America’s Men’s Health magazine, he said: “You have a baby, which you’ve been wanting for a long time.

You felt very lucky that it happened at all. We had a long struggle with that. We did.” Jimmy will take over from Jay Leno as host of ‘The Tonight Show’ next month and though he is thrilled to have landed the job, he admits nothing makes him happier than being at home with his family. He said: “There’ll be nights when you’re sitting on your couch, and you’re with your beautiful wife, who you can’t believe married you, and your beautiful baby, who you feel endlessly grateful you were able to have. And your dog ... You’re watching ‘Real Housewives’ getting into fistfights on TV. And you go, ‘How great is my life? I’m so happy right now.’ That trumps your ‘Tonight’ gig? It really does. That’s what true happiness is right there.”

Jimmy - who married Nancy in 2007 - always “knew” the film producer was the right woman for him because they have so much fun together. Discussing how he knew he’d found the right person, he said: “The truest thing I can say is ... sometimes you just know. But that’s terrible advice. The only people who say that are the people who just knew. “How do you

T

know unless you found that person? I think you just look for the person you have the most fun with. And that’s enough. “You realize, ‘Wait, I can just keep having fun with her forever?’ Yes, you can do that. It’s the secret. Look at Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.”

Courteney Cox is still one of Jennifer Aniston’s closest friends

Rochelle Humes’

T

he ‘We’re the Millers’ actress, who split from Brad Pitt in 2005 after five years of marriage and is currently engaged to Justin Theroux, has regularly sought refuge at her former ‘Friends’ co-star’s house in Los Angeles during difficult times in the past.

Speaking about their 20-year friendship, the 44-yearold star told More magazine: “There’s absolutely no judgment in Court. You’ll never feel scolded. She’s extremely fair, ridiculously loyal and fiercely loving.”

She added: “I’ve slept in her guest bedroom a lot.

Without giving away too much of my private stuff, all I can say is she’s been there for me through thick and thin.” Jennifer and Courteney were rumored to have “drifted apart” last year but have been spotted hanging out together again in recent months. Courteney’s other former co-star Lisa Kudrow, 50, also still counts the brunette beauty, 49, as one of her favorite people.

The ‘Scandal’ actress aid: “There’s no agenda. There’s no guile. There’s no game. You can trust her completely and fully. Whether I see Courteney every week or once a year, it doesn’t matter. I know who she is, and I know where I stand.” It was previously rumored that Courteney was trying to convince Jennifer to reunite with their former castmates, Lisa, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, for a reunion special of ‘Friends.’ But Matt, 46, recently said it was unlikely, adding: “‘Friends’ was about a finite period of time in your life, like after college but before your life really started. And that was the magic of it. It was that point, that time in your life.”

daughter learns to ‘twerk’

T Amanda Bynes is getting her tattoo removed

T

he ‘Easy A’ actress, who was discharged from treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in December after being sectioned for her erratic behavior, appears to be undergoing laser treatments to erase a pair of black angel wings on her right forearm.

The 27-year-old star’s inking appeared increasingly faded as she walked around her parents neighborhood in Thousand Oaks, California. Amanda has been living with

her parents since she was released from her treatment centre and will soon be starting a fashion design course in Orange County. The actress recently returned to California after spending some time at the Miracles Fitness Retreat in Utah, a $3,250-per-week fitness spa.

Austan Torson, the owner and personal trainer at the facility, previously said Amanda was focused on getting fit and healthy. He said: “She was interested in getting healthier... to get in better shape, to lose about five pounds, but mainly to strengthen up and eat healthier.”

The star arrived at the retreat on January 4 for the intensive seven-day Fitness Jumpstart program, where she was putting in the hours to ensure she got the most out of it and the trainer thinks it was a “good experience” for her. Austan said: “I think it was a really good experience for her. She participated in everything we did. She was always up in the morning even though she was tired.”

Rita Ora’s part in ‘50 Shades of Grey’ will be ‘shocking’

T

Amber Heard’s ring worth almost $100,000

J

ohnny Depp’s new fiancee was spotted showing off her large diamond accessory for the first time as she watched him perform at a private charity event in Anaheim, California on Sunday night. And celebrity jewelry expert Zaven Ghanimian told EOnline.com: “This looks like a 5-carat ring. If we assume it’s a white oval diamond in the five carat range, the price would be between $78,000 to $100,000.” The blonde beauty, who hid the ring from photographers last week, is likely to have helped Johnny choose the ring as a source previously revealed that Amber “calls the shots” in her relationship with her

he 19-year-old singer was arrested last week and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) with an expired license and resisting arrest in Miami, Florida, and now his manager, Scooter Braun, has told the star he must decide whether he wants to continue with his career.

Recounting his conversation with Justin, Scooter said: “Either we quit and let you try and find a normal life or you realize that this is what this is and we’ve got to keep fighting.” Justin’s father Jeremy Bieber was present at the time of his arrest and Scooter feels his role as a manager is sometimes very similar to that of a parent. He told GQ magazine’s March issue: “It’s the same as being with a kid growing up, as a parent. My responsibility is to always be there when they fall, to help them back up. But at some point I need to let them fail.” Justin - whose court arraignment date has been set for Valentine’s Day (14.02.14) - is also said to have received some stern advice from his long-time mentor, Usher, who reportedly flew to Panama on Saturday to visit the pop heartthrob who is currently holidaying there with rumored girlfriend Chantel Jeffries. Justin’s mother Pattie is said to have vowed to support her son no matter what happens.

‘The Rum Diary’ co-star, whom she began dating in 2012. The insider said: “Amber has called the shots since day one, dictating when they went public, for example. She’s half his age and that’s part of why he’ll do whatever she wants in order to keep her.”

Another source added: “He has definitely toned down his behavior since he started dating Amber. He acts like a mature and charming man now.” The 50-year-old actor who has daughter Lily-Rose, 14, and son Jack, 11, with former partner Vanessa Paradis - is said to be attracted to the way Amber has her own way of doing things and doesn’t “go with the flow”.

he ‘R.I.P.’ singer has her first big-screen speaking part as lead character Christian Grey’s sister, Mia, in the hotly anticipated thriller, and promises audiences they will be surprised by the content of the movie.

She told MTV: “It’s gonna be the biggest and most amazing shock ever.” Rita has previously had acting roles in 2004 independent film ‘Spivs’ and a small part in ‘Fast and Furious 6’, but this is the first time she is to appear in a major production with a full role, and admits she was nervous. She said: “I was nervous because it was the first time I ever did a movie with words. But it was so nice.

The director, Sam Taylor Johnson, she was incredible, so it was all love.” Rita beat Rihanna to claim the part in ‘Fast and Furious 6’ which could be one of the reasons the ‘Bottom’s Up’ singer reportedly snubbed her at various Grammy Awards parties over the weekend but spoke to her boyfriend, Calvin Harris.

A source said: “Rihanna deliberately kept her distance. She talked with Calvin at length but didn’t acknowledge Rita. “It was awkward because they have the same management team and move in exactly the same circles.

“Rihanna’s never been much of a fan of Rita because her style is so similar and they compete over songs.”

he Saturdays singer was shocked to see eight-month-old Alaia-Mai - her only child with husband Mar vin Humes - mimic the buttshaking dance move made famous by Miley Cyrus. She wrote on Twitter: “OMG Alaia is twerking (sic)” The youngster is already showing a keen interest in music, as later in the day Rochelle posted a picture to Instagram featuring the tot being carried by her father in the studio where he presents a radio show. She captioned the image: “DJ Bubba.” As Alaia-Mai has been amusing her mother with her dancing, it seems she must be on the mend as Rochelle revealed a few days ago she and the youngster had both been taken ill. She wrote: “Me and Alaia are sharing a cold.” The 24-year-old beauty recently admitted her little girl had been going through a clingy phase. She tweeted: “I’m gonna cook a roast today!” She later added: “Today has been one of those days when Lai was only happy being held.

Amazing what you can do with a baby on your hip.” Bangshowbiz

Queen Latifah will perform at Super Bowl

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he actress-and-singer has been enlisted to sing the patriotic tune ‘America the Beautiful’ during the pre-game show at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on February 2. According to the New York Daily News newspaper, opera singer Renee Fleming has been tapped to sing the National Anthem, with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers taking to the stage for the halftime show. This marks the second time Queen Latifah has sung the tune at the Super Bowl, initially performing to rapturous applause in 2010. The 43-yearold star was born in Newark and raised in

East Orange so her appearance will be all the more meaningful since she will be performing in her home state. This comes after Queen Latifah officiated 33 weddings at the 56th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night (26.01.14) during a Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance of ‘Same Love’. The singer - who has long been subject to rumours about her sexuality had recently been deputised by Los Angeles County to legally conduct wedding ceremonies and officiated over the nuptials of both gay and straight pairings live on stage.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

lifestyle G O S S I P

Kate Hudson is ‘too busy’ to plan her wedding

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he ‘Bride Wars’ star, who was raised by her mother, Goldie Hawn, and the 68-year-old actress’ partner, Kur t Russell, got engaged to Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy in April 2011 but the couple are in no rush to tie the knot. Asked if they were planning a big wedding, the 34-year-old actress told ‘Live with Kelly & Michael’ in New York City on Tuesday: “No, I’m planning nothing right now. I’m so busy, we’ve been so busy and it’s been great. I come from an unconventional familythey’re not married, my parents aren’t married. “So there’s a part of me that goes, if I’m going to do it, I’m going to

do it right. And I’m going to take the time to really plan it right . . . And it’s a lot. Planning a wedding is a lot! I mean, I did a movie about planning a wedding and that was a lot, let alone actually planning a wedding! So, no. Not anytime soon, no.” The blonde beauty currently has her hands full raising her sons, Ryder, whose father is Kate’s ex-husband Chris Robinson, and Bing with Matthew, 35, as well as her Fabletics line of exercise clothing. She said: “Ryder just turned 10, which is so crazy and he’s such a dude. Bing is two and a half and it’s just going [by fast].

He is a drummer... That’s all he wants to do.”

Alexa Chung is Minnie Driver only eats animals she hates

dating Rob Ackroyd

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he British actress plays a hard-core vegan in the new NBC series, ‘About a Boy,’ based on the book by Nick Hornsby, which also spawned the 2002 film starring Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette, but admitted she doesn’t have much in common with her character, Fiona. The 43-year-old star told EOnline.com: “I’m not a vegan.

But I went to a farm school. I like lambs, so I can’t eat them. And I used to have to milk cows, so I can’t eat cows. But I don’t mind if anybody else does. And I hate turkeys, so I eat them.” The brunette beauty, who also has three new movies in the works and is finishing off her latest album, is friends with Hugh but hinted she doesn’t think he will be a fan of her new show. She said: “I know Hugh, actually. I’m sure he’ll have something pithy and acerbic to say so I’ll wait for that and then post it on Twitter.”

Despite having a jam-packed schedule, Minnie, who has a five-year-old son, Henry, would drop everything to make a cameo on ‘Downton Abbey.’

She said: “I would do ‘Downton Abbey’ tomorrow. I’m waiting by the phone. I don’t care what I play. I just want to be on the show. I want to be in it.

I’m obsessed with it. I don’t even mind if they kill me after one episode. I just love that show. It’s the greatest soap opera on TV!”

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he 30-year-old fashionista has been in Los Angeles for the past month where she met Florence and the Machine’s guitarist and the pair hit it off instantly.

Sources say: “Rob and Remi have been working in the studio and she thought they’d make a great pairing. He’s totally Alexa’s type. “Remi arranged for them to go out to dinner at Soho House and there was a real spark. They’ve been inseparable ever since and seem smitten. Now Rob’s planning to fly to New York where Alexa lives for Valentine’s Day.” Alexa - who split from Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner in 2011 reportedly due to issues with maintaining a long term relationship - is currently living in New York and she “loves” Rob’s humor. Another source added: “I think Alexa has found it hard to date in New York and Rob will have been a breath of fresh air. She loves his dry humor.” There are concerns about how she’ll cope with their distance but the pair seem keen to try and make it work. A source UK’s Grazia magazine: “I think the only thing worrying Alexa will have been the distance. But she really likes Rob and he seems very keen to visit her, so she is eager to see how it pans out.”

Jennifer Lawrence loves British reality TV

T Katy Perry caught a wedding bouquet during the Grammys

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he music awards ceremony saw 34 gay and straight couples married during a performance of equality anthem ‘Same Love’ by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and the ‘Dark Horse’ singer caught a bunch of flowers thrown by one bride - which tradition dictates means she will be next to marry. Katy - who has dated guitarist John Mayer for two years later posted a picture on Instagram of her with the bunch of white roses, and wrote: “Congrats to all the #samelove couples tonight. You had me in tears of joy for y’all! Also... Look who caught the bouquet!!! #okuuuurrrr (sic)” Speculation the couple could walk down the aisle has already been sparked

by John, 36, after he started referring to Katy - who was married to Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012 - as his “wife” when

they appeared on TV together in December. A source said: “He kept calling Katy his wife. He said things like, ‘I just do whatever the wife says,’ and then the both of them would laugh.” Meanwhile, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - who took home four Grammys - and Madonna, who also appeared, singing ‘Open Your Heart’ during the mass wedding, have been praised by gay rights organization GLAAD for their groundbreaking performance. GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said: “When such a critically acclaimed and popular rap artist puts marriage equality center stage at one of the biggest events of the year, it is the latest in a long line of signs that our nation not only accepts, but celebrates the love and commitment of gay couples today.”

he ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ actress has become addicted to ITV2 show ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ thanks to her British beau Nicholas Hoult and is fascinated by their vacuous lifestyle of tanning and vajazzling. She told The Sun newspaper: “You guys have your own version of ‘Jersey Shore’ which is so ridiculously amazing I can’t even begin. It’s like another world in Essex.”

Jennifer was treated to a tour of ‘Skins’ star Nicholas’ favorite local spots when she visited him over Christmas, including Hampshire pub the Jekyll & Hyde. And the Oscar-winning ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ actress is a self-confessed Anglophile and says she likes nothing more than scoffing fish and chips in front of the TV. She said: “I’m a big fan of all things British. I get to spend some time there now and again and I like that I can go for fish and chips wearing the most awful outfit and it’s cool, you know. “I don’t do much when I’m in the UK, though I do watch the TV. I really like the shows you have there. You guys get to say a lot more than our main TV shows do.”

Denise Richards plans Demi Lovato’s life is ‘so good’ now

to move away from Charlie Sheen

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he model and actress has been looking at properties outside of Beverly Hills’ Mulholland Estates - where she currently resides in a house bought by her ex-husband, near to his own, although he recently threatened to kick her out. Denise who has daughters Sam, nine, and Lola, eight, with the actor as well as adopted daughter Eloise - has been spotted with a real estate agent looking at other properties in Beverly Hills and Bel Air. A source told RadarOnline: “She is currently looking for a house to lease or buy and has looked at several homes in gated communities but none were at Mulholland Estates. “Her real estate agent has indicated to other brokers that if she would like to proceed, Denise would want to move as quickly as possible.” Denise, 42, had enjoyed a good relationship

with Charlie, 48, until the end of last year, when he accused her of taking Sam and Lola away over Christmas so he couldn’t see them, although she insisted he was welcome to join them. Sources have also suggested Charlie’s new girlfriend, porn star Brett Rossi, is “jealous” of Denise. Charlie has had harsh words for his second wife in recent weeks, suggesting she has “evil cloven hoofs (sic)”. Charlie’s third ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, was also living in a house bought by the ‘Anger Management’ star in Mulholland Estates, but he has also told her he also wants to sell that proper ty.

Recovering drug addict Brooke is currently only allowed in the home when she visits her sons with Charlie, Bob and Max, four who are under the guardianship of her brother, Scott and lives in a nearby condominium the rest of the time.

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he ‘Heart Attack’ hitmaker, who quit her tour to seek help in rehab for an eating disorder and self-harming in December 2010, took to Twitter to celebrate the third anniversary of her album ‘Unbroken,’ which was released shortly after she left her treatment facility, and thanked her fans for giving her a reason to live. The 21-year-old star tweeted on Tuesday (28.01.14): “Life is SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYY!!!! “Happy Lovatic Day.... I’m alive because of you all. Thank you.... I love you all so much.. #3YearsUnbroken (sic)” The ‘Skyscraper’ singer also used the opportunity to urge any of her followers, who may be struggling with similar issues, to seek help. She wrote: “You CAN turn your life around. You can go through hell AND BACK. It IS possible. NEVER underestimate yourself. I BELIEVE IN YOU.” Earlier this week, the former ‘The X Factor’ USA judge revealed she has never felt better. She tweeted: “It’s a great feeling knowing how to balance things in life.

Feeling stronger and better than ever... #2014” Demi previously admitted her problems stemmed from insecurity and credited her fans for helping her get through them.

She said “[I was] looking in the mirror and never feeling good enough. I felt like I was living a lie... I was dealing with all this pain, emotionally. And I felt guilt and shame. I decided to take it out on myself. I harmed myself.”

She added: “Every time someone asks me for a picture or an autograph, even if I’m having a bad day and I’m in a bad mood, I remember, ‘You’re nothing without this person’. They make it special.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

lifestyle F e a t u r e s

Shibori lamp shades from the Suzusan Luminaires collection, Shizuku. — AP

Rolls of shibori fabric produced by Eskayel, a design firm based in New York.

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rom tablecloths to duvet covers, iPhone cases to wallpaper and startling calf-skin wall hangings, the ancient Japanese resist-dying technique of shibori has gone mainstream. Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, Eileen Fisher, Levi’s and innumerable fiber artists are breathing new life into the craft. “The stillness and beauty of it really centers me,” said Oriana DiNella, who recently launched her own Web-based shibori line, including linen tableware, pillows and throws and large leather wall hangings - all made to order and handdyed in organic indigo. “It feels like a rebellion against the fashion movement, where everything seems so fast and disposable,” the New York-based designer explained.

Shibori is slow. It takes time, and has been around since about the 8th century. The word comes from the Japanese shiboru, meaning “to wring, squeeze or press.” The technique involves twisting, tying, crumpling, stitching or folding fabric - usually silk or cotton - in various ways, transforming the two-dimensional material into a sculptural, three-dimensional form. This sculptural shape is then traditionally dyed, originally using indigo, although a huge variety of colors and dyes are now used. Sometimes, the same fabric is then twisted in some other way and then dyed again. When the wrappings are removed, the folds and creases where the fabric resisted the dye form distinctive crinkled textures and patterns.

A sort of “memory on cloth,” Shibori also encompasses Issey Miyake’s revolutionary pleated clothing, fulling and felting, and other methods of transforming natural fabrics into 3D shapes. The work of Hiroyuki Murase exemplifies both the 3-D possibilities of shibori and the bridge between traditional and new. Murase grew up in Arimatsu, Japan, where shibori has been done using traditional techniques for 400 years. Today, his array of Luminaires lampshades and haute couture fabrics, designed for the likes of Christian Dior, are the cutting edge of modern shibori.

Murase’s family company, Suzusan, was founded there a century ago and has designed shibori fabrics for Miyake and other designers. Murase founded and is creative director at a separate company by the same name, Suzusan, in Dusseldorf, Germany. But shibori is still most widely thought of as a sort of tie-dyeing. Today’s incarnations are as different from their early Japanese predecessors as they are from the

A shibori tablecloth, runner and napkin on a table.

A shibori leather wall hanging.

wild, tie-dyed pieces that became emblematic of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

There’s a sense of timelessness and calm to the modern shibori pieces, and also a renewed focus on workmanship and functionality. “I love the bleeds, the fluidity of it. I love how the light shades of indigo can be so pale and watery and the navies can be such a deep, deep blue,” DiNella said.

Brooklyn designer Rebecca Atwood uses modern fiber-reactive dyes for her Blauvelt Collection, which includes pillows and pouches. And home-design purveyor Eskayel is creating

the look of shibori patterns using ink, water and watercolors, followed by digital printing techniques.

“We have wallpaper, rugs, fabric, pillows, baskets, iPhone cases, stationery, prints and wall hangings. Oh, and poufs,” said founder and creative director Shanan Campanero, when asked about the company’s shibori-inspired offerings.

Compared to the tie-dyes of a generation ago, she said, today’s shibori-inspired works feature patterns that are more careful, deliberate and traditional. Vera Wang’s collection is

centered on bedding, while Ralph Lauren’s features swim trunks and clothing. Levi’s has even come out with shiboriinspired jeans. But while mass-produced items lack the nuanced appeal of handcrafted works, they bring a surprising touch of texture and pizazz to the familiar.

For those inclined to take on do-it-yourself projects, shibori has never been more accessible. It can be done easily at home using minimal equipment. Urban Outfitters sells its own shibori kits, and lessons are widely available online, from basic for beginners to truly advanced. Martha Stewart Living features a project on its website using a standard pressure cooker to make elegant shibori at home.

Serious shibori artists and workshops across the country and internationally can be found through the Berkeley-based World Shibori Network. With a membership of dedicated artisans in Japan and around the globe, it was founded in the 1990s because of fears that the traditional craft would disappear. Despite widespread interest in shibori in the West, “we are still concerned with its survival in Japan,” explained Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, the organization’s president and cofounder.

Wada, author of “Shibori” and “Memory on Cloth” (both published by Kodansha), has taught and written about shibori for over 30 years, co-founded Berkeley’s Kasuri Dyeworks in 1975, and helped introduce shibori to the United States.

Now, her focus is ensuring its survival in Japan. “There used to be thousands and thousands of artists working on this.

Now there are not so many people doing it using traditional techniques,” said Wada. She said iPhone covers and poufs made using digital techniques, far from being silly novelties, are crucial to the future of shibori, which holds little appeal to most young Japanese. “Adapting shibori to something contemporary is the key to its survival,” she said. “When the big designers come out with it and young artists take it in new directions, then more people here and in Japan start to pay attention.” — AP

German movies in

focus at Berlin global film fest

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This file photo shows blues guitarist Buddy Guy performing at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 in New York. — AP photos

This file photo shows recording artist Barbara Mandrell at the 43rd Annual Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn.

12 artists inducted into Musicians Hall of Fame T

he Musicians Hall of Fame inducted 12 new members across the genres, including bluesman Buddy Guy, British rock guitarist Peter Frampton and pedal steel player and country singer Barbara Mandrell. Also inducted during Tuesday’s ceremony in Nashville were Randy Bachman from The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, country musician Jimmy Capps, bass guitarist Will Lee, rhythm guitarist Corki Casey O’Dell and country guitarist Velma Smith. Posthumous inductions went to Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with his band Double Trouble, and pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith.

The Musicians Hall of Fame also gave their first Iconic Riff Award posthumously to Roy Orbison for his guitar work on “Pretty Woman,” and their first

Industry Icon Award to Mike Curb, the founder of Curb Records. Performers for the awards show included Neil Young, Duane Eddy, Brenda Lee, The Oak Ridge Boys and Chris Isaak. This was the first induction since the Musicians Hall of Fame moved to its new permanent museum location inside Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.

“I don’t like the word ‘rock star’ or ‘super star,’” said Bachman after the induction ceremony. “I am a guitar player, a songwriter who got lucky because I stayed at it and didn’t give up, long enough that people noticed me.” “A lot of the people like myself and other fellow inductees are in here, without a name on the marquee, that actually made the sounds that you hear when you hear some of your

favorite things that you find yourself humming from day to day,” said Lee, who is best known for performing in the CBS Orchestra on the “Late Show With David Letterman.”

Barbara Mandrell, who was the first artist to win the CMA Entertainer Of The Year for two consecutive years, said learning how to play the steel guitar and the saxophone helped to launch her career while still a teenager. “It opened the doors for me, ‘cause there weren’t a lot of little girls playing steel guitar,” Mandrell said. — AP

Motley Crue to call it quits after farewell tour

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etal rock band Motley Crue, which became emblematic of the hard-partying hair metal acts popular on 1980s MTV, will call it quits after their scheduled farewell tour concludes next year, the band said on Tuesday. Best known for hit songs “Dr. Feelgood” and “Girls, Girls, Girls,” Motley Crue made the decision legally binding by signing a cessation of touring agreement at a news conference in their hometown of Los Angeles.

“Tommy said it best recently when he said a farewell tour is when a band does a farewell tour and then gets back together and does another farewell tour and breaks up and gets back together,” bassist Nikki Sixx said, referring to the band’s drummer Tommy Lee. “We decided to call this a final tour and sign a contract telling you this is real because we want to be proud of Motley Crue and we want our fans to be proud of Motley Crue for decades to

come,” he said. The band’s final tour is due to begin on July 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and its North American leg is scheduled to conclude on Nov 21 in Vancouver before the group goes overseas in 2015. Motley Crue was formed in 1981 by lead singer Vince Neil, guitarist Mick Mars, bassist Sixx and Tommy Lee and has sold more than 80 million albums. Its popularity peaked in 1989 with the album “Dr. Feelgood.” Singer Neil left the group in 1992 but rejoined in 1997. Lee also left from 1999 until 2004. — Reuters

(From left) Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars attend the Motley Crue press conference, Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014, in Los Angeles. — AP

erman movies including a drama about the love triangle of Sturm und Drang poet Friedrich Schiller will dominate the main lineup at Berlin’s international film festival this year, director Dieter Kosslick said on Tuesday. But world cinema talent will not be absent at the 64th “Berlinale”, which kicks off with the world premiere of US director Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, a comedy about a canny hotel concierge in the 1920s starring Ralph Fiennes and Adrien Brody.

Anderson and other global stars such as George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Forest Whitaker will grace Berlin’s red carpet, Kosslick told a news conference. The annual cinema showcase, which runs from Feb. 6-16, will screen more than 400 films, but the main program includes 23 movies, of which 20 will compete for the “Golden Bear”.

For the first time since 2002, it will feature four German films, including Dominik Graf’s “Beloved Sisters” about the relationship between 18th century poet Schiller and two beautiful sisters from the penniless aristocracy. Others are Edward Berger’s “Jack”, about a 10-year-old looking after his younger brother while his single parent works, and Dietrich Brueggemann’s “Stations of the Cross”, about a teenage girl struggling to reconcile her desires with the ultraconservative Catholic community in which she lives.

“We have a lot of films where people are living in very narrow systems, for example, religious systems,” Kosslick told Reuters. “We also have some strong films about kids.”

“Young people in the world are around 2 billion, and these people are the last ones in a chain of suffering,” he said, referring to Sudabeh Mortezai’s “Macondo”, a coming-ofage story about a Chechen boy in a refugee settlement in Vienna.

While discussing refugees, Kosslick said he was trying to help Bosnian Roma actor Nazif Mujic, who won best actor award at the Berlinale last year, to get asylum in Germany and had invited him to the festival. News that Mujic, who played himself in the grim film “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker”, was facing deportation after his first asylum application was turned down made headlines in Germany this month. “We brought him in contact with a lawyer,” said Kosslick. “I hope we can help him, it’s a terrible situation, all these people with no money and no hope.” The Berlinale’s competition lineup includes three Chinese films, “set outside the glamorous cities”, Kosslick said, and several movies from Latin America including “Praia do Futuro”, a gay love story set in Brazil and Germany.—Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Saddle up for a bumpy Year of the Horse

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Models present creations by Desigual during the 080 Barcelona Autumn-Winter 2014-2015 fashion week in Barcelona on January 28, 2014. — AFP/AP photos

onflicts, disasters, record high temperatures, an economic chill in Asia and more trouble for Justin Bieberthe upcoming Year of the Horse is set to be a dramatic one, say Hong Kong feng shui masters. With the Year of the Snake slithering into history, they say that the incoming Lunar New Year beginning tomorrow is going to be the kind of horse that you shouldn’t stand behindbecause it incorporates the volatile element of fire. “With this being the Year of the Wood Horse, and with wood being very combustible, there will be a lot of scandals, conflicts, explosions and arguments,” celebrity feng-shui master Alion Yeo told AFP. Feng shui —- literally meaning “windwater”-is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and even renovate offices and homes based on its edicts to maximize their luck and wealth.

Yeo says that conflict in the new year could be defined by anything from diplomatic tension to armed engagement, particularly in the first, fourth and seventh lunar months-February, May and August.

“The most likely thing that could lead to a physical war would be the Diaoyu Islands,” Yeo said, referring to acute tensions between Japan and China over the Japanese-controlled islets that Tokyo calls the Senkaku islands. The previous Year of the Wood Horse in 1954 was marked by nuclear bomb tests by the US and the former Soviet Union and the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which led to the defeat of French forces in Vietnam.

West gallops ahead Chinese fortune-telling such as feng shui is based on ancient philosophy and the belief that events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and through Chinese folklore ascribes 12 animals, one for each year in the rotating cycle. The horse is in the seventh position.

Feng shui master Chow Hon-ming believes that while the United States and Europe will enjoy economic recovery, nations such as Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Pakistan will feel a negative impact. “The Western economy will see obvious improvement but Eastern nations will face difficulties and their economies may even take backward steps.”

Chow believes it will be a tricky year for US President Barack Obama, who was born in the Year of the Ox in 1961. “He may make gaffes, he may face obstacles when it comes to cutting through political red tape,” Chow said. Record-high temperatures and natural disasters will be prominent due to the influence of the fire element, according to soothsayers.

“There will be a higher chance of volcanic eruption and earthquakes because the earth element will be irritated by the abundance of fire,” fortune-teller Cheng

A man wears a traditional costume during an event celebrating the upcoming Year of the Horse, outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong. — AFP Chi-hang told AFP, adding that Japan, Indonesia and China will be particularly prone.

Bad year for Bieber?

A person’s fortune is calculated by using the exact time and date of his birth, with the relationship of each of the elements. Troubled Canadian pop star Justin Bieber will be on a streak of negativity this year, Yeo said. “There will be times where he will not be able to control himself.” Bieber, 19, was charged with driving under the influence after police caught him drag-racing in Miami Beach last week-allegedly after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

“His fire element, if he goes all the way, could lead to health risks,” Yeo said.

Celebrities born in the Year of the Horse include boxer Manny Pacquiao, actress Halle Berry, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the late former South African president Nelson Mandela-whose 1990 release from prison also occurred in a “horse” year. Tens of thousands of worshippers will be offering sticks of incense on the eve of the first day of the Lunar New Year to pray for good luck and fortune at Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin Temple.

The former British colony is also a popular horse-racing destination, hosting the Chinese New Year Raceday on February 2, with total payouts of up to HK$68 million ($8.76 million). The city will celebrate the new year with a 23-minute long fireworks display on Saturday, which organizers say will display the word “win” in capital letters twice. In mainland China tourism operators are also seeking to capitalize, particularly in Dan Xia Shan, a mountainous tourist attraction in the southern province of Guangdong which includes five hills known as “five horses return to the manger”. — AFP

Saddle up for a bumpy Year of the Horse

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

39

Tower power:

Eiffels

pop Replica up around the world

View shows Paris Las Vegas, a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This picture shows a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Tianducheng, a luxury real estate development located in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province.

This photo shows the Tokyo Tower lit as the tower marks its 50th anniversary in Tokyo.

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hat do Tokyo, Las Vegas, Hangzhou and Tegucigalpa have in common?

All boast a replica - more or less true to the original - of the Eiffel Tower, Paris’s landmark building that has long been a symbol of the city and of France itself. The imposing iron tower is probably the most copied monument in the world, but even SETE, the company that runs the structure, says it is impossible to know exactly how many other versions there are across the world.

Some of these faux-Eiffels have become famous in their own right, like the Tokyo tower and the huge replica on the Las Vegas Strip.

Others are more modest or kitsch, and can be found in some rather surprising places, such as the Bolivian capital, a public garden by the Black Sea in Bulgaria, or even a UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon.

Paris’s “Old Iron Lady” is a huge seller. AFP has great demand for photos of the 125-yearold lattice structure, and replicas pop up in dozens of theme parks and in advertising campaigns the world over for just about any business imaginable. Inaugurated in 1999, the replica Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas was initially supposed to be even taller than the original, which soars 324 metres (1,063 feet) into the sky - including the antenna at the top. But architects had to trim their ambitions in half because of its proximity to the city’s airport.

This picture shows a tower resembling Paris’s Eiffel Tower in Brisbane.

‘No less grandiose’ The Vegas tower is 165 metres tall and sits alongside a replica Arc de Triomphe and other famous Paris structures. “At Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, you are transported to the City of Lights with all the same passion, excitement and ambiance of Europe’s most romantic city,” the hotel’s website states. Tokyo’s tower, built in 1958 and painted red and white, is one of the few copies to exceed the original in height, reaching 333 metres, though this was temporarily reduced to 312 metres in 2011 after the antenna was damaged in an earthquake and taken down for repair. This television tower remains a symbol of the Japanese capital, even though the Tokyo Sky Tree tower,

which was completed in 2012, is nearly twice as tall.

Although they are not as big as the original, some of the other copies are no less grandiose, such as the tower in Hangzhou, China. It rises to 108 metres in the heart of the city’s plush Tianducheng development. There are other towns named Paris, and some of these have their own towers. Parizh, at the foot of the Urals in southern Russia, was founded in 1842 to commemorate the Russian victory over Napoleon’s army 30 years earlier.

Today it has a mobile phone mast, built in 2005, that looks like the Eiffel Tower.

Two women sit on a bank of the river Seine near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

‘The price of success’ There have never been copyright restrictions on the original structure built in 1889.

From the street hawker selling trinkets to tourists in Paris, to chocolate makers and megalomaniac real-estate developers - anyone is free to copy the tower. But, the name “Eiffel Tower ” is a registered trademark .

Anyone who wants to, say, name a perfume or a restaurant after the structure must pay royalties how much depends on the size of the venture. Similarly, the tower’s dazzling golden lighting, designed by the engineer Pierre Bideau and inaugurated on New Year’s Eve 1985, is seen as an “oeuvre de l’esprit” - or an intellectual work - and so reproduction is not allowed. What do those who run the Eiffel Tower think of all these imitations? “We’re delighted,” says Jean-Bernard Bros, the president of the SETE company in charge. “That’s just the price you pay for success,” he told AFP. “The Eiffel Tower is imitated, copied, reproduced but never equaled. The replicas make people want to come to Paris to see the original. Our Eiffel Tower is something no one else can ever take from us, it is Paris.” — AFP

The Dong Wu Tower lights up in the ancient city of Suzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu province.